Eadu
"So what is this place supposed to be." A voice asked, as they dropped out of hyperspace. Mayday didn't need to look around, it was Tycho. He queried and pushed everything Mayday did but he was needed him on this. He'd buckled down in training and had dropped a few pounds, built more muscle but he was still a thorn in his side, at times.
Stop second guessing yourself.
"Cyber security. Once up and running, it'll be spying on the whole sector and beyond." Zack replied.
Mayday let them continue.
"So we need to prevent that. Why?"
"They want to know everything, all our thoughts, our feelings. And we need places we can hide. This will make it more difficult."
"We shouldn't be hiding. We should be fighting."
Mayday couldn't argue with that; he preferred direct action but understood the need for this.
"We shouldn't but if we get caught, no where to retreat and regroup or plan, what happens then? Think of it as a pre-emptive strike." He butted in.
There were murmurs of approval.
Sometimes he had to convince these men; it was a long way from the GAR. His brothers had started out being totally obedient but that changed. He was going the other way with these men.
Tycho watched him.
.
Mayday stood in the cockpit, Lin was bringing them in on a low dangerous trajectory; his hand rested on her shoulder. A smile crossed her face disturbing the intense concentration for a few seconds. This world was dark, strong winds buffeted them and lightning lit up the sky. Mayday knew it was daytime but the planet's cloud cover was so thick that it appeared to be night.
He trusted her to get them through; she was a good pilot, a little foolhardy at times but maybe that was just part of being a pilot.
Eadu was remote, rugged, a mountainous planet in the Outer Rim, within Hutt Space, on the edge of the known galaxy. Mayday could see why it had been chosen. No one, in their right mind would voluntarily visit here.
"Does anyone actually live on this planet?" Dash asked.
"Not in the area we're going to. It should only be Imperial droids overseeing the building work."
"There are some village clusters, in the southern hemisphere, where the Nerf Herders live." Zak explained.
"Oh great. Hope we can't kriffing smell them from here."
Mayday smiled, on reflection they weren't a bad bunch. Reminded him of his old squad, when they were bedding in.
"You okay?" Lin asked.
"Yes—why?"
"You're smiling. It doesn't happen very often."
"Don't usually have much to smile about but these lads are finally coming together."
"Okey dokey. We're coming into land. Hang on! And that includes you Mayday."
He sat and pulled his seat belt tight. It still felt different to landing in a LAATi, which he had trained all his life for and which provided a comforting noise when coming in for an extraction.
He still needed to get used to this war.
The swirling winds on this planet buffeted them even more as Lin brought them in, finally dropping the craft into a steep sided canyon, well away from the building area. It took several attempts but she brought the craft into land safely.
Rain continued to beat down on it.
"You've got twelve hours. That's when I leave. There should be a break in the storm then. After that it gets worse and we'd be stuck here."
"And we don't want that. We might have to bunk with the nerf herders."
A few sniggers appreciated that.
.
On the ground, there was little or no cover from the elements with jagged rock formations, broad mesas, black stone ridges, and narrow spires; the first hour, they waded through a rushing streambed at the bottom of a rocky canyon. The planet's continuous downpour of rain smelt of fertile soil but with an underlying acrid odour. They kept their masks on otherwise risked losing their voices or worse be unable to breathe.
Zak pulled out his datapad and wiped his mask.
"Have you located the building site?" Asked Mayday.
"Yes. That direction." He pointed towards the mountainous area.
"Great it just had to be up there."
"How far?"
"Eight clicks."
"All uphill?"
"All uphill." He confirmed.
.
They reached the ridge still several klicks from the building site; Mayday dropped to his stomach on the ridge and checked out the partially built target through his binocs.
"Hmm. They've gotten further along than anticipated, it's larger."
The landing platform was almost complete, jutting out from the side of the mountain.
"Is the plan still the same?"
"Yes. Get inside. Plant the ordnance. Get out. Blow it up. In that order."
"That's a big climb."
"Only way in from the Intel provided."
"What about those?" Tycho pointed.
"Where?"
"About two thirds of the way up."
"Caves?"
"Tunnels."
"They wouldn't make it that easy, would they?"
Mayday didn't like tunnels but the climb would leave them exposed and now more so because the landing platform had a large overhang. They had to negotiate that.
"We climb to the caves, tunnels or whatever they are, recce and decide. Adapt. That's what we do. Let's go."
They slithered down the incline towards their objective.
.
The rain lashed at them like thousands of tiny pinpricks and they were only halfway to the caves or tunnels, whatever they were.
"Boss!" Zak's voice came over his com.
"Yes. What now?"
"I think they are tunnels. There's a few more. They weren't visible before. It makes sense. If they're building inside a mountain, surely they'll use tunnels as somewhere to get rid of waste or provide air."
"You're right. Makes sense. Let's hope they thought it did too." He searched for another handhold, found one and pulled himself up.
Zak kept pace with him until they reached the entrance, dragging themselves into it, giving them some respite from the driving rain. A few minutes later the whole team was there, the cave felt tropical compared to the mountainside.
They gave themselves a few minutes rest then explored the entrance.
"Looks like I was right." Tycho gloated, as it became apparent this was part of the excavations and led inward.
"Be careful! Essential com talk only. Let's go. Scan everything Zak!"
"Yes boss."
They picked their way carefully along, until it opened up into a huge cavern; numerous builder droids hovered and moved materials. Sparks flew from welding durosteel. What looked like gantries and walkways being built around a central core, with corridors off. He signalled to stop.
"Does any of this match the intel we were sent?" He asked Zak.
"Give me a sec."
"A little. This looks to be the main fuel processing area or would be."
They walked slowly avoiding the droids; they didn't appear to have any speech or alarms.
Zak scanned and pointed to a durocrete post, whilst ducking away from a droid welding a gantry, "There. That's load bearing, as are the other seven."
Dash attached the det and readied the timer; the others did the same.
"What's down there?" Tycho pointed to an excavated room with crates.
"Building supplies?"
"Hmm." He muttered and wandered in. It was full of crates; the signs indicated fuel. He dipped down to attach a couple of spare dets to them, "Every little helps." Turning he faced a blaster held by a Security droid, "Dank ferrik!" He said to the barrel.
"You are not authorised to be here. Raise your hands."
He considered reaching for his blaster but he wasn't that quick; he slowly raised his hands.
The Security droid twitched and then multicoloured sparks flew from its neck; it shuddered.
"Move unless you want to be a nasty stain on the floor!"
Mayday's voice pushed him into jumping to one side. The droid whined, tilted to one side and finally collapsed, just missing him.
"Didn't think there were any Security guards."
"Intel isn't always right. Maybe there wasn't when they first got it but the building work has progressed. What were you doing here?"
"Setting dets. Had a few spare."
"All done?"
"Yes."
"Good, lets get out of here.
.
Mayday watched the builder droids, as they went about their work oblivious; Security had not sounded an alarm that he knew but he wasn't waiting to find out.
"All done?", The affirmatives came back fast, "Okay, this is where we run."
He heard some snorts, in reply.
"Last one to the ridge buys a round." Someone commented. Mayday didn't care they had to get out.
.
He overtook the last of his men ten metres before the ridge edge, rolling over to lie prone. He reached out to pull the last man over, Tycho hesitated at his outstretched hand, Mayday extended it, finally Tycho grasped it and Mayday pulled him over.
"Thanks Boss!"
"Anytime!"
"Drinks all round then." Zak reminded him, just as the dets exploded.
Mayday watched the flames reach up into the sky, followed by an implosion.
"Take cover!" He shouted, they flattened themselves to the ground, as the pressure from the explosion hit them, followed by debris raining down.
It was larger than he expected.
"Shit!" Said Tycho.
.
Donca studied the images, "You're right it doesn't look like it was set up for cyber security, more like an experimental facility for weapons or new fighters."
"It isn't now. Just rubble. Not sure exactly what they were storing there but it lit up the sky like a Venator had gone up."
"Good job."
Donca sent the images to Fulcrum, perhaps they could make sense of it.
.
Imperial Centre
Grand Moff Tarkin was unhappy. This was a setback they could do without. He stared stonily at the Commander standing in front of him.
"Totally destroyed?"
"The Infrastructure, yes. It was a small team. And with the fuel that was already stored there, their explosives had an even greater effect."
More haste less speed. Was a saying his mother was fond of, the Emperor was not.
"Should we look for somewhere else to rebuild?" The Commander added quickly.
Tarkin took a deep breath, "Find out where the leak came from first, I want to know who and how, then seal it. Permanently."
"Yes sir."
The Commander watched Tarkin, as his eyes narrowed. He had worked with him long enough to know he was considering all options, luckily Lord Vader wasn't involved in this. He tentatively adjusted his collar. Tarkin saw him. He smiled a little, he knew what the Commander was thinking but Vader was currently on a specific assignment for the Emperor and that was where Tarkin preferred him to be. Out of his way.
"Once that's done, rebuild there."
"Rebuild there, sir?" The Commander had let his incredulity seep through.
"Yes. We can use this to our advantage. If they think it's destroyed, they won't be looking there again."
"Of course sir."
"And eliminate the Nerf Herders and their villages."
"Yes sir." He turned to leave.
"This goes no further."
"Of course, Sir."
"Dismiss!"
.
'First Light'
Hela went through her practice exercises; it had been too long since she sang in front of an audience but Vos demanded it and she had learned what Vos wanted he got. One way or another.
He sat facing her, eyes closed, listening to her practice; anyone else would be bored. It was boring and she always liked to finish with some song, that relaxed her.
She finished with the scales.
The datapad beeped; she was finally pitch perfect.
Vos opened his eyes, "You're ready aren't you?"
"I am."
"Will you give me a taste, just a hint. The lovers' death scene."
He stood up and walked towards her. Standing in front of her he tilted up her chin. She held his gaze; his eyes roamed over her face. She tensed, thinking he was going to kiss her as his eyes rested on her lips; she braced herself.
"No. You're not ready but one day you will be. On that day you will come to me, willingly."
He brushed her chin with a finger, "Now just a snippet."
Breathing regularly, she closed her eyes and sang through the first four stanzas.
When she opened her eyes, he was smiling.
"Thank you. You need to get ready. The Crimson one with the shimmersilk over dress."
It was on the tip of her tongue to say they were all crimson. But instead she smiled, "Of course Dryden."
He looked at her, smiling.
He was too near, she had seen what happened if you got too near when he lost his temper. There was something about his thumb.
She learned, if she did as she was told, she would survive.
.
Hela watched the mirror, as N'ina dressed her hair, the reflection betrayed nothing of how she felt, or so she thought.
"Are you thinking about your friend? The one that died?" Asked N'ina.
She had let slip that Zur died as she was brought here. They talked about what he did. Some of what he did. She was thinking of all of it.
"Why do you ask?"
"You have a certain look when you do. Vos will see it. He watches you. You need to smile more."
"When I lived on Coruscant, Zur did my hair." in her mind's eye he was carefully styling her hair, having no idea of his true identity at that time. "He did everything for me." She pictured him, hanging up her costumes, grumbling at the mess. Saving her, from herself. "He was the best friend anyone could have. And I don't think I ever told him enough."
She sniffled and bit it back.
"And this reminds you of him?'
"Always."
"I'm sorry."
"Not your fault."
"You need to keep anything like this from Vod." N'ina warned her.
"I know."
"Stop looking at the Falleen dagger too. He'll notice that."
Hela nodded, "You notice a lot of things."
"I was taught to keep my eyes and ears open and my mouth closed."
"Who taught you?"
N'ina shook her head.
"So why are you talking to me?" Hela tried again.
"I like you." N'ina paused, "I've heard he's reporting in tonight."
"Reporting in?"
"He has a Master too."
"A Master?" Hela's interest was piqued.
"Someone he's frightened of. But it doesn't help to get between them, or embarrass Vos in front of him." N'ina continued.
"How do you know all this?"
"We watch and listen. They don't."
"We?"
"The slaves."
"Ah….Who is this master?"
"Lord Maul."
"Maul? What does he look like?" Hela remembered the name from years ago. She wondered— but it couldn't be, he was dead. Twice.
"He has horns and his skin is red and black." N'ina smiled, "Vos is definitely frightened of him. Everything has to be right, when he speaks to him. We aren't supposed to watch."
"But you do?"
N'ina nodded, grinning. She looked so young; Hela sometimes forgot how young she was. Hela tried so hard, not to get drawn in and get attached, she knew it would not end well and could be used against her but she couldn't help but like the girl and her little brother.
"There. Finished." declared N'ina.
It looked good. Hela pulled the sleeves of her dress down; they almost covered her hands and definitely covered the brand, showing she now belonged to Crimson Dawn, not just Vos.
The door shushed open, one of the Security guards filled the doorway. "You're supposed to be with him now." He growled.
"Ah. Lieutenant Ra! As pleasant as ever."
"Now. You walk or I carry you and it's Chief Gremm."
She knew who it was, she saw the tiny pin denoting his rank. It was nearly always him and he never announced himself.
"Okay. I'm ready."
She followed him, a smile plastered on her face.
.
N'ina was right, the droids and decraniated were bustling, to ensure everything was perfect.
Gremm pushed her hard in the back propelling her towards Vos's office.
"Ah my dear. I have a little business to complete first but then you will sing tonight. You sound as good as when you were with the Galaxies Opera House, I am just disappointed that the acoustics won't do you justice."
"I'm sure it will be fine."
She stood a few meters away from him, waiting.
The screen slowly produced an image; it was grainy but you could see who it was.
Maul — he looked just the same as Anakin described him to her, after Qui Gon had been killed. It felt like a lifetime ago but he still had that look about him.
Evil.
Dangerous.
"You wanted to show me something, Vos?"
"Yes, my lord."
He gestured to Hela. The Zabrak leaned forward, as she walked into his view.
She stood as he looked her over, feeling like a piece of meat on a market stall.
"Is it truly her? One of Sidious protégés?"
"Yes my Lord."
Hela watched, she had never seen Vos like this, subservient, frightened almost.
"But not one of the Force Users."
"No. But still she is mine — branded too."
There was a look of satisfaction on his face.
"Of course my Lord." Vos pulled up her sleeve to show the mark and then turned her around for the one on her neck. He pulled her back to face Maul.
"You have done well."
She felt his eyes on her, the gold of the Sith.
"Leave us!"
She turned to go.
"Not you, Vos."
She looked at Vos, he nodded and walked silently from the room.
"You know me?" Maul asked.
"Yes."
"And you want to know why I wanted you."
"I—"
"It doesn't really matter but I'll tell you." He leaned back in his large chair reminiscent of the throne the Emperor used, "Sidious, or Palpatine or The Emperor as he now calls himself took everything from me. My family, my brothers, my home. My whole being." He spat out the last part, "Then he discarded me like a piece of trash just as he almost did you but here I am."
He watched for her reaction and smiled as if he had seen one.
"He's still looking for you, you know. Your little ruse on Naboo didn't work but he has other things on his mind. And now I have you. What he once had, I have. What he wants, I want."
"Me?"
"Not just you. I also control the Outer Rim worlds. The criminal gangs. My own Empire and its growing. He will never control them. He may think he does, but he won't."
He stared into the distance, as Vos walked back in.
"Now this meeting." Maul continued business like.
Vos turned to her; she knew that look. She was dismissed. She walked away back into the main reception area, adjusting her dress as she walked.
.
Vos personally greeted the specially invited guests, smiling, as if he were a true Imperial businessman; the Imperials, in their uniforms were plied with drinks and food by the decraniated. Every type of food or drink you could think of. Specialities from around the galaxy.
Heia watched them, then she smelt it, Spice for those that needed it. She stood silently. Smiling benignly. She saw some pointing at her, others watching but their faces showed the recognition.
In her peripheral vision, she saw someone stand next to her; a hint of perfume wafted over. She recognised it as one the Twi'lek dancers frequently used. She glanced to the side.
"Don't look at me!" The Twi'lek hissed, "Just listen."
Hela kept moving her head. Surveying the room.
"I'm Aola. N'ina's mother."
"I thought—"
"I told her not to say anything. I'll come to see you tonight, be ready."
Then she was gone.
.
Hela sat next to Vos; he wasn't happy. Several of his guests had chatted during her performance.
"It happens." She said, trying to calm him, "High Republic Opera isn't for everyone."
The red marks on his face stood out stark against his pale skin, "Even some of the Hutts can appreciate it. They have an Opera House on Nar Shaddaa." He stared at one of the offending Imperials, they were laughing, he rose suddenly and strode towards him. Hela wasn't sure exactly what happened, it was all so fast. What she saw was Vos's hand strike the man's face then there was blood everywhere and he dropped to the floor.
She stood up to try and see through the commotion, as the Imperial was hurried away.
Vos sat back down, the red striations on his face barely visible, "Now my dear. Let's enjoy the dancing."
Hela stared at the Twi'lek dancer who had stood next to her; she was centre stage.
.
Hela waited, different thoughts flitting through her mind, as to why the dancer wanted to see her.
The door shushed open and she slipped in.
The two women stood watching each other for a few seconds.
"Sit!" Said Hela, "Something tells me I'll need to sit by the look on your face."
"I think you're a good person, from what N'ina tells me. You don't hit her." Aola sat next to her.
"Why would I hit her?" Asked Hela incredulously.
"Because you can. Because she's a child. She's only fourteen."
Hela shook her head; she still couldn't understand that.
"I have to ask you a favour."
Hela huffed, "Am I in any position to grant favours?"
"Better than some."
Hela shrugged.
"I need you to look after them, if anything happens to me."
"I don't—"
"You're the only one here who I trust."
"You don't know me."
"You don't hit her. You treat her as a friend."
Hela opened her mouth to say something.
"You're my only hope."
"I'll do what I can."
"That's all I ask."
"How did you get to me?"
"One of the guards likes me; for a favour, he does me one."
Hela didn't ask what the favour was, as the Twi'lek slipped out of her room.
.