The Twi'lek assassin sat deep in the shadows of a private booth on Vaiken Spacedock, watching Lord Mau'te and Vette. Khem Val sat next to her, silent and nearly invisible. For all his size, the Dashade possessed remarkable stealth skills, every bit the assassin he claimed to be. The Twi'lek wore a magnifier over one eye, less powerful than macrobinoculars but more than enough in this smaller space. She silently thanked the crowd. Dozens of women would be watching Mau'te. The assassin would be lost among them.
"Do I get to eat him, little Sith?" Khem whispered.
"He would tear you apart," she said without turning her eyes.
"I am not so easily killed," Khem said.
"You haven't seen him fight," the assassin replied. She zoomed in on her targets.
"Do we have to have one cabin?" Vette asked.
"I said I wouldn't do anything." He watched the departure board until the Pathfinder appeared.
"I know. Just asking," Vette said. She adjusted her belt. "Thanks for giving me my pistols back."
"You're welcome," Mau'te said. "Turn around."
She turned her back to him. "So, anyway, Mister Sith Lord, sir-"
"You may call me Mau'te," he said.
"Right," she said. "So, I've been thinking. As a sign of thanks or whatever for my hard work-"
He removed her shock collar.
"Yes?" he asked.
She looked at the collar.
"Oh," he said. "Had a whole speech planned, didn't you?"
"That's the part that matters," she said.
"Would you like to keep it?" he asked.
"I never want to see it again."
He shrugged, sliced it in half with his lightsaber, and threw away the pieces.
"I want you to do some training when we get to Dromund Kaas. Your combat skills are a little weak. But, for now," he said, leaning close to her, "Keep your eyes open for your slave Sith Lord."
"She wasn't a slave," Vette said.
Mau'te gave her a curious look. "You said she had a slave's brand."
"She might have had a brand," Vette said, "But she was never a slave."
"Are you certain?" Mau'te asked.
"I was born a slave," Vette replied. "I know the look."
The assassin smiled. I like this girl.
Mau'te said, "We'll keep that to ourselves. One does not volunteer information on Dromund Kaas."
Vette nodded.
He told her, "You prove yourself valuable in the most unexpected ways."
"That was creepy," Vette said.
He sighed at her. "That was a compliment."
"A creepy compliment."
He stared at her.
"What?" she said.
He sighed again, and they departed, still arguing.
The assassin looked up at the list of departures. She and Khem could make the Pathfinder, if they hurried.
"Time to go," she said, pulling up her hood and taking her luggage.
"As you wish," Khem said.
They moved through the corridors quickly, slipping past the crowd. The assassin scanned the other passengers and kept her mind on the near future. It wouldn't do to bump into Mau'te on the way. Fortunately, two Twi'lek stood out in a crowd like this. She shouldn't-
She stopped in front of one of the gates. The Black Talon, a Gage-class transport, en route to Dromund Kaas, prepared for departure.
"Your target awaits," Khem said.
She ignored him. Darkness and urgency called from the gate in front of her. She closed her eyes and reached out with the Force. Darkness and violence and opportunity awaited her on the Black Talon.
"This way," the assassin said.
Khem asked, "Do you abandon your target?"
"The destination is the same," she said. "We'll see him again on Dromund Kaas. But, you must learn something if you're to travel with me. When I have a vision, listen to it."
She walked toward the gate agent as a trickle of passengers boarded the ship. It took him a moment to register she was Sith, and she smiled politely once he did.
"Any cabins left?" she asked him.
"I don't believe so, m'Laydy," he said with a working-class inflection.
"Find me one," the assassin said.
"Of course, m'Laydy," he said. He tapped his communicator. "Gate 3, Ma'am. I have a Sith Lady here that wants a cabin. Yes, sorry, Ma'am, Sith Lord. Yes, Ma'am, I'll tell her. Lieutenant Sylas is on her way down, m'Laydy."
The assassin nodded to him and waited, ignoring his nervousness. After a few minutes, an officer exited the gate with a cautious expression.
"My Lady," she said. "Lieutenant Sylas, ship's Executive Officer. We don't get a lot of Sith Lords aboard the Talon. Any particular reason you've chosen us?"
"Yes," the assassin said in a soft voice.
"Right. And you are?"
The assassin smiled politely. "The apprentice of Lord Zash."
Sylas paled a bit. "Oh. Lord Zash. I do hope your business is on Dromund Kaas."
"Yes. Let's hope."
"And, your companion?" Sylas asked.
"Obviously," the assassin said, "He's my chiropractor."
"Of course," Sylas said. "If you'll follow me, we'll get you a cabin straight away."
Sylas displaced two officers for her. The assassin promised to thank them later. Cramped, but it had two beds. Khem couldn't fit either of them, but he'd have to make do. A distant sound and a vibration in the deck told her they'd detached from Vaiken. A softer vibration a short time later meant the engines engaged. A ship this size would take about five minutes to exit the traffic lanes. She waited for the sublight engines to disengage, took a deep breath, and pinched her nose. The Talon entered hyperspace, and the assassin expelled the air softly. Her ears always popped in hyperspace.
"Why are we here, little Sith?" Khem asked.
"I don't know yet," she replied.
"Will I fight?"
"You will," she told him.
"Then I am pleased." He sat on one of the beds, crossed his legs, and appeared to meditate.
The assassin sat at one of the desks and took the components of her lightsaber from her luggage.
"Your master told you to wait," Khem said without opening his eyes.
"I assure you, she will forgive me."
Double bladed sabers were the tradition for assassins, especially those trained by Zash. Less effective against blasters or a single opponent, but more effective against multiple opponents with lightsabers, they were designed to kill enemy Force sensitives. Stealth and strategy, rather than brute force, got you past the more common hurdles. Four lenses, two power cells, twice the time, but, if one side was damaged, the other would still function. The diagnostics finished without trouble. She stood, held the weapon at arm's length, and ignited both red blades.
"It suits you, little Sith," Khem said, his eyes still closed.
She deactivated the weapon. "Good to know."
Two days to get to Dromund Kaas. Plenty of time for something interesting. She sat on the other bed, crossed her legs and began to meditate.
Twelve hours later, she practiced with the deactivated hilt in an open area, learning the weight and feel of it. Khem watched with a critical eye but offered no instruction. The crew and other passengers gave her a wide berth. She dropped low and stabbed at the air.
"You don't have much height," an instructor told her once. "Use it to your advantage. Get under their guard."
She pulled back into a defensive stance, and felt the ship drop from hyperspace.
Opportunity, she thought.
"Khem," she said. "We'll be needed on the bridge."
She was almost to the elevator, when she caught sight of Lieutenant Sylas.
"My Lady," the lieutenant said. "I hate to trouble you. Would you..." She lowered her voice. "Would you come to the bridge with me?"
"I was already on my way," the assassin said. "To thank your crew."
"Very good. And your... chiropractor?"
"Khem. Yes. He's wonderful at snapping necks."
"I believe that, Ma'am," Sylas said.
Once they were in the elevator, the assassin said, "Tell me what it is."
"We're being ordered to attack a Republic battleship, Ma'am."
"Any reason why?"
"Something about a passenger."
On the bridge, she saw a man she took to be the captain speaking to someone in a Moff's uniform by holocommunicator. Outwardly, she ignored the crew, but their fear saturated her, got her own blood pumping. Good. She might need it. The captain appeared tense but in control. That was not bravado. He had battle experience. However, the Moff, correction, Grand Moff, looked like a complete bastard.
"My Lady," the captain said. "Captain Revinal Orzik, commander of the Black Talon, at your service."
"You actually had a Sith Lord on board," the Grand Moff said. "I thought you were lying." He turned to the assassin. "I am Grand Moff Rycus Kilran, commander of the Fifth Fleet, second to the Minister of War, and-my personal favorite-"
"The Butcher of Coruscant," the assassin finished.
"My reputation precedes me. To whom am I speaking?"
"The apprentice of Lord Zash."
"Wonderful!" Kilran said. "Someone with your skills will be useful. Six hours ago, the Republic engaged in an illegal border skirmish on the edges of Imperial territory. One enemy warship escaped. That warship-the Brentaal Star-is carrying a passenger of vital strategic importance. Yours is the only vessel placed to intercept."
"Who exactly is this passenger?" the assassin asked.
"We don't know his identity, but the Republic believes he possesses military secrets-our military secrets. I trust the reports; he must be captured or killed. But, Captain Orzik doesn't share my enthusiasm. He's disobeyed my orders to attack." Kilran looked at Orzik. "Feel free to show him what the Empire does to cowards."
"How would I manage that?" she asked. "You're lightyears away."
The bridge crew stared at her in horror.
"I beg your pardon?" Kilran said to her.
"You're asking a group of civilians and barely trained officers to clean up your mess," the assassin said. "Perhaps you're right. That's not cowardice; that's incompetence."
Kilran looked at her like a nexu that stumbled upon a dangerous prey. "Commandeer this ship, find the Brentaal Star, and deal with the passenger."
"I didn't say I wouldn't," she told him. "But, I suspect Captain Orzik has combat experience. I'll have a better chance of success if he remains in command."
Kilran smiled at her. "Lord Zash is always very particular about her apprentices," he said. "And she generally has good taste. I'll trust you this time. Kilran out."
The holo switched off.
"My Lady-" Orzik began.
"Don't make me regret it, Captain. Order the passengers to their cabins, tell your crew to prepare for combat, and lay in a course for the Brentaal Star."
"Yes, my Lady," Orzik said and began directing his crew.
"Can I eat him, little Sith?" Khem asked, looking at the holocommunicator.
"He's not Force sensitive," she said.
"Sometimes, I don't mind."
The Talon entered hyperspace, and she hid a smile by popping her ears.
An hour later, Orzik told her, "We're ready, my Lady."
"You made the right choice, Captain. You'd have been executed when we reached Dromund Kaas."
"But, my crew would survive," he said.
She looked at him. "You don't sound like a coward," the assassin said.
"I fought in the war before, and I'll fight again, but this is a suicide mission."
"I'm not looking to make a martyr of anyone."
"I expect you believe that," he told her. "I see it differently."
"The Talon has the same superstructure as a Terminus-class destroyer," she said. "Fewer weapons but the same shields and armor. Am I right?"
He sighed. "I might be able to get us close-but then you'd have to board the Brentaal Star, fight an army of Republic soldiers and somehow find this passenger."
"You worry about getting me back," she said. "I'll worry about the passenger."
"Emerging from hyperspace now," the helmsman said. "One Thranta-class warship on the scanners."
The communications officer called out, "Enemy is firing! Turbolasers, missiles-and what looks like transport pods."
"Evasive maneuvers," Orzik said. "Keep the pods at a distance. They'll latch onto the hull and cut at us with sabotage droids."
"Aye, sir," the helmsman replied. "Evasive maneuvers."
The communications officer said, "Sir, three shuttles on an intercept course!"
"An assault party," Sylas said.
"Combat droids," Orzik corrected. "They want to disable us so they can get away. They don't want to leave their crew behind."
"We don't have sufficient defenses to keep them from landing," Sylas said.
The captain looked at the assassin, back at the fight, and at the assassin again. He was right. She hadn't proven herself yet.
"Let them land," the assassin said. "I can handle the droids."
Orzik nodded. "Lieutenant," he said to one of his marines. "You and your men will accompany our guest to the shuttle bay."
"Aye, sir," the marine replied.
In the elevator, the lieutenant said, "We're all grateful for what you did for the captain, Ma'am."
"I'm not about to kill our most experienced soldier right before a battle."
"Yes, Ma'am," he said. "Probably kept us all alive doing that."
The other marines nodded.
"Very good," she said, taking her lightsaber from her belt. "Now, it's your turn to keep me alive." The elevator doors opened, and she ignited one of the blades and ran at the invaders.
"Fought like a nexu, she did, sir," the lieutenant said to Orzik. "Droids didn't stand a chance."
"Your men did very well, Captain," the assassin said.
"How many did we lose?" Orzik asked the marine.
"Two, sir," he said. "Three more in sick bay. Some of us are injured, but we can still fight."
"When will we be in position?" the assassin asked the captain.
"Soon enough," the captain replied.
"We'd be glad to accompany you again, Ma'am," the marine said.
"Do you have stealth skills?" she asked.
"Uh, no, Ma'am."
"Then you won't be an asset," she told him. "Get me there, and get me back. That's all I need."
The marine nodded.
"Damage report," Orzik said to the helmsman.
"We're holding together, sir-but I don't know for how long."
The communications officer called out, "Transmission coming in!"
"The Brentaal Star wants to negotiate?" Sylas said.
"No, Ma'am," the ensign said. "Long range."
"Put it through," the assassin said. This might be interesting.
A woman appeared on the holo. "This is Jedi Grand Master Satele Shan hailing unidentified Imperial vessel."
The assassin suppressed a smile. Opportunity indeed.
"I'm en route to your location with sixteen Republic vessels," the Jedi continued. "I'm asking you to retreat before more lives are lost."
"Grand Master Satele Shan," the assassin said, stepping forward. "It is a pleasure, truly. Your actions during the war were legendary."
The Grand Master considered her. "And you are?"
"A Sith Lord, and I know what's on that ship."
"The Brentaal Star is under my protection," Shan said. "I just crippled three Imperial dreadnaughts. I don't wish to destroy you-the peace between Republic and Empire is fragile enough already."
"I have no intention of starting the war today, Grand Master," the assassin said with a smile. "I have too much to do, and things are looking so promising for me."
"Your base aggression serves no one-not even your Empire," Shan said. "I wonder if any Sith can be saved."
"There are degrees of salvation, but I am focused on success."
"I won't be drawn into a philosophical debate," the Jedi replied.
"Pity. I would have enjoyed that."
"You've made your intent clear," Shan said. "But I suggest you prepare to face a Jedi-and you may want to consider what that means."
"It depends on the Jedi, doesn't it?" the assassin said, her eyes alight with expectation.
Master Satele narrowed her eyes. "I assure you, Yadira is one of our best."
The assassin shrugged. "I guess I don't need to hold back."
"Leave the Brentaal Star to me. If you don't-" The Grand Master considered the Sith carefully. "May the Force be with you."
The transmission ended.
"I thought that went well," the assassin said. "Status, please."
"Entering fighter range," the helmsman said. "The Brentaal Star is launching its first squadron."
"It's time for us to do the same," Orzik said. "My Lady, we'll be in range by the time you get to the shuttle bay."
"Excellent, Captain," she replied. "Getting through the ship will be difficult. Getting back with a prisoner will be nearly impossible. Therefore, I will steal one of their escape pods and pilot it toward the Talon. Have your shuttle grab it with a docking clamp."
"Yes, my Lady," Orzik said. "I don't usually say this to a Sith Lord, but it's been an honor."
"Thank you, Captain, but we're not done yet. Khem, we have things to break."
"Are you sure, my Lady?" the marine said. "Just fire a bit and leave?"
"Quite sure," she said. "Distract them for me, something with a lot of smoke. Once we're out of their sight, they'll never see us again."
"I understand, my Lady, but it's a Republic ship."
"Not to worry," she said. "Imperial Intelligence has quite a few files on Republic ships. I've borrowed a few of them."
The fighters cut a hole in the Republic defenses, and the shuttle pilot flew through the center of it. The marines lined up at the port hatch, and the assassin and Khem waited next to the starboard hatch. Everyone clung to handles along the bulkhead.
"This is it!" the pilot yelled.
The shuttle hit the bay deck with a jolt and scraped to a stop. The marines filed out and started firing on entrenched Republic troops. After a few explosions sounded, one the marines nodded to the assassin. She and Khem exited the hatch and ran through the smoke behind a wall of equipment. She closed her eyes and scanned the possible exits for her best chance. Another group of explosions hit, and she and Khem ran to the corridor. A trooper nearly spotted them, but she clouded his mind and ran on. She and Khem slipped into the first maintenance area they could find and waited while more troops ran past in the corridor.
So far, so good. The shuttle bay was amidships. Primary defense would be towards the bow, but they wanted to slow down the attackers, specifically, a Sith Lord. They wanted heavy reinforcement, thick doors. They'd have the passenger in the engines and defended by droids more than troops. She opened her mind to the Force, let it guide her to the best place and time to move, and she and Khem started out.
Stealth and caution got them past most of their obstacles. The Republic troops prepared for a frontal assault. The assumption left their minds open to suggestion. Even so, she nearly lost control when she had to confuse eight at once. She and Khem had to wait in a maintenance alcove for her headache to pass.
No time, she told herself. No time.
Bypassing the droids required more mundane stealth. Fortunately, combat droid subroutines focused on strategy and obvious targets. The assassin was grateful the Republic hadn't included security droids in the mix.
Finally, she and Khem reached the hatch to the engine room. Two walker droids protected it, and stealth couldn't handle them. She identified a nearby crate small enough for her to move. She reached out, and it flew at the nearest droid. Both fired on it, but the crate struck the droid, dropping it's shields for a moment. The assassin started running as soon as the crate moved, and stabbed her lightsaber into the droid's processor when it's shields dropped. Khem attacked the second droid, overcharging his vibrosword and hitting fast and often. The repeated strikes weakened the shields enough for the assassin to break through and destroy the other processor. Immediately, the assassin turned back, closed the blast doors, and destroyed the controls. Once the droids were offline, the Republic troops would know their location. She returned to the engine room door, pried open the control panel, and sliced the system.
Too slow, she thought. Sith should use astromech droids like the Republic.
The door opened, and they found a group of combat droids and the promised Jedi. A corridor nearby could only lead to escape pods.
"Halt where you are," the Jedi said. "I am Yadira Ban, Padawan of the Jedi Order. I was sent to protect the general, and you will not pass."
"Surely you're joking," the assassin said.
"A Jedi does not surrender the innocent into the hands of evil," Yadira said.
"He's an Imperial general. They're not known for 'innocence'."
"Even so, I intend to drive you back-meter by meter, if need be. Just as the Republic pushed the Sith Empire into the dark of the galaxy!"
The assassin stared. "Is this just you, or do the Jedi teach a class in long-winded speeches?"
"Enough!" Yadira said. "I will not fall to one such as you. I will not!"
Yadira jumped at the assassin while the droids swarmed over Khem. The assassin ignited a single blade and blocked the attack. For all her bravado, Yadira was terrified. Her strikes were quick, almost desperate. She fought well but without strategy. At an opportune moment, the assassin ignited her second blade and cut the emitter from Yadira's saber. The Padawan jumped back in shock, landing in front of the blast doors. The assassin held up her hand and pushed the Padawan through the doors, slamming Yadira into a stack of crates with a crunch. The assassin moved the switch for the doors, closing them, and destroyed the panel with lightning.
Khem finished off the last of the droids and snarled at her.
"I was going to eat her, little Sith!"
"I'll buy you a fruit cup when we get back to the Talon."
She and Khem ran into the corridor, and Republic troops fired on them from the far end. The assassin blocked the blaster fire, and swung her hand in the air like a slap. The troopers were slammed into the bulkheads, knocking them out.
They reached the escape pods, and a voice said, "You can put aside your weapons. I won't try to run. I doubt I'd make it to an escape pod on my own anyway."
"How were you injured?" the assassin asked.
"Caught in your ship's attack," the general told her. "I'm told the wounds aren't fatal, but that doesn't help the pain."
She opened the nearest escape pod.
"Get in," the assassin said. "A shuttle will clamp onto us and take us to the Black Talon."
Khem lifted the general into the pod while the man winced and cried out in pain. He settled into a seat, sweating and gasping for air. Khem took a seat across from him, and seemed to forget the general was there. The assassin stepped in, switched the pod to manual control, and pulled the release lever.
"I was a general in the Imperial military service," he gasped. "Did they tell you that when they sent you here? Did they even know?"
"I figured it out along the way," she said. "Kilran might have known, but he didn't mention it."
"Kilran?" the general laughed. "Of course. He would have the gall to send a transport to take on a warship-and succeed."
"I wouldn't call it gall," she said. "And, I don't recall seeing him during the fight."
"The mark of a true leader," the general said.
A docking clamp locked onto them with a heavy jolt.
"Only get your hands as dirty as necessary," the general finished. "If you knew what I knew, you'd understand why I did it. If you'd heard what both sides are plotting, you wouldn't be eager to restart this war." He clung to his chest and gasped for air. "It will be unlike anything the galaxy's seen since the Great Hyperspace War. And it's too late to stop it-the so-called peace is already lost."
"Peace is a lie," the assassin said. "The Sith know this."
"So be it. We're all as good as dead, anyway." He swallowed hard. "They're building doomsday weapons. Shields that-"
"I don't care about your toys, General," she told him. "I care about the war. And the Sith."
"As cold as the rest of your kind."
She looked away from him. "So I've been told."
The shuttle slowed to a halt, the docking clamp released, and the pod dropped to the deck. The general groaned and nearly passed out. The pod door opened, and the marine lieutenant stuck his head in.
"My Lady," he said. "Glad it's you. Is that him?"
"It is," the assassin said. "Tell Orzik to get us out of here as soon as possible, and get our guest a medic."
"Yes, Ma'am, they're recalling the fighters now."
The assassin and Khem exited the pod so the medics could do their work. One of them stopped her as she was leaving.
"Any injuries?" he asked.
"Bumps and bruises," she said.
"And your... companion?"
"He's just hungry."
Khem growled a little but said nothing. He continued watching her in the elevator.
"I'm sorry you couldn't feed," she said to him.
"I thought you used stealth too much," he said, his face and aura unreadable. "I thought it cowardice, but you do not run when the fight has begun." A strange expression crossed his face that might have been a smile, or half a dozen other things. "I will have other chances to feed."
On the bridge, Captain Orzik called out commands, clearing one emergency after another. Combat experience, indeed. She'd wondered if he'd been demoted. Now, she was sure he hadn't. He hated the war as much as the general.
"Sylas, injury reports."
"Ten crew dead, twenty-two wounded."
"Passengers?" he asked.
"Thirteen injured, no fatalities."
He nodded. "Hetter?" he said to the helmsman.
"Course laid in, sir. Ready on your command."
"Brukarra?" Orzik said to the communications officer. "Fighters?"
"Last two coming in, Captain," she said, watching her screen. The bridge waited in silence. "That's it, sir. They're docked."
"Hetter!"
"Aye, sir!"
The engines powered up, and the ship punched into hyperspace. The assassin popped her ears, and waited on the captain.
"My Lady," he said, finally noticing her. "I hope this was worth it."
"You need to ask Kilran that question, but I doubt you'll like his answer."
"I suspect you're right," the captain said.
"Sir," Lieutenant Sylas said. "He did expect a report."
"Quite so. Ensign Brakurra."
"Aye, sir. Connecting to Grand Moff Kilran."
"Well," Kilran said. "How fortunate I could reach my friends aboard the Black Talon."
Orzik twitched but maintained his composure.
"How did the attack go?" Kilran asked.
"The general has been captured," the assassin said. "He'll be in your hands soon."
"Excellent," Kilran said with a smile. "I'll let Korriban and Imperial Intelligence fight over him."
"There was a lot of blood shed today, Kilran," the assassin said. "I hope it was worth it."
"Oh, I'm quite certain it was. Blood is cheap, after all."
She fixed her eyes on him. "I couldn't agree more."
"You should be proud. This is only one of many-"
"I'm sure it is," she said.
Kilran smiled at her again, remembering the dangerous prey. "I'll make sure your heroism is mentioned when I report to the other Moffs."
"I understand you have the favor of the Emperor," she said with a smile.
"I do," he replied.
"Try not to lose it." She turned to Brukarra. "End transmission."
"My Lady-" Orzik began.
"I'm very tired, Captain. I shall be returning to my cabin."
The captain snapped to attention and saluted her. The bridge crew followed his example. She nodded to them graciously and departed.
"Little Sith," Khem said. "What is a 'fruit cup'?"
"A small cup filled with fruit."
"Oh. Of course. I will need thirty."
She stifled a laugh. "I'll see that you get them."
Back in her cabin, she was about to relax when Lord Zash contacted her.
"Master," she said.
"Apprentice," Lord Zash began. "Did you threaten Grand Moff Kilran?"
"I was aiming more for impending malice with an undercurrent of distaste."
Zash sighed. "Moffs do not understand subtlety."
"Terribly sorry."
"It's quite all right. Kilran needs a good threatening once in a while. I see you've built your lightsaber."
"I had a hunch I'd need it."
Zash smiled. "Precognitives make the best assassins."
"So you've said."
"You've been tested earlier than I expected, apprentice, but you've done well. I will see you on Dromund Kaas. Zash out."
Khem poured six fruit cups into his mouth at once and swallowed. "Do I get to eat that one?"
"Not yet," the assassin said, lying down on her bed. "I need her for a little while."
He swallowed six more fruit cups. "Then, I will wait."
The assassin laid back and fell asleep.