After Baatar Jr released the Sandbender who'd panicked, Kuvira took off her gloves and her uniform, wearing a simple shirt underneath. From what she'd heard of Sandbenders, they weren't used to seeing someone uncover their arms in public, especially with women. Looking at their reaction, she saw that they'd been taken off guard. "Put your coverall back on," Tachibana commanded, demonstrating his ignorance at how it was called a uniform.
"No, I don't think I will, since this is my house and you are just a guest," Kuvira replied, to Suyin's annoyance, though she didn't say anything. "I guess you'll need to adapt to the world outside the desert. Something you've refused to do on your own. Well, the world changed a lot even before men from space came, so I decided to make it clear you don't have a choice."
"So, what exactly have you done?" Huan asked, as the Sandbenders glared at Kuvira.
"With Imperial help, Korra and I managed to round up most of the Si Wong tribes," Kuvira said. "It really wasn't that hard, with superior technology and how the combined Sandbender population amounts to about eighty-five hundred people. There are more ground troops assigned to a single Star Destroyer, in comparison."
"What have you done with them!?" screamed Tachibana.
"They've been taken to a place offworld where they will learn what is necessary to make it in the new world we're living in," Kuvira said. "You should be thanking me, really. Some would just wipe out the tribes outright, but we and the Empire aren't savages."
"You think my people will just accept your prison?!" Kanda yelled.
"It's a platform made of an unbendable alloy and plastic, surrounded by an endless ocean," Baatar Jr said. "The only way out is on a spaceship, which won't return them until they've been deemed purged of their anti-social, savage tendencies. In the meantime, they'll be getting enough food and water for their needs, while learning how to read and write, along with other skills that will serve them well in the new world."
"So, this is a favor to us?" one of the Sandbender girls spoke up, surprising her brother and father.
"Exactly," Kuvira said. "If you wish, I can call a transport now and you'll see your mother again in a week."
"That's not happening," Tachibana said.
"And I wasn't asking you," Kuvira said, not bothering to look at him. "You want to see your mother and big brother again, right?"
"Yes, I want to see them again," this girl said back. Kuvira had used the Force to nudge the tired young woman who missed her mother into agreeing. Her father tried to stop her but Kuvira Metalbent a restraint around him.
"You were just complaining about this being forced, but she agreed to it," Kuvira stopped him. As Baatar Jr led this girl, named Ashla, to the shuttle he'd summoned, Kuvira could see how these people were surprised by this. "I guess Ashla is tired of living in the desert by your antiquated traditions. She wouldn't be the only younger Sandbender who's rather enthusiastic about this change." Kuvira wasn't lying, as she'd felt Ashla's sense of dissatisfaction just like with other Sandbenders at their lot in life. They just needed some encouragement to act on it.
"We weren't threatening you!" the other Sandbender girl yelled. "You had no cause to do this. How do you expect to justify this to the world?"
"Interesting thing about Darth Vader, when he was nineteen, well before he was put in the armor, his mother was kidnapped by a tribe of desert-dwelling barbarians because their children needed a victim for torture class," Kuvira revealed, shocking even her family. "He judged the entire tribe to be guilty of her murder and killed them all. As this torture class is something every Tusken Tribe partakes in, you can be sure they'd all done something similar, with an animal or a person. One of the reasons he helped round up the Si Wong tribes was because he likes putting desert savages in their place. Similarly, the Si Wong tribes, regardless of their specific names, have made a habit of robbery and murder, in the desert and its outskirts. So no, it won't be hugely controversial. It's just a long-overdue measure of curbing lawlessness."
"Perhaps, but I'd have thought you'd have pursued an alternative first," Suyin spoke up, having remained quiet. She hadn't said anything, but her expression made it clear she was disapproving of this overall. Opal was a bit shocked to hear of Vader's massacre but given the tale of a 'torture class' that killed his mother, neither she or the others outright disapproved.
"I calculated this was the most likely to succeed," Kuvira answered calmly, before turning to Baatar Sr. "Besides, Dad, you always said the Sandbenders would never change, willingly."
"Are you sure they are being treated humanely?" her adoptive father asked, aware his brother was now extremely suspicious of him.
"I have a report sent here every two weeks, complete with visual and audio recordings," she assured them, before turning to Tachibana. "Why don't you tell me your wife and son's names, so I can inquire about them?"
"Tachi, you're not helping them by staying silent," Baatar Sr said, noticing his brother's hesitation. After a moment, Tachibana relented and revealed his wife was named Fa and his elder son Adham.
"Thank you for that," Kuvira said, before turning to her parents. "I can perform an inspection of this platform, if you wish. You are welcome to come along and see conditions for yourself."
"Well, I'm not sure what to think of this, Kuvira," Suyin said, processing what she'd heard. Opal and Bolin were fairly supportive of Kuvira, though she could tell they had their doubts, while Huan and Wei definitely disapproved. Wing was fairly hesitant but ultimately supported Kuvira and the Empire, remembering how he'd never have walked again without them.
"I'll take that offer," Baatar Sr said. "For now, I need to speak to your uncle." Kuvira noticed how that remark was directed as much at Tachibana as it was at her. If being part of her loving father's family included the Sand-Dwelling primitives, that was alright with her. Hopefully, they wouldn't be as treacherous as her own deadbeat family, who'd also abandoned her before the Beifong family took her in.
The Bender siblings, along with Bossk and Srinivasa, enjoyed the hospitality of the Mothma family. Leida was very eager to learn more about the Elemental homeworld, and it was nice to see such enthusiasm in the young woman around the same age as Ikki. Bossk had noticed that Vel had become rather withdrawn upon hearing that a robber at Aldhani had been captured. In addition, Senator Mothma herself had offered her sympathies to the misunderstanding which had killed their father.
"It's horrible a good man like that had to die because of the lies of a madman, and the recklessness of a stranger," the Senator said. "It's another in a long line of questionable or outright horrible things that Vader has done and suffered no consequences for. He's only accountable to the Emperor, who never punishes him, no matter what he does."
"Korra said as much when she returned," Kya said. "And how picking a fight with him was an act of war. Which has led every country on Elementia to issue a blanket pardon for him. She also said your main job was to be the voice of the citizenry to the Emperor and that you can't overrule him."
"It's more than that," Mothma explained. "Every sector of the Empire has a regional governor, or Moff as it's called, in command of all military units within that territory. They are nominated by Vader, Grand Moff Tarkin, or members of the Emperor's cabinet. Then, they are either elected by majority vote of the other Moffs or appointed by Palpatine himself. They answer to people in that command chain, not to the senate or the people who live there."
"And they are usually from that corner of space," Perrin added, annoyed with his wife. Vel interrupted and decided to ask about what they thought of T'Surr.
"It was windy, sandy, and the people were huge blue jerks with a pair of crab arms under their regular ones," Bumi said. "One of the things that we needed the help of Vader, as well as Kuvira and Baatar, was destroying those explosive implants stuck inside the skulls of my son and the other captives."
"That sounds about right, when I was a reservist in the Navy, I had to transport a bunch of T'Surr to prison, and they were as surly as they were ugly," Perrin added.
"Uh, who are Kuvira and Baatar?" asked Vel. Kya gave a brief explanation of who they were, and their family, at which point Senator Mothma realized who they were talking about.
"The young man with a braid, the young woman with a mole and prominent eyebrows, with an older lady wearing a similar outfit with a circlet close to them, all wearing green clothes with metallic accessories" Mon remarked. "I remember them from that parade I saw on Axxila. Her army wore chrome helmets modeled after Vader's."
"They call him the Father of Understanding, since he revealed the wider galaxy and the greater aspects of the Force to them," Bossk said.
"He also rescued them from some slave planet after they'd been abducted," Kya noted. "Suyin still loves her dad, but Vader saved three of her children from either being eaten by starved beasts, asphyxiated in the cold of space, or enslaved to the T'Landa T'Il's hypnotic song."
"I heard rumors that Korra destroyed Ylesia," Mothma said upon hearing of the T'Landa T'Il.
"Well, it's good to hear that you rescued your son, Commander Bumi, and that Avatar Korra managed to end the biggest nightmare in Hutt Space," added Vel. "So, what happened to T'Surr?"
"Well, we charged in, after the ships above were handled-""I didn't mean how you rescued the captives," Vel clarified. "I meant what happened to the planet."
"Uh, what do you mean?" a confused Kya asked.
"Well, I met someone at a bar on Randon," she claimed. "He'd taken a shortcut through the T'Surr system and said-"she was interrupted by the sound of the door opening. Two men, wearing what looked like police uniforms, complete with badges, came in, looked at the table, and began moving toward Srinivasa. Kya stood up in front of the Togruta boy and stared at the police.
"Can I help you?" she asked with an edge to her voice.
"Step aside, lady," the older one commanded. "You're in the way."
"Um, in the way of what?" Leida spoke up.
"Stay out of this, little girl," the younger one stated.
"My daughter raises a good point," the senator stood up. "You came into our home and you aren't even explaining why."
"We did so at the gate," the older one said. "We're agents of the Travel and Immigration Bureau. We received a tip that an illegal traveler was here, a Togruta about twelve or thirteen. We're here to take him to an Unknown People Containment Center."
"You're not hurting him!" Kya yelled, getting ready to Waterbend.
"We've been polite until now," the younger one stated smugly. "Back off before I kick your teeth in." Bumi charged up with his Airbending and grabbed the older one's blaster, holding it against his neck.
"You've made a huge mistake," the older one claimed as Bossk restrained the younger one before he could draw his blaster. "You clearly have no idea who you're dealing with."
"An immigration thug, I'm sorry, 'officer' who thinks he's tougher than he is?" Leida rhetorically asked, standing closer to Srinivasa in solidarity, noticing he was getting rather scared. "Do you know who these two are?"
"Vader's pets from a pre-spaceflight world who don't understand the wider galaxy," a new voice entered the room. Looking to the source, Kya saw a dark-skinned woman in a white dress with a grey robe, complete with a hood on her head. She also had a large wooden amulet around her neck.
"Senator Pamlo, I didn't know you were coming," Perrin said.
"I felt it necessary," Pamlo replied. "After all, these are the people trying to destroy my world." The Bender siblings were a little confused, but Bossk realized who this woman was.
"As the Senator of Chandrila, I'm extending an invitation to Srinivasa Pashla, which puts him out of the reach of the Immigration Bureau," Mothma said, before turning to her daughter. "Why don't you show him around your room and play Dejarik with him?"
"My pleasure," Leida said, as her mother had actually advocated something she agreed with. Perrin volunteered to help teach Srinivasa how to play, and both he and his daughter glared at Pamlo as they left. Vel hadn't said anything but she didn't seem pleased by with the Senator either. Bossk restrained the two Immigration agents and held them at blasterpoint upon Bumi's command. The Airbender and his sister had seen their type before: swaggering brutes who would always choose violence when their authority was challenged, even if their adversary was too much for them to handle.
"You must be the Senator from Taris," the Trandoshan concluded.
"I suppose a slave-trading, pelt-collecting Trandoshan couldn't be expected to know my name," the woman said before turning to Bumi and Kya. "But yes, I am Tynnra Pamlo, the Senator of Taris and the surrounding sector. A world whose future you are threatening."
"So, you two are just here because some politician bribed you to harass us," Kya stated to the Immigration agents.
"An illegal traveler is an illegal traveler, if someone tipped us off about one for ulterior motives, that's not our problem," the older one claimed indignantly. "And when we get out of here, you'll be in-"Kya heard enough and Waterbent some ice around his and the other agent's mouths.
"I didn't bribe them, as numerous accountants will be able to confirm," Pamlo stated, in that calm, smug manner that Kya and Bumi had seen of too many politicians. "I just informed them that someone without travel documents, perhaps a plague carrier, was here and gave them his general description."
"The quarantine team gave us a clean bill of health, and the doctors all agreed there was no such thing as an asymptomatic carrier of the Rakghoul plague" Bumi said.
"You shouldn't talk of things you don't understand," Pamlo replied. "After all, you've only just joined the wider community, I hear. Maybe you are mistaken about what caused that tragedy on the Acheron, as well."
"I understand when someone is trying to blackmail or extort you," Kya stated.
"I don't like such measures, but my world is endangered," Pamlo claimed.
"It's been in danger for thousands of years, given all the Rakghouls that live there," Bumi noted.
"The Rakghouls have been driven from the main settlement area, and we are looking into possibilities for handling their population," claimed Pamlo. "But now, you are here to tell the Empire what they want to hear, enabling them to pass legislation which will strangle the reclamation. At best, we will be forced to stop, only having reclaimed about ten percent of the world's surface. At worst, the colony will break down and cease functioning within two years."
"Maybe you should have done more to contain these abominations, and this wouldn't have happened," Kya noted. "Or better yet, not waste money and people on a vanity project. After all, the things that made Taris important ended over a century before it was bombed to rubble. And if it's remained in ruins since then, perhaps it's because most people saw reconstruction wasn't worth it."
"Nothing worth doing is easy, and we've come too far to quit," Pamlo stated, proving Baatar's claim that Tarisians like her would keep throwing more resources away rather than cut their losses. "Besides, there is no evidence that this unfortunate incident was caused by anything Taris did."
"The Acheron might have been crushed and incinerated in a gas giant," Bumi noted. "But we brought a Rakghoul with us to the base where we were quarantined, before it was euthanized. Taris is the only known planet with Rakghouls on it. Taris would be abandoned if not for your reclamation project. And Bossk documented an escape pod from a Taris-registered ship onboard the Acheron. Now, you are threatening one of the witnesses, and according to someone else, are stalling the inspection of that same ship, the Rebirth. I don't know all the laws here, but witness-tampering is a crime on my world, and I don't see why it'd be different here."
"When your world's survival is threatened, it's a parking ticket," Pamlo said, before looking at the restrained Immigration agents. "The second you or that boy leave, you'll be arrested for assaulting these fine officers, and he will disappear into the bureaucracy of the immigration network. But I have a way to end it all right here." Before she could continue, the elevator chimed and it soon opened. Marching in were several red-robed figures with crimson helmets, holding staffs of some sort. Everyone, even Bossk, looked a bit intimidated by the sight. The guards stepped out of the way, revealing Colonel Yularen, and a blue-skinned horned being with a staff. The blue-skinned man also had massive earlobes, from which horns extended over his chest.
"Commander Bumi, I see you've enjoyed the Senator's hospitality," the blue-skinned being said. "I am Mas Amedda, Speaker of the Senate. You are already familiar with Colonel Yularen." Amedda then turned his gaze to Pamlo. "I wasn't expecting you here, Senator," he said. "I would think you'd be attempting to find an explanation for the Acheron incident. But it looks more like you are harassing several witnesses. Is that correct, Dr. Kya?"
"Yes," the Waterbender confirmed, at which point Amedda commanded Yularen to take Pamlo into custody. It looked like Mothma wanted to offer the other senator sanctuary but thought better of it. Not even Vel seemed to be upset by Pamlo's arrest.
"Is there something we can do for you, Speaker?" Mothma asked as Yularen handed Pamlo over to the Red Guards.
"Your motion in the senate regarding disclosure of the Maridun incident will occur tomorrow, and I believe the Emperor will support it," Amedda said. "But I also wanted to meet your guests, here." As the blue skinned man turned to Kya, she asked what his species was called. "Chagrian," Amedda revealed. "You are both representatives of governments on Elementia, are you not?"
"Yes, my wife is the ruler of the Fire Nation," Bumi revealed.
"Well, don't you think it'll be in your interest to meet the Emperor?" he asked.
"I didn't know he was available," Kya said.
"He is, and he thought it prudent to meet government officials of Colonel Korra's homeworld," Amedda revealed, before turning to Bossk. "You are welcome as well."
"Thank you, but I think its best if I safeguard Srinivasa," the Trandoshan said. "I'm sure this little boy has nothing to speak of with the Emperor." Yularen, who'd just walked back in, concurred, and turned to the immigration agents.
"It is the Emperor's command that this matter be dropped," he stated. "The boy Srinivasa Pashla will leave here with us, and you will return to headquarters to account for your behavior. Bossk, if they come after you or the boy later, you're authorized to kill them." After Bossk uncuffed them, and Kya defrosted the ice over their mouths, they looked fearfully at the ISB officer and affirmed his command before leaving. Bumi thanked the Speaker and the others for their help, though the Red Guards remained silent. After Srinivasa rejoined them, Bumi and the others thanked the Mothma family for their hospitality before leaving. When they got out of the building, Bossk and Srinivasa got in the speeder which took them back to the apartment they were staying at. Bumi and Kya got in a limo with the Imperials which flew them toward a magnificent building with five spires coming out of it, and huge flags draped over the sides. Both siblings were in awe of the Imperial Palace as they headed to meet the Emperor.
Mako led the team inspecting the grounds of the Sato estate after the attack. Thankfully, KayBee had proven up to the task of defending his children, to Mako's relief. Asami was with Korra now, reassuring her, before continuing on the space science project. Lin was relieved that none of the officers were killed, and promised to investigate who had done this. "I recommend we install grade-two sensors with automated turrets on the perimeter," KayBee said. "Nothing, man or beast, will get past without being disintegrated." After noticing Lin's disapproving look, and Mako gesturing he agreed with her, the droid spoke up. "But I suppose that would be inappropriate under the circumstances."
"What about something that detects when someone passes a certain line?" asked Mako.
"That's possible," the droid confirmed. "Though, many alerts would be animals. A better alternative would be an alarm system detecting when a door is opened after a security code is input."
"Why don't you look into that?" Lin suggested. "And some tracking device which lets us know if Hiroshi is running away."
"That can be arranged," KayBee confirmed. After Korra and Asami returned that night, the Avatar eagerly held her children as Mako kissed his wife. Asami joined in the hug as well, while Hiroshi looked on as he headed to the guest house. Kaybee started his patrol, afterward, while Korra and Mako took their children to bed.
"Asami needs you," Korra reminded him. "And I want our next child born before the end of the year." After a moment, Mako agreed and kissed his wife, assuring her that he'd be back before long. Joining Asami in the shower, Mako kissed her on the neck.
"I still want my children to be Firebenders," the rich young engineer confirmed. "Can you give me some?"
"I'm looking forward to it," Mako smiled to his girlfriend. As they got out of the shower, he picked her up by the heels, to which she playfully squealed as Mako carried her to the bed. Laying the gorgeous woman down, Mako took in her nudity, appreciating how muscular she'd gotten. He loved muscular women, and this completed Asami's beauty. She pulled him on top of her, kissing him lovingly as he pinched her large breasts. Moaning in pleasure, Asami massaged his manhood as he positioned himself in front of her hairless entrance. After a moment, Mako plunged inside her, kissing her as she moaned. Asami rolled over on top of him, riding him enthusiastically. Soon, her walls slammed shut, and he felt pressure building inside. Without hesitation, Mako exploded within her, as she cried joyously.
"Glad to see you performing," Korra smiled as she walked in after they finished. As Mako got dressed, he kissed Korra while Asami kissed her neck. Mako felt the need to get some cold night air, so he left his ladies as Korra took off her own clothes. Mako picked up his son, Harou, as he walked outside in the evening. Holding his son's baby bottle, he fed the blue-eyed child tenderly.
"I remember doing that with Asami," a voice called out. Mako saw Hiroshi walking the grounds close by. "Don't worry, I'm not sure I could get over the walls, over there. And I definitely can't handle that robot of yours."
"Droid," Mako corrected. "A robot is a machine with simple programs dedicated to a single task, akin to a calculator or ship register. A droid has a full-blown personality and intellect."
"Ah, I see, well KayBee is certainly a droid," Hiroshi said. "I'm relieved that this burglary failed, unlike the one where I lost Yasuko. Asami herself was thankful, I think losing those children would have been as unbearable for her as they would be for you and Korra."
"Yes," Mako agreed, wondering what Hiroshi wanted.
"You and Korra have been together for over year straight, at this point," Hiroshi said. "Kids and everything, it's nice to see. What's not nice to see is you throwing it away."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Mako demanded.
"I'm not blind, I see how Asami looks at you," Hiroshi said. "You seem to be encouraging her."
"If Asami has forgiven you, you can talk to her about this," Mako stated.
"I tried, but she's defying me," Hiroshi revealed. "Maybe she's doing it to spite me, maybe she doesn't care about my complaints. Maybe she feels the need to do something wrong. But you Mako, you should know better. You have to know this affair will come into the open. You think Korra will stand by you after this? You think Asami will come out of this clean? You think you'll keep your children or your job?"
"I think you don't know what you're talking about, and that the world has been changing, recently," Mako stated.
"Maybe polygamy is legal on some world far away, but not here," Hiroshi brought up. "No woman likes being second fiddle."
"You give Asami too little credit," Mako said. "Korra will love her children as much as Harou and Saria. Good night, Sato, KayBee, take him back to the guest house." As Mako went back in, he tucked his children in bed as they snoozed quietly. Going into the master bedroom, he saw both Korra and Asami naked under the covers, rather tired out. The Avatar moved out of the way as Mako climbed in between the two women. Mako wrapped his arms around both ladies he loved, Korra kissing his right cheek while Asami kissed his left before the three fell to sleep.
After looking over several leads, Boba Fett had decided to go to Nar Shaddaa in order to search for Bane. Emerging from hyperspace, the Mandalorian could see a massive gap in the moon's lighting. When he accompanied the Benders and Vader here a couple weeks ago, they failed to find Bumi's daughter but in the process sent an old Separatist battleship crashing into the surface, all but obliterating the Devaronian sector and heavily damaging the surrounding area. Thankfully, he hadn't gone in his own ship, and anyone who might have seen him was likely dead, so he wouldn't receive trouble for it. Landing in the Corellian sector, Fett walked toward a spacers bar to find someone he'd heard had done business with Bane recently. Upon entering, Fett saw his quarry.
Han Solo was something of an enigma. On one hand, he'd definitely enlisted in the Empire at some point, but it was unlikely he was related to the Solo family which had been mythologized on Corellia. In fact, there was little in the way of records when it came to him. He was probably a street kid who went to a recruiting office which didn't investigate him as they were behind on their quota. He did well in pilot's class, but he either broke the rules or angered the wrong person, as he was sent to a penal legion on Mimban.
At some point on that muddy mining world, an officer tried to execute Solo for spurious reasons. Later, that officer turned out to have fallen for an obvious imposter's lies to justify murdering the disgruntled soldier. So while Han had deserted, it had been to save him, and he was granted the request to leave the service as a result. Since then, Han Solo had made something of a name for himself as a pirate and smuggler. He loved boasting how his battered, increasingly unreliable ship had managed the Kessel run in less than twelve parsecs when most smugglers made no more than twenty. Most people doubted he had flown through the most dangerous part of the Akkadeze Maelstrom between two black holes, which is what he'd have to had done in order to accomplish that but Boba had seen that Solo was the type to exaggerate as opposed to lie, and figured there was something to it. The only permanent accomplice Solo had was a Wookiee without the requisite work permit given to the furry beings who'd earned the right to travel beyond their homeworld unsupervised.
"No trouble in here, remember," the bartender told Fett as he stared at Solo.
"Just have some questions," Boba answered, approaching Solo as the Wookiee stood up and glared at the Mandalorian's Braided Wookiee Pelts. Han turned to face Boba at that moment.
"I've seen you at Jabba's Palace but I don't think you and I have met," Han said. "I know you're Boba Fett, what with the armor and such."
"You've done work for Cad Bane, what do you know?" Fett stated.
"He's a bit before my time, isn't he retired?" Solo continued, sounding charming while his right hand drifted below the table. "Now, Lando Calrissian is someone you should watch out for. I think he's into droids a lot more than most people, even Separatists. Hell, when I won the Falcon from him, he wanted-""Stop trying to fast-talk your way out," Boba cut him off, tapping his blaster pistol. "And keep your hands in sight. I'm not some punk who forgot about the blaster on your hip." With that, Han raised his right hand onto the table, and looked like he was trying to find something to say. Eventually he sighed and stood up.
"Look, I don't have to tell you anything, and I think it's time I left," Solo said, at which point Fett used his whipcord to yank Han off his feet before stepping on the smuggler's right hand, aiming his blaster at Solo.
"You don't get to leave without my permission," Boba reminded him. At that moment, the Wookiee roared and charged at Fett, but Boba was ready. Having practiced his Metalbending recently, he'd been informed that Wookiees had an extremely high amount of iron in their blood and threw out his right palm in a Bending motion.
"Chewie?" Solo asked worried when he saw his partner be frozen in place. "Chewie!" Chewie had fallen to his knees with a whimper of pain, as Fett had Metalbent him in place before he could tear out the Mandalorian's arms. "What'd you do?!" he screamed in anger.
"Something you can't counter," Fett stated. "What do you know about Bane?"
"He came to Jabba, offered a bunch of precious metals in exchange for weapons this client wanted," Han revealed. "I delivered them to a Lucrehulk scrubbed of Separatist colors, and the client handed the metals off there before flying out. He was a cult leader selling that Force nonsense, claiming he would remake the world with that magical bunk the whole galaxy's moved on from."
"Who was it?" Boba demanded. Looking at the Corellian in front of him, Boba could see Solo would have been around ten when Order 66 came down. He'd probably never met a Jedi, and concluded that the stories about them, and by extension all Force Sensitives, were disproven by the relative ease of their defeat. No doubt he thought Boba was using some new technological terror as opposed to a different type of magic.
"Middle-aged, tan skin, blue eyes, a braid on one side of his head, a bare spot where the one on the other side would be, blue and white robes," Han revealed. "He was charming but when it was clear I wasn't interested in what he was selling, he turned to polite disdain."
"What was his name?" Fett demanded. He heard the bartender and several others trying to sneak up and fired a wrist rocket into them, blowing up two at which point he shot the other three. Chewie briefly broke free but Boba regained control of the Wookiee's blood quickly. The Wookiee then growled out something which Han understood.
"One of his followers called him 'Shaman Unalaq'," Solo revealed, at which point Boba stepped off him and after walking back, released his grip on Chewie, probably called Chewbacca based on what he knew of Wookiee customs.
"Now was that so hard?" the Mandalorian asked. As Solo and Chewbacca got back up, Fett walked back to his ship, as he now had something important to tell his allies. Bane wouldn't bargain his way for immunity, this time. Boba would make sure of that.
Kuvira isn't the only person who believes the Sandbenders need to be civilized. Just like with the Swampbenders, the Sandbenders aren't as united in despising these measures as some would think. I decided to go for a high estimate for the total population of the various tribes. And yes, Shmi Skywalker was tortured to death as part of a coming-of-age ritual. The Beifong family isn't sure what to think, given their feelings about Sandbenders.
The Immigration agents of every Law & Order show act like the ones in this chapter, so I figured I'd include them. Senator Pamlo is one of the devotees to the cult that wants to revive Taris, even though there is no practical benefit. She uses outright denial and subterfuge in service of it and sees Rebellion against the Empire as a means of guaranteeing it. Since the Moff structure wasn't really elaborated on, I gave my interpretation of it. The Imperials now have an excuse to revoke Pamlo's immunity and rifle through her stuff to support their Anti-Taris agenda. I figured that, since I haven't show Darth Sidious in a while, I'd have him show up next chapter.
Mako was unimpressed with Hiroshi's attempts to persuade him, given how Sato had previously tricked him. I figured it was time for another Makorrasami moment. Don't worry, Asami will be getting the child(ren?) she wants. I decided to combine a bit of Legends and Canon with Han Solo's background, as well as why the recruiting station gave him that name. I also gave a reason for why Han can just keep appearing in public for over a decade after deserting, so I gave a reason for why he's not a fugitive.
Han isn't as good at talking his way out of trouble as he thinks. In fact, the only time he succeeds is when he convinces Jabba to extend his deadline for repayment. Also, Boba knows to be wary of an armed individual. I decided to come up with a reason for why Han says 'the Force isn't real' in ANH. BTW, I was always going to have Unalaq show up.