In Over Her Head, pt 4

Deke'o Starbreaker waits in the cockpit of The Maiden, having landed it in a clearing a kilometer or so from the Jedi training grounds, near the Twi'lek village. It seemed like not so long ago he'd first hooked up with his Jedi to deliver medical supplies here. Now they were back, and he was getting impatient.

When Litessen finally returns to the ship, she quickly heads for the cockpit, instinctively knowing where he would be and aware of his impatience long before arriving. As he turns to greet her, she gives him a warm smile that is purely for his benefit after the series of discussions and meetings she's spent the day in.

"Thank you for that database you recovered. It helped a great deal. Though I should tell you that neither of us will ever receive credit for its retrieval. Officially, while Master Zaron was on Taris last year, he discovered it as well as a little Mirialan girl who showed remarkable force sensitivity, and he brought both back with him at the time."

Deke'o gives her one of his lopsided grins when she finishes, putting his feet up on the console as he crosses his arms over his chest. "Officially, if they're able to tell lies like that, they should have no trouble making up some grand story, with appropriate heroics, for getting us some additional pay."

Litessen can't help but smile at his response. "Don't hold your breath. Still...since the negotiations I attended did not officially take place, there is little likelihood that anyone from the Republic will investigate Yen's existence. If someone does inquire after her, the Council has agreed to keep her true identity a secret."

Deke'o gets annoyed, but it's not because he's missing out on a payday for the database. It's because of her phrasing. "Oh they agreed did they? If they hadn't, the Republic would have needed new Jedi leadership. Did you give them my suggestion that she could change her name to Yen Starbreaker?"

Litessen answers patiently, "No, I did not. She'll be safer with a name that doesn't connect her in any way to you or I. The threat isn't past. After speaking with Yen, the Council has given me a new directive. It seems the circumstances surrounding her planned sale were a bit more complicated than a slaving transaction.

"The man who owned her - Jalif Makria - is part of a powerful merchant guild that operates in both the Empire and the Republic - discreetly, of course. While I agree with your feelings about slavery in general, as slave owners go, he seems to be among a minority that actually treat their slaves well and keep families together, even caring for their needs responsibly beyond the minimum necessities. Yen describes him very favorably, and she has grown up with her mother and two sisters."

Deke'o frowns, but lets the need to express his distaste go. "Speaking of threats, has there been any news of a handless man found dead on Taris? 'Cause that would make my day, actually."

"I haven't had the opportunity to look, but my feeling is that the bounty hunter won't last long if he did survive. There's a Sith involved in this. They don't like failure."

"As I said, this is more complicated," she added.

"With the Sith, things always are. You're trained for them, right?"

Litessen nods. "Yen's owner didn't want to sell her. He brought her back to his space station so that she could say goodbye to her family first."

"So, if we want to make sure she is completely safe, we just need to find this Sith and destroy him. Perhaps we should just start with every single one we meet, we'll eventually narrow it down."

"Perhaps we should talk when you can be less emotional about this?"

"This isn't emotional. This is me wanting to make sure that little girl never has to look over her shoulder."

Litessen turns a console chair to face him and slides into it. "Alright. Explain to me in realistic terms how you plan to go into a full on war against the Empire, and don't forget to include every Hutt and every gangster in the known universe."

She pauses to let that sink in before continuing. "The only way to safeguard her is to take this step by step, and even then, she won't always be safe - not from everything that could ever happen to her, anyway."

Deke'o gets one of his grins that says he's either got something completely brilliant in mind, or something sarcastic, or both. "Have you ever heard of the Foundry?"

Litessen sighs, rubbing her eyes. "I'm going to regret whatever you're about to say, aren't I?"

"Well, you asked how I planned to go into a full on war against the Empire."

"I was trying to make a point."

"I know. I'm just worried for her."

"She's safe now, Deke'o. I'm more worried about why this Sith wanted her enough to pressure one of the richest men in the universe into selling her."

"I know, I know." He throws his hands up in surrender. "And that's really the question. What about Yen was so special? I mean, she's an amazing kid, probably my favorite in the Galaxy. Was there something about her force ability?"

"Nothing that sets her apart from any other force sensitive youth. And if he just wanted her for training, Makria would've spun it that way when he sat down with the family to explain the situation. Instead, he offered the mother the consolation that he would make sure that Yen's sisters would have the best positions he could give them in his household. To Yen, it was as if they were already mourning her death. She knew she was in terrible danger."

Deke'o clenches a fist, but doesn't have another outburst - yet. He thinks on it for several long moments, then shakes his head as if to drive the thoughts away, like they're in a place he doesn't even want to think about. He just looks at Litessen, waiting to see if she's got any insight into the situation.

"Yen met him. I have a description, at least, but no name. I can't go back to Makria, because it would confirm that I took her. Right now, all her safety rests in the details of her disappearance being as scarce as possible. All I have is her accounting of the meeting, and it was very brief."

"I could try my underworld contacts. Through an intermediary of course. I wouldn't risk my name being associated with it."

Litessen nods. "That might help." She falls silent for a thoughtful moment. "She said that when he approached her, she knew her death was waiting with him. I don't know if she realized she was force sensitive before that moment."

"As much as I don't want to, I could also try an old adversary in Imperial Intelligence. He owes me a favor, might be able to get us a name from the description. Maybe."

"It's a place to start. Thank you."

[This post is converted from a scene RP'd with player-Deke'o. Huge thanks to him for allowing me to use it and for his contribution to this story. I'm only ever as good as the people I have the privilege of RP'ing with, and he is, as always, a great friend.]

In Over Her Head, part 3

Terrakos stormed into the living room, shrugging off two female slaves still trying to keep his attention. Jalif Makria turned in surprise to the intrusion, the fear draining all color from his face as he tried to appear in control. "My lord Terrakos! I hope my staff is treating you well?"

Terrakos stood there, coldly regarding his host, "Makria, though your 'staff' are quite good at distraction, my patience grows thin. What news do you have about my property?"

Jalif turned to his wife, her terror more evident than his own, "My dear, would you.." As Jalik's wife began to stand, Terrakos raised his hand, sending out an arc of electricity, knocking her back down to the couch, "I think she can stay." He strode across the room, closing the distance between  himself and his hosts, a sneer playing across his lips, "After all, you are married. You both are in this together."

Jalif straightened, putting forth a brave face, "M-mlord, the girl has escaped. It's possible she was aided by a Jedi."

Terrakos thrust his hand out toward the woman, sending arcs of electricity through her body as Jalif pleaded. Terrakos turned the voltage down, speaking to him while admiring the sight of the writhing woman, "I want all the data you have about this thief transferred to my ship." 

"Of course my lord. P-p-please release my wife."

Terrakos narrowed his eyes as he mulled over his options. He knew Jalif had some dealings with the Republic. The electricity stopped flowing out of his hand, leaving the woman writhing in agony. He didn't need to make more enemies by killing Jalif's wife, not when he had a thief to hunt.

Still...

Overheard in a little Coruscant cafe

"It's not that I'm not grateful," the blue-haired rogue reiterated for what must have been the 15th time since the conversation had begun. "And yes, I owe you for that situation back on Ord Mantell--" She was cut off by the calm, even voice of the Mirialan sitting across the table from her.

"As much as you paint yourself the defiant, hardened criminal, we both know that the worst of your so-called crimes involve running supplies into warzones that keep the local civilians from starving." The Jedi was looking at her with the kind of reproachful smile that reminded Kel'ri of the way her mother used to look at her when she lied about sneaking out of the house to avoid her studies.

"Hey! There were banned items in those shipments," Kel'ri countered with a cocky grin. "People may need to eat, but the real credits in those runs came from alcohol."

"Which they used to trade with the local Republic troops for medical supplies and a host of other things? You won't even run weapons unless you're sure they're getting into the right hands." Lita wasn't letting her off the hook.

Kel'ri relented with a raised hand. "Fine! Fine. It's not like there isn't an upside to going legit. And you were right about the company, I guess. Everyone I've met so far seems..." she smirked playfully in pseudo-dramatic pause before finishing, "...like they've had their shots."

The Mirialan gave her a knowing grin. Since their friendship began a few years ago, Lita's uncanny ability to read people and inspire their best character traits had somehow grown on the smuggler. Kel'ri liked to tease the Jedi about her habit of 'picking up strays', but the truth was that she had been one of those strays. If it hadn't been for Lita's guidance, she probably would've fallen in with one of the gangs on Nar Shaddaa or worse, been strong-armed into some aspect of the pleasure industries that the smuggler's moon was notorious for.

"I still don't see how I can keep an eye on the kid, though," Kel'ri continued, getting back to the subject at hand. "She's on Coruscant at school most of the time, and you know I hate sitting around planetside on a Core World with nothing to do. What if I'm out on a run when they give her a job, and I can't get there to hold her hand?"

"She hardly requires hand-holding, but I do see your point." Lita conceded with a thoughtful nod. "The Council is extremely reluctant to pursue her Force training any further for now, but I've been considering finding a Jedi who might be able to take her as their padawan."

"Why not you?" The question seemed obvious, but Lita shook her head.

"She is already attached to me emotionally in such a way that I fear it would defeat the purpose," she explained. "When I found Tholata, she'd been living on her own for so long that gaining her trust so that she'd allow me to help her was not easy. I feel that she still sees me as a substitute for the family she lost, and the person to change that dynamic between us should be her - when she's ready."

Kel'ri picked at her plate while her friend spoke, then shrugged with a smart-assed smirk. "You lost me somewhere around 'purpose'. I think you don't take on padawans, because it would get in the way of your love life. How is life on The Maiden with Captain Dreamboat?"

The rest of lunch consisted of the usual banter between old friends; Kel'ri teasing her friend about what she insisted must be a sordid, hot affair with the captain she travelled with while Litessen countered by teasing right back about Kel'ri's  short attention span for men and women alike. They parted with the usual promises to stay in touch and to get together again soon, as well as the less sincere promises to stay out of trouble. Neither of them ever could keep that promise.

In Over Her Head, part 2

Captain Deke’o Starbreaker watched the green skinned Jedi run off to collect the young girl from the safe house she’d stashed her. He felt bad using both her and the young girl as bait, but he knew that the Bounty Hunter she’d ditched had likely already tracked her here to Taris, and he wasn’t going to take a chance of him catching Lita in a situation he couldn’t control. Grabbing his stealth field generator, he started off after her, climbing up to a rooftop and using the close proximity of the buildings in the settlement to watch her back for any tails. It wasn’t long before he saw his target. Not that mercenaries were out of place on Taris, it was when they took a particular interest in a Jedi (especially HIS Jedi) without looking like they were taking one, that he got a little defensive. After he started outright following Lita, he knew this must be her new friend.

He watched him watch his girlfriend as she ducked in and out of alleyways, her tradecraft was good, and he began to wonder if she’d been mentored by one of his former colleagues at SIS. Still the Bounty Hunter kept up with her, and when she stopped and ducked into a building, he took up an ambush position in an alleyway she’d have to pass through on her way back to the spaceport. Deke’o knew it was time to make his move. Silently across the rooftop overlooking the alley, he activated his stealth generator and peered over the side. Taking cover against the crenellation, he removed one of his silent explosive probes from his belt and dropped it over the edge, letting it hover a few feet above the bounty hunter before he shot it with his blaster, and dropped a flashbang as he leapt over the side. Quickly hitting the emergency reactivation on his stealth generator as he pulled his Scattergun off his back, he took no chances, firing a shot straight at the Bounty Hunter’s back before he could recover from the flashbang’s effect. It was enough to put him on the ground as Deke’o kicked at the pistol from his hand, knocking it away down the alley, his own sidearm drawn on the Bounty Hunter’s face.

“You really should have cut your losses when you didn’t capture her in space.”

“What do you care, Republic scum? You’re going to regret ambushing me, when my employer tells his Sith client you kept me from retrieving his property, they’re going to hunt you down and make you wish for death.”

Deke’o couldn’t help but laugh as he brought the scattergun around, he aimed for the Bounty Hunter’s wrist and fired, severing the hand. Talking above the cursing screams of the Bounty Hunter, he kept a smile on his face, “Wrong. Your employer is going to die at the Sith’s hands for failure, a fate you’re likely to share when you come back from this trip empty handed.” Realizing the hilarity of what he’d just said, he started laughing again as he put a stun bolt into the Hunter and dragged him behind some crates.

He’d be out for a while, and with some luck, wouldn’t bleed to death from losing his hand. Even if he did, Deke’o was past caring. His message would be delivered either way. Walking out of the alley as Lita exited the nearby building with the girl, he moved toward them and greeted both with a friendly wave. The little girl, recognizing him from the holo waved back with a smile. Coming up to next to them, he knelt down and pulled a piece of hard candy from his belt, he held it out for the girl who took it with a thank you. Holding his hand out for hers, he started back for his ship to take both Mirialans away from Taris.

 

(Thanks to the player of Deke'o for writing this)

In Over Her Head

Litessen stood just outside the airlock entry, leaning casually against the wall as though she really had nothing better to do. The space station's current time cycle was the least busy, simulating what would be considered late night on planetside - if there'd been any planet nearby to simulate.

It's current placement was as much part of the diplomatic meetings it had just finished hosting, and while most participants of those meetings were scheduled to leave in the next time cycle - the 'morning' time cycle - she was among the few who had already gained clearance to leave early, citing the need to rendevous with a frigate that would be passing near enough to pick up her short range shuttle to take her to her next destination. The lower ring was nearly deserted right now, so she'd barely even seen a passing guard, much less any non-personel, until the small figure of a female slipped quietly into view.

Litessen regarded the young Mirialan with a tentative, but encouraging smile and nodded. That was all it took, and the girl dashed up to her after one last wary look further down the corridor, slipping into the airlock when the Jedi's violet eyes slid that direction. With one last glance behind, she followed the girl onto the shuttle and waved the door closed before pointing down to the waiting astromech droid.

"It's okay," she encouraged the girl. "He's going to remove your collar. Just pull your hair out of the way."

In moments, it was done, and Litessen opened the door long enough to place the collar just outside of it. When the shuttle detached, the slave collar would be blown into space, and with luck, far enough away that exactly which airlock it had come from would at least take time to figure out.

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The first volley of fire was clearly a warning as it soared across the bow of the shuttle, bouncing off the shields. Startled from dozing, Litessen became fully alert, her fingers moving across the controls in front of the captain's chair. "D5, what's going on?"

She'd never been much of a pilot, and it showed in how much she relied on the astromech droid to run things. The short range shuttle she'd aquired had adequate defenses, but it wouldn't withstand much in full on combat. The answering chirps that came with the readout were low and nervous, and she nodded in answer as she pulled up the daunting image of a small, heavily armored starship.

Muttering a curse beneath her breath, she pulled up an astrochart. "Don't bother putting him through on the com. I know what he wants, and there's no way I'm going to--" she broke off as an idea came to her. "D5, I'm going to start typing instructions to you through my wristpad. Put the bounty hunter through, voice only, and ease your way toward that gas cloud."

The droid chirped a correction that elicited a roll of her eyes. "Whatever it's made of. It'll mess with readings a little, won't it?"

As the droid chirped his answer, she jumped out of the chair and headed into the back of the shuttle where her passenger was hunkering in a corner with wide, terrified pale eyes. Lifting a finger to her lips, Lita signalled for the girl to remain quiet as she moved to her side, and the click of the intercom signalled the connection to their pursuer's transmission.

**Shuttle Vigilance, kill your engines and prepare to be boarded.**

Lita pulled the girl up to her feet and led her toward the only escape hatch. The shuttle shuddered as D5 finished altering course and diverting everything the little vessel had to shields and navigation. She regretted leaving the droid behind and hoped he managed to somehow survive as she answered the com with a calm, clear tone. "This is The Vigilance. You have no authority here. What is this about?"

**This is about your unauthorized removal of Jalif Makria's property from the space station last night, Jedi. No one needs to get hurt here. Just let me dock and retrieve it, and you can be on your way.**

She triggered the door open and helped the trembling girl into the tiny space. "You're mistaken. The only property I arrived and left with was my own. Now, cease and leave, or I will file a complaint against you and Makria with the Republic. I imagine that would make all the progress we made during negotiations evaporate and eat into the profits he stands to make."

She was bluffing. The negotiations had resulted in a lucrative deal for Jalif Makria, to be sure, but that deal was more important to the Republic government than the theft of a slave girl. She couldn't risk the Republic learning of what she'd done anymore than she could risk being found out and...well, chased by a bounty hunter, apparently.

**Have it your way, Jedi.**

The channel cut off, and Lita knew time was running out. Hopefully, she'd bought them enough time to reach the nebulous clouds for her planned ruse to work. She secured the hatch and smiled reassuringly at the young girl just before the child flung herself into the woman's lap. Wrapping her arms around the girl, she soothed her while she tapped the final instructions for D5 into her wristpad.

The shuttle banked hard and shook as the bounty hunter's ship fired on it once again, seeking to disable it rather than destroy it. Her eyes remained on the readout on her wristpad as the droid reported back to her and the girl clung tighter. Shields disabled. One more shot would take out the engine and leave them vulnerable to boarding.

"One more time, and we'll be on our way," Lita cooed in a soothing voice to the terrified youth.

Another, more violent shudder told her the volley had begun, and before the shuttle rolled dangerously onto its side, the escape pod was already blown free amidst the debris from the shot, hurtling toward Taris. Now, if only D5 could keep the bounty hunter too busy to notice...