Jump to content

Driven By the Bonds of Family


alaurin

Recommended Posts

Once again I find myself with a story that grew too big to keep bogging down the SFC thread with, so I am bringing Kat, Tia, Val, and company to their own thread. For those of you new to those characters, I introduced Bounty Hunter, Katrynka, back in August after a string of BH stories hit the SFC thread. After reading so many BH stories, I started getting this interesting idea in my head for a Cathar Bounty hunter and it wouldn’t leave me alone until I wrote it, followed by another a week later. Then roughly a month after that, another intriguing idea popped into my head involving Kat’s littermate, Tiannya, and their friend/’adopted’ sister, Valaya that just happened to fit in with that week’s prompt. Their story quickly blossomed and I kept telling it, searching for a prompt to fit every part, but after 4 months of that, I think it’s time to just bite the bullet and give them their own thread……they’ve earned it. Due to the way this story will flow, and the fact that it contains multiple classes, I will spoiler tag each part with the appropriate class. However, in general, you can expect story spoilers for the BH, Smuggler, and Trooper classes to begin with, along with their companions. Later in, there will be other classes as well.

 

Hopefully those of you who’ve been following Kat, Tia, and Val in the SFC thread will continue enjoy their tale here. As with the Lauren girls, I will still post stuff in the SFC thread for these characters, however, it will be more prompt related.

 

 

I will add in some pictures to this OP when I can find the ones I put in the SFC thread, but you can always feel free to search Tumblr for alaurin pics and you will find plenty! You’re also welcome to look at/follow my Tumblr page….I’m alaurin101 there (alaurin was already taken :().

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This first installment is copied over from the SFC thread. It was originally posted on 1/30/14 for the Syncronicity prompt.

 

Out There Somewhere

 

Spolier Alert: Spoilers for the intro to the BH, Smuggler, and Trooper class stories.

 

The cream colored Cather stepped off the shuttle, wrinkling her nose at the stench that assaulted her nasal cavity. The last place Katrynka Vleska ever expected or wanted to set foot on was the stink hole she’d just landed on. It had been five years since she and Val had delivered the cargo from Foster’s ship and both girls had hoped to never return to this place.

 

“Oh well,” Kat muttered to herself as she walked through the Jigunna spaceport, her honey colored eyes carefully assessing her surroundings, taking in the seedy spacers, weary travelers, and the burly Gamorreans that passed for ‘law’ enforcement, one of which was shoving an Evocii ahead of him with his large boot. Kat sighed, hating this place, “with any luck, this'll be a short visit.”

 

She checked her datapad when she exited the spaceport, ready to meet up with the older Human who’d approached her after she’d brought down a highly dangerous and very wanted Exchange leader. Kat was proud of that kill, having worked hard these past few years at honing her blaster skills to dual wielding deadly precision. She’d gotten used to plated armor and the weight no longer affected her for the most part and she had to admit, there was something to be said for a flamethrower……after learning how to use it without singing her fur.

 

Braden had been impressed with her raw talent and asked if she was interested in a shot at the Great Hunt. After the retired bounty hunter explained what the Great Hunt was, what it entailed, and the rewards for the winner, Kat eagerly accepted determined to come out on top……and when Kat set her mind to something, there was little that could stop her. This Great Hunt would be her way in, allowing her to finally complete her part of ‘the mission’ after all these years. Then the four of them could once again be reunited, her, Val, Zyra, and her littermate, Tia, who Val recently located.

 

Her part of the mission ran through her thoughts as she walked towards the Poison Pit, careful to stick to the main road after hearing blaster fire coming from behind more than one building. Kat mentally reviewed the list, Step one, start taking bounties…..check. Step two, get some decent weapons and gear…..check, she glanced down at what passed for her armor, well, sorta check. Step three, build a reputation as a bounty hunter…..check. Step four, start working to build ties with the Empire…..well, this Great Hunt will get me in with the Mandalorians which is just as good. Step five, use those ties to find Zyra and bring her home!

 

She glanced up at the sky, an ugly yellow-brown color reeking with the pollution belching from the factories that littered Hutta. She said a quick prayer to the Gods that Val, Zyra, and Tia were all safe out there somewhere. Then with grim resolve, she entered the dingy cantina to begin step four.

 

****

 

On the other side of the galaxy, a small Freighter was navigating the Hyper Lanes on its way to Ord Mantell. The petite Mirialan captain made the switch to the lane that would take the ship to her final destination, plotted the course, then got up and headed to the refresher for a much needed shower. Valaya Tarenz wrinkled her nose at the smell coming from her and blanched at the dirt smudged emerald green face that appeared in the mirror. The quirky little pixie was a bit obsessive about being clean, but sometimes getting dirty was unavoidable, whether that was literally or figuratively.

 

Right now, she was literally filthy after insisting that every crate of that weapons shipment be opened and inspected before she signed the slip and left Nar Shaddaa. Val had trust issues and this was a big, very expensive load she was hauling. She wasn’t about to take any chances that anything would go wrong, especially considering this was for a big Underworld boss, one she hoped would pave her way into the Galactic Underworld. Unfortunately, the men delivering the cargo refused to help her and after a brief encounter between her knee and one of men’s privates, she ended up going through each of the crates by herself while her very irate and fiercely loyal C2 unit kept a close eye on the men who dared upset his mistress. After verifying that everything was in order, a relieved and very dirty Val signed the slip and departed.

 

As she shampooed her thick ebony hair, Val found herself thinking about ‘the mission’ and her part in it. Things had taken longer than anticipated for her and Kat to build up their perspective reputations and bank accounts, but their goals were difficult and expensive. Armor, weapons, and information cost money and reputations weren’t the easiest thing to build for freelancers and mercenaries……so many were out there. Thanks to the scumbag Foster, who’d taken Zyra away from them six years ago, they acquired the nice freighter now in Val’s name. Val smiled, shaking her head as she recalled the day they killed the Exchange smuggler five years ago, it’s pretty bad when your own protocol droid hates you! C2 actually cheered when Kat and Val ditched Foster’s body out the airlock and was devoted to them since.

 

Val finished washing and stepped out of the shower, Kat, Zyra, and Tia on her mind as she dried off. Orphaned at the age of eleven, the shy introvert eventually befriended thirteen year old Cathar littermates Kat and Tia. The three orphans survived on the streets of Nar Shaddaa as best they could for a few months before being taken in by a kindly elderly Human where they met nine year old Zyra, a tiny, pink, force sensitive Twi’lek.

 

She shivered at the thought of Zyra’s fate, all these years later, it was still a fresh wound……one that Tia never fully got past. Kat, Tia, and Zyra were her sisters……not by blood, but by circumstance, and you do anything and everything to protect family, Val thought as she brushed her hair, securing it into its usual ponytail. They would find Zyra and bring her home…..as well as Tia, who’d been forced into military service after being caught stealing medical supplies from the Republic. Val still felt responsible for that, if I hadn’t been so injured…..

 

She forced that thought aside as she went to her quarters to get dressed, knowing she would be seeing Tia soon. Thanks to her good reputation making deliveries in Republic space these past few years, she was able to finally locate Tia. One of her recent deliveries, which ironically happened to be medical supplies, was for a small Republic military base on Dantooine. One of the soldiers there started shyly flirting with her. Val decided to take a chance and asked him if he happened to know her friend, Tiannya Vleska. He didn’t know her friend, but was more than happy to check the military database. Val had tried to slice into the database before, but even with her skills, was caught and locked out. A few minutes later, the soldier had good news for her……Tia was stationed in the Outer Rim. He gave Val her location and contact information and after a chaste kiss on his cheek, a very excited Val departed Dantooine and immediately called Kat with the good news.

 

Now, if she could get in with the Underworld, she might be one step closer to finding out what happened to her parents, Kat and Tia’s family, and maybe even help locate Zyra. Val worried about Kat forging ties with the Empire, even if it was as a mercenary. It was necessary since they knew Zyra was sold into Imperial slavery, but it was dangerous. She shivered at the thought of being an alien in Imperial space as she began packing basic medical supplies, her slicing kit, and stealth generator into her backpack.

 

Always one to be prepared, Val wanted to be ready to leave the ship as soon as she landed. She’d get the refueling process started while the cargo was being unloaded, then head into the nearest town to pick up a few supplies before departing. She opened her nightstand drawer to grab a few credsticks to toss into her backpack when her hand felt the bracelet. All the sudden, she had this intense vision of Tia and looked down at the bracelet in her hand. It was Tia’s only memento of her mother and she’d left it behind that day she set out to steal the medical supplies. Val hung on to it, hoping to return it to its owner one day. Being force sensitive like most of her species, just not enough to warrant training, Val knew not to question these ‘feelings’ she had and trusting in what she considered her gut instinct, Val put the bracelet with the credsticks in the front pocket of her bag.

 

Freshly showered with her bag packed, Val headed to the cockpit for a quick check to make sure everything was as it should be before going to bed. She looked out the galaxy, the stars white beams of light streaming by, and said a quick prayer to the force to keep Kat, Tia, and Zyra safe wherever they were out there.

 

 

****

 

Approaching what would be Val’s destination, an announcement came over the intercom of a Republic troop transport. They would be docking on Ord Mantell’s orbital station in a few minutes. A young, silvery furred Cathar stood, grabbing her duffle and rifle from the overhead compartment. She secured the rifle on her back, then the duffle containing her belongings and held on to the overhead rail as the transport docked.

 

A few minutes later, newly promoted Sergeant Tiannya Vleska made her way through the airlock to the elevator that would take her to the main level of the station where the shuttles were located. She was both nervous and excited as she stepped into the elevator.

 

Initially, Tia hadn’t been happy about being forced into military service, but over time, she found she was happy with the life of a soldier and well liked despite the occasional demerit for mouthing off to a superior officer. Always the more hot tempered of her littermates, Tia was easily nettled by officers who thought their rank made them Gods. She was a good soldier, intelligent and strong in combat, despite her small size. She even earned the right to enter the Vanguard program, something usually reserved for larger men and women. She touched the scar over her right eye, a reminder of her failure to keep her adopted sister safe and a motivator to keep her body strong so no one would ever get the better of her so easily again.

 

She sat down in the waiting area while the shuttle finished fueling. Her face grew hard as she thought back to that day when Zyra was kidnapped by Exchange thugs. Only sixteen at the time, Tia fought them off with everything she had, but they beat her badly and she was blinded after one of their blades cut her across the eye, narrowly missing the eye itself. Zyra agreed to go with them and the last thing Tia saw before blackness came with the butt of a pistol to her head was her twelve year old Twi’lek friend…..more like a sister, being dragged out of their little house.

 

She awoke to Val and her littermate, Kat anxiously hovering over her. Tia told them what happened as they patched her up and showed them the wallet she managed to snag from one of the men during the fight. Armed with an ID, an Exchange smuggler by the name of Tegan Foster, the three girls began the search for Zyra, while doing whatever they could to earn and save credits. For Kat and Val, that meant hustling on the Promenade, Kat’s slender curvy body, identical to Tia’s, an excellent distraction for their male marks. Tia didn’t approve of stealing at all, but didn’t lecture them on it like she usually did knowing they would need all the credits they could get to grease the information wheels and get Zyra back. She refused to con or steal though, keeping her job at the cantina, but agreed to start dancing instead of waitressing. Naturally sensual with her movements and one to pick up physical skills quickly, Tia quickly became popular and within a couple of weeks, she brought in a lot more credits than she ever did waitressing and after a few months, they finally caught a break when they got a very promising lead.

 

Kat and Val followed up on the lead while Tia stayed behind to guard their house…….an empty house on the streets of Nar Shaddaa begged to be broken into and after Zyra was taken, Tia honed her body into a weapon, ready to stop anyone that dared take anything from them. Kat and Val were successful in slicing into the Exchange database and getting Foster’s location, but both were badly injured in the process. Val’s wounds were the worst and would be fatal without treatment. With Kat unable to help due to her own injuries, that left Tia to steal the supplies they needed to save Val’s life and the only place that had what they needed was the Republic headquarters on the Promenade. Despite having Val’s stealth generator, Tia was caught and taken into custody. After hours of interrogation, she finally relented a little, saying she was stealing for some orphan kids on the streets. She agreed to remain in their custody if they would drop off the bag of supplies at the house. The kindly soldier was fine with that and the next morning, Tia was shipped off to the military.

 

The planetside shuttle will be departing in ten minutes. All passengers should begin boarding immediately.

 

The announcement interrupted Tia’s walk down memory lane and her stomach tightened as her nervous excitement returned. She grabbed her duffle, made sure her rifle was secure, and walked towards the shuttle, eager to begin her new assignment to Spec Forces most highly decorated squad, Havoc. She paused a moment, her lavender eyes looking out at the starry sky, and sent a quick prayer to the Gods that Kat, Val, and Zyra were all safe out there somewhere.

 

Edited by alaurin
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Now for a brand new story!!! YAY?

 

To Impress a Hutt…..

 

Spoiler Alert: Spoilers for BH Hutta

 

By her second day on Hutta, Kat was convinced the acrid stench was permanently entrenched in both her nasal cavity and fur. Words could not describe how badly she wanted off that stinkhole but at least their team was making progress. After introducing her to Mako, a young, petite Human cyborg who happened to be a highly skilled slicer, and Jory, a large Nikto who was their security and weapons expert, Braden explained that there were only two ways to get into the Great Hunt, either be a Mandalorian elite or a freelancer with a sponsorship. Since Kat wasn’t Mandalorian, they needed sponsorship to enter the competition and that meant impressing Nem’ro the Hutt.

 

So Kat spent the better part of the afternoon doing some side jobs from the bounty board, most of which consisted taking out Nem’ro’s rival, Fa'athra's goons all around Jigunna while Mako searched for a local target which would get the Hutt’s attention. By evening, Mako had found the perfect target, a Corellian quick draw artist named Vexx, who was wanted for robbing fifteen Imperial military pay stations. That made him either absolutely crazy or a massive glory hound, but definitely dangerous enough target to be a high profile that would get Nem’ro’s attention. Vexx had a safe house in Jigunna and Kat raided it last night, finding an encrypted datapad that was no trouble for Mako to slice into. Along with a detailed journal of 'conquests' and some building blueprints, they discovered an itenerary in the datapad and now knew Vexx was planning to leave this morning. Hoping he was still making preparations to his ship, Kat was currently headed to Vexx's hanger to take him down. Glancing at the shuttle schedule as she ran past, she found herself momentarily wishing she was headed to a shuttle off world instead. Focus Kat, you’re doing this to find and free Zyra……Gods know what she’s gone through these past few years! So you just need to suck it up and do what you have to do to get her back!

 

Kat sighed as she entered the hanger, her thoughts interrupted when a group of what she assumed were workers started shooting at her. Igniting her flame thrower, she quickly made them regret that decision and after seeing their charred remains, the others left, a couple of them muttering that they didn’t get paid enough to deal with crazy Bounty Hunters. Kat flashed them a cheeky grin that bared her fangs before continuing on to what passed for Vexx’s security.

 

“Hey girlie,” the thug called out, “You better hightail it outta here while you still can. I’m not like those other peons.”

 

“Nope….you’re a bigger peon than they were,” Kat nodded, “but size isn’t everything and you look a little soft to me.”

 

“You’re gonna pay for that!” the thug shouted, running at Kat with a vibrosword drawn. By the time the porky guard managed to get to her, she’d sank several blaster bolts into him and one well timed explosive dart later, he was down before touching her.

 

This guy really hired cheap help…..must’ve burned up all his credits, Kat mused, shaking her head at the pathetic guard. She was pretty good with her blasters and explosive devices, and she loved her flamethrower, but she knew she still had a lot to learn and refused to let herself get complacent or cocky. She continued on to the launch pad where she saw a man fitting Vexx’s description from Mako’s file making repairs to a small freighter. Not one to just shoot someone in the back, Kat cleared her throat and the man startled, slowly standing and turning toward her.

 

“What’s this, a lawman of sorts?” Vexx snickered, “I never thought I’d see the day dashing Vexx would be cornered by some ugly alien chick.”

 

“Uh, dashing…..you serious?” Kat snorted, her amber gaze traveling over the dark complected, decently built Human before she raised a brow at him, “I mean you’re not bad to look at, but dashing…..no, I don’t think so.”

 

“Oh, Vexx is most certainly dashing,” he insisted.

 

“Any man that refers to themselves in the third person is hardly dashing,” Kat smirked, “Vexx seems to be more of an idiot than anything truth be told.”

 

“I’ll have you know that many women find Vexx dashing.”

 

“Yeah? What are they, twelve?!”

 

“I wouldn’t expect a scruffy alien like you to understand the appeal of Vexx,” he sneered, “and not only is Vexx dashing, but I’m a man of many talents including the art of the quick draw.”

 

Kat was getting tired of ‘dashing’ Vexx by this time and was more than ready to shoot the as$hole, “Quick draw artist, huh?” Kat taunted, her hand hovering over her blaster, "Show me."

 

“Oh, it’s on,” Vexx sneered, but unfortunately for dashing Vexx, he was a lot more talk than action and he’d barely touched the handle of his blaster when Kat shot him. “Cheater!” he cried, firing off a round of blaster bolts at Kat.

 

Dashing Vexx with his injured shoulder proved to be no match for Kat, who’d taken down a fair share of targets on Nar Shaddaa over the past few years and after unloading a few blaster bolts, a small missile, and a Rocket Punch, something reserved for people who really annoyed her, Kat was staring down at his corpse, shaking her head.

 

“This guy robbed military pay stations?!” Kat muttered as she searched the now dashingly dead Vexx for his ID tags, “Either dashing Vexx had serious help or the people guarding those pay stations were the bottom feeders of the Imperial military.”

 

After finding Vexx’s ID tags, Kat walked back to the Poison Pit, hoping Braden was successful in getting her a meeting with the Hutt......not that she was looking forward to meeting Nem’ro by any means. Kat wasn’t one that hated anyone based on species, but after living on the streets of Nar Shaddaa since the age of thirteen, she had her opinions of Hutts in general and none of them were good. However, she needed to impress this Hutt so he’d sponsor her and she’d do whatever it took to show him she was worthy of the hunt. The sooner Nem’ro was impressed, the sooner she could get that sponsorship and get the void off Hutta.

 

“And take the longest, hottest shower I can possibly find,” Kat muttered as she entered the dingy cantina. She couldn’t recall the last time she felt this unkempt, “People are going to start thinking I’m diseased.…”

 

Kat felt something off before even entering the room Braden had rented for their temporary base of operations and paused outside the door, her sensitive hearing registering nothing coming from the room. It was way too quiet……no Jory tinkering with a weapon, no Mako chattering away as she found interesting tidbits on her HoloNet feed, no Braden planning their next move. Hackles raised, Kat grabbed her blasters, thumbing them on as she slowly crept into the room only to find the deathly still bodies of Jory and Braden on the floor.

 

Rushing to her fallen teammates, Kat felt for a pulse but found none on either man. Looking around, she saw no signs of a struggle other than the two corpses on. Kat didn’t see Mako anywhere and hoped that the friendly young woman was away when this went down……Kat didn’t even want to think about the pretty slicer's fate if she’d been there. Footsteps in the hall caught Kat’s attention and she immediately turned towards the door, her charged blasters raised and ready to kill if necessary.

 

“Kat! What gives?! It’s me! Why are you....wait.....who......oh no! NO! BRADEN! JORY!” Mako cried, the color draining from her face as tears pooled in her brown eyes. A second later, those eyes were glaring accusingly at her, “YOU! What did you do to them?!”

 

“Mako,” Kat replied, careful to keep her voice calm, “Think about it……I have nothing to gain by killing two members of my own team......and everything to lose.”

 

Mako looked away, “I know, Kat. I’m sorry…….I just saw them and your blasters charged up. Braden is just…..was…..like a father to me. I can’t…..”

 

Kat felt tears stinging her own eyes as she went over and hugged the slicer, having a good idea what Mako was feeling right then……shock, disbelief, and so much pain. Kat knew those feelings all too well so she held the other woman as she sobbed, fighting back her own memories of pain and loss……memories of her parents and littermate, Jakkob, killed in an explosion, then a few years later finding her other littermate, Tia lying in a pool of blood after she tried to stop those Exchange thugs from taking Zyra. Tia survived only to be taken into Republic custody and shipped off to the military less than a year later. Kat knew the pain of loss, and wanted to let the young woman grieve, but they needed information in case whoever killed Jory and Braden decided to come back and finish the job. Unfortunately for Mako, grieving would have to wait.

 

“Mako,” Kat whispered gently, “I know it hurts and I know you’re in shock, but we need to find out who did this. Can you think of anyone who might want to hurt Braden or Jory…..or even you?”

 

“No,” Mako answered, her voice hoarse as she wiped her eyes, “but we always had security camera’s running. This isn’t exactly the most trustworthy place and we couldn’t afford to have our stuff stolen.” She went over to the computer terminal and tried to bring up the feed, “Looks like someone’s tampered with it, but I think I can get most of it…….here we go…..”

 

The image to two armored Humans came up, one shorter with cybernetics, the other with thick dirty blond hair and tattoos on his face. They held weapons on the unarmed Braden and Jory, the blond introducing himself as Tarro Blood.

 

“Tarro Blood……is that someone you know of, Mako?”

 

“Yeah, I’ve heard of him…..kind of a big shot even for a Mandalorian. He was nearly killed in a previous Great Hunt after being ganged up on and ended up being out on his back for months after.”

 

Kat and Mako watched, their anger building as Tarro made his intentions very clear. He intended to win the Great Hunt and was taking out the competition. Braden’s new hunter was the last threat that he intended to eliminate.

 

“You failed,” Jory taunted, “She’s not here and now you’ve tipped your hand.”

 

“You misunderstand me,” Tarro sneered, “Killing the hunters before the competition is against the rules….those others are still very much alive, just no longer a threat.” Tarro turned to his companion, “Sedyn, how does one stop a charging Gundark?”

 

“By shooting his legs out from under him.”

 

“That’s right……kill the upstart’s so called crew and she’s no longer a threat,” Tarro chuckled, “Take them out, Sedyn.”

 

Kat and Mako watched in horror as Sedyn fired off a round of shots after Tarro left the room, felling Braden and Jory before either could get to a weapon.

 

“That scum!” Mako raged, “He couldn’t even kill them himself……he had his lackey do it!”

 

“And they’ll both pay for it,” Kat swore, her bloodlust raging, “We will make them both regret this day…..”

 

“We need Nem’ro’s sponsorship to get you into the Great Hunt now more than ever,” Mako agreed, wiping her eyes, “That’s the best chance to get to him.”

 

“and once we get to him, I’ll kill him and his cronies as slowly and painfully as possible,” Kat promised, a feral smile curving her full lips enough to bare those sharp fangs. Mako shuddered at the sight, thankful that Kat was on her side, before turning to her computer. Silent tears rolling down her cheeks, she began to arrange a meeting for Kat with Nem’ro and see if there were any more targets the Cathar could take down on the way.

 

Kat started to approach the slicer quietly crying as she worked at her computer, but stopped, knowing Mako probably needed some time to herself to let it all out. Understanding that, she went over to the bodies of Braden and Jory, saying a prayer to the Gods to look over their spirits as she knelt down and closed their eyes. Then she stood and left to go make arrangements for them.

 

Edited by alaurin
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Another new part already?! Time to get to know Tia a little better.....

 

 

A Beautiful Day on Ord Mantell?

 

Spoiler Alert: Spoilers for Trooper Ord Mantell

 

Her first day on Ord Mantell got off to a heated start…..literally. The silvery furred Cathar had just stepped off of the troop shuttle from the orbital station and was walking towards the dark brown complected, very large Human male when an explosion rocked the ground. Tia turned to see the shuttle she’d just stepped off had become a fiery ball. The Human introduced himself as Lieutenant Bex Kolos as he rushed her into the large walker waiting to take them to Fort Garnik. Lieutenant Kolos, or Gearbox as he preferred to be called, explained that he was the tech expert for Havoc and that they were on Ord Mantell to secure a new, high tech bomb developed by the Republic that had been recently stolen by Separatists. Gearbox was just starting to tell her about her new squad as the walker passed by Drelliad Village when they heard missiles firing all around them and seconds later, their walker shook as one of the missiles scored a hit.

 

Tia, Gearbox, and the other passengers were shaken, but safe. Unfortunately, the same couldn’t be said for the driver and the walker itself. Gearbox ordered Tia into the village to take out any remaining rocket launchers while he tried to get the walker up and running again. Tia double timed it into the village, seeing fire and chaos everywhere as Separatists and soldiers fought openly in the streets. Assisting the troops wherever she could, Tia made her way through the village, blowing up any rocket launcher crates she came across. About an hour and several dead Seps later, she couldn’t find anymore crates and contacted Gearbox. Her squad mate instructed her to head to Fort Garnik and report in to Commander Tavus while he tried to salvage everything he could from the walker that was too far gone to repair.

 

Tia ran into a few more Seps on her trip to the fort, but managed to take them out without any damage to herself. All the same, the young Cathar was happy to be within the confines of the well-guarded Fort Garnik. She immediately headed for the Republic Headquarters and after being stopped by a jittery young private, she entered the Command Center where she found Commander Tavus debriefing the rest of her squad.

 

Commander Tavus, a dark haired, middle aged Human, stopped when he spotted her entering the room and introduced her to the rest of the squad, Tia beaming with pride as he listed her accomplishments and specialized areas. She’d come to like serving in the military and it felt good to finally reach a level where she had the respect and trust of her peers and superiors after years of having orders barked at her, unable to give an opinion on the matter without being ignored, demeaned, or punished for disrespecting her betters, some of which thought their rank made them infallible Gods. She fought back a grin as she realized her days of being called, grunt, rookie, punk, or peon were now past her. More than once, her temper had gotten the better of her in those situations and she’d scrubbed her fair share of toilets as a result of thumbing her nose at authority. However, despite hating the treatment many officers gave the lower ranking troops, Tia was careful not to get into too much trouble. She was driven to succeed, not for prestige and fame, but for the benefits…..clearance especially. Tia wanted a higher level of clearance so she could investigate her parents’ deaths on her own without drawing unwanted attention. Uncertain if she and Kat still had enemies out there, Tia wanted to see if she could find out who was really responsible for their parents’ deaths and why.

 

Tavus began to introduce the rest of the squad to her, starting with the squad’s XO, Captain Zora aka Wraith, a petite Mirialan with a demeanor cold enough to give a person frostbite in the middle of the desert. Then Lieutenant Ryler Dorant aka Needles, a Human cyborg barely taller than she was, who was the squad’s medic and gave out a creepy vibe that made Tia gave an involuntary shiver at the thought of having him touch her for any reason. Next came Lieutenant Vanto Bazren aka Fuse, a quiet, pale Zabrak that was the squad’s explosives expert. Tavus explained that Gearbox was still working with the walker and would be back later. Tia saluted her new squad, happy to be there and excited at the prospect of working with the Republic’s most highly decorated squad. Despite her good record, Tia still found it hard to believe she was picked for Havoc.

 

After catching Tia up on recent events concerning the stolen ZR-57, an orbital strike bomb newly developed by the Republic. They’d gotten intel on the bomb’s location, but the Seps moved it before they could close in. Tavus asked them for thoughts and Tia suggested the possibility that someone on the inside tipped them off. Much to her dismay, Tavus dismissed the idea, saying they didn’t have time for a mole hunt, and told her that they had a field operative, a civilian named Bellis that he wanted her to meet with in Talloran Village. Then he directed her attention to another officer that was overseeing their missions.

 

 

Tia turned to see that officer approach, instantly pleased to see another member of her species, something she rarely saw since entering the military, and she looked forward to getting to know him. She missed her littermate and working with other Cathar helped fill that void a little. As he got closer, she realized that he was a good looking male and being mere days away from her cycle, Tia could hardly contain her excitement. She’d never mated with another Cathar and he definitely filled the bill. Maybe Ord won’t be so bad after all, she mused, only half listening to Tavus introduce him as Lieutenant Aric Jorgan. Unfortunately, all of her hopes were dashed as soon as the lieutenant spoke, barking out instructions on where and when to meet Bellis as he held out a file to her.

 

“Now let me make this perfectly clear, rookie,” he continued as Tia felt her temper rising, “When you’re out in the field, what I say goes, understood?”

 

“I can handle myself…..sir,” Tia snapped, her claws itching to scratch that smug look off his tawny furred face.

 

“We’ll see about that, Sergeant,” Jorgan replied in an arrogant tone that grated on her last nerve, “Tavus and the others have proven themselves in the field many times over……you haven’t. Now get to Talloran, meet with Bellis, get his intel, and double-time it back without screwing anything up. Dismissed!”

 

Why you arrogant, egotistical, rude, Tia seethed as she left the command center, I don’t care how good looking he is…..I’d rather mate with a Gamorrean!

 

Aric Jorgan watched the young Sergeant leave after glancing at the file for a moment, happy to have knocked the little upstart down a peg after Tavus boasted her achievements to the squad. He saw her hold her head higher at that and knew what would happen if he didn’t let her know her place. He’d seen it countless times before. Some young newly promoted hotshot would get assigned to Ord, thinking they were the answer to everything because they had a few good marks on their record. Those troops were usually the first ones killed because they no longer felt the need to listen to their superiors, often taking good soldiers with them to an early grave. His attitude didn’t exactly make him popular, but those that served with him long enough realized he had their best interests in mind. She must have sensed him staring and paused, turning her head and catching his eye. He had to admit, he enjoyed seeing those lavender eyes flash at him before she turned back and disappeared from sight. It’s too bad, he thought, feeling a brief pang of regret, she’s actually quite a striking female.

 

Tia immediately set out for Talloran Village as ordered and fueled by her irritation, set off at a brisk jog as she quickly scanned the file. Talloran had recently been taken over by the Seps and wasn’t easy to get to as a result. Tia made the trip as fast as she could, but was too late. Bellis had been killed by a shot to the head and she barely stood back up from checking for a pulse when her Holo went off, Jorgan’s image appearing as soon as she pressed the button.

 

“That’s just great,” he growled, “We have a dead agent…..you think you could’ve taken any longer to get there?”

 

“I got here as fast as I could, sir” Tia argued, rattled by his attitude.

 

“Not fast enough, rookie,” he snapped and Tia felt like she’d been slapped in the face, “However, you still might be able to salvage this mission. Field agents are required to keep a record of their intel in a lock box. I want you to go to his house in the village and get that field box, now!”

 

“Yes, sir,” Tia nodded, still reeling from his words.

 

“Try not to mess anything else up, Sergeant…..now move it!”

 

Tia signed off and headed to the house at the end of the street. Jorgan’s harsh words stung her more than she liked and she couldn’t figure out why he seemed to think her no better than something he stepped on. It wasn’t my fault…..I ran as fast as I could…..I had to fight just to get into the village!

 

To make matters worse, Tia had tell Bellis’ wife that her husband was dead and ask her for his field box. Common sense told her there was nothing she could’ve done, but that didn’t stop her from feeling the guilt of her failure and Jorgan’s words kept ringing through her head, not fast enough, rookie. With a heavy, guilt laden heart, she broke the news to Bellis’ wife that her husband had been killed waiting for her to get to him. Tia fought back her own tears as the woman sobbed, that sense of failure weighing on her. Tia hated failure, especially in herself, and had a difficult time dealing with it. She still hadn’t gotten over her failure to keep those men from taking Zyra more than five years ago and now she came up short once again, a fact that Jorgan made sure to rub in further when she handed over Bellis’ field box.

 

After being dismissed, Tia left HQ in search of something edible to appease her growling stomach. She decided to try the cantina and headed there quickly, wanting to put as much space between her and Jorgan as possible. She had no idea how much longer she could put up with his obvious distaste for her without snapping and that troubled her. Tia was proud of her accomplishments since being shipped off to the military, she was well liked for the most part….her temper did have a way of getting her into trouble with her superiors, she went through basic vanguard training, something usually reserved for men and women much bigger and stronger than she was, and at twenty-three, was one of the youngest members in Spec Forces. With all that, Tia felt like she earned some sort of respect and resented being treated like some dumb grunt by a desk jockey officer for no apparent reason. While she knew she would never be a military strategist, she wasn’t stupid. She always got good grades in school and liked doing projects that involved tinkering. Technology wasn’t her strong suit, but thanks to Val, she had basic knowledge of computers and slicing. Mechanical things like weapons, ordinance, droids, and speeders were things she enjoyed working with, taking apart, rebuilding and making improvements. Overall, she felt she was an asset to the Republic Military. Jorgan can kiss my pretty ***, she decided as she entered the cantina.

 

Tia sat at the bar and ordered the biggest nerf burger they had. She was starving, her last decent meal, if it could be considered that, was a ration pack she bolted down an hour before her transport docked at Ord Mantell’s orbital station. She ordered a beer to go with her dinner, needing something dull her mood a little and since she was off duty at this point, she figured it wouldn’t hurt. With a heavy sigh, she took a healthy pull off the mug of dark Corellian ale the bartender put down in front of her and reflected on her day as she waited for her food.

 

Deep in thought, she didn’t register her name being squealed out or the blur of the pixie like figure running towards her until it was too late and Tia found herself being tackled off the barstool to the ground, a painful grunt escaping from her on impact. With a growl, she glared up at her attacker, now hovering over her and annoyance was instantly replaced with shock, then joy as an emerald green face she hadn’t seen in five years smiled down at her.

 

“Val?!”

 

 

Author's Note:

 

The Cathar Mating Cycle is something I made up. I introduced and explained it in this story.

 

Edited by alaurin
Link to comment
Share on other sites

@Yoshi: Thanks! Always good to know someone's reading and enjoying my stories! I hated the Braden/Jory thing as well and I really, really hated Jorgan on Ord!

 

Ok, now it's Val's turn.....

 

 

Of All the Planets in the Galaxy, I Just Had to Come Here….

 

Spoiler Alert: Spoilers for Smuggler Ord Mantell

 

One thing Captain Valaya Tarenz prided herself on was preparedness. She always made sure her backpack had everything she might need to survive in an emergency. Protien bars, water, a med kit, an old stealth generator, a slicing kit, and credsticks could always be found inside. Being a very punctual individual, Val made sure she was ready to leave well ahead of time in order to reach her destination without being late. She always blocked more than enough time for loading and unloading cargo for any issue that might come up so she wasn’t late to the next client. Because of this, despite being only twenty-one and merely five years in the business, the Mirialan freighter captain became a well-known, trustworthy smuggler in Republic and Hutt space. Her rates were reasonable, she got the job done, and didn’t have a single complaint. Several businesses wanted to contract her exclusively, but she always turned them down. Val liked being her own boss, liked choosing which jobs to take and which ones to pass on, and liked her solitude.

 

That morning, she’d woken up like she normally did, donning on a hoodie over her t-shirt and slipping her feet into the fuzzy pink slippers at the foot of her bed. With her tendency to feel easily exposed, Val always kept most of her body well covered, especially when other people were present. Part of this was that she got cold really easily, but mostly because she just felt safer somehow. Val made her way to the cockpit, making sure she was still on schedule. She saw that the ship was half an hour away from exiting hyperspace, so she went to the galley to eat and grab a mug of caffa that C2 had ready for her. After a quick bowl of cereal, Val took her caffa with her back to her quarters, quickly dressed, choosing her usual long sleeves and heavy vest, and returned to the cockpit just as the freighter was slowing down.

 

Val sat at the controls just in time to exit hyperspace and that’s when things began to go wrong. She steered the ship out of the hyperspace lane and Ord Mantell was easily visible in front of her. She approached the planet and immediately found herself being fired at.

 

“What the hell?” she wondered, gripping the steering mechanism tighter as she dodged the fire, “I wasn’t expecting this!” She dodged two more blasts and yelled for C2.

 

“Yes, Mistress Val,” the protocol droid called out as he entered the cockpit, “Oh my!”

 

“Sit down, SeeTwo,” Val instructed, banking to the left to avoid another barrage, “I may need your help….also, see if you can find out what’s going on here? The supervisor loading the cargo mentioned there was fighting on the planet between Separatists and the Republic, but I didn’t read anything about air defenses being used.”

 

“Right away,” C2 replied, bringing up local news feeds as Val banked again, “According to a military feed, it appears there’s a skirmish in Drelliad Village and Separatists have taken over some of the air defense cannons.”

 

“That’s just kriffing great,” Val muttered, banking to avoid another round, “We’re supposed to land there.” Her only two options at this point were turning around or attempting a landing. She really hated the thought of failing a delivery, especially since this one was for a high ranking Underworld boss. Val knew if it wasn’t successful, she’d never get another shot at making those Underworld connections she needed to find Zyra. After flying the freighter for the past five years, she’d become a very proficient pilot and having noticed a pattern in the air defense fire, Val figured her chances of making a successful landing were good.

 

“Give me max power to the shields, SeeTwo,” Val called out, “and strap in…..I’m going for it.” She waited for the next group of shots, then hit the throttle and began her descent, muttering the pattern to herself as she banked accordingly, “Left……Right……Center……Break…..” At the break in fire, she hit the switch for the landing gear and brought the ship down.

 

“Well done, mistress!” C2 cheered as Val sat back in her seat.

 

“Thanks, SeeTwo,” she sighed after a moment, “Alright, I’m heading out. We’re dropping this stuff off and getting the void off this planet. We have enough fuel to get us to Coruscant and I’ll get supplies there.”

 

Val grabbed her backpack, shoved her blaster in the holster on her belt, and exited the freighter. She descended the ramp to find a dark haired Human male waiting for her.

 

“Nice flying, Captain,” he complemented, holding his hand out, “I’m Skavak.”

 

“Captain Tarenz,” Val replied, shaking his hand. As soon as she touched him, her skin felt pr*ckly…..she didn’t like him, not at all. His words were polite, but it was a lie…..he was not a man to trust. Having a small degree of force sensitivity common to her species, Val never doubted her instincts and wanted nothing more than to get away, “So, what’s going on? I was told there was fighting going on between Separatists and the Republic, but I certainly wasn’t expecting to fly through air defense fire.”

 

“Seps are making another push at the Republic. They headed here since it’s close to Fort Garnik and happens to be the landing zone for the orbital station,” Skavak explained, “So we better get that cargo off your ship so you can get away before they completely take over.”

 

“You won’t get any arguments from me,” Val replied, “The quicker the better…..”

 

“Here’s your payment for the run, Captain,” Skavak said as he handed over several credsticks, “We should…..”

 

Skavak was interrupted by a younger Human male that came running into the warehouse, “Skavak,” he yelled, a little out of breath, “We’ve got trouble….”

 

“Woah, slow down Corso,” Skavak held up a hand, “What’s going on?”

 

Corso barely heard Skavak’s reply, his attention on the beautiful young woman standing next him. Her petite figure was hidden under the bulky vest she wore, but her face was captivating. Blue-grey eyes shined out from emerald skin, a small tattoo under each, as black as the thick hair she had bound in a short pony tail. Full lips parted as the hint of a blush kissed her cheeks.

 

“Corso?” Skavak’s voice brought him back to attention.

 

“Sorry…..the Seps are closing in and they’ve taken over the rest of the air defenses,” he told them, his face heating up with embarrassment at being caught staring like an idiot.

 

“That’s not good, Captain,” Skavak turned to Val, “I don’t think you’ll be able to take of now.”

 

“Why not? I flew in under fire and if the pattern keeps up, the break after every third volley should give me enough time to launch.”

 

“They only had half the cannons at that point,” Skavak answered, “There won’t be a break anymore.”

 

“Well, you said we’re near a fort……can’t the Republic troops get this under control?”

 

“They’ve got enough to deal with right now,” Corso told her, “A couple hours ago, the Seps hit a troop shuttle as it was taking off, then they took out a walker with rocket launchers.”

 

“You any good with slicing, Captain?”

 

“You might say that,” Val smirked, “Got an idea?”

 

“I do,” Skavak nodded, “If you can get into Drelliad village, knock out the remote stations, and lock out the targeting computer, that’ll eliminate the threat to you taking off.”

 

The last thing she wanted to do was put herself in the middle of a skirmish between the Seps and Republic troops, but she didn’t want to be stuck on this planet either, “Fine, but I want that cargo off my ship when I get back so I can haul jets out of here.”

 

“Corso and I will make sure of it, Captain.”

 

“Should I go with her?” Corso asked, not wanting the pretty young Captain going out there alone.

 

“I’ll be fine,” Val assured them as she hooked a stealth generator to her belt, “This should get me through the village without too much trouble and I do know how to use a blaster.”

 

“Alright,” Corso relented, “Good luck.”

 

Val smiled as she headed for the doorway, disappearing from sight as she exited. The stealth generator she always kept in her backpack was an older one, but its charge would last long enough to finish her task. Hidden from sight, Val easily crept her way through the village, only coming out to ambush Separatists that were near the remote stations. She’d kill the Seps, short circuit the station, causing it to overload and rendering it useless, then she’d move on to the next one. After all the remote stations were taken out, Val carefully made her way to where the targeting computer was located. She moved slowly, the Seps being on alert after she’d taken out the third station. However, the Republic troops surrounding the village were still demanding most of their attention and she was able to slip inside the building unnoticed. She took out the two Seps inside, then headed upstairs. The targeting computer proved no challenge at all for her slicing abilities and Val was just about finished making sure they’d never be able to get back into the system when her Holo went off. Val answered it, immediately on alert when Corso’s image appeared.

 

“Trouble, Captain,” Corso shouted over the sounds of blaster fire in the background, “We’ve got Seps attacking us…..Skavak, where the hell are you?”

 

“Dammit,” Val swore, “Hang tight, I’m almost finished here and I’ll be on my way.”

 

“Hurry, we could use another blaster here,” Corso nodded, then turned his head to the side, eyes wide, “Skavak! What are you…….”

 

Corso’s image disappeared and the feed was gone. Val hurried to finish with the computer then activated her stealth generator and rushed out of the building. She made a beeline for the hanger, moving as fast as she could without getting noticed and praying to the force that her ship was safe.

 

She entered the hanger to see a few dead Separatists and workers in the hanger. Then she spied Corso unconscious on the ground, a Separatist pointing a rifle at his prone body. Val loaded up a tranq dart and hit the huge man before he could discharge his weapon. The other two Separatists turned toward her, knowing someone was there, but unable to see. Val crept behind one and dropped him with a blaster bolt to the back of his skull. The shot broke her out of stealth and the other man raised his rifle to her, but a sharp kick to the groin ended his intentions and a blaster bolt to the head ended his life. Val looked around to see her cargo hadn’t been unloaded yet. She didn’t see any signs of Skavak, but didn’t really care if he was alive or dead. She did, however, care about the young Human groaning as he came too. Val went over to Corso and was helping him to his feet when the sounds of ship engines suddenly echoed through the hanger.

 

Val was prepared for a lot of things, but she definitely wasn’t prepared for the sight of her ship taking off without her. Her breath left her as her gaze traveled between the empty hanger and the sky, not yet able to believe what she just saw.

 

“It was Skavak,” Corso broke the spell, “Apparently he’s with the Seps. He let them into the hanger a few minutes after you left. I was on your ship, unstrapping the crates when I heard the noise. I ran out and they started firing at me. I took out a couple and ducked behind a crate to call you. I looked up to see Skavak shaking hands with that guy,” Corso pointed to the man Val hit with the tranq dart, “Then someone hit me on the back of the head and the next thing I knew, you were standing over me.”

 

“I knew there was a reason I didn’t like him……I could just feel it,” Val shook her head as she dug a scanner out of her backpack and ran it over Corso’s head, “Looks like they hit you pretty good…..you’ve got a mild concussion. Not much I can do for that, just take a painkiller for the headache and rest.”

 

“Thanks, Captain,” Corso nodded, then reached for his weapon when he heard the guy Val hit with the dart coming to, “Oh, I can’t believe this……he took Torchy! That thieving bastard took my best blaster!”

 

“Are you karking serious?!” Val screeched as she charged her own blaster and killed the Separatist, “I just saw my freighter take off without me and you’re upset over a kriffing blaster?!”

 

“I’m sorry, Captain,” Corso murmured as his eyes cast down, “That was insensitive……losing a blaster isn’t nearly as bad as losing a whole starship.”

 

Val felt a little guilty over her outburst. It wasn’t his fault her ship had been stolen and he really seemed like a genuinely nice man. She felt her cheeks heat up a little as she recalled those brown eyes staring at her earlier. She wasn’t used to men looking at her like that……like she was worth more than a cursory glance. It made her feel a little fluttery inside.

 

“No, Corso, it isn’t, but that’s no reason for me to snap at you,” Val sighed, her anger deflating a little, “I just have no idea what to do…..I mean, I have credits, but that’s my home…..”

 

“We’ll get it back,” Corso promised, “and I know where to start. Head up to Fort Garnik, that’s where Viidu’s warehouse is. Viidu’s the boss, he was the one who placed that order in your cargo hold. He’s gonna want to get Skavak as badly as we do. I’ll call him and head there after I get this hanger cleaned up and locked down.”

 

“I’m not really that comfortable inside Military bases,” Val admitted, still holding a grudge after all these years. It wasn’t that she didn’t like the Republic and she wasn’t afraid of the military. She just had a hard time forgiving them for taking Tia away all those years ago.

 

“Nothing to worry about, Captain,” Corso assured her, assuming she was concerned about her profession, “Viidu has a good relationship with the military and they pretty much let him carry on without any issues.”

 

“I guess I don’t have much choice,” Val shrugged, resigned to the fact that she was stuck on Ord Mantell for the time being. She got the coordinates for Viidu’s warehouse from Corso and left the hanger for Fort Garnik.

 

Half an hour later, Val was entering the fort, still in shock, her thoughts in turmiol….it was gone. Her beloved ship. Her safe haven. Her quiet home….just her and C2, a protocol droid that she liked more than most people……gone…..taken by that dirty double crossing Skavak. She shuddered to think about what that bastard was doing to her precious Shangri-La and fiercely loyal droid.

 

She found Viidu’s warehouse, Rendia Freight, easily enough and the corpulent man himself was in his office on the upstairs. He wasted no time getting down to business, explaining that that shipment of weapons Skavak stole had been intended for Rogun, an Underworld boss commonly referred to as The Butcher. Rogun wasn’t going to be happy with either of them for that cargo being stolen….it didn’t matter that Skavak was the one who took it. However, Viidu had an idea of where to start. Since Skavak was working with the Seperatists, they needed to find out what the so called freedome fighters were up to. The only way to do that would be to get inside their database and Viidu knew just the man to help them with that, Reki. Reki was a smuggler and slicer that was hiding out in Talloran Village, which had recently been taken over by Seps. Val would need to fight or sneak way in to get to Reki since Viidu wasn’t exactly in fighting shape, Corso had a concussion, and the three of them didn’t trust anyone else to handle this precarious situation.

 

Val recharged her stealth generator, got the coordinates for Reki’s location, and left the fort less than an hour after arriving at Viidu’s. Talloran wasn’t that far and as with Drelliad, the Seps were too busy holding off the Republic troops that had the village surrounded to notice someone sneaking in under stealth. Once inside the village, Val went a little slower, not wanting any noise or ripples in the air to give her away. A little while later, she was entering Reki’s rooms, somewhat disgusted with all the women he had staying with him. She was further put off when he began flirting with her and redirected his attention to her situation. Reki took the hint and was prepared having received Viidu’s message. He had a way to get inside their database at his home. Unfortunately, his house was on Mannett Point, now under Separatist control. Someone would need to get to his house and find the datapad in his bedroom. The information they needed was disguised as a book on bird watching and Reki spent the next twenty minutes explaining to Val how to interpret the data.

 

Soon after, a tired, irritated Val left Reki to his ladies, rubbing her temples in an attempt to relieve the growing pressure in her head before activating her stealth generator. She was a little surprised to see the sun starting to set and quickly headed back to the fort to see what sort of accommodations Viidu was able to find her. Before heading to Rendia Freight, Val stopped inside one of the shops to get some clean clothes and toiletries. Being a military base, most of the clothing was designed for soldiers, but Val managed to find some pants and a long sleeved shirt that fit and weren’t plated, as well as a sports bra and some underwear that she could make do with. After making her purchases, the exhausted young spacer returned to Viidu’s with Reki’s information. Corso was there and Val ran the scanner on him to make sure his concussion hadn’t gotten any worse. Satisfied that the kind mercenary was going to be okay, they agreed that it would probably be easiest for Val to head to Mannett Point since she had the stealth generator and was clearly comfortable using it. Corso had never used one and Viidu was too much of a target, both literally and figuratively. Resigned to having to trek further over this awful planet, Val agreed and left for the cantina where Viidu got a room for her.

 

Feeling miserable, missing her ship and C2, uncomfortable with being around so many people, especially soldiers, Val entered the cantina, wanting nothing more than a hot shower and sleep. Her bad mood evaporated when she spotted a very familiar, silvery furred Cathar female she hadn’t seen in nearly six years sitting at the bar wearing Republic military armor.

 

“Tia!” Val squealed, immense relief and joy surging through her as she launched herself at the long lost friend who was like a sister, tackling her in a fierce hug.

 

Edited by alaurin
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Reunion time!!!

 

 

Fancy Meeting You Here

 

Spoiler Alert: Spoilers for Smuggler and Trooper Ord Mantell.

 

“Val?” Tia murmured, a slow, joyful smile spreading across her silvery furred face, “Is that really you?”

 

“You betcha!” the pixie like Mirialan grinned, “I can’t believe you’re here!”

 

“I can say the same,” Tia laughed as she hugged her friend again, “Stars, I wondered if I’d ever find you and Kat……last I knew was that you both had taken on new careers. I gotta say, I’m a little shocked that an introvert like you would go into the smuggling business.”

 

“You know, it’s not too bad,” Val shrugged taking a seat at the bar after Tia let go of her, “Most of the time, it’s just me, SeeTwo, and occasionally Kat on my freighter. She kept to Nar Shaddaa for the most part, taking bounties for the Cartel. Unfortunately, my ship was stolen earlier today and I’m stuck here on beautiful Ord Mantell while I track down the bastard that took her.”

 

“Cripes, Val,” Tia blanched, “Anything I can do to help?”

 

“Nah, the guy the shipment was for is out for blood and pretty well connected in the area…..we’re tracking him down.”

 

“Well, let me know if there’s anything you need,” Tia told her, “So where you staying until you get your ship back?”

 

“Here,” Val pointed at the stairs, “Viidu, that’s the guy the shipment was for, got me a room upstairs. In fact, we can go up there after we eat and catch up if you have time.”

 

“I have a couple of hours before I need return to the barracks,” Tia answered as her food came, “So what happened after I was shipped off?” Val ordered a drink and a burger for herself, feeling much better now that she had a friend on this miserable planet.

 

“Well, the next morning, a Republic soldier dropped off some medical supplies and Kat tended to our injuries after reading your note,” Val answered as Tia took a huge bite of her burger, “When I was stable enough to leave for a few hours, she risked a trip to the Embassy, but you were already gone.”

 

Tia swallowed and took a swig of her beer, “I tried to contact you guys after I was processed, but nothing got through.”

 

“Yeah, Kat and I ditched our Holos and got new ones,” Val explained, “We were worried the Exchange might be able to track us. We left Jessa’s house behind as well. Just packed up our stuff and stored it.”

 

“I figured you guys might be keeping under the radar,” Tia nodded, “I did have a stopover on Nar Shaddaa once, on the way to my first assignment after the academy. Our transport was dropping off some troops and supplies for the Embassy. I only had three hours planetside though and wasn’t able to track you down. I went to Jessa’s and some of the old haunts, but no luck. The only thing I was able to find out was that you somehow got a freighter and were doing supply runs and Kat was taking on bounties.”

 

“How’d you find that out?” Val wondered as her food came. Feeling ravenous, she took a huge bite of the burger.

 

“I paid my old boss a visit,” Tia sighed, “Sure enough, he was still working the bar and recognized me right away. He asked why I disappeared all those years ago. I explained my situation and he filled me in on what he knew. Unfortunately he didn’t have any contact info for either of you.”

 

“We were pretty careful about giving out our contact info,” Val replied thickly, taking a drink to wash her food down before going on, “I acquired my freighter from that Exchange smuggler, Tegan Foster.”

 

“That’s the guy we were trying to find……one of the men who took Zyra, right?”

 

“Yup,” Val confirmed, “We were able to track him down with the info Kat and I got from that database. We stowed away on his ship the next time he docked and as soon as he took off, Kat and I persuaded him to tell us where he took Zyra. Then we offed him and ditched the body out the airlock. We delivered his cargo to Hutta and while we were on the orbital station, I sliced into the database and changed the ship’s registry.”

 

“But you were still worried that the Exchange might find out and extract revenge….”

 

“Exactly.”

 

“Probably a good idea to play it safe,” Tia agreed, remembering all too well what their thugs were capable of.

 

“I stopped at the military headquarters when we were making a delivery on Coruscant shortly after that, but they wouldn’t give your info out because I wasn’t family,” Val sighed, “and Kat was in a little trouble with the Republic at the time, so she couldn’t exactly try.”

 

“Why was she in trouble with the Republic?”

 

“It wasn’t her fault,” Val insisted, “She took a bounty for some Hutt on Nar Shaddaa……she was just getting started at the time. We needed the credits and it paid well. However, we found out later that it the target was a Republic big shot’s wayward kid. I mean the kid was bad news, into gangs and stuff, but that didn’t matter.”

 

“Is she still in trouble?”

 

“Nah,” Val assured her friend, “It all blew over eventually……it came out that the guy was doing dirty business with the Cartel and it was a legit bounty. Kat just felt safer avoiding military areas though. Speaking of military,” Val grinned as she looked her slender yet curvy friend over, “I’m not used to seeing you in uniform…..there’s a lot more to it than your last job back on Nar Shaddaa.”

 

“Tell me about it,” Tia laughed as she hopped off the barstool to dig some credsticks out of her bag, “I kinda feel overdressed right now.”

 

“Old habits die hard?” Val snickered, “Well, you could hop up on the counter and I see a jukebox over there….or has military training driven out those abilities.”

 

“Oh, don’t you worry,” Tia smiled, swaying her hips provocatively to the music already playing, “I still got my skills in that department and as much as I’d love to earn some extra credits, this place isn’t exactly hopping right now.”

 

“I don’t know, that guy over there seems pretty interested,” Val nodded and Tia turned around to find Jorgan staring at her with a scowl on his face, “He’s been staring at you for the past few minutes.”

 

“Figures,” Tia muttered, rolling her eyes at the other Cathar in the room, “I would have to run into him on my off duty time.” Then a wicked idea formed in her mind when she recalled that she was in fact off duty and in what could be considered the private sector.

 

“Hey Jorgan,” she smirked, “Why don’t you take a Holo…..it might last longer. Maybe give you something to think about in bed tonight other than that giant stick up your a*s.”

 

“First off, its Lieutenant Jorgan to you, Sergeant,” Aric snapped, “Secondly, you insult me again and I’ll…..”

 

“You’ll what?” Tia snorted, “I’m off duty, in a cantina, and you started it with your blatant staring…..so, kark off!”

 

“Maybe I find it amusing that you can sit here celebrating after getting a man killed today,” Aric sneered, “Perhaps if you spent less time enjoying yourself and more time preparing, you wouldn’t be so reckless out there…..but hey, that’s just me. I prefer not to let good men die.”

 

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Tia glared at him, cold fury in those lavender eyes, “I didn’t do anything that would be considered reckless and I busted my *** getting to the rendezvous point…..I’d like to see a desk pusher like you get there faster!”

 

“Tia, you’re going to get in trouble,” Val whispered anxiously.

 

“HA! He can’t do anything….official anyways,” Tia replied, keeping her eyes on Jorgan, “and he’s been riding me since I got here, treating me like I was some rookie fresh out of the academy who didn’t know which end was up.”

 

“Well, perhaps if you’d brought us back a live agent this afternoon, I might’ve changed my opinion of you,” Aric shot back, irritated that she was right and a little thrown off that she wasn’t intimidated by him, “but instead, all I got was a dead man’s field box that it’ll take me most of the night to get through.”

 

“Learn to read faster then,” Tia smirked, “and like I said, I got to Talloran as fast physically possible…..even our species has its limitations. Not to mention the enemy fire I had to dodge and take out on the way. So don’t you even blame that on me!”

 

“Speaking of reading……maybe if you would’ve actually taken the time to study that file instead of giving it a quick glance, you might’ve found the agent faster. It’s not all about physical attributes you know……we actually expect you to have some level of intelligence and at least be able to read.”

 

“I saw all I needed to see in that file and I went straight to his location, knowing exactly who I was looking for. I took the quickest route according to the information in that file and he was dead when I got there….”

 

“You barely looked at that file!” Aric argued, “and I didn’t see you reading it en route to your destination.”

 

Tia went over to the field box Jorgan had set down on his table and snatched a file out of it, glancing over each page for a moment before handing it to the glaring Cathar, “ask me anything in that file.”

 

Aric opened the file, turned a couple of pages, “okay, what was his last notation two days ago?”

 

Tia closed her eyes, “The last entry that day was made at twenty-two hundred, he’d been out in the village……noticed increased separatist movement headed for Mannett Point. Went in closer…..saw more soldiers and heavy weapons…….assumed they’d been waiting for the cover of darkness. He concluded they wanted to bolster defenses without drawing attention.”

 

“You barely glanced at that page!” Aric narrowed those bright green eyes at her, “How did…..”

 

“Because, Jorgan, while I may not be the sharpest instrument in the arsenal, I am capable of reading,” Tia retorted, “and I happen to have a photographic memory……comes in handy sometimes. Maybe if you leaned basic manners and a smidge of politeness, I might’ve been willing to help you with the rest of those files. However, you were a complete and total jerk, so I’m not. Now if you’ll excuse me, my friend and I have a lot of catching up to do. Have fun with your field box……sir.”

 

“You sure that was a good idea?” Val cringed, glancing back at Jorgan as they headed up the stairs to her room, “He looks really pissed.”

 

“I don’t care if he’s pissed,” Tia growled, still nettled about the digs he took at her for Bellis, something that was still a raw wound with her, “For some reason, he’s had it in for me since I walked into HQ this morning.”

 

“Yeah, but he doesn’t look like the type you should cross…..and he’s your superior officer, isn’t he?”

 

“I’m sure he’ll find a way to get back at me,” Tia shrugged, “I’ve dealt with his type before. He can’t do anything official though and that’s all I care about.”

 

“I hope you’re right,” Val replied as they went into her room to catch up.

 

 

A couple of hours later, barely making curfew, Tia was entering the barracks to get some much needed sleep. She stayed with Val as long as she could, not wanting to leave her long lost friend after they’d reunited, but she knew she’d need her rest for whatever her squad and Lieutenant Jorgan had in store for her in the morning. Also, she didn’t want to risk breaking curfew after that little confrontation in the cantina. She briefly regretted losing her temper with Jorgan, but his attitude really rattled her. She sighed as she passed through the common area, knowing he wouldn’t let her disrespect slide without some form of punishment and wondering what it would be. A voice calling her name put an end to her musings and she turned to see the private she’d met earlier approaching.

 

“This is for you, sir,” Private Farn handed her a work detail slip, “You must’ve really done something bad to pull latrine duty on the first day.”

 

“What?!” Tia cried, her heart sinking. Latrine duty was awful, especially given that the industrial cleaner was so strong that the smell stuck one’s fur for days……no matter how many times you shower.

 

“It’s on the slip, sir,” the private stammered, “I’m sorry…..uh….good luck.”

 

“Thanks, private,” Tia sighed, saluting, then she looked at the slip, seething when she got to the note at the bottom.

 

 

Sergeant Vleska, while I may not be able give you an official demerit on your record since you technically were off duty, it does fall to me to merit out punishment to any soldiers for misconduct whether on duty or off and that includes civilian areas. Given the lewd dancing I observed along with the strong language and the fact that you repeatedly insulted a superior officer, I’d have to assume you were drunk and public drunkenness falls under blatant misconduct. I have no proof that you were drunk of course, but I did see you drinking a beer and your actions were enough to warrant a work detail. I strongly suggest you use that talent of yours to commit the Code of Conduct for this base to memory in order to avoid situations like this in the future. I sincerely hope you enjoy latrine duty and I expect both the men’s and women’s facilities to pass inspection by 0600. Have a nice night, Sergeant.

 

Lieutenant Jorgan

 

 

“Oh that dirty bastard!” Tia growled, checking her chrono, “Kark, I’m barely going to get any sleep……probably did that on purpose since he’s stuck staying up to read Bellis’ files.” Fuming and silently cursing Lieutenant Jorgan to the nether, Tia headed for the women’s facilities.

 

 

Author's Note

 

It's been a while since my brothers told the tales of basic training and I'm not sure if Tia could really get away with her disrespect to a superior officer, despite being off duty in the private sector, without an official demerit. However, in my head cannon, off duty means off the record. I apologize if that is grossly inaccurate.

 

Edited by alaurin
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

I know it's been a while, but the muse decided to take a vacation and I lost my focus for a bit. However, things are flowing once again and I give you more with Kat on Hutta!

 

Honor and Mercy

 

Spoiler Alert: Spoilers for BH Hutta

 

“Where in the void am I going to find something to pass for a head?!” Kat wondered out loud as she left the Rust Yards, “and what is it with that Hutt and heads anyways?!”

 

This was Kat’s second job for Nem’ro in an attempt to earn his sponsorship into the Great Hunt. He’d been pleased when Kat arrived for an audience two days ago, but had his doubts about her list of accomplishments. Knowing that Mako embellished a bit, Kat could understand that, but at least the Hutt gave her credit for her part in taking out his rival’s gang leaders in Jigunna. Nem’ro agreed to test her, immediately giving her a target…..and not only did he want her to kill the very deadly and outspoken Huttsbane, but Nem’ro expected her to bring him the head of the Evocii leader. Kat reluctantly agreed.

 

It wasn’t that she had a problem taking out the target…...if this Huttsbane had any intelligence whatsoever, he knew what the price of openly revolting against the Hutt Cartel would be. She respected his courage to stand up to Nem’ro, but put himself on a Hutt hit list in doing so and he was now her target. She’d complete the job, even if she didn’t like it. Her main issue was the whole ‘head on floor’ business. Her people had respect for the deceased and desecrating the dead was reserved solely as punishment for the worst of crimes among the clans. Huttsbane was a warrior and she would be dishonoring him by taking his head for that corpulent slug.

 

Kat smiled as she reflected on their conversation yesterday, feeling she did the right thing by sparing the renegade Evocii leader. She’d taken the somewhat cocky Huttsbane and the camp’s Spirit leader by surprise when she entered their small shack after fighting her way through the emcampment.

 

 

“Look, I’d really like to help you out…..Nemro’s a slug, but I can’t risk pissing him off. I need that sponsorship,” Kat sighed, keeping both blasters trained on the two men, “Which means, I need to complete any jobs he gives to me until I get it. Unfortunately, you’re my current target……and I have to bring your head to him as proof.”

 

“What if there was another way?” their Spirit-leader, Baratatta offered, continuing when Kat raised a brow at him, “Nem’ro doesn’t know one Evocii from another. There are plenty of dead warriors outside, you could take one of their heads to pass for Huttsbane……”

 

“You’d desecrate our fallen?!” Huttsbane snapped, “I won’t allow it! I can take care of this hunter.”

 

“I’m not so sure you can,” the elder cautioned, “This hunter has a look about her…..a warrior herself. Besides, even if you did manage, Nem’ro would simply send others until you are dead. This way, Nem’ro will be satisfied and you will live to lead our people.”

 

“I don’t like the idea of desecrating our dead for that Hutt.”

 

“If it’s worth anything, I don’t like it either,” Kat admitted, “My people honor our dead, but Nem’ro expects a head on his floor and like I said, I need to make him a happy Hutt so I can get that sponsorship.”

 

“And you can still do that,” Baratatta promised, “Nem’ro won’t have any idea if the head you give him is that of Huttsbane or not.”

 

“While I’m sure you’re right about that, there’s one problem,” Kat pointed out, “Won’t Nem’ro suspect something’s up when Huttsbane starts killing his thugs again?”

 

“Our young leader will have to content himself working behind the scenes from now on,” the elder proposed, “Can you agree to that, Huttsbane?” After a tense moment, Huttsbane nodded and the elder turned to Kat, “So will you be willing to take the head of a fallen warrior and pass it off as Huttsbane?”

 

“I’ll do it,” Kat agreed and Baratatta asked her to wait while he went outside to take care of it.

 

“Why do you work for that Hutt?” Huttsbane asked her while they waited.

 

“Like I already told you, I need his sponsorship to get into the Great Hunt.”

 

“You seem like an honorable warrior……why not fight in the military?”

 

“I have my reasons for not wanting to be tied to the Republic,” Kat explained, “and the Imperials would only see me as a ‘filthy alien.’ The Great Hunt will give me ties to the Mandalorians, who, in turn, have ties to the Empire.”

 

“I don’t understand…..from what you just said, you don’t care for Imperials,” Huttsbane narrowed his gaze at her, “Why would you want ties with them?”

 

“It’s a long story, but in short, my littermate and I were orphaned ten years ago. We ended up living on the streets of Nar Shaddaa with two other girls, a Mirialan and a Twi’lek. We were surviving as best we could until one day, the Exchange decided to take our Twi’lek friend, Zyra, as ‘protection payment.’”

 

“They’re as bad as Hutts,” Huttsbane snorted.

 

“Definitely,” Kat nodded, “We ended up tracking one of her kidnappers and found out Zyra was sold to an Imperial slaver.”

 

“And you’re hoping that by having ties to the Empire, you’ll be able to find her,” Huttsbane concluded.

 

“That’s the plan,” Kat confirmed, “I know it’s a long shot, but there isn’t much else I can do. Our Mirialan friend, Val, became a freelance freighter pilot and is establishing ties to the Underworld and the Republic. Unfortunately, the Republic caught my littermate, Tia, stealing med supplies and shipped her off to their military.”

 

“That’s why you don’t want ties to the Republic...”

 

“You got it,” Kat replied as the elder returned. She was glad she didn’t have to end Huttsbane’s life, he understood how things worked and would likely be a good leader for his people. Kat just hoped he’d be able to tolerate working behind the scenes…..for both their sakes.

 

 

So Kat had taken the head to Nem’ro’s Palace and dropped it on the floor in front of his ‘throne’ that very evening. Just as Baratatta predicted, the Hutt had barely even looked at the head and believed it to be that of Huttsbane. It helped that rumors had spread about her fighting her way into the Evocii camp, leaving a trail of dead behind her. Nem’ro had been very pleased with Kat’s work and already had another contract for her. This time, her target would be Nem’ro’s former accountant, Yalt, who was now working for Fa’athra. Nem’ro went on to explain why this Human warranted a professional.

 

She'd patiently listened to his instructions, keeping the disgust to herself as she once again took notice of her surroundings. Nem’ro’s throne room embodied all Kat hated about Hutts, pilfered treasures on display to the point it was almost obscene, thugs and gang members plotting shady deals in dark corners to propose to the mighty Hutt, slave girls dancing…..never flinching when the occasional hand took liberties, the young Twi’lek and Human chained to the throne, eyes devoid of any spark of hope they’d ever escape their fate. Kat found herself overcome with sadness as she thought of Zyra and she said a silent prayer to the ancestors that her friend had escaped the fate of the broken Twi’lek in front of her.

 

The scantily clad dancers reminded her of Tia and looked no older than her littermate when she’d been dancing for the pleasure of males back on Nar Shaddaa. It was these rare times that Kat was happy Tia had been taken into Republic custody and shipped off to the military. At a mere sixteen years of age, Tia had been a popular dancer at Club Ufora, the place to go for female entertainment at the time. A couple of years ago, Club Ufora had changed owners and the dancers started disappearing soon after. A shiver ran down her spine and Kat pushed those thoughts aside and focused her attention on what she hoped would be her sponsor for the Great Hunt.

 

“The target itself should prove to be little trouble for you, little hunter,” Nem’ro gave a deep laugh at what Kat figured must be an inside joke, “The challenge lies in getting to him. Yalt is deep inside one of the mining factories Fa’athra took over and you’ll have to fight your way to him. Fa’athra’s thugs will be tougher than those Evocii you killed today. Get inside, eliminate that traitor, and…..”

 

“Let me guess,” Kat sighed, “You want his head on the floor here…..”

 

That got another sickening laugh from the Hutt, “You know me so well already! I do want his head, but not on the floor. You will give Yalt’s head to his wife. She works here in the palace and I know she was partly responsible for Yalt leaving my service.”

 

“Got it,” Kat replied, really not looking forward to that.

 

“Good,” Nem’ro replied, “Now go see Juda for your payment for Huttsbane and feel free to enjoy yourself in the palace.”

 

Kat forced herself to thank the Hutt, she needed to keep on his good side after all, and left the throne room to receive payment for the completed contract. The pale green Twi’lek was her usual chipper self and Kat had to wonder how she achieved such a positive outlook in this disgusting place, but said nothing as she accepted the credits and left the palace.

 

Kat came clean to Mako, who was worried Nem’ro would find out, but Kat assured her the young Evocii warrior was an intelligent leader and knew the stakes. Mako still wasn’t thrilled, but didn’t comment any further. She and Kat spent the next few hours planning for this new contract. Having been on Hutta for less than a week, Kat knew little about the territory outside Jigunna other than the nearby Evocii camp she’d visited earlier. Mako had only been on Hutta for a few weeks herself, but the slicer was very adept at gathering information and in less than an hour, she and Kat were looking at the blueprints for the factory Yalt was holed up in.

 

After making all the necessary preparations and washing up as best as she could in what passed for a refresher, Kat got a few hours’ sleep. They woke with the sun and after bolting down a quick breakfast, Kat donned on her armor, slid her blasters into their holsters, grabbed her backpack, and headed out to the Rust Yards.

 

Kat got to Nem’ro’s former accountant easily, but one look at the shrunken old man and Kat didn’t even need to hear his story to know the situation. The frail Human was a genius with numbers and a decent slicer, but that only got you so far and didn’t mean a thing when armed thugs were after you. Kat believed Yalt when he said he was bullied and allowed the accountant to escape with his life…..after a substantial deposit into her account from Fa’athra’s. After all, while she pitied the old man, she did have her share of expenses, especially considering her team was down to just her and Mako. Besides, she was taking a big risk in letting Yalt live, that deserved a little reward and it wasn’t like she was stealing from a poor, defenseless business man. That money came from a crooked, uncaring Hutt….and it would please Nem’ro that Fa’athra’s accounts had been hacked into.

 

 

Which left Kat with her current dilemma…..finding something to pass off as proof of Yalt’s death. Even though she wasn’t presenting a head to the Hutt himself, Nem’ro would expect her to be carrying something when she entered his palace and Kat was sure he’d have people watching. Deep in thought, Kat didn’t notice the droid until it starts firing at her. She dodged its missiles and quickly ignited her flamethrower. Despite being taken by surprise, Kat was able to dispatch the droid with little damage to herself. She was in the process of ascertaining a minor injury to her arm when she heard a noise. Charging her blaster, she looked around for the source of the noise, sniffing the air. Then she spotted some slight movement and carefully approached. A momma Akk dog and her pups had been hit by the missiles she’d dodged. The momma and most of the pups were dead, but one tiny pup was alive and relatively uninjured.

 

Noticing one of the pups had been so damaged it was barely recognizable, Kat decided to use it in place of Yalt’s head. It was roughly the right size and as long as she had a bloody bag to carry in with her, she doubted any of Nem’ro’s people would want to actually look inside. She could carry it into where Yalt’s wife was working, then bury it later. She grabbed the small burlap bag out of her backpack, placed the dead pup inside, tied it shut and hooked it to her pack. A tiny cry brought her attention back to the rest of the damage.

 

“Poor thing must’ve been far enough away when the missile hit,” Kat sighed as she watched the whining pup try to nurse from its dead mother.

 

With a heavy heart, Kat raised her charged blaster to put the doomed little creature down, knowing the very young pup had no chance of survival without its mother. However, she couldn’t bring herself to do it. The pup, its eyes still closed, must’ve sensed a living creature and turned its head towards her. Kat reached out a hand and the little pup nuzzled it.

 

“I guess you’re coming with me,” Kat murmured, reaching into her backpack for the clean undershirt she always kept in there in case she was stranded anywhere overnight. She hated sleeping in her armor and only did so when necessary. She carefully wrapped the pup in the undershirt and gingerly picked it up, “Maybe Mako will know something to keep you alive.”

 

The pup was so tiny, even bundled up, it was barely bigger than Kat’s hand. She held it close to her chest, feeling a warm continents settle over her as the critter began to nuzzle her neck, and continued her trip back to Jigunna.

 

 

“What is that?!” Mako’s eyes narrowed at the furry bundle in Kat’s arm as the Cathar entered the room.

 

“An akk puppy,” Kat answered, her amber eyes not quite meeting Mako’s brown ones as she set down a bottle of nerf’s milk she’d gotten from the proprietor.

 

“Okay,” Mako sighed, “Why do you have an akk puppy in your hand?”

 

Kat unstrapped the bag from her backpack, set it down by the door, and approached the slicer, explaining what happened on the way back from the rust yards, the droid attacking and a wayward missile hitting a momma akk dog and her pups, the one in Kat’s hand the only survivor, “I couldn’t just leave it!” Kat insisted, “With the momma dead it wouldn’t have lasted an hour.”

 

“It looks pretty young,” Mako murmured as she checked it over, “its eyes aren’t even open……it’s probably going to die anyways.”

 

“Maybe not,” Kat countered, “I got some milk from the barkeep on the way in…..do you have dropper?”

 

“I should in the med kit,” Mako nodded, “That might do until we can get a baby bottle…….and we’ll have to keep it bundled up as much as possible, but….”

 

“Yeah, I know it’s a long shot, but I just couldn’t leave it there to die.”

 

“You are aware that I worked really hard to build up your fearsome reputation, right?”

 

“I know,” Kat grinned sheepishly, “but look at it! How can you resist that fuzzy little critter?”

 

“Point made…..we’ll just keep this quiet,” Mako smiled as she gently stroked the pup’s soft head, “So, what’s in the bag?”

 

“One of the dead pups,” Kat sighed sadly, knowing her new friend wasn’t going to be happy.

 

“Uh, why?”

 

“Because I needed something the size of a head…..”

 

“Oh, Kat, tell me you didn’t!”

 

“Come on, Mako,” Kat defended herself, “Yalt was just a scrawny old man you know full well was bullied into working for Fa’athra.”

 

“I’m sure you’re right,” Mako conceded, “However, he was a bounty that you needed to collect in order to make Nem’ro a happy Hutt…….you were lucky to have gotten away with that whole Huttsbane thing! I’m really starting to wonder if this is a good career for you….”

 

“Look,” Kat shot back frostily, her face hardening in an instant, “Make no mistake, I’m perfectly capable of taking down a target. Do you think Braden would’ve picked me if I couldn’t? I learned this trade on Nar Shaddaa and have my share of captures and kills to prove it. I’ve taken out plenty of Fa’athra’s thugs these past few days on Hutta and I’m sure there will be plenty more before I leave this sh*thole……so believe me, I have no qualms about killing when it’s necessary. Huttsbane was trying to do right by his people and I admire that. He didn’t deserve to die by some random hunter and have his head put on display for Nem’ro’s amusement….there’s no honor in that!” Then she sighed, absently stroking the little pup now snuggling up to her neck, “I’ve lost a fair share of ideals surviving on the streets of Nar Shaddaa, but I still have a sense of honor. Besides, we both know that Hutt is toying with me.”

 

“I understand where you’re coming from, Kat…..I really do, but you have to understand that you need to make Nem’ro happy in order to get that sponsorship for the Great Hunt,” Mako chided softly, “I agree, he probably is toying with you, but until you have that sponsorship, you’ll need to keep playing along.”

 

“I know,” Kat admitted grudgingly, “I’m so used to choosing my jobs and I try to bring my targets in alive whenever possible, but I guess I need to get over that…..I’m assuming I won’t get a choice in the Great Hunt,” she looked Mako in the eye, “I promise, no more letting the targets live from now on……no matter how much I disagree with it.”

 

“For what it’s worth, I’m glad you let them live,” Mako told her, “and at least the head isn’t for Nem’ro this time.”

 

“Yeah, Yalt was going to send his wife a message explaining things…..hopefully I won’t even have to open the bag and I’ll bury it later.”

 

“You better get going,” Mako glanced at the chrono, “The evening rush will be starting to dwindle soon and you’re less likely to get noticed in a crowd…..even with that bag.” Then she grinned, “Now hand over that puppy and I’ll see what I can do to help it survive…..I get to help name it though!”

 

Edited by alaurin
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...
I really like the way you balance the various class storylines!
Thanks!! I'm glad you're liking that because there will be plenty more! ;)

 

Now, its time to see what Tia and Val are up to....

 

 

I’ve Got A Bad Feeling…..

 

Spoiler Alert: Spoilers for Smuggler and Trooper Ord Mantell below.

 

“Ouch!” Tia yelped, “Take it easy, will ya?!”

 

“Sorry, Tia,” Val muttered absently as she focused on the task at hand, “but I told you to sit still.”

 

“I’m trying, but I know what’s coming and I can’t help it.” Tia gritted, bracing herself for the next pull, “I appreciate you patching me up.”

 

“How the void did this happen anyways?”

 

“It’s that ‘pain in my ass’ Lieutenant Jorgan’s fault,” Tia growled, “He gave me latrine duty for that little confrontation in the cantina the other night and apparently I’m allergic to the cleaner they use here. I’ve been itching like crazy ever since despite having taken several showers. It doesn't help that I've been stuck using hair shampoo to wash with since my trunk was destroyed in the walker. I was busy scratching that I didn’t see that Sep bastard until he tossed a grenade at me. I dove for cover, but took some of the blast and it tore through my crappy armor.”

 

“Well, I hate to break it to you, but that’s not entirely his fault,” Val chided as she tried to work the shrapnel free from her friend, “You’re the one who got a little snotty with him.”

 

“I know,” Tia admitted grudgingly, “but he’s been such a jerk to me ever since I got here. I guess I just let my temper get the better of me again.....I just can't stand him though!”

 

“You think?” Val snickered, “I’ll give you a cortisone injection after I’m done and that should help with the itching, but maybe you should just try to ignore Jorgan from now on.”

 

“Easier said than done, but I’ll try,” Tia muttered, wincing as Val worked at the shrapnel again, “Please tell me you almost got that thing out!”

 

“Okay,” Val sighed, “I’m gonna try a different approach and just yank it out.”

 

“Fine,” Tia hissed, “Just hurry and get it over with.”

 

“On the count of three,” Val replied as she got a grip on the clamps, “One…..two….”

 

“Dammit!” Tia screeched as the jagged piece of metal was ripped from her shoulder, “What happened to three?!”

 

“I decided to surprise you,” Val smirked as she started stitching her friend up.

 

“What the hell is going on in here?” Aric barked from the doorway to Tia’s room.

 

“None of your karking…..”

 

“Tia!”

 

“Nothing, sir,” Tia amended.

 

“Tia……uh, Sergeant Vleska was injured on Mannett Point,” Val offered, “I was there too and helped her get back…..”

 

“I saw that through her armor cam,” Aric interrupted, “A careless mistake, but at least it didn’t cost anyone their life. That’s beside the point, however, civs aren’t allowed in the barracks.”

 

“The medics were all busy helping Dr. Jayen extract a group of orphans from Mannett Point, sir,” Tia explained, trying to control her rapidly rising anger, “Captain Tarenz has medical training and offered to take care of my shoulder. If it’s a problem, sir, I’m off duty and she can finish patching me up in her room at the cantina.”

 

“No need, Sergeant,” Aric told her, “The last thing we need is you bleeding all over the place on your way out…..just get permission next time, rookie.”

 

“Yes, sir,” Tia hissed through her clenched jaw as her claws started coming out.

 

Aric didn’t miss the anger in those cool lavender eyes currently boring into him nor the appearance of those razor sharp claws and decided to ease up a little since she was making an attempt to control her temper, “We’re still going through the intel you brought us from Mannett Point so no need to report in to the Command Center until seven hundred, Sergeant.”

 

“Thank you, sir,” Tia managed.

 

“See, was that so hard?” Val asked after Jorgan left the room, “I even sensed a little concern coming from him.”

 

“HA!” Tia snorted, “Your senses must be broken then…….Lieutenant Jorgan can’t stand me and the feeling is quite mutual at this point.”

 

Val decided not to argue and finished patching her friend up in silence. Then she injected Tia with a cortisone shot and a pain killer since she didn’t have to report in until morning. The pain killer started working almost immediately and a groggy Tia removed the rest of her gear, pulled on a clean tank top and shorts, and just managed to climb into her bunk before succumbing to the medication.

 

Val covered her sleeping friend, packed up her supplies, and left for her room above the cantina. She was trying to remember where the exit was and all of the sudden a chill ran through her, making her pause just outside the entrance to a large room. She peeked in and noticed a group of people talking in low voices. They were all wearing Republic military armor with the same emblem that Tia had on hers……that must be Tia’s squad. For some reason, her friend’s squad mates made her uneasy and Val had a bad feeling Tia was headed for trouble…..big, dangerous, life threatening trouble. She was so absorbed in her thoughts, she didn’t hear someone approaching and ended up nearly plowing into Lieutenant Jorgan when she turned away from the doorway to hurry out of the base.

 

“I’m so sorry,” Val muttered, embarrassed that she wasn’t paying attention and shaken by this feeling she had, “I’m a little lost and wasn’t paying attention.”

 

“It’s alright,” Aric assured the skittish Mirialan, “I’ll show you out.”

 

“Thanks,” Val smiled gratefully, appreciating the help since she really wanted to retreat to the solitude of her tiny room above the cantina, “The meds I gave Tia knocked her out…..oh-no! I didn’t think to set an alarm for her.”

 

“I’ll take care of it,” Aric told her, “I’ll admit, I’m a little surprised she let herself get injured that badly. From what I’ve seen, she’s too skilled in combat to make such a careless mistake. Is she alright?”

 

“She’ll be fine,” Val replied, following him through the base, “She’s pissed that Sep got the drop on her, but she was distracted by….uh…..a little problem.”

 

“Oh?” Aric turned and raised a brow at her.

 

“Apparently she’s allergic to whatever you use to clean here,” Val sighed, hoping Tia wouldn’t be upset at her divulging the information, “and she’s been itching ever since she had to clean the refreshers. I gave her a cortisone shot, but, as I’m sure you well know, being covered in fur makes it hard to get any lotion onto her dry skin so it might still take a couple of days for the itching to completely go away.”

 

“I suppose I’ll have to come up with something else the next time she decides to step out of line,” he replied as he stopped and gestured at the door, “Here you are, Captain.”

 

“Thank you, Lieutenant Jorgan,” Val nodded, glad to be getting away from those people that made her so uneasy. However, something made her trust the Lieutenant and she wanted information, “Before I go……how well do you know Tia’s squad?”

 

“I only know them by reputation, really,” Aric answered, a little puzzled at the question, “They’ve only been here a couple of weeks and keep to themselves for the most part. Havoc is top in the Republic military though, so they’re exceptional soldiers…….why do you ask?”

 

“Just curious about who my friend is serving with,” Val lied, not sure how to explain the feeling they gave her and afraid he wouldn’t believe her if she tried, “That’s all…….thanks again for letting me treat Tia……err, Sergeant Vleska and for showing me out.”

 

Aric watched her rush off to the cantina, the anxious look on her emerald face and the fact she didn’t look him in the eye plainly told him she was lying and he wondered why. However, there was so much going on that he really didn’t have the time to figure out the young spacer’s eccentricities. He went back in to find Havoc Squad deep in conversation in the command center and noticed they quieted a little when he entered the room.

 

While his harsh attitude hardly made him popular with those serving under his command, he usually got along alright with his equals and superiors. Tavus and the others treated him with the respect due his rank and were friendly enough, but at times like this he felt like an outsider……someone they put up with because they had to. Havoc wasn’t the first spec forces squad to spend time on Ord Mantell, but the others had always meshed well with the rest of the troops stationed here…..going out for drinks off duty, trading weapons, teaching the younger soldiers some lessons. They became part of the whole unit during their time here, unlike Havoc who kept to themselves and interacted with Ord’s troops only when necessary. For some reason, Captain Tarenz’ words echoed in his head as he watched them out of the corner of his eye….how well do you know Tia’s squad?

 

 

******

 

 

Val couldn’t sleep. She lay awake in bed, looking up at the ceiling in the room lit only by the moonlight streaming in through the small window, the uneasy feeling refusing to go away. She couldn’t shake the feeling that Tia was in danger and it had something to do with her squad. Val knew Tia would believe her, knowing her gut instincts were a result of her species’ force sensitivity, but with no reason why or any hard knowledge of what, there was little Tia would be able to do other than be vigilant.

 

“I don’t want to lose her again……I just found her after years of searching and tracking,” Val whispered in the dark. Then she sat up, an idea coming to her, “Tracking……that’s it!”

 

Val climbed out of bed, shivering a little and cursing Skavak once again for stealing her ship. The slender Mirialan was always cold and had heavy blankets on the bed in her quarters as well as a thick robe, fluffy slippers, and a multitude of warm hoodies. The t-shirt and shorts she’d gotten to sleep in weren’t ideal for keeping warm, but she shrugged it off as she dug her slicing kit and tinkering tools out of her bag. Then she found Tia’s bracelet in the front pouch with the credsticks she’d tossed in her backpack the night before she landed on Ord. Tia hadn’t been wearing her mother’s heirloom bracelet the day she’d gotten caught stealing medical supplies from the Republic, but Kat had found it when they packed up all their belongings and left Jessa’s house for good. Once Val took over the ship, she’d hung on to the bracelet, hoping to return it to her friend once they found her. Kat had the matching necklace and rarely took it off.

 

Val unclasped the woven silver bracelet, carefully studying it as she ran her fingers over the ruby stones set into it. One was slightly larger than the rest, set in the middle, and perfect for Val’s needs. With a determined smile, she began to take out her tools.

 

*****

 

Val awoke the next morning with a stiff back and bags under her eyes, but was pleased at how much she was able to get finished. She packed up her tools and put them back into her bag along with Tia’s bracelet. Later she’d see if Viidu had a computer she could use to finish her little project. Like her father, Val was skilled at slicing and tinkering and turned Tia’s heirloom bracelet into a high tech tracker. Once she had use of a computer, that chip could also be plugged into a HoloCommunicator or databad to send out heavily encrypted messages.

 

Val hurried and took a warm shower, still chilled from not having her warm sleepwear and heavy blankets. She dressed quickly, bushed her thick, shoulder length ebony hair into a ponytail, grabbed her backpack and blaster, and headed out the door.

 

When she arrived at Rendia Freight, Viidu had a job for her to take on while he and Corso worked at decrypting Reki’s files she’d acquired from Mannett Point.

 

“Actually,” Val interrupted the easily excited man before he could start explaining the job, “I’m pretty good with slicing and great with tech and codes. I’d be happy to decrypt Reki’s data if you have someone else that can do this job for you.”

 

“I’d be happy to do the job,” Corso volunteered.

 

“I’d love to go along with that,” Viidu sighed, not really wanting to send the little pixie of a spacer out into Separatist territory, “Unfortunately, the job involves getting a canister of chemicals from a scientist, Trymbo. The man’s a genious with accelerants and explosives, but tends to be a little odd.”

 

“You’re not talking about the ‘big boom’ run are you, boss?” Corso blanched, his brown eyes filled with worry as they darted to Val, “That’s too dangerous! It’s not worth it, boss.”

 

“It’s the only thing I can think of to offer to Rogun to get him off our backs long enough to track down Skavak and find that shipment,” Viidu countered, “And she should be fine as long as she stays on the main road.”

 

“Send me instead, boss,” Corso pleaded, “She already said she’s good with code. She’d probably be able to decrypt Reki’s datapad a lot faster than we can.”

 

“Yeah,” Val spoke up, “I’d rather work on that datapad.”

 

“Like I said, Trymbo isn’t all there in the head sometimes and gets a little anxious around anyone that remotely looks threatening,” Viidu explained, “Corso would probably scare him and while I know you’re perfectly capable of taking care of yourself, Captain, Trymbo wouldn’t see you as threatening at all.”

 

“I don’t know about this,” Val shook her head.

 

“Did I mention the job pays really well?”

 

“How well?” Val perked up.

 

“Well enough that you would be able to get some nice upgrades for your freighter when you get it back,” Viidu offered.

 

“Oh, alright,” Val sighed, figuring the credits would come in handy, void knows what Skavak’s been doing to my starship.

 

“Then it’s settled,” Viidu nodded, “However, just be careful handling that canister when you get it. Trymbo’s stuff isn’t always known for being stable……just don’t drop it or shake the canister and you should be fine.”

 

“This just keeps getting better and better,” Val muttered, then remembered the bracelet, “When I get back, can I use one of your secure computer terminals?”

 

“I don’t see why not,” Viidu agreed, “In fact, I have a couple of brand new laptops that haven’t even been touched. They were a gift for doing the military a favor a few months back and I really don’t have any use for them. You can have one to keep if you’d like.”

 

“That would be fantastic,” Val grinned, “Thanks!”

 

“Well, I really appreciate you taking this job, Captain,” Viidu told her as Syreena came into the room.

 

Corso stopped Val as she turned to head out, “One moment, Captain,” he called out, holding out a blaster, “I’d feel better if you take this with you…..it’s a SoruSuub SSK heavy blaster. Its cut for a quick draw and got a hair trigger. I call her Flashy. Flashy’s the first blaster I ever owned and I want you to have her.”

 

Val took the blaster, noticing that it was very well maintained and a lot nicer than the one she was currently using, “Thanks, Corso……I couldn’t possibly repay you for this.” She stammered, not used to people giving her things and this was the second nice thing she’d been offered today and it wasn’t even noon yet.

 

“I know Viidu thinks you’ll be fine sticking to the main roads, but I’d still feel better if you have Flashy with you,” Corso admitted, blushing a little himself as he went on, “I don’t want anything to happen to you, Captain.”

 

“Well, maybe luck will be with me today and this job will be quick and painless,” Val flashed him a weak smile, knowing the chances of that happening were slim and none.

 

 

******

 

 

Tia woke to a throbbing shoulder and her annoying alarm. Shaking off the fading effects of Val’s painkiller, she sat up and turned the beeping device off, her hand stilling when she spotted a couple of bottles next to it. She picked one up and saw that it was a concentrated herbal conditioner, specifically designed for fur covered species and targeted sensitive, irritated skin. The other was shampoo of the same type.

 

“Thank the stars Val found something for my itching!” Tia grinned, assuming her friend left the bottles. Tia had gone to the supply quartermaster after the irritation started, but he only had regular lotion and conditioner, neither of which was helpful to the fur covered Cathar. She’d searched what passed for a health and beauty shop in the fort coming up empty as well. “I’ll have to ask her where she got it in case I need more.”

 

Relieved to have something to sooth her skin and hopefully keep her from getting distracted, Tia hurried to shower before having to report to the command center at 0700. Less than an hour later, after taking a long shower and using copious amounts of the soothing conditioner, Tia felt a hundred times better and was actually smiling when she entered the Command Center despite the fact Lieutenant Jorgan was present wearing his usual scowl.

 

“Good morning, Sergeant,” Tavus smiled at her, “Fantastic work on Mannett Point yesterday. It looks like you’re feeling better.”

 

“I am, sir, thanks,” Tia nodded, “My friend patched me up and my shoulder is healing quickly.”

 

“I’m a little surprised that Sep caught you off guard, Sergeant,” Tavus pressed.

 

“Carelessness on my part, sir,” Tia admitted, “I’m allergic to the cleaners they use here and was distracted by my skin’s reaction. My friend found something to help though and left it with me after she patched me up last night. I can assure you, I won’t let it happen again, sir.”

 

“Good,” Tavus nodded, a twinkle in his blue eyes, “Maybe you should avoid getting latrine duty in the future, Sergeant.”

 

“I’ll try my best, sir,” Tia replied, a laugh escaping her before she could help it. Her eyes darted to Jorgan, who was standing in the corner glaring at her with his arms crossed.

 

Aric watched her come in, interested to see how Tavus and the others interacted with her. Wraith and Gearbox were out already, but Fuse and Needles were there along with Tavus. The three of them had been quietly discussing something in the corner and as they had with him last night, they halted their conversation when she came in. While Tavus seemed a little warmer to her than he’d been with him, Aric still got the feeling Sergeant Vleska was every bit the outsider he was.

 

He found himself studying her more than the others, her appearance was neat and her armor was properly fitted and up to standard. She might be a little cocky and disrespectful to her superiors, but he had to admit, she was a talented soldier and knew her stuff for the most part, if only she could learn to curb that temper and sharp tongue of hers. He wished he’d been there when Private Farn gave her those work detail papers, just to see the look on her face when she realized he had the last laugh after all. There was no way he was going to let that little outburst of hers in the cantina go without some form of punishment. He felt a twinge of regret when he found out she was allergic to the cleaning chemicals because he knew what that was like since he was allergic to the laundry soap used here. Most times he did his own laundry because of that, but once in a while, his stuff would get picked up by the cleaning service on accident and the discomfort could get very distracting. He couldn’t imagine how badly her skin was irritated after nearly two days without treatment….it made him want to scratch just thinking about it.

 

While the Republic had a better attitude toward non-Humans than the Empire did, the smooth skinned species often had it easier and their basic grooming supplies were always kept in stock on the military bases. He could understand that to some point, since fur covered beings like Cathar didn’t exactly make up large numbers, but it would be nice if the quartermaster carried shampoo and conditioner designed for them. The stuff Humans use on their hair is harsh on the body and lotion is useless for Cathar, so he ordered his own stuff from Coruscant, including a special conditioner for those times when his skin reacted to something. After Captain Tarenz told him Sergeant Vleska was allergic to the cleaning supplies, he understood how she got distracted and assumed she was stuck using hair shampoo to wash with since her stuff was destroyed in the walker. That’s why he left the shampoo and medicated conditioner on her nightstand when he set her alarm. He had plenty left in his cabinet since he’d just gotten a new case a few days ago.

 

He could tell when she entered the room that she was feeling better and for some reason, that made him happy. He liked seeing her smile….it made her whole face light up, especially when her nose crinkled as she laughed at something funny Tavus must’ve said. She was a lovely young woman, easily standing out with her silver fur and jet black hair, a rarity among their species. Then it hit him.....he was attracted to her. No….that’s not possible, he argued with himself, you’ve been butting heads with her since she arrived. However, images of her sitting on her bed in that curve hugging tank top as her friend tended to her injuries last night and that shapely body dancing in the cantina the night she arrived came to mind and he knew it was indeed possible.

 

However, even if they were getting along, she’d be leaving the planet as soon as Havoc secured the ZR-57 and he wasn’t the one night fling type. Deciding to nip this attraction in the bud, he glared at her when she looked his way and the frosty look that came across her face could freeze a desert. He felt a pang of regret, but shoved it down and focused on listening to Needles as the Human explained the details of the mission he had for the young Sergeant.

 

Tia could almost feel Jorgan staring at her and she wondered what she did wrong this time, stars, he really has it out for me! She ignored the anger that began to bubble up and turned her attention to Needles. There was something about her squad mate that made her uneasy and it had nothing to do with his scarred face that was covered with cybernetics. There was something almost sinister about him as he briefed her on the mission they had for her. A sick young couple had come to the base hoping for treatment, and although the medics did what they could, they didn’t have the supplies on hand to treat what Needles figured out to be radiation sickness. Tia had to fight a chill that ran down her spine as the smaller Human male described the young couple’s symptoms, a hint of pleasure in his tone indicating he was enjoying their pain and suffering.

 

Needles wasn’t the first member of her new squad to give her pause, the second in command, Wraith was another. The Mirialan was built similarly to Val, but without the warmth her shy, quirky friend had. Val was more of a loner, but very loyal to those she considered friends. Wraith was icy, barely acknowledging Tia and the one time Tia had to work with her on Mannett Point, she felt like the other woman despised her presence. She normally didn’t care how a person felt about her, but Wraith was a silent killer, the kind that wouldn’t think twice about literally stabbing someone in the back and that made Tia uneasy…….especially considering they were in the same squad. At least the rest of Havoc seemed alright. Fuse was shy like Val, but his eyes and smile were open and friendly. Both Tavus and Gearbox were welcoming to her and she even got the impression the latter had a sense of humor underneath that gruff exterior.

 

Tia put aside her wayward thoughts so she could focus on her orders. Tavus and Needles were certain the young couple had been exposed to the stolen ZR-57 and wanted Tia to get the supplies needed for a cure. Lieutenant Jorgan finally spoke up at that point, admitting that they had the supplies in one of their storage warehouses near Ordam Village, but that scavengers had raided it recently. With the bulk of their forces dealing with the Seperatists, they hadn’t been able to send people out to get their supplies back. He gave her the coordinates of the scavenger camps where she could find the stuff needed to prepare a cure. She brought up the map on her datapad, saw the coordinates were there and turned to leave when Jorgan had one last parting statement for her.

 

“Oh, and nothing fancy on this one, rookie,” he growled, “Just get those ingredients and double-time it back here so Lieutenant Dorant can assemble them into a cure….got it?!”

 

“Yes, sir,” Tia saluted, returning that glare with all the loathing she could muster, I would love to smack that smug, know it all look off his face just once before I leave the planet! The thought of doing that made her feel better as she left the room.

 

She was just about to exit HQ when a large Zabrak male stepped in front of her, “Hello there, Sergeant,” he sneered, “I’m Lieutenant Virk and I hear that little Private Farn had a chat with you the other day.”

 

“I didn’t realize my social schedule was so popular,” Tia smirked.

 

“Go ahead, make jokes,” Virk shot back, smiling coldly at her as his cronies closed in, “That mouth of yours is going to land you in trouble because I know you blabbed about my little ‘side business’ to your superiors. Now I have internal affairs looking into my affairs and I’m not too happy about that.”

 

“I could lie and say I care,” Tia raised a brow, not at all threatened since he’d be pretty stupid to try anything inside the base, “but that would take too much time and effort and I have places to go…..people to see…..Seps to fight, you know, stuff that real soldiers do.”

 

“Oh, you’re gonna care alright,” Virk chuckled, “because accidents happen all the time around here……especially to new officers that can’t keep their mouths shut. Good luck with your mission, Sergeant.” Then the Zabrak and his underlings turned and went into another room.

 

Normally Tia wouldn’t worry too much about a bully like Virk, but she was new to the planet and had enough on her plate with helping her squad find the stolen ZR-57, doing whatever she could to help Val track down her ship, dealing with Jorgan’s obvious dislike and trying to prove to him that she was capable. She didn’t need to worry about Virk on top of all that, and she had a bad feeling he would follow up on his threat. So she decided to confide in Commander Tavus when she got back and let him deal with the corrupt officer leaving her with one less thing to stress over…..I hope.

 

Edited by alaurin
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 8 months later...

Time to dust the cobwebs off this thread and give it an update. To anyone who might still be reading this thread, I'm really sorry it's taken roughly 9 months to get back to. :o I swear I won't take that long in the future if I can possibly help it. Unfortunately my muse got distracted by other things, but I assure you all I haven't forgotten about this legacy. For now, let's see how Kat's doing.

 

The Only Good Hutt is a Dead Hutt

 

Spoiler Alert: Spoilers for BH Hutta

 

A lone weary figure slowly walked the streets of Jiguuna, favoring her left leg as she headed in the direction of the dingy building whose still bright neon lights proudly proclaimed it to be the Poison Pit. A couple of thugs made the mistake of taking her below average height, attractive curves, and obvious injury for an easy mark. It was the last mistake they’d ever make. The hunter didn’t care if they were going to rob her, rape her, kill her….or all three, she didn’t care if they belonged to Fa’athra or Nem’ro. They were an enemy and that’s all that mattered. By the time the first filthy goon had a vibroknife out of his belt, she’d roasted his Zabrak partner and turned that deadly flamethrower onto him. Her sensitive ears tuned out the screams of the dying man, as did everyone else that dared to be out in the dusk hours. Most people who eked out an honest living on this disgusting planet knew the risks of going out at night. Those who did venture out after the sun set were either too green or stupid to know better, making them easy marks, or they were the thieves, gamblers, addicts, or thugs that thrived on the cover of darkness and the entertainment that it provided. Shaking her head at the now charred remains at her feet, the young woman took out a small bio scanner and took a reading on each of the corpses, one of which turned out to be a con man with a decent price on his head.

 

Some good luck at least, she thought, confirming the kill with the listing and putting in her contact information. Sure enough, a moment later, her datapad chirped with a message saying the credits were being transferred to her account. Full lips twitched in a brief, fang bearing smile as Kat limped into the filth hole that passed for a cantina in Jiguuna and headed towards the back rooms, one of which she and Mako would be vacating soon, I hope. As soon as she entered their room, she dropped her bags on the floor and closed the door.

 

“Save your breath…….I already know we’ve been had,” Mako called out, those doe eyes focused on the computer terminal in front of her, “But I may have a plan to……..by the stars, Kat!” Mako blanched having finally turned towards her partner to see the Cathar hobbling over to a chair, “What happened?!”

 

“That dirty double crossing slug happened,” Kat growled, sinking ungracefully into the surprisingly soft chair, “I knew he was stringing us along but I didn’t expect him to be so blatant about offing me!”

 

“Did he find out about Yalt and Huttsbane?” Mako whispered, an edge of panic creeping into her voice.

 

“I don’t think so,” Kat shook her head as she removed her belt and holsters, gently setting them on the end table next to her, “Disgusting bastard was just toying with me again. Damn Hutt decided to clean house and wanted me to take out his less than trustworthy beast master. However, he thought it’d be more entertaining to warn the guy I was coming first.”

 

“Why am I not surprised?” Mako muttered, grabbing her medikit while Kat got her boots off.

 

“Because the only good Hutt is a dead Hutt,” Kat snorted, wincing as she peeled the mesh weave off her wounded leg. A painful growl escaped when the blood crusted material pulled some of her fur out, “Dammit……can you get me some hot water please? I don’t want feel like walking around with a bald patch on my leg.”

 

While she waited for Mako to get the hot water, Kat removed her gloves and chest plating, leaving her stripped down to her tank top and underwear, left leg still in her bottoms. She felt aches and pains all over her body and knew she’d be sporting several bruises, some of which would likely be visible under her cream colored fur, but her plating had held up despite its rough appearance. Unfortunately, full leg plates weren’t possible with the design of the fuel system for her flame thrower. The vents shot out of her lower back and would heat up any metal under it enough to sear her like a steak. She’d chosen the cheapest flame retardant, heat resistant leggings she could find, but they weren’t the most durable and one of the beast master’s little charges managed to puncture her leg through it with some very sharp claws. Kat wasn’t one that liked killing animals, but she made an exception for that one, letting a roar of pride out when the creature lay dead at her feet.

 

“You have spares?” Mako asked, nodding at the leggings she was slowly pouring warm water over.

 

“One pair,” Kat gritted, clenching her jaw as Mako worked the material free from the wound. She sighed in relief when the slicer was finished and was thankful most of her fur was still on her leg, “I’ll still try to repair those though……need all I can get until I can afford something better.”

 

“We should try and get you an upgrade as soon as we can,” Mako advised, “Because this material obviously can’t hold up against sharp objects and not all our targets will be using blasters. One good vibro blade could end your career and possibly your life.”

 

“I’ll just have to work extra hard to keep my enemies at range until I can get something better,” Kat sighed, “and my plating is holding up, but it’s taken a beating since I arrived on Hutta and wasn’t the greatest to begin with. I really needed to get something in durasteel for the amount of actual fighting I’m gonna be doing, but this was the best I could afford when Braden contacted me.”

 

“Don’t take this the wrong way, but the Great Hunt is definitely more physically involved than the random contracts you’d been taking on Nar Shaddaa,” Mako warned Kat as she began cleaning the jagged slash that began at mid-thigh and ran down past her knee, “and your armor will take more of a beating than you’re probably used to……so getting something better should be top priority.”

 

“Oh, trust me,” Kat retorted irritably, “I’m well aware of that now……and I’m not even in yet. I did manage to take out a wanted con man on the way here from Nem’ro’s though. Couple of idiots took me for a mark. Decent price and the credits should be in my account now. I don’t know if it’ll be enough to replace everything, but maybe snag some chest plates and leggings that are a little more durable.”

 

“I can go through some of Braden’s old things to see if there’s something we can use as well,” Mako offered, “He hasn’t actively taken any bounties in a couple of years, but always kept his equipment up. Depending on what happens and where we end up, we can take it to an armormech and get them fitted properly for you.”

 

“I’m sorry for snapping and thanks, Mako……I know that isn’t easy for you,” Kat sighed, feeling guilty for taking her bad mood out on the other woman.

 

“It’s not,” she shrugged, swallowing down the lump that had formed in her throat, “But he doesn’t have need of it anymore and he’d much rather have it being used than wasting away in an old trunk.” She paused for a moment to tie off the last stitch, then began to slather a thick layer of kolto on the wound, “So I’m guessing Nem’ro dropped his little bombshell about the sponsorship after you took out his beast master.”

 

“You got it,” Kat muttered, those honey eyes flashing in anger at the memory, “Kriffing slime claimed he wasn’t sure I’d survive the beast pit, but I get the feeling he was never going to give me that sponsorship. However, you mentioned something about a plan when I walked in…..”

 

“I have a slice into one of the feeds at the palace and managed to hear about Nem’ro giving away his sponsorship token to another hunter, a Trandoshan named Rarsk. As soon as I heard that, I started doing a little digging on the HoloNet. He’s taken down his fair share of bounties, never leaving a target alive, but he’s young and new to the business. He’s also been known for his arrogance and some say it makes him sloppy at times.”

 

“That’s good to know, but did you manage to track him down?” Kat asked as Mako wrapped a layer of gauze around her thigh, “That revolting blob hinted that he didn’t care who ended up with his token by the time the Great Hunt rep got here, just that he’d already given it out to his choice at the time.”

 

“Patience is a virtue,” Mako smirked, “I was just getting to that part. Obviously Rarsk needs to be on planet when the rep gets here tomorrow afternoon, but I was able to get his current whereabouts…..well, sorta.”

 

“Sorta?”

 

“It turns out Rarsk is here for another bounty…...some Republic scientist named Albea who just so happens to be a prisoner in the lab at Fa’athra’s palace. According to what I found, Rarsk knows some people on the inside and has made arrangements to pick her up in the morning while most of Fa’athra’s crowd is either sleeping it off or out causing trouble for Nem’ro’s people.”

 

“So we get there first and wait for him to show up,” Kat finished, “Then take him out and the token’s ours. Good find Mako!”

 

“Thanks…..I’d like to think I’m capable of pulling my own weight in our partnership.”

 

“You are and then some,” Kat assured her, “I couldn’t have made it this far without you, Mako. Now, do you happen to have blueprints for Fa’athra’s place? I’m thinking we should head out at dawn and I’d like to find a back entrance if possible.”

 

“We?”

 

“You keep saying you want to come along,” Kat pointed out, “and with an injured leg slowing me down, I’m not certain I can pull this off alone. Some backup would help me out, but I don’t want to force you so if you’re even the slightest bit unsure and would rather stay here……”

 

“Are you kidding?! Of course I want to go! We need that sponsorship to get into the Great Hunt and more importantly, to get to Tarro Blood so we can teach that stinking, rotten, low-life coward a lesson he’ll never forget.”

 

“Good,” Kat smirked at her new friend’s enthusiasm, “because I’m hoping those slicing skills of yours can get us into Fa’athra’s Palace without drawing too much attention. The fewer that know we’re there, the less chance that Rarsk will figure out there’s an ambush waiting for him.”

 

“Getting there before the sun’s up will definitely make things easier and I’ll see what I can get ahold of as far as blueprints go,” Mako answered, checking the chrono, “I’m sure I can find some sort of back entrance or at least something close to the lab area……but right now it’s almost time to feed our little charge.”

 

“Speaking of our pup, this evening wasn’t a total loss,” Kat sighed, digging a large, worn, and a slightly stained hard copy book out of her pack, “I did find this in the beast master’s office after I killed him. There’s a section in there about Akk puppies…..maybe something that can help our little girl survive.”

 

“Cocoa,” Mako grinned, “and so far, so good…..she’s drinking well and likes to cuddle.”

 

“Cocoa huh?” Kat murmured thoughtfully, smiling as she watched Mako lift the tiny pup out from the nest of blankets, “I like it.”

 

 

Author's Note:

 

I'm sure actual hardcopy books are probably pretty rare in the SWTOR universe, but it seemed like something a beast master who was attached to his charges would have.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...

Apologies again for the lengthy wait for an update to this thread, but the muse got distracted with other things......including a recent addiction of watching then reading Game of Thrones! Anyways, the original version of this next part was posted in the SFC thread for the Technology prompt 9/6/2013. I've extensively revised it from the original though in order to make it flow better in this thread, so even if you've read it in the SFC thread, it's probably still worth a read.....I hope.

 

 

Keep Your Friends Close and Your Enemies Closer

 

Spoiler Alert: Spoilers for Smuggler and Trooper Ord Mantell

 

Ah, the lovely smell of Ord Mantell in the morning, twenty-three year old Sergeant Tiannya Vleska thought to herself as she double timed across a beachfront currently serving as a warzone. Lieutenant ‘large stick up my ass’ Jorgan ordered her into the Separatists' main holdout to deactivate the stolen ZR-57 after her squad had gone missing and the beachfront road was the only way there.

 

Not that the Cathar soldier minded her mission, Tia had done well in the military. She might not have liked being forced into that career, but she ended up happy there. She occasionally thumbed her nose at authority, not having much use for the etiquette and protocol expected from lower ranking soldiers, like herself, by the officers in charge. She hated being under the command of someone who thought their stripes meant they were gods, people like Lieutenant Jorgan, and that lesser officers and soldiers were rookie morons. However, despite that shortcoming, she was a very good, highly skilled soldier, following orders, for the most part, well-liked by her equals, and rose through the ranks quickly.

 

To say she was thrilled when the base commander called her into his office three weeks ago and told her she’d been pegged for Spec Forces was a major understatement. That would’ve been enough to put her on cloud nine for days, but then it got better…..she was being assigned to Havoc. Everyone in the military had heard of Havoc, the squad had been legend for years and Tia couldn’t believe she was going to be a part of that. She accepted the post immediately and left the Outer Rim to meet up with her new squad on Ord Mantell.

 

She’d been so excited and proud when her shuttle landed a few days ago, but all that changed quickly thanks to one arrogant, rude, and overbearing member of her species. It felt like more than just a higher ranking officer picking on the new grunt and his obvious disapproval rankled. All week he’d done nothing but judge her harshly, barked orders at her, glaring and frowning at her as he crossed his arms over his chest. Anytime one of her squad paid her a compliment or congratulated her for a job well done, he’d swoop in to knock her back down a peg or two and she had no idea why. Sure, she’d gotten mouthy that first evening in the cantina, but he’d sorely deserved it.

 

Is he really all that bad? That question surfaced in her mind and Tia had to admit he’d shown her some gruff kindness after giving her those final orders. However it was difficult to determine if it was any goodwill for her person or the fact that she was in the early stages of her mating cycle. As a male of their species, Lieutenant Jorgan was certain to notice those signs and judging from a brief few moments when they were alone before she left, he had.

 

 

“Before you go, Sergeant,” his voice stopped her as she’d turned to leave, “An extra precaution in case we lose your signal.”

 

He held an injector in his hand and at Tia’s raised brow, he explained, “A tracker. Different technology than what’s in your armor cam.”

 

“Hopefully I won’t need it, sir,” Tia nodded, knowing full well the danger she was facing, “Where’s it going?”

 

“Your forearm. Can you bare it for me?”

 

“Sure,” Tia told him, her voice taking on a throaty tone.

 

She’d felt the smile curving her lips before she could help it, her hormones already making her more open to suggestion and thoughts of baring more than just her forearm began to surface as she worked on removed the plating on her left arm.

 

“Is the itching gone?”

 

“It is…….and thank you, sir,” she replied as she rolled her mesh weave up, “Val told me she wasn’t the one who left the shampoo and conditioner on my nightstand.”

 

“I have more if you need it, Sergeant,” he nodded, his tone gruff as he reached for her.

 

She hadn’t realized her body was already becoming sensitive until he grasped her bare arm with his own and a low growl escaped her throat. He’d raised a brow at her, but she looked away, a little embarrassed at her slip. Then she heard it, the quiet intake as he took in her scent and she looked up to meet his gaze. Gone were the snide, arrogant, and even condescending look his face normally wore when barking orders at her. Gone was the flash of annoyance in his eyes, those bright green orbs now raking hotly over her. His lips were parted slightly and she felt that tawny thumb stroking her silvery fur as his hold on her arm tightened.

 

“Sir?” Tia whispered, her lips parted in invitation, one that her hormone driven self desperately wanted him to take despite his attitude towards her since she’d set foot into HQ.

 

For a brief moment, the flicker of intent was there…..a half smile twitching his mouth as he leaned closer. Then he paused, swallowing hard as his other hand brought the injector to her arm. She could feel his hands shaking as he depressed the button to shoot the transmitter into her skin, where it would burrow until it was removed.

 

Unfortunately the good Lieutenant came to his senses and quickly backed away, fixing her with one of his trademark scowls when she looked up at him. Then he spoke and it was like a cold slap in the face.

 

“Just try not to do anything stupid out there rookie,” he growled, “It’d be nice if I didn’t have to use this to find your sorry hide.”

 

“Don’t worry Lieutenant,” she shot back, turning away as she felt the bitter sting of tears, “I wouldn’t want to make you leave your cozy desk.”

 

“You’re dismissed, Sergeant,” he snapped, “And as soon as you get back here, we’ll discuss your attitude towards your superiors and ways you can work on improving it.”

 

“Yes sir,” Tia muttered, knowing she’d gone too far. Before she could dig herself any deeper, she left HQ, thinking that the only part she wanted him to kiss was her *** at the moment.

 

 

Remembering those parting words was enough to spur her on faster towards the massive volcano looming ahead. The sooner she found her missing squad and got them out safely, the sooner she could put this planet and Lieutenant Jorgan behind her. She loathed him and cycle or no, there’s no way she’d ever consider letting him touch her ever again! Nope, she was going to simply bite her tongue, accept whatever punishment her last dig at him earned, and move on. Hopefully once the ZR-57 was secure, Havoc would leave Ord Mantell and she could focus on getting to know her new squad mates and being the best soldier she could be.

 

If anyone had told her as a child where she’d end up, she would’ve thought they were crazy. Tia and her two littermates, Katrynka and Jakkobi had been born into privilege. Their father’s family name commanding respect as one of the prominent clans, tracing its heritage back for centuries. Their mother was a diplomat, well loved not only by Cathar, but people from all species and walks of life. Tia always figured she’d end up finishing up with her education along with her littermates, then they’d start being groomed and encouraged to find a suitable mate. It was a fate that all three had balked at for various reasons, and one that was taken from them with a single violent act.

 

By a stroke of luck, Tia and Kat survived that day. The girls weren’t on their mother’s tour barge when it exploded, but back at the family’s luxury flat. The nanny, who’d been watching thirteen year old Tia and Kat at the time, had attempted to kill them as well, but they managed to escape after killing her and lost themselves in the streets of Nar Shaddaa. After a few months surviving on the streets, doing odd jobs and stealing, they hooked up with an eleven year old, very talented, Mirialan pickpocket, Valaya. Val had been on her own after losing her parents to mysterious circumstances as well and Tia intended to search for information on Val’s family along with her own.

 

“You’re really deep in thought there, Tia,” a snarky voice interrupted, “anxious?”

 

Tia glanced over at the Mirialan next to her and smiled, “Just recalling the good ole days.”

 

“Ah yes, the good times on Nar Shaddaa!” the other young woman rolled her blue-grey eyes. They were both the same height, but the Mirialan was petite, like an dancer, lacking Tia’s voluptuous curves.

 

Interestingly enough, Val showed up on Ord Mantell the same day Tia did, a serendipity that both girls were overjoyed with, but they’d found little time to catch up other than that first night. Val was tied up looking for her freighter, its cargo, and the scumbag who’d stolen them. Meanwhile Tia had been busy with her own mission, tracking down a stolen orbital strike weapon. Apparently Ord was a den of thieves and now Tia and Val were currently headed right into the heart of it. They’d decided to work together since their final destination was a shared one…..the Separatists’ volcanic hideout. They were also accompanied by a very handsome Mantellian native, Corso Riggs, who’d also been betrayed by the man who stole Val’s ship. He was determined to help Val get her ship back and Tia got the feeling the shy Human was smitten with her quirky friend. Tia was fine with his company, from what she’d heard, he was a talented fighter who had a vast knowledge of weapons…...a good sort to have around when taking on the Seps stronghold.

 

“Hold up a sec, Tia,” Val said as they approached the entrance, “There’s something I want to give you first.”

 

Tia did just that, knowing that it must be important for Val to stop at that point, “What’s up?”

 

Val dug a bracelet out of her backpack and handed it to Tia. “Something made me grab this off of my ship before leaving it,” she explained, “I somehow knew I’d be seeing you soon and that I wouldn’t have the chance to get it later.” Like most of her species, Val had small degree of force sensitivity and trusted in her 'gut feelings.'

 

“That was my mother’s,” Tia gasped, a tear coming as she held the beautiful trinket in her palm, its rubies sparkling in the sunlight, “I never thought I’d see it again.” It was the one memento she had of their parents and she’d forgotten to put it on the day she broke into the Republic Headquarters.

 

“I found it when we packed up our stuff to leave Nar Shaddaa behind,” Val told her, “I knew I’d find you someday. I also tinkered with it.”

 

“Go on,” Tia nodded, knowing the Mirialan’s talent in that area.

 

“Look, I know that ornery Lieutenant is keeping tabs on you during your missions,” Val began, “but I’ve got a bad feeling about this place. You said so yourself that they lost the feed on your squad and were rebooting the system, and that he injected a secondary tracker into your arm as a precaution. This is suicide and yet they’re sending you in anyways!”

 

“Val,” Tia sighed, “I know the risks, but I’m good at my job and it’s my duty. I know it wasn’t my choice to serve in the military, but it’s been a good life these past six years and I like what I do.”

 

“I’m not saying you aren’t capable, Tia, because you are and then some,” Val assured her, an anxious look appearing in her pixish face, “but I still get the feeling you are headed into deep trouble. There’s a transmitter and tracker in that bracelet….a very sophisticated one that’s extremely difficult to detect and interrupt. It requires a special code to access and anything that’s transmitted with that thing will be heavily encrypted. I’m the only one with the access code and the proper decrypting tools. The bracelet is transmitting right now and even if your armor cam and tracker fails like the rest of your squads’, that thing will keep working.” Then the smaller woman enveloped her in a fierce hug, “This is my way of helping. We lost you once, Tia, and now that I finally found you, I don’t want to lose you again. You, Kat, and Zyra are like sisters to me.”

 

“I know, Val,” Tia hugged her petite friend back, “and I feel the same way. I was so worried about you and Kat that day I was caught and I was relieved when I first saw you here on Ord. I’m still worried about Kat and Zyra, but hopefully Kat will be able to locate her quickly and the four of us will be a family again.”

 

“Uh, Captain…...I really hate to interrupt,” Corso called out, drawing his rifle as he nodded towards the entrance, “but we’ve caught some attention.”

 

Val quickly explained how to access the transmitter and Tia slipped the bracelet on, tucking it under her glove. Then the three of them fought their way into the Separatists’ holdout while the enemy forces were distracted by a Republic military assault on their upper level landing sites. While they did encounter some of the Seps on their way through the extensive base, it wasn’t anything the trio couldn’t handle as they went along. Corso took a blaster bolt to his shoulder, but the injury proved to be minor and Val treated it quickly.

 

Tia split off from Val and Corso when they came to where the Separatists’ communications system was located. Val and Corso continued on into the base in search of her ship while Tia entered the Communications hub. She found Imperials and Separatists working together there. Tia was a very deadly fighter after being in the thick of fighting for the past six years and easily dispatched her opponents, enjoying the physical act of killing Imperials. She owed every one of them for their disgusting views on aliens and slavery. She finally got to the communications console and used the data spike she was given to broadcast the disarm codes throughout the stronghold. No matter where the stolen ZR-57 was in the base, it would soon be neutralized.

 

Moments after using the spike, Tia was contacted by her favorite irritant. Much to her shock, Lieutenant Jorgan actually congratulated her on her success and let her know that they had just gotten her armor cam running as she was fighting the Imperials. He wanted her to continue further into the base in search of her missing squad and see how much the Imperials were involved. Tia acknowledged the order and after promising to send Havoc's last known coordinates to her, Lieutenant Jorgan ended the call. Less than a minute later, Tia's datapad chimed that she had a message. He is efficient, Tia had to admit, and she was touched when he ended the message by warning her to watch her six. Deciding to heed that advice, she decided to have some backup on standby and sent a message to Val to update her friend of these new developments.

 

After sending the message, Tia moved out, thoughts of Val, Havoc, and even the grumpy Lieutenant filling her mind as she left the room. It’s really too bad he’s been such a jerk all week, she mused, because I can’t deny he's kinda sexy. Tia knew her mating cycle was likely the reason for her attraction to her brooding superior, and it would have been fun to have the opportunity to finally mate with Cathar male, but she knew it’d be a mistake. While Tia was confident she’d be able to seduce the grouchy officer easily since her firm, voluptuous figure, black mane, unusual silvery fur, and lavender eyes made her an attractive member of her species who had little trouble finding good looking male company when she felt the urge he’d likely revert back to his pissy self afterwards like he had earlier. Alas…..it would’ve been nice, she sighed as she left the room, but he's a complete and total pr*ck and I’d rather break his face then kiss it!

 

Tia continued on further into the holdout and after fighting her way through, she was at the point where they’d lost Havoc’s signal. She spotted a corridor off to her left and went in to investigate. She carefully made her way through the corridor only to encounter more Imperials around the corner. After quietly killing them, she entered the hangar and found her squad working with Imperials at the other end. She ducked behind a crate in order to assess the situation. Gearbox was directing a group of Imps who were loading what she assumed was the stolen ZR-57 into a large shuttle. Those dirty traitors! Luckily, they hadn’t spotted her yet or realized the Imps guarding the corridor were dead, but Tia knew it was only a matter of time and needed to think fast. She was certain her armor cam wasn’t transmitting anymore assuming they likely had tech in the area that disabled standard military transmitters. However, she had her bracelet with Val’s tech in it and it would be higher quality than they would be expecting. Dammit, I wasn’t prepared for this…...what in the void am I supposed to do?!

 

For once, Tia wouldn’t have minded Lieutenant Jorgan barking orders at her…..at least she’d have an idea of what to do. She loathed the idea of retreating and dismissed it, knowing she needed more information on what Havoc and the Imperials were up to. Besides, she was a soldier, not a quitter. Confronting them would likely lead to her demise, but she had to try. Perhaps after Jorgan had finished rebooting the systems, her armor cam would be working again. She had to try and get as much information as possible, even if it meant her death. What other choice do I have…..its either retreat, go in and try to talk to them…...wait…..I could talk to them. If there’s even a shred of honor left in any of them, they won’t gun me down without at least an explanation. A risky plan began to form in her head after she reconsidered all her options again. Then before she could change her mind, Tia came out from her hiding place and approached her squad.

 

Tavus was the first to spot her, “Sergeant, I thought my orders were clear,” he told her, dismay written all over his face, “You aren’t supposed to be here.”

 

“I’ll take her,” Wraith whispered cooly from behind as she felt a rifle barrel touch the middle of her back.

 

“No, Captain,” Tavus commanded, “Sergeant Vleska was one of us, a fine warrior who deserves an explanation…...not to be shot in the back.”

 

“There’s nothing to explain, sir,” Tia calmly stated, “You’re working with the Empire. I assume you all are defecting. Why though? What makes you do this?”

 

“It’s simple,” Tavus admitted indulging the young woman he’d come to respect over the past few days, “You and I are warriors, Sergeant and Havoc Squad is the best. Unfortunately, the Republic no longer values her warriors.”

 

“What makes you believe that?” Tia asked, curious as to their reasoning.

 

“They abandoned us during a mission on Ando Prime,” Tavus spat, “Things didn’t go as they planned, we had bad intel and were trapped. Instead of getting us out of there, the Senate left us there to die.”

 

“You really think it’s any better in the Empire?” she asked, careful to keep her tone simply inquisitive and not condescending.

 

“The Empire values us, Sergeant,” Tavus told her, “More than the Republic ever will. It’s too bad you found us. I liked you and you might’ve been willing to come with us had you been with us longer.”

 

Tia took the plunge, “Who says I’m not willing?” The rest of her squad just stared at her in shock, Tavus himself open mouthed and wide eyed, and if the situation hadn’t been so dire, Tia would’ve laughed at the looks on their faces.

 

“What are you saying, Sergeant?” Tavus finally replied, those sharp blue eyes narrowing at her.

 

“Don’t be so surprised,” Tia chuckled, fighting to keep her body relaxed as she looked them all dead in the eye, “You think you’re the only ones with a grudge? Did you even read my file? I was forced to serve in the Republic military, it wasn’t my choice. They caught me stealing medical supplies for orphan kids back on Nar Shaddaa when I was seventeen. Instead of being willing to help, they took me like a slave and shipped me off to military training!”

 

“Can she come with us, sir?” Fuse asked and Tia smiled encouragingly at him, suspecting that the pale Zabrak liked her.

 

“Is that something that interests you, Sergeant?” Tavus replied.

 

“As long as I’m treated like an intelligent soldier and not like a slave or incompetent rookie, then yes…….I’ll bite.” Tia answered nonchalantly, “I have no real loyalty to the Republic, but I found that I liked the life of a soldier, so I stayed. My biggest concern is the attitude the Imperials have toward aliens. Is that going to be an issue?”

 

“They haven’t treated me or Wraith badly,” Fuse assured her, unable to keep the hope out of his voice, “I think you’ll be as happy as we are.”

 

“Are you certain this is what you want?” Tavus asked gently, wanting to make sure she understood the full impact of her decision, “You realize there’s no going back if you have second thoughts.”

 

“I understand that sir,” Tia assured him, “I have no real ties to the Republic and no desire to. I have no family and my one real friend is a freelancer. Her only ties are to the Underworld and whoever is paying her at the moment.”

 

“I hate to interrupt, sir,” Gearbox told Tavus, “but we need to make atmo soon or it might be too late.”

 

Tavus nodded, “Sergeant, give me a moment to talk to the rest of the squad. We work as a unit and are like a family so they have say in this matter as well.”

 

“I can respect that, sir,” Tia admitted as she saw the Imperials ready their weapons in case she tried to escape, “but you should know that I have an armor cam on me still and Lieutenant Jorgan injected a tracker into my arm before I left the base.”

 

“I appreciate your honesty, Sergeant,” Tavus nodded, “and we can take care of that before we take off if you end up coming with us.”

 

After a tense few minutes of fighting her instinct to bolt out of there, the rest of her squad came over to her, “Welcome aboard, Sergeant.” Tavus smiled, shaking her hand as he reached into her chest plate with the other and ripped out the armor cam.

 

“Give me your arm,” Needles told her, “I’ll get that tracker out of you.”

 

Tia took off her glove and arm plate so Needles could cut out the tracker. Unlike with Jorgan earlier, her hormone sensitized body didn’t enjoy the contact. In fact it was quite the opposite…..her fur twitched at the scarred little Human’s touch. After he removed the tracker, smashed it, and patched her up, he ran a scanner over her, “she’s clean.”

 

“Good because it’s time for us to go,” Tavus nodded, patting their newest member on the shoulder as he passed her to walk up the ramp to board the shuttle.

 

“Any regrets, kid?” Gearbox asked as they followed.

 

Tia flashed him a wicked smirk, “Only that I didn’t get the chance to break Jorgan’s face before leaving!” Tia grinned as the door closed behind them.

 

The rest of her squad laughed at that as the door closed behind them and a moment later, the pilot steered the shuttle out of the hanger and took off. Please Gods, Tia prayed, touching her bracelet as Ord Mantell became grew further away in the small window, let Val’s transmitter work!

 

Edited by alaurin
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

Got distracted by the recent SFC prompts and the usual springtime stuff for my kids, but I did finally manage to finish Kat's next part........so here you go!

 

The Not So Sweet Smell of Success

 

Spoiler Alert: Spoilers for BH Hutta

 

“Good call on the early morning break-in Kat,” the dark haired Human whispered to her partner.

 

“Eh,” the cream colored Cathar shrugged as they waited in front of an elevator, “I’ve been around a few places like this and it’s usually pretty quiet in the early morning hours following a party. Most people are either still high or crashed out from all the booze and stims, the guards are thinned out from breaking up the fights that always seem to happen at these gatherings, and the slaves are typically exhausted from trying to keep up with cleaning all the mess.”

 

“Not to mention the stray guests that decide to use the elevator for private time,” Mako pointed out as the door opened to reveal a half-naked Rattataki woman straddling a Zabrak with his pants down, both of whom were snoring.

 

"Wow," Kat made a face, "I've seen a lot living on Nar Shaddaa but this is actually a first for me. Wonder if they finished before passing out...."

 

"I so did not need to think about that," Mako muttered as they reluctantly stepped in, “Stars I feel bad for anyone having to clean up after a Hutt party.”

 

“Can’t say it’s a job I’d want,” Kat agreed, wrinkling her nose at the offensive smells coming from the unconscious couple as she carefully stepped around them to push the button for the second floor.

 

She thought she’d be used to the stench of Hutta with its polluted swamps and the numerous factories belching thick acrid smoke into the air, but Fa’athra’s Palace opened up a new level of disgusting for the Cathar’s sensitive nose. The whole place reeked of stale liquor, cheap cigarras, unwashed bodies, and other odors she didn’t want to think about. The rancid smell was worth it though because they had yet to encounter anyone since Mako sliced the lock on the back servant’s entrance. In fact the only scuffle that had occurred was just after they entered the grounds when Mako spotted a drunken Rodian taking a piss on one of outer walls and recognized him from the bounty boards.

 

“I suppose we’re lucky Fa’athra wanted to celebrate the death of one of Nemro’s chief lieutenants last night,” Mako whispered, not wanting to wake the sleeping occupants for fear they’d resume their activity, “Perfect for us, especially with the shortcut you found.”

 

“Looks like that back way in paid off,” Kat pointed down the corridor after they exited the elevator, “The lab should be the next room up ahead……damn, the door’s closed. What do you think our chances are that it’s unlocked?”

 

“Not good,” Mako answered wryly, “But don’t worry, I’m pretty good with locks.”

 

“You remind me of my friend Val,” Kat smiled sadly at her new partner, missing her Mirialan friend who Mako reminded her of at times, “She insists there’s no lock she can’t eventually get open and she’s hacked her way into many a database as well.”

 

“Sounds like a kindred spirit,” Mako murmured as she went to work on the lock, “Maybe I’ll get to meet her someday.”

 

“Maybe,” Kat nodded, keeping an eye out while Mako was busy.

 

“And we’re in,” Mako grinned triumphantly a moment later after a soft click.

 

The girls quietly stepped into the doorway, Kat leading with both blasters charged and ready. She sniffed the air, and whereas the rest of Fa’athra’s stunk to high hell, this room had a sterile smell to it which was a refreshing relief and would make it easier to detect another person. Kat was easily able to catch another scent as they cautiously entered what appeared to be an actual lab and knew they weren’t alone. Honey colored eyes began to slowly scan the room as the Cathar kept her blaster at the ready and sure enough, she spotted a small figure huddled in a corner a second later, the white lab coat indicating it was likely the Republic scientist.

 

“Looks like we definitely got here first,” Kat pointed at the frightened woman, “I’m willing to wager she’s Rarsk’s target.”

 

“She fits the description,” Mako confirmed after consulting her datapad, “Albea, right?”

 

“P-p-please,” the sandy haired Human pleaded as she stood, her eyes wide and tan skin pale as she eyed Kat’s blasters, “Please don’t hurt me. I-I-I’m just a scientist. I was grabbed by some thugs off the street on my way home from work…..on Nar Shaddaa……and I woke up here. I’ve only been here a few days and I swear I don’t know anything!”

 

“Well you must either be someone important or know something of value since there’s a price on your head,” Kat challenged, “I do know you’re a republic scientist so maybe you made an important discovery or invented a new stim.”

 

“I-I-I am a scientist, but I don’t know why I was taken and brought here……I just work in the pharmaceutical lab.”

 

“Maybe you stumbled across something across something you weren’t meant to find,” Mako suggested with a shrug, “Who knows what goes through Hutt minds when they plot, but that’s not important right now.”

 

“It’s not?”

 

“Nope,” Kat shook her head, “We’re actually here for the guy coming to get you. So just sit tight and maybe duck under a table or something if someone comes through the door…..”

 

“And try to keep quiet,” Mako calmly instructed as the woman began to weep, “We’re seriously relying on that whole element of surprise thing and too much noise is going to ruin that.”

 

“Shhhh,” Kat hissed suddenly, her sharp hearing picking up footsteps approaching.

 

She immediately thumbed the switch on both blasters, her gloved hands holding them in a steady grip as she aimed them at the doorway, ready to fry anyone coming through. Mako readied her own blaster just as a yellow scaled Trandoshan entered the lab followed by two mercs. The scientist’s eyes widened even more as she darted behind a large cabinet.

 

“That’s our guy,” Mako nodded at the group.

 

“Soft little thing thinks to make this hunter target?” the Trandoshan hissed at the Cathar who had a blaster trained on him.

 

“Nothing personal, Rarsk,” Kat tossed back with a smirk as she lowered one blaster long enough to flick the switch to power up her flamethrower, “I just want that sponsorship token Nem’ro gave you.”

 

“Token is rightfully mine…..no good for soft furry thing,” Rarsk shot back, his sharp fangs glinting as his face split in a cruel grin, “We take you out first then scientist is-“

 

“Waste him,” Kat interrupted with a growl, hoping to throw them off as she hit one of Rarsk’s thugs with an electrodart.

 

Mako followed Kat’s lead, hitting the other Human with her taser as Kat’s twin blasters opened up on the Trandoshan. Satisfied both mercs were out of commission, Mako followed suit with her own blaster. None of the plasma bolts did any damage however, since Rarsk had his shield generator activated, but the shots weren’t wasted and by the time the hulking hunter charged at the girls, they had his shield weakened considerably. Already beginning to recognize her partner’s fighting style, Mako took a step back when she saw the Cathar raise her left arm towards their target. With a downward flick of her wrist a heartbeat later, a flame burst forth from the vent at the top of Kat’s forearm that burned through the rest of Rarsk’s shield. The Trandoshan began hissing as he tried to dodge the ongoing jet of fire, but it was too late. His cheap underarmor wasn’t flame retardant and began melting to his yellow scales. When Rarsk’s hissing turned to screams, Kat cut the flame off then fired off a round of shots at his head, putting the dying hunter out of his misery. The two thugs were easily dispatched moments later and once Mako confirmed all three were dead, Albea came out of her hiding place as Kat knelt at the Trandoshan’s corpse.

 

“I-i-is it over?”

 

“Seems to be,” Kat muttered as she rummaged through the scorched backpack that had fallen off her target when his armor caught fire. Then with a squeal, Kat raised her hand in triumph a second later, a round golden token clutched in her fist, “We’re back in business Mako!”

 

“Thank the stars,” Mako sighed in relief, “Now if we can get out of this place before everyone emerges from their alcohol and stim induced stupors, we’re set.”

 

“Seeing as there’s nothing else we need in this place,” Kat nodded as she secured the token in her pack, “We can hightail it out of here right now.”

 

“Wh-wh-what about me?”

 

“Kark,” Kat cursed, “Didn’t think about that, but you’re still a bounty…”

 

“Kat!” Mako blanched, “You’re not seriously gonna…”

 

“Relax Mako,” Kat snorted, “I didn’t mean it like that. After grumbling about everyone else I spared……you should really know me better by now. I just meant we couldn’t leave her here. She can come with us to Jiguuna and catch a shuttle off planet.”

 

“Fa’athra’s people took everything I had,” Albea admitted, “My comlink, my ID, all my credits….”

 

“Well then,” Kat smirked as she stooped down to search the other corpses, “These guys won’t be needing credits or comlinks anymore…...they can fund your escape since Mako and I are pinching our credits right now. Luckily shuttles to Nar Shaddaa are pretty cheap because this guy doesn’t have much on him…….here’s a comlink for you though.” Kat tossed the device to Albea then wrinkled her nose as she began to rifle through the other guy’s pockets, “Urgh, this one smells like he hasn’t changed his clothes in a week.”

 

“Ewwwww gross,” Mako grimaced, “I’ve never understood why some spacers are so dirty……don’t most ships have a sonic at least?”

 

“I always thought so,” Kat replied, trying not to inhale too deeply as she searched the grimy freelancer, “Val’s freighter does…..and it can be converted to a shower if a water hookup is available.” Then she grinned at the thought of her fanatically neat and clean friend, “She’s sort of a neat freak and tends to get irritable when others aren’t…..used to annoy the hell out of my littermate Tia. She once made me strip before letting me on her freighter after a job on Nar Shaddaa because I had a little splatter on one of my leg plates.”

 

“Can’t exactly blame her for that,” Mako made a face as Albea nodded her agreement.

 

“It’s not like I was going to go traipsing through the ship,” Kat snorted as her honey eyes rolled skyward, “I was just going to head to the armor cabinet in the cargo bay. But no, she made me strip to my undies and had SeeTwo clean my stuff in the hanger.” Then she let out another squeal, “Ooooo, jackpot! This guy must’ve just got paid or won a good hand at the sabacc table…….he’s loaded! Definitely enough to book passage to Nar Shaddaa and for us to get plenty of supplies……maybe even grease a few palms if Cocoa’s presence is frowned upon wherever we end up having to go.”

 

“Oh, I hadn’t thought of that,” Mako’s eyes widened as Kat stood, “You think our little charge will be a problem?”

 

“Well she’s cleaner then these two…..even before we wasted them, but I know whenever you’re transporting animals you have to go through separate customs and that includes pets. That’s why Val refused to take on any live cargo……too much of a pain in the ***,” Kat answered, then she put a finger to her lips as she peaked out the doorway. After looking down the hallway, she ducked back into the room, “Okay, coast is clear……let’s get outta this nasty joint.”

 

“One sec,” Mako muttered as she dug into her pack. A few seconds later, she handed Albea a small blaster pistol, “Here, take this. It’s an old holdout blaster, but it’ll still get the job done if we find any trouble on our way out. Can you shoot?”

 

“Not that well,” she replied, her hand shaking a little as she accepted Mako’s offering, “But I guess it won’t matter if they’re close enough.”

 

“Just act like you were partying all night,” Kat instructed quietly, slinging an arm across Mako’s shoulder as they left the lab, “It seems quiet still and we’re going out the same way we came in, but if we run into anyone start stumbling and slurring. I’ll act like I’m about to be sick and we can run out…..I doubt anyone’s going to question it after last night’s festivities and the smell in here is actually turning my stomach.”

 

~*~*~*~

 

“I still can’t believe you barfed on that guy’s boots,” Mako snickered at the Cathar as she scrubbed at the cream colored fur around her chin and neck.

 

“Hey it worked, didn’t it?! Besides….I told you the smell was starting to get to me,” Kat grumbled, rinsing the cloth in the sink before wiping her face again.

 

She frowned when she saw another spot on the light tan fur of her forehead just below her mane. She scrubbed at it with the cloth for a second, then ran a comb through her thick chestnut mane, slicking its short, slightly damp waves back away from her face. She hated appearing unkempt, but getting sick had been worth the mess it caused and yet another smell her sensitive nose had to endure on the trek back to Jiguuna.

 

They’d almost made it out of Fa’athra’s palace when they ran across some of his security staff near their exit. One of the men demanded to see an ID, saying there’d been some trouble earlier in their database vault. Mako and the scientist had done a fantastic job sounding hung over, but it was Kat’s queasy stomach deciding to empty its contents that changed the guard’s mind. Neither man tried to stop the trio as they rushed out the door, the one grumbling about girls not being able to hold their liquor.

 

“I guess so,” Mako snorted, then patted Kat’s back, “You feeling alright now?”

 

“A little……still can’t wait to get off this revolting planet,” Kat sighed, still not thrilled with her reflection, but at least she’d managed to clean herself off and all she could smell was the generic antiseptic soap from the dispenser in the fresher. “But at least Nem’ro’s place isn’t as disgusting as Fa’athra’s and I don’t feel so nauseous anymore.”

 

“Good because we should probably check in now,” Mako suggested.

 

“You can wait at the bar if you’d like,” Kat told the third member of their party, “I saw the bartender before we ducked in here and he’s a nice guy. Has some raunchy stories and bad pick-up lines, but other than that he’s pretty harmless. We can go get you passage off planet afterwards.”

 

“Just when did you get to know the bartender?” Mako raised a brow at Kat, who looked a little sheepish.

 

“That first day I met our less than gracious sponsor,” Kat smirked, “I needed a drink and we chatted for a bit. He asked if I wanted to have a bit of fun after his shift, but didn’t press it or seem too upset when I told him I wasn’t in the mood. Come to think of it, he has a pretty nice bod and I’ve never actually made it with a Twi’lek before…...”

 

“That he does,” Mako had to agree as Kat trailed off.

 

“Plus he’s the one who gave me the milk for Cocoa,” Kat added then turned to Albea, “Maybe ditch the lab coat so you blend in a little better, but you’ll be fine hanging out there while Mako and I go have a little chat with that slimy Hutt. Unless you’ve changed your mind and would rather head to the spaceport now.”

 

“I’d rather not walk around by myself,” Albea murmured, still shaken from everything she’d been through since being abducted a week ago.

 

“It’s alright,” Mako reassured the scientist, “I’d probably feel the same if it was me. We’ll get you settled at the bar before we go in to see Nem’ro. Kat and I shouldn’t be that long now that we have the sponsorship token.

 

A few minutes later Kat and Mako left Albea sitting at the bar sipping a pretty pink drink through a curly straw while the pale blue Twi’lek entertained her. Kat had the sponsorship token clutched tightly in her fist, her ticket into the Great Hunt despite that backstabbing slug’s efforts to send another. They nodded at Juda who’d looked up from her computer long enough to give them a friendly wave before heading into Nem’ro’s throne room. Kat approached the Hutt after Carrus waved her forward, noticing a few new faces gathered near the dais.

 

“So I see the little hunter has returned,” Nem’ro bellowed with amusement.

 

“Damn right I did,” Kat smirked, the tips of her fangs glinting as she passed by one of the many neon lights. She held up the large coin with the greedy Hutt’s image on it, “and as you can see I’m not empty handed either.”

 

Out of the corner of her eye, Kat saw Carrus grin as the Houk elbowed his Gamorrean partner and much to her amusement, the latter handed over a fistful of credits a moment later.

 

“I told them you’d get the token,” Carrus chuckled as he pocketed his winnings, “I’m gonna miss having you around hunter.”

 

“Good for you sticking it to the naysayers,” Kat chuckled, then her smile disappeared as those honey eyes narrowed at his boss, “and speaking of sticking it to people……”

 

“Yes, yes,” Nem’ro waved her off, “As I said when you left……no matter who returned with the token, the better hunter would have my sponsorship.”

 

“Then this is the hunter you are sponsoring?” a hulking alien spoke up from the new crowd, and judging from the bone mask covering his face, Kat was pretty sure he was a Kaleesh.

 

“Hey, that’s the bone face creep who was stalking me the other day!” Mako cried out as she made for her blaster, “Get him Kat!”

 

In the blink of an eye, several charged weapons were pointed at both Kat and Mako before the former could thumb on hers. The tension in the room was palpable and Kat’s heart was racing as she surveyed the room for a possible way out. Then Nem’ro’s booming laugh echoed through the vast room and a little of the tension eased.

 

“Feisty little Mako……shows her teeth!”

 

“Forgive me for scaring you the other day, young lady,” the Kaleesh bowed his head as he stepped towards Kat and Mako, his yellow eyes fixed on latter as he spoke, “I’m afraid you mistook my intentions. I was poking around near your place, but meant no harm. I am Grataa, one of the officials in the Great Hunt and I was investigating allegations against another entrant into when we crossed paths.”

 

“Bet I can guess who,” Kat muttered, “What do you think Mako?”

 

“It makes sense,” she grudgingly relented, “and I’ve been pretty jumpy after Braden and Jory….”

 

“My condolences for your friends,” Grataa offered, “But I’m afraid I was unable to find enough evidence to disqualify young Tarro Blood.”

 

“Figures,” Kat snorted, “But no matter…..I’ll deal with him when the time comes.”

 

“As you should hunter,” Grataa nodded with a smile, “You might not be Mandalorian, but you have the makings of one and since you have Nem’ro’s sponsorship, you’ll get your chance at some point. For now you and your teammate here need to journey to Dromund Kaas and I’d strongly suggest as soon as possible. I’ll transfer all the information you need to your datapad, but once you land, secure a place to stay and head for the Mandalorian Enclave in Kaas City.”

 

“Yes, yes…..go and spread glory through victory in my name……”

 

“Yeah right,” Kat rolled her eyes as she handed her datapad to Grataa, “I’ll be back to deal with you at some point Hutt……and don’t think you can stiff me on those extra targets I took out at Fa’athra’s.”

 

“Juda already has your payment waiting,” Carrus told her, “Good luck Hunter Kat!”

 

~*~*~*~

 

Two hours later, three women entered the Jiguuna spaceport, arms laden with travel cases, duffle bags, and in the Cathar’s case, a small pet carrier holding a tiny Akk puppy who was thankfully quiet as they stood in line for the ticket counter. Kat and Mako had managed to put together a change of clothes for Albea as well as some toiletries to get her by during her flight home which she carried in an old backpack that had once belonged to Jory. Kat and Mako waited with Albea until she boarded the shuttle to Nar Shaddaa, then they headed towards their shuttle to Vaiken Spacestation just as the first boarding call came out.

 

“You ready for this?” Mako asked a little while later as she secured her bags in the overhead compartment. Thanks to the credits Kat looted off Rarsk’s buddy and the payout from the extra targets they took out on the way to Fa’athra’s palace, they had their own compartment for the two day flight to Vaiken. From there, they would book passage to the Imperial capital of Dromund Kaas.

 

“As ready as I can be,” Kat sighed as she took Cocoa out of her carrier. She smiled as the pup began to nuzzle at her furred neck and pulled out a bottle she had prepared from the side pocket of the carrier. “I swear she feels a little bigger.”

 

“I thought so too,” Mako agreed, smiling at their little charge, “and that’s a very good sign.”

 

“According to that book I took from Nem’ro’s beast master, she should open her eyes in a few days, then a week after that we can start giving her some solid food.”

 

“We’ll need to get another package of pet pads for her carrier while we’re at Vaiken,” Mako made a note when she changed out the soiled one, “We can shop for supplies while we’re waiting for our shuttle, but I think visiting an armormech should wait since Grataa told us to get to Dromund Kaas ASAP.”

 

“Good plan,” Kat nodded, “and I’ll see about getting Braden’s armor fitted for me after we’re settled in Kaas City because I’m guessing it’ll take a few days before its ready. I can make do with what I have until then……I hope.”

 

“I’ll stock up on medical supplies just in case.”

 

“Thanks,” Kat snorted as Cocoa finished the bottle. Then she handed the contented little pup over to Mako and stood, “At any rate, it feels good to get the hell off Hutta and I’m going to start working the smell out of my fur now.”

 

“Good,” Mako smirked, “Because I can still smell the puke on you.”

 

“At least I didn’t get peed on,” Kat shot back wickedly, laughing as Mako flipped her off, “and speaking of, you really should wash those boots otherwise Cocoa might mistake you for one of her pet pads.”

 

Edited by alaurin
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 years later...

Yep......it's been over 2 years since this sucker has been updated. My guys' saga demanded my attention for a while and now I'm continuing that legacy in a shared thread with Kit'ar, but now that the muse seems to be cooperating and me and the kids are off for the summer, I have more time to devote to fics. I've missed Kat, Val, and Tia though and am happy to work on this storyline again. While I'd like to update this thread on a weekly basis, I'm not sure that'll happen since I have pieces to work on for that other thread as well. I will do my best to update this at least twice a month as long as the muse doesn't take a vacay.

 

Now picking off where she left Tia back at the Seps' base, you all can see what Val was up to.

 

Taking Care of Business

 

Spoiler Alert: Spoilers for Smuggler and Trooper Ord Mantell

 

A little while after they left Tia to use her dataspike, Val and Corso had fought their way to the third level of the complex when the former heard a telltale chirp. She motioned for her companion to hold up and the duo ducked into an empty room nearby.

 

“I got a message,” Val whispered as she pulled her datapad out of her backpack, “I just want to see if it’s Tia…...and it is. Keep watch while I check it.”

 

“You got it,” Corso softly replied, taking position at the entryway.

 

“Thanks,” Val murmured, her eyes quickly skimming the message. After rereading it, she typed out a short response and sent it.

 

“Hope it’s good news,” Corso said when she rejoined him.

 

“Some good, some bad,” Val sighed. “She got the spike in, had to kill some Imperials though.”

 

“Imperials are helping the Separatists?!”

 

“Looks that way,” Val nodded, “She didn’t leave any survivors though…...also no sign of her squad so Lieutenant Jorgan is sending her further in.”

 

“Her path should be clear at least,” Corso replied, “Might be a few stragglers, but I think we took care of most of the patrols.”

 

“I hope so. She’s heading this way at any rate since Havoc was apparently still in contact with HQ when they breached this level.”

 

“Want to wait?”

 

“No,” Val shook her head, “I don’t want to risk Skavak getting away and void knows how long he’ll be here. Let’s move on to the hangar and deal with that thieving scum first. Then we can see if Tia needs some backup.”

 

Surprisingly, it didn’t take them much longer to find the hangar where Skavak was scheduled to meet with one of the Sep leaders, their trek having been made easier by what Val hoped was a Republic military strike on the base. Before they left that last outpost, they’d heard some of the troops talking about an aerial assault to take out anti-aircraft cannons, then they’d land a troop transport once the cannons were out. Judging from the way the base shook after each explosion, they were sure the Republic was still trying to take out the cannons but it was enough to distract the Seps. Val and Corso were the only sentients in that last corridor and after taking out a weak group of droids, they were standing at the entrance to Skavak’s hangar.

 

The duo carefully entered the corridor but with just her old standby stealth generator, Val had no way for them to sneak past the Seps guarding the entrance which meant they’d be fighting their way in. Hoping the noise didn’t scare that dirty thief off, Val started shooting as Corso charged at one of the Seps. With the coast clear, the duo continued in further, but suddenly the petite leatheris clad spacer paused, her hand clutching her stomach. She immediately felt as if something was very wrong and she while couldn’t explain it, she knew without a doubt that danger lie ahead…...but not for them. Tia! Val felt her focus waver for a brief second as a cold feeling settled in her gut. Corso turned when he heard her gasp to see that emerald skin pale before his eyes.

 

“Captain?” he frowned but before he could ask her what was wrong, his attention was diverted by another pair of Seps rounding the corner.

 

Corso’s pained shout as one of the Seps’ blaster bolts found it’s mark snapped Val back to attention and she pushed past that sudden fear that had gripped her as she took aim, “Kark me Corso, I’m sorry…...”

 

“Nothin’ to be sorry about, we just need to watch ourselves,” Corso gritted as the Captain picked off the last of that duo. He winced when he saw the angry burn on his shoulder, but knowing they didn’t have time to linger, he quickly covered it up before Val could see it.

 

“Where’d you get hit?” she asked quietly as she approached, her finger still on the trigger of the blaster she held at the ready as those blue-grey eyes studied the corridor ahead. She couldn’t hear anyone else approaching, but that didn’t mean more weren’t out there waiting around the corner.

 

“Shoulder,” Corso answered, “But it’ll keep until we get back to the Fort.”

 

“You sure?”

 

“I’ll be fine,” he insisted, readying his rifle again.

 

“Keep an eye out,” Val nodded as she started digging into the backpack for the little mirror she hoped was still in there. After finding it in the front pouch with her credsticks, she slipped it in her vest pocket and dug out the old stealth generator she hadn’t found the time to repair. Hoping she could get it to turn on, she hooked it to her belt and zipped her pack up.

 

“You got an idea?”

 

“If I can get this thing activated,” she nodded, her tongue sticking out a little as she concentrated on getting the generator to turn on. The switch was loose so she grabbed a small screwdriver out of her slicing kit and poked around the switch for a moment before it finally activated. Unfortunately it didn’t produce much of a stealth field, but it would do for her purposes at the moment.

 

“Uh, Captain……I don’t think that’s gonna cut it,” Corso shook his head.

 

“Yeah…..I really need to fix this sucker,” Val sighed as she hooked the generator to the cuff of her sleeve, “Left my good one on the ship. It’ll work enough though.”

 

“But…..”

 

“Shhh,” Val murmured, cutting his reply off as she silently crept towards the corner ahead.

 

Corso frowned as most of her hand and arm disappeared, but the rest of her was still easily visible, including the fingertips holding a small mirror. Every muscle in his being was screaming for him to stop the quiet young spacer from risking her pretty neck, but he tramped it down and held his rifle at the ready just in case. When the Captain was about a foot from the corner, she slowly slid to the floor and carefully extended her arm, the little mirror appearing as if it were hovering an inch off the duracrete as it slowly moved past the corner. Val held it there for a moment, angling it so she could see what lie in store for them in that corridor. After studying the path as far as she could see, Val slowly retracted her arm and stood. Waiting a second to hear if any Seps decided to approach, Val stood for a second, then satisfied the mercs were going to wait for their trap to be sprung, she returned to her anxious companion.

 

“Good times ahead,” she whispered. “Two Seps waiting just around the corner, blasters drawn and ready to fire as soon as we go around it. Three more waiting further down, one with a sniper rifle. Plus a couple single patrols that I saw through the entryway to the hangar itself. I’m guessing there’s definitely more in the hangar, but I think we’ll draw them out when stuff starts going down.”

 

“I brought a couple strings of grenades with me,” Corso nodded, keeping his voice low, “Should take several out if we can hit them in groups.”

 

“You used some on the way here though, right?”

 

“I did, but only a couple…..still got ten.”

 

“I’ve got a few flash bombs, maybe we can toss one of those out first and at get those first two and the sniper picked off before it wears off.”

 

“Got any smoke grenades?”

 

“Lemme check,” Val replied, already digging in her backpack, “Yeah….got two.”

 

“Give me one,” Corso held out his hand, “I’ll throw that sucker as hard as I can before the flash bomb wears off. Make it hard for anyone in the main area to see what’s goin’ on and we can get the drop on any that decide to push through the smoke.”

 

“Good call,” Val agreed. “I think we got a plan.”

 

“You ready?”

 

“Let’s go take care of business,” Val nodded, determined to stick it to that scumbag once and for all. Offering up a quick prayer to the Force that hoping Skavak hadn’t hightailed it out with her ship already, Val set off with Corso immediately at her side.

 

The duo silently crept down the corridor, Val palming a flash bomb as they neared the corner. Her eyes met Corso’s and he gave a small nod indicating he was ready. Her thumb depressed the button and she immediately lobbed it around the corner, both of them closing their eyes as soon as they heard it hit the duracrete. A second later, they heard the telltale pop and after a three count, both rounded the corner and began to open fire. Corso picked off the sniper on the second shot, then threw the smoke grenade as hard as he could while Val took out the two closest before the Seps were able to recover. Thick smoke immediately billowed out of the small metal device, filling the end of the corridor as they picked off the remaining mercs. Carefully advancing, both Val and Corso held their weapons at the ready and fired at anyone who came out of the smoke cover.

 

By the time the air cleared, they’d reached the main hangar, which was relatively unoccupied save for a few Seps at the central data terminal, a couple patrols, and three sitting in a small alcove that likely served as their conferencing area for the freighter pilots they did business with. Corso lobbed a grenade towards the group at the terminal while Val set her sights on the patrols so they could get to the launch pad on the other side of the terminals. A few minutes later, they strode past the smoking data hub and got their first full view of whole cavern.

 

“Blast it!” Val hissed when she saw the launch pad was empty of any starships. “That bastard escaped with my ship again!”

 

“I’ll bet that coward ran when he heard the commotion,” Corso shook his head in disgust. “He’s too afraid of a fair fight.”

 

“He’s a slippery rat all right. I’m guessing he hightailed it out of here when the Republic started attacking in force,” Val muttered darkly as she turned and headed towards the alcove, “but those three are going to give us some answers whether they want to or not.”

 

“I’ve got no problem makin’ those dirty bastards talk,” Corso agreed, the cold look that came over his handsome face was one that Val had never seen before.

 

“We’ve got company, Dareg!” one of the young mercs announced a moment later, his frightened gaze turning towards the tall, broad shouldered Human when the leatheris clad Mirialan took out his partner with a single shot to the head.

 

“So you’re the ones who’ve been murdering your way in here,” Dareg sneered, “I figured you were with the Republic but I don’t see their brand on you. No matter, you’ve slaughtered my brethren and-”

 

“And we’re more than happy to end your miserable existence as well,” Val shot back, her blaster’s whine indicating it was still ready to kill as she kept it trained on the three men, “but first I wanna know where my freighter is…..so start talking.”

 

“I don’t care what you scum want,” Dareg chuckled coldly as he raised his rifle, “You both are as good as dead. Men…..open fire!”

 

Dareg being too busy keeping an eye on Val and Corso’s weapons, failed to notice that the petite spacer had a flash bomb in her other palm that she tossed out when he was giving the kill order. Her companion was ready though, and turned his head away when he heard the pop. Blinded, the three men were simple to deal with even though they stupidly tried to fire despite their inability to see their targets. One of his own guards shot Dareg in the gut, much to Val’s amusement, but she took pity and ended his misery quickly. Corso took out the guard and was about to silence the last man when the young merc started pleading for his life.

 

“Please don’t kill me,” the remaining guard cried out, “I have a family that depends on me.”

 

“Separatists killed my whole family and I promised myself I'd make every one of you scum pay.” Corso told him, a cold, deadly look on his face as he raised his rifle. “and that includes you.”

 

“I never killed anyone’s parents. I needed the job…...I've only been here a couple of months, I swear!” the guard insisted, his freckled face paling further when Corso came closer. “I-I-I’ll tell you anything you want to know…..just p-p-please….”

 

“Where’s Skavak and my starship?” Val demanded, feeling no pity for the young Human who made a bad choice in employers.

 

“I-I-I’m sorry, I don’t know where he is. He was here…..to make a trade with Dareg, but it all went wrong.”

 

“Wrong how?” Val prodded, hoping Corso could keep his trigger finger under control a little longer. “What did Skavak want?”

 

“He wanted some old droid that had been in Dareg’s family for ages! That thing was ancient, but Skavak acted like it was some long lost treasure. He was supposed to give us a shipment of weapons for it, but…”

 

“Let me guess,” Val rolled her eyes, “He stiffed you guys.”

 

“Yeah, a couple men followed Skavak on board your ship to start unloading the cargo. A minute later we heard shots fired and then the ship took off. Dareg was pissed, but there wasn’t anything he could do…...Skavak never said anything about where he was headed. I’d tell you if I knew…..I swear!”

 

“Well if that’s all you got,” Val shrugged, turning to Corso.

 

“Wait!” the guard begged, not liking the deadly look on the face of the spacer’s companion, “Th-th-there’s more…...some woman…...Syreena. It’s Syreena you want. S-s-she’s the one who told Skavak and Dareg you were on your way.”

 

“What?!” Both Val and Corso echoed, eyes wide as they met each other’s.

 

Val recovered first, turning her narrowed gaze back to the trembling guard, “Are you sure it was Syreena?”

 

“P-p-positive,” he nodded, “I was standing just a couple feet away when the call came in. Skavak was asking Dareg something about that droid when his com went off. It was her…..I heard Skavak say her name and she warned him you guys were on your way here. The way she talked to him…..I think they were, you know….together.”

 

“Figures,” Val muttered, never having understood why the pretty young woman would saddle herself with Viidu on a planet like Ord. Now it made sense. Skavak planted her there knowing there was a good possibility Val would head for an Underworld connection after being stranded. A spy to keep him informed if she became a threat to his plan…..whatever that was.

 

Shaking her head in disgust, Val turned to her companion, “Come on, Corso…..I want to see if Tia needs backup, then we get to go pay Syreena a little visit and find out where her boyfriend is headed.”

 

“I’ll be right behind you, Captain,” Corso replied cooly as he stepped towards the guard, “Just as soon as I deal with this.”

 

“Oh God…..p-p-please don’t kill me!”

 

It was on the tip of her tongue to tell Corso to just take him out and be done with it. Val figured the guy knew what he was getting into by signing on with the Seps. However, she also knew all too well what executing someone could do to a person’s soul and she hated to see Corso’s get stained like that. Praying to whatever deity was listening at the moment that she wasn’t making a huge mistake, Val stepped between the two men.

 

“Don’t do it,” her soft voice broke the tense silence as she placed a trembling hand over Corso’s. “I’ve been where you are and went where you’re headed. Trust me, it’s not a place you want to go.”

 

Corso barely gave her a glance, his angry gaze fixed on his target as he held the rifle steady, “I owe it to my family to see their murderers put down like the rabid animals they are!”

 

“But he didn’t murder your family, Corso,” Val countered gently. “This wouldn’t be justice for them. Executing a disarmed man, one who’s surrendered to us…...that would be murder and you would have his blood on your hands for the rest of your life. Do you really want to live with that? Would your family want that for you?”

 

“I don’t know what my family would want because they’re dead!”

 

“They are…...and no matter how many Separatists you kill, they will still be dead,” Val replied, hating to hit him with that truth, but it was one he needed to hear to keep him from continuing down his dark path.

 

“We’ve killed plenty to get here,” Corso argued, “What’s one more?”

 

“You’re right, we did take out a lot of them but,” she swallowed the lump that had began to form in her throat as her own dark memories surfaced, “But there is a big difference between killing someone in fair combat and executing an unarmed man…..no matter who he is and you don’t want that stain on your soul because it will never go away.”

 

It was the way her voice had lowered to a hoarse whisper that broke through the red haze of his anger and when he turned to really look at her, he saw the pain in her eyes. At that moment, he knew she was talking from personal experience, one that still haunted her. He looked back at the frightened young man still kneeling on the ground and felt his hands shaking as he lowered his weapon.

 

“Get out of here,” he ordered, his voice thick as he tried to get a handle on the tide of emotions running through him. But deep down he knew the Captain was right about what executing that kid would’ve cost him in the long run and taking a deep breath, he returned his attention back to her, “Thank you.”

 

She simply nodded, still trying to get a handle on her own emotions, then needing a distraction she walked over to the nearby shelves she’d noticed when they first approached Dareg. A small smile curved her lips when she spotted a few useful items and she looked over her shoulder at the man she knew would be right behind her, “I don’t think Dareg will be needing this stuff anymore.”

 

“We might though…...good call,” Corso replied, the tension leaving him when he saw that smile broaden as she snatched a stealth generator off of the shelf. He removed his own backpack and began to fill it with strings of grenades while Val replenished her Medikit and grabbed a box of flash bombs.

 

~*~*~*~

 

“This is it,” Val murmured, studying her datapad. “These are the coordinates Tia sent me…..the ones Lieutenant Jorgan gave her as Havoc’s last known location.”

 

“Looks like another hangar,” Corso observed.

 

“It does,” Val agreed, “but I’m willing to bet it’s not just Seps in there. Tia’s message said she fought Seps and Imperials in the control room.”

 

“Should we contact Republic headquarters?”

 

“I’m sure Tia told Jorgan when he gave her those coordinates, but I’m not waiting. I told her I’d check in to see if she needed backup and given the fact I can’t get through to her on my comlink,” Val held up her device, “I’m guessing she needs help.”

 

“Look, I’m not afraid of a fight and I’ve got your back…...but we’re no good to Tia dead,” Corso replied, keeping his voice low despite the fact they hadn’t encountered any Seps since leaving Dareg’s hangar. “Fightin’ through those Seps to get into that other hangar was hard enough for just the two of us…..addin’ Imps into the mix might be more than we can handle.”

 

“Which is why we’re not going to fight anyone,” Val assured him, her gloved hand fastening the stealth generator to her belt. “I’m just gonna sneak in there and see what’s what. Who knows, maybe Tia’s already found her squad and they’re just waiting for an evac. I just need you to keep lookout so here, take one of these,” she handed him one of the set of earbuds she’d found next to the stealth generator. “They’re paired already, slip it on and we’ll be able to talk to each other if needed.”

 

“Just be careful,” Corso’s concerned voice came through her earbud a moment later when she vanished before his eyes.

 

Hoping the pilfered generator was charged enough, Val left Corso standing guard at the entryway while she carefully snuck down the corridor under stealth. Keeping her tread light, she carefully rounded the corner and silently made her way towards the hangar at the end. She didn’t go far into the room, opting to observe behind a large crate instead. Blue grey eyes scanned the room, taking in everything. There was a group of Imperial soldiers who looked like they were packing up to leave, but no signs of a fight anywhere and no one in Republic uniform. It’s possible they cleaned up, but Val figured there’d at least be scorch marks or something…..and she couldn’t even smell any burn residue. She knew for certain that Tia had entered the corridor, but it was as if she disappeared. If she were dead, there would be a body and Val hadn’t seen one…….and she knew in her heart her friend was still alive.

 

Val gave the hangar one last look over to see if there was anything she missed, then quietly retreated. There was nothing left in the Sep base for her, but she hoped she’d get some answers back at the Fort. As soon as she dealt with Syreena, she’d go to military headquarters and find that grouchy lieutenant. He might not be Tia’s favorite person, but he didn’t give Val the bad vibes her squad did. No, she didn’t trust Havoc Squad at all, but while being a bit harsh, Val sensed Lieutenant Jorgan was honest and loyal……traits she could trust.

 

~*~*~*~

 

The subdued duo entered the Rendia Freight warehouse a little while later, both with a lot on their minds. However, their foremost concern was to confront the mole in Viidu’s operation. Val felt bad for the man who seemed very smitten with Syreena and hated to be the one to break his heart by exposing her for the fraud she really was, but Viidu deserved to know the truth. They’d both agreed Corso would be the bearer of bad tidings since he was close to his boss, but Val would be present as well in case Syreena tried anything stupid. No way was she going to let Skavak’s scheming girl walk away unscathed.

 

Val paused, uneasy as she realized how quiet the main floor of the usually bustling warehouse was. No chatting workers talking about making bets on the next Huttball match or pod race. No tools prying crates open or nailing them shut. No cargo being loaded or unloaded onto transport speeders. In fact, as she slowly looked around she didn’t see anyone at all. She looked up over her shoulder to see that Corso was coming to the same conclusion that she was…...something was terribly wrong. Corso frowned as he glanced at his wrist chrono, giving a shake of his head as his brown eyes locked with hers. But Val didn’t need words to know what was on his mind because it was on hers as well. She’d only been here a week, but it was long enough to know that mid-afternoon was usually the busiest time of the day in the warehouse. Corso leaned down closer to her and was about to whisper his thoughts when they both froze when they heard a familiar voice cry out triumphantly, “Finally!”

 

A bad feeling had settled in her gut and Val put her index finger to her lips before gesturing for Corso to follow her. He nodded, then they both silently strode towards the staircase in the center of the warehouse. They heard a second voice, a man that made them both frown as they slowly climbed the stairs. The voices grew clearer as they neared the office at the top of the stairs, but neither of them were prepared for the sight that greeted them. Viidu was on the floor, an angry expression on his usually jovial face, but his eyes stared unseeing at the cieling and glancing over his supine figure, Val knew it was too late for him. Two blaster bolts to the chest had stopped him dead in his tracks. Val felt a pang of sadness hit her as she and Corso stepped carefully to either side of the doorway, choosing to remain unseen so they could hear the conversation.

 

“.....and I haven’t been able to reach that guy Dareg either,” Syreena was saying, sounding like she was on edge. “Where are you?!”

 

“Sorry sweetheart,” Skavak’s voice replied without even the slightest trace of remorse. “I couldn’t chance sticking around with the Republic gunning down the Seps’ base.”

 

“Then just wait at Carrick. My things are already packed…..all I have to do is grab a shuttle at the spaceport. I can be there in a few hours, then we can go to Coruscant together.”

 

“I’m afraid that won’t work, too risky after what you just told me.”

 

“You made me promises, Skavak! You said you’d get me off this damn planet…...you promised you’d take me with you!”

 

“I know I did…..and I lied.”

 

“After everything I’ve done for you…….how could you?!!”

 

“Don’t take it personally,” he chuckled, “You’re not the first girl I’ve made promises to and you definitely won’t be the last…..”

 

“Oh no you don’t,” she practically shrieked, “I can’t stay here now!”

 

“Hey now, I never told you to plug Viidu,” he shot back, “That’s all on you so deal with it.”

 

“But….but….”

 

“But nothing. Look, I gotta go. No hard feelings, okay?” Skavak snickered, “It’s been fun and hey…..good luck getting out of there!”

 

“That’s. So. Unfair!” Syreena shouted and a second later Val and Corso heard the unmistakable sound of metal smashing against the road.

 

“I don’t know about that,” Val called out from the doorway, thumbing her blaster on as she raised it towards the young woman’s head. “Sounds to me like you’re getting exactly what you deserve.”

 

“C-c-captain,” she breathed, green eyes darting around frantically as she reached for the blaster at her belt. “I-I-I didn’t expect you….uh…”

 

“Don’t even think about it Syreena!” Corso warned, his rifle leveled at her head.

 

“You didn’t expect us to come back,” Val finished for Syreena as she wisely heeded Corso’s warning and raised her hands in surrender, “That’s what you were going to say right? Because Dareg and his stooges were supposed to kill us after you told your boyfriend we were coming. Unfortunately for you, that didn’t go down as planned.”

 

“Val,” Corso called out softly as the Mirialan strode purposefully towards the other woman, her hand steady as a rock as it held the whining blaster trained on Syreena’s heart. “It’s no different from that young guard earlier.”

 

“I disagree,” Val countered, her voice cold, “That guard was doing his job when we broke into the hangar. He surrendered after a fair fight. Look around the room…..no plasma scorches anywhere, no signs of a struggle. Just your boss on the floor with two holes burned into his chest…..doesn’t even have a weapon on him. That’s murder and you heard Skavak….she’s the one who fired the shots.”

 

“That doesn’t mean you should murder her,” Corso shook his head, hoping to get through to her as she’d done for him earlier. He’d seen the haunted look on her face when she said she’d been down that path and he didn’t want her to go there again.

 

“It wouldn’t be murder,” Val muttered darkly, those blue-grey eyes frosty as they narrowed at the trembling woman in front of her. “It would be justice…….and she didn’t care if those Seps killed us. She was helping that thieving scumbag for kark’s sake!”

 

“You heard that call though, she’s a victim of Skavak’s too,” Corso pointed out, “She shouldn’t die for buying his lies.”

 

“She’s no innocent…...there’s plenty of blood on her hands,” Val reminded him, but then another idea began to take shape in her mind.

 

“He gave me no choice,” Syreena insisted when she saw Val’s gaze shift to the corpse in the middle of the room.

 

“What about everyone else?” Corso prodded, remaining in the doorway with his rifle ready in case Syreena tried to bolt, “No one was downstairs when we got here….alive or dead. Where are they?”

 

“I-I-I told them Viidu just got a message that Rogun’s people were on the way,” Syreena answered, “Most didn’t want to stick around after that.”

 

“Most?” Val prodded, not liking the implication. There were a few kids that worked for Viidu after their schooling was finished for the day.

 

“There were a couple of men that were too loyal to Viidu to cut and run,” she answered, her voice shaking as she bowed her head, “So I shot them when they went back to work…...then I dragged their bodies into the cleaning closet. Viidu had been holed up in here with the door shut and didn’t hear a thing. I came in and told him everyone had walked off the job…...he was pissed and stormed out of the warehouse to deal with them. That’s when I started trying to com Skavak and Dareg…..but they weren’t answering. Then I noticed I had a message from Skavak and was listening to it when Viidu came back.” Syreena looked back up, trembling hands wiping at the tears running down her cheeks, “I should never have trusted Skavak…...I thought he loved me, but I was wrong. So very wrong. Viidu was so nice to me…..and I….”

 

“Plugging Viidu was one of several mistakes you’ve made recently,” Val cut her off, grabbing a set of cuffs out of her pack, “But Corso has requested that I not put a blaster bolt through your heart, so I won’t. I’ll let the Republic military decide your fate instead.”

 

“Please don’t turn me in…..I’ll do anything….”

 

“You’ve done enough,” Val seethed as she cuffed the other woman, having grown fond of the portly kingpin now lying dead on the rug.

 

~*~*~*~

 

Twenty minutes later, Val and Corso were entering Republic Military headquarters, the latter holding the arm of a tearful and utterly defeated Syreena. Val walked up to the main reception desk and waited patiently for the frazzled looking soldier to finish the call she was on. Judging from the look on his face, it wasn’t a pleasant conversation and she had a good idea why.

 

“Sorry miss, we’re pretty busy around here at the moment,” an officer called out from the doorway a moment later, gesturing to the soldier who was still on a call. “Can I help you with something?”

 

“Yes,” she replied as Corso approached, “We have a prisoner for you.”

 

“Oh?”

 

“You know Viidu…..Rendia Frieght?”

 

“Yeah,” he nodded as another soldier joined him, “Good guy. Used to help us out when we had trouble…..err…..acquiring certain items.”

 

“I’ll bet,” Val smirked, willing to bet those items included non-military standard tech, weapons, and ammo from black market sources. “I was one of his newer pilots.”

 

“Charged good rates too,” his partner added, then her gaze flicked over at Corso who was still holding Syreena. “You work for him too, right? Pretty sure I’ve seen you deliver stuff here before.”

 

“That was me,” Corso confirmed. “And this is Syreena…..”

 

“Who we thought was Viidu’s girl,” Val continued as Corso seemed unsure what to say. “But then we found him dead half an hour ago and found out she was the one who shot him.”

 

“You have proof of this?”

 

“Sure do,” Val answered as she dug a datastick out of her pocket and handed it over to the officer, “I copied this from the security camera recordings after cuffing her. Apparently Viidu walked in on Syreena having a chat with her real boyfriend about a shipment they stole from my freighter a few days ago. A delivery that was meant for Viidu…...possibly for you guys.”

 

“Looks like it’s true, sir,” the soldier called out from the receptionist's desk where she’d inserted the datastick into the computer terminal.

 

“Viidu was well liked around here,” the officer turned towards Syreena, disgust written all over his lined face. “Killing him in cold blood like that…...huge mistake. Corporal, take her into custody!”

 

“Gladly sir!” she saluted, taking hold of Syreena’s arm when Corso let her go and steering the sobbing woman from the room.

 

“Thanks for bringing her in,” the officer said to Val and Corso after Syreena was gone. “I’ll contact the coroner to take care of Viidu.” He shook his head sadly, “Viidu’s going to be missed around here and not just for keeping us well stocked. He played a mean game of sabaac and was always willing to offer up a pint if you were down. Shame to see him taken out like that.”

 

“He’s been like family to me these last couple years,” Corso agreed, feeling a lump in his throat as it fully hit him that his boss was gone for good.

 

“That girl will answer for her crime, make no mistake about that,” the officer assured them. “Is there anything else I can do for the two of you?”

 

“Is there any way I can find out if my friend is okay? Her name is Tiannya Vleska…..she’s a Sergeant and was assigned to Havoc. We went into the Sep base on a mission and got split up….”

 

“I’m afraid I’m not allowed to answer any questions about that…..even if I were, I don’t know much at all since it’s above my clearance.”

 

“What about Lieutenant Jorgan?” Val asked, not wanting to leave without some answers. “Is he around? Can I talk to him?”

 

“He’s not available right now, but you’re welcome to have a seat,” the officer gestured towards a small sofa against the wall. “No idea how long he’ll be though.”

 

“That’s okay, I’ll wait for as long as it takes.”

 

“Suit yourself,” he nodded, “I have to get back to my terminal. Hope you’re able to find your friend.”

 

“Thanks,” she sighed, sinking into the chair.

 

“I’m going to go pack so we can head out as soon as you’re done here,” Corso said, “Do you want me to get your stuff from your room at the cantina?”

 

“That would be great,” Val smiled, “There’s not much, just some things I bought to get me by until I get my ship back and that laptop Viidu gave me. Everything’s packed in the duffle sitting on the bed.”

 

“I’ll grab it and close out the tab,” Corso promised, “Be back in a little bit.”

 

Corso had been back for nearly an hour before Lieutenant Jorgan finally made an appearance and Val was shocked by the amount of anger pouring off the Cathar. He glared at her for a moment before gesturing them both to follow him without a word. It would’ve been impossible not to notice the open hostility written all over his face, but Val had no idea what she could’ve done to put it there. They followed the stiff backed officer into a small office and stood in front of the desk while he shut the door. The lieutenant didn’t say a word as he strode past them to stand behind his desk, then he bowed his head and took a deep breath to calm himself but it didn’t work.

 

“I sincerely hope you’re here to tell me where that traitor you call a friend is,” he growled, finally looking back up at the couple.

 

“Traitor?” Val’s brow furrowed, “Tia? You can’t possibly be serious!”

 

“Do I look like I’m joking?!” Aric snarled, slamming his fist down on the desk as he leaned over it towards her. “I heard it all for myself…...Havoc was never missing, they defected to the Empire and she went with them!”

 

“No…..you must be mistaken,” Val shook her head vehemently, sensing the Cathar truly believed what he was saying. “Tia would never willingly……”

 

“She would and did, Captain,” Aric snapped, those bright green eyes flashing dangerously as he went back to the door and pulled it open with enough force that the hinges rattled. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to get packed so I can go find out how badly she and her duplicitous squad karked over my career!”

 

“Let him go, Captain,” Corso cautioned, grabbing her slender arm when she made a move to follow the angry officer who’d stormed out of his office. “We have no idea what happened in that hangar, but the Lieutenant obviously has a reason for thinking Tia betrayed the Republic.”

 

“Well his intel is wrong,” Val muttered thickly as Corso pulled her towards the door, “and he’s an idiot for not seeing that. No matter, I’m going to find out what happened to Tia and get her back.”

 

“And I’ll gladly help you,” Corso promised as he steered the reluctant Mirialan out of the building, “but first we need to get your ship back which, thanks to Syreena, we know Skavak is taking to Coruscant.”

 

“Thanks Corso,” Val sighed, her shoulders stooped under the weight of the day’s events. “I don’t know how I can ever repay your kindness to me these past few days……I’ve become so used to being alone ever since Kat struck out on her own and it’s been nice having some backup.”

 

“I’ve got your back for as long as you’ll have me,” Corso told her. “Like I said, I’ve got nothing keeping me on Ord and I owe Skavak some payback as well. Plus, I know someone on Coruscant that might be able to help us…..if he’s still operating there.”

 

“I’ll take all the help I can get right now,” Val replied, relieved to have a place to start at least. But mentioning Kat reminded her that she needed to update her friend with everything that’s gone down over the past few days. “Maybe you can try to make contact when we get to Carrick.”

 

“We’ll see what time it is……hate to interrupt during his ‘business hours.’”

 

“Oh boy,” Val rolled her eyes, “Not sure I even want to know….”

 

“Eh, he’s not bad, just really serious about sabacc.”

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

As promised, it didn't take nearly as long for this next update. :D This part was originally posted in the SFC thread on 9/9/2013 for the Technology and Allies prompts. I have edited and polished it a bit to make it flow better with this thread, so even if you read it way back when on the SFC thread, it might be worth another look.

 

Things Aren’t Always What They Seem

 

Spoiler Alert: Spoilers for Smuggler and Trooper Coruscant

 

It was mid-morning when the Cathar strode out of Coruscant’s spaceport. Already the sky traffic lanes were full of taxi’s, speeders, and other vehicles. Street venders were just starting to set out their wares as the military man walked along the sidewalk. Normally he enjoyed the bustling city whenever he’d been required to attend meetings, classes, and training in the Military Complex, but today was different. The brooding officer ignored the sights and sounds as he passed through the taxi hub, the Senate Tower coming into view. Instead an extremely angry Lieutenant Aric Jorgan was mulling over the events of the past couple of days for what seemed the hundredth time. The same thoughts that had been plaguing him still at the surface. I can’t believe it’s come to this, he thought, barely keeping his temper in check, a Spec Forces squad turns traitor and I’m going to burn for it. I swear if I ever come across those traitors, I’ll kill them with my bare hands! A growl escaped him with that last part, catching the attention of a young Twi’lek woman who was setting up her fruit and vegetable stand. With a heavy sigh, Aric tried to get his temper in check, hoping he hadn’t actually said any of those thoughts out loud. Worried for a moment, he paused to look around, relieved when he only saw a few civvies walking about.

 

General Vander had joined him in the Republic Command Center at Fort Garnik back on Ord Mantell shortly after they’d managed to reboot Sergeant Vleska’s armor cam feed. They watched in shock as she fought Imperials inside the Separatists’ stronghold and that shock turned to horror as they heard what happened when she found her squad. Her armor cam wasn’t working at that point, but the tracker Aric had injected into Tia’s arm put out a signal that allowed her sound feed to continue working, something he’d forgotten to tell her in his haste to put some much needed distance between them after discovering the younger Cathar was on her cycle. Both he and the general heard Tavus admit to defecting to the Empire along with the rest of Havoc squad. However, the final blow came when Sergeant Vleska agreed to defect along with them. She’d allowed Needles to cut out the tracker he’d injected into her arm and that was the last they had heard from any of them.

 

“I can’t believe I was so wrong about her!” Jorgan growled, his temper flaring once again and drawing a stare from a woman walking with her children. She smiled, giving him a pitying look, and Aric assumed she figured he was venting about his girl. Embarrassed, he took a deep breath and reigned his temper back in, still at a loss as to how wrong he’d been about the young Sergeant. Sure, he’d been hard on her at first, but it was no different than he was with all rookies. So many hot shots had come to Ord Mantell fresh out of the academy, thinking they were the best of the best. That attitude usually got them or their fellow soldiers into trouble and after seeing too many new recruits killed by that recklessness, Aric learned to put them in their place right off the bat. That policy didn’t make him very popular, but most of the rookies took it in stride, grumbling about it when they thought he was out of earshot. However, Sergeant Vleska hadn’t taken his attitude very well and wasn’t exactly shy about making sure he knew it. She’s definitely a feisty one, he admitted to himself, smiling before he could help it as he recalled that incident in the cantina. Despite that, he was coming to respect her skill and felt a brief pang of guilt for the way he’d treated her until he remembered her recent actions. Too bad she’s a traitorous b*tch like the rest of her squad! Now he hated her along with the rest of her squad, maybe even more so.

 

As soon as they lost the feed, General Vander immediately contacted the head of Spec Forces division, General Garza, with the news of Havoc Squad’s defection. An hour later, Garza contacted them back, requesting that Lieutenant Jorgan appear in her office so she could accompany him to an Inquiry and Review. Both he and General Vander knew what that meant…...brass needed someone to burn and Aric was going to take the fall for it. General Vander didn’t like it, but his hands were tied so Aric packed his belongings and took the shuttle to Carrick Station the next morning.

 

~*~*~*~

 

Captain Valaya Tarenz had just finished making contact with Darmas Polleran, a gambler and information broker who operated out of his private room at The Dealer’s Den cantina in the Old Galactic Market sector of Coruscant, when she heard the soft beep coming from her backpack. She immediately dug out her datapad and checked it, hoping she finally had a message from Tia.

 

Val had been worried about the Cathar who was like a sister to her ever since she and Corso left Tia at the communications hub in the Separatists holdout roughly thirty-six hours ago. I should have stayed with her, was one of the many thoughts that had been running through Val’s head ever since. No one had heard from Tia after that and Val hadn’t been able to get any answers from the Republic Command Center, not even from Lieutenant Jorgan who even had the audacity to say Tia was a traitor to the Republic.

 

Val and Corso left Ord Mantell for Coruscant shortly after that disastrous conversation, the latter having accompanied Val to Coruscant out of guilt that he hadn’t been able to stop Skavak from stealing her ship in the first place. Despite her insisting that he couldn’t possibly have known what would happen and that she in no way blamed him, Corso still felt bad and felt he should at least be there for her until she got her freighter back…..and he also owed Skavak some payback for stealing his favorite blaster, Torchy. The petite spacer understood that sentiment and in truth welcomed a little backup despite being a loner.

 

True to his word, Corso had contacted one of Viidu’s old friends as soon as they arrived on Carrick. Val wasn’t sure she trusted the notorious gambler, but Corso said Darmas was one of the best information brokers he knew of and if anyone was going to hear anything concerning Skavak it would be him. Praying to the Force that Corso was right, Val agreed to meet with Darmas as soon as they arrived on Coruscant. A couple hours ago, the duo found themselves in the Slippery Slopes, a busy cantina with a couple side rooms where people like Darmas conducted business. Indeed, the older Human was comfortably seated at the sabacc table, casually swirling his martini as his sharp gaze held his opponent’s. As soon as he spotted the couple, he gave them a brief nod of acknowledgment before returning to the game.

 

At first, the Mirialan had been slightly annoyed at the wait, but she’d been working in the Underworld long enough to know that’s the way things worked. Business happened when the boss was ready for it to happen and nothing was going to rush a gambler through his prefered game. Luckily the wait hadn’t been too long, and despite his flirting, which made her slightly uncomfortable, Val had to admit Darmas knew his stuff well. After getting off the com with Corso the evening before, he’d put some feelers out and had a promising lead for her. It also turned out that Darmas didn’t care much for Skavak, having never trusted the man, and refused to accept payment for his assistance. Both Val and Corso thanked the gambler profusely before leaving the sabacc room, which was when she heard the beep coming from her backpack.

 

“Is it Tia?” Corso asked, hoping it was for Val’s sake. It was impossible not to notice the dark circles under those blue-grey eyes and her emerald skin was a little pale with fatigue. Neither of them had gotten much sleep since leaving Ord, but he was able to at least drift off a little on the shuttle from Carrick.

 

“It is,” Val let out a sigh of relief when she saw the encrypted message on her datapad, immediately recognizing the source since she’d written the codes herself. She noticed a public computer terminal in back of the cantina and made her way over to use it. After slicing into it to ensure high security, Val decrypted the message and played it through her personal Holocommunicator. Sure enough, Tia’s image appeared and Val was shocked to see her friend wearing Imperial armor.

 

 

“Val, I know you probably have several questions, but I don’t have time to answer them all. I need you to act quickly…...many lives are at stake, including my own, and I don’t have a lot of private time. I know you’re worried and I promise, I’ll fill you in as soon as I’m able. I’ll be sending another message exactly ten minutes after I send this one. Do not decrypt that one yet! I need you to get to Coruscant as quickly as you can and find the head of Spec Forces division, General Elin Garza. You should find her office at the Senate Tower. I don’t care what you have to do, just find a way to get to her and make her listen to you…...alone! As soon as you’re alone with her in her office, and she assures you it’s secure, decrypt the second message and play it for her. Move fast, Val, I’m not kidding when I tell you that at this point, my life is in your hands. Get to Coruscant, find the General and make her listen, then and only then can you play the second message. No matter what, I love you like my sister. In case I don’t survive this, play this message for Kat…..I love her too and if you find Zyra, tell her I’m sorry I couldn’t stop those men from taking her.”

 

 

Val immediately disconnected from the terminal and wiped any traces of her using it. She was shaking as she turned to Corso, worry etched on her face, “I knew she was headed for danger…..I should never have left her.”

 

“She had her mission, Captain, and if we went with her it might’ve gotten all three of us killed,” Corso countered gently, “I know what ‘what ifs’ are like and nothing good can come from dwelling on them. At least now we’re able to help her…..so let’s get to the Senate Tower and find this General Garza.”

 

Corso led a still visibly upset Val out of the cantina and they quickly caught a taxi to the Senate Tower. Less than fifteen minutes later, Val was asking a protocol droid where she could find General Garza’s office and they immediately headed for the suite of offices the droid gave them directions to. Hoping luck would be with her, the young spacer entered the suite with Corso right behind her. A young man, her assistant Val assumed, stopped her as she went to enter the General’s office.

 

“Hey! You can’t go in there!” he yelled, “yo-” he was cut off by Val pointing her blaster in his face.

 

“Look buddy, this is an emergency and I am going in there whether you like it or not,” Val insisted, deadly menace in her voice, “I don’t want to kill you, but I will if you try and stop me.”

 

“What is the meaning of this?!” a grey haired, stern faced woman demanded as she came out of the office Val was trying to get to.

 

“Are you General Garza?” Val asked, still holding her blaster steady on the assistant.

 

“I am,” she replied, “Now do you mind telling me who you are and why you are threatening young Private Grady here?”

 

“I apologize, General Garza,” Val replied, holstering her blaster, “I am Captain Valaya Tarenz and it’s very urgent that I talk to you…..in private….right now. Please, I have a message that you need to hear…..you and no one else. I promise, you can have me arrested as soon as I play the message, but you have to listen to it. Lives are at stake!”

 

General Garza looked at the petite Mirialan pleading for a private audience and noticed her tall, dreadlocked companion. For some reason, despite the young woman threatening her assistant and the fact she had a mercenary with her, she believed the spacer was sincere and the general always trusted her gut.

 

“Fine,” she nodded, “but both of you are to leave your weapons out here with Private Grady. They will be returned when you leave.”

 

Val and Corso did as she requested and the three of them went into her office. Val immediately went to the computer terminal and brought up Tia’s first message. She played it at the small conference table where they all sat. After they watched it, General Garza immediately sent out a message cancelling her meeting with the review board and turned to Val.

 

“Captain, how and when did you receive this?” she asked, “The last thing we were aware of is that Sergeant Vleska defected to the Sith Empire with the rest of her squad.”

 

“Tia would never voluntarily defect to the Sith Empire, General. I got this message about half an hour ago,” Val explained, “and came right here as she instructed. I gave Tia a bracelet of her mother’s she’d left behind when she went off to the military. I put a sophisticated transmitter in it…...I’m really good with slicing and code. I wrote the codes for the tech…..all of it was my design. It’s undetectable except with highly advanced scanners and even then only if it’s activated. I taught her how to activate and use it just before we went into the Separatists holdout on Ord Mantell.”

 

They heard voices on the other side of the door, one of them not sounding very pleased, “Captain, I want you to play that message for my guest outside. This situation concerns him so he’ll need to hear it.” Garza told Val as she got up and opened the door.

 

Lieutenant Jorgan entered Garza’s office and immediately noticed it was empty except for a familiar, leatheris clad Mirialan and her Human companion. Despite the shock at seeing them in General Garza's office, Aric couldn't help the surge of anger he felt at seeing that traitor's friend.

 

“Captain,” he growled, “I didn’t expect you to be here. Did you hear from that traitorous filth you call a friend yet?”

 

Her nerves were shot at this point and Val went ballistic, jumping out of her seat and slapping the Cathar hard enough to make him stagger, “How dare you say that about her!” she shrieked, reaching for her blaster before remembering it was with the private outside. It didn’t matter, she had a holdout tucked into her boot, which she snatched and in the blink of an eye, she had it charged and aimed at the lieutenant, “You have no idea what you’re talking about so shut your trap before I permanently shut it for you!”

 

“Truth hurts?!,” Aric sneered, his own blaster out and aimed at her.

 

Corso grabbed Val before she could hit the larger Cathar again…..or worse, “Calm down, Captain,” he told her as she struggled in his arms, “This isn’t helping.”

 

“This is all your fault you stupid son of a Hutt,” Val spat at Jorgan as Corso relieved her of her weapon, “You sent her in there alone!”

 

“I fail to see how I’m responsible for your friend turning traitor,” Aric shot back, “She made that choice all on her own!”

 

“That’s enough!” General Garza snapped, “All of you sit down right now! We don’t have time for this.”

 

Val’s anger deflated when she remembered why she was there and sat. Aric glared at her, but followed orders and holstered his weapon before taking a seat across the table from her, crossing his arms as he once again fought to control his temper.

 

“Captain Tarenz, can you play that first message again for Lieutenant Jorgan?” Garza requested and Val did that.

 

Surprise showed on Aric’s tawny furred face when he saw the silvery Cathar in Imperial armor imploring Val to quickly get to General Garza. The older Cathar ran his hands over his clean shaven head and down his neck, his laser green eyes reflecting his shock as he tried to wrap his head around this new development.

 

“Now that we are all at the same place,” Garza said, “Captain, are you able to play the second message here?”

 

“Yes, give me a moment,” Val replied as she went to Garza’s terminal, “forgive me General, but I prefer to use my own security…..I have serious trust issues, I know,” Val sliced in, put in her security codes, decrypted the message and played it. Once again, the image of Tia in Imperial armor appeared.

 

 

“I’m going to assume my friend was successful and that General Garza is viewing this message in a secure location. If not, then Val’s in big trouble if I survive. Please excuse the sounds of music and the shower, but it was the safest place I could find and yes, I ran a tech scan before recording. I’m Sergeant Tiannya Vleska and I was serving in Havoc Squad on Ord Mantell. I have little time and a lot to tell you, so here goes. I don’t know how much you are aware of at this point, but the members of Havoc Squad have defected to the Sith Empire. I caught them working with Imperials in the Separatists holdout. They were loading the stolen ZR-57 into a shuttle when I arrived. I knew I was as good as dead if I went in, but we needed information…...which is why I decided to go with them. I had some plausible reasons for a grudge against the Republic and I managed to convince Tavus I wanted to defect as well. They took out my armor cam and cut out the tracker Lieutenant Jorgan injected me with, then ran a scan. Luckily, Val had given me a means of communicating secretly, which she can explain to you later if she hasn’t already. Their scanner didn’t detect Val’s tech and we left Ord Mantell. A lot has happened since then. Havoc isn’t the only squad to defect, at least ten other squads that I’m aware of at this point have joined us. That number may go up and I’ll let you know if I find out. Apparently, this mass defection has been in the planning for quite some time. Tavus cited Ando Prime as his reasons and I’m going to assume you know the details. Right now, Tavus has operations going on in Coruscant’s lower levels. He’s operating under the assumption that you are unaware of the defection at this point and is securing armaments and supplies through his usual sources while he still can. I don’t have the details of that, but I’m hoping you will know what he’s talking about. The man in charge on Coruscant is a retired Havoc CO, Jek Kardan and he’s working on some sort of communications relay. Havoc Squad is currently on an Imperial battleship, but I get the feeling we’re moving out soon. I know Tavus intends to send us out on individual assignments, but he hasn’t given any out yet, so I don’t know who’s going where at this time. Look, I’m not trained for this cloak and dagger stuff, that’s for those spooks in the SIS, but I’ll do my best to help bring these traitors down from the inside and hopefully live to tell the tale. I’d better go now, so I have time to actually take a shower. I’ll make contact as soon as I’m at my new location and it’s safe for me to do so. Sergeant Vleska out.”

 

 

The four of them sat silently around the table for a moment, absorbing what they just learned. Val had tears in her eyes, currently glaring hostilely at Lieutenant Jorgan who she felt was responsible for all of this. Corso was eyeing them both, hoping his Captain wouldn’t lose her cool again and go after the Lieutenant. Aric couldn’t bring himself to look at the Mirialan, feeling guilty for accusing her friend of treason and for having sent Sergeant Vleska into that situation alone. He’d followed protocol, but he was quickly realizing that this might have been one of those situations where he needed to work outside the rules…...something that didn’t always come easy for him. His gaze flickered over to General Garza as he began to wonder what would happen now. The general looked at the ceiling as her mind began assessing the current situation. The young Sergeant had been correct that she was in fact well aware of where many of the Spec Forces squads went for non-military standard supplies since she was the one who typically directed them to these sources. Cutting off these sources would be priority one in dealing with Tavus.

 

“Where do we go from here, General?” Aric finally spoke up, breaking the silence.

 

“Tavus usually got his supplies through various Underworld gangs when he didn’t want Republic standard issue equipment,” Garza explained, giving voice to her initial thoughts as a plan began to take shape. “I’ll send out teams to work on cutting off these sources. However, I know two groups will be difficult, The Migrant Merchant’s Guild and Black Sun.”

 

“We have to go into Migrant Merchant’s Guild territory,” Corso told the general, “Is there anything we can do to help while we’re there? I know Val wants to see her friend safe.”

 

“Sergeant Vleska has put herself in great danger for us,” Garza admitted, “She’s gone above and beyond the call of duty and I want her safe as well. If you’re willing,” she nodded at Corso and Val, “then I’ll take you up on your offer since you both are already aware of the situation, however, I ask that you speak of this to no one else.” She turned to Lieutenant Jorgan, “Lieutenant Jorgan, I’ve cancelled the Inquiry and Review. Furthermore, I hereby promote you to Captain, effective immediately. You are now assigned as the new CO of Havoc Squad and when she’s back with us, Sergeant Vleska will be under your command. Other than that, Havoc will be yours to rebuild as you see fit.”

 

“Thank you, sir,” Aric saluted, thankful he wasn’t going to burn for those traitors after all and happy that he would be the one to take them down.

 

“Your first mission will be to accompany Captain Tarenz and Corso Riggs into Migrant Merchant’s Guild territory, you’ll meet with Corporal Garrum in the security checkpoint across from The Dealer’s Den cantina and he’ll have the mission specs for you. Help the captain with whatever she needs to do there, then the three of you take care of the task Corporal Garrum gives you. I’ll work on planning for Black Sun and locating Kardan while you three are dealing with the Migrant Merchant’s Guild,” Garza explained, “Captain Tarenz, you and Mister Riggs can stay with Captain Jorgan at the military complex while you’re working together. Right now, the three of you can go there to the suite set aside for Havoc when they’re staying on planet, unpack, and prepare yourselves for combat. That’ll give me time to work out what needs to be done in Migrant Merchant Guild territory and forward the information to Corporal Garrum.”

 

“Yes, sir,” Aric nodded.

 

General Garza looked at the petite, teary eyed spacer who was still glaring at Captain Jorgan and smiled, “Captain Tarenz, I promise I’ll do everything in my power to bring your friend back to us safely.”

 

“She’s like a sister to me,” Val sniffed, “I should’ve stayed with her instead of going after the man who stole my starship.”

 

“You can’t blame yourself, Captain,” Garza told her gently, “If you’d been with her, you’d both be dead and we would be in the dark about what happened. Thanks to your technology and her quick thinking, Sergeant Vleska is alive and able to communicate with us.”

 

“See,” Corso added, “I told you not to blame yourself. From what I saw and things you’ve told me, Tia’s a survivor and she’ll make it back.”

 

“One thing that I can’t stress enough is that we keep quiet about what’s going on. We want Tavus to think Havoc’s defection is a secret for as long as possible and the more that know the truth, the greater the chance Tavus will find out. Now, the three of you get going. Time is of the essence, and if you get anymore messages from Sergeant Vleska, contact me immediately!” Garza insisted, “Oh, and Captain Tarenz, please don’t injure Captain Jorgan anymore. He didn’t have your knowledge and from what he’d heard, Sergeant Vleska had truly defected. I heard the audio file as soon as it was sent to me and I assure you, it truly sounded as if your friend willingly defected right along with the rest of her squad.”

 

“I guess I can get that,” Val muttered, her temper finally cooling a little.

 

“Good,” Garza replied, “Because I need the three of you to work together so we can deal with the Havoc traitors and get Sergeant Vleska back to us. Can I count on that?”

 

“You can count on me, sir.” Aric insisted.

 

“Me too,” Corso agreed.

 

“I’ll do anything to get Tia back safely,” Val nodded, “Even if I have to play nice with this jerk.”

 

“Captain,” Corso sighed.

 

Val simply shrugged, “The general only asked that I not injure Lieutenant…...err Captain Jorgan, she never said I couldn’t insult him.”

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

×
×
  • Create New...