SWtCW: Shadows of Nar Shaddaa pt. 4

Nar Shaddaa, the Vertical City, Borva's Estate

“They've been watching your palace like hawks and your mercenaries haven't done anything to stop them!”
Borva chuckled darkly and waved his hand dismissively.
“Don't dismiss them so easily. These are jedi we're dealing with, they have a habit of messing things up.”
The hutt snorted and muttered dubiously.
“Durge has been watching the child tirelessly. Have no fear of that...unless you're worried that he might rip another of your men's arms off.”
Borva cackled, leaning forwards on his dais.
“So you're still set on conducting this business of yours then? Making the delivery in person?”
The hutt nodded and Tsyrian sighed.
“Very well, just be sure that nothing happens to compromise our position while you're away...I don't need to remind you again what is at stake.”

Nar Shaddaa, the Vertical City, aboard the Prodigal Star

“The hutt is leaving tonight.” Hooligan said with a grin.
“Really?” Smile said, jumping up and leaning over his brother's shoulder. “You know what that means?”
“Yeah.” Gallant said quietly from behind the pair of grinning troopers. “It means we go tonight.”
Hooligan and Smile were both eager, and Gallant too held a hint of mirth as he stood up. “I'll tell the General.”

“We're not forgetting anything are we?” Aira-ty pressed as she examined the plans of the estate.
“I hope not.” Kahan replied. “The teams are assigned, we know which areas to search, and the hutt is going to be gone. I think that covers just about everything.”
“Are you sure you want me on the assault team?” Aira-ty asked, looking up at him pointedly.
“Worried I might kiss you again Commander?”
Aira-ty's face heated and her eyes widened. “Don't talk about it in that monotone sir.” she snapped venomously.
He looked up at her, his blue gaze piercing. “I am sorry.”
“Oh so now you're ashamed that you kissed me is it?” she growled. “Well my mistake, I won't let it happen again.”
Kahan sighed and leaned down over the table. “You really aren't going to make this easy are you.”
“Not likely.” she snarled.
He nodded somberly and looked up at her. “I'll put your transfer in once this mission is concluded...along with Jesp and the rest of your battalion.”
She swallowed, trying to contain herself as she returned his nod tersely. “Thank you sir, I don't want to hinder you.”
“You haven't.” he replied. “I am sorry that I have.”
Aira-ty stopped then and met his gaze fully for a moment before turning to leave.
“I'll make sure the men are ready.”
“Thank you Commander.”

Hanabi walked past Aira-ty and into Master Kahan's cabin, walking up and looking down at the maps he had before him.
“Are you really going to transfer her?”
“It appears to be what she wants.” he replied.
“I don't think it is. Sly says she's hurting a lot.”
Master Kahan chuckled. “Thank you for that insight.”
Hanabi's face flushed. “That wasn't very nice of you Master.”
“Hanabi,” he said as he looked up at her. “You are not my apprentice, much as I have taken a great delight in having an apprentice again, if however briefly, do not presume to lecture me as Xiaan once did.”
His words hit her like a hammer and she stood there for a moment in shock before she found her voice.
“H—how did you know?”
“Leroi told me.” he looked up at her. “You know you are allowed to ask about my past.”
“Ar—are you mad at me?” she asked.
“Hardly, however I'd prefer it if you don't take that tone with me.” a slight smile played across his face. “Unless you intend to become permanent.”
Hanabi's face flushed as she ducked her head. “N—no Master, I'd like to return to Master Skywalker...please.”
Kahan nodded. “I understand. Personal heroes are quite endearing.” Hanabi frowned and he continued. “You're not the only one who asked around Hanabi. I know what Skywalker and Kenobi did.”
Hanabi ducked her head slightly, her color darkening further, turning very nearly black from its usual purple.
“I...I thought he might remember me.”
“But he didn't.” she shook her head. “Don't be too surprised. He was much younger, so were you.”
“Yes.” she said quietly.
“Hanabi, may I make a suggestion?”
She nodded.
“Don't live your life trying to please others. You will make yourself miserable.”
Hanabi swallowed nervously. “You shouldn't either.” Kahan raised an eyebrow. “About Commander Nokta...I don't think you should let her go.”
Kahan snorted. “You do realize you're speaking to someone who can read your mind without thinking about it don't you?”
Hanabi nodded, a faint smile on her lips.
“So you realize I know exactly what your little romantic head is thinking?”
She nodded again.
“Good,” Kahan chuckled and shook his head. “And the Council thinks I have strange ideas.”

Nar Shaddaa, the Vertical City, Borva's Estate

Hooligan lowered the body of his guard to the street. Across from him, Gallant set the body of his assigned guard down as well.
“Guards are down.” Hooligan called.
The General, Commander, and Captain all joined the pair of them at the gate.
“Crack it.” the Captain ordered.
Hooligan grinned beneath his helmet as he set about the electronic locking mechanism. It was easy enough to crack and a moment later he had the gateway open.
“After you sir.” he said to the Captain.
The Commander followed him into the structure, Hooligan hefted his repeater and ducked in after Gallant and the General, waving up the street to their unseen overwatch.

“They're in.” Cube said.
“Thank you captain obvious.” Smile said. “I couldn't see them with my binocs.”
“Can it Smile.” Sly said from his perch above them. “Keep an eye out.”
“Who put him in charge?” chuckled Smile.
“Keep it down.” Hanabi cautioned. “We're supposed to be keeping quiet.”
There was no more said from the three brothers as they settled in for what was to come next.

“Shouldn't we do something?” inquired one of the mercenaries.
“Oh we're going to.” replied the leader.
“I mean...shouldn't we be stopping them?”
The leader laughed. “Oh no, we're not stopping them, not yet. That's no fun.”
The others exchanged glances from behind their helmets but didn't say anything. There was plently else for them to worry about. Two jedi specifically.
“Just be ready,” their leader said. “Once the shooting starts, we'll start too.”
“We aren't going to be getting paid for this, are we.” muttered one of his cohorts.”
“Oh I asked for payment in advance.” the leader replied darkly. “Don't worry, we're free men after this.”

Kahan's dual sabers flashed, deflecting a volley of blaster bolts harmlessly aside into the walls of the passageway. Behind him, Hooligan stepped into place with his repeater and opened fire, sending his own spray of bolts back at the hutt's men. Aira-ty and Jesp rushed forwards along with Gallant, taking up fresh positions as Kahan advanced behind them, his sabers humming and flashing vibrantly.
A pair of droideka's rolled around the corner, unfolding and opening fire as their shields came online.
“Get back!” Jesp shouted as he ducked back behind a fixture.
Kahan locked his sabers back together, taking up a defensive stance as the pair of amber colored sabers danced and flashed as they deflected bolt after bolt back down the hall at the droids and mercenaries.
“Grenade!” shouted Gallant.
Kahan saw the ion grenade sail past him, he one handed his sabers and jerked a hand out, flinging the grenade even further down the hall where it landed between the two destroyer droids and erupted. Their circuits fried and their guns sputtered to a halt. Kahan unhooked his sabers once more and advancd again on the remaining enemies. Aira-ty stepped up besides him, taking single aimed shots. She dropped mercenary after mercenary as Gallant and Jesp fell in besides them followed by Hooligan who's repeater spat its own spray of bolts down the hall as they advanced on their foes.

“Sounds like the party's started.” Smile remarked idly.
Hanabi frowned. Something was wrong. What was—!
“ABOVE!” she shouted, her saber igniting just in time to swat aside a trio of bolts.
Cube rolled onto his back and began firing at their attackers as Smile and Sly both turned and added their own weapons into the mix.
“Stang! Who the hell are these guys?!” Smile shouted as more fire came down on them.
“Shut up and shoot!” Sly barked back.
Hanabi ducked behind cover as the three clones returned fire. She sensed seven enemies. She couldn't see them, just the flashes of their blasters. Who were they? Separatists? Mercenaries? Were they even involved in this mission or just some gang?
She raised her comlink. “Master, we're under attack. They have us pinned.”

“Hanabi is in trouble.” the General said.
Aira-ty looked at him. “I'll go give her a hand.”
He nodded and turned back to Hooligan who was hacking the door. Aira-ty didn't see what happened next. Something exploded, or more exactly, the door exploded as something erupted out of it. Aira-ty turned to see something massive and armored holding Hooligan by the head against the opposite wall. Its helmeted head turned to glare at her with vicious red eyes.
“This, is the result of Jango Fett's death?” it snarled, tossing Hooligan aside like a rag doll. “They should have used me.” it turned to face them. “I am Durge, look upon your death.”
“Okay.” Gallant said as he stepped back nervously. “This isn't a funeral song.”
“Go.” Kahan commanded as he squared off against the monstrosity.
“But,” Aira-ty said, looking at Hooligan's limp form against the wall.
“GO.” Kahan said grimly.
Aira-ty swallowed and turned, running back down the corridor.
“Hanabi, this is Aira-ty, I'm coming.”
Behind her, she heard the thing—Durge—roar furiously. She hoped the General knew what he was doing.

In Jesp's limited existence he'd seen some strange things. However Durge took all that and muted it. He'd watched as the creature had absorbed blasterfire, regenerated from a grenade blast and now...its arms had been cut off and it was simply regrowing them!
“What does it take to kill this thing?!” Gallant shouted as he jumped out of the way of Durge's mad charge.
“Just shoot!” Jesp ordered.
Looking past Durge's massive form he saw the General duck inside the room that the monster had broken out of. He emerged a moment later with a bundle.
“Captain!” he shouted, throwing the bundle at Jesp.
Jesp caught it and looked down into the confused gaze of a young hutt.
“RUN!” the General ordered.
“We're not leaving you sir.” he shouted back.
“No, you're not. I'm buying you time.” the General replied as he charged forwards and leapt onto Durge's back, sinking both sabers into the beasts ribcage.
Durge roared with fury and tossed around, trying to dislodge the jedi now affixed to his back but the General was out of his reach for the time being as he bellowed angrily.
“Gallant, get Hooligan!”
“Right!”
With Hooligan and the huttlet in tow, Jesp ran down the corridor they'd fought their way through a minute before.
“Think the General will be alright?” Gallant asked.
Something exploded behind them and Jesp shook his head.
“Not our problem right now, just keep moving!”
A part of him felt miserable about abandoning the General...another part? ...well he didn't want to think about it.

Aira-ty ran out into the street and looked up at the position where Hanabi and the others had been. There was nothing but silence now. Where were they?
“Looking for this?”
She watched as an armored figure—a mandalorian—appeared on the overlook, holding Smile—sans helmet—in his grip.
Aira-ty raised her pistol. “Let him go.”
“Or you'll what?” the Mandalorian inquired as he drew a knife and put it under Smile's neck. “Take my other eye?”
Aira-ty stopped, other eye? What was he talking about?
“Oh, I'm hurt.” he said. “You don't remember me do you? Well,” he reached up and removed his helmet. “I remember you Aira-ty.”
Aira-ty's blood went cold as she lowered her pistol in shock. “Grauzem.”
“Oh good!” he exclaimed. “You DO remember me! I'm so glad.” he pointed at his dead eye, the one Aira-ty had taken from him thirteen years ago. “Hard to forget someone you stab in the eye isn't it?”
“Yeah.” she said quietly. “Just a little. Let him go.”
“Heh, not on your life.” Grauzem drove his knife into Smile's throat.
“NO!” Aira-ty shouted, raising her weapon once more.
“Careful,” Grauzem cautioned as he dropped Smile's body to the street below. “I still have others up here.”
“I'm going to kill you.” Aira-ty said, glancing down at Smile's body as his blood seeped out over the street.
“Oh? Take that helmet off and say that.” Grauzem taunted.
Aira-ty did, holstering her pistol and removing her helmet, letting her hair fall out down her back as she looked up at him.
“I. Am. Going. To. Kill. You.” she said again, her voice cold as ice even as her heart raged for blood to avenge Smile.
“Now you mean it.” Grauzem said as he jumped down from the overlook. He tossed his knife from hand to hand. “Think you can shoot me before I get to you?”
Aira-ty went for her pistol just as Grauzem moved, his whip lashing out and wrapping around her wrist and jerking her weapon out of her hand and rushed forwards with his knife. Aira-ty jerked the whip, throwing him off balance long enough to deliver a punch to his face. Grauzem staggered and looked back up at her.
“Oh, that was nice.” he said with a grin, wiping the blood from his lip. “You are all grown up now.”
He came at her again, Aira-ty stepped back, trying to get her footing as they locked arm and arm, the knife just mere centimeters from her throat as Grauzem leered down at her.
“Just a little bit more.” he snarled.
Something moved from behind him and Aira-ty's eyes widened.
“Hanabi! Don't!”

Hanabi rushed forwards, saber ignited as she let out a yell to give herself whatever courage she could muster. The mandalorian released Aira-ty, pushing her back and away from him as he turned towards Hanabi. She swung at him but he ducked her attack. The next thing she felt was his armored fist connecting with her stomach. She coughed up blood, and her world went black as she slumped over in her opponent's grasp.

“Stop it!” Aira-ty roared as she came at Grauzem with her fist raised.
Still holding Hanabi's limp body in his other arm, Grauzem turned and jerked his arm out. Aira-ty felt something cold slip into her gut and she froze for a moment, looking down in disbelief. The knife had gone through the hole that damned Sith had cut in her armor on Christophsis.
She looked up at him as he leered down at her.
“Oh I love that look.” he said as he leaned down close to her.
Aira-ty's eyes widened as he pressed his lips to hers, his tongue probing her mouth violently. Aira-ty closed her mouth, biting down on his tongue. He jerked it out and she tasted blood. Still grinning, he shoved her to the ground and wagged a finger at her.
“Now now, that's not very nice.”
“Put the girl down!”
Grauzem and Aira-ty both turned to find Gallant, Hooligan, and Jesp aiming their weapons at him.
He turned and put Hanabi's limp form between himself and them. “Careful,” he reached down, jerking his knife out of Aira-ty's stomach, soliciting a cry from her. “I'll cut her throat.”
“Let her go.” Hooligan growled.
Grauzem shook his head. “Oh no. You little tin cans don't get to order me around.” he backed down a side alley, still carrying Hanabi, knife to her throat. “Besides, you've got two more troopers up there bleeding to death!”
With that, he threw Hanabi over his shoulder and bolted down the alley. Aira-ty staggered to her feet. Looking at her three saviors.
“Get Cube and Sly.” she ordered wearily.
“What about Smile?” Gallant asked.
Aira-ty nodded towards the body at the end of the street. The trio looked and froze, Hooligan lowered his weapon.

“No.”
Jesp watched as Hooligan staggered over to Smile's corpse and sank down to his knees as he lifted up the lifeless body.
“Come on little buddy, this ain't funny.”
Jesp swallowed and looked towards Aira-ty. “Are you alright ma'am?”
She knelt down and picked up Commander Hanabi's lightsaber.
“I just saw a ghost from my past kill one of my men and kidnap a helpless girl.” she took a deep—and obviously painful—breath. “No Jesp, I am not alright.”
“NO!” screamed Hooligan as he wailed.
Aira-ty's eyes narrowed as she stalked up to him stiffly and smacked the back of his helmet hard.
“Shut up Hooligan and get up there and save the others.” she snarled cruelly.
Jesp and his brothers looked at her in disbelief for a moment. She'd snapped at them before, but now she was just being cold. Gallant went to Hooligan, putting a hand on his brother's shoulder. It took a moment, but Hooligan got to his feet and nodded stiffly. The pair headed up to the overlook to retrieve their brothers as Aira-ty turned back to look at Jesp. Her expression was haunted, and furious.
“What in space happened out here?”
Jesp turned to see General Kahan staggering out of the compound. He looked worse than Aira-ty.
“What about Durge?” he asked.
“He's occupied.” the General said, holding his side. “The child?”
“Safe.” Jesp said, pointing to the bundle strapped to his back.

Kahan looked at the blood stained street, at Smile's body and at the state Aira-ty was in, taking it all in an instant.
“Hanabi and the others?”
“Kidnapped and injured.” Aira-ty said simply as she held her side.
“Sir, we'd better move.” Jesp suggested.
Kahan nodded. “Right. We'll regroup at Korbo's and lick our wounds.”
“The hutt?” Aira-ty groaned.
Kahan looked at her. “You are in no condition to argue.” his eyes narrowed. “Can you even walk?”
She staggered a little as she stood up straighter. “I'm fine.”
He nodded and snorted. “That makes two of us.” he felt like he'd been run over by a speederbus.
He crossed the street to her and lifted her up in his arms as Hooligan and Gallant came back, carrying Sly and Cube over their shoulders. The pair were missing their helmets and had obviously been beaten, but otherwise seemed to be alright.
“Alright, let's get to the speeder and go.” Kahan said grimly, turning to leave.
“Smile?” Jesp asked.
Kahan looked at the body for a long moment before shaking his head. “Leave him, we have enough to carry.”
Aira-ty's grip tightened on his robes. “You can't.”
“I have the living to worry about.” he replied.
She glared at him. “I will never forgive you if you leave him here like that.”
“He's a corpse.” Kahan said simply, his voice growing cold. “I don't think he'll mind.”
“Excuse me sir, ma'am.” Jesp supplied, taking up an incindiary grenade from his belt. “I can solve the problem.”
Aira-ty's eyes widened but Kahan nodded. Jesp threw the grenade and it went off, incinterating Smile's body, armor and all in an instant.
“Now that's settled.” Kahan said grimly. “Let's get out of here before something else happens.”
The group gathered themselves and vanished into the city.

Orbit of Nar Shaddaa, aboard the Confederate Command Ship

Erzai Tsyrian lounged in the rich bubble bath, leaning back against the rim of the tub as he enjoyed the scalding water. He'd spent the day and most of the night negotiating with the Hutt Council. The slugs were proving difficult, and so long as the rest of the Council remained skeptical of the Confederacy, Jabba's hand couldn't be tipped, even with his son in the balance. Stubborn slugs.
His comlink chimed and he reached over to key it.
“Tsyrian.”
Durge's voice snarled at him from the other end of the link.
“They have the child.”
Tsyrian's blood instantly heated as anger built within him.
“Status?”
“I'll live. I'm going to kill them.”
“See that you do. I'll press the hutts while I can.”
He killed the link and stood up, stepping out of the tub and taking his towel from his service droid.
“Prep my ship. Matters are developing below.” he keyed the comlink again as he wrapped the towel around his body. “If you see the jedi ship again, vaporize it, no excuses this time.”
“Yes sir.”
Tsyrian seethed impotently. If Jabba got the boy back then the leverage the Confederacy had with him would vanish...and he wouldn't exactly be forgiving if he realized it was the Confederacy that had orchestrated this entire mess! Damn Borva and his assurances!