Chapter Five:
"The Fist is already on the ground," Vexa informed those with her. Aside from a squad of Vexa's best personal troopers, she'd brought four of her acolytes.
Kida and Raythe stood to Vexa's right, while the final two stood opposite them. Though they were separated by a year, these two could have passed for twins. Katya and Caimbre were a pair of sisters that Vexa had allowed to remain together. Why? Because in an impressive twist, the two human girls could move so in sync that they made a formidable team.
They were only fourteen and fifteen, but they were still an effective pair, and Vexa had chosen them for this mission so that the Rising's Force-using numbers would be higher.
"The Fist's objective is to cut off the Queen if she should evade us in the initial invasion of her palace. They have a few hidden passageways which they will likely use to smuggle their beloved Queen to safety. Little do they realize that the Fist also knows the secret exits, and is prepared to move to capture Queen Zamira." Vexa gave the four acolytes a warning look. "I do not want the woman dead."
"Yes Master." They chorused.
"We will be landing soon on the outskirts of the city, and we will sneak around until we come to the palace. From there, we will make our way to the Queens' bedroom. It is night, and that will mask us."
All of them wore matte-black gear that would allow them to hide in the darkness of the night. None of them carried anything that would reflect light, and each person here knew how to move in silence.
"Once we are at the palace, we will signal the fleet to begin their approach. They will not bother to hide their presence, and I am certain that the Nabooians will be too focused on the threat they can see that they will not realize we are there until we want them to."
Kida smirked. "Devious, Master; I like it."
Vexa allowed Kida's comment, even offering the other a tiny bit of a warm smile. Kida truly was a special young lady, and if things were different, Vexa may have considered the girl a daughter of sorts. But things would never be that way, so Vexa did nothing to pursue that lane of thought.
Their craft landed on the edge of the city, several feet into the trees. Once the passengers had disembarked, the thing shut down entirely and its pilot worked to camouflage it until Vexa called for the ship.
"Let's move," Vexa ordered once they had regrouped.
00000
Brown eyes looked upon the field of stars, the scene before her reminding her of a restaurant she had once visited. The establishment had used fiber optics in a dark ceiling; this to create the illusion of a starry sky above the guests at their tables.
But Queen Zamira had to admit that the illusion did not do enough justice to the real thing. The sky before her could have passed for a bejeweled blanket fit for a goddess. Her vantage point near the pinnacle of the palace afforded her a spectacular view of the night sky.
Sharp eyes picked out the constellations that most Nabooian natives knew of, as well as the planets she knew to be there. Visually she picked out Umgul, Kalinda and Rintonne. The Queen shifted more to her left and was able to locate Malastare and Haruun Kal. If she was diligent, she could have also located a few of the planets that lay closer to the Core regions of the galaxy, but Zamira did not feel like doing so.
It was so peaceful tonight, and a silence seemed to have descended upon the entire city of Theed. In fact, if she wasn't mistaken, it seemed a bit more hushed than normal.
Queen Zamira shifted her stance, preparing to leave the balcony to prepare for bed when something caught her eye. She tilted her head curiously, moving to her balcony's railing to get a better look.
If she wasn't imagining things, she could have sworn that a few stars were moving. Zamira raked her brain: was there supposed to be a meteor shower this evening? She could not recall that on the weather broadcast, but she supposed that space debris had found its way to Naboo.
Then again, space debris would not glow unless it was on fire, or it had entered the atmosphere to be burned up. And it certainly wouldn't be visible from where she was unless the object in question was huge.
Besides, the shifting stars were growing ever larger and brighter in the sky.
Apprehension blossomed within her, and Zamira left the balcony to call for security. She waited, trying to think of what she should do. Was this something to be alarmed about? Should she alert her people to take cover?
"Your Majesty?"
Zamira turned at the sound of the voice, eyes falling upon her chief of security. The well-built man looked upon her with an air of respect, and Zamira appreciated the intelligent gleam in his gaze.
"Captain Marino, I need an immediate scan of sector twenty three." Zamira gestured him forward and showed him the stars that were still moving. "There is something up there, and I need to know what it is, so I can react appropriately."
"Yes, Your Highness," Marino replied, already pulling out his comlink. "In the meantime, I suggest you prepare to leave the palace."
Zamira's eyes narrowed. "I will not be the queen that abandons her people."
"That is not what I meant, Your Highness." Marino assured her. "But I would like for you to consider moving to a safer location until we know what we are dealing with."
Zamira eyed the sky once more and sighed. "I will get my shoes on and a into a more appropriate change of clothing for public."
Marino only nodded, as he was already conversing with someone in order to get the scans she'd ordered. Zamira's handmaidens appeared, no doubt having been alerted to their Queen's needs. With a swiftness born of years at their jobs, the handmaidens had their Queen ready to go in a matter of minutes.
By the time Zamira exited her bedchambers, Marino was looking troubled. "Your Highness, there are several ships approaching at a swift rate... and their trajectory has been calculated to be the palace."
Zamira took a steadying breath. "Gather our military forces and prepare for a defensive maneuver. And have the police begin warning citizens to take shelter. We do not know what will happen, but I want to avoid civilian casualties."
Marion dipped his head, and as he turned around, a pair of Zamira's handmaidens suddenly shrieked from the direction of the balcony.
Zamira hadn't seen them sneak outside, and she kicked herself for the misstep. She turned to find that only one— Patricia— came inside, her face etched with fear.
"Why aren't you two at your posts?" Zamira asked mildly, frowning at the fact that one was missing. "And where is Hattie?"
"She's dead!" the handmaiden replied shakily, indicating some blood splatter on her dress. "There are dark shapes climbing the walls!"
Marion sucked in a breath and placed a firm hand to Zamira's back. "Your Highness, let's go!"
The Queen did not argue this time, and swiftly her contingent of handmaidens and security formed a protective ring about their Queen. But they had hardly left her rooms when a whizzing sound passed the Queen's ear. Seconds later, the handmaid directly in front of Zamira fell dead.
Zamira cried out, seeing a strange flattened object with many spikes in it protruding from the base of her skull.
"We should split up!" Marino decided, already tugging Zamira in a new direction. "Take two of your handmaids and two guards, and get to your bunker, Milady."
Zamira gestured to the first pair of handmaids she could find and Marino directed two guards to accompany her.
"Take the secret passages. The rest of us will try to create confusion so they follow us instead."
"Yes Sir," they said with a salute before whisking their Queen away.
Zamira heard blasterfire and screams, though for some reason she heard only the voices of her guards or palace staff. She heard no voices from those who had infiltrated. It was like they were shadows, moving in utter silence, and that terrified the Queen. If the enemy could move so efficiently, how was she supposed to spot them? How would she know when to duck or to hide?
Then Zamira heard a sound that sent chills down her spine: the distinctive snap-hiss of a lightsaber. She knew the sound because she had visited the Jedi Temple on Coruscant and had requested to be shown what the weapon could do.
Zamira knew that the Jedi would never attack Naboo, so that left only one possibility; one that caused Zamira to swallow with difficulty. But she was determined to be strong: for her people if for nothing else.
A plan formed in Zamira's mind, and she clung to it for her own sense of stability. She would get out of the palace, and to her bunker, where she would call to the New Republic for help.
00000
Blasterfire zipped toward them as the security in the palace finally located Vexa's group. She and her acolytes ignited their lightsabers and began to defend themselves and the soldiers that were behind them. Those who didn't have the Force were trading blasterfire with the Queen's guards. Vexa shifted her stance and began redirecting blasterfire back at the idiots shooting her way.
Four Naboo soldiers went down in rapid succession before the enemy figured out to be more careful with their aim. The enemy paused, and Vexa used the lull to bark out orders.
"Fan out and find the Queen!" Vexa indicated her acolytes to let them know who she was talking to. "Do what you must, but take her alive!"
Her students acknowledged the command, and broke apart.
Vexa opened herself a bit more to the Force, allowing it to guide her actions. Usually she could have tracked their quarry with the Force, and normally she could locate them swiftly. But the Dark Lady was not familiar with Zamira's presence, and thus could not locate her among the throngs of personnel now racing chaotically through the building.
It was exactly the sort of cover that Vexa would have used were she in Zamira's position. Vexa gave the woman a point for her strategy, but what the woman did not know was that Vexa's plan was multi-fold. She had prepared for this, and she was not stressed that the Queen would temporarily evade the Sith Lady's forces.
The Queen would be met with Vexa's Fist when the woman finally emerged from whichever hidden passageway she'd chosen to slip into. Vexa merely had to be patient, and that was something she could do.
In the meantime, it would be prudent to find the Queen's captain. The man giving the orders in the ruler's absence would be the gravest threat to Vexa's people. She turned to the nearest Rising soldier.
"Figure out which man is in charge, and get him into custody." She ordered.
"Yes Milady!" The man saluted and jogged off, his blaster at the ready.
Vexa turned her attention back to the men shooting at her, and she began to advance on their numbers, unafraid of the amount of blasterfire being sent her way. A man came up on her rear, and lobbed a rounded object into the mass of bodies that Vexa was aiming for. The enemy had barely registered its presence before the detonator exploded, killing almost all the Nabooian soldiers in that group.
"Excellent shot." Vexa praised.
"Thank you Milady," the man said, though he remained focused on the battle.
They continued their way into the palace, towards the command center, and Vexa spared nobody. Everyone who got in her way died, with her stepping over their still-smoldering bodies without a second glance.
It was as they were reaching the throne room that Katya and Caimbre appeared on either side of her.
"Master, we found a door to a secret stairway, but we could not open it." Katya reported.
"We scanned the hall and found that five people had passed through not that long ago." Caimbre added.
Vexa nodded. "My Fist will intercept them. Continue with our assault so that the enemy doesn't suspect that we know."
"Yes Master."
00000
Zamira felt her lungs burning and her legs protesting the long hard run away from the battle taking place. Down several flights of stairs they went, ones lit only by emergency glowrods that flickered to life as they approached and shut off again once they'd passed.
She had never had to run this long and hard, and she wasn't used to it. Not that she was completely out of shape: no, she did get exercise in a few times a week. But she was a queen, not an athlete, and she had definitely never trained for a marathon.
Zamira glanced back the way they had come, and before she could return her attention to fore, her toe snagged the hem of her dress. Instinctive panic set in, and Zamira stumbled. She screeched in fright, imagining herself rolling and bouncing the remainder of the way down the stairs.
But a strong pair of hands steadied her. "Easy there, Your Majesty."
Queen Zamira looked into the face of the man who'd caught her, and she blushed at her loss of control. Righting herself, she straightened her gown.
"Thank you Galvin." She puffed, out of breath. "How much further s it to the exit?"
The man gestured. "Not much further Highness. Can you keep going?"
Zamira wanted to take a moment to rest, but she knew that wasn't prudent. "Let's just get to the bunker."
"Very good Your Highness," Galvin replied, leading the way.
They resumed their pace, and Zamira found herself grateful when the exit loomed ahead of them. Her guards gestured for her to wait while they made sure that the coast was clear. Her handmaids took up positions in front of her, and the trio of ladies waited while the men checked the immediate vicinity.
The pair returned, and Galvin nodded. "I think we are clear. Let's go. I will take point, and Panata will go behind."
Zamira followed the man outside, and saw that this exit led them to a narrow path that hugged the cliffs. Zamira instructed her handmaids to walk behind her upon the trial, which they did without fuss.
The trail led away from the building and toward one of the waterfalls that pounded the rough rocks up ahead. What was worse was that there was no way to illuminate the path except for hand-held glowrods.
They each had one now, and were using them to make sure they did not inadvertently step incorrectly. Zamira happened to look down, and though she could not see much in the dark, she knew how far below the ground was. She swallowed at the knowledge of the sheer drop below: one that would kill any who fell from it. She took a steadying breath and forced herself to focus on Galvin's back instead.
Behind her, Zamira thought she heard something, and she glanced back, but in the dark, the gesture cause her to also see below. Slightly disoriented, she whipped her focus back to Galvin's back.
Who had created this trail anyway? she thought irately. Surely they hadn't ever planned to use it?
Another sound came behind her and this time the handmaid directly behind Zamira gave a cry of horror. "Mila!"
Zamira turned in time to see the second handmaiden falling to her death, though she wasn't screaming. In fact, it wasn't until her dress fluttered in the light cast by their glowrods that Zamira was able to see the blood seeping into Mila's gown. Zamira looked back to find that Panata lay dead on the path several paces back. However, he was only visible thanks to the glint from some of his armor.
Paling, Zamira searched for the source of the two people's deaths.
"Your Highness, we must keep moving!" Galvin cautioned urgently. "Please, come on!"
With an effort, Zamira tore her eyes away from the two dead and picked up her pace to keep up with Galvin. She felt nauseous and confused.
"Are there creatures living on these cliffs that I am not aware of?" Zamira asked Galvin as they moved.
"No, Majesty, there aren't!" Galvin's tone sent warning bells off in Zamira's head.
They reached the waterfall and Galvin offered her his hand as he guided her closer to the falls. The path here was slippery, but thankfully a handrail had been installed into the rock face, and Zamira clung to it also.
From any other vantage point, it would look like they would have to enter the fast-moving stream of water. But when they got closer, the trail shifted, affording a view of the slit within the rock. It was through this slit that they crept.
Once inside, Zamira felt better, and she turned to ensure that her final handmaid had also made it inside.
"Althea, are you alright?" Zamira asked her.
"No, Your Highness, but I can still function at full capacity," the woman replied humbly, weeping over the loss of her friend.
"I am sorry about Mila," Zamira said honestly.
"Thank you, Milady," Althea whispered.
"We must keep moving, Your Majesty," Galvin said with an air of discomfort. "You are still not safe."
Zamira sighed softly but did not argue with him. He was just trying to do his job, she knew, and she would not rail on him for that.
They maneuvered their way through the small cave that Zamira now saw was behind the waterfall. Above them, even through the thick rock, Zamira could hear the roar of the water as it rushed to throw itself from the edge of the cliff.
Zamira followed Galvin, who took them at a slightly slower, more cautious pace. Zamira was also still on edge, as she still did not know what had taken out her handmaid and guard. She'd thought she heard something outside, but was she the only one that had? Althea had given no indication that she'd heard anything until Mila had fallen to her death.
The pathway widened somewhat, and Zamira moved to walk closer to the guard's side so she could see ahead.
So dark inside the tunnel was it, that she couldn't see more than ten paces ahead of them. But Galvin abruptly froze, and Zamira bumped in to him, only then seeing what he could. Galvin stepped to be in front of his Queen without any hesitation, and Zamira felt both gratitude and fear at this. Would Galvin also die tonight?
"Who's there?!" Galvin demanded, lifting his glowrod to see better. "Answer me!"
Silence followed, and Galvin shifted uncertainly. Ahead was a shadow that moved closer, and Zamira trembled in fright, especially when the light brought the newcomer into better focus. Galvin cursed, even as Althea sucked in a petrified breath of air.
"Vexa's Fist!" Althea cried in terror.
"Stay back, Fist!" Galvin warned, lifting his blaster.
But the man hadn't so much as fingered the trigger before he abruptly flew to the side. He collided with the rock wall and went limp, causing Zamira to cry out. She rushed to his side and checked for a pulse. There was none, and she glared up at the Fist, noting that for someone so dangerous, he seemed a little lacking in stature.
"What do you want with me?" Zamira demanded roughly. "What have my people done to you?"
The Fist didn't reply; he merely approached. To Zamira's shock, Althea stepped between the two, brandishing a spit of rock threateningly. Wondering where she had found it, Zamira spotted the remnants of a thin stalactite that had once been intact.
"Do not touch her!" Althea snapped, though she shook with fright.
The Fist looked to her, and seemed to be waiting to see what Althea was willing to do. Sensing this, Althea brandished the broken stalactite like an athlete up to bat.
"I will give my life for Queen Zamira." Althea warned.
The Fist took a step closer and Althea swung the heavy spit of rock. The Fist ducked it, and kept coming, causing Althea to swing again, though she was grunting with the effort. Even in the low lighting, Zamira could see the other's arms quivering. But Althea didn't give up. She tried again to hit the Fist, and finally she did strike his arm, though by then her strength was so depleted that it didn't do any damage.
At that point, the Fist grabbed the pseudo-club in his hand a yanked it from Althea's grasp. He threw it to the side as if he was bored and then grabbed the handmaiden's throat.
"Stand down," the Fist ordered.
Althea tried to hit him, but he merely stood there as if she wasn't doing a thing. Zamira leapt to her feet, tired of people dying for her.
"Let her go and I will come with you."
The Fist looked to her and seemed to be assessing her honesty.
"Please." Zamira softened her tone. "Spare Althea, let her continue to serve me, and we will go with you."
Althea was beginning to turn a different color, but finally the Fist released her.
"Kneel, both of you." Zamira noted that his voice was distorted through the mask, so she could not identify it clearly.
Zamira did so, though it took Althea a bit longer to do so, since she was still recovering. When they were both before him, he produced binders and bound their wrists. He then motioned them to stay put, moving a few paces away to speak into a comlink.
"Your Majesty, you shouldn't have done that," Althea said softly once the Fist was talking to whoever was on the other end of the line.
"No more people will die for me today." Zamira stated with finality. "Not if I can help it."
"But what do they want with Naboo?" Althea asked.
Zamira sighed softly. "I'm sure the Rising wants payback for us helping out at Bespin."
Althea blinked. "Is that the only reason for coming after you, Majesty?"
Zamira shook her head. "I don't know."
The Fist pocketed his comlink and returned to them.
"Get up and walk." He looked to Zamira. "Try anything and the handmaid dies, understand?"
Zamira nodded once, and allowed the other to lead them along.
00000
"My Lady." The soldier she'd sent off returned to Vexa's side. "The captain is Royden Marino, and he's holed up in the throne room with a host of soldiers."
"He wants us to think that the Queen is in there with him." Vexa informed the man. "Let's continue to play into his hands. Our airborne forces have begun to land, and will work on taking the city as we finish up here."
"Very good Milady," the man replied, hefting his blaster once more. "May I suggest we send some of our people to enter through the windows? The enemy would not be expecting that."
Vexa lifted a brow, impressed. "A good idea. Raythe, Kida!"
The two closed in on her position, and Vexa motioned to the man at her side. "Take him and a few others, and let yourselves in through the windows of the throne room."
The two nodded and moved away to fulfill her orders.
"Grappling guns!" Vexa heard Kida snap to the men who gathered about her and Raythe.
"Yes Acolyte Kida."
Vexa, the sisters and those solders who remained with her maintained their offensive in order to keep the attention on themselves. Vexa needed the window attack to remain a surprise. She stepped out from her place of cover behind one of the large pillars that lined the hall.
At her advance, the sisters and her men followed her. The soldiers hugged the pillars, moving from one to the next as they also advance, keeping up with their firepower. A few more of the Nabooian soldiers went down, though the ones who remained were putting up a fair fight.
Still, Vexa was growing tired of the wait. She caught the attention of the sisters and spoke.
"Flank the door."
The girls indicated their understanding and split up as ordered, with Caimbre taking the left and Katya the right. Three of Vexa's men each followed them and when the Nabooian soldiers realized what was happening, they began to show signs of panic.
Vexa charged the contingent with a battle cry, the rest of the Rising soldiers following her. Together, the three sections of the Rising offensive overtook the remaining Nabooian guards. Three lightsabers made swift work of the foremost men, while blasterfire took out those farther behind.
Once the Nabooian men were all dead, Vexa looked to a man on her left. "Open the door."
"I'll try, Milady," the man replied, producing a splicing datapad, which he hooked up to the door controls. He worked at it for a moment, but then shook his head and looked at her. "Nothing I try is working. I think they are overriding my commands form inside. The throne has controls on it to secure the doors and such."
Vexa considered her move, but then heard glass shattering and blasters firing from within the throne room. She grinned, pleased with her acolytes, and decided to wait patiently. Within moments, the door opened, and Vexa saw Kida on the throne, working the controls while Raythe defended her position so that the Togruta could admit Vexa.
Once inside, Vexa took in the remaining guards, and then spied the one in charge. "I want the captain alive too."
"Understood, Master," Raythe replied, who relayed the order to Kida.
From the throne, Kida saluted Vexa and leapt back into the fray to take out he rest of the Nabooians who posed a threat.
Vexa went straight for Captain Marino. Upon seeing her advance, the captain turned towards her, firing openly. Vexa batted away his blasts with ease, finally yanking the weapon from his grasp. To his credit, he produced a blade, which he threw at her with surprising precision. Vexa merely twisted out of the way, however, containing to advance.
Marino backed away, and Vexa saw behind him, a smirk lifting her lips. She continued to toy with the man until Caimbre snagged his arm with one hand and put her lightsaber to his throat with the other.
Marino froze in shock, and Caimbre called out to the room. "Freeze!"
The room did quiet momentarily as the Nabooians who were left realized that their leader had been taken hostage. Rising soldiers were swift to take advantage and hold those same men at blaster-point.
"Well done Caimbre," Vexa said, shifting closer to Marino. "Royden Marino, I presume?"
"Vexa Wran." Marino hissed, though there was an undercurrent of fear in his gaze. "What do you want with us?"
Vexa shifted her tattooed lekku indifferently. "A few things, actually. First, I will take your Queen, next I will take Naboo... and then I will give it to my friends the Neimoidians, who are so eager to reclaim what should have been their property all along."
Marino narrowed his eyes. "You mean the invasion by the Trade Federation? That was ages ago!"
Vexa shrugged. "What can I say? Some people don't like to let things go."
Marino studied Vexa. "And what do you get out of this deal?"
Vexa smiled openly. "I'm glad you asked. You see, my allies have been working in secret to rebuilt a droid army that is far superior to the one used in the Clone Wars. They already have several battalions ready to go... and those that do not get used to retake Naboo will be mine to do with as I see fit. And there will be more on the way once the next batch is complete."
Marino paled visibly. "Naboo will never submit!"
Vexa lifted a pointed brow. "You are in no position to change what's already happening." She indicated the windows, outside of which could be see the taking of Theed. "Have a look for yourself."
Marino was escorted to the window, and he only stared for a minute before he glared at Vexa. "At least Queen Zamira is safe."
Vexa fingered her lips thoughtfully, striking a falsely-sweet pose. "Is she, though?"
At the not-so-veiled threat, Marino's eyes widened again. "What did you do?"
"I did nothing." Vexa dismissed, walking over and sitting upon the throne herself.
At her signal, Caimbre escorted the man to stand before Vexa. Then she slammed the hilt of a knife into his shoulder and made him kneel.
"My Fist, on the other hand," Vexa continued, "has Zamira in custody as we speak. No harm will befall her if she cooperates. And I know she will, because if she resists too much, her people will suffer while she watches."
Marino looked helpless, but angry still. "You are a monster."
"No, I am a Sith Lady," Vexa corrected without hesitation, "and Naboo is now under new management. Swear fealty to me, and I will grant you your life."
Marino spat at her. "Never. My loyalty is to Queen Zamira and the people of Naboo."
Vexa sighed as if bored. "I was afraid you would say that. Well, if you will not bow to me, then you are of no further use." Her gaze shifted to Caimbre. "Kill him."
Caimbre shifted her lightsaber and pushed it through the man's heart without hesitation. Marino gasped in shock and then crumpled forward. Caimbre shut off her blade as he did so, and then stood awaiting Vexa's further orders.
"Caimbre, Katya, go with Raythe and check the palace for any stragglers. Bring them to me; I will determine their fate."
"As you wish." The three bowed and departed.
Kida approached then, kneeling. "And what of me, Master?"
Vexa looked to her. "Contact the Fist and tell him to bring me my prize."
Kida nodded crisply and moved to do just that.
00000
Hobbie looked upon the floating city with some apprehension as they approached. Getting to the city had been easy; convincing Tsu's aid that Hobbie was one of Vexa's men here to do business had been much harder.
Hobbie and his friends had talked it over, and had decided that while Hobbie distracted Tsu, the others would sneak in and download everything they could from Tsu's databases. Hobbie replayed part of the conversation in his head while he brought the ship in towards the landing pad he had been assigned.
[If he double-crossed us before, what's to say Tsu won't do so again?] Chewie pointed out.
"A good point." Lando agreed. "We need a different approach. I highly doubt he will want to see us again, not with the way he tried to have us killed."
[And I can't shake the sense that we'd spook him if we all showed up in-force,] Chewie remarked.
"Well we came all this way," Han grouched, "so quit second-guessing the operation. If you recall, you all chose to come, I didn't force you to join me."
"Nobody is complaining about coming, Han." Lando corrected him mildly. "Just call it jitters. We don't want to make this more difficult than it already is."
Hobbie spoke then. "I have an idea."
The others looked to him, and Hobbie straightened from his thoughtful pose. "Tsu does not know me or my ship. I can play the part of Vexa's man coming on her behalf. I go in and talk to him, keep him distracted while you guys find a way to sneak in and get into his computers.
Han hesitated. "Are you sure you want to try playing Vexa's agent?"
Hobbie lifted a brow. "How else will we get close to him after what happened last time? He's already going to be on edge, and we know he is aligned with Vexa. So the best play here is to come in her name."
Hobbie waited pointedly for someone to come up with a better plan. When no one could, Hobbie nodded once. "Alright then, let's figure out everyone's role."
Hobbie's attention shifted fully to the present as his ship touched down, the ship bumping gently as the landing struts connected with the platform. Hobbie ran through the cool-down sequence and then went aft, donning his helmet that would both hide his face and disguise his voice.
Lando handed him a fake I.D chip, one he'd managed to splice together in record time. "This is actually one of mine, but I changed the image to match your face. I also revamped some of the information on this pseudonym to show that he's a Vexa supporter behind the scenes. Remember, your name is going to be Javaan Aphses, and you are a member of the Spacer's Guild."
Hobbie nodded, accepting the chip and squaring his shoulders. He too had a datapad in case his friends couldn't make it to Tsu's laboratory. It was also set to record any and all audio, which it would relay to the Ardrossan's computer in case something went wrong. Hobbie lowered the ramp and exited his ship, making sure to appear confident.
Waiting for him a few paces from the ramp was a female Kaminoian. She eyed him somewhat suspiciously, but Hobbie didn't let that faze him. Han had already told him the name of the woman who had met them on Tsu's behalf when they'd come before.
"Asa Jule, I presume?" Hobbie asked through his vocoder.
Asa dipped her small head, the long neck it rested upon swaying almost languidly at the movement. "Yes. You claim to be here on behalf of Mistress Wran?"
Hobbie inclined his head. "I am."
"Your credentials please?"
Hobbie handed the chip Lando had given him and waited while she looked him up. She studied the information, and then looked to him. "I need to see your face."
Hobbie shook his head. "No you don't. And we need to get moving on this, as our mistress is on a time schedule. I think we both know she does not like to wait."
Asa did not move. "She despises even more when she is double-crossed. Show me your face."
Hobbie sighed, knowing he would not win this. He finally did as told, showing his face long enough for her to match it with the holo she was comparing him to. Only when she nodded did he replace the helmet.
"This way, please, Javaan." Asa turned, and Hobbie followed.
He signaled the others with his hand behind his back, and just as he and Asa entered the city from the platform, he saw three figures exit his ship to tail Asa and him. His companions were also in disguise so they would not be immediately recognized. Han, Lando and Chewie would follow Hobbie while Lumpy remained to watch the ship and act as their get-away pilot.
As they walked the halls, despite it all being one color to him, Hobbie took note of where they went so he could find his way back to the docking platform. Hobbie saw that while there were a scattering of species and droids, for the most part the only other people in the city appeared to be Kaminoians.
Hobbie paused when he passed a huge chamber that was empty save for a multitude of domed pods that looked like they had once housed something. Hobbie recalled his history classes and thought he knew what he was looking at.
"Is that the old cloning facility?" Hobbie asked, gesturing out the window.
"It is part of it," Asa replied, coming to stand beside him, a definite note of pride in her voice. "That was our most profitable time: the creation of the Clone Army for the Old Republic."
Hobbie realized now that the objects he was seeing were likely growing tubes for clone embryos.
"Have you done any cloning since the Empire came into being?" Hobbie inquired.
"I am not at liberty to discuss that." Asa deflected easily, gesturing. "Now please, this way."
Hobbie allowed her to continue leading him onward, and when they came to a door at the end of a very long hallway, he prepared himself. The large door flexed open and the pair walked inside. Hobbie instantly saw the immense laboratory beyond, and despite himself had to admire the space. The equipment inside was both alien to him and yet clearly state-of-the-art. The large space was clean and orderly, with not a single thing out of place. But though things were orderly, Hobbie began to notice something else strange: nothing was being worked on. All the equipment was off and some was even covered over.
Hobbie saw a second room and from it came a crested, male Kaminoian. Hobbie saw beyond him before the door closed. Inside appeared to be tanks of various sizes, though what they housed remained a mystery.
"Good day to you Javaan Aphses." Tsu greeted Hobbie with a bow of his long head. "What can I do for you?"
00000
Han, Lando and Chewie slipped into the room closest to Tsu's lab, knowing that they couldn't just walk right in. The trio would have to infiltrate the lab another way. Han had a special datapad ready, one that could splice any database and steal the information inside.
Chewie pulled out a scanner and placed it to the wall that butted up against Tsu's lab, and he maneuvered the device around until he found what he was looking for. They needed a spot they could get inside the lab without their hole being instantly noticeable on the other side. One that was hopefully close to a computer terminal.
Chewie pulled out a plasma cutter— one that had been hidden in the pouch the Wookiee carried around— and started to cut through the wall.
They all held their breath as they waited to see if there were any unforeseen security measures waiting for them. On edge, Han looked to Lando.
"Why don't you act as lookout?"
Lando nodded his agreement and moved to the door, where he slipped outside and kept watch, hopefully innocuously.
00000
Hobbie cleared his throat and stepped forward. "I am here on behalf of Mistress Wran. She would like me to check up on you after the last... shall we say incident?"
Tsu sighed, though Hobbie thought the being looked a little afraid. Then again, Hobbie didn't know how to read the Kaminoians.
"I did all that I could to ensure that Solo and his companions did nothing to interfere with her acolyte's mission," Tsu said a little defensively. "And as I explained to Vexa, I helped Solo because he helped me. But rest assured that I did not give him the full disclosure on how to remove the squid from her pupil."
Hobbie was glad that he wore a mask, because his expression darkened noticeably on this. He allowed the displeasure he felt to color his tone, however, in order to sell his act.
"How can we be assured of that?" he asked. "Our Mistress was most displeased that you gave them any of that information. What did you leave out that would halt them from succeeding?"
Tsu gestured. "That it is highly unlikely that after being paired with its host for so long, the squid inside the boy will come out. Even to breed. It can no longer subsist outside of its host. It has been paired for too long and is now fully dependent upon the boy."
Hobbie managed not to swallow at that tidbit of news. "So you are saying there is absolutely no way to remove the boy's squid, correct? Solo will not be able to do it?"
Tsu hesitated. "There is the chance the creature will exit, though only if its incentive was greater than clinging to life itself. It is just an animal, and any creature's number one instinct is its own survival."
Hobbie gritted his teeth. Great, he thought. This just keeps getting better and better.
During the lapse in conversation, Asa shifted and looked at a device in her grasp as an alert no doubt came up. She pulled the doctor aside and spoke with him in hushed tones. Taking the opportunity presented to him, Hobbie wandered the laboratory, acting nonchalant as he sought out a data port he could plug his pad in to.
He glanced over his shoulder when he found one, and saw the pair still conversing with their backs turned. Hobbie deftly inserted his datapad and began to transfer everything, encrypted or not, to the Ardrossan. It would not matter now if Hobbie was able to retrieve his datapad: the information would transfer to the ship's computer. On the down side, the device would not be recording Hobbie's interactions with Tsu any longer; at least once they were out of range of the microphone.
He hid the 'pad and continued to act as if he was perusing the laboratory out of curiosity. However, he did pause near the other door, wondering just what was inside.
He almost didn't hear it when Tsu stepped up behind him, so quiet was the man's tread. But then Tsu was talking, and Hobbie turned around. Asa was no longer in the lab, and Hobbie frowned behind his mask.
"Forgive the interruption," Tsu said in a more authoritative voice, "my aid was alerting me to a possible problem."
Hobbie tilted his head. "Problem? I thought we were past those, Doctor."
"As did I," Tsu said, and his eyes seemed a little harder than earlier. Hobbie mentally prepared himself. Had the Kaminoians caught on already? True, his plan hadn't been thoroughly put together...
Okay, it had been hastily scraped together, and the lot of them hadn't really thought it through much. But Hobbie stood by what he'd claimed: it had been their best option. Still, Hobbie would play his part until it was clear that the ruse was up.
"What is in there?" Hobbie asked, gesturing other door he'd been looking at.
"That is where I keep my specimens," Tsu replied, moving forward to open the portal. "Would you like to see for yourself?"
There was a subtle shift in his voice that told Hobbie that it would not be a good idea to enter the space, yet at the same time, Hobbie wanted to see the squid for himself. He had to know just what he was dealing with, especially if it was going to be so difficult to extract the thing from Ignis' head.
"I would," Hobbie said, stepping forward.
00000
Lando saw the door to Tsu's lab opening and he ducked inside their room. "We may have trouble."
Han and Chewie shared a look and Chewie harned.
[I can't go any faster. Buy me time.]
Han nodded and stood to join Lando, each of them on one side of the door. To Lando's relief, Asa passed their door without looking at it.
"Maybe I spoke too soon," Lando muttered.
Han frowned. "Maybe, though if you ask me, this is going far too smoothly."
Lando threw him a look, though he knew Han was right. "Don't jinx it."
The pair glanced to Chewie, and were just starting to relax a hair when the door opened and a gaggle of security personnel entered.
"Freeze!" The one in the lead snapped, and before anyone could blink there were blasters trained at Han, Lando and Chewbacca.
Han and his friends paused as ordered, and Chewie stood up as Asa entered next.
"What are you three doing in here?" Asa demanded.
"Maintenance, Madam." Han answered smoothly, indicating the hole. "We were informed of a weakness in the wall, and ordered to fix the issue."
"By creating a hole large enough for you to crawl through?" Asa shook her head. "I think not. Do you really think we would not recognize two men and a Wookiee? Or that we hadn't scanned your ship upon its approach to our city?"
Han gave up trying to con her and lowered his hands. "Alright, fine. We are here to get the full truth on removing the squid from our friend."
"The doctor gave you all that you need to know." Asa snapped. "And as a gesture of good will after what occurred the last time you left us... we are willing to let you three leave peacefully in the ship you came here in."
"What about the man we came with?" Lando asked. "He gave us a ride, and won't be too happy with us leaving here without him. Do you know what we had to pay him to ferry us here?"
Asa snorted. "That is none of my concern. Security, escort them to their ship, and if they do not leave immediately, shove the vessel with them in it, into the ocean."
"Yes, Ma'am." The man stepped forward, and motioned to his men.
The humans and Chewie were escorted back down the hall, though Han sensed that something still wasn't right.
"We can't just leave," Han said, looking to the woman as they were brought into the hall. "We made a bargain, and we won't go against it."
"Your friend will remain as Tsu's guest, since he claims to be a Vexa supporter." Asa informed Han coldly. "Now, you can go quietly, or we can make you go."
Han glared, the stubborn side of him waiting to dig his feet in. Yet he also knew that if Hobbie's cover wasn't already blown, then it would be if the others tried to rescue him.
But we can't just leave Hobbie... Han fretted, guilt settling into his gut. This entire trip had been Han's idea; he couldn't just let Hobbie be taken.
"Well, Javaan has something of ours, and I'm not leaving without it." Han growled, stepping forward.
He didn't get very far before the security guards lifted their blasters and shot blue rings at the trio.
"Yes," Asa said simply, "you are."
Turning to the captain, she motioned to the now unconscious men. "Take them to their ship and inform the one they left to guard it to take off. Warn him what will happen if he does not."
00000
Hobbie was absolutely disgusted by the creatures, though at some point he noted that they were floating inside travel tubes, not the stationary tanks. As he stared at them, the disgust fading enough to where he could function better, Hobbie realized that the room also contained other evidence of packing.
"Are you going somewhere?" Hobbie asked, indicating the items.
"I am, actually," Tsu said, and Hobbie heard something shink. Spinning around, Hobbie saw a tranquilizer gun aimed at his heart, and Hobbie shifted quickly out of the way, moving to grab the item.
For his large, spindly size, Tsu moved surprisingly fast. He lifted the device from Hobbie's reach easily and with the other hand grabbed Hobbie's arm. Hobbie kicked at the scientist with a booted foot and caught him in the groin.
Tsu froze for a long minute, and Hobbie took that chance to knock him down, grabbing the other's throat.
"How do I get the squid out of Ignis?!" Hobbie demanded harshly.
Tsu glared at him in return. "You don't!"
Hobbie slammed the other's head into the floor. "Wrong answer!"
At that moment the door to the smaller lab opened and Asa appeared... and in her grasp was a blaster, which she fired at Hobbie.
He rolled out of the way of the stun rings, and then again, but the second time brought him close to Tsu once more, and the scientist stabbed the needle into Hobbie, injecting whatever was inside.
Hobbie gasped as the serum took fast hold, dragging the pilot helplessly under.
"Welcome to the cause, Javaan." Tsu rasped as he stood. "If that is even your real name."
Asa looked to her employer. "What will we do with him?"
"He knows far too much," Tsu said, "he comes with us."
Asa nodded and helped Tsu to restrain the human. "We will need to accelerate our departure, Doctor."
"Yes. I already contacted Lady Wran for asylum." Tsu informed her. "We have been granted a place at her castle on Boz Pity. There we will do work for her in exchange for her keeping us safe."
"Very good, Doctor. I will see to it that our ship is loaded by the end of today." Asa turned and began said preparations.
00000
Lumpy looked up when a squad of guards appeared, carrying an unconscious Han, Lando and Chewbacca.
Lumpy roared in anger, but the leader pointed a blaster at the younger Wookiee. "You will take your friends and leave. You have five minutes to comply before your ship— with you inside it— ends up in the ocean."
Lumpy looked around, seeing that he was outnumbered. [What about our final companion?]
The others had to use a translating device to understand him, but then the leader shook his head. "Don't worry about your captain. He's no longer your concern. Now, do we have to do this the hard way?"
Lumpy did not want to leave one of their number behind, but he knew when to retreat. They could always mount a rescue of Hobbie if needed. Lumpy had to trust that Hobbie could hand his own until then.
He reluctantly nodded, gesturing for the men to put his companions inside the ship. Once they had and were leaving, Lumpy lifted the ramp. He moved to the cockpit and warmed up the ship, finally lifting it from the deck and pulling for space.
Forgive me, Hobbie, Lumpy thought as he input coordinates for Coruscant, since he did not know where else to go.
(A/N: Sorry for the delay, life got very, very busy for a while, and I am trying to find tie to write. God bless!)