Jade twisted her hands through the open air before her, lost within the imagined duel, she parried and deflected the silent blade that burned of pure white, forcing her opponent back with a flurry of combinations inspired by Makashi and Djem So. A deadly and unperceptively fast group of three aggressive attacks followed by a series of grips and forms serving utilitarian purposes that could be adapted as the confrontation evolved. She would push to the Togruta to her limits while she maintained notable pressure on her opponents left foot…
“It is good to see you utilizing your time wisely..” A deep echo rumbled through the vacuous chamber.
Jade snapped her eyes open immediately, the contrived battle in her head vanishing instantly as she sprung up from her meditative pose, bowing slightly as her Emperor approached.
“Raise your head child, your no submissive or subservient being.” Sidious croaked with unusual vigor, clamoring with raucous echo from the aged and weathered interior of the hangar that had suited his purposes for many years.
Jade lifted her gaze to the approaching man, his crooked chin the only amount of flesh visible within the layers of robes and cloaks of the simplest fabrics the galaxy could offer. She knew the mission was anything but Imperial in nature as he neared the boarding ramp, and her position, before her own X4 Gunship. With a glance over his shoulder, she looked with avid curiosity for any sign of Imperial guard or support.
“There is no need my dear, we will be sufficient enough to complete the task before us.” Sidious responded, not one beat out of character as he had clearly read her thoughts. The usual disdain he carried audibly for anyone beneath him, the croaking condescension or
guttural churnings of self-assured arrogance were nowhere to be found. Jade canted her head ever so slightly in response, an admission that his dealings with her had never carried the sentiment with which he dealt with most.
Pulling her high waisted, mahogany brown, synthleather coat down somewhat, she proffered a hand in a sweeping motion up the ramp and into her ship, “I will assume we are to depart presently then?” She asked in assuredness, focusing her emerald green eyes on the shadow within the cowl above the prominent chin.
“That we are.” Sidious responded, the folds of his robes almost motionless as he ascended the boarding ramp ahead of her, a soundless wraith that defied the very laws of gravity and physics.
Jade quickly followed behind, the selected form fitting gray flight suit and soft ankle high boots only shifted slightly, defining her presence whereas her Emperor made no sound at all. To her surprise, he continued beyond the luxurious padded acceleration seat in the midships passenger compartment and directly into the cockpit. “Be at ease, the ship is yours my dear, there are certain things that we will discuss en route.” Sidious answered her thoughts again.
“Just a surprise is all my Lord.” Jade responded quickly, long since passed the days of nervous embellishment and verbose elaboration. She sat in the pilots’ seat only after her Emperor placed himself in the seat adjacent. He quietly folded his hands inside the sleeves of his outer robes, staring forward through the canopy as Jade activated the giant hangar door, each sprocketed rotation creaking with age as the dark of night spilled forth into the vast bay. Jade quickly slapped another switch, extinguishing all internal lighting in the massive hangar as she throttled the repulsors, lifting the gunship up and through the cavernous opening. One final activation and the hangar bay door rolled back into its closed position once again.
Sidious chuckled to himself inwardly, contriving a recountance of lame ambition but recognizing the truth of the matter itself, remembering the multitude of covert dealings housed within the Limerge building. Each endeavor carefully crafted in concert with his own ambitions toward an end game only he could see. Failings were only a description those too blind could use as explanation without the foresight to process or comprehend the stakes involved. ‘Failings they were not..’ He thought to himself as his Hand guided the gunship up and away from the works, angling for a direct route through the upper skylanes and away from Coruscant. ‘Merely moves and countermoves.’ Sidious finished the thought, eagerly awaiting the delivery this next encounter would entail, one he had manipulated over the course of two years with little prodding. He chuckled outright, not bothering to hide the absolution of his device. A cackle more than a chuckle, Jade jumped somewhat at the change in ambiance.
“XLD four two four one. District Command, clear a route.” Jade stated with severe enmity.
“Straight away, your path is clear Madam.” A clear voice responded immediately, a monotone that bespoke respect, and something else Sidious couldn’t identify, her commands required over the return comms.
Sidious was impressed, “very good my dear, you state rather than ask. You see why you are no subservient?” He spoke softly, with emphasis and pride.
“In the eyes of lesser beings...always.” Jade responded, her eyes trained forward as she leveled out her ascent and aligned a new trajectory up the planet’s gravity well.
“Yes and no.” Sidious said carefully, remaining unmoving despite the slight lurches the warship muddled through with change in vector.
“No one in this galaxy, or beyond, should garner your lowered chin, the bow of your head...not even me.” Sidious rasped and turning slightly toward her, the first notable movements she had perceived since the man had sat down.
“Vector clear, your lane is open XLD.” The comm registered again, confirming both trajectory and assignment.
Sidious waited for a moment then nodded his approval when Jade didn’t reply, “you see. Even in the smallest of matters, you command respect. Although it is doubly given, a commanded respect is far from earned. It is fear that drives those that cannot comprehend the power that resides in you.” He continued, Jade not above the moment it clearly was and listening intently, powered down the sub light engines and engaged the ships hyperdrive. As the stars expanded into long streaks outside the cockpit canopy, she swiveled her seat toward her Emperor the moment she heard the primary engagement and telltale hum of the hyperspace jump. “It pleases me that you do not refer to me as Master…” Sidious said suddenly, surprising her with the gravid change in both topics and view.
“Would that you already have an apprentice…” Jade responded, unsure where the man planned on taking the conversation, despite her assurances that it wasn’t where she had planned.
“To that my dear...I think impasse is most appropriate, but that is between Vader and myself.” The dismissive comment told Jade all she wanted to know about the matter.
“It is your overzealous ambition to face the Togruta in confrontation that concerns me my dear.” Sidious said, lifting the brim of his cowl somewhat, revealing the yellow eyes from the depth of shadow they had resided. “Why, I ask you?”
Jade knew it was a matter of pride, one of countenance and honor as she returned the gaze back upon the man, “because she is an enemy of the Empire my Lord.” She said, lacking any commitment to back the word with sincerity.
“Come now, pride is something to be encouraged...there are many enemies of the Empire Jade, yet you manifest the only engagement you can imagine with no clear outcome.” Sidious responded with a crooked smile upon his lips. “The act itself has tremendous worth, but, in totality, is wasted venture.”
Jade’s red locks tousled over her cheeks as she squinted her porcelain features into an expression of incredulous incomprehension. “Wasted?”
“If it is your prerogative to set your mind to achievements through mental practice alone, then by all means continue, however, the woman will not fall by your hand.” Sidious was adamant, his voice directing the sentiment without question as the smile evaporated from his wrinkled lips.
Jade was unsure if that meant the Togruta’s demise would come through some other means or by someone else’s hand as she turned back to the canopy view before them both. The bright white light at the center of the churning vortex seemingly more significant than it had ever been before.
“Her value, my dear Jade, is measured in the intangible, through means you could not even begin to imagine, much less understand, and through no fault of your own ambitions mind you.” Sidious decided to pursue the topic, in a measure to answer the woman’s thought but also to voice his own credence. “As rodents scurry to feed their young, the feline predators measure the validity of their surroundings, deciding whether they stay or press on for greater gain elsewhere…” Sidious trailed off, expecting Jade to follow along. She did not disappoint.
“By the contents of the preys open stomach.” She replied immediately.
Sidious bobbed his head slightly in agreement, “and so the wolf follows suit…”
“And we are the apex.” Jade wasn’t concerned with the ladder of a given world’s food chain, only the measure by which the analogy was initiated.
“It is unwise to consider ourselves the apex of predatory design young lady.” Sidious turned slowly to face the vortex himself, “there are far greater threats in this universe that have yet to identify themselves.” Through his own meditations of late he could not proceed beyond a certain point when contemplating a natural order, stymied by an image so obscured and beyond comprehension that his mind simply could not go further.
“If not us then what would house such power?” Jade was genuinely curious, her eyes focused on the mesmerizing center of light.
‘That is the question indeed.’ Sidious thought to himself, once again drawn inward as he contemplated the image that would not relent, “the answers will come Jade, I am certain of that.”
“On Aborah?” She asked openly, turning again to face her Emperor after peeling her eyes from trance itself.
“Perhaps.” The quipped answer was all the question deserved.
“And the Togruta will be there...won’t she.” Jade turned back toward the canopy once again, the statement lacking any sincere query as her voice betrayed her ambition once again.
“No.” Sidious responded without turning toward her. He closed his eyes as he focused his mind on the obscured image that would not give him rest, “she is already there.”
✦
“This is not a good idea Hera.” Zeb stated, noting the multiple registries alighting the threat assessment board to his left.
“We’re already here Zeb, that debate is over.” Hera responded, her face screwed up tight as she analyzed hundreds of returning signals from her system wide scans, “we are just a simple freighter trying to make our way and heard about possible opportunities for commission on Lucazek.”
“You just make that up now?” Zeb said with a light hearted chuckle, an effort to distance himself from the flashing and multiple beeps on the board he was trying to ignore.
“It’s standard, insert system name here…” She replied, trailing off as she narrowed her eyes at the view offered by the analytics screen.
“What is it?” Zeb caught the drift in attention immediately.
“Inconclusive readings on a small ship headed for Alca II’s third moon.” Hera replied with diminishing tone.
“N’dali didn’t present us with anything by way of identification to go on Hera, that could be anything.” Zeb suggested, leaving little room for argument in his own mind.
“The moon is uninhabitable, and devoid of colony.” Hera sounded certain it was the signal she was looking for as she fired the Ghost’s sub light bank full throttle.
“Hope and a prayer.” Zeb shrugged his shoulders with a curious eye on the threat assessment board, “I don’t know what N’dali concocted but the Imperial signals seem to be preoccupied with something, although what, I don’t know.”
“Hope and a prayer it is then Zeb.” Hera responded, eyeing the signals on the analysis board a final time before squinting through the canopy as Alca II neared.
“There!” Zeb pointed a finger for Hera to trace as his keen eyes spotted the silhouette of ‘something’ drifting precariously close to one of Alca II’s. A few seconds later Hera spotted it too.
“We’re going to have to make this quick.” She said, her eyes broadening as they neared what resembled an out-of-date Nu class shuttle, its topside stabilizer sheared from the ship’s hull, multiple plasma fires and severe outward damage to its starboard side.
“No way anyone survived that.” Zeb was quick to offer suggestion.
Hera surveyed the craft as she brought the Ghost slowly to a stop beside the heavily damaged shuttle, “access port starboard has heavy damage.” She conveyed her finding directly for Zeb’s benefit. “Chop, scramble our signal. This is going to take longer than I thought.” She continued, the chirps and warbles sounding off from the aged astromech confirming his own dismay but obliging to the rest, nonetheless. The Twi’lek expertly fired off the Ghost’s maneuvering jets to roll topside of the shuttle and offer her quick visuals on the port side docking hatch. “Zeb, suit up. This is our way in.” She said dubiously, Zeb rising from the seat without complaint.
As he pulled the oversized helmet over his overlarge cranium, Zeb approached the Ghost’s port side air lock, Hera enacting a one hundred eighty-degree slow burn from the top jets to bring both ships in tight on the same plane. Locking his helmet in place, Zeb activated the inner doors, closing himself off from the Ghost’s interior and approached the outer door docking ring. As the Ghost’s hatch opened in a matter of seconds, he found another issue, “Uh, Hera...there’s no access latch on their outer door...did we miss something?”
“What?” Hera sounded bewildered.
“Well, I could repeat the comment, but it wouldn’t help the situation.” Zeb offered, pushing his weight into what remained of the mechanism itself and grunting through the effort with no success. “We need another entry.”
“And fast, there is no power on that shuttle.” Hera quipped in return, turning toward Chopper in the cockpit, “Chop out the top hatch. See if you can access the ships boarding ramp.”
A series of distressed warbles proceeded the diminutive droids outstretched appendages waving frantically over his head.
“I’ll take care of the signal mask from here, just go Chop, we don’t have time to argue.” Hera commanded with an exasperated sigh. She shot her head over her shoulder as the droid continued supplying ample argument to the directive but complied, nonetheless. A pinging green light to her right on the signals board felt a relief as Chopper exited the top side hatch and fired his own maneuvering jets to carry him underside of the heavily damaged shuttle, chirping his unenthusiasm the whole way. Setting his access appendage to a secondary terminal, he had to charge the source with a brief shock from his own power cells, giving him access to the shuttle.
Chopper waded through empty space, continuing on his tirade as he entered the main cabin of the shuttle, debris of all design floating freely through the cabin, ricocheting softly at his approach as he switched on his forward illuminator. To the right lay the deceased man, strapped to the gurney as N’dali had relayed. Chopper engaged his magnetic field and rolled through the floating debris with deliberate curiosity. He opened his channel and released a series of blips and chirps.
“So, we have the right vessel at least.” Hera commed back, a soft electronic warble through the silence of the cabin. “See if you can access the port side hatch Chop, we can’t stay here long.” She continued, unwilling to update either of her companions with the changes on the threat assessment board. An acquiescent warble preceded a quick turn of his head to the left, rocking in startling fashion when he noted open eyes staring through a clear mask directly at him. The eyes blinked slowly in acknowledgement before they closed altogether. Chopper released another warble, a quick ping and chirp followed by diminishing chortle.
“Then hurry will you!” Hera condemned the melancholy droid. “Zeb, Chops on the other side. If he can’t open it from his end we’ll have to torch it.”
“Probably not a good idea with active plasma fires…” Zeb replied quickly.
“Karabast.” Hera wasn’t sure if the retort was active over the comm link.
“Catchy, init’” Zeb replied again, confirming that it was.
“Never mind that, Chop what’s the status?” Hera barked back, her voice clearly becoming more frantic by the second. The warbling in return only discouraged her further as she blew out a long breath. “Zeb get back in, we’re going to have to do a bay transfer. We can’t risk powering that ship up.”
“How many?” Zeb asked quickly as he raced back through the air lock access, closing the inner doors in his haste to access the lower bay of the aft cargo hold.
“How many what?” Hera responded, knowing full well what he meant.
“Hera…”
“Two, just a patrol though.” She replied without meeting out misdirection.
“Ready Chop.” Zeb shouted as Hera positioned the Ghost aft to aft of the shuttle. Chopper warbled his response as Zeb activated the outer doors, slamming a tight fist into the magnetic suspension activator as well. The door swung down without obstruction, a body in tow with either appendage, Chopper was ready at the lip of the shuttles ramp.
“You are in violation of Lucazek command. Standing orders for civilians and privateers unidentified vessel…” The comms broadcast through the Ghost’s cockpit, defying the hailing protocols that should have been initiated.
Hera stumbled for a response wincing as she spoke, “Ayye, just a simple salvage operation sirs. Permit number two nine three six alpha alpha three. Heard of some booty on this here derelict. Rest assured it well be clearred through Imperial customs upon coompletion.” Hera was satisfied with the attempt, although not with the severity of the forced accent that could have originated from at least twelve outer rim systems she could think of.
“Standing orders sir. Disengage at once.” The comms registered again, Hera finding the split second to contemplate a higher pitch next time when masking her voice.
“Zeb, we’re out of time.” Hera fired over the internal comms, clamping a hand over the inset microphone.
“Chop let’s go!” Zeb almost cursed as Chopper passed the body of the deceased through the mag shield and into the Lasat’s waiting arms. “Oof..heavy bugger.” Zeb exclaimed, surprised by the weight of the dead man. He returned his gaze to what should have been the next of them, only to see the man in Chopper’s appendage flailing wildly. Without hesitation, Zeb charged the mag shield and jumped through, landing softly on the lowered ramp of the damaged shuttle. He quickly grabbed for the man’s arms and pulled them into the sides of his body as he took the man from Chopper’s grasp. Zeb looked into the man’s frantic eyes and silent shouts, clearly trying to impart something without voice. With another leap he stumbled awkwardly back into the Ghost’s aft hold, the man struggling to remove the mask from his face through the audible cries of torment and excruciating pain.
“Zeb...status dammit!” Hera shouted, willing time itself to slow as the twin TIE fighter patrol began to re-maneuver themselves for a closer look at the ‘operations.’
“Sphere...cam!” The man shouted vigorously before rolling his own eyes into his skull. Zeb pulled the mask off the man’s face, pulling up short when he saw movement within his mouth he couldn’t identify. Moments later something hit the Lasat hard in the back of the head.
“Ouch.” Zeb shouted, Chopper wheeling past with a warbling laugh pointing both upper appendages at him while firing his ambulatory boosters again and launching himself into the Ghosts upper level. Zeb turned around to find the culprit of his surprise, a muted silver orb that had rolled to a stop next to his left foot.
“Thank...you…” The man whispered harshly, precisely in the condition N’dali said he would be, his eyes fluttering in a battle of consciousness. He let his arm drop into Zeb’s leg with purpose, holding his hand out. Zeb looked between the open hand and the tiny sphere in his palm, deciding an unconscious man with a toy in his hand couldn’t pose a threat as he placed it delicately in the man’s grasp. The fingers of the open hand closed slowly as the man drifted solemnly into unconsciousness, the whisk of a smile stretching across his parched lips.
“Go Go GO!” Zeb shouted into the onboard comm.
“Richer pastures and all, it’s been a pleasure boys…” Hera fired into the mouthpiece of the headset she had substituted. “Now Chop!” She yelled behind her after maneuvering the Ghost in a wide sweeping barrel roll clear of the damaged shuttle, placing it between her and the fighters.
Two authoritive bursts from the Ghost’s aft laser battery laced into the damaged shuttle, renewing the plasma leak and igniting the doomed vessel into a ball of conflagration that consumed the TIE fighters as well.
“That went well..” Zeb said clearing the cockpit hatchway and tossing the massive helmet onto his ‘old’ seat. “The injuries on the former director’s back will need your tiny fingers Hera, mine will just make things worse.”
“This isn’t over Zeb, multiple signals converging to intercept, their cutting off our lanes.” Hera said smoothly, “tiny fingers?” She half turned to the Lasat taking up residence once again in the copilot’s seat.
“We don’t have the crew to outgun much these days…” Zeb replied, holding up a hand three times the size of Hera’s to his left. “I miss em..” He continued nonchalantly, only registering mild surprise at the Light Cruiser snapping into view before them.
“Two ISD’s converging on perpendicular intercept patterns.” Hera commented, the decision to angle port or starboard taken from her.
“Then go through em.” Zeb chuckled briefly before disappearing below into the forward gunnery bay through the cockpit access hatch.
“Turn and burn Zeb!” Hera shouted from her position just above his left shoulder, Zeb latching the final buckle on his harness before pulsing the charge on the laser’s refining cells. He gave the full harness a positive check with a quick push against the restraint, “All you Hera!” He shouted his readiness.
Hera rocked the Ghost starboard, engaging an assist in velocity with synchronous firing of the ships port side maneuvering jets, whirling the mid-size freighter into a dizzying barrel roll that would be near impossible to target. The moment Zeb’s stomach began to lurch he pulled back on the triggers, sending a continuous pattern of lethal green energy into the Light Cruisers forward shields. The return fire was as Hera had expected, sloppy and erratic finding no purchase whatsoever anywhere near their hull.
“Why the sudden interest…...in a salvage operation anyway?” Zeb said between queasy belches.
“Remains to be seen but I would wager it an educated guess about the cargo and not the shuttle itself.” Hera replied, slamming home her own triggers as the top and belly mounted Taim & Bak turrets discharged volley after volley of green bolts, both of them working the exact center of their roll with successive contact, buffeting the Cruisers shields into forced submission.
✦
“I don’t care how critical your shields are cretin! Stop that vessel!” Commander Bleusow shouted from his position forward on the ISD Arrei, “NOW!”
“This is a Light Cruiser Commander not a Star Destroyer. I am working with what I have!” Lieutenant Huage replied with a whimper in his voice, skewed by static and erratic modulation.
“And they are a simple freighter fighting for scraps you dullard! Dive and board formation.” Bleusow conveyed his outrage as he waited for his own navcon to maneuver himself into a useful spear of deadly force.
“..Sir! That would mean assured destruction!!” The whimper was more noticeable.
“And compliance with your orders Lieutenant, or are you above such matters?” Bleusow almost spit the words into the transparisteel before him.
“..Nnn..oo, no…no of course not Sir.” Huage replied timidly, not all securing the Commanders assuredness that the order would be followed.
“Then get to it, we will intercept Lieutenant, all you need to do is diverge their efforts.” Bleusow offered with lowered hostility, then turned on the spot swiping at his neck with a pointed thumb as he directed his gaze to the comms pit. With a nod further removed toward his weapons officer, he turned his back to the crew pits once again and waited patiently before countless blue streaks highlighted the view before him.
✦
“If you have one of those heroic pilot tricks up your sleeve, now is the time.” Zeb shouted over his shoulder in response to the diving front end of the angular Cruiser in front of them, his continuous fire finding holes in the failing shields as they blossomed with bright flashes.
“He’s boarding, and far too slowly. Maintaining tight roll with downward thrust Zeb...this is going to be uncomfortable.” Hera replied, gritting her teeth as she released the trigger the belly turret and corrected the Ghost’s trajectory to match the bow of the enemy vessel just as the threat assessment board chimed repeatedly, filling the cockpit with the sound they didn’t need at the moment.
“I am well beyond discomfort…” Zeb admitted with another belch, “torpedoes I’d wager.” He cast over his shoulder again, Hera quite certain the activity in the nose was sufficient enough to cover the constant beeping beside her.
“How do you know?” Hera asked quickly, ready to lose the contents of her own stomach while maintaining locked arms on the ship’s yoke.
“Because I see em.”
The reply was simple enough, Hera reacting with an indignant ‘huff’ in response, realizing that her level of unsurprise at the level of brutality the Empire would enact even upon itself had diminished to a level just above ambivalence. “This is going to be close Zeb.”
“When is it not Hera...seriously.” He replied with what little humor remained as the Ghost throttled even further into its suicidal roll, the Cruiser before them presenting its top side in an act of foolish defiance. ‘That may work against some pilots rook…’ Zeb thought with a refreshing bit of laughter, only forcing another queasy belch in its wake.
With her head rocking with the strained vibrations of the ship and centrifugally forced to her assigned right side, she slowly forced her chin to the left to view the navcomm, waiting for the blinking red indicator upon to it to register the bright static green she was waiting for.
“….Hera...close isn’t...going to be….close enough...at this rate….” Zeb forced himself to say, his arms aching from the strain of gravitational exertion, snapped his fingers loose of the triggers.
She couldn’t respond until words were available, eyeing the darkened black bead that she willed into incandescence. The chirping and harsh beeps from the assessment board became a static buzzing sound as the flares of the oncoming torpedoes provided the punctuation to the encounter. Suddenly, the green stasis of hopes arrival drove her to forget about impossibility for another day as she kicked a foot out to bind the yoke and reached up with authority for the hyperdrive throttle, slamming it forward with everything she had held in reserve.
The moment she felt the ship lurch under her seat, Hera released her hands and feet from all controls and fell back into the pilot’s seat with her arms spread wide in a gripping wave of relief. She closed her eyes and breathed in deeply, suddenly very aware of the horrid stench that had overtaken the cabin. With a reflexive snap of her left arm she pinned her nostrils shut, “by what manner of all the hells is that smell!”
Zeb would have found the question humorous if he had not been swiping the remainder of spittle from his mouth with his sleeve after retching into the transparisteel of the lower nose canopy, “I am going to need to clean up down here when we get back.” He bristled before passing out in the gunnery seat.
✦
The white and red blossoms of the torpedoes mark filled the central partitions within the view before him, Bleusow raising a hand to his cheek and rubbing vigorously in response, “Ensign, I want make and model of that freighter.” He said with a quip clip of an order.
“Apologies Sir, ‘Vesper’ was unable to register any ping of their transponder nor get any readings whatsoever.” The signals officer returned quickly.
“Then what we have here are the tragic results of a training exercise gone wrong.” Bleusow began in a mocking lamentation, “Lieutenant Huage was unable to evade live weapons fire training and tragically lost his vessel and crew, such a shame really, I thought the young man had such potential, would you agree Cappy?”
The comm chimed in as a second Commander weighed in, “Tragic and unfortunate Sir.” Then broke communications.
“Well, back at it then…” Bleusow said with a light hearted chirp, “return to our route Spires, I’ll be in my quarters.” He finished with a nod toward his navcon.