Chapter 6: The Ship
"AH!"
He awoke in total darkness.
Jas opened his eyes, hearing his heart pounding in his chest. The dream still held him, or, at least…tried too.
Damn it, he thought, trying to slow his breathing.
What in the name of the Force was that?!
His confusion passed quickly, giving way to both realization, and purpose.
He took a deep breath, and regained his focus.
Right, he whispered into the shadows.
"I'm here."
Where "here" was, was inside a storage pod, one specially designed to keep advanced organic beings sedated. Of course, the sedation protocol didn't work right on this one, but that was by design, not accident.
Targo's friends wanted a sedated Jedi, what they were about to get was something entirely different, and Jas would be on the right path…
…the path to finally finding Targo, and rescuing Val and Vess.
He took another cleansing breath.
"Mhm," he murmured.
Val…and Vess.
He laid his head back against the padding of the pod. It was comfortable he supposed. When he had first been put inside this thing, Rior had given him an injection of something, so if Targo's friends scanned the pod, his life readings would show that he was in stasis.
He reached out with the Force, he didn't sense any threats, in fact, beyond the pod everything seemed to be proceeding as whoever these people were expected.
The thought amused him.
Well, things were about to go bad for them in a moment.
Really bad.
As he had told V'Lek, the people that Targo communicated with expected a Jedi student, what they wanted one for, was still a mystery, but one easily solved. They wanted a padawan, and that is what they got. As Vey's student, he fit the bill, but his experience gave him a bit more of an edge. He was not saying that the Whiphid couldn't have done it, but still…
He felt safer handling this matter himself.
Tynnes had reached out to the people that the consortium used to contact Targo, and had set up the pick-up. The Quarren had even provided the stasis pod. Shusk had gone over it with a micro-scanner, just to make sure that no surprises awaited them.
Now, here he was.
Jas nodded.
It was time to get down to business.
The plan was simple, escape the pod, see where he was, and once he got his bearings, set off the tracking beacon Shusk had provided him with, and from there, all he would need to do was wait for his back-up to show.
It was a simple plan, and it seemed to be working.
Everything was proceeding as planned…mostly.
The shot had worn off the way that Rior had said it would, but it had been early. He had reached out with the Force, and discovered that he was still at the pick-up site, the people that he was expecting had arrived, but they were taking their time getting underway.
He had needed to be patient, and…as he had waited; he had dozed off, and the dream had come.
He took a shuddering breath.
It had been…intense to say the least, but not in a bad way, no.
He shook his head.
Damn it, Fallenstar, he thought.
What did you wake up in me?
IOI
He had been back in the Rist estate on Alderaan, in the quarters that Lady Dorma had provided for him. It had been late at night, and he had been meditating.
There had been a knock on the door.
He had rose and went to see who it was, nothing had felt out of the ordinary, by that point he had earned the respect and trust of House Rist.
He had opened the door. Char Valenthyne had been waiting for him.
"Hey there, Hotshot," she had said playfully.
Jas had smiled.
On some level, he had still been aware that it was a dream. He knew she was still in danger, still…
Seeing her, standing before him, it…it was good.
"Hey, Val," he had replied, "You need…"
She hadn't let him finish.
She was in his arms, kissing him deeply. Much as she had been on that night that they had shared years ago.
The memory of that time came flooding back, the smell of her hair, the taste of her skin, and those cute little sounds that escaped her lips when she was excited.
He had pulled her into his room, running his hands over her, the combat suit she was wearing was smooth to the touch, not like her skin, but…
...it wasn't enough.
Time jumped forward.
Clothes and armor lay scattered about the room. They were in his bed, moving against each other, lost in sweet desire, the Force humming with the sweet togetherness of their connection.
She looked up at him; he sensed only desire…sweet submission.
"Yes," Val gasped as she arched her lovely back.
"Oh gods…YESSSSS!"
He pulled her up and into his arms. Jas kissed his way down her lovely throat, he could feel her excitement, her body shuddered with pleasure. She radiated need through the Force.
He had been getting lost himself, the moment overwhelming him, dream or not.
It had been too long, almost six years since he had last been…intimate with someone. Their brief interlude in the training room had made him realize just how long that had been, how cold he had been.
It had woken something, he…he needed to feed that desire now.
It…it had been FAR too long!
Val lay back, she pulled a pillow over her face and screamed into with delight.
Jas smiled, it felt good, not just the act. but feeling Val's happiness through the Force, knowing that she wanted to be here, that she needed to be here. She…
The pillow fell away, and that is when he realized…
There was now a different woman in his arms, but one that shared the protector's desire and need.
Vess looked up at him, her blue eyes dark with desire, seeing her so lost in ecstasy, it nearly brought him back to the real world, he…
Whoa…um…no!
…he tried to pull back.
"No," she gasped, "Don't stop! Please!"
She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him deeply. Gently, almost worshipfully, she guided him down onto the bed, and onto his back.
She was over him now, looking down, and he was completely under her control.
Vess…he thought. Any thought of resistance or refusal fading fast.
Wow!
She was so beautiful!
Their lovemaking started.
He wanted to resist, perhaps he should have tried…
…but…he didn't.
He tried to sit up, to stop but she was there, her touch gentle, her skin…so very warm.
She kissed him deeply, sweetly.
He didn't want to stop; she didn't want to stop.
As the kiss broke; he looked into her eyes. She was breathing heavily, she smiled with tears of joy in her eyes.
So long," she murmured, "I wanted this…for so long."
He knew what she wanted, but still…this…this was Vess.
It was enough to make him hesitate.
He was panting, shaking his head no.
"Vess," he gasped, "We…can't. I…I shouldn't…"
She gave him a soft sweet smile.
"Please, my love," she purred happily.
"Please."
She kissed him again and again.
Despite his fears, he remembered seeing her again for the first time, seeing the woman that that little girl had become.
He had been…intrigued…before he realized who she was, and now…
…that sense of intrigue was back, he…he couldn't escape it.
It had grown.
Desire had replaced hesitation.
He…could not escape it.
He lay back down, surrendering to her. He responded to her desire, her touch, he couldn't help it…he…he…
He awoke.
He had bumped his head against the pod, waking in complete darkness…confused.
He…he had not realized where he was, it took a bit for the dream to fade, to remember why he was there, where he was.
Jas shook his head.
Damn it!
He was still breathing hard, it had only been a dream, but…
What are you thinking?!
He blamed Fallenstar, she had…reminded him of something he had tried to deny, and had denied for a long time.
He remembered their brief encounter in the showers on the Wreck. He had…felt it. The desire to be with someone. Had it been Val, he wouldn't have resisted. Had it been Vess…
…No.
Nope.
He didn't think about that.
He couldn't.
Miri…she was an attractive woman. He didn't deny that. He…he had never been with another Force sensitive, part of him wondered what it would have been like…
He could have had her, but he hadn't, it would have been wrong; it would have felt like he was taking advantage of her, and…he would have felt like he was betraying Val…
…or was it Vess he was worried about.
He couldn't say for sure.
He took a breath, and centered himself.
Which one, the bounty hunter had asked him once.
Which one?
He and Val had a connection, if she asked, he would have come to her without hesitation, but...at the same time.
She had believed him a proper mate for Vess. That he could help guide her both as an advisor and as a husband, he…
He shook his head.
I'm an idiot.
He wasn't sure why he had dreamed about such a thing now. They were both beyond his reach.
They deserve better, he thought.
They deserve…far better than me.
That thought snapped him out of his revelry.
Whatever happened between him and the two…that was in the future. He still needed to find them, and…
His eyes narrowed; he felt a disturbance in the Force.
Someone was coming.
Jas readied himself, he could feel it now, it was as plain as day.
Someone was coming to check on him, to check on the merchandise they had acquired.
It…was time.
He felt his lightsaber slide into his hand. As soon as the pod opened, he needed to move quick. He sensed only a single presence approaching, but that didn't mean much.
If the person had a droid or two with him, he wouldn't sense that.
He nodded, letting himself slip deeper into the light.
He was ready.
He could sense…boredom, that did surprise him. The minds around him seemed to be used to tedium, and yet, there was a current of malice here; something hidden from others.
Plus, now that he was truly reaching out, he could also sense movement, and a familiar hum.
Great, he realized.
We're in hyperspace.
He had hoped that whoever Targo was working with had a base on the planet where the pod had been dropped off, that was not the case.
Damn, that changes things.
It meant that he needed to stop this vessel now. Who knew where they were going, the counter on his wrist showed that he had been in here for six hours, depending when the pod was loaded, it was hard to say where in the galaxy they were right now, but hopefully still in range for his crew to pick up the tracer-signal.
No more time, he realized, he sensed that someone was just outside, and he could hear the release levers for the pod being engaged.
He steeled his nerves.
Showtime.
The pod opened with a loud hiss, the overhead lights should have blinded him, but he was prepared. He was seeing through the Force more than he was using his eyes, and that was a good thing, less chance of distraction.
A lone man stood before him, armored and holding what looked like a medical scanner.
"Hello there," Jas said with a pleasant smile.
The man's eyes widened, his hand tried to go for his belt, for a weapon.
Jas didn't give him that chance.
He gestured, and the man flew up against the ceiling, Jas made sure he didn't hit head first, but he did strike with enough momentum to be stunned.
Jas released him, and let him fall to the floor, hard. He stepped out of the pod and tried to get his bearings.
So far…so good.
He quickly disarmed his prisoner, disarmed and got a good look at him.
Interesting, he thought.
The man was wearing a Republic naval uniform! As he looked around; he realized that he recognized both the lighting and the design.
He had expected to be on some fringers' ship, but that wasn't the case at all.
This…it was a Republic ship! It was possibly even a military vessel.
How did that figure in to all this, he wondered? Supposedly, the person that Tynnes had contacted was an ally of Targo Sei, the only way to get through to the bounty hunter.
Was that person someone highly placed in the Republic navy? They would have to be to get the pod loaded with so little inspection.
He picked up his would-be captor and stuffed him in the pod. He removed the man's code cylinder so that he could gain access to the ship's computer. He engaged the pod's stasis system, for real this time. He didn't want this man sounding the alarm, not until he had a chance to see where he was, and do something about it.
His objectives were simple.
Bring the ship out of hyperspace, lock down the crew, and call for rescue.
He went to the first computer terminal he could find, plugged the man's cylinder into it. The ship's registry information came up quick enough.
Jas read through it quickly.
According to the computer, he was aboard the Mannanter, a Republic military freighter on course for Duros. He found no reference to his pod, or if it was to be dropped off along the way, but he was able to bring up a floor plan, and crew compliment.
Light freighter, crew of forty, hm?
Jas smiled.
This part of the job would be a good test of his Jedi skills.
He wasn't sure how Targo fit into this, but he was guessing that not everyone aboard was in on…whatever this was.
He didn't want to hurt anyone. He saw no need to make an enemy of the Republic navy.
He unplugged the code cylinder and went back to the still open pod, he considered changing into the officer's uniform, but thought against it. That man was too small, and wearing his uniform was more likely to attract attention than anything else.
Fine.
He sealed the pod, and quickly moved out into the corridor.
First stop, main engineering, from there, he would be able to see what he could do to bring this ship out of hyperspace.
He heard voices approaching, he slipped into the nearest alcove and waited for them to pass by.
Once again, he sensed no malice in these sailors; they behaved like they were simply on a delivery run, a run common to this class of vessel.
No reason to hurt them, he thought, but he couldn't allow them to hinder his hunt as well.
Someone on this ship knew more about Targo.
He would have that information…
…one way…or the other.
IOI
Twenty minutes later, alarms were blaring as the ship floated helplessly in the middle of nowhere.
The confusion served Jas Dar Bynn well, he no longer needed to hide as much, all focus was now directed on main engineering, and the hyperdrive system.
He could not help feeling a sense of pride.
The ship was disabled, and the blast doors had closed over main engineering. The ten engineers were either napping in their quarters or tied up after having fulfilled Jas' orders. He had scrambled the lock on the blast doors, and without help from the inside, it would take them several hours to get the door open.
Yet, even in that he saw a chance to sow even more confusion. He Force persuaded the sailors sent to check on the engineers to contact the bridge and tell them that everything was fine.
So far, it didn't seem that the crew had any idea that he was loose and onboard. It was easy enough to avoid the holocams, he had gotten their placement from the ship's central computer.
The officers hadn't locked down the ship, yet. Any lock downs that were in effect were his doing, and served only to buy him time.
He just had to keep the crew guessing, right now they likely saw all this as some type of mechanical failure. It would take time to sort through the mess and when they did finally realize what was going on, it would be too late.
More than enough time, he thought to himself, looking down at the blinking tracking beacon on his belt.
I hope you're ready, Rior, he thought.
I hope you are out there, listening and ready.
Though he was no slicer, he did know a few things about rigging a ship's security systems. His time in both Clan Nuna and the Cooper/Halcyon organization had taught him well. He could roughly estimate that of the ships forty-man crew, he had only about sixteen left to deal with, the rest were either sealed in their quarters or caught in non-essential areas, they weren't going anywhere.
He was now on his way to the bridge, he wished to speak with the captain, inform him of what was going on, and hopefully, turn off the bloody alarm, it was starting to give him a headache.
So far, Jas had not needed to even draw his lightsaber, he had kept casualties down to zero, minus a few hangovers that some would feel coming out of his Force persuasions.
In other words, so far so good, he was now free to head to the bridge.
He hoped that they wouldn't present him with further problems.
Though, he had to admit, this whole situation did give him a bit of déjà vu. He found himself remembering the Coop's Folly and its flight from Bantoon.
The traitor Alric had pulled a similar stunt to their ship. He had disabled the Folly to set it up for the Red Eclipse.
There is one difference, Jas thought, I mean these people no harm. All I want is a little information, they give that to me, then I will be on my way.
Jas tilted his head slightly, he felt another disturbance, something…familiar.
He smiled.
He sensed his crew, the Gilded Claw had just entered the system, and would no doubt soon be docking with the disabled freighter.
That will make things much easier.
He was about to have some back up.
He let the Force guide him, following the path. He encountered two sailors, but were able to convince them that he belonged here, and there was no need to report either his presence, or the incoming ship.
He didn't like doing this, he had never liked manipulating people's minds, but in this, he had little choice.
He had no desire to harm these sailors, or see his own crew harmed. Mind tricks could ensure both.
It was the only justification he had, he clung to it.
He would have a chance to apologize to these people later, after they were done.
The sailors he had encountered would not reveal him to their superiors, it bought some time, both for him, and the approaching ship.
Sadly, that secret was about to get out, they would be able to see the Claw from the bridge, and it was only a matter of time now before the officers took steps to try and repel boarders.
Jas looked down at the code cylinder in his hand.
This would give Shusk access to their systems, hopefully the little Chadra Fan would be able to disable the ship's anti-personnel system.
He hurried down the corridor, towards the airlocks.
He needed to get his people onboard, and quickly.
They didn't have much time.
He arrived just as the claw attached itself to the freighter's airlock. Again, Jas used the code cylinder to kill any alarms.
The air lock hissed as a hard lock was established. The hatch irised open.
Fallenstar and V'Lek leapt in, their lightsabers lit one covering one side of the corridor, and one watching the other.
Jas smiled at them.
"Welcome aboard," he said dryly.
Miri flashed him that manic grin of hers.
"A Republic ship, huh?" she said, "Curious."
He nodded.
That was one word he supposed.
He tried not to think about what had happened between them on the Wreck; it was a matter they would need to deal with later, by then…
"MAKE A HOLE!"
Shusk scampered out of the air lock making for the closest computer terminal. He glanced at Jas in passing.
"Code cylinder! Quick!"
Jas tossed it to the little alien, they had worked enough jobs together over the years to anticipate how some things had to go.
The Mandalorians came in next, followed closely by Burr, all three had their blasters drawn, making sure that their entry point was secure.
"Status of the crew?" Burr asked Jas.
"Mostly isolated," Jas reported, "A few still moving around."
Jas gave him a cool look.
"We aren't here to make enemies, non-lethal weapons only."
"Sure, that is a good idea?" Burr asked.
"We don't need to kill anyone, and besides…"
Jas shrugged.
"I still have questions."
"As ordered," Hylla and Quire called out, they switched to their Mandalorian rifles, one of the few weapons in their arsenal with a stun setting.
Jas' history with the clan was enough to ensure that they obeyed his request.
Burr turned to Shusk; the Chadra Fan was busy tapping at his data pad.
"How is it coming, rodent?"
"Patience is a virtue," Shusk squeaked back, the little alien was whistling to himself, his equivalent of a nervous tick.
If he didn't disable the gas system; the bridge could flood the whole ship. It was the same gas that Targo had used when he kidnapped Val and Vess. If it was released, they would need to flee back to the Claw, and they would lose…
"Got it!"
Shusk stepped back his whiskers twitching nervously.
"Anti-personnel systems are in stand by mode. I've locked it down with a code, they will probably be able to break it in an hour or so, but…"
"We won't need that much time," Jas promised, gesturing for the others to follow.
Good, he thought, they now had a clear path to the bridge with no distractions or concerns.
Perfect!
Fallenstar and V'Lek walked at his side, if they did encounter any hostiles, they would be able to parry any blaster bolts away from the group, give the Ko siblings a chance to stun the enemy.
"Master Jas?" V'Lek said.
"Yeah?"
"What does this ship have to do with the criminals I faced on the Wreck? What is going on?"
"Those are both good questions, padawan," he answered.
"It is time we had our answers."
It was only a short walk to the bridge.
They would know what was going on soon enough.
IOI
The bridge was locked down when they arrived.
The Gilded Claw's presence had finally alerted them to the fact that something was wrong.
It would not matter in the long run.
Without their anti-personnel system, and most of the crew locked down, there was very little the bridge crew could do. Jas could imagine their confusion. The people he had mind tricked telling them everything was fine, and at the same time their internal camera system had been disabled by Shusk.
He shook his head.
He felt a little sorry for these people, but he had had no choice.
Someone on this ship knew about Targo Sei and his allies.
He would know who they were…now.
Shuck disabled the blast doors, the little engineer stepped back under the cover of V'Lek's lightsaber.
The bridge opened up before them.
Jas stepped inside.
"Easy there," he called out, "We don't want any trouble."
The bridge was small, the freighter's command crew squeezed into a space barely bigger than the cockpit of a Republic shuttle.
The Captain and First Officer stood before the helmsman and navigator. A communications officer sat to the captain's right.
All five looked up in surprise.
The Captain, a dark-haired officer in his late thirties, glared at Jas.
"Pirates with lightsabers," he said coldly, "That is new."
"We're not pirates," Jas said, "and we are not here to harm you, any of you."
"You sure about that, Lead?" Burr asked keeping his blaster trained on the officers.
"Considering how you got aboard, we might want to take this vessel back to friendly territory, get what we need out of it there."
Jas pursed his lips.
He had considered that, but hoped it wouldn't be necessary.
He didn't wish to make an enemy of the Galactic Republic, not if he could help it.
He had these people at his mercy, he realized, he had needed to do that, at least, in the beginning.
Now, he needed to tone things down a bit.
An open hand could sometimes accomplish more than a clenched fist.
"I'm Jas Dar Bynn," he informed them, "Acolyte of the Jedi Order. The people behind me are my crew, we are conducting an investigation, and require your assistance."
The First Officer, A Bothan with black fur with white face markings grimaced. He had noticed the Ko siblings.
"Jedi and Mandalorians." He said, his fur rippling, "Fighting as allies?"
"Trouble can breed strange alliances," Jas informed him, "But you can trust me, we mean you no harm."
The Captain frowned, he remained skeptical, not that Jas blamed him.
"What brings you here, Master Jedi?" the First Officer asked.
"You actually," Jas informed him.
"You loaded a series of container at the supply depot on Kemp," Burr reminded them, "Our lead was inside one of them."
The Bothan blinked.
"The…the containers? I…I don't understand? Captain, why would we…?"
He didn't get to finish.
The captain drew his side arm, he aimed it at the alien's back.
"FOR THE ETERNAL NIGHT!" he shouted.
Time seemed to slow down for Jas.
He glared.
And there was the answer he was looking for.
The Sunset Collective, again, Targo was still working with them.
He wasn't surprised.
The bridge was too small for anything fancy or cute.
Jas needed to improvise.
He Force pushed the captain back, the man hit the helmsman's chair hard.
He slumped to his knees.
Jas walked up and punched him before he had chance to recover; knocking him unconscious. He…
PEW!
Another blaster went off, the navigation officer shot the ensign manning the comm station. Jas guessed the man was another Collective agent. The captain's flight spoiled the man's aim slightly. He managed to hit the female ensign in the shoulder spinning her around.
"RAAAARH!"
V'Lek dashed forward; he shoved his lit lightsaber blade through the back of the navigator's chair.
The man slumped over the blue blade impaling him.
The blaster fell from the dead man's hands.
Jas winced.
So much for no casualties.
"Padawan!" he called out.
"Was that necessary?"
The Whiphid deactivated his weapon, the dead ensign fell from his chair.
At least the young Whiphid looked ashamed. Killing should only be a last resort, a Jedi needed to understand that.
"Sorry, master Jas," he growled.
"I got…carried away."
Jas shook his head.
That was an understatement.
He sighed.
He didn't think he was ready to have a student yet.
Hylla approached the wounded comm officer, she startled, but stopped when she saw that the Mandalorian had a medical pack.
"It is okay," the armored girl promised.
"I'm here to help."
The Republic trooper nodded, though in pain, she remained wary.
Hylla began tending the wounded officer's wounds. While Jas helped the Bothan commander back to his feet.
The alien's eyes orange eyes were wide with shock.
"Captain Remn," he said looking at his fallen superior.
"I…I don't understand?"
"I take it he had the containers loaded?"
The Bothan nodded.
"He said that there was a last-minute change, that military supply had briefed him…"
The Commander shook his head.
"Master Jedi," he said showing his sharp teeth.
"What is going on?"
Jas looked down at the fallen captain with an angry glare.
"It is a bit of a long story, Commander…?"
"Kre'Fey, Marn Kre'Fey."
"Well, Commander Kre'Fey, or perhaps I should call you Captain, it is a long story."
The Bothan shook his head.
"You best get started then, and then we can talk about what you have done to my ship."
Jas smiled.
"Of course, Captain."
"You will have my full cooperation."