Jedi Insurgency 160

Deep within Jabba's palace, Bib Fortuna stood at the head of a crowd. Composed of the most effective executives, lieutenants, minor warlords, and important scum from across the galaxy, they had gathered like ants, bringing with them great treasures to gift to the queen. 

Yet the great doors to the throne room remained as they had for two days: sealed, unmoving, and ominously silent. At first, these high level people had taken this as nothing more than a test. But as time dragged on, tempers began to flare, as each sub-leader that ran entire rackets, businesses, and other criminal enterprises started to fall out with one another, airing their petty grievances. 

The murmurs had grown into low snarls. A Nikto captain paced like a caged beast; a pair of Weequay officers whispered with knives drawn, as if a fight could break out at any second. The air smelled of sweat, sour nerves, and spice-stained breath.

Tessek pushed his way past these grim figures towards the door. He was a squid-like Quarren who had a large fleshy, triangle like head, and a face full of tentacle tendrils-was weak in build, but important in station. Acting as the lead accountant for all of Jabba's operations, there were few lifeforms within the Cartel that would dare slight him. 

Despite this authority, and seeming respect given due to his position, Tessek's tentacles twitched nervously, and his eyes darted across every shadow, as if a beast would lunge at him from the darkness. His robes were damp beneath the arms, as ink had unconsciously leaked at some point due to his heightened emotional state. At the front of the door to the throne room, he stopped when he came across Jabba's steward, and majordomo. 

“Bib, this cannot be good. The Hutt has summoned every officer, every ranking executive, minor warlord, and  gangleader that answers to his banner. Now that everyone has been called, not even us two, his most trusted helpers, are let in? It's been two days, Bib. Two days! There is treachery in this, I tell you!” Tessek whispered at an intense, fast rate, whilst grabbing the collar of Fortuna's robe. 

Bib Fortuna blinked slowly, as though each thought had to swim through fog to reach him. Cobwebs clung to his mind, making it difficult to sort through his colleague's warning. He felt as if he should be more reactionary, but such thoughts were unneeded? How irritating. 

Holding up a pale hand, he projected calm. 

“Patience, Tessek. Jabba ordered the meeting to take place. I heard his words myself.” He said, trying to sound firm, and authoritative, although uncertainty threaded the edges of his tone. “He wants us here. All of us.”

Tessek leaned closer, nearly trembling. “To what end?” Ink-dampened fingers twisted together during his speech, his glassy blue eyes went wide as he stared at Fortuna like a maniac. “We are trapped, Bib! The Gomorreans aren't allowing anyone out! Do you know what this means?! He has us contained, cornered like womp rats. Why summon every last officer, only to abandon us behind locked doors?” His breath hitched, and he barely got out his next words. “He means to purge us. He means to-”

Fortuna cut him off with a thin smile, and a patronizing pat on the back. 

“The Hutt does not waste resources lightly. Executives, strategists, these are his limbs, executing his will. To cut them away, would be harming himself. Have some confidence, you of all people should be aware of your importance!” Fortuna said in false cheer, attempting to raise his colleague's morale. 

“You think? We have seen his whims turn a man's skin inside out. The very same man who had won Lord Jabba a million credits in a race had become his carpet hours later!” Tessek shrieked. 

Quite a few people who were waiting in the hall had heard Tessek's outburst, and began to look amongst one another, a slight panic started to set in amongst the more perceptive individuals in the crowd. 

Fortuna felt a shiver across his thoughts, as though the cobwebs tightened. True. He knew it. Everyone did. This was simply a meeting organized by the boss. Tessek was setting a bad example…perhaps he would have to discuss the Quarren's replacement with the boss once all this had blown over. 

Fortuna loudly coughed into his hand, and raised his voice. 

“Attention, attention, please! Lord Jabba wished for this meeting. We survive by obedience. We are to wait until he commands it! It is by his grace that each and every one of us draws breath. If you wish to leave, please, by all means.” Fortuna gestured towards the back hall that was guarded by a squad of heavily armed Gamorreans. 

Some people looked back hopeful that the situation had changed, yet the overweight mountains of fat & muscle remained in place. A sense of foreboding doom gripped some hearts, whilst others chose to believe Fortuna's words, and started to joke amongst one another. 

Fortuna glanced back at Tessek, pushing calm into his expression even as something cold crawled beneath it. “Keep your head low. Follow orders. That has always been the path to survival.”

Tessek swallowed hard, the panic in his alien expression transcended racial boundaries, it was as if he had a bone in his throat, and could not speak. 

Then, suddenly, Tessek had the fright of his life. From his perspective, Bib Fortuna had lost it, and began to speak to empty air. 

“Yes, my Lord, a most excellent idea, I shall let them know at once.” Fortuna smiled, and bowed at the door to the throne room, he then turned to address the crowd once more. “The time you have waited for has arrived! Everyone, please, follow me!” 

As soon as Tessek entered the throne room, he felt a migraine, but shook it off. ‘I must've been looking at accounting errors too late last night.’ 

Just as the Quarren had this thought, he watched on in astonished fear, as the dozens of officers who had filed in behind him bowed towards the empty dais. 

“Greeting, Lord Jabba!” They bellowed, shaking the hall. 

“Lord Jabba is pleased by your patience! He is eager to answer your questions. Please, step forward one by one, and let him know about your deepest concerns!” Fortuna smiled, and led the various lieutenants, and underbosses into a queue. 

What happened next had Tessek's blood run ice cold. Ink seeped out of his armpits in droves, and he fell onto his rear in shock. That was because right in front of him, the gangsters would approach the dais, looking like they were speaking with Jabba, only to walk straight into an open trapdoor! There wasn't even a scream of fear, only the grinding of bones as the Rancor roared happily, and took his fill! 

Before his eyes, dozens of the most dangerous, influential money makers, pirates, slavers, thieves, and murderers had willingly-without pause-killed themselves! The entire operation had taken less than five minutes! 

Oozing ink, and breathing heavily, Tessek wished this was nothing more than a nightmare! Yes, yes, it had to be! 

“You seem tense.” A soft, sibilant voice filled with charisma whispered in his ear. 

“Who?!” Tessek whipped around, only to see empty air. 

“Perhaps you should join them.” The voice suggested, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. It was as if the voice belonged to a parent trying to coax their child to go join another group of children for play. 

“Yes, Tessok, Lord Jabba has been quite accommodating. It is your turn to ask him a question.” Fortuna added on. 

“Get. Out. Of. My. Head!” Tessok wailed. 

“Oh very well, I suppose you've earned that much.” The voice seemed to be slightly playful-yet annoyed-at having his fun cut short. 

Emerging on the dais, and reclined on a couch, was a masked man. 

“Re-re-rev…!” Tessok stuttered. 

“For a coward, you have a surprisingly firm will. Much more impressive than those killers who could've snapped you in half a second ago, eh?” The masked man complimented, and slowly began to walk towards him. 

“Rev-rev-Revan!” 

“I suppose I'm not quite as good as He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, but we're getting there. Now, my squidheaded friend, can you guess why you're alive?” 

Tessok glanced at the mask, and quickly looked away, as the man had squatted, and was inches away from his person. Repressing a shudder, he mustered up his courage, and faced him, faced: Revan. 

“You need me.” 

“A bit-pusher like you is hard to come by, I admit, but you're more of a bonus then anything else. With old Bibby-boy here, I have the keys to the kingdom, so to speak.” Revan stood up, and gestured with his hands to the side, as if Tessok's fate wasn't very important to him. 

“N-no, you do need me.” Tessok nodded to himself, and despite the slight stutter, and tremor of fear, began to feel excitement. 

This was it! The time to cast off the yoke of the Hutts was fast approaching! Although working for someone else was an insult to his intelligence, it would only be temporary. Emperor Palpatine was sure to achieve victory before long. 

“What naughty thoughts.” Revan shook his head, and chuckled. 

‘He knows!’ 

“Uh, ah, I mean-! The accounts, many of them are in back-up drives, and physical documentation! A great leader such as yourself wouldn't be blinded by the paltry sum hidden in-between these walls! Bib has the connections, I admit, but all of Jabba's investments were my idea!” Tessok began quietly, but began to speak with some heat in his voice, and stronger conviction as years of solid financial advice had been rewarded with the constant threat of death! 

“Wow, you must've really hated that slime, huh?” 

“Like you couldn't believe.” Tessok found himself unconsciously agreeing. As soon as he realized what he said, the Quarren glanced over his shoulder, as if Jabba himself would come out of the darkness, and snap his neck. 

“With a tongue like that, it's a wonder you surprised this long.” Revan darkly chuckled, and ran a finger along a nearby pillar, a trail of cackling blue electricity followed in its wake. 

The air in the throne room began to feel stifling, and Tessok pulled himself up into a kneeling position. “I can be of use to you, Lord Revan. Use me. Allow this subordinate to make money for your war.” 

“Oh? An ambitious squid like you hid treasure from his master in the past, and even secretly resented him.” Revan continued speaking softly, before he suddenly rose in both volume and tempo. “How could I possibly trust someone who lies. To. My. FACE!” 

Revan’s words boomed like thunder, and a swift wind shoved Tessko upward, where his back slammed into a nearby column. Pain assaulted him, yet the Quarren didn't dare make a squeak as the very shadows in the room nipped at the cloaked man's heels. 

Approaching him with his hand held out, Revan kept Tessek pinned. The force that was applied to him ever so slightly eased up, and he gasped for air. Witnessing this Jedi sorcery first hand was completely different then hearing about it from a drunk spacer, or watching grainy films on the holonet! The reality was raw, gritty, and much more terrifying! 

Tessek knew that if his next words didn't satisfy the man…he would be dead! 

Struggling to find the solution to this dire predicament, his mind was filled with frantic thoughts, and as a wave of something strange entered his psyche, he unconsciously blurted out his true thoughts. 

“I want to live without the fear of being killed after a disastrous financial forecast. I want to be surrounded by beautiful women, paid a high commission based salary with 10% paid dividends for every successful transaction, and live where there aren't two suns, or on a planet full of sand. Meet these conditions, and you will have my loyalty.” Tessek said, swaying on the spot as if he was in a trance. 

Revan lowered his hand, and gently lowered him to the ground. 

“What did you do to m-” 

“Tessok, your offer has moved me. Welcome to the Rebel Alliance to restore the Republic!” Revan then cheekily snapped his finger, and Fortuna fell to his knee, gasping for air. 

“What. What have I done?!” Fortuna asked himself, looking around the throne room in a daze. 

“You can go get those accounts ready, squidy. Your colleague and I have much to discuss.” 

Tessek felt a metaphorical weight lift off his shoulders, and bowed to Revan before departing. The following, hurried begging from Bib was like music to his ears.  

~~~~~~~~

AN: Nerf [Mind Trick], that shit needs a hot fix ASAP!