Star Forge - 23

Bo, Beth, and I waited at the loading ramp as Adyan started her approach. Rough was an understatement. If it weren't for the lack of alarms I would have thought we were crashing. Everyone aside from Adyan had moved to the Warehouse. Just to be safe.

We had gone through a couple of ideas. Bo and I had jetpacks, but not an extra one for Beth. Plus, we weren't sure if the palace had some sort of anti-air for smaller targets. I wasn't going force myself to take a walk or fly in the middle of a sandstorm. Another plan was to launch an escape pod and land nearby one of the entry points. It would have to be left behind. I was going to claim credit so leaving clues as to who did it wasn't an issue. Launching an escape pod felt like using a health potion in a videogame. Using it now when it wasn't actually needed was tempting fate.

The ship pitched forward making my stomach lurch. I braced my arm against the wall as Adyan took a sharp turn that continued into a tight spiral. Explosions popped around the ship but didn't score a hit. Another sudden drop inspired another lurching feeling. The seeds of nausea were overpowered by the sound of grinding metal so intense it made my teeth clack together all the while going through another almost too-fast turn.

Centrifugal force pressed us against the wall a moment before the airlock door leading into the ship locked. It was the only sign that the other side was about to open. I hooked my arm around Beth's waist. She gripped my shoulder with one hand and my belt with the other. The airlock leading outside opened, letting in a roar sandstorm. We launched ourselves out of the ship, my jetpack provided stability and some extra speed. Adyan didn't stop the ship, turning it so that it would face the way we had come. She activated the thrusters hardly slowing through the entire maneuver. Adyan was back into the air heading toward orbit before we reached the security door.

Beth took the rough landing with the technique of a seasoned professional. She slipped out of my grip and focused on the door controls without complaining. A USB of all things popped out of her gauntlet. She plugged it in then disconnected it a moment later.

"Damn," Beth muttered.

"Is there a problem?" I asked.

"Problem?" She snorted. "It's insulting. I've got the doors unlocked, took control of the cameras, cycled the footage they'll see, and downloaded the floorplan. I've picked locks on gym lockers that were more complex."

"Damn," I repeated. "Nice work. Are the comms synced?"

"And secure," Bo replied nodding.

"What about you?" I asked Beth.

"These aren't all for show," Beth motioned to the various piercings on her ear.

A secure private channel was a nice boon.

Beth hit the button to open the door, "this is the staff entry. The guard quarters are along the way."

We stepped inside to get out of the storm. Like most 'important' buildings on Tatooine, it had an air lock setup with two sets of doors to help keep sand out. They would have worked as a line of defense as well if Beth hadn't already taken control.

"You couldn't lock them in to save us the hassle?" Bo asked.

"No locks," Beth shrugged.

"Are you ready?" I asked the two.

The two nodded. I activated the door and stepped through in the lead with my M20 at the ready. Beth came in second, she assured us that she had armor even if it wasn't as obvious as ours. Bo took the rear guard. The hall was a straight walkway that ended in an open room on one side while the other ended in a blast door that looked like it had been stolen from a ship. I was thankful that my helmet had an independent air supply as I entered the palace properly. An air quality read-out informed me that there were quite a few unpleasant smells that were being filtered. Beth muttered something as she tapped behind one of her ears activating a translucent blue bubble that protected her head.

I heard voices coming from the nearest doorway. It didn't sound like they were alarmed. As we got closer the sound of clinking glass and loud laughter flowed into the hallway. Beth had been right in a way there weren't any locks on the doors because there were no doors. The rooms were converted from offshoots of a wine cellar with tarps hung to provide some privacy.

"Thermal detonator?" Bo asked holding up the explosive.

"Not yet," I shook my head.

She shrugged and hooked it back in place on her belt. I pushed open the tarp then stepped inside. The guards were a mixture of Nikto, Twi'lek, and a few Gamorrean. Only one guard had a weapon in reach.

"And then I said," a green Twi'lek wearing a variety of mismatching armor pieces said. "That's not my wife, that's a womp rat."

A couple of the group laughed. The Twi'lek was the loudest of the bunch. I activated my proximity speaker to join the laughter, making sure that I was heard. The group went silent as they noticed that new arrival.

"Good one," I commented.

The Twi'lek narrowed his eyes as he stared at me. I could almost see the gears in his mind turning as he tried to figure out who I was. The M20 pointed at his chest helped make my identity less of an issue. I fired, sweeping my weapon from one side to the other. A couple were able to dive out of the way before I could hit them. Beth stepped up beside me to make sure they didn't get far.

Blaster fire in such a confined space was loud enough to travel down the hall. The distinct sound made it hard to ignore. A couple of tarps farther along the hall were whipped aside as more guards came to investigate. Bo let loose with both her blasters. I took a knee, providing Beth some cover while allowing her a clear line of sight, and swapped to my Particle Magnum to add my support.

It was over in a matter of seconds. Most of the guards hadn't come out armed. I got the feeling that blaster fire was something that happened somewhat frequently in this area of the palace. We cleared the area going from one cubby to the next. Only one room had someone in it. A Klatooinian lay on its side asleep. The dog-faced alien chuffed and kicked their feet as they dreamed. I couldn't bring myself to shoot him.

"Does he owe you money or something?" Beth asked.

I sighed, "it's just so adorable."

"You do realize he would try to kill you right now if he was awake," Bo asked.

I was about to argue when the guard sniffed the air and snapped awake. His eyes cleared with surprising speed. He lunged at me. Bo dropped him with a shot to the skull. She cocked her head to the side looking at me. I shrugged since there was nothing I could say.

"Come on," Beth chuckled as she continued down the hallway.

The space opened into a big circular room that was a make-shift kitchen and dining area. My helmet filter worked overtime to keep whatever they had left cooking over a firepit from my nose. The discarded bowls, plates, and cups looked bad enough to add to the smell.

A stairway along the farthest wall led upward deeper into the palace. Beth held her arm out and tapped a watch she wore, a floating screen appeared. I couldn't see anything on it which I took to mean it had privacy options.

"That leads to the private throne area," Beth pointed to the stairs. "It's empty. The slug is holding court in the main throne room with some company and a few toughs mixed in among the group that I can spot."

"What about the door?" Bo asked.

"It's a side passage that leads to the main entry," Beth answered.

A Mandalorian walking into the Palace on any other day wouldn't be too odd. Bounty hunters and mercenaries were a common sight. However, showing up in the middle of a sandstorm when the doors were sealed would cause some alarm.

On the other hand …

~

Jabba relaxed on his throne as the band played their music and the dancers twirled. The sandstorm had cause him to shuffle his plans for the day. It wasn't a sacrifice; he had no interest in meeting with some frog trying to sell him stolen battle droids. The offer for Gungan captives had fallen through with Naboo removing the Trade Federation. Getting rid of the droids now was less smuggling and more trying to recoup their losses. Jabba had allowed himself to converse with the Neimoidian for the chance at acquiring a Gungan or two. He had enough slaves, but a properly spiced Roasted Gungan was worth the trouble.

The Hutt was drawn from his thoughts as his majordomo hurried over to him. Bib Fortuna was an ugly Twi'lek which made him something of a rarity as the species was known as the best pleasure slaves known to sentient life.

"Master Jabba," Bib whispered. "An honored guest approaches."

Jabba looked toward the stairs. A tangible cloud of unease rolled through the throne room sending the dancers fleeing. It snuffed out the music and hushed the various conversations. The steady click-clack of boots on the stairs echoed through the silence. A figure shrouded in an oversized black cloak stepped into view. They were humanoid, broad, and he could see a set of blasters holstered on their hips. Most importantly, Jabba noticed the lightsaber that hung casually with the other weapons.

"You are being controlled, you fool," Jabba slapped the Twi'lek.

The ugly majordomo fell to the floor. His sharp teeth clacked together as his chin smacked against the raised throne. The impact cleared the slight distance in his eyes. Bib Fortuna bowed low, begging for forgiveness.

"Who dares enter my throne room unannounced?" Jabba roared.

"Unannounced?" I motioned to the hunched over form of Bib Fortuna. "I sent him ahead to handle it."

"How did you get in here?" Jabba yelled.

"I walked," I replied lowering my hood.

Jabba let out a wordless bellow, slapping his majordomo once more. The Twi'lek stayed on the ground this time, whimpering and muttering apologies.

"My name is Kiskin Aurelian," I announced to the room. "I have come here with two simple goals."

I lowered my hood, exposing my helmet. The gathered sycophants traded confused whispers.

"What are these goals?" Jabba asked.

One of the Hutt's hands drifted out of sight. Too bad for him Beth had already disabled the emergency panel on the throne. If the guards did show up then Jabba would see that his ranks had already been thinned considerably.

"One, put an end to slavery on this planet," I stated.

Jabba laughed. A few in the crowd joined in while some were intrigued.

"And the second?" Jabba asked once he stopped laughing.

"Kill the Hutts," I stated.

I shrugged off the cloak in my best Obi-Wan impression. In a smooth motion, I twisted to the side, drew the DB-4 from its spot on my back, and took aim. Jabba had just enough time to yell for his guards as I pulled the trigger. My helmet synced with the weapon locking on the spot just below Jabba's mouth. Sixteen miniature rockets launched at the Hutt. A cluster of explosions were muffled by my helmet. The shockwave made me take a step back. I had been wrong. The rockets didn't punch through the Hutt and leave a dent in the wall. Jabba simply didn't have a top half anymore.

The explosion sent the throne room into chaos. Those guards and hired guns among the crowd burst into motion. A trio of turrets emerged from the ceiling joining the fray. Much to the confusion of those gathered, I wasn't the one being targeted. The turrets disassembled quite a few of the guards before they got the message.

I strolled over to the throne to examine the pile that remained of Jabba. Bib Fortuna had somehow survived even though he had been close. The Twi'lek looked up at him in terror still begging for his life and asking for forgiveness.

"This palace is mine," I pushed the lump of Hutt off the throne. My enhanced strength stopped me from having to lift with my knees. "Everything that was Jabba's is now mine. Understood?"

The gathered crowd vocalized their understanding in various languages.

"Where are the slave controls?" I shifted my attention back to the majordomo.

"The throne," Bib Fortuna pointed a shaky hand at a pillar near the center of the throne.

"Beth," I said as I examined the controls. "Do you see this?"

"Please," she chuckled. "I've seen Meeseeks' cubes with more complexity than this."

I had a vague memory of a box with a single button on it.

"Done," Beth said a moment later. "Slave chips have been disabled. Still need to be removed."

"Thanks," I said. "Truly, thanks."

"You can stroke my ego later," Beth continued. "This slug had some interesting information. I'm downloading it now."

I turned back to the ugly Twi'lek, "show me the vault."

"But…" Bib tried to argue.

I clenched my fingers into a fist and raised it. The Twi'lek slapped at the invisible hand around his neck as he was lifted off his feet. He hovered in the air, his feet kicking as he struggled.

"I don't like to repeat myself," I growled.

The majordomo hurried through the palace in a rush. I followed behind him a few steps and at an angle. There weren't nearly as many guards as I had expected. Beth assured me that there weren't more waiting to spring a trap. Still, I wasn't going to let myself relax.

"Here, Honored Mando," Bib Fortuna bowed low as he presented a vault door.

"The key?" I asked.

"Jabba was the only one who knew where it was," the majordomo whimpered.

"No problem," I drew my lightsaber and activated. "I have a skeleton key."