Sussik Van 16BBY
The Songbird dropped out of hyperspace into the Sussik system and Sera’s sensor suite lit up. She had never seen more than two Imperial class Star Destroyers in a system, much less seven.
She resisted the urge to test the Songbird’s stealth system. She had no doubt Kelcore was authorized to have it, but a lowly freelance captain like her would be thrown in prison to await execution the moment it was discovered.
If Walton was telling the truth she had up-to-date access codes that would allow her to land on the planet. She didn’t really trust him though, nor did she trust the Imps verifying the codes.
“Oh, that is a lot of Imperial vessels.” Essa remarked as she looked at the fleet through the front viewport.
“Yes, it is.” Sera agreed.
Not only were there seven Imperial Star Destroyers, but there were also hundreds of smaller warships. She counted twenty Arquitens cruisers.
“Songbird, please transmit your transit codes for approach to the planet.” A woman’s voice came over the commlink.
“Roger, transmitting now.” Sera typed in the codes and sent them.
The controller asked her to stand by.
It seemed to take minutes for the response to come back. “Songbird where did you get this code?”
The red Twi’lek took a deep breath then opened the comms. “I was given the codes by the Freelance Captain’s Guild.”
“Thank you. Stand by.”
The minutes dragged on again. “When did you register your ship with the Guild?”
“I registered yesterday. The update may not have come through yet.” Sera responded.
“Prepare for a TIE escort to the Star Destroyer Gale Force.” The response was immediate.
Sera kept on her current course and prepared for the inevitable search of her ship.
The two fighters flew past, banked around, and fell in on either side. “Songbird Point Three Seven Two.” One of the pilots directed her.
She changed course and the massive wedge-shaped capital ship loomed into view. As she closed the distance her console alerted her that a tractor beam had locked on. As soon as she was close to the ventral hanger of the ship the fighters broke off and disappeared inside the vessel.
Sera landed the Songbird in the bay that it had been brought into. She expected to see a contingent of Stormtroopers awaiting the ship. Instead she saw four Naval Troopers and an officer approach the freighter.
She lowered the ramp and greeted them as they boarded.
“Captain Wes. Thank you for your patience.” The Officer was a stocky woman with dark hair kept in a tight bun just under the brim of her hat. She brought her right hand from behind her back to offer a handshake.
Sera accepted it cautiously. “Was there something wrong with my codes?”
“Oh no. We have contacted the Free Captain’s Guild and verified your identity while you were enroute.” She placed her hand behind her back and walked past Sera. She looked around the cargo bay.
“According to you records you found the ship abandoned and took it as your own under the rules of salvage.” She recited the entry.
“I did.” Sera confirmed.
“Where did you find it?” She asked. Her voice was level and calm. Sera wasn’t sure if she was testing or just curious.
“The previous owner mistook me for a prostitute and believed that he could do whatever he wanted.” Sera answered.
The officer turned to Sera. “Where did you find it?” She repeated the question with a bit of force.
“Salgdin township, on Dornit.” Sera lied.
“Thank you.” She seemed satisfied.
“May I see your manifest?” She looked at Sera.
After examining the Manifest she directed the troopers to do a visual search of the Songbird.
After several minutes they all returned. “Ma’am nothing to report.” The last one confirmed.
Sera relaxed a little as the officer sent the troops off the ship.
Once they were clear of the ramp she turned to Sera. “A word of warning, Captain. Twi’lek women are very common companions if you get my meaning.”
Sera nodded.
“On the frontier worlds you may get away with assaulting someone for inappropriate behavior.” She gave a distasteful look as she said the last phrase. “Unfortunately, as a much as it may be deserved you will be prosecuted, and you may very well be executed on the spot.”
Sera nodded. “Understood.”
The officer wrote something on a slip of paper, unzipped the breast pocket of Sera’s jacket, and slipped it in. She gave a very slight, quick smile and turned to leave the ship without another word.
Sera took several deep breaths as she eased the Songbird out of the hanger and away from the Gale Force.
As soon as she was clear of the majority of the ships, she set the autopilot to the coordinates given in the job order.
She took the note out chuckled as she read it over. She memorized the address and access code to the hab given on the slip.
It seemed the officer’s name was Candia Knort.
“You seem to have made a friend Mistress.” Essa commented as she looked at the note.
“Indeed Essa. It looks like I have.” Sera doubted the Imperial Officer was being neighborly and offering her a place to stay while she was in port. She also doubted that Candia was interested in friendly conversation.
The space port she landed at was in a temperate zone. The city itself was surrounded by thick forest that spread out for countless kilometers beyond its borders.
The port itself was a flat reinforced tarmac that covered a several kilometer circumference clearing.
She was unsurprised to see several lambda class shuttles interspersed between several yachts and a Corellian CR90, painted in light purple. She noted the YT1000 freighter nearby. It looked a little to well-maintained to be anything other than some wealthy person’s plaything.
With the Songbird buttoned up she set off for the hab listed on the note. She wanted to case it before she actually made an appearance.
The building was a part of a luxury apartment bloc that was close to the clubs and casinos that made up the entertainment and primary income of Port Black.
During the day Port Black was busy with delivery speeders and tourists.
Essa and Candia weren’t exaggerating. She saw a lot of Twi’leks walking around. Many of them wore Haught Couture fashions and sported expensive jewelry. She didn’t kid herself though. They may be well manicured but few of them were free.
She did feel out of place. The right arm on her jacket was sewn on and her clothing was a bit rough.
She typed in the access code to enter the building and waited for the door to open. A row of numbers listed the apartment and resident. She matched the name to an apartment on the tenth floor.
The code got her into the lift as well. Another resident managed to slip into the lift before the door closed. She was a bit surprised to see a red Twi’lek woman in leather in the elevator.
She was an older woman, a human in her late sixties. She wore an obvious wig of long blue black. She took out a pair of glasses and put them on to examine Sera. “Someone has interesting tastes. Tall, tough looking.” She poked Sera gently then gasped when she saw the A180 blaster on her hip. She gave Sera a sly smile. “Bounty Hunter?”
Sera smiled back. “Whatever you fancy.”
She giggled a bit as Sera walked out of the elevator.
At the door to the apartment she looked around for cameras and other obvious sensors. She took a second and reached out with the force to see if anyone was inside. She felt no other presences and turned to leave.
Two humans in private security uniforms walked by. One of them turned and looked Sera over. He gave her a whistle then kept walking.
Back aboard the Songbird Sera checked the work order. She noted that the recipient would be aware of her arrival, and she would be contacted. It occurred to her that Candia was the recipient.
Sera knocked on the apartment door shortly before sunset. The crate sat next to her feet as she waited for Candia to open the door.
Sure enough the Imperial Officer opened the door. Her hair was tied in a ponytail and she wore a silk kimono style robe. She eyed Sera and the crate with a measure of desire.
“I see you made it.”
She picked up the crate and took it inside.
“Come in.” It was part invitation part order.
The great room of the apartment was spacious. Nooks and shelves were built into the walls and filled with sculptures and books. The apartment smelled of spices with sweet but sharp scents. Music played softly in the background.
Candia disappeared into another room but called for Sera to make herself comfortable. Sera felt uncomfortable and a concerned. As she took in the room.
Candia returned with a large bottle in her hand. She looked Sera over again. “The guild really delivered this time.”
Sera hadn’t realized how beautiful the woman was in the uniform and she had been a bit shocked when she was greeted.
She set the bottle on a counter in the kitchen and stood in front of Sera. “You are quite tall.”
She took the sleave of Sera’s jacket in her hand and looked it over. “What happened here?”
“It’s a long story.” Sera tried to avoid explaining.
Before she could react, Candia was taking it off. She gasped a bit when Sera’s cybernetic arms were exposed. “Such a shame.”
She examined Sera’s right arm closely, then looked up at her. “You don’t seem particularly…” She looked for a word. “Shy about your arms.”
Sera shrugged. “They are apart of who I am.”
“How very Jedi of you.” She responded a bit dismissively.
Sera ignored the comment, she assumed Candia wasn’t implying anything.
Candia undid the pistol belt and laid it on a chair. “You won’t be needing this for a while.”
Sera felt a bit of concern. So far Candia had shown no intent to commit a wrongdoing, but she was cautious anyway.
She stepped back and took Sera in one more time. “Yes, I think you will clean up quite nicely Captain Wes.
“Don’t worry my dear.” She took Sera’s hands in hers. “I have no intention of keeping you here against your will.”
Candia caressed Sera’s face with the back of her hand. “But I urge you to spend some time with me.” Sera almost felt as though Candia wasn’t threatening her. Though a little bit of doubt lingered. She also wasn’t sure if this was part of the contract.
“It would be my pleasure.” Sera told her and smiled.
“Splendid.” Candia seemed genuinely happy.
While Sera was bathing Candia had brought a tailor into her apartment.
He was an effeminate Twi’lek with tan skin. He looked at Sera and gasped. “Ms. Candia, you have brought me a work of art.”
Sera stopped. Before she could say anything, he was in front of her looking her over and poking her arms.
“Quite exquisite wouldn’t you say?” Candia agreed.
He grabbed the towel she had wrapped around herself and exposed her body.
“I will have something for you tomorrow, early afternoon.” He quickly, and skillfully took several measurements, then made a few notes and sketches on a pad of paper.
“Thank you, Franka.” Candia kissed the Twi’lek on the cheek. “Charge my account whatever you see fit.”
“I may do this for free.” He told Candia as he left the apartment.
“I don’t need any clothing.” Sera said looking at the door.
“As much as I admire your rough and tumble chic, it is out of place here. If we are to be seen together, you should be better dressed.” She got very close to Sera and gently put her hands on Sera’s bare hips.
Candia handed Sera a glass of light green alcohol similar to the one she took a drink from.
The drink relaxed Sera. Candia looked her over as she sat on the large couch. The silk robe she wore barely passed her hips and she kept her legs crossed.
Candia poured herself another glass and sat down very close.
“I know you see your fellow Twi’leks as servants and slaves.” She looked directly into Sera’s eyes. “I don’t blame you. History has proven it over and over.”
She took a sip.
She traced her finger down Sera’s arm. “Sussik Van is a strange place. It would seem that someone like Franka is out of the ordinary. But many non-humans have become extremely wealthy.
“You would think that the number of Imperial Officials who come here would ensure the rules and taboos are adhered to. But it turns out to be the exact opposite. Sussik Van is a place for them to quietly have their indiscretions.” She smiled.
“The Moff can use blackmail to keep the officials in line.” Sera looked at Candia.
She laughed. “You catch on quickly.”
Sera could feel Candia’s attraction. The human straddled Sera and wrapped her arms around the Twi’lek.
“Am I an indiscretion?” Sera asked as she let Candia kiss her.
“You would be, but I’m the one in charge of gathering the dirt.” She smiled and kissed Sera deeply.”
When Sera woke up Candia was already out of bed.
She looked up at Sera from a data pad she held in one hand. She had a cup in the other. She wore a white robe with plush sleeves and hem.
“Did you know you share quite a few similarities to a dead Jedi?” She asked.
“How so?” Sera tried to dodge the question.
Candia laughed. “Let’s not kid ourselves Sera.”
She poured herself another cup of tea and one for Sera.
“I actually find it quite amusing.” She smiled and kissed Sera on the cheek. “The Empire has the largest data gathering apparatus the galaxy has ever seen and someone like you slips by unnoticed. Nothing about you is common, yet you have slipped through the holes in the net. You even managed to kill a jedi Hunter.” She laughed at that one.
“Why do you think that?” Sera asked. Hoping that she wasn’t going to be turned in.
“The Songbird matches the description of a ship registered to one of the ISB’s freelance hunters. His death was reported as a failed attempt to apprehend a fortune teller pretending to use the force to see the future, no further details are given.”
“Interestingly the name Songbird comes up in the file on the Block 10 rebellion on Ryvan. The same planet you, I’m sorry, the newly appointed Jedi Knight, Sera Wes, died on during the jedi Purge.”
Sera could feel the tension in her stomach tightening.
Candia could tell Sera was worried. “Don’t worry Captain Wes, your secret is safe with me. It would be such a shame to let such a perfect specimen go to waste.” Candia put her arm around Sera’s hips and showed her the files on the data pad. She watched Candia edit the files and add a classification to them. “Now they will have to request my permission to access any files involving Sera Wes or Songbird.” She set the data pad on the counter and plucked a small fruit from its stem and popped it in Sera’s mouth. “And all you have to do is escort me to the Moff’s party tonight.”
Sera raised her eyebrows. “You like to live dangerously.”
“Indeed. So do you, that makes us two of a kind.”
“My dear Franka, you are a master artist.” Both Candia and the Twi’lek tailor stood back and looked Sera over.
The white lace trim of her gown’s hem nearly touched the ground. The same lace trimmed the end of the long sleeves and the low cut neckline. The primary fabric was Ondorian Spider silk died in a lilac purple that brought out her eye color and contrasted her scarlet red skin. A similar lace pattern that trimmed the gown with wider lattice spread out across the dress creating an almost imperceptible Ondorian Dragon wrapped around her body. Its tail started at the base of the skirt and the head topped just above her breast. The sleaves had a miniature versions of the dragon. The neckline was low cut and showed a small amount of cleavage. The sleaves were high enough to barely cover the sockets where her cybernetic arms joined her shoulders.
“To think you had this lying around your shop.” Candia commented.
“I made this ages ago. But I never had anyone to wear it.” Franka adjusted the upper sleeves. he looked up at Sera. “The arms are quite a statement young lady. Are you particularly.” He paused for a moment debating his next words. “Attached to them?” Candia barely stifled a laugh. Sera looked down and smiled. “Any statement I make is unintentional. They are as much a part of me as the blaster I carry or the lessons I have learned through experience.”
“How poetic. You have found yourself a treasure my dear.” Franka looked at Candia.
“Alas, I’m afraid Captain Wes is her own woman and I doubt that I could keep her even if I used all of my Imperial Authority.”
He looked at Sera and gave her a knowing wink. “If I could scrounge a more realistic pair of prosthetics, would you be averse to wearing them? At least for the evening.”
Sera shook her head. “I could always use a spare pair of arms.”
Candia chuckled. “Couldn’t we all darling.”
Sera felt vulnerable sitting in the straight-backed dining chair as the prosthetist examined the sockets and made little adjustments to the joints and controls. But she also felt safe. She felt safer in that room than she had in a long time. She barely trusted Candia. The person responsible for black mailing Imperial officials
The woman tut-tutted the workmanship and threatened to rip them out several times. “You would think the Jedi Order would have had better technology.”
Sera froze. “What makes you think this was done by Jedi?”
The Togruta laughed. “That will be our secret.” Neither of them brought it up again.
After an hour she slotted the new arm into position and Sera felt the whir of the joints integrate the limb into the socket. She tested the arm by rotating the shoulder joint and bending the elbow. The fingers were a bit stiffer than her obvious mechanical arm but were still functional enough to imitate real hands. The artificial skin that coated the arm began to turn red from the shoulder to the fingertips.
The togruta pulled a short flap of the material over the joint and her shoulder. Unless someone knew her arms were cybernetic it would be nearly impossible to tell.
“The skin hinders the movement of the fingers slightly. You should be able to adjust for it soon enough.” The technician explained.
Sera stood after the other arm had been attached.
“I think she looks better with the other ones.” Candia remarked. “But I trust Franka’s judgement.”
“Thank you for your time Neria. Please send Franka the invoice and he will take care of your payment.”
Sera looked at herself in the mirror. She almost didn’t recognize herself.
Candia stood just behind her, admiring the view.
“I have never worn anything so beautiful.” She was amazed at the workmanship.
Franka adjusted the sleeves of the gown and turned her to face him.
“Did you ever dream about it?” Candia asked. She was genuinely curious.
“No. It’s not something that ever even crossed my mind.” Sera said honestly.
“Do you like it?” Candia wondered.
“I don’t know.” Sera admitted. “It doesn’t feel like me.”
Franka’s face fell.
Sera looked at him. “It’s beautiful and I love it. I am proud to wear it. But I have been rough and tumble for so long that this isn’t me.”
Her words seemed to have lifted Franka back up.
Franka turned to Candia. “Will you be needing something?”
Candia frowned. “Sadly this is an official function, so I will be wearing my uniform. Besides anything that I wear will be overshadowed by our Twi’lek model. Thank you for doing this on such a short notice.” She kissed Franka on the cheek.
Before he left, he placed a simple, yet elegant tiara fitted for lekku on Sera’s head. “This is a gift, from me.”
Candia straightened the pencil skirt of her uniform and smoothed out the jacket. She checked her medals and rank badge.
“If only humans can own property where do people Franka set up shop?” Sera asked.
“You don’t understand how integral non-humans are to Sussik’s economy.” Candia prefaced her statement. “Franka has patrons that ensure his business is successful. His clothing has been worn by the elite on Coruscant. They pay exorbitant sums of money for the gowns he designs. Tens of thousands of credits. With an eighty percent tax on those goods Sussik is able to maintain its infrastructure.
“Which casinos do you think make more money?” She looked at Sera seriously. “The one’s that fairly compensate their employees, or the one’s that treat them as cattle?” Sera hadn’t considered the point.
“If the service staff is at least content and secure they are more likely to provide a better experience for their guests.
“So to answer your question humans who wish Sussik to maintain its relative autonomy. As Franka, I own the shop that Franka works out of.” She paused for a moment. “Is it exploitive to get a discount on his work? Probably, but I pay him well anyway.”
She did a turn in the mirror and smoothed her uniform one more time. “Fortunately Moff Rivise understands this.”
“I bet you also get a lot more assistance from well treated service workers when it comes to gathering black mail material.” Sera commented.
“You would be a fantastic ISB agent. To bad about those morals.” Candia smiled then kissed Sera on the cheek.
As the couple emerged from the building a patrol LAAT awaited them. Stormtroopers clad in their white armor stood on the either side of the access door.
The crew saluted her as her and Sera approached. Upon her return salute they climbed into the cockpit and readied the ship.
The Stormtroopers saluted and helped Dera into the back of the craft. Candia smiled at Sera’s discomfort. “Not something you expected when you registered your ship is it?”
Sera shook her head.
The two women sat at the back of the craft looking forward. They had keft the doors open so they could see the view. The noise and wind of flight were kept out by a shield generator built into the side of the craft.
It was dusk as the passed over the forested terrain. Glaciers in the planet’s ancient past had pushed and deposited the land into rolling hills and gently valleys. The orange light of Sussik’s star lit the ground from behind.
There were occasional clearings with small compounds of three or four buildings. A few had their lights on.
“Hunting lodges.” Candia told Sera.
“What sort of game do they hunt?” Sera suspected the answer.
“Mostly big game. Much of it is brought in from other planets. There is a rumor that someone brought in a Dathomiri rancor and died during the hunt.” She laughed. “If its true that would be quite a prize.”
Sera decided to let the question go. Candia had answered it tactfully enough to keep the peace.
The Moff’s Sussik residence was an organic style compound perched on one of the highest points in the region. From the air it was difficult to see how many buildings there were, or how large they were. Only the glow of lighting gave away the location of the buildings. The landing pad was the only open area that could bee seen from made out form a distance.
As the craft settled onto the landing pad Sera could see out over the forest. The lights of Port Black were visible in the distance. Their coherence was gone, and they seemed to mingle and pulse. She had never seen anything quite like it.
“Truly a spectacular sight.” Candia said.
A man in an impeccable uniform stood just clear of the landing craft. He was flanked by a man and woman in ornate non-Imperial uniforms. On his left stood a well-dressed blue Twi’lek woman. She carried a data pad but stood a little to close to be just an assistant.
The Stormtroopers debarked the LAAT and saluted the man.
He approached the transport and helped Sera down.
Candia Saluted him as she came down.
“Cothanian Brandy is hard to come by Colonel.” He didn’t take his eyes off of Sera.
Candia smiled. “My friend in the Free Captain’s Guild came through.”
She slipped her arm through Sera’s and took a couple of steps.
“Captain Wes, this is Moff Rivise, and his assistant Marina.” Candia introduced the group. Marina bowed her head quickly and smiled. Moff Rivise took her hand and kissed it the back of it.
“Where did you get that amazing dress?” Marina asked.
Hers was a similar cut and style but not nearly as intricate as Sera’s.
Candia answered. “Would you believe the things he has lying around his shop?”
“He’s such an artist.” Marina gushed.
As they entered the main building the Moff called for the steward. “Please have the table setting changed. Ms.”
“Captain.” Candia corrected
“Captain Wes should be seated on my left. The colonel will be next to her.”
The Miriallan Steward bowed his head slightly and hurried off.
“How did you come to be in the company of our esteemed Colonel?” He asked Sera. Candia could tell by his look that Sera needed to answer.
“I delivered the Brandy My Lord.” She told him.
“We don’t need to be so formal here. Please call me Lorent.”
As they walked they were greeted by multiple officials. Some where in Imperial Uniforms others wore ceremonial robes. A few wore formal business attire.
“Oh these gatherings are so dull.” Lorent commented as they emerged out onto a balcony that overlooked a massive table with seats for far fewer people than were at the party. There were other tables set near the walls of the ballroom.
Pleasant music drifted throughout the room from a small orchestra near the massive window that offered a similar view to the landing pad.
Sera found herself wondering if she would have attended parties like this if the Jedi Order had survived. Before the outbreak of the war she had found herself interested in consular duties and the instructors had tailored her training in that direction.
Candia pulled Sera’s chair out then sat herself after the Moff had done so.
He made grandiose toast filled with nonsense platitudes and Imperial Slogans.
Sera looked around the table. A few of the officials were escorted by Twi’leks.
“Moff.” An outspoken rotund man stood. He seemed indignant.
Lorent looked up with a bit of irritation.
“You are awfully close to these aliens, these servants. Are you sure they are not influencing your decisions and the day-to-day operations of this Sector?”
Candia leaned past Sera. “That is sub-minister Fife. Chief Minister Dobis of Sirrex 12 sent him in his stead.”
“Sub-Minister Fife, are you speaking on behalf of Sirrex 12? Or is this your personal feelings?”
“I speak on behalf of the Empire.” He responded pompously.
“Then I will need to forward the official message traffic endorsed by the Emperor or one of his representatives.”
Fife huffed loudly.
Lorent looked at Candia. The message was received.
“I will let Chief Minister Dobis know of your concerns.” Lorent, dismissed the official with a look. “Until then I suggest you return to your lodging and make arrangements for your return trip.”
Two people in the Rivise house uniform escorted the man out of the room.
The conversation at the table was light and pleasant. Sera almost forgot that she needed to be on guard.
The meal consisted of three courses and the brandy she had delivered was served along with a sweet dish.
Candia stood and whispered into Sera’s ear. “I have some business to attend to. I will leave you in the care of my good friend Admiral Blaine.” Sera’s heart stopped. Especially when she saw her mischievous smile.
“May I have this dance?” She recognized the voice immediately.
“I believe you to are acquainted.” Sera stood face to face with the man who saved her life.
“This must be quite a surprise.” The Admiral said. His face was a mask.
He led her to an area where several people were already dancing.
“It’s a shame your education never involved dancing.” He said as he gave her a quick talk-through of the dance everyone was doing.
“Thank you.” Sera looked into his eyes.
He didn’t respond. Sera understood that she shouldn’t press it further.
“Colonel Knort seems to have found herself quite a volatile companion.” He spoke after a moment of quiet.
“So it seems.” Sera agreed. “She likes to live dangerously.”
“I could say the same for you.” He twirled her for effect.
“As I recall, you prefer a more rugged look.” He stepped back and looked her over the stepped back towards her. “I would never have pictured you in such elegant attire.”
“Me neither.” Sera felt as though she were getting the hang of the simple dance.
“Did you know I was here?” Sera asked after a moment of quiet.
“I did. At least I suspected at first.” He answered. “Candia confirmed it for me.”
“I’m surprised you didn’t report me immediately.” Sera told him.
“Why would I do that?” He sounded a bit confused.
“I present a threat to the Empire.”
“Do you?” His question made Sera think.
“The people gathered in this room represent the biggest threat to the Empire.” His voice was quiet and held a bit of distaste.
“How so?” Sera wondered.
“That is conversation for another time my dear.” He looked past Sera.
“I believe our gracious host would like a few turns with you.” He passed her off to Lorent.
“Do you two know each other, Adious?” The Moff was curious but not suspicious. “It is not like you to consort like this.”
“Captain Wes had assisted us in the final battle of Ryvan.” Admiral Blaine excused himself before he had to explain further.
“Such distasteful times.” He said.
Sera was rather surprised at home time he spent praising Malina. She could tell he was deeply in love with her. She almost felt bad for him. In earlier times such a relationship would have been less fraught with trouble.
She was glad he stayed away from conversations about politics and the war.
They danced for several minutes then he broke off and let Candia take a turn.
Her mischievous smile had returned. “I probably should have warned you about Adious.”
“Is he important here?” Sera asked as she looked for him in the crowd.
“He is in charge of the Sector Fleet. You were aboard his flagship, the Gale Force.” She pulled Sera close.
“Do you think he’ll say anything?” Sera was still a bit concerned.
“I highly doubt it. You are a somewhat destabilizing presence. Bringing attention to you would bring undesirable attention.” Candia tried to comfort her.
“Does anyone else know? The Moff?”
“Unless Adious told anyone. There are only three of us.” Candia rested her head on Sera’s chest.
As the night wore on Sera noticed Candia getting a little more tense.
As they sat at the table Sera looked at her companion. “Something is bothering you.”
“I received intelligence of possible coup or assassination attempt. The details were not quite clear.” Candia confided.
“Do you think I am involved?” Sera was a bit concerned.
“The thought had crossed my mind. But there is too much evidence to the contrary.
“I don’t think Adious is either.”
Sera’s lekku twitched and she pushed Candia to the ground under the table.
An instant later there was a massive explosion that rocked the ballroom.
Sera heard the screams and cries of the wounded and survivors.
Candia cursed as she stood and looked around.
There was confusion and chaos everywhere.
Sera started giving orders and organizing those who were uninjured.
There was second explosion elsewhere in the compound. Rivise house troops rushed into the ballroom and went straight to Candia.
They spoke with her while she was busy so she couldn’t hear what they said.
Candia looked at Sera then the sergeant who had spoken to her. Have Captain Wes update you then send her my way.
Sera handed the rescue off to the young man and ran to Candia’s side.
“The Moff is in a safe room, but it is surrounded by troops in Sirrex militia uniforms. They have destroyed most of the transports. But he has a small shuttle in a secret hangar.
“I need you to pilot it.”
She handed Sera a hand drawn map to the hangar and wrote the code.
“Trooper, give her your blaster.” Candia ordered.
Before he could say anything, Sera took it and ran for the door.
She jumped back into the room a little to far to avoid the bolts from militia troopers outside who were preparing for an assault of the room.
“Alien scum.” One of them yelled.
“Prepare for an assault.” Sera called. “The door is a bottleneck. They can only get two in at a time.”
She stood against the wall on the left side of the door as the troopers in the ballroom readied for the assault.
The first two militia soldiers who ran through door were cut down before they could get to the railing. It took the militia another two waves to realize they needed another tactic.
She heard someone yelling order through the door then more blaster fire.
After a long moment of quiet Admiral Blaine entered the room and dropped a wounded militia soldier on the floor. Two Stormtroopers flanked him.
He looked at Sera and nodded.
The Stormtroopers led the group down the hall. Sera was between Candia and Admiral Blaine.
“Captain Wes.” Blaine caught up for a moment.
“The one on the right has comms issues.” He motioned that and fell back shortly after. she should be wary to cover their backs.
The group found a small knot of militia troopers near the bunker door. They had stopped firing and were planning how to get in.
Sub-minister Fife was yelling at them to get the door open.
Someone turned to yell at him and noticed the group. Candia shot him before he could speak up.
The Stormtrooper Blaine had indicated seemed to have a weapon malfunction as Candia and the other one shot the rest.
Fife reached for a blaster, but Sera was on top of him before he could grab it.
The right Stormtrooper fired at him, and Sera pushed him down before it could hit him. She took the bolt in her left arm.
“What are you doing?” Candia yelled.
“He was a threat” The trooper explained.
“He’s an asset.” Candia told him. “He was already subdued,”
Sera looked at Blaine. He nodded.
“ST-476 Take him.” Blaine ordered the one on the left.
Candia typed in the access code to the bunker. The Stormtrooper on the right readied his blaster. Sera stood behind him and Blaine covered their rear.
The second the door opened Sera pushed into the room with the force and swept everything left.
There was an oof from inside and two bolts hit the wall behind where the Moff and Malina had stood an instant before.
Sera grabbed the Stormtrooper from behind and put the crook of her elbow between the helmet and chest plate and squeezed until he collapsed.
Candia ran in first to check on the Moff. Sera stepped in next, dragging the trooper. The other trooper followed with Fife. Then Blaine, who closed the door.
Melina had stripped down to a body glove and was armed with a blaster. The Moff was on the ground. His right arm had a blaster burn.
“Helmet off trooper.” Blaine ordered.
As ordered, he did. Candia looked at the small data pad she carried and confirmed his identity.
“Where did you find this trash?” Candia asked as she pointed at the unconscious man in armor.
“He joined me as we were responding to the explosion.” The trooper looked confused.
Blaine rolled him over with his foot and took off his helmet. Candia looked at the data pad and confirmed he was wearing stolen armor.
Fife grumbled. “In league with the filthy aliens.”
He looked at the Stormtrooper. “Why do you tolerate this?”
Sera tightened her grip on her blaster.
“Because sometimes duty requires it.” He responded. “The alien helped protect an Imperial Official you intended to kill.”
Sera prepped the shuttle as everyone was loaded aboard. The fake trooper was striped and bound. Fife was cuffed and gagged. Malina treated the Moff’s injury.
Candia sat on Blaine’s desk and sipped from a glass.
She watched Sera. “Why did you do?” She asked after a while.
“Do what?” Sera wasn’t sure what she meant.
“All of this.” She paused. “You saved my life. You risked yours for someone who would turn you over to the authorities in heartbeat if he knew the truth.”
Sera looked at Blaine. His face a as passive as usual.
“You could have walked away.” She finished.
Sera shrugged. “I can’t answer your question.”
Blaine chuckled. “I was part of the Judicial Fleet and I had the opportunity to work with a few Jedi.” He regarded the glass he was holding. “One wise master once told me that the Force flows through everything and that they find themselves subject to its whim.” He swallowed what was left and put his feet on his desk.
“Do you really believe in all of that hocus pocus space magic Admiral?” Candia asked.
“Officially no.” He closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair.
The room was quiet for several minutes. “You had the respect of a lot of clones. Including the one killed on the bridge.” He sat up and looked at Sera. “He spoke very highly of you. He told me you would have made a good general.”
He stood and poured another glass. “I read the reports from Ryvan. The Block 10 Revolt.
“You infuriated the garrison commander so much that he almost destroyed the entire hab from orbit.”
He paused for a moment and looked at Candia. “I would give ten of the Officers they churn out for one of you.”
Sera crossed her arms.
“I would kill to have you working for me.” He shook his head. “If circumstances were different, we would never come into conflict.” He sat back down.
He looked at Sera laughed out loud. “Very few of my men could have done what you did in armor. Much less a ball gown.”
Sera looked at the sleeve where the blaster bolt had hot her.
“Franka will be mad.” Sera said.
“Franka will be ecstatic. When people find out his garment was involved in the rescue of a Moff, he’ll have to hire more people to help him.” Candia assured her.
“I don’t want my identity released.” Sera told her.
Candia laughed. “That is the last thing we want.”
Sera like the sweet, sharp smell of Candia’s apartment. She almost wished she could stay, but they both knew it wouldn’t be good.
Candia was looking over a data pad while sipping tea.
She looked up at Sera and smiled. “Goodness, I’m going to miss you.”
“Thank you for everything.” Sera responded.
“Franka brought something by while you were bathing.” She led Sera to a clothing box.
She held up a black leather jacket with a lilac colored songbird on the back.
Under the jacket was ball gown, mended and neatly folded.
“I have an offer for you.” She laid the data pad on the counter and walked to Sera.
After wrapping her arms around the Twi’lek and resting her head on her back.
Sera put her obvious cybernetic hands on Candia’s.
“I know you won’t want to be one of my spies. And I respect you too much to make you. But I would like you to be my personal courier.”
Sera smiled and turned. "All the better to keep tabs on me."
Candia laughed. "That too."