Darth Vegas
03-23-2003, 04:23 PM
This is the first part of a story I've been working on for the past couple years, mapping out the entire saga, eventually it'll be a huge archive of stories, this is just the first part to get it going, and it's in the still in making, your feedback is welcome in the discussion thread >>>here<<< (http://www.galacticsenate.com/index.php?act=ST&f=11&t=4074)......
<span style="color:royalblue"><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:100%">A LONG TIME AGO IN A GALAXY FAR FAR AWAY....</span></span>
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Chapter 1
Sitting for hours on the ship that carried them, the two Jedi Knights, Kaesheen Tae-Yor and Raiyne Vihnla, stood over a gaming table in the ships galley playing a game of Xoluran, a game of strategy from their home system of Risiang 5, named after the planets most famous general. The game consisted of a large holoboard, and the men placed their equal armies across from each other, positioning them for an attack.
The ship galley was quiet large, with a bar on the starboard side, a large holoscreen with a holonet connection. And plenty of seats for guests, it was quiet luxorious.
The two Jedi were great friends, both were born into the royal house of Risiang and were the only two that could carry on the family line, but both had been trained in the Jedi Temple on Coruscant since birth giving up their right to be the heir to the throne, the families freely gave their children up, at the height of Risiang V's planetary revolution, which was nothing more than a blood feud. Since then the planet had been ruled by the nobles and the governors.
In their youth they trained under the wise guidance of the Zabrak Jedi Master Zohhjn Roontha, until they were both were given to be trained with their own masters. They fought together in many battles, and were the youngest Jedi to ever reach the rank of Knight.
It was just around the end of their flight, and a small beeping noise came from the cockpit, alarming them that they had finally reached their destination. The Jedi stood and walked into the cockpit, taking their seats behind the pilots chair, as the ZX-25 class Corellian freighter come out of hyperspace and the notorious planet Nal Hutta came into view. The planet was well known to be the center of the Hutt's criminal empire, and the Republic was taking every precaution on the sensitive mission to assure success. Even hiring a known offender, the former smuggler Hiram Kennsen, to escort the Republic's agents, to the planet.
His ship was sure to get pass their checks, and he was trusted enough from his part in other previous Republic missions, this mission to capture the war lord Gorgo the Hutt would all work out, if everything went as planned.
As the ship approached it's landing site, the com chimed in, and on the holographic transceiver a Rodian male appeared on the pilots station in the viewer, the Rodian spoke in Huttese, "Pilot, landing will progress when we have identified you, shut down your engines and stand by for scanning."
"Understood." Hiram answered.
With that the ship was pulled in by a tractor beam to the checking station, which floated above the clouds on a large repulsarlift, when the ship was brought near enough the check station sent out a large maneuvering arm which grabbed the ship and perfectly fitted around it, all the traffic on Nal Hutta had to go through these check points upon on their arrival, and it wasn't often they we're turned away, cause' no one was crazy enough to try to infiltrate the Hutt's organization, not on this planet anyway.
"Freighter you are clear to proceed." The Rodian confirmed.
The freighter continued it's course and approached a tall building, thousands of stories tall, which served as a home to thousands as well as a hang out for the Hutt's gang. Hiram approached the docking bay as the hangar doors opened, the ship slowly descended as thrusters worked to slow the crafts trajectory, with a slight bump the ship came to a safe landing.
The ZX-25 was the only craft in the hangar, save Gorgo's personnel transport, this was his vacation spot, and it was sure to be well guarded, Hiram had come to be well known among Gorgo's circle after numerous smuggling runs, and after saving his life from a group of Republic extremists, the rest of the guests had paid to get in. But the Hutt was well aware of Hiram's Republic activities, he trusted him anyway however, but not completely.
Hiram stood up from the pilot seat and whipped the sweat off of his brow, and walked out of the cockpit following the Jedi into the galley as they prepared to unboard.
Hiram pressed a button to the side of the door, and opened the side hatch as the ramp slid unto the floor. The two Jedi wearing ponchos over their regular Jedi tunics if you call that a disguise, followed him out of the hangar.
The hangar was quiet large with space for up to ten or more large vessels including a bay for incoming frieghters to drop their supplies. Several droids worked to shine the floor of the hangar as technitions and mechanics worked on Gorgo's ship.
The three of them walked away from the ship and toward the large metallic hangar doors, which opened immediately as they walked forward, two huge Gran's stood outside of the door guarding, heavily armored, and wielding large repeater blasters. The guards didn't give any trouble as the group walked on by, but they grunted and shared their dirty looks.
They continued down the poorly lighted hallway towards the club, from the distance they could hear the band playing, they could hear people making their bets on the Podraces, playing games of uricube and dejaric, hundreds of alien voices, quiet a crowd in their, and these three were sure to blend right in.
When they reached the club there was a large neon sign and a clear glass door, which slid open freely as they entered, they glanced around the large club, there were beautiful dancers in cages hanging from the cealing, neon lights flashed all about the club, there was a heavy mist in the air amongst the rather large crowd of people of all shapes and sizes. The bar stood a few meters away from the front entrance, several server droids stood behind it making drinks for a great number of customers.
Kaesheen, Raiyne, and Hiram were careful to check out where the guards were stationed, adjacent from the entrance there were two stationed on each side of the door leading to Gorgo's private room, and two at every other door on each side of the room save for the rounded off section of the back, making for a total of 8. The guards were all dressed in dark blue tunics, with black armor covering over and sleek black helmets with a t shaped viewing port on the front. They carried tasor staffs and small blasters pistols as a side arm.
Kaesheen continued to scope things, concentrating on the Force, looking forward to the future and yet keeping his mind in the present, as Hiram took a look at the sports booth, and Raiyne walked up to the bar, taking a seat next to a Duro spacer, and an incredibly smelly Trandoshan.
A very attractive young female Twi'lek tended the bar, her skin was light red, with bright orange spots and stripes, and her leku laid over her shoulders. "What can I get ya' hunny?" the bartender leaned on the bar looking at Raiyne. "I'll take a glass of Corellian Ale, atomized not fizzed." The bartender turned away to make the drink, "You got it shuug."
Almost everyone carried blasters, and small vibroblades, Kaesheen noticed as he continued looking around, an incredible variety of beings, you'd think everyone of them would need a translator.
The band continued to play accompanied by a group of exotic female dancers, across from the bar people placed their bets on the Podraces, sitting at the booth as they watched them on a large closed circuit viewer.
Over in the corner, a Wookiee, a Devaronian, and two Dugs played a game of Dejaric, which soon turned violent, the band stopped playing and the crowd cleared out of the way and looked at the site as the Wookiee, angered at his loss, stood up knocked the table over, which fell on top of the Devaronian, and continued his rage, picking up one of the dugs by the neck and throwing him against the wall, landing with a loud crash.
The Wookiee reached down and grabbed the credits, pushing his way through the crowd as he tried to get away, but he soon stopped by Gorgo's elite guards who after striking him with their staffs cuffed him and escorted him forcefully through the back door. "This is not going to be easy" Kaesheen said to himself, remarking at how the two guards were able to restrain a full grown Wookiee so easily.
The band continued to play, and the customers returned to their games, and their drinks, they were used to that sort of thing happening, which is probably why most of them were armed.
Hiram walked away from the booth and took notice of a prominent Bothan dressed in expensive shimmersilk, he recognized the Bothan as Gorgo's aide, Zig Ziglar. He sat away from the crowd in a dark corner with two young female Twi-leks.
He approached the man, drawing his attention away from his conversation, "What's it take to get in there?" Hiram pointed towards Gorgo's main audience chamber, hand on his blaster ready to take it from the holster. The Bothan answered quickly, "Well without the proper connections, it would probably take the whole of the Republic army." "And do you have those connections?" Hiram interrogated. "Well that depends, credits, how much you got on ya'?" "I got enough to get me by, but it's not of your concern. Now are you gonna let me in?" Hiram suggested grabbing Zig by the cloak and pulling him up, with his blaster pointed right at the Bothan's chest.
The Bothan gave him a look, and shook away, he reached into his satchel, giving the girls a handful of credits each to spend. "Why don't you go play for a while girls?" The Bothan gently suggested as the Twileks gleefully ran off "Daddies got a little business to attend to."
Turning to Hiram Zig explained, "Now don't try anything funny, I get you in, but when Gorgo wants you gone, he'll make ya'." "I perfectly understand." Hirram retorted, a sharp sarcastic tone in his voice.
Hiram followed the Bothan up to the door, and the Bothan typed in a key code on the control panel, Hiram was unable to get a look at the code as the Bothan carefully blocked his view. The door opened and the two of them entered, Hiram clicked his comlink, signaling to the Jedi that he was in.
The Bothan walked up to the Hutt whispering in his ear, Hiram noticed a man standing behind Gorgo, dressed in Mandalorian armor, surely one the most skilled warriors in the galaxy, Hiram looked him down, and the man nodded. "My lord." Zig said, waking the Hutt from his slumber, "You have a visitor, the renowned Hiram Kennsen." The Hutt remained relaxed and looked over at Hiram and spoke in Huttese.
"Bo shudda!" The Hutt boomed. "Greetings from afar Gorgo, long time no see." "Uh Hiram my boy, it has been some time! What brings you out here?" the Hutt questioned. Hiram hadn't thought of what to say before, but he sounded convincing enough, "I've been workin' for a group of pirates out in the Zoolum system, we we're interested in purchasing arms and some vehicles, and we knew just who come to." The Bothan stood at Gorgo's side, looking very skeptical. The Hutt laughed, "That can be arranged, anything for my greatest smuggler, for the right price of course. For now, enjoy the festivities, we will discuss this later."
Kaesheen and Raiyne quickly exited through the back entrance after receiving the signal, stealthily sneaking there way through the dark alley and around the corner, lightsabers in hand prepared to strike. They knew they were sure to run into Gorgo's security forces out there.
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After walking a short distance the two of them stopped, spotting a guard nearby turned away from them, Raiyne stayed hidden behind, as Kaesheen walked completely unnoticed behind the guard. He quickly grabbed him, placing his right arm over the guards throat and pressing, knocking him out cold. Kaesheen looked around the area and then raised his hand, motioning for Raiyne to follow him.
They continued down the alley, noticing that it was littered with garbage, huge womp rats scavenged for what little food they could find, the stench out there was almost unbearable.
Kaesheen and Raiyne stopped in their tracks, and reached out with the Force, to get a feeling of their surroundings.
Something wasn't right.
Just as they sensed the disturbance two of Gorgo's elite guards jumped down from the roof behind the Jedi knocking them on the ground. Kaesheen lost his lightsaber in the process, and Raiyne quickly got back up and wrestled with two guards, until Kaesheen got back up and jumped in air, kicking one of the guards square in the chest, knocking him against the wall.
Kaesheen reached out with his right hand, calling his lightsaber to him with the Force, and at once the two Jedi activated their lightsabers, the blue and green blades humming to life.
The guards took their stance and fought, but Kaesheen's green blade cut the first guards staff down like butter and he then cut his arm off as the guard reached for his blaster, a fountain of sparks sprayed from the blow.
The other guard turned to strike, but instead dodged Raiyne's lightsaber ducking out of the way, and leading off of his left foot, turn and ran off as fast as he could dropping his staff as he went off, calling for backup on his wrist communicator.
The guard reached the lighted end of the alley quickly, the two Jedi chased closely from behind. With little thought Raiyne reached out his palm, and with the Force sent a wave of energy knocking the guard onto the ground, but it was too late the guard had activated the alarm and several more elites surrounded the Jedi very quickly. "Give it up Jedi, you're out numbered, you don't stand a chance." One of them spoke forth, clearly their leader, designated by the red streaks across the shoulders of his black armor.
The guards circled around them, the Jedi stared them down straight on, and without a reply jumped several feet in the air just as the guards moved in to attack, flipping, and slicing down two of the guards, one of them fell wounded at the chest, the others head rolled across the ground.
The Jedi landed on their feet, and the fighting continued, a guard raised his staff to strike Raiyne over the head, Raiyne cut the staff down, swinging his lightsaber, and cut the guard's hand off with it.
Three more guards rushed towards him, and with his palm stretched out, he sent them over the ledge, and he thought he could here the thump as their bodies crashed into the air traffic.
Kaesheen continued fighting, flipping in the air, and swinging a nice round house, he sent several guards against the wall, he landed on his feet, and swung his saber around, cutting down two more of them.
Raiyne and Kaesheen stood back to back, fighting off the rest of the guards, two of the younger recruits ran off, and the Jedi took cover back in the shadows.
They should have been afraid of the authorities finding the mess, but those womp rats were well taking care of it.
Winded, they rested for a short while before continuing on. "That was a close one, we'd better be on the move, there's sure to be more of them." Kaesheen insisted. He caught sight of a ladder nearby leading to the roof, and the two made their way up. They walked up to the ventilation shaft, and entered in making their way through
The com chimed in, it was Hiram, "What's going on with you guys!?" Hiram demanded. "We got into a little trouble." Raiyne informed him keeping it short. "No worries, our cover hasn't been blown, we were in the shadows, and no one was left alive, or at least conscious to tell anyone about us, they didn't get a good look at us. We're in the ventilation shaft right now, we appear to be right above the kitchen." I can see your signal on my palm viewer, just go a little bit ahead and you'll reach a small empty room, you can go in their and enter the room unnoticed." "Sounds like a plan." Kaesheen said, putting his comlink away.
They continued down the shaft until they reached the room, and pushed on the cover, and the two Jedi jumped down into the room checking things out.
The room was pitch black save for a blue light glow at the end of the hallway. There were cameras and blaster cannons mounted everywhere along with a high tech sensory system, this was not going to be easy.
Kaesheen reached up closing the vent and the Jedi swiftly and quietly made their way down the hallway. Hiram led them through speaking to them through the comlink, "All right, when you reach the end of the hallway there'll be a door, enter it and go into the next room, in the next room over you'll find a holomap of the complex, make a copy of the archive, cause you'll need it for the rest of the operation. After you retrieve the map, I'll meet up with you. Try to keep out of view and away from the sensors." Kaesheen uttered a simple "Understood." and clipped the comlink back on his utility belt.
When they reached the door it slid open and led them down another dark corridor until they reached the computer room.
Sitting not far from the engineer's work area was the holomap glowing brightly blue, a complete schematic of the building. Raiyne took out his portable transceiver and scanned the data and uploaded it into the viewer, "There's no turning back now." Raiyne muttered under his breath just as Hiram chimed in on the com again.
"Alright, have you got it?" he asked keeping his voice down, attempting to conceal the com from the other patrons. Kaesheen answered him, "Yeah no problem, but I think they might be onto us, I just got that feeling, we'd better get this show going and fast, we'll meet you at the check point." "I'll see you shortly." Hiram said with a strong hint of doubt in his voice. "Don't worry, the Force is with us, we'll make it out of here alive."
Hiram placed the com back in his satchel and returned to his drink and the crowed, just across from him in the crowd a Weequay stood leaning against a table, shooting down shot after shot of Huzkha venom, a powerful whiskey brewed on Nar Shadda, the smugglers moon.
He was talking with two squibs who kept eyeballing Hiram and whispering among themselves like they could sense that something was going down. The mission wasn't going as planned, the Jedi had been stalled back in the alley and the mission was nearly compromised, and now this.
One of Gorgo's dancers walked over from the bar and approached him, and spoke in her small sultry voiced, "You lookin' for a good time?" "Not around here, I'm here on business with the big boss." Hiram explained. "Yeah I'm sure you are toots, you got the look on ya' that you're up to no good, I'd watch yourself if I was you, those punks over there are looking forward to picking a fight." "I'll just have to be careful then." he finished the conversation, slurping down the rest of his ale. The girl smiled at him at turned away, walking up to the next potential customer.
Hiram threw the glass on the bar and turned to walk out of the area, concealed by the heavy amount of people, he remained unnoticed as he walked away, the Weequay and those two squibs lost sight of him as walked out onto the balcony concealed by the night. The party was about to end, and the mission was about to come through, or utterly fail, he had to get to those Jedi and quick.
Just down from the balcony was a short ledge and their was an open window, Hiram carefully jumped down, almost losing his balance and his life, as he slipped, barely grabbing onto the window seal and climbing in. Like the rest of the palace, the room wasn't very well lit, he caught sight of the door and waked up to it, it was locked.
He reached into his satchel and took the com link out.
"Jedi I'm on my way, but I gotta problem, the door here is locked, it'll take a while to get it open, a couple a' thugs got the beat on me, they know something's cooking, we gotta get this done FAST!" Hiram shouted. The return came back shortly after, "Yeah well we got trouble of our own, this isn't going all according to the plan, but don't worry the Force is with us, well make it out of here alive." "Yeah that's what you said last time." Hiram sighed to himself putting the comlink away.
Kaesheen and Raiyne kept a distance from each other, trying to stay out of view of the surveillance systems they moved down the hallway slowly and as careful as could be, and turned to walk down the next corridor that would lead them the control room.
Several sensory lasers flickered here and there across the ground picking up even the slightest movement. Camera's and blaster turret's hung from the ceiling, ready to shoot at anything and everything that moved.
Raiyne took something off of is utility belt, small little capsule that he threw across the way. Instantaneously the object was disintegrated as a blaster bolt that hit it precisely. But there seemed to be a pattern to the sensors, the laser would flicker once in one area, and then jump back twice randomly.
Both of the Jedi noticed this, and with precision they ran and they flipped down the hallway, they were careful not to hit the sensors, but at the very end, Raiyne made a slight miscalculation and his hand landed right in the wrong spot, alarming the sensors.
Without a thought the two Jedi ran as fast as they could, as the turrets poured fire toward them. They were lucky to make it out, but they couldn't afford that mistake, Gorgo's thugs would be after them in no time.
Kaesheen looked over at the holomap, noticing how close they were to the control room, it was just down the hallway, Kaesheen took out his comlink calling Hiram in, "Hiram are you there? What's going on?" Hiram did not answer. And just then a door opened at the end of the hallway, and at least twenty guards came down the hall heavy blasters out and firing at the two Jedi.
Just before the blaster bolts arrived the Jedi had their lightsabers out deflecting the shots back at the guards, missing most of them but hitting a few, but there armor took the brunt of the blow, the Jedi kept deflecting the bolts facing towards their adversaries, when they reached the door to find it locked, and Raiyne held off the blaster fire as Kaesheen wired the control panel, when the door opened the Jedi jumped in and the door closed behind them, Kaesheen gently welded the door and the wall together with his lightsaber, and stabbed his blade into the control panel with a shimmer of sparks. They were safe behind the door for the time being.
By this time the party guests had departed, and Hiram managed to open the door cutting through the locking mechanism with a vibroblade, badly dulling it in the process, he continued down the hall until the com chimed again. "Hiram are you there?" Raiyne's voice came through. "Yeah I made it past that door, but there's no way I'm gonna make it past all those guards, I'll have to find another way, back out on the ledge." "Alright but be careful." The voice diminished.
Hiram carefully climbed back out of the nearest window, if he managed to get across the ledge he'd be right into the control room. He carefully stood on the ledge pushing his body against the cold steel. He pulled out two grasping claws from his satchel and dug them into the wall as he moved along, it was windy out there, and without those he might have fell off.
Hiram was just outside the window, when back out of the window where he just had came from, several blaster bolts blazed towards him, one of shots hit his hand, and he dropped the grasping claw.
He barely hung onto the wall with he other claw, and just as several more shots came towards him, the control room window opened, and Kaesheen let out his hand, helping Hiram in.
"That was a close one there, thanks Jedi, I owe you one." Hiram said thankfully.
"Open up in there!" a guard demanded banging on the door.
"Well no worries, we gotta get this done fast, the computer console is right over there." Kaesheen said pointing towards it. "We gotta get there power shut down. I'll set some charges to create a diversion, and hopefully take out those guards, we'd better stay clear of that door."
Hiram wrapped his hand in a bandage, and took out a disk placing it into the console, he could really have used an R2 unit, but he successfully uploaded the virus and at once, the power was out, several guards shot at the door desperately trying to break it open, as Kaesheen set the charge, and the three of them jumped behind the desk as the door blaster away into the hallway, spouting sparks and filling the hallway with smoke, the guards screamed in agony at the pain, most of them had been disabled by the blast but several of them had remained away from the door.
Kaesheen and Raiyne got up first activating their lightsabers, jumping out into the hallway deflecting every blaster bolt that came their way, running towards the guards, as Hiram stayed behind them taking out his blaster and shooting at the gaurds hitting two of them who fell dead in a heap of sparks and smoke.
Kaesheen and Raiyne, were gaining onto the guards who were coming in more rapidly, they had to outnumbered at least five to one.
Kaesheen rolled across the ground dodging several bolts, as he jump back onto his feet, and took a swing at a guard, cutting off his hand still clenched to his blaster, Raiyne continued to deflect more bolts, and sent several more guards to their deaths, as Hiram carefully aimed his blaster pistol.
It was long before the guards stopped coming and the last of them were finished off, with the power down, Hiram, Kaesheen and Raiyne kept a look at the holomap as they found their way back to the main audience chamber, they reached the entrance only to find a Mandalorian warrior, waiting for them, the one Hiram had seen standing by Gorgo earlier.
The Mandalorian stood motionless his arms at his side, when suddenly from his knuckles on each hand protruded two yellow blades, just as Jedi's lightsaber, the Mandalorian raged for ward like a reek as attacking the Jedi blocking each of their strikes with his lightsaber claws, moving at super speed, the Mandalorian managed to draw Kaesheen and Raiyne into the chamber, where Gorgo stayed watching from afar.
At once the power came back and the door closed leaving Hiram behind it, the Mandalorian kept fighting until several elites entered the room holding their tasor staffs out "Don't even think about it Jedi." The Mandalorian said pointing the blades toward him. The guards approached the Jedi, forcing Kaesheen to his knees taking his lightsaber, but Raiyne kept his blade out and continued to fight the Mandalorian, clearly trained in the Jedi arts. Their fight continued out onto the balcony as Kaesheen forced himself back up, pulling the staff away from the guard who took his lightsaber and stabbing him clear through the chest, as blood squirted everywhere, the Jedi reached for his lightsaber, but when he went to activate it several of the guards struck him with their staffs sending electricity flowing through him as he twitched on the ground.
The door opened, and several guards entered with Hiram bound and gagged. Kaesheen tried to get back up but a guard struck his staff hard against his face knocking him out.
Out on the balcony Raiyne continued to duel with the warrior.
He struck to the left at the Mandalorians head, missing completely, but then to the right, he swung down upon his hand, destroying his weapon that hand, but as he did that, the Mandalorian stabbed him in the stomach with his other set, and pushed him over the ledge. Raiyne fell several feet before landing in the garbage dump below.
The warrior returned to the main audience chamber and looked over at the Hutt who laughed menacingly and spoke in Huttesse, "Leave them in the dungeon to die, we'late for our flight."
With that the Hutt squirmed across the floor followed by his mysterious warrior.
<span style="color:royalblue"><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:100%">A LONG TIME AGO IN A GALAXY FAR FAR AWAY....</span></span>
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Chapter 1
Sitting for hours on the ship that carried them, the two Jedi Knights, Kaesheen Tae-Yor and Raiyne Vihnla, stood over a gaming table in the ships galley playing a game of Xoluran, a game of strategy from their home system of Risiang 5, named after the planets most famous general. The game consisted of a large holoboard, and the men placed their equal armies across from each other, positioning them for an attack.
The ship galley was quiet large, with a bar on the starboard side, a large holoscreen with a holonet connection. And plenty of seats for guests, it was quiet luxorious.
The two Jedi were great friends, both were born into the royal house of Risiang and were the only two that could carry on the family line, but both had been trained in the Jedi Temple on Coruscant since birth giving up their right to be the heir to the throne, the families freely gave their children up, at the height of Risiang V's planetary revolution, which was nothing more than a blood feud. Since then the planet had been ruled by the nobles and the governors.
In their youth they trained under the wise guidance of the Zabrak Jedi Master Zohhjn Roontha, until they were both were given to be trained with their own masters. They fought together in many battles, and were the youngest Jedi to ever reach the rank of Knight.
It was just around the end of their flight, and a small beeping noise came from the cockpit, alarming them that they had finally reached their destination. The Jedi stood and walked into the cockpit, taking their seats behind the pilots chair, as the ZX-25 class Corellian freighter come out of hyperspace and the notorious planet Nal Hutta came into view. The planet was well known to be the center of the Hutt's criminal empire, and the Republic was taking every precaution on the sensitive mission to assure success. Even hiring a known offender, the former smuggler Hiram Kennsen, to escort the Republic's agents, to the planet.
His ship was sure to get pass their checks, and he was trusted enough from his part in other previous Republic missions, this mission to capture the war lord Gorgo the Hutt would all work out, if everything went as planned.
As the ship approached it's landing site, the com chimed in, and on the holographic transceiver a Rodian male appeared on the pilots station in the viewer, the Rodian spoke in Huttese, "Pilot, landing will progress when we have identified you, shut down your engines and stand by for scanning."
"Understood." Hiram answered.
With that the ship was pulled in by a tractor beam to the checking station, which floated above the clouds on a large repulsarlift, when the ship was brought near enough the check station sent out a large maneuvering arm which grabbed the ship and perfectly fitted around it, all the traffic on Nal Hutta had to go through these check points upon on their arrival, and it wasn't often they we're turned away, cause' no one was crazy enough to try to infiltrate the Hutt's organization, not on this planet anyway.
"Freighter you are clear to proceed." The Rodian confirmed.
The freighter continued it's course and approached a tall building, thousands of stories tall, which served as a home to thousands as well as a hang out for the Hutt's gang. Hiram approached the docking bay as the hangar doors opened, the ship slowly descended as thrusters worked to slow the crafts trajectory, with a slight bump the ship came to a safe landing.
The ZX-25 was the only craft in the hangar, save Gorgo's personnel transport, this was his vacation spot, and it was sure to be well guarded, Hiram had come to be well known among Gorgo's circle after numerous smuggling runs, and after saving his life from a group of Republic extremists, the rest of the guests had paid to get in. But the Hutt was well aware of Hiram's Republic activities, he trusted him anyway however, but not completely.
Hiram stood up from the pilot seat and whipped the sweat off of his brow, and walked out of the cockpit following the Jedi into the galley as they prepared to unboard.
Hiram pressed a button to the side of the door, and opened the side hatch as the ramp slid unto the floor. The two Jedi wearing ponchos over their regular Jedi tunics if you call that a disguise, followed him out of the hangar.
The hangar was quiet large with space for up to ten or more large vessels including a bay for incoming frieghters to drop their supplies. Several droids worked to shine the floor of the hangar as technitions and mechanics worked on Gorgo's ship.
The three of them walked away from the ship and toward the large metallic hangar doors, which opened immediately as they walked forward, two huge Gran's stood outside of the door guarding, heavily armored, and wielding large repeater blasters. The guards didn't give any trouble as the group walked on by, but they grunted and shared their dirty looks.
They continued down the poorly lighted hallway towards the club, from the distance they could hear the band playing, they could hear people making their bets on the Podraces, playing games of uricube and dejaric, hundreds of alien voices, quiet a crowd in their, and these three were sure to blend right in.
When they reached the club there was a large neon sign and a clear glass door, which slid open freely as they entered, they glanced around the large club, there were beautiful dancers in cages hanging from the cealing, neon lights flashed all about the club, there was a heavy mist in the air amongst the rather large crowd of people of all shapes and sizes. The bar stood a few meters away from the front entrance, several server droids stood behind it making drinks for a great number of customers.
Kaesheen, Raiyne, and Hiram were careful to check out where the guards were stationed, adjacent from the entrance there were two stationed on each side of the door leading to Gorgo's private room, and two at every other door on each side of the room save for the rounded off section of the back, making for a total of 8. The guards were all dressed in dark blue tunics, with black armor covering over and sleek black helmets with a t shaped viewing port on the front. They carried tasor staffs and small blasters pistols as a side arm.
Kaesheen continued to scope things, concentrating on the Force, looking forward to the future and yet keeping his mind in the present, as Hiram took a look at the sports booth, and Raiyne walked up to the bar, taking a seat next to a Duro spacer, and an incredibly smelly Trandoshan.
A very attractive young female Twi'lek tended the bar, her skin was light red, with bright orange spots and stripes, and her leku laid over her shoulders. "What can I get ya' hunny?" the bartender leaned on the bar looking at Raiyne. "I'll take a glass of Corellian Ale, atomized not fizzed." The bartender turned away to make the drink, "You got it shuug."
Almost everyone carried blasters, and small vibroblades, Kaesheen noticed as he continued looking around, an incredible variety of beings, you'd think everyone of them would need a translator.
The band continued to play accompanied by a group of exotic female dancers, across from the bar people placed their bets on the Podraces, sitting at the booth as they watched them on a large closed circuit viewer.
Over in the corner, a Wookiee, a Devaronian, and two Dugs played a game of Dejaric, which soon turned violent, the band stopped playing and the crowd cleared out of the way and looked at the site as the Wookiee, angered at his loss, stood up knocked the table over, which fell on top of the Devaronian, and continued his rage, picking up one of the dugs by the neck and throwing him against the wall, landing with a loud crash.
The Wookiee reached down and grabbed the credits, pushing his way through the crowd as he tried to get away, but he soon stopped by Gorgo's elite guards who after striking him with their staffs cuffed him and escorted him forcefully through the back door. "This is not going to be easy" Kaesheen said to himself, remarking at how the two guards were able to restrain a full grown Wookiee so easily.
The band continued to play, and the customers returned to their games, and their drinks, they were used to that sort of thing happening, which is probably why most of them were armed.
Hiram walked away from the booth and took notice of a prominent Bothan dressed in expensive shimmersilk, he recognized the Bothan as Gorgo's aide, Zig Ziglar. He sat away from the crowd in a dark corner with two young female Twi-leks.
He approached the man, drawing his attention away from his conversation, "What's it take to get in there?" Hiram pointed towards Gorgo's main audience chamber, hand on his blaster ready to take it from the holster. The Bothan answered quickly, "Well without the proper connections, it would probably take the whole of the Republic army." "And do you have those connections?" Hiram interrogated. "Well that depends, credits, how much you got on ya'?" "I got enough to get me by, but it's not of your concern. Now are you gonna let me in?" Hiram suggested grabbing Zig by the cloak and pulling him up, with his blaster pointed right at the Bothan's chest.
The Bothan gave him a look, and shook away, he reached into his satchel, giving the girls a handful of credits each to spend. "Why don't you go play for a while girls?" The Bothan gently suggested as the Twileks gleefully ran off "Daddies got a little business to attend to."
Turning to Hiram Zig explained, "Now don't try anything funny, I get you in, but when Gorgo wants you gone, he'll make ya'." "I perfectly understand." Hirram retorted, a sharp sarcastic tone in his voice.
Hiram followed the Bothan up to the door, and the Bothan typed in a key code on the control panel, Hiram was unable to get a look at the code as the Bothan carefully blocked his view. The door opened and the two of them entered, Hiram clicked his comlink, signaling to the Jedi that he was in.
The Bothan walked up to the Hutt whispering in his ear, Hiram noticed a man standing behind Gorgo, dressed in Mandalorian armor, surely one the most skilled warriors in the galaxy, Hiram looked him down, and the man nodded. "My lord." Zig said, waking the Hutt from his slumber, "You have a visitor, the renowned Hiram Kennsen." The Hutt remained relaxed and looked over at Hiram and spoke in Huttese.
"Bo shudda!" The Hutt boomed. "Greetings from afar Gorgo, long time no see." "Uh Hiram my boy, it has been some time! What brings you out here?" the Hutt questioned. Hiram hadn't thought of what to say before, but he sounded convincing enough, "I've been workin' for a group of pirates out in the Zoolum system, we we're interested in purchasing arms and some vehicles, and we knew just who come to." The Bothan stood at Gorgo's side, looking very skeptical. The Hutt laughed, "That can be arranged, anything for my greatest smuggler, for the right price of course. For now, enjoy the festivities, we will discuss this later."
Kaesheen and Raiyne quickly exited through the back entrance after receiving the signal, stealthily sneaking there way through the dark alley and around the corner, lightsabers in hand prepared to strike. They knew they were sure to run into Gorgo's security forces out there.
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After walking a short distance the two of them stopped, spotting a guard nearby turned away from them, Raiyne stayed hidden behind, as Kaesheen walked completely unnoticed behind the guard. He quickly grabbed him, placing his right arm over the guards throat and pressing, knocking him out cold. Kaesheen looked around the area and then raised his hand, motioning for Raiyne to follow him.
They continued down the alley, noticing that it was littered with garbage, huge womp rats scavenged for what little food they could find, the stench out there was almost unbearable.
Kaesheen and Raiyne stopped in their tracks, and reached out with the Force, to get a feeling of their surroundings.
Something wasn't right.
Just as they sensed the disturbance two of Gorgo's elite guards jumped down from the roof behind the Jedi knocking them on the ground. Kaesheen lost his lightsaber in the process, and Raiyne quickly got back up and wrestled with two guards, until Kaesheen got back up and jumped in air, kicking one of the guards square in the chest, knocking him against the wall.
Kaesheen reached out with his right hand, calling his lightsaber to him with the Force, and at once the two Jedi activated their lightsabers, the blue and green blades humming to life.
The guards took their stance and fought, but Kaesheen's green blade cut the first guards staff down like butter and he then cut his arm off as the guard reached for his blaster, a fountain of sparks sprayed from the blow.
The other guard turned to strike, but instead dodged Raiyne's lightsaber ducking out of the way, and leading off of his left foot, turn and ran off as fast as he could dropping his staff as he went off, calling for backup on his wrist communicator.
The guard reached the lighted end of the alley quickly, the two Jedi chased closely from behind. With little thought Raiyne reached out his palm, and with the Force sent a wave of energy knocking the guard onto the ground, but it was too late the guard had activated the alarm and several more elites surrounded the Jedi very quickly. "Give it up Jedi, you're out numbered, you don't stand a chance." One of them spoke forth, clearly their leader, designated by the red streaks across the shoulders of his black armor.
The guards circled around them, the Jedi stared them down straight on, and without a reply jumped several feet in the air just as the guards moved in to attack, flipping, and slicing down two of the guards, one of them fell wounded at the chest, the others head rolled across the ground.
The Jedi landed on their feet, and the fighting continued, a guard raised his staff to strike Raiyne over the head, Raiyne cut the staff down, swinging his lightsaber, and cut the guard's hand off with it.
Three more guards rushed towards him, and with his palm stretched out, he sent them over the ledge, and he thought he could here the thump as their bodies crashed into the air traffic.
Kaesheen continued fighting, flipping in the air, and swinging a nice round house, he sent several guards against the wall, he landed on his feet, and swung his saber around, cutting down two more of them.
Raiyne and Kaesheen stood back to back, fighting off the rest of the guards, two of the younger recruits ran off, and the Jedi took cover back in the shadows.
They should have been afraid of the authorities finding the mess, but those womp rats were well taking care of it.
Winded, they rested for a short while before continuing on. "That was a close one, we'd better be on the move, there's sure to be more of them." Kaesheen insisted. He caught sight of a ladder nearby leading to the roof, and the two made their way up. They walked up to the ventilation shaft, and entered in making their way through
The com chimed in, it was Hiram, "What's going on with you guys!?" Hiram demanded. "We got into a little trouble." Raiyne informed him keeping it short. "No worries, our cover hasn't been blown, we were in the shadows, and no one was left alive, or at least conscious to tell anyone about us, they didn't get a good look at us. We're in the ventilation shaft right now, we appear to be right above the kitchen." I can see your signal on my palm viewer, just go a little bit ahead and you'll reach a small empty room, you can go in their and enter the room unnoticed." "Sounds like a plan." Kaesheen said, putting his comlink away.
They continued down the shaft until they reached the room, and pushed on the cover, and the two Jedi jumped down into the room checking things out.
The room was pitch black save for a blue light glow at the end of the hallway. There were cameras and blaster cannons mounted everywhere along with a high tech sensory system, this was not going to be easy.
Kaesheen reached up closing the vent and the Jedi swiftly and quietly made their way down the hallway. Hiram led them through speaking to them through the comlink, "All right, when you reach the end of the hallway there'll be a door, enter it and go into the next room, in the next room over you'll find a holomap of the complex, make a copy of the archive, cause you'll need it for the rest of the operation. After you retrieve the map, I'll meet up with you. Try to keep out of view and away from the sensors." Kaesheen uttered a simple "Understood." and clipped the comlink back on his utility belt.
When they reached the door it slid open and led them down another dark corridor until they reached the computer room.
Sitting not far from the engineer's work area was the holomap glowing brightly blue, a complete schematic of the building. Raiyne took out his portable transceiver and scanned the data and uploaded it into the viewer, "There's no turning back now." Raiyne muttered under his breath just as Hiram chimed in on the com again.
"Alright, have you got it?" he asked keeping his voice down, attempting to conceal the com from the other patrons. Kaesheen answered him, "Yeah no problem, but I think they might be onto us, I just got that feeling, we'd better get this show going and fast, we'll meet you at the check point." "I'll see you shortly." Hiram said with a strong hint of doubt in his voice. "Don't worry, the Force is with us, we'll make it out of here alive."
Hiram placed the com back in his satchel and returned to his drink and the crowed, just across from him in the crowd a Weequay stood leaning against a table, shooting down shot after shot of Huzkha venom, a powerful whiskey brewed on Nar Shadda, the smugglers moon.
He was talking with two squibs who kept eyeballing Hiram and whispering among themselves like they could sense that something was going down. The mission wasn't going as planned, the Jedi had been stalled back in the alley and the mission was nearly compromised, and now this.
One of Gorgo's dancers walked over from the bar and approached him, and spoke in her small sultry voiced, "You lookin' for a good time?" "Not around here, I'm here on business with the big boss." Hiram explained. "Yeah I'm sure you are toots, you got the look on ya' that you're up to no good, I'd watch yourself if I was you, those punks over there are looking forward to picking a fight." "I'll just have to be careful then." he finished the conversation, slurping down the rest of his ale. The girl smiled at him at turned away, walking up to the next potential customer.
Hiram threw the glass on the bar and turned to walk out of the area, concealed by the heavy amount of people, he remained unnoticed as he walked away, the Weequay and those two squibs lost sight of him as walked out onto the balcony concealed by the night. The party was about to end, and the mission was about to come through, or utterly fail, he had to get to those Jedi and quick.
Just down from the balcony was a short ledge and their was an open window, Hiram carefully jumped down, almost losing his balance and his life, as he slipped, barely grabbing onto the window seal and climbing in. Like the rest of the palace, the room wasn't very well lit, he caught sight of the door and waked up to it, it was locked.
He reached into his satchel and took the com link out.
"Jedi I'm on my way, but I gotta problem, the door here is locked, it'll take a while to get it open, a couple a' thugs got the beat on me, they know something's cooking, we gotta get this done FAST!" Hiram shouted. The return came back shortly after, "Yeah well we got trouble of our own, this isn't going all according to the plan, but don't worry the Force is with us, well make it out of here alive." "Yeah that's what you said last time." Hiram sighed to himself putting the comlink away.
Kaesheen and Raiyne kept a distance from each other, trying to stay out of view of the surveillance systems they moved down the hallway slowly and as careful as could be, and turned to walk down the next corridor that would lead them the control room.
Several sensory lasers flickered here and there across the ground picking up even the slightest movement. Camera's and blaster turret's hung from the ceiling, ready to shoot at anything and everything that moved.
Raiyne took something off of is utility belt, small little capsule that he threw across the way. Instantaneously the object was disintegrated as a blaster bolt that hit it precisely. But there seemed to be a pattern to the sensors, the laser would flicker once in one area, and then jump back twice randomly.
Both of the Jedi noticed this, and with precision they ran and they flipped down the hallway, they were careful not to hit the sensors, but at the very end, Raiyne made a slight miscalculation and his hand landed right in the wrong spot, alarming the sensors.
Without a thought the two Jedi ran as fast as they could, as the turrets poured fire toward them. They were lucky to make it out, but they couldn't afford that mistake, Gorgo's thugs would be after them in no time.
Kaesheen looked over at the holomap, noticing how close they were to the control room, it was just down the hallway, Kaesheen took out his comlink calling Hiram in, "Hiram are you there? What's going on?" Hiram did not answer. And just then a door opened at the end of the hallway, and at least twenty guards came down the hall heavy blasters out and firing at the two Jedi.
Just before the blaster bolts arrived the Jedi had their lightsabers out deflecting the shots back at the guards, missing most of them but hitting a few, but there armor took the brunt of the blow, the Jedi kept deflecting the bolts facing towards their adversaries, when they reached the door to find it locked, and Raiyne held off the blaster fire as Kaesheen wired the control panel, when the door opened the Jedi jumped in and the door closed behind them, Kaesheen gently welded the door and the wall together with his lightsaber, and stabbed his blade into the control panel with a shimmer of sparks. They were safe behind the door for the time being.
By this time the party guests had departed, and Hiram managed to open the door cutting through the locking mechanism with a vibroblade, badly dulling it in the process, he continued down the hall until the com chimed again. "Hiram are you there?" Raiyne's voice came through. "Yeah I made it past that door, but there's no way I'm gonna make it past all those guards, I'll have to find another way, back out on the ledge." "Alright but be careful." The voice diminished.
Hiram carefully climbed back out of the nearest window, if he managed to get across the ledge he'd be right into the control room. He carefully stood on the ledge pushing his body against the cold steel. He pulled out two grasping claws from his satchel and dug them into the wall as he moved along, it was windy out there, and without those he might have fell off.
Hiram was just outside the window, when back out of the window where he just had came from, several blaster bolts blazed towards him, one of shots hit his hand, and he dropped the grasping claw.
He barely hung onto the wall with he other claw, and just as several more shots came towards him, the control room window opened, and Kaesheen let out his hand, helping Hiram in.
"That was a close one there, thanks Jedi, I owe you one." Hiram said thankfully.
"Open up in there!" a guard demanded banging on the door.
"Well no worries, we gotta get this done fast, the computer console is right over there." Kaesheen said pointing towards it. "We gotta get there power shut down. I'll set some charges to create a diversion, and hopefully take out those guards, we'd better stay clear of that door."
Hiram wrapped his hand in a bandage, and took out a disk placing it into the console, he could really have used an R2 unit, but he successfully uploaded the virus and at once, the power was out, several guards shot at the door desperately trying to break it open, as Kaesheen set the charge, and the three of them jumped behind the desk as the door blaster away into the hallway, spouting sparks and filling the hallway with smoke, the guards screamed in agony at the pain, most of them had been disabled by the blast but several of them had remained away from the door.
Kaesheen and Raiyne got up first activating their lightsabers, jumping out into the hallway deflecting every blaster bolt that came their way, running towards the guards, as Hiram stayed behind them taking out his blaster and shooting at the gaurds hitting two of them who fell dead in a heap of sparks and smoke.
Kaesheen and Raiyne, were gaining onto the guards who were coming in more rapidly, they had to outnumbered at least five to one.
Kaesheen rolled across the ground dodging several bolts, as he jump back onto his feet, and took a swing at a guard, cutting off his hand still clenched to his blaster, Raiyne continued to deflect more bolts, and sent several more guards to their deaths, as Hiram carefully aimed his blaster pistol.
It was long before the guards stopped coming and the last of them were finished off, with the power down, Hiram, Kaesheen and Raiyne kept a look at the holomap as they found their way back to the main audience chamber, they reached the entrance only to find a Mandalorian warrior, waiting for them, the one Hiram had seen standing by Gorgo earlier.
The Mandalorian stood motionless his arms at his side, when suddenly from his knuckles on each hand protruded two yellow blades, just as Jedi's lightsaber, the Mandalorian raged for ward like a reek as attacking the Jedi blocking each of their strikes with his lightsaber claws, moving at super speed, the Mandalorian managed to draw Kaesheen and Raiyne into the chamber, where Gorgo stayed watching from afar.
At once the power came back and the door closed leaving Hiram behind it, the Mandalorian kept fighting until several elites entered the room holding their tasor staffs out "Don't even think about it Jedi." The Mandalorian said pointing the blades toward him. The guards approached the Jedi, forcing Kaesheen to his knees taking his lightsaber, but Raiyne kept his blade out and continued to fight the Mandalorian, clearly trained in the Jedi arts. Their fight continued out onto the balcony as Kaesheen forced himself back up, pulling the staff away from the guard who took his lightsaber and stabbing him clear through the chest, as blood squirted everywhere, the Jedi reached for his lightsaber, but when he went to activate it several of the guards struck him with their staffs sending electricity flowing through him as he twitched on the ground.
The door opened, and several guards entered with Hiram bound and gagged. Kaesheen tried to get back up but a guard struck his staff hard against his face knocking him out.
Out on the balcony Raiyne continued to duel with the warrior.
He struck to the left at the Mandalorians head, missing completely, but then to the right, he swung down upon his hand, destroying his weapon that hand, but as he did that, the Mandalorian stabbed him in the stomach with his other set, and pushed him over the ledge. Raiyne fell several feet before landing in the garbage dump below.
The warrior returned to the main audience chamber and looked over at the Hutt who laughed menacingly and spoke in Huttesse, "Leave them in the dungeon to die, we'late for our flight."
With that the Hutt squirmed across the floor followed by his mysterious warrior.