Aura Ta’var sat in a cargo box, her arms and legs pressed against its sides for safety as its momentum jostled her around. The droid directing the cargo barge towards the Empusa factory didn’t care much for Zeltron safety standards. This was a supply run, not a passenger ship. The darkness didn’t help either. Nevertheless, she smiled as she thought of the Collective’s reaction. A Force user sending herself directly to them had to be on their bucket list. All of a sudden, she felt herself being squished to one side, probably a result of a rapid deceleration, and pushed herself in the opposite direction.
Kark! she whispered, surprised by the abrupt change. She focused on keeping quiet as she heard cargo droids speak nearby, followed by the sensation of being lifted into the air. At least the cargo droid didn’t rock the crate as much.
The glorious life of a Jedi…
Odan-Urr had requested her assistance on a mission to acquire Kerwin Drake’s cybernetic arm, which would allow her Clan and its allies to reverse engineer Technocrat technology and potentially give them an advantage over the Collective. She mused over the sitrep of her target, truthfully afraid of what would happen should she get struck by one of his supposed legendary strikes. However, Odan-Urr said this mission could potentially save thousands of lives so how could she refuse? What sounded like a human voice disrupted her thoughts.
“Halt. Destination and manifest?”
“Requisitioned supplies for control center Gamma-3.”
“Delivery confirmed. Place it out of the way this time, would ya?”
“Roger, roger.”
Aul Celsus thanked the Force he had a stolen badge as he snuck around the Empusa factory’s catwalk and checked each control room through the Force. Additionally, his brown expedition robes and armorweave cloak gave the image of a fellow Human traveling the galaxy, his cloak conveniently hiding his lightsaber from sight. He had managed to convince any overly curious employees that he was part of the ‘Liberation Front’, just another survivor of the galaxy with a trusty blaster at his side, but he doubted that facade would hold for long. He needed to get Kerwin Drake’s cybernetic arm and get out.
As he passed control center Gamma-3, the activation of a lightsaber in conjunction with a Force presence within shocked and deeply concerned him. The warning klaxon that went off a few seconds later scared him even more. He doubted his cover could survive a more severe scrutiny.
Idiot!
Aul sighed in resignation, grabbed his blaster pistol, and opened the door with a stolen ID card. A frightened operator stood in front of him, taking in the Sadowan’s attire before yelling, “It’s a Jedi. Take her out!” He aimed his blaster at the Jedi intruder and his jaw dropped in surprise. He recognized her— last time she had spared his life in the tournament that had given him the medallion he wore around his neck. She simply nodded towards the worker. He didn’t know why she was here, but part of him was willing to bet she wasn’t after him. Aul swung his blaster to face the operator and shot him, the look of surprise on the man’s face lingering as he fell to the ground.
The Sadowan gave the Zeltron a wary look and then ignored her almost completely while he quickly analyzed the control panel. After a few seconds, he hastily pressed a button and prayed it would turn off the alarm. It didn’t. He swiftly pressed another, which thankfully did the trick. Aul smiled in relief but it was short lived.
“Gamma-3, report!” chimed a voice from the console. Aura turned off her saber.
“Uh, everything's under control. Situation normal,” replied Aul nervously.
“What happened?”
“I had a slight malfunction, but everything's perfectly all right now. We're all fine here now, thank you. How are you?”
”We're sending a squad up.”
“Uh, negative. Truth be told I fell asleep and accidentally hit the alarm. There really is no need,” explained Aul Celsus.
”This is the second time this month. I’m going to have to report you this time.”
“Understood. It won’t happen again. Sorry,” the Sadowan apologized.
The console went quiet and Aul turned to face her.
“What the hell are you doing here?!” he growled.
“I’d ask the same of you. But you just saved me a lot of trouble so I’ll be nice. The Resistance wants Kerwin Drake.”
The Sadowan paused for a second before replying, “It appears we are on the same side then. Naga Sadow is also looking for him. Are you looking for anything in particular?”
Aura raised a brow suspiciously. “Yes, we need his cybernetic arm.”
“Ah. We have the same goal then.”
“Do we? It seems Naga Sadow doesn’t know what side it’s on lately.”
Aul’s expression hardened. “I guess you’ll have to trust me. I assume that neither of us wants to take him on alone. We can sort out who gets what after we actually have it. Deal?”
“Deal.” The Odanite went to the console and said, “Two Jedi spotted by the catwalks near Gamma-3. Mr. Drake, can you assist?”
Aul looked horrified. “What have you done?! I had a plan.”
“Stop jabbering and let’s make this look good.”
Aura Ta’var took off her cloak, opened the door to the catwalk, and pushed the Sadowan out. She ignited her saber and rushed him with an overhead slash. Aul activated his own light-blue lightsaber and blocked her attack, returning it with one of his own as he backed up towards a more open battlefield. Aura swung at him again and again, the clash of sabers ringing throughout the cavernous bay. The droids below didn’t care for their antics, but Kerwin Drake certainly did. The Sadowan snapped his head to the left, drawing Aura’s eyes in that direction. A Devaronian standing on the fabrication floor below them chucked a spherical metal ball directly at them, the Force already screaming at them to move.
