Jedi Artisan 015

After finishing up in the ancient temple, Zane & Shaak Ti returned to the shuttlecraft, where they were reunited with the mercenary informants. Taking off through the thick atmosphere, they returned to the Republic vessel without a hitch. 

Dropping into the landing bay, the shuttle latched onto the Hammerhead-class cruiser with a heavy, metallic thunk, followed by the hiss of decompressing seals.

Zane stretched his arms & legs like a kid as he rose from the passengers seat, rolling his shoulders like a man who had just finished a leisurely nap rather than a gauntlet of deadly temple traps. 

“Well, I’d call that a productive afternoon. No flesh eating insects were in my coat this time, and hey, we got to pretend to be a God to a bunch of primitives, that doesn't happen every mission.” Zane said in a refreshed tone. 

Shaak Ti sent him a weary side eye. The flight back into orbit had taken a few hours, and Mimban's atmosphere was incredibly wonky. As such, the shuttle had been jiggling around like a pingpong ball in a glass of alcohol at a frat party. The pair of mercs were still strapped to their seats, and due to Shaak Ti's drastic maneuvering practically had swirly eyes. Zane's refreshed attitude further served the sexy Togruta's ire, making her grit her teeth. 

Zane, acting oblivious to this naked hostility, continued with his story as if he didn't have a care in the world. 

“Thankfully, with our combined quick wits, there were minimal boulder-related incidents, and I even picked up a souvenir!” 

The small harp-delicate, and constricted from impossibly fine silk-hung from his belt, its threads shimmering faintly with an almost imperceptible resonance in the Force. Giving it a small strum, a pleasant tune sent relief into the cabin's occupants. 

Shaak Ti gave him a sidelong look as the boarding ramp began to lower. “You literally danced around a poison floor trap.”

“I'll have to take you to play Dance Dance Revolution sometime. You'll find what I did in that musty old temple is nothing extraordinary.” Zane sniffed in faux disdain. 

Shaak Ti rolled her eyes, then unbuckeled herself, and massaged her hands. 

“Grip the controls too hard?” Zane beamed. 

Shaak Ti tiredly leaned into him, and kissed him. “Just shut up already.” She huffed, and closed her eyes. 

Zane gently supported her, and softly massaged one of her lekku. This time, his intent wasn't to tickle or tease, and a soft gasp of pleasure left her lips. Like having a bad back, and getting a kink worked out, Shaak Ti was practically putty in his hands. The entire time, the mercs were looking on in confusion. At least the Human was mouth agape, whilst the Weequay man-fearful he had seen too much-closed his eyes, and turned away. 

Once the ramp finally hit the deck of the hangar, Zane let go, and took the lead. Strolling down into the cavernous bay of the Republic cruiser, he briefly admired the lazy crew, the dusty cargo rigs, and the dull gray bulkheads of this ship that had spent far too long idling in orbit above Coruscant. A few deckhands looked up as the Jedi disembarked, their expressions a mixture of boredom and curiosity. It was quite the dichotomy. 

Zane, having sent a message ahead of time to his collaborator, Garm Bel Iblis, the young man was already waiting for them in the hangar. Flanked by two other security personnel, he cut a sharp, if not somewhat severe pose. This future firebrand of the Republic was already shaping up to be quite the leader. 

“Lieutenant.” Zane nodded at the man, and plucked a few strings from his harp. 

The pair of guards became relaxed in an instant, but the young 20 year old remained professional, his taciturn face the very definition of an iceberg. 

‘Tch, I'll get you to break yet.’ Zane swore to himself. 

“A charming trinket, Knight Zane, one the mindless aristocrats would pay top dollar to acquire." Garm idly commented as if he were informing a class of child students with the utmost professionalism about specifics of the male & female reproductive organs. “However, we have much more pressing matters.” The young man finished by glancing at the pair of mercs. 

“Is this the best place to be holding this conversation?” Shaak Ti said, glancing at the guards, then at the cameras. 

When she wasn't being a plaything in Zane's sinister clutches, she was every bit the competent, future Jedi Councilor. 

Garm slightly inclined his head, then began to explain his position. “These men have been assigned to me by my father. As for the cameras, they serve as a record. In a way, they protect us better than skulking into some interrogation room.” 

“Very good, and the two friends who might be up to no good?” Zane sweetly smiled, and clasped his hands behind his back. 

“The evidence provided by you two was enough for me to take action. Although their arrest is doubtful, I maintain the right-as Chief Security Officer-to detain any threats to the ship.” Garm explained in a rigid tone. 

“Very good. Then, I shall leave them in your capable hands.” 

“Knight Zane. Knight Ti. Once I have recorded their statements, you will be informed.” Garm said in an perfunctory tone, and just as his two guards began to escort the mercs, a deafening klaxon blared through the hangar.

Red emergency lights snapped to life, bathing everything in a pulsing crimson glow. Then, the entire ship lurched violently, and several random electrical outlets burst like it was an episode of Star Trek. One poor sailor was standing next to a console, and was launched 10ft in the air! 

Zane staggered half a step, then caught himself with casual ease, as if the deck was nothing more annoying than a squeaky board. 

“Ah, well that can't be good.” He said with a knowing smirk towards Shaak Ti. 

“This is no time to bring up your stupid bet, can't you see this man is injured?!” She harshly rebuked. 

“Ah, but I know that you learned Force Heal after you saw me almost die that one time~” Zane said without worry, and wriggled his fingers. 

“You mean the twelve times you almost died.” Shaak Ti practically howled back, a vein pulsing on her forehead as she kneeled down next to the wounded man. Hands glowing green, she brought his burns under control within less than a minute. 

“Yep, that's my Ti Ti.” Zane gave a thumbs up, praising her work, and conveniently moving on from this very obvious sore spot. 

Meanwhile, Garm had pulled out his communicator, and barked one short word: “Report!” 

Seconds later, instead of answering him directly, a voice crackled over the shipwide intercom. It was crackly due to the systems being ancient, yet it was calm, and full of commanding strength. “Bridge to all decks, this is Captain Monogan speaking. A pair of unknown vessels have entered engagement range! We are under attack! Repeat, we are under attack! All hands, battle stations!” 

Another impact slammed into the cruiser moments later. The shields had now come to life, but that didn't stop a few dozen unsecured crates from spilling over on top of them! 

“We're going to die!” The Human merc cried out in fear. 

Zane flicked his hand, and settled the violently flying crates with ease. Pressing a button on them, they then magnetized to the deck. 

Shaak Ti then turned to Zane, a somewhat lost look on her face. This was the generic I'm reaching out with my feelings/sensing the shit around us look that all mystics got when trying to reach deep into the Force. 

“This isn’t a random assault, they-whoever they are-were waiting for us.” She stated with firm conviction as she pulled away from her patient, and began to follow after Garm towards the bridge. 

“I think it's pirates.” Zane nodded along as if to say I told you so. 

“It's too early to speculate about that…we should keep our scanners primed on the Recusant-class Commerce Guild destroyer, the Light of Providence. They might try something.” Shaak Ti warned in a vigilant tone. 

Zane rolled his eyes, then took out his coin to begin seeing the odds. If you couldn't convince a Jedi with logic & wisdom-especially a Jedi that just happened to be your girlfriend-then mystic voodoo bullshit would have to be the way! 

Just as he was going to share his suspicions, they had already marched onto the bridge. 

“Get this hunk of junk working, Ensign. I want visuals, now!” Monogan said in a commanding shout. Her typical cool had been replaced with a calm, yet urgent command style. 

Upon his, Ti, and Garm's arrival, the somewhat frazzled Captain acknowledged them with a nod, then redirected her penetrating gaze at the blue skinned, youthful Papanoida girl working the science station. 

A flickering hologram then sprang to life above the central bridge area, resolving into a tactical display. A pair of sleek, angular, ships were positioned around the Hammerhead, their weapons flashing in coordinated volleys.

Zane leaned in slightly, squinting at the projection. “Czerka?” He guessed.

Monogan’s jaw tightened, then looked to the side. 

“Enemy data analyzed, we're under attack from a Corona-class Frigate, and a Star Saber XC-01 Starfighter MkII Bomber under escort of three more starfighters is making an attack run as we speak! Captain, if that bomber drops its payload-” Garm, the Chief of Security got out, and said in a grim tone. 

“Damn those politicians. We should have 24 starfighters of our own out there.” Monogan said in a whisper to herself. “Lieutenant, target that bomber, I want it downed!” 

Garm began clicking away at his console, directing the Hammerhead's batteries. At the same time, another blast rocked the ship. Sparks showered from an overhead conduit, forcing a group of deckhands to scatter.

“Shields are holding.” The telemetry Ensign reported, though her voice lacked confidence. “But they’re targeting our engines and hangar bays. Sir, the frigate is trying to disable us.”

“What is their game?” Shaak Ti silently questioned. 

Zane glanced at her. “Meaning?”

“They don’t want us leaving Mimban, that much is obvious. But why not simply aim to eliminate us? Why go through so many hoops?” She questioned, shaking her head trying to make sense of it all. 

A slow, knowing smile crept across Zane’s face. “Ah, but you forget my dear Ti, we have 12 Senators’ children, and 36 mega corporation execs’ extended family stationed on this ship~” He said in a tone, mocking Monogan by directly quoting what she had stated previously. 

He turned back to the hologram, eyes flicking across the enemy formations. His posture shifted as he analyzed the information that was available. The lazy artisan was still there…but now a Jedi Knight was taking charge. 

“Captain.” Zane said, almost conversationally, “How attached are you to this ship’s current condition?”

Monogan blinked. “I beg your pardon?”

Another explosion thundered against the hull, louder than before. The deck bucked violently, sending a ripple of alarm through the hangar crew.

Zane gestured vaguely toward the hologram. “Because I’m thinking we either sit here and let them whittle us down, or…” He trailed off, as if considering whether the thought was worth finishing.

“Or what?” Monogan demanded.

Zane’s grin widened, bright and utterly inappropriate for the situation. “Or we stop being the target.”

Shaak Ti crossed her arms, already sensing where this was going. “Zane-” 

He raised a hand, cutting her off gently. 

“Trust me, or at least trust that this will be entertaining.” Zane raised an eyebrow, and the soft sound of coins jingling came from his hand. 

Monogan stared at him for a long, incredulous second. “Knight Zane, this is not the time for theatrics.”

“It’s exactly the time for theatrics.” Zane replied smoothly. “They’ve brought a small fleet to intimidate a relic of a cruiser and its underpaid crew.”

He stepped closer to the hologram, studying the enemy ships as another volley of fire streaked past the Hammerhead’s shields.

“Well, I think it’s time we disappoint them.”

Shaak Ti exhaled through her nose, though there was the faintest hint of a smile tugging at her lips. “What do you have in mind?”

Zane reached down, lightly brushing the small harp at his belt. For just a moment, its strings shimmered with that same gentle, resonant energy from the temple.

“Let’s call it…a change in tempo.” Zane lightly said, quirking his lips. 

Another violent shudder rippled through the ship. The klaxons screamed on. And for the first time since the attack began, Zane looked like a kid about to hatch a mischievous plot.