Survival, Dark Times 2

[Abby]

Scout made sure to thank the nice ladies before leaving. The receptionist just pursed her lips and handed her a bag of medicines and a medpack. "I hope you know what you're doing, honey."

Scout winked. "I always do."

Naos had been loaned a ship from Ni Ja'mal and Nait (who, Scout learned, had become very close friends) called Riptide. It was smooth and sleek, definably Nabooian design. The inside was just as smooth and sleek. It looked like a counsilor ship of some sort. Scout knew better than to question about how the two had gotten it. In her long experiance with working with Nait, she knew asking questions just brought up more. He usually said the same thing, vice versa.

As expected, her lightsabers, equipment belts, and other deadly toys were stored in the aft cabin. As Naos went to inform 'General Gash' that they were coming back into the fight, Scout lay down in her quarters and closed her eyes, suddenly very tired.

--

Nait heard his comlink beep and bristled. "You guys go ahead, I'll catch up," he said, waving Ni and Darrina away. He crossed into an old supply closet and shut the door. Taking out his comm, his brought it to his lips and checked the ID. Naos. "What's up, Blondie? How's my sis doing?"

[hk47fan]

Naos

"Well," I started "She's awake and stronger than I originally thought...she insisted over and over again that we should leave Naboo, so I finally gave in. We're on our way to wherever you guys are, but we probably won't even be in the Inner Rim until you guys attack Coruscant. I'm making Scout rest the whole way there so she doesn't get killed."

[Mandalorian]

Wey sat in the pilots chair of The Fallen Warrior it was a fairly large pilots compartment, designed for a group of four to pilot, co pilot, man the sensors and use the main weaponry. But Wey had jerry rigged two R2 units to do the secondary tasks for him. The ship was a heavily modified Correlian C205 Assault Gunship (uncanon) it was about 30 meters long, and had a similar basic design to the more common Correllian Corvette but was sleeker, smaller, and More heavily armed and armored.

Wey slumped in his seat, he had been waiting for the past four hours to get permission to land in the hanger bay of Home One. "They send me a message about a high paying job, and then don't let me dock!" One of the R2s dome swiveled around and it beeped quickly. The translation appeared on the holoscreen in front of Wey "No E5 I have not forgotten about the assassination attempt, i was just complaining because I'm annoyed. I do understand there reasoning I'm just annoyed that some one had to get attacked right before i get here." E5 beeped again "Yes, humans are confusing I agree totally. I'm going to go to the fresher, get me if we are given docking permissions."

Wey got out of the chair stretched and walked back to the fresher. There was one main hallway through the ship that at the back split into a ladder the way down lead to the cargo bay, and the upper portion to the engine maintenance area. In the center of the main hallway it widened a good amount into the "dining room" and kitchen, it was small and designed very efficiently. off of the kitchen there where three more hallways two went off to perpendicularly from the main corridor, and the third was a ladder going up from the side of the room. The one on the left lead to the freshers, and personnel chambers. the one on the right lead to the prisoner chambers, and to the maintenance and smaller cargo chamber. The ladder lead to another small room directly above the kitchen, that housed the weapons and security controls.

Wey went through the main corridor and went to the fresher, he got out after a bit and glanced at himself in the mirror. He was fairly tall at 6'5 and had blond hair that was kept shortly cut, his eyes where green with a small brown ring around the pupil. He had a large build but still appeared to be fairly mobile. he had a few small scars on both arms, and one on his cheek, and a long scar running from his knee down to his ankle.

He went back to the pilot compartment, and as soon as he got there the com unit beeped "perfect timing" he sat down and flipped on the com unit "Fallen Warrior this is Home One Before we give you permission to dock what weapons are on board and mounted to you're ship" Wey raised an eyebrow "Why would you need that, can't you just do a sensor scan for energy output?" "Don't argue..." the speaker paused for a moment as though looking at some information "Wey Sole, just tell us you're armament" Wey rolled his eyes "Ok, my ship is armed with four quad laser batteries, a dual linked light turbolaser turret, and four concussion missile tubes. On board I have three vibroswords, 6 blaster pistols, two blaster rifles, a laser rifle, and a rocket launcher." "thank you Wey Sole, and yes we could and have scanned for energy output, but this was more an honesty test then anything else. I'm sending you information on you're docking port and route now" Wey stared at the screen "an honesty test? they can't be serious"

Hr grabbed the controls and maneuvered the ship on to its course and docked with the port, feeling the low thump as the tubes connected. He stood up and went over to the cargo bay, and climbed through the connector tube. There where three guards waiting for him "Come with us Mr. Sol, we'll escort you to you're quarters, you'll be called to the briefing in a short time." "alright lead on"

[Rain]

Admiral Desh Jarek

"Gentlemen", Admiral Desh Jarek addressed his fellow Imperial officers in a strict yet respectful tone. "As Admiral Piett is on duty, we have a new member of our council. May I introduce Liutenent Grimm"

The man exchanged a few words with the others.

"Now... let us begin" announced Jarek.

Jarek was a man in his forties. His hair graying slightly. He had the look of a hardened war veteran about him. It was hard to not get that imag when you say the scarring on his left cheek, it looked like a vibroblade wound. In actual fact it had been much worse. He had once angered Lord Vader's secret apprentice Lumiya and her being a twisted fool had hacked him there and then. He could have been dead if it weren't for his reflexes. No one could be in as many battles as he had and not gained super reflexes. Ofcourse those peaceful Jedi claimed to have them. Hmmph. The Force! It was just a big joke to Desh. He had heard the stories but he didn,t believe a word of it. Palpatine and Vader claimed to have this Force to. If that were true would Vader need that oafish suit to live? And would Palpatine be a wrinlkeled old shrew? They were as follish as the Jedi had been. The only other people Admiral Jarek respected were his fellow Imperial officers.

Sure he shared the same beliefs as Emperor Palpatine and Lord Vader but he couldn't abide them. He had only ever seen the Emperor once and he didnt like what he saw. Vader on the other hand, he was with many a time. That constant breathing noise he made was unbearable and extremely irritating.

Suddenly a private barged into th room.

"Admiral..." The private managed, struggling to catch his breath.

"Calm down private! What in the blazes is the meaning of this intrusion!

"My... apologies Admiral. Its just that.... well the Death Star...."

"Come on private. Out with it!" Jarek was beginning to get impatient.

"The Death Star, its been...it's been destroyed, by the Rebel Alliance" The private stuttered.

"And what of the Emporer?"

"It is believed that he along with Lord Vader were on the battle station at the time..."

Jarek smiled inside. That meant he was in charge now. The Rebels may have gained a victory against that dillusionaal fool but they stood no chance against the forces of Grand Admiral Desh Jarek!

"Very well" Jarek said calmly "The Rebels will no doubt make an attack here in the forseeable future. I want all defences strengthened. Stat!"

"Yes. Admiral "

"Grand Admiral." Corrected Jarek

"Yes" Replied the private, "My apologies, Grand Admiral Jarek."

[Abby]

Nait nodded to himself. "Good," he said. "Keep her down, no matter how many times she threatens you okay? Even the Force has its' limits in internal repair." Nait sighed and rubbed his face, felt a two-day stubble along his jawline. "We've got assassins on the Home One. I'm pretty sure there's more than the one that we captured, but our guy won't be talking anymore. Not to living beings, anyway."

A knock on the supply closet door. Darrina's voice. "Scout's out? Tell her it's been boring here without her!"

"Stop eavesdropping!" Nait called.

"Not in your life. Besides, it's not eavesdropping if you let the other guy know you're listening. Come on out."

Nait closed his eyes and sighed. Opening the door, he wasn't the very least surprised to see Darrina standing at the wall parallel to it, arms crossed, goosebumps on her forearm. "Like I was saying before I got rudely interrupted," Nait continued to Naos, "was that the Home One isn't safe for the time being. Lay down low on Talravin until I give you the head's up, alright?"

[Rain]

Olee Starstone

Olee sat meditating.

An assassin attacked Han Solo today and she was willing to bet that he wasn't the only one on Home One. If she were to uncover this threat, she had to be calm. At peace and at one with the Force. She didn't need to sleep. Meditation was much more effective. She reached out with the Force and spanned the Home One. Then she spotted them. They were making their way out of the cargo bay, which must have been how they got in. Then pain.

One of the Rebel soldiers had been killed, assassinated from behind.

She brought her meditation to an abrupt end and reached for her com-link. Only certain people could hear it. Jaskia, Ni, Han Solo and Scout, even though she was in no shape to fight.

"Assassins in starboard hallway 226, this is Olee Starstone, I repeat, Assassins in starboard hallway 226. Moving to intercept. Out"

She grabbed her lightsaber and exited the room. She let her mind blend with the Force. She couldn't let up. Peoples lives were at stake...


Han Solo

"For the last time Chewie, I'm alright!"

Chewbacca growled a response.

"I know you're just worried about me pal. But I'm okay, honestly." Han assured

It was true Chewie was just worried for Han. The Wookiee was insistent upon swearing a life-debt to Han, and Han was eternally grateful. In turn he had pledged a life debt to Chewbacca. He didn't tell the Wookiee that though. Chewie would never have it.

"Anyway, we should get some rest."

Han felt his com buzz. He pulled it out and flicked the switch. A voice came through. It was Olee Starstone, co-leader of th Ghosts.

"Assassins in starboard hallway 226, this is Olee Starstone, I repeat, Assassins in starboard hallway 226. Moving to intercept. Out"

Han looked at Chewie.

"Well pal, so much for rest! Grab your bowcaster and let's go."

[Abby]

"Assassins in starboard hallway 226, this is Olee Starstone, I repeat, Assassins in starboard hallway 226. Moving to intercept. Out"

Jaskia’s eyes snapped open from her meditations to regard the room around her. Big quarters, reserved for the highest ranking officers in the Rebellion. Decorated with a small twin-sized bed with covers that offered little protection against the cold recycled air and a small desk to do filing work and battle strategies. It was simple, but a lot better than what most of the other officers had.

The room, Jaskia knew, which led right into Hallway Two-Twenty-Six. She reached out to the Force to pick out the lifeforms nearing her quarters. She barely had to look. Their murderous intent evolved in her mind, a large monster about to pounce on what they believe to be prepared but helpless prey.

Jaskia called her large double-bladed lightsaber to her hand and rose. She did not ignite both blue blades, not yet. It would be better to give them the illusion of a surprise attack than to have them more than ready. Her tactical mind worked, silent gears turning inside her head, twisting and turning over ideas and different attack angles. The assassins didn’t think they had surprise on their side, she realized. They must have prepared for it.

Jaskia heard a hissing sound. She turned, lightsaber igniting in her hands, to face not an animal, not a droid, but a grenade, seemingly dropped from nowhere. It was already beginning to spark and sizzle. Jaskia glanced up, saw the air vent door open. Jaskia was momentarily confused as to what to do. The air vents were specially made as to not fit a normal human. Nothing but a mouse droid could have done through it.

A smiling face, male, clean-shaven, stared back at her, his eyes promising murder. Jaskia grit her teeth and excerted herself mentally, pulling the man into the room with her and grabbing the grenade with her hand. She kicked the rising man in the face and jogged to her—hopefully empty--blast-proof safe. She opened the door and dropped the grenad in there, scooping out the Opila lightsaber crystal resting within there. Closing and locking the footlocker, Jaskia brought her leg up to deliver a crushing roundhouse blow to the assassin’s nose. She heard the pop of bone and marrow, and followed by stepping between his legs and hitting him smartly with the hilt of the large double-bladed lightsaber.

He went down without a sound.

Jaskia spun to meet the next attacker, who had managed to get inside her quarters without her knowing. Ducking a close-range blaster shot to the head, Jaskia brought her foot up in an inverted kick that sent the man’s blaster spinning through the air. He gaped in surprise and fell back, fumbling for the corotis-weave vibroswords hanging on his belt. It flew from the belt and his sweaty hands to hers. Without a second thought, she threw the vibrosword with all her might at the ship’s metal hull. Combined with her Force Power and her sheer strength, the vibrosword stuck easily in there, but would not readily come out.

The other two appeared behind her. She whirled again, her lightsaber a flash of blue light. They both cried out in pain as her lightsaber sank deeply into their skin, charring their chest—and in the other’s case, the groin—and fell to the ground, gritting their teeth in agony.

Two left…

Jaskia stretched out her senses, found the other one easily enough, concealed by the light-bending Stealth Generator on the other side of the room. Jaskia threw her hand foreword as if she was going to push the lady back against the wall with the Force. Instead, a deep emerald light sprang foreword, almost like the distinct Sith lightning, and caught the mercenary full in the chest, draining her strength and stripping away the wills to fight. Jaskia heard a thump as the lady fell to the ground, and a ghost-like noise as the belt around her failed.

One more.

This time, Jaskia didn’t even have to find him. He found her. The slight danger sense warned her before the attack happened, and saved her life. She twisted slightly to the left as a vibroblade suddenly materialized out of the air, attacking from her blind spot. Jaskia’s left fist slammed foreword as his momentum carried him away from her, catching him straight in the solar plexus. This man was well trained. Even with the breath knocked out of him, he managed to jump over her fist and roll away.

Jaskia turned to regard the man with a disinterested ice-blue eye. Her hand came foreword again, and the green lightning sprang forth in the rare power of Electric Judgement, zapping the assassin of his strength just as soon as she had with the other.

He fell to the ground, moaning and whimpering on the ground. Jaskia gave a quick signal-burst on her Comlink telling the others there was trouble, and surveyed the room. Six people, multiple injuries. Jaskia sighed, as if this was something she did every day, and tied them all together with a piece of unbreakable fibercord. Disarming all of them, Jaskia sat back down and continued her interrupted meditations until Olee Starstone, Nait Gash, Darrina, and other Rebel officers were banging down the hallway and appeared at her door.

[Mandalorian]

Wey felt the disturbance on the ship, It was obviouse that there where more assasins onboard and that they had already begun to strike. He coudl feel teh assasins gettign ready to strike, and others onboard sicneing there presence as well. "so the ghosts are here, I geuss i couldn't hope to avoid them forever." He pulled himself out of the meditation. that and the life detection where the only two force powers that he could stil control.

He stood and put his belt on and his favorite vibroblade. It was a composite of Cortosis and Durtanium it was able to block a lightsaber but was still strong and able to stand up to the rigors of combat. He walked over to teh dor and knocked activated the outside. "You may want to check on the ghosts onboard you're ship, the assasins are attackign again" Wey figured that this comment would probabbly land him in interogations over the next couple of days trying to figure out if he was linked to the assasins. But he figured it had to be better then just sitting in this damn room waiting for an assigment.

The gaurd stuttered slightly "umm... what?" "Just tell you're suppiors that the ghosts realize that there are assasins on baord but they haven't reported it yet becouse there the primary targets." the guard stuttered again "uhh..." "just report what I said... oh and you might want to open this door, becouse I may be of help fightign these assasins" "oh...umm... the doors unlocked... and yeah i'll page my supperiors"

Wey sighed, it was unlocked, I really can be a fool at times he opened the door and alked out past the flustered guard. He then began to walk down the hall to where he sinced the greatest disturbance, he figured he'd ge there just as the rest of the ghosts and rebels did.

[Abby]

Nait didn't even knock. He with a simple exertion of his mind, the slide door flew open. Lightsaber in hand, ready to ignite, he did not expect Jaskia to be sittinG in the middle of the room meditating with five--no six--people tied up in the front right corner. All of them seemed to be unconscious. There was no sign of a real struggle except for a slightly simmering footlocker and a vibroblade wedged deep within the metal hull of the ship that Nait knew would take five muscular Wookies to pull out.

Jaskia's eyes opened to stare dryly at her friend. "Let me guess, this is the part where I say 'Oh, Niat, you saved me!' Cue hug and wet sloppy kiss. 'I made them all go to sleep for you! They were playing too rough!'"

Nait just shook his head and smiled at Jaskia's Erin impersonation. Like it or not, they had adopted the woman into their group and she had the most annoying tendencies ever. She never thought anyone was dead. Just 'asleep.' She always got their names wrong and acted like a complete doofus. Jaskia and some other members of the Jedi Ghosts seemed to harbor a strong dislike for the girl--Jaskia having once Force Pushed over a love-smitten Ewok on Endor. And Erin seemed to have a strong crush on him.

He was glad he couldn't say the same.

Jaskia stood and stretched her arm needlessly. "Let's see, who did you bring with you? Darrina, Ni, Olee... Good, it's nice to keep the party simple for now. Worst injury in this lot is a broken nose, I think. And some manly pride diminished on Attacker Number Four. I got his buddy and him with a nice, low shot. With the lightsaber."

Nait invariably winced at that statement. "Okay," he said. "Time to package these up and send them to the interrogation room."

Darrina crossed over to the bed. Piles of equipment that Nait knew could not have been Jaskia's were dumped unceremoniously on there. There were vibroblades, inactive grenades, highly illegal blasters, comlinks, some poison tablets like the first guy had, and one flamethrower. Darrina frowned and went through one of the equipment belts, coming up with a black datachip. "Hey Ni, give me your datapad." Ni unhooked it from his belt and tossed it to her. She caught it and plugged the chip in. From Nait's position, he could see dozens of small letters cross the screen, only some of which looked familiar. "It's written in Huttese," Darrina said. "I can't read it."

"Give it to me," Jaskia said. She took the datapad from Darrina's grip and studied it herself. "Somebody doesn't like us..." she muttered, and read it outloud.

"Greetings to the esteemed leader of the Jedi Ghosts; I knew you would figure this out. I knew that the men we had sent would fail. A certain number of my people want you dead. The next attempt on your life will fail. And the next. But I will assure you that the ones after that will be made in complete earnest."

Jaskia stared at the datapad for one more moment before throwing it up in the air. Quick as thought, her lightsaber appeared once more in her hands, slicing the device in half before it even hit the ground. Ni made a gaping sound. "It was a bug," Jaskia explained. "While I was reading it the device was scanning all of your memory. Let's hope I stopped it at your latest version of Battlefront."

Nait frowned. "These guys are the only ones left here on the ship," he said. "Were they pretty easy?" Jaskia nodded. "Then we'll have to expect that the fourth attempt will be the hardest. The guy was being honest with us, at least."

"Notice how he used the word 'I'," Ni said. "It implies a personal grudge."

"Working for somebody," Darrina guessed. "Or the member of an organization. Ask your new friends."

"I'll call up Fi and Sanji," Nait offered. "They're in the Outer Rim trying to keep Kutt activity down to a minimum in all this confusion. Maybe they knew something."

"Never doubt Fi's ability to hack through a database," Jaskia muttered. "Nobody else is on this ship. Nobody like []them[/i], anyway." She jerked a thumb towards the mercinaries. "Olee, can you alert the rest of the Ghosts? I'll tell Mon Mothma."

[Rain]

Han Solo

Han rushed down the hall only to came to an abrubt halt as a man weilding what looked live a Rodian death blade stepped out in front of him, blocking his path.

"Heh," The man laughed, "Didn't think I'd see you again Solo!"

"Kade Negreet"

"Oh, you remember me!" The man joked twistedly.

"Hard to for get someone like you. Tell me Kade, what is someone like you doing on a ship with a bunch of swith and stealthy assassins?"

"You're insults mean nothing to me Solo. I'm not the one galavanting around the Galaxy with these poor and pathetic so called 'Rebels'! And those Jedi Ghosts too. Ha! What harm can they do. We can turn them into real ghosts!" Kade laughed maniacally

"So why did you leave that slimy peice of worm ridden filth for the Imps! Didn't he pay you enough!" Han spoke through gritted teeth.

"Oh you mean Jabba! What makes you think I'm working with imperials? Jabba would be delighted to hav you back in his palace again!"

"You mean-"

"Yes Solo! Those assassins are Jabba's, unfortunately you won't be around to let anybody know!" Kade laughed again.

Han drew his blaster faster than you could say Nar Shaada and pulled the trigger. Nothing happened. He stared at the blaster in disbelief. It must have been damaged when he got attacked by that assassin. There was nothing for it. He would have to fight unarmed against Kade. He ran at Kade.

Kade simply raised his blade and stood in stance, witing for Solo's attack when suddenly the brunt of a Wookieee bowcaster struck him square in the back of the head. Kade toppled to the floor immediately, outcold.

"Chewie!" Han shouted with delight, "I was wondering where you got to."

Chewbacca growled a response.

"Alright. alright! You think you can carry this guy?" Han asked.

Chewie lifetd Kade and the two ran to Hallway 226. When they got there they found Jaskie, Olee Starstone, Nait and Darrina standing, the unconcious bodies of several assassins tied up in the corner.

"Uhh.." Han began, "Sorry to interupt, but I got something you all should know..."

Olee Starstone

"What!" exclaimed Olee, "Jabba the Hutt?"

"I'm afraid so." Replied Han

This was most disturbing indeed.

"Alright." She said, "Ill go and tell the other ghosts to be on gaurd for any more assassins. Ill also drop by and tell Scout whenever she arrives. I have some skill in the art of Jedi Healing and may help her recover faster."

She left the others and walked down the hallway and back to her private quarters, to meditate.

[Abby]

Mara Jade stood in what should have been a triumphant moment, staring down at the crumpled form of the old man in front of her. Breathing heavily, a softly-glowing magenta lightsaber in each hand, she focused on the tiny rivulets of sweat running lightly down her back, the throbbing pain in her left shoulder, the scorch mark across the belly of her dark brown robe. Anything and everything other than the spectacle before her.

Palpatine's face was frozen in a ghastly death mask. His own lightsaber lay just beyond his outstretched arm, fingers curled in a clawlike grasp as if attempting to reach it.

Mara had seen death by multitudes throughout her life, but the sight of Palpatine’s pain-twisted face unnerved her for reasons she wasn't ready to consider. Hands trembling, she switched off the lightsabers and stood for a moment with her eyes closed. He's gone.

A curious wave of emotions washed over her, tangling themselves around her in a web. Relief, regret, anger, sorrow... freedom? Palpatine had once been her friend, mentor, teacher. Manipulator. His whispers within her mind had at first been a comfort, a rock to which she had clung during times of uncertainty, a point of focus among the chaos. But even then his words seemed to have deeper, hidden meanings. Motives. Taints of arrogance, pride, and bitterness, the depth of which Mara had only recently begun to fully understand.

Palpatine had never hesitated to voice his opinions, to question Mara’s motives and judgments, never bothered to disguise his contempt for those she had allied herself with. This had been the first breaking point between them. Palpatine had demanded Mara consider them expendable assets, these companions who had stood by her side, shed blood and tears with her, placing their own lives at risk without hesitation to fight at her side.

And yet…

Mara had grown to see Palpatine as a father. He had made her into a lethal weapon of muscle and bone, had made her open up to the Force through cryptic teachings and words. In her own way, Mara had loved him.

A teacher. A mentor. A friend…

Palpatine had been her only friend. The only one to understand her. To placate her fears and bloom new ones. Another test, another trial… Soon those fears, those hesitations, had meant nothing to her.

Nothing.

She realized that Palpatine had only temporarily banished them. They had returned, full force, when she had finally slew her Master.

I killed him…

Mara Jade had killed her mentor.

Wind, so light that she didn’t even feel it, gathered at her feet, slowly picking up form and shape. Mara had bowed her head at the Emperor’s broken body. She could not cry. She could not cry in this place. The tears would never come.

Never again would Mara Jade cry.

Smoke seemed to rise from the Emperor’s body, forming and glowing slightly. Mara did not notice until the acrid smell reached her sinus, tickling the back of her throat. She opened her eyes halfway to look at the smoke surrounding the dead man’s body. The smoke that was starting to form into an image of his face.

”My child…”

Strangely, Mara felt no surprise to hear his voice. She had heard his voice all her life. Inside her head, ordering her to do his tasks. This was no different.

”It was Luke Skywalker, my child…”

Luke Skywalker. A memory arose, one of so long ago, of a time in the Emperor’s personal library. Of a time when Lord Darth Vader typed in the name of the man, tracking him, plotting.

“Luke Skywalker…”

A name she had heard before. The ‘hero’ of the Rebellion. The Jedi wannabe.

”…and Tian Gash. Two assassins sent by the Ghosts to kill me.”

Assassins. Murderors. Mara could never stand people of that profession.

”Kill them, and Jaskia Paine.” Leader of the Ghosts. ”Bring the Jedi to ruin.”

“I will, Master.”

--

Mara awoke from her strange dream in a bare cell. She could hear the soft drip drip of water leaking from a pipe five meters above her, and a sharp ringing in her head, probably an after-effect of the sonic grenade used to subdue her. A char mark across her stomach reminded her of being caught by the flamethrower. She opened her eyes slowly, taking note of the injuries.

She held back a grimace as she straightened to lean against the cell wall. It was almost bare, with patches of peeling pain in different places. Bars put close-together prevented her from slipping through the cracks, and only offered a slight view of the world outside.

Her eyes narrowed slightly. She recognized this cell.

--

Mara pretended to stumble as the guard roughly brought her towards Jabba the Hutt’s private quarters. The heavily-muscled man posted as her ‘bodyguard’ caught her gruffly by the arm to steady her. Before she came back up, Mara noticed the wicked-looking vibroblade on his belt, red blood-stains marking the shiny silver exterior.

Smiley knocked three times on the metal door, paused two beats, and knocked again. He continued this process three times, then added an extra note at the end. Mara filed the code away for further review, and glanced inside the door as it slid open. Dark, green swampy steam billowed out as the door opened, obscuring her view. It was so thick Mara finally had to stretch out to the Force to locate the giant Hutt in the center of the room, She closed her eyes and allowed herself to be led somewhere so the Hutt could see her.

“What do you want?” Mara snapped.

Jabba’s rumbling laugh seemed to vibrate all around her. She realized he had to be talking in a microphone so it sounded like he was all around her. Her guard probably didn’t know where he was. The door slid shut behind him, leaving Mara and the grotesque Hutt alone together.

Jabba said. If she could have seen him, Mara would’ve narrowed her eyes. She kept her face carefully blank. [I know your mission.]

“What the frack is an Emperor’s Hand?” Mara shot back, allowing an edge of annoyed anger to creep into her voice. “You’ve got the wrong person, Jabba.”

Jabba’s laugh seemed to shake the floor. Mara grit her teeth. [We all want Jaskia Paine dead,] he said. [Including you, little Imperial. She killed Palpatine. We all know it.]

Mara almost smirked. Idiots. But a valid assumption nonetheless. Paine was probably the only one in the galaxy that people would have thought could kill the Emperor. How wrong they were…

“You assume that I would willingly go and kill her?” Mara asked lightly. “I’d betray you.”

[Then I would kill you now and find somebody else just as competent to do the job.] Jabba made a wet, slurping sound, and Mara realized he was in the middle of a meal. Her stomach twisted uncomfortably. [Does that please you?]

“I don’t want to die yet, Jabba. I could kill you just as easily now and leave.”

[But you won’t, Jabba replied. [Jaskia Paine has a one-hundred million bounty on her head. I want her dead, and I want you to kill her. You will get all the money.]

Mara nodded as if considering. “I want her dead, too. She left me with no job, no family, no life. Killing her will throw the Ghosts into disarray.”

[Then it is settled. I have a team of mercenaries and bounty hunters ready for the next assassination attempt. You will accompany them in one week.]

“I have a friend that can help,” Mara said. “Let me bring him here, or the deal’s off.”

[Agreed.]

--

Jaskia nodded curtly at Olee’s statement. “I don’t feel good about putting her to so much work after waking up, but Scout will be invaluable in our defense.” As Olee left, Jaskia took out a rubber band and tied her electric blue hair back in a small ponytail. “Nait, you go ahead and tell Fi to check out Jabba. Ni…”

“I can do it,” he said cryptically. “Darrina?”

“Sure.”

Nait nodded at the logicalness of the statement. “I’ll be in the control room.”

--

Scout sat down in the copilot chair next to Naos and leaned back, watching the stars past between them. “I think that last attack on Palpatine messed up my lightsabers,” she said, trying to make small talk. “One of the wires shortened out during a practice drill.”

[Rain]

Han Solo

As Nait and Ni left, Han turned to Jaskia.

"You might wanna tie up this guy too," He said glancing at the man Chewie was carrying over his shoulder. "Or better yet put the whole bunch of them in Forc cells."

Chewie dropped Kade.

"His name is Kade Negreet. He is a thug and a mercenary working for Jabba the Hutt, just lik these guys. Oh and just one thing I'd like to be there for the interrogation. Morning sound good to you? It's been a bit of a rough day, if you know what I mean!"

Grand Admiral Jarek

Jarek, the now official leader of the Imperials sat in the bridge of the Deathbringer, thinking.

He heard the now Admiral Grimm approach from behind.

"What is it Admiral?" He asked.

"Sir, someone wants to speak with you." Grimm replied

"Who is it? Actually never mind just send them in." Jarek didn't want to be disturbed for too long.

"Well that's not possible sir. You see... well..."

"Well what Admiral!"

"Its Jabba the Hutt, sir. He wishes for you to meet him, at his Palace on Tatooine."

What!? Jabba!? What did he want with the Imperials and more importantly Jarek himself. The Grand Admiral would most certainly have alot to think about now...

[Abby]

Jaskia only raised an eyebrow and shook her head. Motioning for Chewie to stay put, she held out a hand towards the six assassins in the corner. They floated two inches off the ground, unconscious and oblivious to their new predicament. "Come on, Chewie, we'll take these guys to interrogation. You can scare 'em for us, buddy."

Chewie growled a response.

"I know there might be more assassins on the ship, but I don't feel any. We can leave Han by himself for a few minutes, can't we? Or we could gag and tie him up. Leave him in one of the supply closets so nobody can find him." Chewie appeared to be taking this thought to heart when Jaskia smirked at Han. "We're interrogating them today. Now."

[Rain]

It was if Han smiled and frowned at the same time.

He had to smile about Chewie taking Jaskia's joking seriously but yet he had to frown at the tought of no sleep. Well... he couldn't complain. He was love with the most beaautiful women in the Galaxy, mind you he hadn't seen her all day, then he had Chewie and all of these people on Home One. They were his family and he was willing to give his life for any of them, except maybe a few.

Han grinned to himself.

"Alright Chewie, you best pick up our freind Kade here, oh, and no need to be gentle." He smiled at Chewbacca and the Wookiee let out a small snigger. He then turned to Jaskia.

"Lead the way..."

[Abby]

Jaskia sighed, and on the way to the interrogation chambers, kept wondering how she got mixed up with this lot.

The interrogation chambers said ‘whoa’ in a whole new way. The entire room was gray and lifeless, with walls that seemed to close in in a claustrophobic feeling. In fact, the entire room looked like a giant triangle. Eight cross-shaped metal devices were implemented on each side of the room, following the shape of the room so those bound would be leaning foreword two meters off the floor. The room had next to no light except for a small overhang hanging from the corner in the middle of the triangle-ceiling. At the end of it, two blue Force Cages glowed dimly. In the center, there was a large which contained various bits of interrogation equipment.

Jaskia dumped the unconscious would-be assassins and lifted up the heaviest with her bare hands. He had been the last attacker to go, the one who she had to hit with Electric Judgment before he went down. She lifted him up and attached his wrists far out from his body, and his legs parted about a meter or two, as if he was a child making snow angels. She placed a small metal circlet around his head and attached two cables to each binder, which promised an electric shock each time activated.

They were state-of-the-art interrogation devices, compliments of the few Gray Jedi who had joined the Ghosts. Jaskia, she herself following in the Gray Jedi footsteps, saw the need for it, but did not necessarily like it.

As she and Chewie attached the others to the slanted wall, she noticed that the first attacker had compressionable bones. It hit her suddenly why he was able to get through the small air vents. Sorusian, Jaskia thought, but didn’t voice it out loud. “Put that one in the Force Cage,” she said. “Binders won’t work this time.”

Chewie bleated a response, and while he did that, Jaskia crossed over to the lever attached to the gray wall to retract the cage’s electric charges so Chewie could put him in there without getting fried. As soon as the mercenary was properly comfortable, Jaskia put back down the thin electric blanket.

Jaskia crossed over to the large table and took a syringe containing a think, clear liquid. She went around to inject it into the only lady in the group, the first one she had hit with Electric Judgment. Pulling back the lady’s matte black jumpsuit sleeve, she found a vein and pushed the needle in there, injecting the transparent liquid into her bloodstream. Almost immediately, the lady’s eyes flickered open, revealing bloodshot brown orbs that glared unsteadily in her direction.

“I’m not answering any of your questions,” she muttered. She tried to raise her head, but most of her strength had been expired when Jaskia had used her special power, and she resolved to just letting it hang there. “Piss off.”

“Chewie?” Jaskia asked. “Hand me the green stuff in there, will you?”

The large Wookie handed her the vial of truth serum, and Jaskia wagged it in front of the mercenary’s head mockingly. “You know what this is?” The lady nodded. “If you don’t tell me who you’re working for in five seconds…”

“Piss off,” she repeated.

Jaskia shrugged, poured the liquid into the syringe, and once again injected it into her bloodstream.

It would be a long hour. But a successful one, she knew.