Chapter: 88 Sleight of Hans
"Peace is a lie. There is only Passion."
Beware the Revenant! As the mysterious cult's influence continues to spread, citizens of the Republic demand answers. With a crucial Hutt datapad in the Grand Army's hands, only time will tell what secrets shall be unveiled...
Although Watcher's reputation preceded her, it didn't stop rumors from spreading throughout the Grand Army of the Republic. Seldom referred to as Admiral Nuri, Watcher was considered by many to be a recluse. Her devotion to the Republic and its Supreme Chancellor was legendary. Considering the fact that she was in charge of the most advanced star destroyer in existence, Watcher felt burdened with tremendous purpose. To her, the entire galaxy was relying on her to keep it safe and every moment counted. She'd never taken a vacation nor leave of any sort in her life, believing there was no such thing as 'sitting one out'. The galaxy was ever-changing and she was prepared to counter each challenge. The Guardian was constantly moving across the interstellar voids and was maintained from a variety of Republic space stations. With such an efficient system in place, it had been years since Watcher had actually set foot on a planet's surface. The Guardian's cold and metallic interior was her life. Its clone-operated crew made up the majority of people who'd actually seen her in person. For many others, Watcher was and always would be a flickering hologram. She'd be the voice in their ears or a set of watchful eyes over a tired battlefield.
For the clones aboard the Guardian, they couldn't help but wonder how she remained so vigilant for days on end. Some believed she couldn't have been human while others theorized that she was actually an advanced droid. But in reality, Watcher was no different than any other human on the outside. But within, she possessed a fiery passion like no other admiral. She bled the colors of the Republic banner and proudly wept during all of Palpatine's speeches. Ever since Tori Vica had recovered Embo's datapad from the chaos on Batuu, Watcher had set out to breach every wall of encrypted coding. She had her top clones working for days on end, crunching data to bypass the Hutt Clan's security systems.
Even after days of relentless coding and sequencing, Watcher refused to yield. Her bloodshot eyes glared at the primary monitor until one of her officers uttered, "Ma'am...Ma'am!" His raised voice had Watcher snapping her head towards him. She bolted from her seat and stormed down a row of computers to reach him. "I-I'm in," he blurted and gestured to the proper coding. "We're in!"
Watcher rubbed her eyes in shock as clusters of intel spewed across the monitor. "Son of a bantha," she grinned and shook her tired head. "We're in." Her smile only widened as more information flowed across the monitors. "Connect me to the Jedi Order," Watcher commanded.
Hans Westgard hated silence. It provided those around him with too much time to think and judge. Silence left far too much up to the imagination as he stood in the Jedi Temple's grand spire. The masters of the Jedi Council looked upon him with inquisitive stares amidst the deafening quiet.
"So," Hans mumbled betwixt the soundlessness. He awkwardly clapped his hands together and sucked his teeth. "Is anyone going to say anything? Anyone?" The masters just kept staring as if they were looking into his very soul. "This is getting creepy," Hans griped. "It's so quiet in here, that I can hear Master Kenobi's beard growing back in." He gestured to the master as Obi-wan raised a brow. In order to foil Moralo Eval's plan to capture the chancellor, Obi-wan had been disguised as the bounty hunter, Rako Hardeen. To fully take on his likeness, the Jedi had to shave his head and beard. He scratched at his stubble while observing Hans' impatient tirade.
"Knight Westgard," Master Depa Billaba intoned. "You will mind your tone in the council's presence."
"Thanks, mom." Hans muttered under his breath.
"Enough is enough," Master Windu scolded. "I have had it with your insolence in this temple."
Hans sulked while Master Yoda squinted towards him. "Knight Westgard," he murmured. "A reason for these repeated outbursts, there must be."
"I'm just...ready to do more," Hans sighed. "Public approval is teetering. The war has no end in sight and I just need an opportunity to prove myself through it. This is a time for heroes, isn't it? Other knights have proven that!"
"Given opportunities, you were." Yoda replied.
"And you failed at each and every one of them," Master Mundi added. His subtle snark brought a twitch to Hans' eye.
"Part of the reason Jedi approval has fallen on Coruscant is because of your inability to manage the Collective Commerce District," Windu scolded.
Hans' nostrils flared as he tried to keep his emotions in check. His frustrations manifested as a faltering chuckle as he said, "That's...not true. The people of that district didn't respect me-"
"Give respect, get respect." Mundi asserted.
"The crime rate only increased during your time on assignment there," Master Kit Fisto added.
"So what then?" Hans snapped. "It's just all my fault? I'm the reason for all the unrest? I give this Order my all and this is the kind of treatment I receive in return?"
"There is no emotion, there is peace." Master Plo Koon recited as if to remind Hans amidst his rant.
"What?" the knight scoffed until Yoda caught his attention again.
"See through you, we can," his elder said. "Much distress and anger you cling to. Reckless this makes you."
"Well isn't everyone an expert here," Hans snarked under his breath. "It was pointless to come here looking for an assignment," he groused. "I'll never get an opportunity to prove myself if no one will even trust me with one."
He walked out on the council, leaving the masters to glare at one another. Despite his companions' various comments, Yoda merely hung and shook his head.
Resentment festered within Hans long after he departed from the grand spire. He slouched forward and trudged across the temple's expansive halls. His narrow gaze was so fixed on the carpeting beneath him, that he didn't even see the Jedi in his path. Hans' frustrations peaked as he bumped shoulders with the incoming master. With furrowed brows and a bitter scowl, he prepared to explode at the Jedi. Instead, his resolve faltered when he realized just who exactly he'd bumped into.
"Hans?" Master Mattias blurted. The master instantly raised his bewildered brows and looked upon the flustered knight. Hans merely nodded to him and kept trudging by. "What's wrong?" Mattias asked.
"What do you care?" Hans responded and continued on his way.
"Well I don't know if you don't tell me," Mattias quipped while sensing Hans' distress. He stepped towards Hans until the knight came to a furious halt.
"So what?" he scoffed. "Are you gonna just follow me now?"
Mattias' concerned gaze softened as he sighed. "Son, something tells me that you shouldn't be alone right now."
Hans shook his head and peered out towards the nearest window. He lost himself in the passing skylane traffic and huffed. "Maybe I want to be," he murmured.
"It doesn't matter what we tell ourselves when pain pries from within," Mattias said. "No one wants to be alone. So tell me, Hans...what's got you all worked up?"
Hans grouchily gripped at his royal blue tabards and leaned against the nearest pillar. "It's..." he bit back the rest of his statement at first, and was unsure whether or not he could trust Mattias. But as he looked into the master's calming gaze, Hans dared to speak up. "It's the council. Or the whole Order for that matter. Why can't they just see how great I am? I'd make them see it, but I need an opportunity to do so first."
Rather than judge Hans for failures he was well aware of, Mattias chose to listen. He tilted his head and gave the young man an empathetic nod of acknowledgement. "You feel like the council is treating you unfairly," Mattias deduced.
"Oh absolutely," Hans affirmed. "It's like they saw what a phenomenal duelist I'd become once I was knighted. They sensed how powerful I was in the Force and then suddenly, decided to hold me back." His emerald eyes widened as a realization dawned upon him. "What if they're threatened by me? What if they know I'm the greatest Jedi and they're trying to hinder my ascension?"
Mattias simpered. "Well, I don't know about that. The council isn't the type to scheme." Hans glared at him as if serving as a mental reminder over what they'd just done to Master Kenobi. "Okay, well they don't scheme often," he corrected.
Hans rolled his eyes. "I just think I'm gonna be stuck here forever," he said. "After I lost control of CoCo Town, they hardly have me doing anything anymore. I'm a blasted Sentinel, damn it. They won't even let me become a temple guard, yet they've got that-" Hans' blood boiled as he gritted his teeth. "That Kristoff idiot wandering our halls? I'd be careful with that one, by the way. I don't like how he looks at Anna."
Mattias raised a suspicious brow as Hans simmered down. "It's alright to be angry," he told the knight. "But try not to take out your own frustrations on others." Hans scoffed until Mattias proposed an alternative solution. "You know-" he began. "-I was on my way to a scheduled briefing in the communications center. Would you like to join me? It might help you get out of your head and see the bigger picture."
Hans pursed his lips as he considered Mattias' offer. "Oh what the hell," he bitterly obliged and followed him down the hall.
The overhead lights of the temple communications center were starting to dim as more Jedi poured in. Despite how tense the imminent briefing felt, Anna and Elsa found comfort in each other's company. While the Dellian sisters had butted heads from time to time, they'd always managed to find a way back to one another. Despite their varying beliefs, Elsa was just happy to have Anna around the temple. Especially after what she'd learned about Obi-wan. Even if they sat aisles apart, Elsa could still sense Master Yelena. Their Force connection had formed when she was a youngling and had only grown since then. Yet now, Elsa tried as hard as she could to avoid eye contact with her elder. Her heart raced as she could practically feel Yelena worriedly glancing over from across the briefing room.
"Your feelings are valid, you know." Anna said.
"Huh?" Elsa gasped as her little sister snapped her into the moment.
"About Master Yelena," Anna clarified. "You have every right to be upset and not want to speak with her. Former master or not, she still lied to you. Even after the whole Aren ordeal. After she said 'no more' to the lies."
Elsa nervously bit her lip and glanced at Anna. "What if she was just trying to protect me? Or protect others for that matter? I mean look...Obi-wan accomplished his mission in the end."
"There you go again," Anna grumbled.
"What?" Elsa fretted.
"Shelving your feelings," Anna explained. "Justifying everyone else's actions because you tell yourself that you'll be fine. But that doesn't make what she or the council did any less wrong. You've been known to disguise yourself for missions. Anakin has done the same. There was no reason to keep either of you in the dark in an effort to 'convince the enemy' that Obi-wan was dead. It was downright cruel and you both deserve beyond an apology. In fact, everyone at that damn funeral deserves an apology." Anna shook her head as a concerning thought dawned upon her. "Sis," she whispered. "Do you ever feel like this whole Order is just one big hypocrisy? That we tell ourselves 'at least we're the genuine ones' but there's actually no difference?"
Elsa swallowed hard. "I-...I'm not sure, Anna." Her eyes suddenly widened as she uttered, "What the?" Anna followed her gaze to the entrance as Mattias arrived with Hans. "What are they doing together?"
In those moments, Anna completely ignored Elsa's comment. Instead, she waved to Hans and Mattias. While she mostly focused on her secret lover, Anna gestured to the vacant seats beside her. As Elsa felt disregarded, her little sister's comments on hypocrisy started to make a little more sense.
Mattias' eyes swayed between his former apprentice and Yelena. He grew deeply concerned upon noticing that she wasn't seated near her own former student. "Hans," he murmured. "Why don't you go join the girls?"
Noticing his focus on Yelena, Hans huffed and ultimately obliged. He almost seemed disappointed that Mattias had guided him to the briefing and then wasn't even going to sit with him. Still, he offered a halfhearted smile to Anna and ignored Elsa in her entirety. "Hey you," Anna greeted as Hans dropped into the seat beside her. She tried to look past their previous conversation and the fact that he'd been avoiding her. Despite his cold behavior, Anna sought to see the better side of him. Whenever she felt herself slipping into frustration, she thought about all he'd gone through with Master Gaston. She chose to focus on the first kiss they'd ever shared in that Scarif cave. His simple nod was enough for her to feel like things were still alright between them.
The center's lights fully dimmed as a Kiffar Jedi Master stepped into view. His thick, dark locks swayed against his shoulders. Despite his toned muscles and chiseled jaw, most knew Quinlan Vos for the yellow marking across his face. Also known for his investigative feats, the Jedi Sentinel was able to balance between charm and intimidation. "Thank you all for coming," Quinlan said. His voice was gravelly yet strident as he activated the holotable.
While he did so, Hans' communicator suddenly chimed with a message update. "Maybe you finally got my text," Anna teased him with a nudge.
"Yeah," Hans chuckled until Elsa shushed them both. As Anna grouchily returned her attention to the briefing, Hans snuck a peek at his communicator. He nearly had a heart attack when a brief and sultry image flashed across the tiny screen. Celenia had taken a picture of herself winking and blowing a kiss. The pale-skinned Twi'lek was sprawled out against her pillow with a message that read:
Wish you were here
Hans bit back a gasp and hurriedly hid his communicator. Taking notice of his swift motion, Anna peered over and asked, "You okay?"
"Fine," he muttered.
Anna squinted and observed Hans' nervous face in the hololight. "You're sweating-"
"I said I'm fine!" Hans intoned.
"Shh!" Elsa asserted as the briefing carried on.
To Anna's surprise, a familiar admiral projected on the holotable beside Quinlan. "Members of the Jedi Order," Watcher said. "My teams have managed to decode the Hutt datapad. What we found provides an answer as to why the Hutts wanted Padawan Vica dead." As Watcher continued, several files projected alongside an image of Embo himself. "According to the files we recovered, this bounty hunter had been tasked with eliminating several other targets for the Hutt Clan. After cross-referencing the victims on this hit list, we've learned that they all shared a common...fanatical affiliation."
"The Revenant?" Quinlan queried and crossed his arms.
"I'm afraid so," Watcher confirmed. "In fact, it is my belief that an entire conflict has been brewing beneath the Clone War itself. One pitting the Hutt families against these cultists. But the question remains as to why."
Acting on dutiful impulse, Elsa politely raised her hand. "Yes?" Quinlan inquired. "Knight-"
"Dellian," she stood up to answer as Hans rolled his eyes. "Elsa Dellian. When I was on Saqqar, I can confirm that Revenant cultists were pillaging a Hutt cache for supplies. However, the route hadn't been used by the clans in decades."
"Meaning the Revenant either has intel from the Hutts-" Watcher proposed. "-or those crime lords are hiding more pieces to this puzzle."
Quinlan scratched at his chin. "I've got an idea, but it's a risky one."
"I'm familiar with your reputation, Master Vos." Watcher remarked. "Anything you've accomplished is seldom without risk. Let's hear it."
Quinlan smirked at her comment and faced his fellow Jedi. "This isn't my first time dealing with the Hutts. When Jabba's uncle, Ziro, was broken out of prison, Master Kenobi and I were tasked with tracking him down. However, our chase ended with Ziro the Hutt falling dead to an unknown assailant on Teth."
"Respectfully," Watcher said. "Couldn't you use your psychometry ability to discover the killer's identity?"
"I'd have to hold the murder weapon," Quinlan explained. "Of which our killer was quick to make off with. But this being said, something didn't sit right with us over Ziro's death. We found his corpse beside the mummified remains of his father, Barzi the Hutt."
"Vos," Watcher muttered. "Where is this going?"
"According to the Republic Criminal Archives-" Quinlan continued. "-Barzi served as an esteemed advisor to every member of the Hutt Council. But while they all trusted him for years, he was secretly gathering details on an alleged holodiary. Every secret the Hutts have hidden...every dark and nefarious deed...collected on a single device. I believe Ziro was hoping to recover Barzi's diary to serve as leverage against the Hutts. However, I believe they caught up with him and managed to recover the records."
"There's a lot of belief in this theory," Watcher considered.
"But if I'm right, it may be our best shot at uncovering the truth behind the Revenant."
"So what are you proposing?" Watcher asked. "That we just infiltrate Jabba's palace and-" She paused as Quinlan toted his signature smirk. "Of course you're serious."
"I said it'd be risky," Quinlan affirmed. "With tensions already on the rise, no one can know the Jedi are involved. We'd need an elite team to stealthily infiltrate the palace. That's where Watcher here would come in. Once our team was inside, I'd need your people to create a counter code out of the stolen datapad. Using it, our team would find the Hutt's central computer and hack into their mainframe. The Guardian should have a strong enough signal to receive all of the captured intel from there." With a proud clap of his hands and toothy grin, Quinlan said, "Easy."
The master's proposed plan was met with mixed responses. Jedi mumbled amongst one another as a young Mirialan spoke up. "Padawan Offee," Quinlan acknowledged.
"With all due respect," Barriss began. "This plan is far too reckless for us to see through. We don't even know if the Hutts have any solid ties to the Revenant. And if it fails, it could generate even greater unrest! Look around. The war is only escalating. Can we really afford to be so careless? Can we-"
"You weren't there, Barriss." Anna interrupted. "I saw how many bounty hunters the Hutts sent after Tori."
The Mirialan sneered at the youngest Dellian's remark. "Because she wrongfully stole from them."
"Tori is the only reason we even have intel right now," Anna defended, hoping to defeat Barriss with her raised voice. "We've come this far...we can't just stop now. These cultists are out there spreading anti-Jedi sentiment."
"We are doing that ourselves," Barriss worried. "Amidst this war, our Order-"
"I volunteer!" Anna snapped to shut her up. Her outright comment lured everyone's attention away from Barriss. "Watcher...Master Vos. My squad and I can infiltrate Jabba's palace and get you those records."
"While I have full confidence in your abilities, General Dellian-" Watcher considered. "-even I lack updated schematics on Jabba's ancient dwelling. You'd be going in dark."
As Anna glanced at Elsa, an intriguing idea dawned upon her. "What about a disguise?" the youngest Dellian suggested. "Someone can enter the premises and get a readout from within, helping the rest of the team."
"The transformation chamber used to save the chancellor is not to be taken lightly," Quinlan said. "And given rather unpleasant circumstances, your face may be familiar throughout the Holonets."
"That's why I wouldn't be the one in disguise," Anna said with a grin.
"Surely you don't mean one of your clones," Watcher worried. "Even citizens in the furthest reaches are familiar with their faces."
"No," Anna assured before standing up. "I mean him," she said and pointed at Hans.
The knight almost choked. "Wait, what?" he stammered.
"Knight Westgard has hardly left Coruscant as of late," Anna explained. "In fact, he's hardly ever received an offworld assignment."
"Ouch," Hans grumbled.
"The Hutts wouldn't recognize him if he were to infiltrate the palace as...let's say..." Anna hummed in thought. "A bounty hunter!"
Elsa winced at her sister's proposition while Watcher thought it over. "Westgard has an extremely low profile," she said. "This could actually work."
"So let me get this straight," Hans sighed and crossed his arms. "You only want me for this mission...because I'm a nobody. Not because you actually need my skills."
"Hans," Anna groaned. "It's not like that-"
"It's exactly like that," he countered.
"Then change it!" Anna suddenly snapped. Her outburst caught many in the chamber off guard as she loomed over him. Hans' eyes widened in surprise as she said, "Think you're not being used for your skills? Then for kriff's sake, quit your complaining and prove that statement wrong! Are you really gonna sit here and complain about missing chances that you won't even take?"
Hans' scowl twitched as Anna embarrassed him in front of the other Jedi. Yet despite the humiliation, he knew that she wasn't wrong. "Fine," he growled as Anna slowly smiled. "I'll do it."
After Hans' tantrum in their sacred chamber, the Jedi Council was relieved have Tori Vica. As for the Pantoran Padawan herself, she remained on edge as they asked their questions.
"Master Meliz Sumar," Yoda inquired. "Gone she is?"
Each query was unintentional prying at her old wound. "Yes," Tori answered quietly.
"Deceased?" Windu asked bluntly. He raised a brow when Tori shook her head. "Then what exactly became of her?"
Need I remind you, Padawan-" Ki-Adi-Mundi added. "-that bearing false witness before the council is a severely punishable offense."
"I have no reason to lie," Tori affirmed to her elders. She wanted to choose her words wisely, as to prevent any member of the Order from going after Meliz. "On Iego, Master Sumar and I discovered that her former Padawan, Kor Mabel, was alive. And it was in those moments that she found a sense of purpose stronger than any other. She felt a calling to pursue it."
"Left the Order, she did?" Yoda asked.
"I think abandoning her student sends a clear enough message about that," said Master Eeth Koth. The Zabrak's comment was met with mixed responses.
"Respectfully," Tori began. "She didn't abandon me. We parted ways on mutual ground."
"Did you try and stop her?" Windu asked and squinted suspiciously.
In an attempt to appeal to the council, Tori focused on Yoda. "Master," she said. "I remember when you used to drop by and lecture the younglings of Brith Clan. I was among those students and I never forgot your teachings. You used to say 'train yourself to let go of everything you fear to lose.' Well I was afraid of losing my master at one time. I'd fully experienced it with Master Krell. But when it came to Mel-...Master Sumar...I could separate myself from my feelings as all Jedi should. So I let her go, for her destiny was not mine. And my journey resides within the Jedi Order."
Yoda hummed at Tori's words. "Wise beyond your years you are, Padawan Vica. A product of suffering, your knowledge unfortunately is."
"And the Force has worked in mysterious ways to guide you back to us," Windu added and left Tori feeling uneasy. Merely a moment ago, it felt like he was against her. Now the Force seemed like nothing more than a justification to Windu.
The council seemed to have been coming to a conclusion even as Tori gave her full explanation. The results were realized as Yoda nodded to Master Adi Gallia. The Tholothian rose from her seat and stepped towards Tori. She hadn't seen much of the master since the Corellian Cup tryouts so long ago. Sunlight shined through the windows and warmed Gallia's dark skin. Her bright blue eyes searched deep into Tori's golden gaze. "Padawan Vica," she declared. "For upholding our doctrine even in the face of overwhelming adversity. For enduring when those closest to you lost their presence in your life...the council hereby accepts your resilience as your Trial of the Spirit.
The achievement left Tori feeling melancholy. While she was grateful to be one step closer to becoming a Jedi Knight, she wished Meliz was around to see it. In a way, Meliz's departure was a final gift to pass the Trial of the Spirit. "Thank you, masters." Tori said and bowed before the council. She was caught off guard when Adi Gallia rested a hand on her shoulder.
As Tori raised her head, the master spoke. "I know you've been through so much at such a young age. I understand that the Force doesn't always guide us in the direction that we want it to. And while I cannot guarantee an easy path ahead...I can guarantee you one thing." Her second hand found its way to Tori's shoulder as she looked at her with true conviction. "I am fully committed to this Order and I will not leave you."
"Huh?" Tori inquired. "Wh-what are you saying?"
"I'm saying, that I wish to take you on as my student. Can you trust me to fulfill my oath?"
With a deep breath and heavy heart, Tori chose to take a leap of faith. She did so for Meliz, her family, and most importantly herself. "Yes," she boldly declared as a gentle smile formed on her lips. "Master Gallia."
After the briefing, Elsa and Barriss traveled down the temple corridors. The Mirialan Padawan remained increasingly adamant about her views and frustratedly gestured to Elsa. "They just ignored me," she huffed. "No offense to your sister, but they completely disregarded my logical concerns in favor of her plan. Why? Because it was as risky and militaristic as Master Vos' initial concept? We're supposed to be peacekeepers, Elsa, but look at us. More boundaries crossed. More infiltration. More war. What's happening to the Jedi Order?"
"I understand where you're coming from," Elsa sighed. "I-"
"Do you?" Barriss retorted with enough subtle attitude to bring Elsa to a halt. "I once thought it was rather admirable of you to step down from your unit. Yet now you're back in command."
"Now hold on," Elsa defended. "I stepped down because I didn't feel confident that I could keep those men safe. But then I learned of the torment Master Krell had subjected them to."
"That doesn't change the fact that you're part of the Republic war machine again," Barriss derided.
Elsa gasped at the Padawan's remark. "The 213th and I are not out trying to prolong this conflict," she said. "We're striving to save lives. By reinstating it as a search and rescue division-"
"Do you hear yourself?" Barriss scoffed. Her disgusted scowl left Elsa feeling uneasy. "I never thought you'd sound just like the rest of them. Justifying the war and this fight for peace by any means." Barriss shook her head and sighed. "I thought you were different," she said before storming off.
"Barriss!" Elsa called out to no avail. Just when things couldn't get any more stressful, Yelena and Mattias approached from down the hall. "Oh great," she mumbled under her breath.
"Elsa," Mattias beckoned while Yelena seemed on edge. "A word, if we may?"
"Um...actually-" Elsa huffed. "I need to get back to my room. Sir Porgen's overdue for repairs and-"
"Please," Mattias kindly insisted. "It'd just be a moment." Elsa relented as the masters stepped closer. By the way Mattias stood between her and Yelena, it was clear that he was trying to be a mediator. "Thank you," he said. "It's come to my attention that you two aren't in the best...place right now." Yelena hardly looked at Elsa as she spoke. But it appeared to be more so out of shame than spite. "Surely there's nothing going on here that a good conversation can't solve."
"I appreciate what you're trying to do here, Master Mattias." Elsa insisted. "But this is between Master Yelena and I. Or possibly the entire council." Elsa glanced over at her former mentor. "There's a rumor that those involved will receive honors. Is that what it was really about? All the lying, all the-"
"No," Yelena snapped without raising her voice. "I did what I had to out of duty to the Order. By the will of the Force."
"I just don't understand why you had to lie to me," Elsa replied. "It wasn't even to protect me like things were with Aren. When I learned that Master Kenobi had 'died'...it was like a piece of me had left with him. You know what he meant to me. Why would any of you want to put me through that?"
Yelena was about to respond when Mattias mediated for her. "Her actions contributed to saving Chancellor Palpatine," he said. "All of the conversations surrounding those who believed in Kenobi's death helped sell the narrative to our enemies."
Yelena instantly winced at his word choice. "S-sell?" Elsa stammered. "This goes beyond me. Was everyone who sobbed at his funeral just a tool for this mission? How could this even be considered okay-"
"Enough!" Yelena suddenly blurted. Elsa shuddered as Mattias did a double take. "I will not be put on trial for fulfilling my duties," she asserted like a defensive parent. "I was hurt at first with what I had to do, but seeing you now...seeing how you're reacting." Elsa's eyes widened as Yelena shook her head. "I expected better from my former student." Elsa gasped at Yelena's words.
"Mar," Mattias warned, yet she persisted.
"Yes, I lied to you." Yelena sighed. "And lives were saved because of it. Sacrifices were made as they will always need to be. You are no stranger to tough decisions, so perhaps I should call your methods into question." Yelena angrily bit her lip. "Only I won't. Because I refuse to judge something that we're all guilty of. You think I wanted to hurt you? I've been putting your wellbeing first ever since you were a baby. You're only here because I saved your life on Aren. So you should try being less judgmental and more understanding." Elsa's body clenched up at the elder's outburst. Before either she nor Mattias could formulate a response, a chime came to Yelena's comlink.
"Master Yelena," Yoda reported as she furiously answered it. "Requested in the council chamber, you are."
"I...need to go," Yelena murmured and set off on her own.
"I hope it was worth it," Elsa uttered and garnered a brief pause from her old mentor. Rather than reengage, Yelena sulked and continued on her way.
"I'm sure she didn't mean all of that," Mattias placated. "Yelena probably just felt cornered."
"She wants me to be more understanding, but I am," Elsa affirmed. "I never meant to come off as ungrateful to her for saving my life. I know that she did what she had to do then and now."
"But that doesn't mean it didn't hurt you," Mattias concluded.
Elsa hung her head and somberly answered, "Yeah."
The Legacy boomed out of hyperspace and soared towards Tatooine. The Hammerhead frigate began a steady descent as Admiral Shang observed the desert planet. "We'll be dropping you about a mile out from Jabba's palace and just beyond any potential scanners," Shang said as a series of grunts echoed from behind him. "Something wrong, Knight Westgard?"
"Yes actually. Two things," Hans corrected while trying to stretch out. "First, I'm in the presence of clones so doesn't that make me General Westgard? And second, this disguise sucks." Hans winced as a collection of furs and padded durasteel lay pressed against his armored body. "If you were going for rugged bounty hunter...you failed miserably. I look like I went swimming in a scrapyard."
"You'll fit right in among that scum and villainy," Shang assured. "As for your rank, being among clones doesn't immediately make you a general."
"Yeah," Anna teased while tightening the back of Hans' cloak. "Besides, I'm already the acting general here." She tousled his hair to mess up its auburn waves.
"Hey!" Hans snapped.
"It sells the ruthless look," Anna assured. "Trust me." She said and unclipped his lightsaber. His glare had her chuckling. "Don't worry. Steadfast will be safe with me."
"You...named your lightsaber?" Shang muttered.
"You named your ship?" Hans fired back. "That's what I thought." He then smirked like he'd just dished out the greatest comeback in the history of the universe.
Anna gave Hans a blaster pistol to complete his disguise. She then turned towards the bridge's holotable and said, "Ready for phase two, Watcher."
At Anna's command, Watcher uploaded several codes into a device on Shang's monitor. He unplugged a pronged, handheld spike as she explained its use. "That code spike contains everything you need to hack into the Hutt's central mainframe," Watcher said. "All you have to do is insert it into the computer and we're in."
"Right then," Hans said while clutching the spike in his bulky glove. "And what about this?" He pointed towards a thin disc on the table.
"An automapper," Watcher defined. "Just hide it somewhere in the palace's interior. If all goes according to plan, it will send schematics to us back on our ships."
"You've got this, Hans." Anna assured.
"Of course I do," he grumbled. "It's me." She guided him down the Legacy's corridor. "You know, I'm perfectly capable of walking on my own," he griped. While they traversed the hall, they passed the Deathchasers gearing up. "Seriously. You don't have to baby me-" Anna suddenly checked for any witnesses and then shoved him into a quiet corner. "Oh," he finally caught on before Anna pulled him into a tender kiss.
Just when he yearned for more, Anna pulled away and whispered, "For luck."
"You tease," he mumbled and she winked. As the Legacy reached Tatooine's surface, its ventral hatch dropped and Hans mounted a modified speeder bike. As Hans raced across the coarse dunes, Anna and the others followed him from a tracker in his vambrace. He appeared as a flashing dot on both Shang and Watcher's respective monitors.
As they watched his progress, Shang couldn't help but mumble, "I didn't even name this ship."
Hans' biking silhouette zipped alongside Tatooine's binary sunset. As the evening sky became painted in fiery hues, Hans reached the repurposed monastery that was Jabba's palace. A pair of axe-wielding Gammorean guards snorted as Hans disembarked. "These guys," he griped under his breath before greeting them. "Oink oink," he jested. "I seek an audience with Jabba the Hutt." His comments were quickly met with two axes aimed at his neck. Hans raised his hands and glowered. "Karabast...no wonder Jabba's short on bounty hunters. You piggies have no sense of hospitality." The Gammoreans exchanged confused glances. "I'm here after the Batuu ordeal. Heard Jabba's paying big money to able-bodied hunters." The Gammoreans didn't budge. "Okay let's make a deal," Hans proposed. "You let me in to see Jabba. Worst case scenario, he hates me and you kill me. Best case, we all get to hang out inside and out of the sun. Either way, you fellas get your steps in for the day." There was a brief pause before the Gammoreans obliged. As they escorted Hans inside, he couldn't help but wonder if they were looking forward to killing him.
"He's in," Watcher reported to the others. "According to his tracker's trajectory and our orbital imagery, he's just entered the palace. Now he just needs to place the automapper and we can see inside."
"Come on, Hans." Anna quietly cheered from the Legacy.
Long, winding hallways led the way towards a series of upbeat and jazzy tunes. Multicolored lights strobed across a dance floor. Hans couldn't help but raise an intrigued brow as several female dancers spun by. Despite the groups' collective talents, none garnered more cheers than an eccentric Pantoran.
The chaotic lights set her blue skin aglow as she lunged across the dance floor. Her corset was adorned in a wild assortment of feathers and she sported a prominent headdress. Her long purple hair was tied into a ponytail, which whipped down to her waist as she danced with supernatural ease. It was like watching a goddess create art and then gift it to mortals. Band members became so entranced by her dazzling moves, that some of them fumbled over their notes. Even the Gammoreans escorting Hans stopped to admire the Pantoran as she sprung towards Jabba himself. To Hans' surprise, the Hutt was accompanied by another of his kind. The Pantoran was sure to serenade both crime lords before backflipping into a stunning finale. Confetti blasted overhead as the band concluded their number. It mattered not how talented they were nor how many dancers lined the floor. All eyes were on the astounding Pantoran.
A smooth-talking Rodian set his instrument down as the crowd erupted into thunderous applause. Realizing where all of the attention was going, he gestured to the dancer and said, "Let's hear it for our Blazing Babe...Briell!" The Pantoran bowed and blew kisses to her admirers. As she stepped away from the dance floor, her golden eyes peered over at Hans.
He smirked at her before proceeding towards the Hutts. After such a wonderful performance, Jabba was in no mood to deal with unexpected business. Especially when he already had a guest present. The other Hutt was a surprise as the two crime lords glared at Hans. The Gammoreans shoved him forward and Jabba spouted off in Huttese. His grouchy tone had patrons glancing over as a protocol droid translated.
"The mighty Jabba asks who you are and why you have disturbed him," it computed. "Especially in the presence of her excellency, Gardulla the Hutt."
Hans' heart sank as he observed the second Hutt. Gardulla's eyes were just as yellow and stern as Jabba's. Her rough, green skin wrinkled with her deepening glower. A thousand thoughts raced through Hans' mind, for he hadn't accounted for another Hutt. He considered every failure the Jedi had accused him of. How despite his boasting, he'd hardly ever won a fight in his life. Yet now he was at the epicenter of it all. If Hans was going to see things through, he'd do so on his terms.
"The name's-" Hans began with a smile. "Tino. Tino Fontana. Now I'm sure you've never heard of me before." The Hutts sneered. "But that's fine. Because I know that no one sees a Hutt without something to offer. And I know that once you see what I possess-" Hans brought his voice down to a husky whisper. "-you'll never forget me." Jabba looked over at Gardulla and raised a scaly brow. "Don't let this bounty hunter getup fool you," Hans assured. "I'm a showman...and everything-" Hans unclipped his cloak. "-is about..." Hans unfastened his fur padding. "-presentation," he concluded and unlatched the armor. The clamor of his falling gear caused all eyes to sway towards him. By the time his blaster struck the ground, so too did his undershirt.
Wearing nothing more than his boots and cargo pants, Hans sported his muscles for the Hutts. Twisting his body just right under the lights, he let his rippling abdomen be further defined. His toned biceps flexed as he raised his arms and brushed his hair back. The palace dancers gossiped to one another about his body while Briell quietly sipped a drink. Her eyes wandered towards his lean and firm physique as he spoke to the Hutts.
"I find your lack of male dancers...well...disturbing," Hans remarked. "And I'm here to change that."
While Jabba remained silently skeptical, Gardulla spoke up. "The illustrious Gardulla wants to know what the catch is," the droid translated.
"No catch," Hans insisted. "Except me. I'm the catch." His quip got one of the Twi'lek dancers to giggle and he winked at her. "The galaxy is a mess, and all I want is to do what I love. And that's entertain people. I wish to serve you, Gardulla. I can see the stress in those lovely eyes of yours. Pay me or don't, I'll be dancing either way. And that's all I want in life."
There was a chilling pause as Gardulla muttered something. Her comment prompted a shrug from Jabba while the droid computed. "Gardulla says you now belong to her. For your sake, you'd best put your credits where your mouth is."
"Oh I intend to," Hans asserted. "Gardulla," he pledged. "I was born a winner. I have never disappointed anyone in my life, and that certainly won't start now."
As Hans was taken to a fitting chamber, Jabba pointed at the discarded pile of armor. At his command, the Gamorreans snatched the pieces up and had them melted down for spare parts. As each piece plunged into the palace scrap room, so too did Hans' tracker and automapper.
Anna's eyes widened as Hans' tracking blip disappeared. "Wh-where'd he go?" she asked. "Watcher, I think our screen glitched."
"He's gone on mine as well," she reported.
"Kriffing hell," Anna uttered as Speedy tried to calm her down.
"Maybe he just went too deep into the palace," he suggested.
"Then why hasn't he deployed the automapper?" Anna fretted. "No. Something went wrong. We've gotta get him out of there."
"General Dellian," Watcher intoned. "You need to slow down."
"This is my fault," Anna replied while pacing across the bridge. "I just wanted him to succeed at something! I wasn't thinking. Watcher, we need to move in now. We'll still complete the mission, I promise. Is there any way you can find us an entry point even without the automapper?"
"Aerial surveillance is limited from the Dune Sea," Watcher said. "Especially if we don't want to arouse suspicion."
"Kriff it," Anna said. "Blazer, Sparx, Speedy. We'll do this the old fashioned way."
"Copy that, general," the sergeant affirmed.
"We've seen the lengths these crime lords went through to kill Tori," Anna explained. "They're not to be taken lightly and we need to move in now. Who knows what kind of excruciating terrors they're subjecting Hans to as we speak."
Hans fought to hold on. He hardened his resolve, focused on his breathing...and downed another shot glass. The entertainment lounge was alive with cacophonous taunts and jeers as Hans slammed his finished drink down. He slid it towards a collection of empty glasses and smirked. Wearing nothing more than decorated shorts and sandals, Hans already had several dancers fawning over him. A pair of them were already at his sides, gently rubbing his bare and muscular back as he stared down his opponent. Across the table sat a stern-faced Weequay. His shriveled nose and gritted teeth were only bearable once a glass obscured them. He spilt part of his shot against his guard uniform, yet kept slobbishly chugging away.
"Nice one, Yenki!" a fellow guard lauded. "Beat this pretty boy!"
Hans chuckled as he snatched another shot glass. "Bottoms up," he declared and glanced over at Briell. The Pantoran was brushing her silky tresses when she locked eyes with him. "This one's for you, beautiful," he said and downed the drink.
His fellow entertainers cheered as Hans confidently slid the glass to the pile. "Psh!" Yenki grumbled and attempted to do the same. His small, dark eyes twitched when his hand repeatedly missed the shot glass. "Huh? What?" Intoxicated beyond belief, the Weequay angrily swatted at the table in an attempt to grab his glass. He missed entirely and accidentally knocked it over. Having gotten himself disqualified, the dancers celebrated Hans as the winner. One of the Twi'lek dancers teasingly caressed his cheek until Kenki suddenly charged. Screams rang out as the Weequay slammed Hans against the nearest wall.
"You cheating sleemo!" he growled. "I oughta blast you in your smug face!"
"How do you cheat at drinking?" Hans jeered. "Also, how well do you think things would go for you if Gardulla found out one of Jabba's goons killed her prized man?" Belligerent yet fearful, Yenki released Hans and backed away. "That's what I thought," Hans taunted before being swarmed by entertainers. While he'd said so to gain favor with Jabba, Hans wasn't wrong. There weren't any male dancers at the palace, and the working ladies seemed...desperate. Hans smirked and winked to most of his admirers, but remained transfixed on Briell.
He strutted his way over to her corner of the lounge. Her brushing slowed as he leaned against the wall beside her. "These guard thugs," he jested. "They always think they're so tough."
"Look who they work for," Briel responded. "It's enough to make anyone drunk with power. Or literally drunk. Take your pick. Either way, you still end up dealing with a bunch of little boys trying to prove who's the strongest."
Hans swallowed hard at her words. "So true," he replied.
"What makes you think that you're any different?" Briell quipped and looked him over from head to toe.
Hans laughed off her remark. "Well for starters," he said and stepped in front of her. "I know a legend when I see one. The way you were dancing was just-" Hans sighed exuberantly. "-pure magic. So much talent from such a gorgeous woman. I'd think your name was Tori. But you're not the goddess' gift...you're the goddess herself."
Briell tried to dull her impulsive grin. "You know some Pantoran," she remarked. "I'm impressed. Normally the 'hoomies' don't bother with any language other than their own."
"Yes well," Hans chuckled. "I'm not like most humans. I appreciate talent."
"So why are you here, Tino?" Briell asked. "Practically throwing yourself into Gardulla's servitude. What's your angle? Are you a spy for Jabba? I knew it was too much of a coincidence for those two to start ending their feud."
"I'm no spy," Hans assured and sat beside her. He brought his voice down to a rather seductive whisper and said, "I'm just tired. Tired of all the politics. All the war. Out here, I can just celebrate life."
Briell's eyes narrowed. "Karabast," she murmured. "You're trying to take my job, aren't you? Do you have any idea how long it took me to work my way up-"
Hans calmly placed his hand over hers. "Briell," he said softly. "I may be amazingly talented and dashingly handsome."
"And humble," she quipped.
He smirked at her sarcasm and continued. "But I could never be as good as you, nor do I want to be. From the moment I walked into the palace, I was just captivated by your performance. I'm not here to compete. I'm here to celebrate." Briell's breaths hastened as Hans' hand slid up her forearm. "In more ways than one."
The Pantoran felt like her heart would burst out of her chest as Hans stood up, never once letting go of her. Instead, he brought his second hand around and clutched her bare shoulders. Briell had to catch her shortened breath as he squeezed and proceeded with a tender massage. Hans leaned closer as he rubbed her shoulders. Her head fell back to him and he whispered, "So tense. All of this performing. Always being the star. But when's the last time someone performed for you?"
"Certainly not another Pantoran," Briell uttered. "This line of work is frowned upon by my so-called noble race."
"People spend too much time hating what they don't understand-" Hans said while massaging her. "-when they could be loving every mystery of it." As he dug his fingers into her shoulders, Briell loosed an involuntary sigh. Her eyes fluttered open as she peered up at Hans. "I wonder," Hans considered. "If I may be so bold."
"You may," Briell whispered back.
"Perhaps I could show you another method of...stress relief?" he suggested.
"You are a bold one," Briell teased as a grin came to her lips. Her blue palms slid back up to his forearms. She playfully ran her fingers against his bare chest and said, "My room. Follow me."
"Whatever you say, my goddess." Hans obliged and took her hand.
"Come on, Blazer." Anna urged. "Gimme something!"
The hike across the dunes had been tasking on the Deathchaser's bodies, but Anna was eager to find Hans. Their crouched silhouettes were shrouded under the cover of night. "Wait," Blazer alerted. "There!" he whispered sharply and handed Anna his macrobinoculars. She followed his trajectory to a drain just beneath the palace's ridge. "It probably doesn't smell the best, but it's a way in."
"Sarge, you're a genius." Anna rejoiced. "I'm going in."
"Wait, what about us?" Lieutenant Sparx queried.
"The Hutts can't know the Republic is involved in this," Anna said. "The less of us that are inside, the better. I can only hope Hans hasn't been interrogated yet. I'll slip in, find Hans, and complete the mission. I need you boys to find us a getaway vehicle and meet us by that drain."
"Just be careful, sister." Blazer insisted.
"Of course," Anna assured. "I'll be light as a-" She took one step and tripped over the massive sand dune. The Deathchasers watched and winced as Anna turned into a human tumbleweed. "Kriff!" she grunted upon taking in a face full of sand at the bottom. "I'm okay!" she whispered and threw a thumbs up before proceeding. Blazer merely shook his head before leading the other Deathchasers to find transportation.
Anna crouched and crept along the moonlit sands. Womp rats scurried out from the drain as she backed up against it. "Here we go," she said and sparked up her lightsaber. Her blade usage was brief as she sliced open the drain lid and lunged inside. Luckily for her, no one who investigated would be able to tell a lightsaber was involved. For all the Hutts knew, the infiltrator could've used a scorcher.
"Damn it all," Anna gagged as she entered the piping system. "I really need to get myself a helmet." A plethora of rancid odors assaulted her nose as she trekked through the drain's excess gunk. The muck stained her plastoid kneepads and forced the desert sand to stick to it. She was relieved to find a dryer system above her as she leapt to climb onward. As she traveled into the metallic maze, she could hear a variety of happenings throughout the compound. She listened intently for Hans' screams and a potential torture chamber. Instead, she heard him conversing in one of the corridors. "Hans?" Anna muttered and crawled over for a closer look. The sound had vanished, but she persisted in its direction.
Briell led Hans far beyond the entertainer's lounge. Jabba's palace proved to be as expansive as it was mysterious. "So what made you start dancing for the Hutts?" Hans asked.
"Easy money, high demand, and plenty of security," Briell said. "No one, messes with the Hutts. And lives, anyway."
"You really just have it all, don't you?" Hans remarked.
"You're a nice surprise, I'll give you that." Briell said. "But I won't lie, being at the top of my game has its perks. I'm sure you've noticed that we've passed all of the others' sleeping quarters. Maybe if you please our clients enough, you won't have to sleep on those slabs they call beds either."
"You even get your own private room?" Hans awed.
"Mhm," Briell replied and guided him by the hand. "Don't let those flirty Twi'leks fool you back in the lounge. They'll stab you in the back the second you try to upstage them. I'm grateful to be away from all of the gossip and noise. Down here, all I have to put up with is the maintenance center's buzzing. But earnestly, that hum puts me to sleep. It's the best thing after a long day of dancing."
"Well," Hans said and chose to be bold once more. He assertively scooped Briell by the waist and brought his voice down to a seductive growl. "It's only the best thing because you haven't experienced me yet."
His daringness carried him as he dipped his head to kiss her neck. Briell sighed amorously, and quickly spun to meet him face to face. To Hans' surprise, she chose to match his intensity. Briell leapt into his arms and pulled his face in for a wild kiss. They were equally chaotic as their hands raced over one another. Briell moaned with amorous delight as Hans kissed her ear. Her frantic hand barely made it to the wall panel and unlocked the door to her room. And as the two practically attacked each other in a fit of savage passion, Anna descended from a nearby piping system.
It was as if her very essence had been drained from her. Everything she'd feared for Hans suddenly became nonexistent as any possible word was lost. Whatever she sought to verbalize instead balled up into an aching lump in her throat. Wide-eyed and horrified, Anna just watched as if she was frozen in time. It was nothing like the holodramas, where characters would gasp and feel a whirlwind of emotions. All Anna felt...was broken. The sensation was foreign and hurt in an entirely different way than anything she'd experienced. Those secretive feelings she'd cherished with Hans...from their first kiss in the cave to every sneaky encounter after...were suddenly deprived of all meaning. Her heart wrenched as this curvaceous Pantoran let her hands roam across his smooth, bare chest. Anna uttered a painful gasp when Hans slid his hand up Briell's outer thigh.
Hans' blood ran cold as he noticed Anna in his peripherals. Acting quickly, he tightly gripped Briell's leg and flung her into the room. She landed on her bed with an enthused growl. "Oh," she cooed and bit her lip.
Mistaking his panic for amorous aggression, her smile faded when he said, "Crimson Dawn sends their regards."
"What?" was all Briell could blurt before Hans slammed on the wall panel. Once her door closed, he revealed a stolen keycard and overrode the lock to seal her in. His actions were met with a series of furious slams as Briell hopelessly tried to break out.
Hans then turned with a frustrated look in his eye. "What are you doing in here? You just blew my cover!"
"Oh," Anna scoffed. "Is that what that was?"
Hans snorted and reached out to her. "Oh come on, babe-"
"Don't!" Anna snapped and swatted his hand away. Despite her best efforts to come off aggressive, there was a twinge of brokenness in her voice. "Hans, what are you-...why are you-" Anna was so angry that she could hardly form a complete sentence. "What the hell!" she ultimately roared.
"Shhh!" Hans intoned and gripped at her shoulders.
"Don't you kriffing touch me!" Anna growled and shoved him back. "I believed in you when no one else did. I gave you a chance when you said no one gave you squat. And this is how you repay me? Wearing whatever this is-" Anna scowled at the stench of alcohol. "Drinking and getting with-"
"It's called going undercover," Hans explained. "What, you think I'd actually cheat on you?" Anna's brows furrowed. "Wow," Hans mumbled. "Do you really think so low of me? I thought we trusted each other."
"Are you kidding me right now?" Anna countered. "No communication. Didn't set the automapper. How can anyone trust you?"
"You need to trust me to do this my way," Hans asserted.
"Oh yeah? How's that working out?" Anna jeered.
"Pretty damn well!" Hans snapped as they got in each other's faces. "I knew I didn't stand a chance posing as a bounty hunter. Once I saw that Gardulla the Hutt was here, I knew I could serve as eye candy because...let's be honest...who wouldn't want to get with-"
"Get to the point," Anna growled.
Hans rolled his eyes. "In the servant's lounge, I challenged a dimwitted guard to a drinking contest. Not only did I win, but I angered him enough to get him close. While he had me pinned, I pocketed his keycard while no one was looking. As for what you saw between Briell and I back there."
"Got her name and everything, huh?" Anna groused.
Hans ignored her comment and continued. "I just needed to gain her trust as she gave up the location of the maintenance room. It's on this level and I'd wager that's where we'll find the Hutt central computer."
"It better be, for your sake." Anna threatened.
"For our sakes now that you blew my cover," Hans fired back. He gestured to Briell's locked door. "It's only a matter of time before she gets out, so we're on the clock now."
Anna reluctantly followed Hans deeper into the palace. Following the repeated buzzing that Briell had mentioned, Hans located a set of sealed doors. "Aha," he said. "What kind of maintenance center has double durasteel doors?" He smirked and used the stolen keycard to gain access. As the doors hissed open, Anna and Hans became bathed in a series of cyan lights. An array of miniature monitors were gathered around a colossal, central computer. "What did I tell ya?"
Anna watched as Hans got right to work. He slid the code spike out from his shorts and plugged it into the main system. Despite his elaborate and off-book plan, Anna felt lost. She hated being unsure about if her lover was lying or telling the truth. It pained her to consider the former. She couldn't help but imagine how things might've played out if she hadn't discovered Hans and Briell.
"Dellian," Watcher called in over comms. Anna snapped back into the present moment to listen in. "Westgard did it. The code spike's data is transmitting to the Guardian as we speak."
Meanwhile, a Gamorrean guard was hobbling down the halls when he heard a raucous banging. He snorted in alarm and rushed to examine the sound. Upon hearing Briell pounding at her door, the guard unlocked it with his keycard. The Pantoran came stumbling out and caught her breath. "Get the other guards!" she panted. "Crimson Dawn is in the palace!"
Alerts rang out as Hans griped, "See? This all could've been avoided if you just trusted me!"
"Oh shut up!" Anna yelled and pulled her comlink close.
"Transfer complete," Watcher confirmed. "Get out of there!"
"That's our cue," Anna said and unclipped the code spike. As she and Hans exited the room, they immediately faced a group of Hutt Clan thugs. "Kriffing hell," Anna muttered before ducking for cover.
"You have your lightsaber, don't you?" Hans sputtered as lasers darted overhead.
"They can't know the Republic was involved. Do you think anything through?"
"I'm the only reason this plan was succeeding," Hans boasted. "You screwed it up!" Enraged by his words, Anna raised a fist to Hans. He ducked, only to realize she was never aiming for him. Instead she punched out a stand connecting one of the smaller monitors. She kicked down a second one and handed it to Hans. "Have you lost your mind?" he said. "These won't withstand blaster bolts."
"The screens aren't for shielding," Anna replied. "Just hold it up and get ready to run." Hans begrudgingly obeyed while Anna clutched a wire connecting the monitors. She partially snapped it, causing the screens to strobe uncontrollably. "Run!" Anna commanded as she and Hans charged out of the room. The strobing screens in front of the duo's faces were incredibly disorienting, causing the gunmen to avert their eyes or miss their shots. Once they'd passed the shooters, Anna dropped her screen and hauled Hans into the pipe where she'd entered.
"Did you know that would work?" Hans huffed while crawling out behind her.
"Nope," Anna grunted and quickened her pace.
"Now who's doing things their way?"
Anna ignored him and called her squad. "Sarge, how's that getaway vehicle looking?"
"We're all set for you," Blazer assured. "Sounds like quite a party in there."
"You have no idea," Anna groaned before she and Hans exited the drain. As they did so, they found the Deathchasers mounted on a repulsorlift-powered skiff. "How the hell'd you get one of those?"
"The Weequay guarding it was too drunk to stay awake," Speedy commented. "Now get on!"
"Another score for me," Hans bragged. "I'm the reason that guard was drunk in the first-"
"Give it a rest already!" Anna yelled and pulled him into the skiff. "Punch it, Blazer!"
As alarms rang throughout Jabba's palace, Blazer piloted the stolen skiff far beyond the dunes. By the time a thorough sweep of the palace was conducted, Republic forces were already spacebound aboard the Legacy.
"Job well done," Watcher said over Admiral Shang's holotable. "And thanks to Knight Westgard's misdirection, the Hutts will be blaming Crimson Dawn for the infiltration. That's if they even figure out that anything was stolen. The code spike doesn't leave traces."
"Honored to serve," Shang replied while the Deathchasers saluted.
"I suggest you all get plenty of rest for what is to come," Watcher said. "I would guess the Jedi are already one step ahead of you all in doing so."
After all of the sweat and gunk he'd experienced on Tatooine, taking a shower was a blessing for Hans. As he stepped out of the refresher in nothing more than a towel, a golden glint caught his eye. "Steadfast," he murmured upon glimpsing his lightsaber hilt. His shock only increased when Anna's silhouette appeared amidst the shower steam. Her arms crossed beneath her Republic issued undershirt. "Kriff, Anna. You scared the hell out of me. I just got out of the shower!"
"I've seen you shirtless before," Anna said coldly. "As I'm sure plenty of girls in Jabba's palace did too."
"Anna," Hans groaned.
"Do you care about me?" she asked.
Hans stammered. "Wh-what?"
"It's not that hard of a question to understand. Do you...care about me?" she asked slower.
Hans took a deep breath, "Of course I do."
"But do you mean that?" Anna asserted. "Or are you just telling me what I want to hear? Are you playing me just like you apparently played that Pantoran? Has anything we've done...all the time we've spent together...meant nothing to you?"
Hans sighed. "You've been watching too many holodramas," he replied. "I knew my limits, believe it or not...and I knew I didn't stand a chance posing as a bounty hunter. My best chance was to be...well, charming. And through that, I was able to get the information we needed and nothing more." He stepped towards her and cleared his throat. "Anna, look me in the eyes. All we've done means everything to me. From the moment I confessed my feelings to you and all the way until now. I know I'm not perfect and this secret of ours isn't always easy to keep. But you're my one and only, and I would never cheat on you." He reached over and took her hands in his. "On my honor." Anna sighed and took in his heavy words. "Did I sound like one of your holodrama stars?" he jested until his words coaxed a snicker out of her. "That's it," Hans teased and caressed her cheek. "Smile, sweetheart. You're so beautiful when you smile."
Anna leaned into his touch and stared into his emerald gaze. She fought to see past any pain she'd felt and focused on the moment. She considered all which Hans' had told her, and chose to believe in him. For when no one else could show him kindness, at least she was willing to stand by him. To help him through his difficulties. Her heart raced as he pulled her closer. Before she knew it, the words were practically spewing out of her. They were rocketing beyond all doubt and frustration in the name of forbidden passion.
"Can I just...say something crazy?" Anna whispered.
"I love crazy," Hans assured while playing with her hair.
Anna bit her lip and ran her hands up his chest. She looked deeply into his eyes, as the very word he'd just used longed to flee her lips. "And I-" She thought about what it would mean, to truly confess her love amidst an unforgiving world. What it would mean for them and the rest of the Jedi Order. As the repercussions struck her in waves, Anna altered her statement. "-I think you missed a spot," she said instead and tousled his hair.
Hans raised a brow down to her. His grip tightened around her waist as he whispered, "Then you'd better help me get it." As he pulled her into a kiss, the two slowly backed up towards the shower. As if synchronized in a fit of passion, Anna and Hans flung their hands in opposite directions. Using the Force, he turned the shower back on while she locked the refresher door.
Steam shrouded the room as Anna's clothes fell atop Hans' discarded towel. The shower door shut as their silhouettes celebrated one another's company. In those moments, nothing else seemed to matter to Anna. She was simply lost in the present alongside Hans. As they delved into forbidden passions, Hans' communicator flickered from the refresher counter. Back on Coruscant, Celenia was still sending him affectionate messages.
Author's Note: Thanks so much for reading! My friends and dearest readers...brace yourselves. Because next week, it's finally time. You've ventured with me for eighty-eight chapters. Now, get ready for "The Frozen Force Season: 3 Finale!" It's all happening next Frozen Force Friday.
Long Live Imagination
~ Michael