Daiyu
"Hela! Hela!"
She heard her name, a voice in the distance.
Then she felt hands on her and she was lifted then moved.
Something cold was suddenly on her forehead, strangely soothing after the initial shock but her head still hurt.
This was an odd dream, not like her usual ones.
She wanted to sink back into wherever she had been, nothing was painful there. She let herself drift back. It was hard to stay here, wherever she was.
'Oh no you don't." The voice was insistent, pushing through, "Stay with me and wake up! Hela!
Something shook her shoulders; she slowly came back, that instinct for survival fighting through, it was hard and everything hurt.
Something astringent hit her nostrils, it jolted her to full consciousness.
Awake and in pain.
She blinked open her eyes; it was bright and Dag was there, holding a cloth. She squinted at him through half open eyelids.
"Here!" He laid the cloth on her head; the foul smell had disappeared.
"Sorry about that."
"What the fuck was it?"
"You don't want to know. It's in the 'fresher now."
She blinked again and tried to look around. It was bright. His hands pressed down on her shoulders and stopped her moving.
"Don't! You need to stay still and quiet."
"Where's Zur?"
"He's gone after them."
"Who?"
"The two Rodians who attacked you."
"Rodians?"
Dag huffed, "How many fingers am I holding up?"
"Two— and that's rude on some planets."
"What do you remember last?"
"The three of us leaving work."
"Good! Not too bad then. Do you feel dizzy or nauseous?"
"Not at the moment."
He pulled more upright, "Now?"
She waited for a few seconds.
"No fine. So what happened. I can't remember anything else but I must have had a shower."
"Zur got an alert to show there was someone in the apartment that wasn't you."
Hela opened her mouth to say something.
"He had set up a secure holocam, on the door, just in case. We came back to find you sprawled out on the floor and a load of your credits missing."
"Missing?"
"Somehow they had managed to open the safe box Zur fitted. He thinks they're professionals."
"Now I feel sick."
"Too bad. Sit up! I need to get some bacta on the back of your head."
.
Zur tracked the Rodians, he could smell their fear from when they thought they had escaped with the credits but then he and Dag appeared. One had just been poised to finish Hela off with a blaster shot through the head.
He pushed through the marketplace, people jumping out of his way quickly, when they saw his face; he was catching up. They weren't moving with any urgency any more until they saw him again and ran, pushing bystanders out of the way. He kept them in sight and could still smell them.
Then they disappeared.
He slowed, the crowds had reduced but he smelt them. He followed the smell, the distinctive Rodian odour and turned a corner into an alley. Standing at the end, he looked around; tall buildings either side, three doors, gate at the end, the only way out. He drew his blaster and walked slowly along the alley. The first doorway, no way in from the alley, no holocams for that door and no gatekeeper droid. He moved on, still smelling them. They were here somewhere. He looked up—nothing. They must have gone somewhere and with help.
"Dag?" He spoke into his wrist com.
"Yes?"
"How is she?"
"Alive but concussed. Can't remember anything. You should have told me who she is."
"I—"
"we'll talk later. You got them?"
"Not yet."
"Be careful."
Zur smiled, apart from Hela, no one else cared enough to say that to him, "I will."
He walked slowly to the end of the alley— a dead end— they either went through the doors or up, using the old ladder attached to the wall at the very end of the alley, then along the rooftops.
He looked up; it was a risk. He grabbed the bottom rung and pulled, the old durasteel seemed solid, he climbed.
.
"Is he okay?" Hela asked, wincing as another spray of Bacta hit the exposed flesh on the back of her head.
"Yes. He says so."
"I'd feel better if you were with him, I'll be fine."
"He can take care of himself and you need someone with you for the next day or two. Just in case."
"No I—" she heaved and vomited into the bowl Dag quickly held in front of her.
"Yes you do. Finished?"
She nodded and he disposed of its contents, coming back with water.
"Thanks. Now what?"
"We wait."
Hela hated waiting.
.
He was almost at the top when the smell became almost overwhelming and he knew there were more of them; he also knew he had made a mistake. He had a choice—go over the top or go back. There had never been any going back for him. He pulled himself up—definitely a mistake, even though his first two blaster shots disposed of two of the new Rodians; he knew now they were all the same gang. They were wearing the same colours.
He dodged one kick and another but he had no chance with the third, even though it was only a glancing blow, it knocked him off balance and he lost his footing, tumbling down the ladder, blaster heading to the ground. He scrambled for a hand hold and caught one, yanking his shoulder at the same time. He would pay for that tomorrow.
Looking back up, a couple of heads looked down towards him and one climbed over. Someone above him on a ladder was not a good place to be. He made his way down— it would even the odds on the ground, he thought.
Until he got there.
.
Dag looked worried, when Hela came out of the fresher; she had managed to get there to vomit again although very little came up.
"What's wrong?" She leaned against door.
"He's not answering."
"How long?"
"Since just before you went in."
"Something's wrong. You need to go look for him."
"I can't—"
"Yes, you can. Trace his com and I'll sit with my blaster ready. Just shout when it's you."
Dag looked at her.
"Just go after him!"
He didn't need telling again and hurried off.
.
Zur pushed himself slowly back towards the wall on his bottom and leaned against it. It didn't really help with the pain. But he could see the rest of the alley and had found a blaster and his knife; he was ready. Four Rodians lay on the ground around him. Two on the roof and two had fled; the odds had been in his favour and he should have done better.
His shoulder ached, but that was the least of his worries; a couple of the blaster burns, tingled, perhaps three, he wasn't sure. The knife wounds burned and he had a deep stab wound. He wasn't sure why they didn't finish him off there and then but there were some crowds passing the end of the alley, it could only be that but they hadn't seen him.
He could still feel the stickiness of his blood oozing out; it wasn't coagulating. That wasn't right, then he knew why they hadn't finished him off; they didn't need to.
He needed to move but his legs weren't working and they should be; he was tired. He had to have a plan; he'd rest a little time, then get up. He had to get back to Hela and Dag but he closed his eyes.
.
Dag tracked his lover, he didn't like where this heading; Zur was still not answering. Finally he turned into an alley; he saw Zur on the ground, surrounded by dead Rodians and another Rodian pointing a blaster at him. Without thinking he exploded towards him, pulling out his beloved paring knife. He grabbed him by the neck from behind and stabbed, until he stopped moving and let him drop to the floor.
Ignoring the Rodian, he knelt next to Zur, feeling for a pulse.
"Zur! Wake up!"
He watched for the response and finally his eyes opened.
"Can you walk?"
The Falleen smiled, "With you— anytime."
Dag dragged him upright and they made their way slowly out of the alley; Zur leaning heavily on him.
"Anytime." He replied.
.
Caesar handed over the credits, part of him hated dealing with the gangs. They were undisciplined thugs but it was the only way he had been able to fulfil his obligations in removing the Falleen. The instructions had stipulated permanently and the Rodians hadn't quite managed that, so he had made the appropriate deduction. The Rodian looked at the amount.
"It's short!"
"It was only the Falleen who was supposed to be permanent."
"It will be."
"My sources tell me, the female was also going to be finished off, that would have been an even more costly mistake for you to make, health wise. She was just going to be frightened."
"My colleague let his instincts get out of control. It won't happen again."
"Are you sure the Falleen got a dose?"
"Oh yes. If he survives, he'll be out of action for months, if not permanently."
Caesar stared at the Rodian; the Falleen had been useful on security, it was difficult to get good staff, so he had lost out in several ways.
"Go!"
He waited until the Rodian had left before activating his com.
.
Hela couldn't breathe when she saw them struggle into the room; Dag could barely hold Zur upright. She rushed to the bedroom, getting it ready for him.
"He needs a medic, or med droid." Dag said breathlessly; the Falleen was heavier than he looked.
"I don't know any."
"I'll get one. The old boss used to use one."
"Is it any good?"
"It's used to these type of injuries."
Hela didn't ask why, "Get it!"
Dizziness hit her as she walked back to Zur, but she pushed through it and carefully undressed him, removing his blood soaked clothes, dumping them in the recycler.
.
The med droid hovered, having given its verdict.
She had never heard a droid be so pedantic and she struggled to cut it off when she realised it was simply extending its consultation time with them, to get more credits. But it did an excellent job, with Zur's injuries, stating there was no need for him to go into a Bacta tank and Hela watched him as he slept.
She dropped the credits into its payment tray then sat next to Zur, watching.
Dag stood to one side watching her.
"I can help you know."
"I know you can. Thank you."
"I need to get to work. I'll let Durand know."
"I'll be in tomorrow. I'll get a nurse droid to watch him."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes." She'd seen how much had been taken; what's left wouldn't last long.
.
Barton IV
"What do you think?" Finor asked, as they sat drinking caf.
"I'm torn." Donca replied, "She was my friend as well as Enfys mother. Saved my life a few times along the way but it's not what we're here for—revenge."
Mayday stayed quiet.
"Our youthful activities and loyalties aside,"Finor continued, "can we afford to do it?"
Donca looked at Mayday, "What do you think?"
"I'll be blunt, we can't afford not to."
"What do you mean?"
"If we have allies, we have allies and help when we can. This Vos appears to have fingers in a lot of pies. A lot of Imperial pies by the looks of it."
Finor and Donca glanced at each other, "Go on."
"Zak has done some digging. As the Empire has grown it cannot control everything, everywhere, despite what the Emperor wants. So he has to delegate—"
"Delegate to a criminal?" Interrupted Finor.
Donca smiled, she could see where he was going with this.
"In some of the more outlying, obscure systems, the criminals have spotted an opportunity and the Emperor's main enforcers cannot be everywhere."
"Vader?"
"Yes and Zak has found some evidence of others like him. They appear to be targeting the remaining Jedi but not any criminal faction." Mayday hesitated, his memory of Baylan's death came to him.
"Vos is buying some Imperials in the hierarchy to push through some of his schemes. Some of his deliveries are legitimately for the Empire, his Contracts acquired through corruption and he hides his illegal activity through that."
"So, if we disrupt him. We hit the Imperials." Donca spelled it out, "I like it. Let's do it. Contact Enfys."
.
Hela and Dag listened to the med droid they had called out again; Zur wasn't improving. His injuries had appeared to heal but….
"I analysed the patient's blood. He is infected with a synthetic toxin, specifically targeting Falleen DNA."
"Why didn't you tell us that the first time?" Dag was furious, he was ready to pull out the droid's processor. Sensing danger, it backed away a step.
"I was instructed to deal with the wounds which was what I did."
"Is there an antidote?" She asked.
"Yes. I can prepare one."
"How much?"
Hela swallowed hard at the price tag. Dag handed the droid the credits for his visit.
"Thank you. I may not be able to repay you."
He shrugged.
.
Hela pulled the small box out of the drawer, opened it and looked at the blue and gold locket nestling there; for some reason she had not been able to let go of it until now but Zur had mentioned moving onto somewhere new and that would involve more expense. He still needed the antidote to the toxin the Rodian had used on his knife.
It was expensive but she hadn't told Zur how much. He couldn't work until he was fully fit because if anyone knew he was weak, they would target him first. There were always gangs trying to muscle in on the Durand turf and she thought that was the Rodians.
Her wages, despite the extra hours Durand was giving her, just covered what little food they needed and the rent. Dag had helped.
The cash credits the Rodians left behind had dwindled. She daren't contact Naboo, not wanting to bring any unwarranted attention to Cara and the baby, or the toddler that he would now be. Nola's last message also worried her about what was happening with the Empire there. There was no Governor any more and The Emperor had installed a Moff, the former Security Forces Officer Quarsh Panaka; he'd been appointed before the election for governor could even happen. She felt she couldn't trust any more communications with Naboo, despite Zur's encryptions.
With a heavy heart she had blocked Nola.
Hela pushed the small box safely in her pocket; the resin Blue Plomflower stayed exactly where it was, reminding her of her loss but she couldn't let go of that; that was a step too far and it wasn't worth many credits.
.
Hela entered the shop Dag suggested; he said this one didn't ask too many questions. He had pawned his chef's knives there once or twice and managed to buy them back at a reasonable amount. She didn't think this was something she would want to buy back.
It was empty. She pressed the old fashioned bell on the counter and looked around. There was an eclectic selection of goods for sale. Some she didn't recognise, others reminded her of Naboo. She wondered where the headdresses came from. They appeared authentic but she couldn't ask about those, that would draw attention to her.
After a few minutes an Ithorian opened a curtain covering the back entrance and came slowly out from the room behind.
"Can I help you?" He asked in basic, assisted by the vocabulator he wore.
"How much can you give me for this?" She pushed the locket across the counter.
He pulled a magnifying lens down in front of one eye and immediately began checking it out.
"How did you get it?"
"Found it."
Zur had said if you're lying, less is more.
"Found it, you say, where?" He continued to examine the piece.
"Alderaan."
"Alderaan you say?"
"Yes. Is that a problem?"
"Having Provenance is better. For the Empire, you understand. You get more credits as well."
His first bargaining point.
"I found it on a road. What more can I say." She shrugged, "If you don't want it I can go elsewhere." She reached out to pull it back.
His hand stopped hers.
"I didn't say that."
She pulled her hand back.
He studied the locket; although he gave no indication of what he found. He knew it was made of gold and various jewels and with great craftsmanship. He thought it may be a Jedi artefact and he could get good money for those now the Jedi were extinct.
"Where are you from?" He asked, still studying the locket.
"Around."
"Alderaan?
"Been there but was just passing through." She felt uneasy, he was asking a lot of questions, "Is there a problem?"
"Have you got anything else like this?"
"No, I told you I found it. Thought it might be worth something then forgot about it."
"Hmm!"
"I'd prefer cash credits please."
He tapped something out on his datapad and turned it around to face her.
"There you are!"
She studied the low figure, "Is that all? It's worth way more than that."
"That's the market at the moment. Take it or leave it." He put his magnifying glass away.
"It's 't you do any more?" She asked
He looked her up and down, "I have a buyer who would appreciate it more, if you were to, shall we say, model it for him."
She could guess what he meant by 'model' and she continued to look at the amount. The item was worth much more than what he was offering just for the scrap value of the metals alone.
He pushed his datapad towards her again.
"This is what he would pay but he is not available for another two weeks."
"I need the money now, that's why I came to you."
"In that case. That's my final offer. I have to make a profit, you know."
Hela debated, Zur needed the antidote now and she couldn't get an advance from the Cantina. She had tried.
"Okay! I'll take it."
She waited patiently as he counted the credits; once in her hand she quickly left the shop, cloak hood pulled down over her head. It was second nature now.
.
Poz was very happy with his latest acquisition; he had several buyers on his books who were happy to bid on the item in his hand. He turned it over, it needed a deep clean but it was definitely a Jedi design from the studies he had made of their artefacts. There was a robust market for them at the moment. The Empire would be interested in it but he steered clear of any interaction with them. They just liked to take over everything.
He pulled a soft cloth from a drawer and gently rubbed it, bringing it up to a shine, when something moved on it. The jewel felt loose. He sighed, he would have to repair it. He pressed it again, checking how secure it was. Now it appeared okay. He peered through his magnifying glass again. It was secure. It may have just shifted a little with the cleaning; it was definitely secure now. He finished buffing it up. Happy with his efforts, he carefully placed it in the locked display cabinet, at the front of the shop and pulled out his com link.
.