I'm back with a new chapter earlier than expected. Since I'll have limited time in October to post chapters, this one is coming now, and I'll only post another one at the end of October. I appreciate the comments on the first chapter. One person pointed out that it's difficult to know where everything is taking place, so I've added the locations of the respective scenes. In my poll, it turned out that 50 percent of the people prefer the year 34 BBY, and the other 50 percent prefer 23 BBY. Since it's evenly divided, I've decided on 34 BBY in the end. I'll be using information from both Legends and Canon, or rather, whatever I need for my story. I'm most looking forward to writing about how the Force tries to corrupt Harry.
Naboo, Theed, Theed Royal Palace
Frustrated, King Veruna gazed at his Chief of Security, attempting to grasp the gravity of the report. "Am I understanding this correctly? There was an illegal spice mine on Rori, with dozens of slaves, and none of you noticed? What are you being paid for?" Ars exclaimed, his fist slamming onto the table. Several of the advisors flinched at the sound.
"Well, the smugglers were quite cunning in their approach. According to the data we've uncovered, they bribed some of our security personnel to provide them with a time corridor during which they could launch and land their ships unnoticed. Furthermore, they situated their base in an area of the moon that was rarely patrolled by our fighters, and their hangar was well hidden within the rocks. Some exiled Gungans aided them in smuggling the drugs onto the planet," Maris Magneta explained, emphasizing the various factors that had contributed to the operation remaining unnoticed for so long.
"How did you manage to detect the smugglers now, given how well they were concealed?" Ars Veruna inquired, receiving a nod from Maris before the latter continued with the explanation.
"Well, it was more of a fortunate coincidence. There was an internal conflict among the smugglers, during which the terminal responsible for the slave chips was damaged. As the smugglers killed each other, the slaves managed to rise up against their oppressors and defeat them. One of them was able to send out a distress call. When we arrived, all the smugglers were dead, as were some of the slaves. However, one of the smuggler ships was unaccounted for."
"Are you telling me that some of the smugglers escaped?" Ars asked sharply, but Maris simply shook his head.
"According to our information, all the smugglers were killed. We suspect that one of the slaves managed to escape early. This theory is supported by the fact that one of the smuggler ships was missing, and the other ships had been sabotaged. Only a slave would sabotage the other ships to prevent the slave traders from pursuing him," Maris reasoned.
"With the information obtained from the smugglers' base, we were able to identify a weapons dealer on Naboo. His name is Borvo, and he was selling weapons and spice to our population. He had the assistance of some exiled Gungans who were responsible for transporting the goods throughout the planet, as well as procuring slaves from Naboo. Before we could apprehend him, he fled on his personal freighter. However, we managed to locate his bunker, where we seized several million credits, weapons, and stolen items," the Chief of Police explained, receiving a confirming nod from Maris.
"What do you propose? How can we prevent this from happening again? What should we do with the slaves and the confiscated ships?" Ars Veruna inquired, and one of his advisors stepped forward.
"I would suggest that we help the slaves reunite with their families, if possible. For those without families, we could offer them a place on Naboo. We allowed them to be enslaved on one of our moons, and we will also take care of them."
"That sounds like a good plan. Can we use the confiscated ships ourselves, or would it be more sensible to sell them?" Veruna asked, and another advisor responded.
"The four ships are not in the best condition. They consist of two YT-1300s and two Ghtroc 720 light freighters. One of the YT-1300s has a passenger configuration, while the other is a cargo freighter. None of the ships should be used by us. With the money we receive from the sale, we could place some sensor satellites within the solar system. This would enable us to better monitor the system and reduce the number of fighters required for air surveillance."
"However, an increased military presence might meet resistance from the people," another advisor cautioned, but Veruna waved it off. He would lose face if the entire situation came to light, and if he did nothing, he would appear weak. The citizens of Naboo had also been subjected to slavery. He even considered letting this fact leak out to justify the increase in security spending. The more he thought about it, the more he liked the idea. Veruna didn't entirely trust his business partners in the Trade Federation, and a little more military might even deter them.
Nal Hutta, Nar Shaddaa, Hutta Town, Docks
With utmost caution and skill, Harry landed his ship on Nar Shaddaa, his eyes scanning the familiar yet treacherous moon. As he reflected on his two-day journey, thoughts of past adventures and discoveries raced through his mind. After recovering from the stresses of his recent escape, he took a moment to rummage through his suitcase and extract useful items. Among them were two wands that had once belonged to Crabbe and Goyle, the same wands that had met their demise in the Room of Requirement.
To his regret, Harry realized that his magic was no longer as potent as it once had been. While he could still summon, banish, or retrieve objects, the art of transfiguration eluded him. Moreover, he had lost the ability to directly influence other beings through magic. This meant he could no longer hex or enchant anyone. Fortunately, Protego and Protectus Fista still functioned flawlessly. After several attempts, he even managed to cast the latter spell on an object to test its resistance against blaster bolts.
Surprisingly, the spell managed to deflect twenty blaster bolts before finally yielding. Encouraged by this success, Harry delved deep into his books, searching for other protective and neutralizing spells. There, he stumbled upon a spell that granted invisibility and another that allowed him to move soundlessly.
Immediately after his landing, Harry made his way to the cargo lift and disembarked from the ship. Waiting for him outside was a Rodian named Igtru Matati, who posed as the harbormaster and demanded a fee of one Trugut per day for the docking bay. Harry decided to rent the berth for two days, promising to settle the rest if he stayed longer. Fuel and repairs were unnecessary for the time being.
He pulled out two Truguts from his pocket, which he had stolen from Dendo's hiding place. Twenty Peggats filled his pockets, providing him with a slight sense of security. He knew that one Peggat was equivalent to about four Truguts. In the Outer Rim, few earned more than twelve Peggats per month.
The Rodian accepted the Truguts graciously and disappeared. Harry meticulously locked up his ship and set out to explore. He was acutely aware that he needed to create a new identity to pass through the checkpoints of the Core Worlds. Additionally, he needed to register his new ship under a false name and have its identity changed, a costly endeavor he currently couldn't afford.
After a while of wandering, Harry decided to visit the first cantina he could find and inquire with the bartender for information. He needed a plan to survive in this dangerous galaxy. Harry didn't have to search for long as a shabby sign with the inscription "Devil's Drop" caught his eye. The outward appearance of the cantina left much to be desired, but inside, it was bustling with activity.
Dozens of beings from various species were dancing, conversing, laughing, and enjoying their drinks. Upon entering the cantina, Harry immediately made his way to the bar, his eyes attentively fixed on the bartender, hoping to catch his attention. After the busy bartender had attended to other orders, he finally turned his focus to Harry and asked in terse words, "What you want?"
Harry responded calmly, "I'd like a mead and some information." With a casual gesture, he handed the Zabrak some Wupiupi to emphasize his intentions. The Zabrak swiftly filled a glass with the requested mead and placed it in front of Harry on the counter.
"What kind of information are you looking for? It could be costly," remarked the Zabrak, waiting for Harry's response.
After a moment's thought, Harry said, "I'd like to know where I can find a skilled forger. Additionally, I want to know who might be interested in purchasing Glitterstim in larger quantities." He could sense the Zabrak absorbing his words and contemplating.
"That'll cost you 1 Trugut. I know a forger, and there's also a Hutt who's fond of Glitterstim," explained the Zabrak as he extended his palm to accept the agreed-upon payment.
Harry sighed lightly, placing the Trugut in the Zabrak's hand, who promptly pocketed the money. Then he continued, "Three levels down, there's a talented forger named Mako. He operates his business under the guise of an electronics store called TetsuTetsu. An excellent man. As for Glitterstim, Gele´ren deals with it quite frequently. He'll buy your Glitterstim in small quantities. Just be cautious not to anger Jabba. You can find him at the Dawn Cantina, three houses down. It's advisable not to mention that you received this information from me."
With the arrangements made, the Zabrak left, and Harry enjoyed his mead in peace, contemplating his next steps. He knew he would need more money to pay the forger. Harry had grown attached to his ship over the last two days but understood that operating the vessel typically required a crew of at least 12 people. He had two options: either find a way to automate the ship further and rely on droids or hire some individuals to accompany him on his journeys. Personally, he preferred automating the ship to protect his friends from potential danger. Too many of them had suffered because his enemies tried to get to him through them.
His resolve was firm – he would make it on his own without putting any friend or acquaintance in harm's way. If he had to kill his enemies to achieve that, so be it. His thoughts drifted to past events, and tormenting memories flooded his mind. If only he had cast the blasting curse at the Death Eaters in the Ministry when they faced him. Then Sirius wouldn't have fallen through the veil, and Hermione wouldn't have been tortured by Bellatrix. If he had killed Malfoy and his cronies during his school years, they would never have been able to let the Death Eaters into Hogwarts. With Bellatrix's death, the Lestrange family fortune would have gone to the head of the Black family. He could have simply walked into Gringotts to retrieve the cup instead of breaking in. So many things would have turned out differently if only he had killed his enemies.
A clearing of the barkeeper's throat brought Harry back from his somber thoughts. He noticed two grim-looking Nikto staring impatiently at him.
"Are you going to escort me to your boss?" Harry asked, receiving a growl as a response.
"Alright, then I'll follow you," he muttered to himself, mentally preparing for possible confrontations. It wouldn't be easy, but he was determined to achieve his goals.
Shortly after, they reached the office of the Hutt. Behind a shabby desk sat a massive brown slug-like creature, holding a glass of dark liquid.
"Did you want to speak with me?" the Hutt asked in Huttese, eyeing Harry suspiciously as he took a sip from his glass.
Harry replied in the same language, "Yes, I wanted to speak with you, mighty Gele´ren."
"So, you can speak Huttese. How interesting. What do you want from me? Speak, or I'll feed you to my pets," the Hutt growled, his eyes gleaming dangerously.
"I'd like to make a deal with you. I received a shipment of Glitterstim, but my original buyer has passed away. I'm willing to sell it to you," Harry explained calmly, watching closely for the Hutt's reaction.
"What's to stop me from simply killing you and taking the spice from your ship?" Gele´ren inquired, his eyes narrowing.
Harry smiled faintly and replied, "Well, the ship is equipped with a dead man's switch. If I die, the hyperdrive reactor will overload and cause an explosion that will leave a nice hole in Nar Shaddaa. Additionally, there's only a limited amount of Glitterstim on my ship. For safety, I've stored the majority at various locations."
The words seemed to impress the Hutt, and he leaned forward with interest. "How much Glitterstim are we talking about, and what type is it?" he asked, contemplating how he could outmaneuver Harry. But Harry didn't mind. He was ready to sell the Glitterstim even at a lower price. The most crucial thing was to get rid of it as quickly as possible. Once he had a new registration for his ship, no one could trace him back to the stolen drugs. And all those who knew about his plan might already be dead.
"We're talking about a thousand tons of Glitterstim, and it's a new blend, mixed with Naboo's Millaflower. This increases the potency of the spice and reduces the required Glitterstim content by forty percent. It lowers the production cost by at least seventy percent. I might even be willing to share the manufacturing process with you," Harry contemplated aloud, closely observing the Hutt's reaction.
"Now, do you have some of the new type with you? We need to confirm its effectiveness, and then we can negotiate how much you'll get for the goods," said Gele´ren, trying not to show his fascination with the new blend. If he succeeded in bringing a new variety to the market, he wouldn't be violating Jabba's monopoly. Jabba would have to buy the license for this new drug from him first to do business with it in Hutt space. On the other hand, Jabba could send his people to extract the process from him. Gele´ren knew that compared to Jabba, he was a small Hutt with only a few connections.
"Of course. Here's a sample of the new blend, and a sample of the Glitterstim I can offer," Harry said, handing one of the guards the two samples. The guard briefly left the room and returned with a droid and a Duros slave. The droid appeared to be a GH-7 analysis droid, a top-tier model. Harry knew this only because he had seen a similar model in Dendo's memories.
"Droid, analyze the two samples, and then the slave will take the altered sample," Gele´ren ordered, and the droid began its analysis.
"Confirm purity of the first sample. It's Glitterstim with a purity of 97 percent. The second sample is Glitterstim with a purity of 60 percent. This sample appears to be mixed with a hallucinogen. Further tests are needed for more information," the droid reported, and one of the guards forced the slave to ingest the diluted form of Glitterstim. At first, nothing happened, but then the drug took effect. The Duros's pupils dilated, and he suddenly stood much straighter.
"How do you feel, slave?" Gele´ren asked harshly, receiving an immediate response from the Duros.
"I feel reborn. Everything is much clearer. I can see the tiniest cracks in the wall, and I think I can feel everyone's emotions," the Duros said, seeming to examine his hand in amazement.
"Droid, examine him," Gele´ren ordered, and the droid activated its scanners once again. After a brief scan, the droid stopped and turned to its master.
"Confirm subject's health. Elevated brain activity and dilated pupils observed. No negative effects detected at this time."
"Now that this is confirmed, can we get back to business?" Harry asked, looking at the Hutt.
"I can offer 100 Peggat per kilo of Glitterstim. For the new version, I'll pay 60 Peggat per kilo. If the new blend is well-received, I may even consider buying the recipe from you," the Hutt stated harshly before smiling slightly and adding, "Can I convince you to stay overnight? I'm sure you'll find the room service quite pleasant."
Harry politely declined. He could smell a rat. The Hutt wanted him to stay overnight so his people would have enough time to search his ship, deactivate not only the non-existent dead man's switch but also steal the spice. Harry couldn't allow this.
"I'm sorry, but I must be on my way. We can finalize the deal now, or I'll find another customer for the goods," Harry said, hinting that he was ready to leave.
"No, you will conclude this deal with me or not at all. Guards, seize him," the Hutt shouted. But to his surprise, both guards aimed their weapons at the Hutt.
"What's happening here?" the Hutt exclaimed and attempted to press a button to summon more guards. However, one of the guards shot him in the arm before he could reach the button. Gele´ren cried out in pain, opening his mouth wide, and Harry took the opportunity to toss a detonator into the Hutt's mouth.
"Now, I've taken control of your two guards. While you were watching the droid, I took your guards away from you. Don't even think about pressing that panic button. If you even think about it, I'll trigger this switch, and then we'll see what a thermal detonator in a Hutt's belly can do," Harry said, pointing to the device on his wrist. He had taken it from Dendo when he left Rori. It contained a microcomputer that allowed him to remotely trigger thermal detonators, among other things.
"What do you want?" Gele´ren asked harshly, and Harry let out a sigh.
"Well, I want to conclude the deal. You buy a thousand tons of Glitterstim for a hundred thousand Peggat, and the available quantity of the new recipe for eighty thousand. As compensation for my trouble, you also get this GH7 unit and two astromech droids," Harry said, smiling at the Hutt.
Nal Hutta, Nar Shaddaa, Hutta Town, Gele´ren's Office
Fuming with anger, Gele´ren sat in his office, contemplating his next moves. Just minutes ago, Harry Potter had left his establishment with the money and the droids. If he stuck to the agreement, he would receive spice worth more than six hundred thousand Peggats at a fairly reasonable price. But that wasn't what mattered to him. He wanted the drugs for free and to show this person that crossing him was a grave mistake. His plan to devour the man couldn't be executed now. This man had outsmarted him, and Gele´ren was not pleased at all. The audacity of this man to corrupt two of his men also didn't sit well with him. It was clear that they would have to pay with their lives for their betrayal. He knew what he would do to make this man suffer. Gele´ren pressed a button on his grimy desk, activating the built-in holographic projector. Shortly after, a Zygerrian appeared and asked, "What can the Bounty Hunters' Guild do for you? I am Sono Rajim Nervi and would gladly take on your assignment."
"Well, I want to put a bounty on a young man," Gele´ren began, but he didn't get any further. In that moment, his belly exploded, splattering everything with entrails. Unbeknownst to Gele´ren, Harry had never sent a deactivation frequency; instead, he had been transmitting a disarm signal at short intervals. Since his ship was out of range, the thermal detonator exploded, killing the small-time gangster.
Nal Hutta, Nar Shadaa, Hutta Town, Docks
Two weeks passed before Harry revisited Nar Shaddaa. During these weeks, Harry spent his time repairing his ship with the astromech droids and continuing to search his suitcase for useful items. While fleeing from the Death Eaters, he didn't always have the time to do so, and the two days he flew to Nar Shaddaa weren't enough to accomplish this thoroughly. Among a large pile of items, he found his invisibility cloak again, and he was more than relieved by this discovery. He had the droids perform every possible test, and he realized that the cloak made him invisible to sensors, but he could still be heard. However, this was a problem he could easily solve with a spell. After this test, he wiped the memory of all three droids and set himself as their new master. This was a standard procedure and, therefore, straightforward to complete.
Once he was certain he could move invisibly through the galaxy, he began to delve into the books he had copied from Bill's library. Many of the books were about runes and arithmetic, but some were also about magical arts. The two books that truly intrigued him were "Protection Charm your Mind: A Practical Guide to Counter Legilimency" and "Guide to Advanced Occlumency."
Harry devoured both books and realized that Snape truly despised him. The method Snape used to teach him Occlumency did precisely the opposite. It destroyed an individual's defenses and made it even easier for Legilimens to penetrate his mind. The most efficient method was quite simple. One turned their gaze inward and used their magic to separate memories from emotions. To do this, one had to relive each memory once again and learn a lot about themselves and their own past.
As Harry began, he slowly understood why no one wanted him to learn the true form of Occlumency. Dumbledore had made sure he suffered and even wanted him to die long before he knew that Harry was a Horcrux. He was also the one who cast the Fidelius Charm on his parents' house and thus knew that Sirius, not Peter, was the true Secret-Keeper.
What shook Harry the most was that Dumbledore frequently altered his memory, especially when he was still a child and Vernon went too far. In his anger, Harry unintentionally used the Resurrection Stone, and what he discovered then left him stunned. How the Stone found its way back to him, Harry didn't know.
Backflash
Angry, Harry paced back and forth in the storage room of his spaceship, trying to process what he had just experienced in one of his hidden memories. Albus Dumbledore knew not only that Vernon had nearly beaten him to death, but he also covered it up. To make matters worse, Dumbledore erased his memory of the ordeal and only provided rudimentary healing. Inside, Harry wished he could face Dumbledore and ask him why. Harry wanted to know why he had been sent to the Dursleys. In his eyes, protection had little to do with it. Unnoticed by the furious Harry, an unassuming ring materialized on his finger. Inside, he wished he could confront Dumbledore and demand answers.
"You should not have summoned me," said the figure of Albus Dumbledore, attempting to reprimand Harry in a grandfatherly manner. However, it had no effect on the enraged Harry.
"Why? Why did you send me to the Dursleys and allow Vernon to nearly beat me to death?" Harry screamed, glaring hatefully at Albus.
"It was for your own good. It was the only place you were safe from the Death Eaters," Albus began to speak, but Harry cut him off.
"I want to hear the truth. Why did I have to live there?" Harry shouted, and the ring on his finger pulsed threateningly. Dumbledore started screaming in pain and curled up on the floor.
"I wanted to turn you into my puppet. You were supposed to die alongside Tom so I could master the Deathly Hallows. Only when all former owners of the Hallows die without heirs can others seize the power. Then, I would have possessed the power of the Hallows and ruled over the world," Dumbledore confessed in agony.
"Why do you want to rule? The wizarding world is corrupt and full of racists," Harry shouted at his former professor.
"Only I can rule the wizarding world with my beloved ones. Only we are pure and powerful enough to correct the mistakes. Powerful enough to wield the power as it is meant to be," Dumbledore said as his grandfatherly facade finally shattered, revealing the madness beneath. Harry was disgusted by what lurked behind Dumbledore's facade. Only now did he realize how deeply evil Dumbledore had been all those years. Dumbledore didn't want to fight Tom to save the wizarding world from the madman. No, he wanted to rule the wizarding world himself and had been playing a long game. In school, he easily manipulated the next generations to see him as their great savior.
"Did you really destroy the Philosopher's Stone, or did you just tell your former mentor that it was destroyed?" Harry asked, his voice filled with an unexpected harshness that surprised even himself. This made him pause. For some inexplicable reason, the longer he stayed in this galaxy, the more he was drawn to violence and the desire to rule over other beings. It was as if an external force were trying to influence him.
"I did not destroy the Stone. My attempt to create the Elixir of Life failed. Nicolas gave me a false Stone, and I could not repeat the action," Dumbledore confessed to his crime.
"You disgust me. Disappear. Get out of my sight," Harry yelled, and Dumbledore dissolved into red smoke.
Backflash End
After Dumbledore's confession, Harry had to reconsider his entire life. Throughout his life, he had been used by Dumbledore like a puppet, and now he even knew why. If there was one person who could hate Harry from the depths of their heart, it was Dumbledore. How could he not hate a person who had not only tried to kill him but was also responsible for all the tragedies in his life?
But Harry decided to let go of this hatred. It was tough, but over time, he managed to dispel some of his anger with Occlumency. With the help of his Invisibility Cloak, he also discovered why he was growing angrier. Microscopic creatures had nested in his cells. Using his droids, he managed to extract one of these creatures from his cells. He knew it would take months to find a way to expel all of them from his body, but he didn't lose hope. These creatures were influencing him, and he didn't want that. Fortunately, he was protected from their influence when he was under his Invisibility Cloak or when it touched his body. This effect was strange, but he used it to his advantage by wearing the cloak constantly. This allowed him to think clearly again and reflect on his actions while under the influence of these creatures. Many of his actions had been far too extreme for his taste. He had literally roasted people's brains to obtain information and had tortured and tormented people like a madman to become more powerful.
That wasn't who he was, and he never wanted to do anything so bloodthirsty again. Harry swore never to resort to those means again. In his eyes, there were other ways to secure his future in this galaxy.
One of the options was smuggling goods. His suitcase could easily bypass security checks and enable him to lead a comfortable life. To his knowledge, there was no one who could detect the suitcase, giving him a significant advantage over everyone else. Although he no longer wanted to roast the brains of beings, he could still gently search for information. He couldn't control other beings, but it wouldn't be noticed if the person didn't even realize it.
On the other hand, there was also the option of becoming a bounty hunter or a businessman. The money he received from his previous sales would be enough to open a small business on an underdeveloped planet. The rest of the stolen drugs could make him a very wealthy businessman if he used the money wisely.
But that was a future plan. First and foremost, he needed a new identity and registration for his ship. He could get both on Nar Shaddaa, which was why he was currently on the approach for landing.
Several hundred kilometers from his initial landing on Nar Shaddaa, Harry found a suitable landing spot and touched down with his ship.
Harry leisurely made his way to the cargo lift and descended. Upon reaching the bottom, he was greeted by a scruffy Rodian.
"I'm Hitari Matati. The docking fee is 1 Trugut per day. Repairs and refueling cost extra," said the Rodian, extending his hand.
Without a word, Harry placed two Truguts into the Rodian's hand and began to walk away.
"Hey, I need your name, or I'll scrap your ship," shouted the Rodian, following Harry.
"Well, my name shouldn't concern you. I'll come back in two days, either to leave the planet or to pay my docking fee for additional days. If I don't do that, you can do whatever you want with the ship," Harry said curtly and continued walking. He could hear the dockworker swearing behind him, but he paid little attention.
Quickly, he looked for a shuttle and paid the chauffeur to take him to Mako's store. After half an hour, they reached their destination, and Harry silently paid the driver.
He glanced around briefly and immediately spotted the store with the sign "TetsuTetsu" on the door. When he opened the door, a bell rang, indicating the arrival of a new customer. Very old-fashioned technology but still very effective.
In the back of the store, Harry heard a rumble before a person wearing a mask emerged. The person was very slim and wore armor that made it impossible to identify who was underneath.
"Hello. I'm the owner of this store. My name is Mako," came a distorted voice from the person in the armor.
"Good day. I heard that you can acquire papers here?" Harry asked, looking at the person. The armor prevented him from making eye contact with the person, which negated his mind-reading abilities.
"That's possible. Who wants to know? How good should these papers be, and where should they be valid?" the masked person asked, standing with legs apart behind the store counter.
"I want papers that are valid throughout the galaxy. I'm willing to pay well for them. I'm Harry," Harry said quickly, realizing that he hadn't introduced himself.
"An unusual name. Ah, there we have it. A crime boss here on Nar Shaddaa has put a bounty of three thousand Peggats on you. That's not a small sum for someone who's still relatively new to the business. You've clearly stepped on someone's toes," said the distorted voice, pointing to the hologram they had brought up.
"So, will these IDs be a bit more expensive to obtain? While we're at it, can we also register a ship in my name? It's a C-ROC Gozanti-class light cruiser in the freighter variant," Harry said, laying out the essential details to register his ship in his name. He knew it would be expensive, but he had some money, and if necessary, he could sell another ton of drugs.
"Well, this ship is reported as stolen, and there's a reward for it. A Hutt named Borvo is offering a hefty sum to get this ship back. He'd also like the head of whoever stole this ship for him. He's paying an additional three hundred Peggats for that," Mako said, pointing to the reward, which amounted to several thousand Peggats.
"What will this service cost me?" Harry asked, thinking about how much he could afford to pay.
"Well, to put it briefly, I'd like two hundred thousand Peggats for this job, or you can do a job..." Mako began, and Harry immediately interrupted the masked person.
"I don't have that much money. So, what's this job, and what's the discount for it?" Harry knew the figure was just an excuse to tempt him into accepting the job. Mako probably knew how much he had earned in his deal with the Hutts and had set the price higher accordingly.
"You need to rescue a friend of mine from a difficult situation. Afterward, you need to leave the planet with my friend as quickly as possible. I'll pick up my friend once the situation has calmed down again. Otherwise, things could get a little dangerous," Mako said.
"Rescue one person and leave the planet with them. What guarantees me that I won't fall into a trap?" Harry asked, receiving no immediate response. With a sigh, Harry agreed and let Mako explain everything. How bad could the mission really be?
Nal Hutta, Nar Shaddaa, Wormstew Town, Headquarters of Eidolon Security
Harry stealthily moved through the large complex, cursing himself under his breath. The mission he had agreed to was anything but easy, and it was bound to make him even more enemies than he already had.
Mako had informed him that his friend Anuli had been captured by the security contractor Eidolon because Anuli had attempted to access information in their systems on behalf of the Hutt Cartel. Eidolon, aware of the friendship between Anuli and Mako, blackmailed Mako. Either Mako provided secret information from the Hutt Cartel, or Anuli would be killed.
To Eidolon's misfortune, Mako had opted for a third option, persuading Anuli to escape. At first glance, it seemed like a simple rescue mission, one that he could easily accomplish with his suitcase and cloak. However, the location where Anuli was being held made things a bit complicated. It was a high-security facility that housed the company's research facilities. Just getting to the building required passing through multiple checkpoints, and the number of guards was steadily increasing. Inside the building, things got even more complicated. Every guard and employee carried a code cylinder necessary to pass through security doors.
This significantly complicated the mission, and Harry wasn't sure if he could accomplish it without breaking his promise. But he was determined to stick to it, even if it made his mission more challenging. For security reasons, he wore a helmet that concealed his face, preventing anyone from capturing his image on camera. He also wore gloves and used a voice modulator to alter his voice. He didn't want to be linked to the break-in. A few angry Hutts were already enough excitement for him.
Harry patiently waited until a door opened to the corridor he wanted, then slipped behind the guard and into the corridor. Several corridors branched off from the main one, leading to countless laboratories, but Anuli was at the other end of the corridor. According to the information Mako had gathered, Anuli was in the lowermost level, deep underground, in a part of the building much older than the building itself.
Harry approached the lift quietly, waiting again until a guard entered it. After what felt like an eternity, a single guard entered the lift, and Harry quickly followed the Trandoshan into the elevator. Once the doors closed, Harry struck him on the back of the head, rendering the Trandoshan unconscious. Harry took the guard's code cylinder and inserted it into the designated slot before pressing the button that would take him to the lowest level.
A few minutes later, the elevator doors opened, and Harry stepped out. Several prison cells lined the room, and he could see many hopeless beings in the cells as he walked down the aisle, searching for Anuli. Many of them were emaciated from the torture in this secret prison and seemed to be in a vegetative state. Harry didn't have to search for long before he found Anuli.
Anuli was a human with several cybernetic facial implants. His hair was brown, and his fair skin appeared almost translucent. He seemed to have been in captivity for several days and hadn't eaten much.
Harry opened the prison cell with the guard's keycard, removed his cloak, and bent down to examine Anuli. "You must be Anuli. Mako sent me. I'm here to get you out. My name is Rugess Damask," Harry said, using the name he had come up with for this operation, which Mako had found somewhat amusing. Little did he know that he had given himself the surname of a Sith Lord, inadvertently creating a connection between the attack and the Banking Clan.
"Mako sent you? This is a trap," Anuli coughed, and Harry gently patted his back to help him. "How is this a trap?" Harry asked, offering Anuli some water from his flask.
"Eidolon captured me to lure Mako out of hiding. The Hutts forwarded my infiltration to him. They never wanted information about Eidolon; they just wanted me to come here so I could be captured," Anuli explained, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation.
"I'll get you out of here, and then you and Mako can leave with me. I promise," Harry assured him, but Anuli shook his head vigorously.
"Eidolon anticipated that Mako might try to free me and implanted a bomb in me. If I leave this building, I'll die. The same goes for all the other prisoners here. They're friends and family members of people Eidolon wants to control."
"Well, then we'll have to deactivate these bombs and bring down Eidolon's empire," Harry said simply, glancing at the other prisoners. A plan formed in his mind, and if it worked, he would have some new allies.
"This is madness. Leave me here and tell Mako to forget about me. No one can get into the security central of the building. Multiple security doors stand between here and that location. Only with Eidolon's retinal scan can you even access the computer," Anuli screamed, and Harry immediately stunned him. Harry went through the prison cells, stunning all the inmates and then providing them with bacta treatment before placing them in his suitcase. Finally, he placed Anuli in the suitcase, but not before reviewing his memories to gain more information about the building.
He knew his actions weren't very friendly and could be viewed as dark by many, but in his eyes, he hadn't crossed that line yet. When he had all the information, he left the suitcase to set out on his next mission. There was still much to do before he could leave the place.
Nal Hutta, Nar Shadaa, Wormstew Town, Headquarters of Eidolon Security
Harry cautiously sneaked through the building, getting closer to his target with each step. After stowing the prisoners in his suitcase, he headed to the kitchen to find food for them and supplies for the journey ahead. Then, he made his way to the medical bay to have the captives treated. To his surprise, the doctors were very cooperative once they realized that some of their friends were among the rescued. They even helped him with his plans and contacted other individuals who had been forced to work for Eidolon. This allowed him access to all areas of the building, except the high-security zone, but he had plans for that as well. Since many researchers, developers, and technicians were on his side and harbored a deep hatred for Eidolon, they had no problem stealing data for him and providing data crystals that would aid him in his next steps.
Armed with everything he needed for the next phase, he waited for his target, who fortunately happened to pass by. He quickly followed Eidolon, effortlessly entering the security control center. Invisibility was the most useful ability in the universe. The security control center consisted of a room from which most of the building was monitored, as well as a second room where Eidolon's private office was located. The office was accessible only to him, where he planned his next jobs.
Through his interrogations, Harry learned a very interesting detail about Eidolon. He was an assassin, and a skilled one at that. Initially, his security company was just a cover for his true activities, but as he repeatedly supplemented his income by stealing information, the security business became his main source of income. However, even his security business wasn't without ulterior motives. Since he developed security systems for many companies, he could insert backdoors without the companies' knowledge, which he exploited. If a company decided to switch to another provider, it would coincidentally be attacked by hackers during the transition. Until now, no one could prove anything against Eidolon, but after today, that would change.
Harry silently entered Eidolon's office and searched for information while the assassin was still engaged with his security personnel in the control center. The office was unassuming, with walls adorned with multiple screens monitoring almost every area of the complex. Even the prison cells could be viewed, and if it weren't for Harry hacking the cameras with Mako's help, their entire operation would have been exposed much earlier. There was another computer terminal on Eidolon's desk, but as Harry suspected, it was biometrically secured.
Annoyed, Harry settled into a secluded corner and waited for Eidolon, who entered the office after what felt like an eternity, locking the door behind him. Once Eidolon logged into his system, Harry struck. He incapacitated the assassin and moved him away from his desk before delving into Eidolon's memories.
Harry didn't have to search for long, as Eidolon was currently recalling his passwords. With this knowledge, Harry moved to the desk and established a private channel with Mako.
"This is Mako from TetsuTetsu. How can I assist you?" Mako asked, looking into the holoprojector.
"Hello, Mako. I managed to rescue Anuli and found out that someone from the Hutt Cartel betrayed him to Eidolon. Now, I'm in Eidolon's office and have direct access to the systems. How can I give you full control of the systems?" Harry asked, with Mako studying him.
"You're in Eidolon's office and have direct access to the systems? Are you crazy? What if he comes back?" Mako's voice sounded distorted, and Harry simply raised Eidolon's head to indicate that he was sleeping soundly.
"So, you've just decided to break into the office of a very influential man on Nar Shaddaa and sedate him. Do you realize the trouble you'll be in if they can trace this back to you? The bounty on your head will surely increase tenfold. It's better to be as far away from you as possible," Mako stuttered and grabbed her masked forehead.
"Well, how can I hand over control to you? After questioning some researchers I rescued, I found out that Eidolon installed some backdoors into his customers' security systems. Maybe we can make it look like he stole from them, and then he'll be too busy defending himself against them to chase us," Harry explained his plan, and Mako fell briefly silent.
"Okay, that could work. It would be even better if you could access all security systems. The cylinders I gave you can provide me with access to the systems if I have an open communication link. You've already provided that for me. Insert one of these cylinders into the terminal's dataport and another one in the control center. Then, press the back of the cylinders, and they should appear on your datapad. Once you've done that, click 'Connect to Datapad' and insert the comlink into the right slot. The comlink should automatically connect to the datapad. After that, I can take care of the rest," Mako said, and Harry nodded in response. He opened the door to the security center, swiftly stunning all five individuals present, placed the cylinder, and then secured the security personnel. Since he no longer needed his invisibility cloak, he stowed it back into his suitcase, unaware of the disaster this would cause.
Nal Hutta, Nar Shadaa, Wormstew Town, Headquarters of Eidolon Security
They hurried through the corridors, making their way to the elevator their rescuer had sent them. Just a few minutes ago, one of the guards had discovered that the prisoners had escaped, and since then, chaos had erupted. The lower ten floors were locked down, and in most corridors, droids patrolled, scrutinizing everyone who passed by.
At first, they thought their savior had abandoned them, and they would have to watch their loved ones explode before their eyes. But it didn't happen. Shortly after, they received a message from their rescuer and now walked past the droids, which seemed to ignore them. Somehow, their savior had managed to control the droids, and as far as they knew, only the top boss could do that.
"Just one more turn, and you should see the elevator. It's a cargo lift and will take you to the top of the building," explained their savior's voice from the comlink.
"But how do we get off this building? The lower floors are locked, and any ship trying to take off or land will be destroyed by the anti-aircraft defenses," one of the technicians called into the comlink.
"I've deactivated the anti-aircraft defenses and will meet you there," the voice of their savior from the comlink reassured them, dispelling the concerns of most people in the group.
The group reached the cargo elevator, and the door opened immediately. The elevator was large enough to accommodate all fifty people, which was a relief for many. They wouldn't have to decide who would go up first and who wouldn't. After the last person had entered the elevator, the doors closed without their intervention, and the elevator began to ascend. The tension inside the elevator was palpable. Some still feared that their savior had betrayed them, as had happened several times before.
When the elevator doors opened, and no armed guards were waiting for them, many breathed a sigh of relief and proceeded to the rooftop of the building. There, they spotted their savior and waved to them. Behind them was a CR70 corvette, its engines glowing, and it was being loaded with items by several lifting droids.
"Come, come. We don't have all day. If you have any people you want to take with you, tell me now, or we'll be leaving this planet shortly. Could you please be so kind as to bring some items inside as well? I've stolen all of these from Eidolon," their savior said, pointing at the corvette. Several dozen crates were lined up in front of the corvette, filled with supplies and weapons. Others contained large sums of money, which surprised many of the escapees. What surprised them the most was the crate filled with data cubes. Each of the ten cubes could store the plans of dozens of projects. It was a massive amount of information.
"My sister is held as a slave in one of the cantinas on this planet. Can we rescue her?" one of the rescued Twi'leks asked, looking at their savior with a pleading expression. Their savior seemed to consider it under their helmet and then nodded.
"I'll save her. The owner probably has other slaves too, right?" their savior asked, and the Twi'lek nodded.
"Good. Anuli, since I'm here primarily for your rescue, you'll take command of the ship here. It belonged to Eidolon. The coordinates for the rendezvous point are already in the computer. Twi'lek, you'll tell me which cantina your sister is in and what she looks like. With that information, I can take off right away," their savior said and received the information. They nodded to the rescued individuals and then jumped onto an airspeeder to fly away quickly. The rescued individuals quickly boarded the CR70 corvette. On their way inside, they helped the droids load some items, and then they took control of the ship to leave the planet.