Chapter 17
Back to Basics
Melissa had decided that Vandar was an inhumane monster, telling him that though would take energy she currently simply did not have in her anymore. A rap to the back of her head told her that her passenger was not satisfied with the speed of his ride. She picked up her pace, the gates to the enclave in sight, her ordeal nearly over. From the corners of her eyes she saw movement and two figures pressed ahead of her. She pushed herself harder, Terri and Bastila can not be allowed to win, not again. She cannot carry the little hobgoblin again on the afternoon run. She had no idea what a hobgoblin was or where the word came from, but it seemed to fit Vandar to a T.
Triumphantly she dropped on all fours, gasping for breath. Why the triumph? She could think of several reasons, not throwing up for one and two this afternoon she would not be carrying the hobgoblin like a backpack for the second run of the day. She dropped prone, feeling like a pile of wet duracrete. Said hobgoblin stood on her back before climbing of and approaching the other two lying on the ground.
"Easy this has become, up the intensity we must." Vandar mused
Easy? Ten times around the enclave, easy? If she had a blaster, she would have taken the shot. Vandar would kick her up and down the courtyard thereafter, but it would be worth it. Somehow she made it to sitting up. Body groaning in protest, she started the warm down stretches, not having constant cramps was worth the extra energy depletion she suffered.
Vandar was looking at her expectantly, what did he want now? Melissa pulled her protesting legs under her and assumed a meditation position. She closed her eyes and began breathing deeply, willing herself to relax and letting her consciousness go to connect to the Force. It was still hit and miss for her after ten days of constant practise, Bastila of course used to it and Terri showing greater proficiency. She felt her connection to the force; to her it felt like a warm blanket on a cold day, the smell of freshly fallen rain. She felt herself relax and the aches and pains she suffered floating away, reaching out she could feel the presence of many beings around her, the bright corona that was Vandar, the less intense presences of Terri and Bastila, the little spark of Ellia hiding in the topiary spying on them, and peace.
She luxuriated in the feeling for a bit longer, before opening her eyes. Vandar gave her a rare smile of approval, before giving a get on with it motion. Sighing she got in position to start her push up cycle. Hearing the patter of little feet and feeling the approach she waited for the mornings "ambush", Ellia had decided to attack her every morning and as the victor she got to ride on Melissa's back during her exercise. Melissa blamed Vandar for that one. True to form she felt a sudden weight on her back.
"Another victory to me." The girl crowed
"You are getting fat." Melissa mock groaned
"Nope, just getting bigger." The smug reply came" Besides the heavier the weight the better the exercise."
If she knew to what that statement would lead, she would have strangled the brat right then and there. She felt an extra weight settling on her back as another youngling settled on her. Lights grunts told her that the other two had received extra weight as well. The rest of the exercise continued with the rest of the training crèche getting the chance to be weights.
Zhar collected them for sword practice. All three of them had premonitions of bad things to come as Vandar had gone off in the direction of the workshops with a happily demented chuckle. Bastila got to spar with the other knights and padawans, her style dominantly Shien with elements of Nieman thrown in. Terri and Melissa at the back of the hall with the younglings working through the kata's of Shii-Cho. The enclave battle master Hissk, a barabell male,walking through their lines and patiently correcting stances and holds. Terri having had previous experience with sword fighting was pulling ahead in this training, leaving Melissa slightly foundering. Melissa sighed as she realised she would be spending her rest time coming in again and getting more practice, assuming Hissk does not throw her out again, something he has been doing every third day or so
Breakfast, the only good thing she could say about it was that it was carefully balanced and had everything a growing body needed, but damn was it bland. Especially as she was reading through the updated menu Mission had provided for their cantina, one of thirteen messages the excitable girl had send her since the morning.
After being shocked how much shut up and walk away money she had been given by all the parties her lawyer her threatened with law suits, she was at a loss initially what to do with it. Not comfortable with just living on it, Melissa had looked into investing the bulk of it.
The idea of the cantina had come about after Mission had complained about being bored as Khoonda had very little entertainment or business for that matter. The enclave employed a large portion of the towns residents as support staff, another large portion was employed by the farmers cooperation, the municipality closing the gap. The greatest employers was the farming estates. General trade was by a general store run by two Rodians, close to the towns airfield and tower. To prevent Mission rejecting her partnership as charity she had made sure that the girl understood she was doing the design and all the work to get it started as she was stuck in training. Mission had taken to her responsibility with a will. They kept Melissa's lawyer on retainer as a trouble shooter for the business and hired the pregnant wife of the ex marshal Webster as a manager and head cook, the woman had a reputation as a good cook. Her husband had disappeared in the night and fled off world, draining their accounts first. Hiring the woman had felt good, as if she was righting an unintentional wrong.
Her second large purchase was a large estate farm on the very far edge of Khoonda, bought cheaply at a deceased estate auction. Her plan was to split the farm in two one part for livestock and the other part for a cocoa bean plantation. Dantooine's temperate climate being ideal for growth of the plant. Being slightly addicted to the costly drink and treat she jumped at the opportunity create her own ultimate luxury. Though that investment will take several years before starting to produce results. The raising and selling of the livestock having to cover the expenses. Her lawyer had found the perfect manager for that project in a man fired from the Harse estate for spurious reasons. Going to work for the girl who beat up the girl who got him fired was an added bonus to him, Melissa was content with the hire as he had the experience and qualifications for the job.
The rest of the crew had departed Dantooine for the industrial word of Sluis Van to have the Ebon Hawke upgraded and repaired at the Republic's cost. Carth estimated that the process will take another thirty days to complete before taking the craft for a shake down cruise to Naboo. Mission had placed a large order for kitchen equipment and foodstuffs to be picked up on the return trip, her argument being that their cover as a freighter would be better protected by actually hauling freight, not that she wants to save credits. Zaalbar having been dispatched to themarkets to the find the best at the cheapest prices, being highly motivated to do so. The price for his cooperation? Free food whenever he was in the cantina, and considering how much he ate, Melissa thought that to be a bad deal and told Mission so. Repeatedly.
Terri was looking at the items in front of her in horror. Their premonition of the morning had come true. Vandar had stepped up his sadism under the guise of training. His trip to the workshop now understood. Five kilogram weights to be strapped to their arms and legs, this in addition to giving the younglings rides around the enclave on their runs. Like Melissa she felt the urge to strangle a little brat where she was ready for her piggy back ride on Melissa's back.
"A problem there is?" Vandar asked solicitously, eye twinkling with laughter.
"No, Master Vandar."
The door to the communal shower room hissed open and three algae covered and drenched figures stumbled in. The beings using the showers hastily and wisely vacated three stalls as the three moved closer, the clangs of weights filling the room before sodden clothes dropped a clearly defined trail. The previous occupants not willing to risk certain death for a blissfully hot shower.
Their current state was as a result of Zhar's newest training idea when Vandar had informed him of the weights. He had them wade up to their necks in a nearby pond and practise the katas of Taras Ki. As an added bonus they were used for a supplemental force push and pull exercise for the newly squired padawans and recently graduated knights. There were now three beings on the must absolutely kill list, only one might receive a reprieve due to cuteness, the jury was still undecided as to that decision.
Mission was frowning at her datapad as Melissa dropped to her bed in the room she was sharing with the other three woman. She pulled her Ewok closer for a cuddle.
"How is the plans going, Mi? The town council still dragging their feet?" Melissa asked tiredly.
"Got delayed again, they are unhappy with the size of the gambling hall and the dance floor. They claim that it could add strain to the marshals office if problems occur, so they want it to be smaller."
Bastilla looked up from the datapad she was reading, the stuffed equinine under her knees, the poor thing having been appropriated again by someone new.
" Double the size of those rooms." She said
"Come again?" Mission asked
" Double the sizes. Add a small stage for a holographic band or live local act to the recreation room. Then add a notation for an entry fee payable to the rooms that will be donated to the marshals office monthly to help offset extra costs to their office. Then point out that extra fines will boost the councils income, while maintaining law and order. The council will cut the size again leaving you with what you wanted the rooms sizes to be in the first place, maybe a bit larger." Bastila explained
"Also enlarge the restaurant, refreshers and kitchen, to not make it as obvious on first glance." Terri added
Mission looked at the plans displayed on her datapad again. She entered the new parameters and looked thoughtfully at the results
"Huh, that might actually work. We can also keep the new plans for expansion later"
She went back to enlarging the plans. She looked back up to Melissa.
"I nearly forgot, that manager for the estate wanted you to contact him. Whats his name again?"
"Croaker. Did he say what it is about?"
"Something about cutting the lifestock herd and using the east paddock for something else. Sorry it went a bit over my head."
Melissa groaned, reaching for her comlink and dailing the code in.
Croaker answered nearly immediately
"Good evening, Miss Carpenter."
"Good evening, mister Croaker. I hope I am not interrupting you."
"Not at all; mam. I thought you would be contacting me later in the week though as I said to miss Vao that it was not urgent."
"She is a bit pre occupied now. What was the matter you wished to discuss?"
"The slope on the east paddock is too steep for livestock, plus it is marshland at the bottom. I think it would be better used for cultivation. Rice plants will do nicely there and bring quicker returns on your investments, it will only need two or three agricultural droids to farm the area. I know you prefer to rather hire local beings rather than use droids, but for that type of farming they will be best suited. Can rather use beings for watching the livestock as the Kath hounds are likely to become more active and a smaller herd will be a smaller risk"
"How will this affect the budget I set aside?"
"You will actually save credits, mam."
Melissa thought for a moment
"Very well. Proceed with that then. If I am not available you can run your ideas through Snipes as well, I am having instructions drawn up for when I am offworld. He will be able to approve it or not within set limits."
"Will do so, mam. Is there anything else?"
"No, thank you. Have a good evening."
Terri was busy servicing her blaster as she was hanging up the comlink
"At this rate the two of you will run out of locals to hire." She commented
Melissa shrugged
"If push comes to shove I know of an orphanage in Toprawa where I can easily find people to hire. In fact when Carth comes back I will try to convince him to take another flight to Alterra to get some extra workers."
"You are planning on expanding then?" Bastilla asked.
"I have Snipes buying two estate sized plots adjacent to the present one I have, for later expaansion. I would rather have those credits used for something worthwhile. If I can use it to help others, why not? I am also having him set up an employee ownership plan, once I recovered my costs the estates will revert to the ownership of the employees."
Bastila nodded to that. The idea of property ownership still foreign and uncomfortable to her, she did approve of the plan to provide a better life for others though.
" And your other venture?"
Melissa grinned
"That one I will keep. Someone has to keep my scatter brained partner in line. She is likely to let Zaalbar eat all the profits, if I let her."
" Eat my ewok" Mission replied
Said Ewok was flung at Melissa's face as a distraction as Mission closed the distance, pillow in hand. Bastila was about to complain about the noise, when she was truck by a grinning Terri. With a small cry she launched herself into the fray a pillow in each hand.
Mission was impatiently bouncing from foot to foot as the newly improved Ebon Hawk touched down on the pad. Most of the old white and brown panels had been painted matt black, the other panels newly repainted. The turrets looked bigger than she remembered and a new square box with holes in one panel had been added to the undercarriage.
The boarding ramp lowered and the crew exited. Zaalbar rushed closer and lifted her in a hug. Canderous taking over the post landing procedures, allowing Carth to walk closer. He waited till Zaalbar eventually lowered her to the ground.
"Hello, Mission I hear you and Melissa have been quite busy."
"Where did your that?" Mission asked, confused.
"Some people from Intelligence came to me and had a nice long chat. There is someone on the Hawk that has a proposition for you and Zaalbar."
Mission looked incredulously at the black furred Bothan in front of her. Carth was seated next to her as her advisor with Zaalbar lounging against the wall of the lounge.
"What is it that you are not telling me? This deal is too good to be true. And why do you not want Melissa present, she is after all a partner in the cantina" She said
The Bothan smiled as she sat back, shifting to a more comfortable position
"Good. You are cautious, I approve."
" Trying to deflect my question is not making my doubts go way, miss Aslir. And for the record I do not believe that to be your name." Mission replied
The spy broadened her smile.
"Even better. You are right there are things I am not telling you. This is not to endanger you in any way, purely for plausible deniability. Who can expect the teenage owner of a construction company to know that her construction droids were uploading plans to Republic intelligence, not mentioning listening devices in government buildings, for example. Or the owners of a wroshyr tree plantation about the bunker underneath it. Being a very valuable target for thieves it is only natural that there be a large security force present to protect the assets. Wroshyr wood is a very expensive commodity after all. And to be honest is paying fifty percent of the profits back to a discrete fund really that onerous, considering it is costing you nothing. As for your friend not being involved? After recent events it is better if your friend is not mentioned in any official reports."
Mission turned to Carth for his input.
"I see no downsides, it will help the Republic in the long run. But I would suggest that your lawyer go through all the documentation first that there are no hidden clauses that can hurt you or Zaalbar."
Mission looked to Zaalbar. He grunted in assent.
"Pending on review by my legal counsel, we have a tentative deal." Mission stated
Canderous lit a nicotine stick as he looked for his targets in the courtyard of the enclave, completely ignoring the disapproving stares. Taking a deep drag as he spotted his marks sitting under the large tree in the centre, the small green one with them. He started strolling over
Vandar motioned them to stop their current exercise on Canderous's approach. They waited for Canderous to join them. HE greeted them with a grunt.
"What brings you here? Casing an enemy stronghold?" Terri quipped
"Need a favour." Canderous rasped.
" Which is?" Terri asked leadingly
Canderous hitched his hands into his gunbelt.
" Took a job training the militia, need some help to get their heads out of their asses and take their training seriously."
The Khoonda militia was a new iniative by the town council when someone had discovered that they could get a grant from the Republic for the creation and maintenance of a militia. The idea being that in theory the republic could call on them as additional forces in time of war. The local militia currently consisted of a bunch of farmhands looking for an extra bit of pay and the upper class of the local high school looking to pad their cv's. Not the most disciplined of options.
Canderous continued
" Furball, tails and fleet are already in. Thought I might add you three to make it better. I am going to use the hotel site for a hostage release run. Six against two hundred is much better odds than three against two hundred."
Melissa winced slightly at that. The hotel site was going to be the next star to the Halcoyn hotel chain as a new tourist attraction. With the heiress dead and the CEO listed as missing presumed dead, the company has put a hold on further development. Leaving a three quarter completed building and frustrated construction crews stranded.
Vandar stroked his chin.
"A good measure to see progress made this is. Agree to this test, I do."
Terri sighed and looked at the other two.
"Seems like we are in, can you forward the plans to the hotel to us as I assume you want us to be the hostage takers."
"Will forward it to your pad. I will send the other three to finalise your plans for this weekend."
"Who is the hostage?" Melissa asked
Canderous pointed to a topiary behind them
"Was going to ask if I can borrow the three brats spying behind that plant. If they can play spy, they can play hostage. Nothing gets people more riled up than brats in danger."
Ellia and her two friends sheepishly lifted their heads over the topiary. Melissa face palmed, of course it would be her. Vandar had that evil smirk on his face again. They were going to regret it, they just knew it.
As the nominal leader Carth was leading the planning session. An up to date hologram of the hotel was displayed on the holotable of the Ebon Hawk's lounge. Canderous being absent as to not invalidate the test.
" we have two considerations with this exercise one to thest them thoroughly and two to keep them from doing something stupid." Carth started
"Option two being the hardest." Mission observed
" Correct, the turbolift shafts have been declared of limits, but we still need to secure it somehow for when some yokel decides to re enact an action holodrama scene."
Melissa looked at the plans before turning to Terri.
"Did Jack ever finish the designs for that area of denial charges you thought up?"
"He did, why?"
"Would it be possible to change the ordinance to paint munitions?"
"Yes, I see where you are going with this." Terri said musingly
"Care to enlighten the rest of us?" Mission asked.
Melissa pointed to the plans.
"We send T3 to spot weld the doors closed. Then we place charges in the shaft pointed to the doors with motion sensors active. You force the door, you get a face full of paint."
"We can also use those charges as a delaying tactic. Our best shot of this will be to run a running retreat from points to reduce their numbers." Carth added," Even with a Jedi and two, whatever you two are, the odds are heavily against us."
"Some offence taken." Melissa muttered
Terri nodded at that.
" Sounds about right. Though to be honest I am more concerned with Vandar springing something on us as well. He, Zhar and Hissk has been looking way to happy for some reason for my comfort. It would not surprise me if he has us set it up again after the first run as a combined Jedi and militia exercise. It is the only reason I can think of for him to let us have unrestricted access to the enclave accounts at the general traders and the farmers cooperation. He does not seem to be the type to have a pissing contest with the town council, despite being unhappy with them starting a militia"
Everyone with previous training shuddered at that. A universal truth was that if an instructor looked happy, be worried, for bad things are coming your way.
Melissa held in her breath as she zipped up her combat suit. It was a bit tight. The recent exercise had brought some changes to her physique. With a sigh she realised that clothes shopping was on her to do list as even her underwear were beginning to feel a bit snug. She was not too unhappy with the changes though, as she was quite proud of and happy with her slight six pack. From the corner of her eye she noticed that Bastila and Terri were also struggling slightly and Mission had a look of slight jealousy.
" Are you reconsidering training with us?" She teased Mission
Mission gave a considering look.
"If I get the same results, I might join a few lighter sessions."
The three hostages were secured to their cell with a pile of snacks, open access to the security holocameras, their own refresher and strict instructions not to leave their containment area. Healer Fay with them in the room to ensure compliance with T3 left as door guard.
They set up in their designated ambush areas. From outside they could hear Canderous bellowing his last minute instruction. As predicted Vandar had brought a group of thirty padawans and knights to take part in the exercise in a joint operation; but only on the third run. Reserving a second run for those who are force sensitive only. They were not given access to the data feeds from the holocameras.
The town council and a large portion of Khoonda and the outlying farms residents have set up tents from which to enjoy the rare source of entertainment made available to them. Canderous was quietly murderous about that, but could not deny the council to see what they were paying for. He was just hoping for a decent showing for the first run, the second and third would be walkovers despite how good the others were.
Melissa was checking her injector arrows for a last time, today they were loaded with sedatives. A few bulbous headed arrows contained paint charges. Bastila was grumpily holding a blaster rifle, having been forbidden the use of her lightsaber till the second and third runs, her marksmanship not the best but for hit and run fighting it was good enough
Melissa placed the last arrow back in the quiver before pulling a tube of blackout face paint from her vest and started smearing her face and hands. She handed the tube over to Bastila who reluctantly applied it as well. Checking her chronograph she motioned for Bastila to get ready. It was time.
Terri was crouched behind what would have been the main reception desk, using the reflective surface of the wall long mirror to observe the front doors, detonators in hand. Two squads of six entered, they split up to circle the sides. She pressed the detonators. Paint splattered over them, marking them as dead and out. She moved to the stairwell where Carth was ready to give her covering fire. They fell back after a few volleys of stun fire as another two groups blindly stormed in, firing wildly
Melissa and Bastilla waited till their group was halfway down the passage to the doors that led to the kitchen from the outside, before tossing smoke grenades out. Blindly fired stun blasts impacted the wall in front of them as they leaned back from the doorway. There came a crump as the group tripped the laser tripwire to the wall charge. The cursing coming from the passage confirming they had achieved a group wipe.
Mission and Zaalbar waited in darkness in the maintenance area. Their natural night sight giving them an advantage. Two groups entered the area, the luminous glow on their glasses betraying their position. Gleefully Mission pressed her detonators.
" Team three here, our score is standing at twelve."
Canderous was looking at the elected leader off the militia. The daughter of some councilman.
"Thirty dead in under five minutes, And here I thought that extra training was not necessary." He said with some glee
Since the start of the exercise she had been complaining to her father and the other councillors that the exercise was a waste of time and that the militia was adequately trained. Canderous was seeing a change in leadership coming soon.
Melissa reached into the force and felt the approaching forms. She pulled back the bowstring. An arrow flew through the smoke of another grenade. A thump and grunt confirmed a hit, she fired twice more before moving on to the next ambush point. The chatter of Bastila's blaster marking a succesfull ambush for her as well
An hour later it was over. Terrorists two hundred, hostages executed. Militia three. Terri having been hit by a stray shot and a team three being wiped out when they failed to fall back in time. Canderous gruffly told the council to hold their comments till after the Jedi had their run. At that point he will gladly tell them that his complaints of their militia not taking the training seriously being ignored by them , had come back and bitten them in the ass.
For the second round the teams had been swapped to one force sensitive per team, training lightsabers wer authorised for use, in Bastila's case her lightsaber was set to training mode. Bastila and Zaalbar as their strongest fighters were left outside the door to the hostage room as the last line of defence.
Melissa and Carth were both behind the counter in the lobby. Neither bothering to hide this time. Melissa had one of the bulbous arrows nocked, ready to fly. Six Jedi calmly entered the door. They spread out in a line. One lit his lightsaber with a flourish.
" I do not suppose I could convince you to just surrender?" he offered
Melissa fired, when the arrow was nearly upon him, he lifted a hand to grip the arrow. The sudden pressure on the detonator on the nose was enough to trigger the charge. Pink paint splattered all over the Jedi. Two others tried to force jump, running into clouds of paint as Carth triggered the charges they had left lying face up. Melissa threw him over her shoulder and force sprinted to the stairwell with him firing blindly behind her. She took position in the doorway and lit the training saber dropping to one knee. Carth stepped up a few steps to be able to fire over her.
Hissk calmly walked into the lobby. Sparing a glance he nodded in approval at the sight of his newest student using her environment to create a choke point. One padawan dropped as a stun bolt slipped through, leaving a knight and a padawan to pursue the fight. He had other plans to end this exercise. Lighting his lightsaber he cut through the welding on the turbolift doors and pulled the doors apart with is claws. Paint splattered against his face. Licking his face he turned around and walked to the lobby door. Making a mental note to ask his new punching bags, sorry favoured students where they got the paint. It was quite delicious.
Bastila was breathing harshly as the last knight fell. By some intervention of the force they had survived the second wave with her being the last one standing. Melissa and Carth having fallen on the fifth floor as they had been overwhelmed. Terri and Mission finally having fallen in the passage outside the door.
She sat down heavily as the other five took their own seats.
"I think surrender is our only option now, we can not win another round." She gasped.
"As much as I would like to agree, that is not the purpose of this exercise." Carth said.
Melissa sat down on the ground to reach in the force to refresh herself.
"Time for a new plan I think. Force sensitives to do solo hit and runs and we mine the shit out of the passage outside and the floor below. The only thing we can do is slow them down. Last fight outside the door. The last thing we can do is put a paint charge with the kids to force a no win scenario."
"Getting a bit grim there, aren't we." Mission said hesitantly
"I know, I don't like the idea either. But we are playing as terrorists and rogue force users. That is what they will do." Melissa pointed out." Besides maybe one of the Jedi can force persuade the last person to drop the detonator."
An hour later a very pissed off healer led a trio of happily paint covered younglings from the hotel. Mission had decided that one charge was not a sufficient threat and placed a charge in each corner, before transmitting a picture to the invaders showing three tied up children and one healer tied up to a chair surrounded by explosives. Zaalbar having the dubious honour of being the one to trigger the charge as the last man standing. The six were beyond tired, the third run having being the most brutal.
In the tents the party was about to begin as the free show was now over and the real serious business of drinking themselves under the tables could now begin. The six had left early desperate for a hot meal, hot shower and then a bed, in that order.
Canderous was hiding a smile as he was renegotiating his contract with the council. Before this talks he had the pleasure of observing the militia commander being relieved of her command and being send to her room. He took a deep sip from his ale, today had been a good day.
Zhar and Vandar was looking through the footage again, Hissk seeming to ignore it in favour of dismantling a charge to get to the paint inside.
"They are almost ready for a test trail." Zhar noted
" Most impressive the youngest one's growth is." Vandar stated.
" She is growing that fast because of the bonds." Hissk stated , without looking up from his task
"Bonds?" Zhar querried
"She has one with the changed, another with Shan, a weaker one for sure but it is there and growing. The changed is relearning her muscle memory though she does not know it and the youngest pulls on it through the bond"
The two masters did not ask further, if Hissk said there was a bond there was one. Barabells frequently developed bonds with their hatch mates if they were force sensitive, leading to unusually effective performance by the bonded. This led to Barabells rarely giving up their force sensitives as they were superior hunters.
Their desperate plan was back on track with an added bonus to the plan. It could not have happened soon enough. Time was rapidly beginning to run out.