Chapter 39
Reconnaissance
Jaune lifted the newly machined helmet and took a close look at the matte black surface before looking closer at the rest of the armour that had been created in the one of the holds of the Green Dawn with the mobile forge that they had in the stores that had been due for the clone forces on Felucia.
"This looks like an Ubese environment suit." He said, a mild tone of distaste present
"You are right it does." Katya said, her tone also disapproving
"That is the idea. It will give us a decent disguise as well as moderate armour should things go to osik. Plus the intimidation factor a group of Ubese would create can be useful." Keira replied
"Why do you sound as if these Ubese are a bad group?" Pyrrha asked
"That is because they are. Simply put the Ubese are a species of psychopaths. Their entire culture consists of killing everyone not Ubese." Jaune replied
"They are native to the edge of the outer rim and their system is under permanent interdiction. Even the Empire still enforces that. As a right of passage they send raiderships out. Once their young has enough kills they return and are considered adults by Ubese culture." Yara took up the explanation
"For every nine ships destroyed or turned back, one will slip through and they go on their murder quest. They will sign up as mercenaries, enforcers. Anything that will allow them to kill with impunity and not get hunted down, and should they cross the line they revel in being hunted as long as they can continue killing." Katya added
"If they are so xenophobic how do you know that?" Velvet asked
" Reclaimed wreckage from one of their raiderships. A group of their raiderships once tried attacking a Republic frigate and was taken out. They found what the anthropologists believe to be a prayer room on one of those ships with a record of their beliefs. Of course the translation of these texts could be wrong but with how the Ubese behave, we can assume the texts were translated correctly." Katya explained
"And you want us to disguise ourselves to look like a group of them?" Coco said
"Would this not cause people to be wary or hostile to us?" Yatsu added
"Wary and hostile is Nar Shadaa default behaviour. The scum of the universe is drawn to it. By posing as a hunting party of Ubese we are unlikely to be challenged by the smaller groups of street gangs and swoop bike gangs. And anyone looking to hire a group of psychopaths would be the ones we need to get close to get the information we need. Plus there is one benefit to looking like them that would keep our identities hidden." Keira responded
"That being?" April asked
"Ubese are helium breathers." Keira replied
"Meaning we will not be asked to remove our helmets in any place we go into keeping our faces hidden and by being encased in armour we can not leave DNA traces." Jaune said realising the plan
"Nor would we need to get new weapons, Ubese using clone trooper weapons would be seen as them using trophies they had taken." Amelia said
"Also with keeping our faces hidden, no one can see that a large portion of the group are completely new to the wider galaxy. And any mistakes in behaviour can be explained away." Keira added
"And will we be using this disguise when we go after the tribute as well?" Fox asked
"It would be best to do so. The longer we can stay hidden the better." Amelia stated
They came out of hyperspace quite a distance away from Nar Shadaa and after negotiating a higher docking fee for remaining anonymous joined a line of older freighters heading for the lower docking areas of the planetary city. The older nature of the Bantha allowing them to easily mix among the mostly older ships. Those not actively needed for piloting the ship were ensconced in the turrets, ready to activate the weapons systems at a moments notice. They finally settled down in the lower city. Amelia now dressed considerably different from her imperial origins had been the one used as the public face when dealing with the Nar Shadaa officials. Once the docking fee was paid and an extra payment was done for "protection" of their landing area she went back up the ramp where the group had been gathered in the cargo bay. She suppressed a shudder on seeing the large group of black figures and hearing the rasp of respirators the helmets contained with red lights being visible where the eyeholes were. The green mists that the respirators were expelling did not add a gentler touch. Hastily she pulled on her own armour and linked up with the closed comlink group they used while Keira was going about connecting all the loose pieces that made up part of their disguise. Moments later her red eyes lit up in the helmet and she too was breathing out green mist.
Keira turned her attention to the Ichuru's and Jaune
"Have any of you been here before?" She asked
"Once, a drop of and immediate pick up and departure for Minassa. We never left the docking bay." Katya answered
"Okay, general rules then. Stay in a group, never stray off , if someone tries to approach you pull your weapon and make sure the safety is off. Do not stop at any stall or shop for any reason. Amelia stays with the main group to act as translator and spokesperson should neither I, Jaune or Hina is there. Katya, Yara you are spotters and enforcers of the rules. And to the force sensitive among us, do not use it for anything. The Empire will have spotters in the crowds, never mind that the chances of you becoming nauseas and vomiting in your helmet. This entire planet is almost a dark side nexus" Keira said
"Another thing, do not let anyone get close to you. The place is rife with pickpockets, and there might be some who wants to make a name by killing an Ubese. Cutting the air hoses of non oxygen users is a common tactic used to do that." Jaune added
"And standing there breathing with a damaged hose will expose you quickly." Hina added
"So stay in a group, keep space open and don't go all nice shiny." Nora summed up
"Yes, and try to keep looking as menacing as possible. The urge to look around like a regular tourist will be great, so try your best not to." Keira replied
"Another thing should someone try and speak to you, only the females among us will reply and then only to threaten death and dismemberment. Ubese culture allows only their females to address weaker species, the males only interact with their peers." Hina added
Keira produced a datapad and displayed a minimap above the device. Different sectors were marked in a mishmash of colours.
"This the latest data I had on Nar Shadaa, the colours mark the different factions. Red is Hutt territory. Black, Black Sun, keep in mind my data can be outdated. The rest is the bigger swoop gangs and the different guilds. I last updated that before my membership of the bounty Hunters guild was terminated. I downloaded this from a remote server I store data in on our refuel in the corporate sector." She explained
"Did you update that server while on the Executor?" Amelia asked
"Yes, I did." Keira replied
"Then the Empire will know that you are in the core. The ISB will have tagged the outgoing transmission when you updated the information and would have put a watch on the server. It is standard protocol." Amelia said
"I was afraid of that possibility but the risk is neglible. They might know we need information on Nar Shadaa but not why. And I made sure to be off ship when I downloaded the files, sothey can not trace it back to the Bantha." Keira replied
"Where do we go from here?" Jaune asked
"Our target area is ten levels up. Jaune, Hina and I will go from bar to bar to get information on the being who will likely have what we need. All of you have seen what Sullastans look like. You see one, forward the picture to me and I can confirm if it is the one we are looking for, I know look for a Sullastan is a bit vague, but it is unlikely that you will be able to spot the fine differences." She said
"And if you can't find him, what then?" Coco asked
"Her, then we move into the Hutt sector to look for a Zeltron slicer. Should we need to do that we are more or less karked." Keira replied
"Zeltrons, can sense a force sensitive and are drawn to them. And since the Ubese are not sensitive it will be clear we are not Ubese, not with five of us being that. And once the cover is blown they will look closer at us." Hina explained
"It will all depend what is greater her lust or the price on our heads should it come to that. That is one of the reasons we go in a large group. Should we need to shoot our way out, the more guns the better." Keira said
Exiting the docking bays they made their way to the transit relay station. The local denizens scattering before the fourteen menacing figures. Stepping into the dimly lit relay station the line waiting for the turbolifts scattered and they pressed forward and went up. Approaching the first bar had the bouncers call for reinforcement. Moments later four landspeeders filled with thugs from various species pulled up and encircled the group while the line of bouncers in front of the doors had gone from six to fifteen. Keira, Jaune and Hina pressed forward.
"Three talk to barman. Pay given" Keira said in deliberately broken Basic
Jaune tossed a credit chip at the feet of the bouncer in front of the door. The Bouncer looked down and slowly bent down and picked up the chip. He stepped out of the line.
"Three only. No fighting." The Trandoshan grunted, granting access.
The outer group spread out and turned that their backs was to one another. The reinforcements that came in the landspeeders spread out too. This caused a large area to be vacated leaving the group with a clear line of sight over most of the area. Coco thought she heard Yatsu's breath hitch when there came a change in the tone of his respirator, Following the direction his head was facing she looked around. She spotted what looked suspiciously like a soup kitchen. What drew her attention was one of the servers in the line, that and the fact that not one of the people in the place looked armed. Quietly she opened a closed channel to Katya and Yara
"Girls, can you take a quick look. East of us, across the way." She said
"Looks like a feeding line and shelter set up. I can see the symbol for Alderaan clearly displayed" Yara said shifting slightly
"Is that common in places like this?" Coco asked
"Not unheard of, Alderaan routinely throws money at places like this." Yara shrugged
"And no one attempts to rob them?" Coco continued
"And risk losing on free food. No. the gangs leave them be, places like that is usually considered neutral ground. What drew your attention to it?" Katya asked
"Yatsu spotted them first. Or rather one of the servers."
"Which one, there are several there." Yara asked'
"Petite blond, about to burst out of her blouse, slightly green skin." Coco listed off
"The Fayling? They come from a system near Alderaan, seeing one here is not that unusual. Don't tell me, Yatsu has a type?" Yara replied
"Yes, he has a type and she falls clearly in that." Coco chuckled
"Cant judge him from that, they are cute. Though it would be better to nudge him to look away, we do not want the locals to think we are interested in starting something in their area. Ubese has a reputation for going after Fayling, why no one knows." Katya cautioned
"Easy targets. She looks kind of meek and helpless" Coco suggested
"And that is why you should never judge by appearance. They are much more dangerous than their appearance will have you believe. Underestimate one at your peril" Yara snorted in mirth
Across the square the Fayling girl was gripping the serving ladle in a grip that her knuckles turning white, the metal implement slowly being twisted into a new shape from the force being exerted. The human overseer saw the servers distress and moved to have her taken from the line. Moments later she came back once the line had been re-established and gave her attention to the person she had been talking too standing in the shadow of the alley next to the shelter. The person was dressed in a grey robe with the hood up
"Sorry for the interruption, the Ubese got on of my girls on edge." The human explained
"What would bring Ubese here?" The robed figure wondered
"Honestly I don't care as long as they leave my people alone. Keeping the neutrality with the gangs is hard enough without psychopaths starting up as well." The woman replied
The robed figure stared at the group of Ubese, concentrating hard. Two more figures turned to face them
"Curious." The robed figure said, stepping back deeper into the shadow
"Curious?" The woman echoed
"They are not Ubese and I sense that some of them are force users." The robed figure replied
"You could tell that?" The woman asked
"Old skills never go away." The robed figure stated enigmatically
"Then I suggest we finish up. How can Alderaan help you today, Fulcrum?"
"The usual a message to your sponsor." Ashoka Tano replied, handing over a micropad
"Think you can keep an eye on these Ubese if you are not too busy." The woman asked
"I can do that, if not only for the fact that they have drawn my attention." Ashoka replied
The inside of the bar had the expected appearance one expected. Visibility was poor due to bad and broken lighting and the haze of nicotine sticks. The floor was dirty and the furniture scuffed and mismatched, the glass ware dirty. The occupants of the room all had at least one limb underneath the tabletops, Several holographic units were displaying the usual strippers dancing for the patron's pleasure. The images stopped dancing till a new credit was fed to the added slot to the projector unit at which point the dance would continue. The three pushed their way to the bar counter. The bar was being served by a massive being. Stepping closer they recognised it as a Besalisk, green skinned, four arms. Though due to a lack of sunlight this one was not the usual brighter green of its species. The Besalisk ignored them till it had served the last of the paying customers before ambling over to them, one hand trailing on the edge of the bar counter where it probably had multiple weapons stacked under the counter.
"What do you want?" He grated out
"Slicer, Rasha Pellor. Business." Keira replied
"Don't know him, either buy a drink or get lost." The Besalisk replied
Keira turned around and led the way out. The Besalisk rubbed a clawed hand under its chin before reaching for a pocket on its sagging pants and pulled out a specifically designed comlink. The device was marketed for species with larger than human hands, due to its size it was ideal for adding extra features not commonly found on standard comlinks. One being a dedicated channel that frequently changed frequencies. Tapping in a number sequence he left a message when prompted
"This is Kragg, someone is looking for you. May be business." He said
Jaune as the last one out spotted the Besalisk talking into the comlink. His own comlink crackled marking an incoming message
"Guys, we have another force user close by." Pyrrha reported
"Just sensed it for a moment, but as Pyrrha said it was close." Velvet added
"Considering what we are dressed as it would be pointless to ask if you saw someone showing interest in us." Hina remarked
"Good thing we are done here. Time to move around, till we head for the next bar. But I guess we need to pick up the pace if someone is showing interest." Keira stated
"We should have a reaction soon, our friendly barman did not wait long to make a call." Jaune said
" Then let us get going, if the next barman starts asking questions we will know for sure Pellor is around." Keira said
Like most slicers Rasha Pellor would not leave their electronic filled havens unless forced to do so. Traveling the data waves was their entire focus and purpose in life, breaking into secure sites was their source of excitement. Though like all beings they had to eat and to do that you needed credits. Of course you could try and steal from accounts but only the really stupid did that. The banks employed their own slicers to counter that strategy and they did not hesitate to use terminal force against those stupid enough to try. That meant to get credist one had to go out and meet clients.
Rasha Pellor only worked by referral, she routinely paid various bartenders enough to refer clients to her should they be looking for a slicer. She also followed a rule by only delivering information, never going along for on site slices. She also had the weakness of a routine. She would only meet customers at one of three locations. The places under the protection of Black Sun captains, sure she had to pay for the use of the facilities but the security was worth it. The only time she was vulnerable was in transit, never using the same route twice if she could help it. But with only using three locations you could only use a limited number of routes. She was already on edge as it were. Having Ubese asking after you would do it, she decided to head for the most secure of her meeting places.
She drew short as she approached the bar, she spotted three Ubese a distance from the bar, all three in a clear position to spot her approach. She stepped into an alleyway hand going to her blaster as she considered her options. Being a stong believer that discretion was better than valor she decided to return to her haven and hide out till the interest in her died out. She swore as the three Ubese started moving in the direction of the alley she was in. She spun around and stiffened as she spotted the Ubese leaning against the alley wall. She tried to draw her blaster. The weapon was ripped from her hand by an unseen force before a blue stun bolt enveloped her.
Yatsu bend down and picked up the smaller figure like a bag of potatoes after it had been searched. A large pile of datapads, a holdout blaster and a vibroknife had joined the blaster to one side of its owner. One black clad figure pointed to the datapads.
"Should we not be taking those?" Pyrrha asked
"Too dangerous, most will be filled with viruses and tracking software, no need to get our systems infected." Amelia replied
"Not mentioning that one of those is likely a hidden explosive device and another set to start transmitting her location to whoever she pays to pull her out of capture situations should she fail to reset the device while on the move." Keira added
"Shall we give her a quick blast?" Yara asked, producing the scanner she had altered to create an EMP pulse
"Let us get her away from here first before doing that, we do not want to accidently set of an explosion by frying her deadman switch datapad." Jaune replied
They moved deeper into the alley system carrying their prize. Behind them a datapad lit up once they moved a distance away from the pile of datapads, a beacon started sending coordinates to beings unknown.
Rasha woke up to a piercing pain in her neck. She gasped and writhed as the adrenal stim did its work to bring her fully to awareness. Moments later she was drenched by ice cold water. She looked around her in panic. She was tied naked to a chair, with her arms lifted above her head secured to a pulley and chains. At a guess she was currently in some sort of engineering workshop. What really got her attention was the circle of Ubese around her. A dragging sound came from outside the small circle of light that she was in the centre off.
A figure dressed in black with a hooded cowl covering her face sat down on the chair she had dragged into the centre facing the tied down slicer
"Rasha Pellor, you have been a very bad girl." The figure spoke
"Who are you?" Rasha demanded
"Who I am is unimportant, who I work for is. Call me an agent for an intergalactic bank. One who was defrauded by a person using an identity you created and inserted into the Imperial database." The figure replied
"I would not know who that was, I do not keep records of what I do." Rasha replied hurriedly
"We both know that is a lie." The figure chuckled
The figure leaned back in the chair and studied the now squirming slicer, her hands folded under her chest
"We both know all slicers keep a record in a remote server in case a client turns on them. Be it as a final act of revenge by outing them or using the information to buy clemency from whomever the client brought down on your head." The figure spoke
The figure sat forward and placed her hands under her chin
"However you will not need your safeguard. My employer has another way for you to make up for your indiscretion by aiding the wrong sort." The figure said
"How?" Rasha demanded
"By getting me the information on Jabba's tribute. I want to know when the ship is leaving. I want to know what type of ship it is. I want to know the size of the crew , if there is any escort vessels. I want the cargo manifest. In short I want everything." The figure demanded
"That is suicide!" Rasha cried out
"Only if you talk. You can do all that from here with a terminal you have never used before in a sector you have never been in. I am sure a skilled slicer such as yourself will know how to hide your signature. Hell frame a competitor for all I care." The figure replied calmly
"Why do you want this?" Rasha asked, playing for time
"If I tell you, you will no longer have plausible deniability. Not that my employer will allow me to tell you anyway." The figure chuckled
"And what do I get out of this?" Rasha asked
"You get to live. This is as punishment for your actions afterall." The figure replied dryly
"And if I refuse?" Rasha asked
"Then my employees get to indulge in their nature and extract the information on your safeguard. Between you and me, they are getting a bit agitated. They have not been able to indulge for a while." The figure replied, the last almost conspiratorially
"Where is the terminal?" Rasha sagged in her restraints
One of the Ubese left the circle and returned with a portable terminal and another set up a portable table in front of the slicer and undid the arm restraints. The figure in the chair was seemingly inspecting her gloves.
"I do believe I do not have to warn you what happens should you do something to alert the Hutt, be it now or in the future." She spoke almost as if commenting on the weather
"I understand." Rasha replied before getting to work
Jaune looked back at where they had left the slicer still tied up in the engineering shop. Her bonds had been subtly loosened enough to effect her own release after she recovered from the stub bolt she had been subjected to once the terminal had been taken out of her reach. He did not look around as a blaster bolt destroyed the portable terminal after the data had been transferred to a few datapads.
"This was too easy. She gave in too quickly." He said
"We felt her fear, she truly believed she was in mortal danger." Velvet replied
"Yes, she was afraid but there was something more. She felt smug." Jaune said musingly
"She did manage to infiltrate a secure system without detection, that would make anyone a bit smug." Fox replied
"True but she felt like that before she got to work slicing." Jaune
Countered
The heard the drone of several heavy vehicles coming from a distance. The force rippled in warning.
"Get to cover!" Jaune ordered
"Move! Stick to your teams. Weapons hot." Hina added
They split into three groups with Keira and Amelia adding onto JNP. They took cover in the alleys close by and what had been an office building that had been gutted by a fire. The vehicles came into view. One was a modified hoverbus that had been heavily armoured sporting non standard heavy weapon turrets. The vehicle was packed to the brim with armed beings. The second was a flat bed hoversled, this one was packed with several squads of B1 droids. The vehicles unerringly made their way to where they had left the slicer.
"Shit. We never did hit her with an EM pulse. Jaune swore
"Subdermal tracker. Kark it, you are right." Keira added
Keira pulled out a datapad and switched it on. Before handing it over to Amelia to hold. Sparing a quick glance Jaune saw the image of the interior of the workshop
"I left a visual and audio device in there." Keira explained, getting to a knee prepping her DC17 in sniper configuration.
"She must have paid a lot for her protection if this is the turnout she gets. Or she is more important than we thought." Amelia commented
"I guess we will know in a moment." Jaune replied
They watched as the transports came to a stop. The droids quickly deployedand set up a perimeter. A four man team moved up to the door, they all looked similar, they moved quickly despite appearing to be of advanced age
"Clones." Keira commented
"Why do they look so old?" Nora asked
" Accelerated aging from the cloning process. They could not wait for the clones to mature normally so they sped up their maturation. At a guess their real age would put them in their mid twenties to early thirties." Amelia replied
"Which means we have veterans on hand here. They wont be easy to take down." Keira commented
"I see the usual mix of Rodians, trandoshans and Weeqay in there as well as normal humans." Jaune added
"No Gamoreans, which means they are likely a top mercenary company. The droid support already suggested they are better than run of the mill mercenaries." Amelia pointed out
There came a soft crump as the door was breached and the four Clones moved in smoothly and efficiently
"They have done this before and frequently." Keira commented
"Shh, let us hear what is going on." Amelia hushed her
Rasha was released and her clothing was found and handed to her. She was hyped up from a second adrenal stim in less than an hour. Her heart was beating rapidly and she was skittish as a side effect. A Faleen male came in followed by another two humans.
" Princess Xara sends her regards and that of the Black Sun. We apologise for your capture so close to a designated safe zone of yours." The male said softly
"My thanks to the Princess, the ones who captured me. Do you have them?" Rasha asked
"No, do you wish for them to be hunted?" The male asked
"Of course I do!" Rasha snapped out
"It will of course be done, but a surcharge is applicable." The male replied
"Tell the Princess it is in the interest of the Black Sun to do so, they are planning to aggravate the Hutt by attacking his tribute." Rasha replied
"Explain!" The male snapped
"They forced me to slice all the data on the Hutt servers. If the ship gets attacked the Hutt will declare war on everyone." Rasha snapped back
The Falleen touched his ear where a comdevice was settled. He tilted his head as he received his instructions. He looked to the slicer
" Was it the Ubese you reported that were tracking you?" He asked
"Yes, and a human female. She claimed to be an operative for a Bank." Rasha replied
"Did you use any equipment that can be traced back to you?" The man asked
"No, they brought their own terminal. I hid my signature on their orders."
"Good." The male said
He nodded to one of the clones. The clone lifted a DC17 and fired once. The body of the slicer tumbled to the floor a moment later. The clone holstered the weapon.
"Your orders, sir." The clone said
"Find them, kill them and destroy all data you find on them. They will not have gotten far and are easy to spot. All transport from this sector and the turbolifts are being locked down."
"Do you want one alive for interrogation?" The clone asked
"No, kill them all. This the order of her Majesty."
The group looked away from the datapad and lined up their weapons. Nora switching to her preferred method of attack by switching to anti armour rockets.
"So is the Princess broke or something?" Nora asked
"No, Why do you ask that?" Amelia replied, looking puzzled
"I thought she must be since she works for a criminal organization." Nora shrugged
"No, the Falleen are one of the richer species. She and her Brother Xizor are from a cadet line of the Falleen royal family. Rumour has it they are running their parts of the Black Sun to prove to the main line they are more worthy to be in charge. The King is close to abdication and could technically give them the throne." Keira explained
"Get ready, the droids are getting close." Jaune cautioned
He held his DC17M In his left hand, in his right he was preparing to arm and throw an ion grenade. Pyrrha had swotched to sniper as well. Amelia was set up in standard rifle mode.
"Nora, see if you can hit one of those turrets with your first shot. I would prefer not to run under heavy weapons fire." Jaune said.
"I can do one better. They left the door open on their transport. I can get a rocket inside easily, it should leave the turrets without power." Nora replied
"Hit the pods first, they can be fired independently from the main power of the transport, then hit the inside." Keira corrected her.
"CFVY and KHYA is ready." Pyrrha reported
"Tell CFVY to stand by to give us cover fire to fall back." Jaune ordered
He armed the Ion grenade and threw it out. He reached for a thermal detonator and threw it out before starting to fire on the outside of the droid formation. Two shots rang out from the sniper rifles taking out the weapon operators on the turrets before anti armour rockets demolished the turrets. The transport dropped to the ground a burning mess as the their around exploded within the vehicle, The cargo loader followed moments later as Nora fired her last round before reloading the anti armour weapon.
Return fire started hitting the walls and came through the windows they were firing through causing them to duck and pop back up to fire again. Nora decimated the last line of droids with two more rocket rounds before she too was forced to convert back to normal rifle mode.
"Fall back." Keira ordered
They fired another volley before sprinting for the side exit they had come in from. KHYa had now entered the firefight causing the mercenaries to take cover as their flank was now exposed. A couple of Trandoshans started to charge to their position when Coco stepped up and opened up with the rotary cannon she had insisted on carrying. The trandoshans staggered as they were caught in the deadly hail of bolts. This allowed KHYA the opportunity to fall back.
Keira spun around and dropped to her knee. The Falleen commander had made a tactical error by stepping into view. Her rifle swung up and she sighted quickly before firing. The Falleen dropped a moment later, his chest a smoking mess. The fire from the mercenaries tapered off as their paymaster fell to the ground. The only ones moving forward was the four clones. They kept moving forward firing as they went. Keira went down as a bolt struck her leg
Jaune broke cover and rushed to her. Dropping on his back on top of her he quickly grabbed hold and jerked her onto his shoulders as he sat up and got to his feet before sprinting back to where the rest were giving covering fire. Keira cried out in pain from the jostling of her injured limb
"Never thought Port would ever teach anything useful like that pick up manouvre." Fox commented as Jaune moved past where they were firing
" He has a lot to teach if you only listen.
Jaune gently lowered Keira beside Hina who already had a medpack open ready for use
"By me a few minutes." Hina ordered
"We will do our best. Just hurry up." Jaune replied
"Concentrate on the clones, take them out and the mercenaries will stop fighting." Keira said through clenched teeth.
Jaune moved back to the front lines. They were firing short bursts now to keep the enemy from raising their heads.
"How is Keira?" Amelia demanded
"Hina is taking care of her, looks like a shallow wound." Jaune replied
Amelia sagged slightly in relief on hearing that. A volley of fire forced all of them to duck for cover.
"Where are the clones?" Jaune asked
"The old guys? they went into one of the alleys." Fox reported
"Watch our flanks they are going to try and hit us from the side. Yatsu…" Jaune started
"I will carry Keira. I take it you want to move without waiting for Hina to finish." The large man replied
"We better, those clones are veterans, as long as they are around we are outmatched. We need to get ahead of them and ditch these Ubese armour, right now it only makes us targets." Jaune replied
Yatsu merely nodded and fell back quickly to where Hina was treating Keira. Moments later he whistled as a warning that he was ready to fell back two by tow and sprinted down the back alleys and roads of the lower Level of Nar Shada, every hundred metres two would spin around and cover the retreat of the others. The residents of the area had wisely decided to lock themselves in to wherever they were and staying out of sight. Finding a dumping ground they quickly stripped of the armour and tossed it into an overflowing waste skip. Two thermal detonators set the skip ablaze burning the armour to slag along with whatever waste was present
The Black Sun guard at the turbolift and transport relay did not even look twice at the group of humans and Yuki as they stumbled into the area, The bottles in their hands explaining why they were dressed in their underwear and gunbelts. Even drunk they were not stupid enough to run around unarmed, judging from the fact that one had a blaster burn on her leg showed that they had already found some degree of trouble already Though he was curious about the female with two upright ears on her head, unlike her companions she carried more than alcohol and weapons, a knapsack was slung over her shoulders, the strap right between her breasts. The woman gave him a pointed stare as she spotted where his gaze was fixed and he looked away, idly he wondered what species she was. Since they were not Ubese he saw no reason to detain them and they took the turbolift to the lower levels
The Clones found the skip fire easily enough but lacking any fire fighting equipment had to wait for the fire to die down before they could investigate it. None of them bothered with questioning the locals. As per Nar Shada standard no one will have seen anything and lacking the funds to reverse the amnesia the locals suffered from they were forced to give up the hunt. Spotting a luxury landspeeder approaching they moved to the side of the road. Their nominal leader, the oldest from their batch stepped slightly forward. It was time to brief the Princess, The clone was fully ready to explain that the death of their leader was his own fault as the Falleen had been instructed to stay in cover. How the Princess will take the loss of her aide and fucktoy was up for debate however.
Back in the safety of Hyperspace and running to where they would meet up with the Green Dawn the crew gathered in the crew lounge. Keira was confined to a hoverchair and her leg elevated. Amelia was constantly hovering around her. The data they had obtained was being displayed by the holoviewer. Pyrrha was the first to speak
"We got what we came from, but can we trust the information still?" She asked
"Apart from the slicer we are the only ones to have seen this. The terminal hard drives had been destroyed and can not be reformatted." Amelia said
"And with the slicer dead we are the only ones who have the data." Keira completed
"But what if the Black Sun warn Jabba." Katya said
"Considering they hate each other I would say it is unlikely especially as it would mean that the Black Sun would have to admit we got away from them. They can not afford to show weakness to the Hutts. I think the data should still be usable" Jaune said musingly
"So the question is, do we rob the Hutt or not?" Keira asked