Hoth....

Business, continued as usual. New Captains appointed and still the matter of the data cache to be pieced out and sold. It was that matter that now occupied the thoughts of Drogan, he set aside his thoughts of Alex to do so. Continuing to review the amount of data, his lists of contacts; the comm channel erupted with chatter. A ship, a very large ‘green and yellow’ ship was landing on the outskirts of the encampment unannounced.

Flipping on the scanner, Drogan viewed the unescorted shuttle. A Czerka Corporate carrier. How they found the hidden base was no longer a matter of concern, they were landing. It was with some relief as he watched the landing cycle complete that one man emerged from the ramp. One man, dressed in the finery of the Czerka Corporation, with only a handful of escorts. Drogan flipped the Comm channel open and called his men to action. “Let them through, have the rest go down the ‘rabbit hole’ and initiate the holding action…no need to play our hands just yet…” He spoke continuing to watch the monitor and the approaching visitors.

--

The Director was shown to one of many pre-fabs, adjusting his coat as he stepped up to the threshold. The door opened before the finely dressed executive could touch it and he lurched back in alarm. “Do come in, Sir. I must say we are not used to having visitors here…you seem to have some of my men on edge and me at a disadvantage.” The Director bowed slightly as he entered.

“We know each other by reputation alone, Mr. Drogan….” The Director wiped his feet before proceeding. It told Drogan much in that action, a civilized act. These men who came to visit were not prepared for the type of barbarity that awaited them should they try anything sorted. Drogan gestured for a seat standing slightly as the Director took his. “Let me be frank, Mr. Drogan. We know your…’faction’ is in possession of some very valuable information we would like to get back.” He adjusted his collar, “Our ‘partners’ are none too pleased that their plans may very well be spoiled by outside parties should that information make its way to the wrong hands.”

Sitting back, Drogan steepled his fingers and watched, a crooked smile ebbing its way to his face as his cybernetic eye scanned his visitor, “Let’s say…I do have what you are looking for, just for the sake of argument; what do I have to gain by giving this information back to you? Surely those ‘other’ parties would be more inclined to pay handsomely for it.”

Reaching in his coat, The Director produced a datapad; a move which made Drogan’s hand go immediately to the holdout blaster under his desk. Seeing the change in the pirate, The Director took out the pad and shook it in his hand for Drogan to see; it was not a weapon. Without looking at Drogan further, he began to type something and then sat the Datapad on Drogan’s desk sliding it toward him.

“This is what we offer, if it’s not enough you name the price. Credits are no object in this matter…”, Drogan picked it up and allowed his one good eye to go over the enormous number. He was just about to respond, The Director feeling comfortable and at seeing Drogan’s reaction smiled wickedly and sat forward, “I don’t mind telling you Mr. Drogan, this has been an embarrassment for all parties concerned. The fact that Alexandra De’nabre, a once thought lost Jedi was leading your crew has many of my associates up in arms. We deal with both the Republic and our…’other’ associates.” Drogan looked up with a quickness at the mention of Alex’s name, setting the Datapad down without another thought, “It would be quite an embarrassment for the Republic to find that one of their lost Jedi was now leading a band of pirates under your banner…”

Moving past the not so veiled threat, Drogan had more pressing concerns. The enormous amount displayed on the holo-pad had no meaning for him anymore, not since the Czerka executive saw fit to mention his wife. Eyes losing the good cheer as he leaned forward; his hand going to the blaster under the desk again. “What do you know about Alexandra? How is it you came by this information?”

Again, The Director noticed the change in demeanor in Drogan, this time believing he said too much, but having the big man bear down on him and wanting a resolution to the theft; he cleared his throat continuing, “We have holos of course. Transmitted to us during the course of the seizure. We had to identify whom it was that was responsible…which is what brought me here, to Hoth.” He forced a smile, “You didn’t really think that a notorious pirate and her hideout would remain secret with such things at stake did you? This type and level of information, not to mention the amounts. You’ve stolen more than half of the galaxy’s secrets in a single action. We are not stupid, Mr. Drogan. Our ‘associates’ have been monitoring this area of Hoth from space from the moment you brought the information back.” The Director almost laughed, Drogan moved his hand to the hidden switch under his desk pressing it, laying his hand back on the blaster.

“No, I suppose not. Still it does not answer the question. Your threat, veiled as it was, did not escape me. You mean to inform the Republic of her if I do not agree to some number…”

This time the Director lost the smile, he had just crossed into dangerous waters and he could feel the air get thick. “Wh-well no, I merely suggest—“

Drogan produced the blaster leveling it at the man, “You mean to suggest that you would have my ‘wife’ swinging from some gallows for piracy should I not play this game with you.” The blaster whined as it powered up, “No Director…” He watched as the man frantically pressed the wrist comm unit and turned to look at the door. When nothing happened, Drogan laughed out loud. “Your men are not coming, I had them killed as you sat there.” Drogan lost the smile and stuck the blaster out rigidly from his arm, “And you just made your last threat.”

Drogan’s blaster bolt hit the Director right between the eyes, the body falling against the back rest and then forward. There was a reason he kept that chair bolted to the floor. Rounding the desk he slid the door opened to the bodies of the two Czerka guards, their blood turning the threshold of his domicile red.

“I don’t care what you have to do…get me Alexandra. If you fail to reach her, ready my ship…we are going to Coruscant…”

--

Coruscant....

“Hate…makes the world simpler. Wouldn’t you say, my dear…” The Devaronian Senator bent slightly to hand Alex the glass, “You have been away far too long child, alliances have changed…and I do not have the clout I once did in the senate…”

Accepting the glass graciously, Alex sat up formally, her legs crossed under the billowing gown she wore; one hand resting gently in her lap. The model of elegance and formality, she bowed her head in response, on the inside she was screaming. Not much had changed in the Republic during her time away, things were still not moving any faster. The Devaronian, once an ally to her and her husband, signed the appropriations to begin the Colonization project for the Mirialans. He was the first one she went to after arriving. Everything about her movements secret up till that point.

“Nevertheless, Senator…it should concern you that a Project like this is going on right under the general Senate’s nose, with only those on the special projects committee aware and in control.”

The Senator smiled, a politician’s smile. It looked even more devilish than normal for a man of his race, who were known for devilish smiles. “Yes, of course it does my dear…it does. And I understand your concern…it’s why when you contacted me I reached out…” He looked at the door, Alex already sensing the armed men coming for her. She tossed the glass down and stood up as the Devaronian also got to his feet. “Please…don’t resist Alexandra.”

The doors opened to a Republic General and several Republic Troopers, all with blasters drawn as her head jerked toward the door flying open “Don’t…we have no compunction of killing you where you stand…”

Slapping the glass on the ground as she stood, Alex instinctively reached for her lightsabers, but took her hands away as the troopers weapons powered up. She tossed a glare at the Senator, who raised his hands in resignation. “They contacted me before you arrived. It seems you made a show of yourself on Corellia…Piracy, Murder? Really Alex…you should not have come back…”

“That. I am most certainly aware of now, Senator…you weren’t lying about the change in alliances.” Her eyes went back to the Republic General, whom she immediately recognized from Corellia leading the assault on her room. The last glance she caught of him as she tossed herself from her window to freedom, “Let’s see how far your conspiracy goes, shall we? I wonder how the Jedi Council or the rest of the Galactic Senate will react once they learn of the secrets you’ve been hiding.”

General Stone lowered his blaster slightly to smile at Alex through a toothy grin, “Oh no ‘Master Jedi’, you will not be given that chance. The tribunal is already formed and you have no standing in the Jedi Order; you are dead as far as they are concerned.” Stepping forward he continued the grin, “No, you are not a Jedi at all, are you? You are nothing more than the notorious pirate ‘Elle’ who hails from a group called the White Maw. Responsible for looting, pillaging and murder across the Hoth sector.” Alex visibly slumped slightly, the General standing up a little more formal and losing the smile.

“Alexandra De’nabre I am hereby placing you under arrest for the charge of Piracy against the Galactic Republic…we plan to give you all the rights and privileges associated with any terrorist that raises the sword against the Republic. We will try you, then we will execute you for your crimes….and no one will be the wiser.” He looked at two of the troopers behind him, “Take her…and keep it quiet…”

As Alex was lead away General Stone holstered the blaster and waited till the entourage escorting Alex out disappeared down the hall; the doors closing behind them, “You did the right thing, Senator. The information she carries would shake the very foundations of the Republic. Something we cannot afford given the approaching appropriations. We need that funding, Czerka needs that information back.”

The Senator sat down behind the desk and fiddled with some papers before looking up, “You are sure the Czerka angle is being handled? I took an awful risk betraying her, regardless if you realize it or not; if she gets a message out to the Jedi we are done for.”

Shaking his head and turning for the door, General Stone smiled wickedly, “There will be no issues with that. Even now Czerka is handling the pirates on Hoth. We will have the information back soon and Alex De’nabre will return to the grave from wince she came…NO ONE will ever know she or the twins are linked or that Alexandra De’nabre had any connection to them.”

“I hope you’re right. I have dealt with this woman for years, I signed the appropriation which sent her and her husband to their doom.” The Senator looked down reflectively, “Such a different time then, so full of promise.” He looked up with a glare, “I liked her…perhaps more than I should have.” Closing the book on the papers he shuffled stated the last fact bluntly, “Make sure it’s painless General, she was a friend once. And these circumstances are unfortunate. She acts as any Mother would act in regards to their children.”

“Agreed. Who can blame her? Pity really. She could have been a powerful asset. The Mother of the twins included in the Project…” Opening the door, the General turned and gave a slight bow, “It will be swift and painless. I owe you as much for helping us end this.”

“End this?” The Senator stood and laughed slightly, “This isn’t over…my gut tells me if she can survive a war, a sith incursion on her colony, Piracy…she will definitely survive the likes of us both. Move quickly General…this is only beginning.”