The Old Republic: Beyond Light and Darkness ch. 8
Chapter 8
Doppler defect
Kaidan was woken up by a prodding arm, then shouting and threats. Opening his eyes he saw a foggy image of HK holding Calder on gunpoint.
„Kay, tell your crazy droid to quit trying to kill me!" The Cathar shouted nervously.
„Warning: Question my behaviour core's integrity once more, organic filth, and I'll drag you by your flea-ridden pelt to the hangar bay doors and send you off on a five kilometer flight down towards the ground!" The droid replied menacingly, still keeping the smuggler in his sights.
„Why is everybody yelling?" Asked Kaidan, half sleep, rubbing his eyes. „HK, stop threatening my contacts, Calder stop being a pussy. What do you want?"
Calder was not happy with Kaidan's attitude, but having almost lost his life to the Jedi and a blaster barrel pointed at him, he didn't argue. HK hesitantly holstered his weapon, still eyeing the Cathar suspiciously.
„Your ship just made it to the orbit, it will be here in a minute or two. Thought you wanted to know" Calder said, turned around and went back into the control room.
The message woke Kaidan up completly. Energised, he picked himself up from the bench he was laying on and walked into the hangar bay, just in time to witness his ship majestically fly into the hangar.
The_Ascension_ was a Corelian XS Freighter, a sturdy piece of engineering with a whole lot of more or less illegal upgrades that Kaidan couldn't install on a Jedi corvette. He used this ship when an assignment required discretion from him, like obscuring the fact that he's a Jedi. The ship's hull was midnight black in colour, with four red stripes in pairs of two on each side of the hull.
Top-of-the-line engines made this ship one of the fastest in galaxy and able to outrun almost anybody in a dogfight. An array of scramblers, EM emitters, sophisticated scanners and even rarely seen optical cloaking helped in getting out from sticky situation or sneaking past defence perimetres, while high-powered laser cannons and proton torpedoes worked if things went sour beyond escaping. Inside, the ship was just as homey as his Jedi corvette, with the added bonus of many hidden smuggling compartments availible.
This was exactly the kind of ship he wanted right now. Kaidan could not wait to finally sit behind the steers and burn thrusters. He approached Calder who was talking to a Sullustan who brought the ship from Nar Shaddaa.
„Well boss, there's your ship - all fueled up, rations, med supplies and the liked in the price of one. Satisfied?" Calder asked begrudingly.
Kaidan let his contact's behaviour slide, „It's perfect. Thanks Cal. I really appreciate it." He said serenly.
„Oh," Calder was surprised at Kaidan's disposition, „Yeah, uh, don't mention it. You can go whenever."
„Look Cal, what you did was shitty, but I like you cause you helped me out alot in the past," Kaidan assured the Cathar, „You just do what you promised and we can forget about the rest."
Calder didn't say anything, only patted the wolf on the arm and shouted an all clear to the control room. Kaidan waved Calder goodbye and boarded his ship with his droid. He wasted enough time already and he was nowhere closer to solving the mystery of his „treason".
He missed the ship. Kaidan had spent the last three years living here during and inbetween assignments. His scent still lingered in the air. „HK, prep the ship for launch." Kaidan instructed his droid. He then walked into his quaters and dropped his gear onto a chair, then laid on his bed, snout-first into a pillow. There were other smells on his bedsheet. One of Rex and one of Lilian. They reminded him of his friends. He smiled and sighed slowly, then picked himself up and headed for the cockpit.
Inside, HK was sitting at the co-pilot's seat, flipping switches, pressing buttons and tapping at consoles.
„Report: Master, the ship is fully functional and operating at optimum capacity," Stated the droid, „All preparations have been made for take-off and we can launch at your convenience. As organics say: The wheel is all yours, Master."
Kaidan smiled with the corner of his snout and trailing his fingers across the leather-bound chair, he sat on the pilot's seat and placed his hands on the steers. He pushed a few buttons and heard the hum of engines firing up, repulsorlifts slowly carrying the ship upwards. Crooking the steers slightly to the right, he turned the ship to face the bay doors. He clutched and pushed a lever on the panel to his right, engaging the ship's thrust, slowly taking the freighter out of the hangar. He then brought the ship to a full stop for a brief moment, pulled the steers towards him, then pushed hard on thrust, plunging the ship up through the atmosphere and into space.
He longed for that feeling of defying gravitational pull, launching on another interstellar voyage. That was how he thought freedom felt like. _Now, let's make use of that freedom and find out what's this madness all about._Kaidan thought to himself.
„HK, we're going back to Nar Shaddaa. Punch it in and let's get going!" Kaidan told his droid, with enthusiasm in his voice.
„Acknowledgement: Yes, Master. It is good to be going back to that lawless duracrete jungle," HK replied, „I can't wait to shoot some organic scum."
Navicomputer console made a beep and Kaidan pushed forward a small lever, starting the hyperdrive. The universe outside started to seem like it was closing in on the ship and suddenly, the ship entered hyperspace, flying out into Hutt Space.
Kaidan leaned back in his chair, gazing into the hypnotising patterns of hyperspace. He had alot of time to think. Perhaps too much.
„So, we have like 12 hours before we make it to Nar Shaddaa," Kaidan said to his droid, „Wanna play dejarik?"
„Observation: A delightfuly ironic metaphor of our situation: pawns being played into a grander scheme, unaware of their purpose," Mused the droid, „Very well Master, let us waste some time on questionably entertaining games."
Kaidan and HK at by the game table, holographic figures started appearing across the board.
„So, you think there's something bigger in play here?" Kaidan asked his droid, while thinking on his first move.
„Explanation: Master, unless you have actually butchered that agent and somehow kept it a secret from me," said the droid, observing the game board intently while Kaidan made his move, „Then yes, I think that someone is playing us for fools. And by us, Master, I mean you." HK countered the Jedi's move.
„Ah, I remember why I hate playing with you, you always bring every game into a stalemate..." Kaidan murmured to himself, then turned to his droid, „I can only hope I'll find some answers on Nar Shaddaa. And I swear to you - whoever did it is gonna pay."
„Statement: And that is what I like about you, Master," HK was countering Kaidan's every move, to the wolf's annoyance, „On the first glance, you have principles, morality and all those other absurd organic 'values'. But when one gets to know you, they notice that beneath this squishy, watery cover lies a cold, robotic heart."
„Thanks, I think?" Kaidan raised an eyebrow, then deactivated the dejarik table, „Ok, I think that's enough gaming for now. I'll go check on the engines and you... Do whatever you want. Knock yourself out."
The droid shrugged, got up from his chair and walked into the cockpit. Kaidan stood up and walked towards the engine room. There was nothing to be done inside, Calder took good care of the ship. Kaidan wasn't in the mood for greasy work anyway. He just wanted a place to think and his bedroom was too quiet for that. He enjoyed the hum of a working hyperdrive. Or the way it vibrates when you lay someone on it and bang the living daylights out of them. The wolf smirked to himself.
Kaidan wished he knew what awaits him next. What if there is some huge conspiracy behind him? Is he strong enough to face it? And what for? For the Republic or for vengeance?
But above everything else, Kaidan just wanted to speak to his friends again.
And what better way there is than to send a message from his Spymobile!
Kaidan pulled in a crate to the engine console and accessed the comm system. He booted up a couple of decryption programs and opened a backdoor access into the nearest hypercomm buoys. Then he opened a new text message, addressed to Lilian's private holofrequency. Kaidan concluded that Rex check his once a week, and that was the day before, so Lilian would be more reliable. He started writing, tapping at the screen, letting thoughts flow out of him and turn into words.
The flight to Nar Shaddaa seemed to take forever and Kaidan felt a relief when his droid announced on intercomm and they are bound to emerge from hyperspace in a few minutes.
Kaidan was laying on his bed, nothing but underwear on him, hands under his head, staring at the ceiling. Meditating, or trying to at least.
„I'll be with you in a moment." He said, as he got up from the bed and started dressing up.
This time, he had to ensure his identity would stay hidden. Hutt Space was generally lawless and Republic secret services could snatch him anywhere, at any time. He pulled out a brown cloak from his wardrobe and a metal mask, shaped in a way to conceal his countenance and even species. He wore the cloak over his regular clothing, making sure to cover his belt and lightsabers. Holding the mask in hand, Kaidan went to the cockpit.
HK was sitting in the co-pilot seat and just as Kaidan walked in, the ship went out of hyperspace in Y'Toub system, right into Nar Shaddaa orbit.
„Anyone taking interest in our arrival?" He asked.
„Answer: No Master, I detect no attempts to scan or hail us. We have not been noticed so far." The droid answered.
„Good, let's keep it that way. Here's what we'll do:" Kaidan started explaining to his droid, „Fly straight to Network Access and drop me off at these coordinates. Then find somewhere to land nearby, preferably unsanctioned, and wait for my signal to extract me. Is that clear?" He asked to make sure his droid wouldn't go on a rampage in his absence.
„Concerned Query: Master, are you sure you wish to go by yourself?" The droid asked uncertainly, „It could be- no, it_most certainly_ is a trap. I cannot aid you while being seated in this tin can."
Kaidan placed the mask on his muzzle and hooded his head. „Seriously, you should have more faith in me by now," He smiled at the droid, but then forgot he was wearing the mask, „If things so sour, I authorise you to start blasting everything with the ship's turrets. It's Hutt territory anyway, they'll be paying the damages."
„Enthusiastic Answer: Acknowledged, Master. You have just lifted my spirits!" HK's voice was filled with childish joy.
„Bring us in. I'll jump out when we're low enough." Kaidan instructed his droid, as he left for the exit ramp.
Kaidan approached the ramp and pressed a button on the wall, opening the exit. Below he saw decaying urban spires of the Smuggler's Moon. The ship approached the contested Network Access, perfect place for a meet-up - or an ambush. Ascension lowered down onto an abandoned construction site and HK turned around to face the loading ramp towards a raw-state tower. Kaidan slid down the ramp, falling a few metres down and skillfully landed on his feet.
He waved at the ship as his droid flew it away. Kaidan pulled out his datapad to confirm his location - He was in the right area, but wrong spot. The meeting location was visible from the tower he was on. The wolf started climbing down the beams comprising the skeleton of the incomplete building, and hopped to the ground.
Kaidan reached out with his senses, searching for any concealed threats. He was convinced that there has to be an ambush somewhere, even though the documents he received mentioned an explicit 'no intervention' order from SIS. If he interpreted it correctly anyway.
But there was nothing. No feedback through the Force, no vibes. There was something else. A strange shadow, as if something wanted to obscure itself in the Force.
Suddenly, the feeling grew stronger, as a cloaked, masked entity appeared before him. Whoever it was must have been thinking the same way as Kaidan did. And they were strong in the Force. They must have recognised the same, because the figure pulled out a double-bladed rightsaber and ignited it, violet sabers glowing in the darkness of dilapidated alleys.
Kaidan didn't want to fall behind, calling his lightsabers to his hands. He held his left, red lightsaber in a reverse-grip, characteristic with Shien style, and his right-dominant, blue one straight up. His enemy brandished his lightsaber, swirling it around and taking an aggresive stance.
The wolf didn't wait for his enemy to strike, as he charged towards him. The figure would not stay indebted to the Jedi and run towards to intercept his attack. The violet blade swung at Kaidan's legs who avoided it with a sommersault over his opponent. Kaidan attempted a strike, but his enemy already made a roll forward and deflected the strike with the other blade.
Quickly turning around, Kaidan locked one blade with his right saber and took a slash at the saber handle with his left saber. To his surprise, however, the handle shrugged off his attack like it was nothing. His enemy took this opportunity to kick Kaidan away and unleash a barrage of attacks, which the wolf narrowly blocked. Shielding himself from one pummeling strike after another, Kaidan looked around for an escape venue when he noticed a stack of metal construction beams. He reached out for one with the Force, pulled it into the air and hurled at his enemy.
The figure must have noticed the approaching piece of solid metal and disengaged from Kaidan, just barely avoiding getting smashed by the beam. Both combatants swirled in place, brandishing their sabers. Kaidan rushed towards his opponent, when he blasted the wolf with a storm of lightning. The Jedi was always prepared for this, however. He switched his lightsabers off and reached his hands out, absorbing the crackling energy. It was alot to handle. Kaidan wasn't new to this though. His enemy was unrelenting, but it was obviously straining him. Suddenly, he stopped and Kaidan took this opportunity to unleashed a blast of the concentrated energy at his enemy, melting metal, pulverising concrete, overloading lights.
His enemy raised a protective bubble to try to shield himself from the blast, but they were either too weak or too late, as the energy hurled him back. The figure dug with his clawed gauntlet into the ground, trying to stop himself from walling into a chasm, leaving deep marks in the metal ground. Kaidan quickly followed his Force blast with saber assault, and was already jumping around his enemy, slashing and stabbing. His enemy was trying his best to deflect his attacks, but he was weakening. Their combination of aggressive Juyo and versatile Niman was flawless, but they were unprepared for Kaidan's equally good execution of acrobatic Ataru strikes, coupled with Shien reverse-grip barriers and Niman application of Force powers.
Finally, one of Kaidan's strikes grazed his opponent's mask, throwing it out of their face. The enemy clutched his snout and took a few steps back, while deactivating his lightsaber. Kaidan felt compelled to take the opportunity and make the final blow, but something held him back. His enemy let go of his face and looked Kaidan directly in his masked face.
What the Jedi saw made his eyes go wide, to the point where he deactivated his own lightsabers and took off his mask. That, in turn, forced a reaction of utter surprise from his opponent. The two men approached each other, shedding their hoods. Kaidan could not believe it, what kind of trick this was? He looked into what looked to be his own face while it looked back at him.
„What the fuck...?" The two men spoke silently.