Yup, more of this beast, though I am happy to say the Nar Shadda portion is turning out better than I thought.
Cut to the same masked attacker of Darelda viewing Kenobi and 81 through a set of binoculars from a high building some distance away. The agent readies the bowcaster and start heading down.
Anakin and Carima make their way through the tunnels and hallways leading into the building, and arrive at a particular garage hall with countless ship parts scattered all over the area. Both customers and shopkeepers look particularly well dressed in comparison to the typical smugglers seen beforehand. They initially give the pair a look before going back to their business. The two of them start looking around at the parts offered, trying not to look heavily interested in anything particular.
Anakin whispers that if there are any parts here, it’s pretty brazen to outright put them on the market so quick, but Carima points out with no Republic authority, who is going to care? After checking out more wares, she spots a piece that gets her attention, stating it’s a Republic ship shield generator as she’s seen enough knockoffs to know. Skwalker wonders if it’s the one from Darelda’s ship and Niwir says they’re about to find out.
Getting the shopkeepers attention she brings over the part and asks about its age. The former responds with a small smile and says he sold all of old non-functioning parts to pilots in the corporate sector. She gives a playful scoff and says he’s probably told the same thing to the corporate sector pilots, and he offers an innocent look, stating that might be the case. Carima says the part looks alright enough, but she’d like to have some idea as to where it’s from, just in case she needs to make adjustments to it.
That query gets the clerk to look up with slightest hint of suspicion, and he calmly asks where they’re from with Carima saying nonchalantly saying she’s Corellian and he’s from Ord Mandell. This gets a knowing nod from the merchant who starts making small talk about both places while checking things under a counter. He is in fact readying his weapon with the other clerk in the garage doing the same. All the while he continues to talk, about to describe the better trade routes to those two planets…
Before the shopkeeper can fully turn around and shoot, Anakin blasts him, with Carima firing on the other merchant as he goes for his weapon. This quickly brings about chaos as the other aliens in the garage don’t know who to trust and everyone starts firing. Niwir and Skywalker quickly duck and hide behind a large radar dish on sale, occasionally blasting at one side of the room which has started coalescing into one group of shooters.
She curses herself for forgetting the first rule in dealing with these places: don’t ask the wrong questions. He eases her fault pointing out they probably violated some smuggler’s code the moment they started talking and probably had them apprehensive anyway. One of the garage customers gets close to the two of them but gets hit by blaster fire from the side and collapses onto the floor right nearby.
Following that Carima emphatically notes “This situation could use some of your new skills, Mr. Jedi.” She sarcastically notes that she can clearly see how this is much better than working on a moisture farm. He shrugs. “I don’t know, between the womprat infestations and Sand People raids back home I’d call it about even.” Anakin notes that they need just a moment to slip out, but that their “friends” here aren’t exactly being accommodating.
Niwir ponders for a moment and has an epiphany telling him to remember the trick they pulled on the Sand People a while back. Skywalker thinks it over, and responds he can think of worse ideas. “Trust me Skwalker, you already have.” She mutters while pulling out her second blaster.
Carima tells him she hopes his aim is just as good now and he worriedly hopes the same. They get some slight distance from the radar dish before she tosses the blaster towards their attackers and with pinpoint accuracy Anakin shoots the energy pack causing it to explode.
The impact stuns their enemies, and the two run out as he asks why she got to be from Corellia. They manage to escape through the larger hallways and the two make it outside just in time to see Obi-Wan and HX arrive. Kenobi says they heard some noise and asks what happened with Anakin replying that “Apparently they realized we weren’t ruthless scoundrels. It kind of went all downhill from there.”
The security droid says he’s almost figured out Organa’s location, but thanks to “your particular brand of window shopping” there’s little time to find her and get out before they get the wrong kind of attention. Obi Wan hears something in the distance and comments that it may be too late for that.
A group of speeders arrives and orders them to drop their weapons, and not go anywhere till they’ve answered some questions. Kenobi says quietly to the others that he might be able to influence them, but 81 responds that they have no time and blasts at them right before the four of them flee.
The speeders chase after as the group ducks into a nearby alley which twists and turns until eventually reaching a dead end. The four of them turn back around and Carima asks what are the odds are the pilots can be taken out before they use potential heavy firepower. HX responds that having done the calculation it’s probably best he not say. They ready their weapons as the speeders approach, with their guns drawn, ready to shoot.
Out of nowhere however, the various speeder pilots get picked off by blaster fire from behind. The attacking distraction allows 81, Carima, and Anakin to take out the rest. The crafts destroyed, they look to see who or what fired. Approaching forward walks the same masked attacker as before, their bowcaster rifle aimed carefully at the group, and they do the same in return. HX asks who they are. After a pause, the attacker takes off their mask to reveal none other than Darelda Organa.
“Good question, but a better one would be where the hell you’ve been?”
81 immediately asks how about her health, and she says sharply retorts that she’s all alive and at the moment that’s all that matters. She states that she’s assuming there’s a good reason the fleet isn’t here and the droid explains that the fleet was destroyed after she went to hyperspace. Organa curses Kwade, says she knew he would pull something, and that she should have brought a larger fleet. However HX explains that given the surprise nature and number of the attackers, they too would have been destroyed.
The security droid says they’re still trying to figure out how the fleet wasn’t seen and the senator says she has an idea; that Draezin’s fleet has a scanner cloak. That draws a considerable hushed silence, with Carima being the first to speak. “Since when can any piloted ship ever pull that off?” 81 says that would be the most effective way for a fleet to attack out of nowhere. Organa mentions there had been rumors about such a device being developed that the Senate has been suppressing for months to prevent a panic.
Away from the conversation, Anakin thinks he’s spots something in the sky and starts examining it intently.
The senator asks how 81 survived, the droid points to Obi-Wan, saying that Kenobi found him and they came here. Darelda looks hard at him and asks how he couldn’t think to warn that the fleet would be attacked, but the Jedi informs her he didn’t know of the assault and that he himself was sneak-attacked above Tatooine. He goes on to warn that if Kwade does possess a sensor cloak his actions aren’t just linked to the missing ships, they’re part of some larger plan, one they need to figure out.
Organa reaches into her pocket and pulls out the data cube, and says she’s way ahead of him, describing how her informant was discovered and she only managed to escape by faking out a would be assassin and impersonating him before anyone else could go after her. Concern clearly in her voice she recalls that she’s been biding her time till she could find out what happened to her crew, as she didn’t want to risk looking up the data except back on the ship.
Anakin notices odd activity going on the rooftops in the distance as well, worry growing on his face with each passing second.
At that point Carima gets closer and soberly tells her that the ship’s been taken apart already, and its parts being sold. She’s about to continue, but is cut off by Darelda who finishes her report by stating the crew is probably dead; remarking that she didn’t want to actually believe it. 81 adds that while the loss of them is unfortunate, their priority needs to be the cube, and between himself and the freighter they have they can personally analyze it.
After a sigh the senator looks her and Skywalker over, asking who they are. Obi-Wan begins to identify them, giving Niwir’s name and that they’re borrowing her ship. Pride apparent, he says Anakin is an apprentice that will be learning the ways of the Force. She stares unconvinced, and declares that “While I don’t know a lot about you Jedi I can’t possibly think of what’s so special about this kid that would make him you think he’s worth picking up in the middle of-” she’s cut off however.
Anakin shouts “Ben!” which gets Kenobi’s attention and noticing Skywalker’s direction he too looks up. Astonished after seeing the same thing his student does, the two run off to the open street where the others, initially confused, follow.
The group looks collectively to the sky where, emerging in the atmosphere, are ships and fighters of an assortment of shapes and sizes. After both sets stay in formation for a few moments the fighters break off and begin to head directly at an angle, and begin to fire. The larger vessels continue their path, forming a landing pattern. Kenobi emphatically tells everyone they need to get to the ship immediately.
All of them start running off as the fighters’ blasts starting doing heavy damage to the city, which is now a chaotic mess filled with people fleeing or hiding. In the midst of dodging other escaping citizens, debris, and blaster shots, the quintnet find some temporary cover in another alley as they wait for an opening in the streets between fighter blasts. Heavily breathing, Organa can’t understand what Kwade has to gain by attacking Nar Shadda.
Turning back from looking at the streets Anakin answers, saying based on those larger ships, it’s not just an attack. Obi-Wan confirms this. “It’s an invasion.” A dead silence follows as the other three take in the news. Finally HX speaks, asking how good her freighter is at avoiding warships. Niwir is still stunned by what was just said and can’t even respond leaving Organa to ask how far away the ship is.
Skywalker replies that it’s outside the city and so not a direct target, but Kenobi grimly points out that it also means it’ll take time to get back. Studying the chaotic streets, the Jedi tells Anakin to stay in front with him, Organa and Darelda to guard their flank and 81 to bring the up the rear. He warns them to stay close, but not too close as they’ll need to be quick and maneuverable, and above all else to be alert. They all join together and head off.
Initially they’re able to stay as a group, as bedlam ensues all over Nar Shadda with more and more fighters taking out the sorry planetary defenses set up. Quick cuts reveal armed soldiers strongly advancing all over, with all platoons being directed by Mandalorian leaders. Small droids are also flying around with some scanning for combatants on the ground and others capturing the invasion on surveillance.
Cut to the capital vessel where Kwade, Bracett, and Phakerem watch a screen filled with several video feeds of the invasion. With some reluctance the general praises Draezin’s partisan forces on the ground, declaring that it’s going even quicker and easier than planned. Kwade visibly enjoys the compliment, no matter how strained, and replies that the progress they’re making the planet will be theirs in a matter of hours, even with pockets of opposition.
Scanning the screen, he informs the fighters to not get excessive in their attack runs when they have ground forces to take care of any individual resistance. When this gets a look from Phakerem he defends it saying they sooner replace a few dead smugglers then they can rebuild destroyed cities. The general emphasizes their ultimate goal in control, not destruction, but Kwade shrugs and responds that he’s found that sometimes the two go hand in hand.
While clearly unimpressed with his reasoning, something catches her attention. Staring at a particular feed she watches Obi-Wan leading the group down on the planet. Slightly interested at first her eyes go wide when he pulls out a lightsaber to defend himself from blaster fire. This image isn’t lost on Draezin who spots Organa near Kenobi as well, turning to Bracett and demands to know why she’s still alive. The Chiss stammers out that she was told the Senator had been taken care of.
Phakerem, her gaze still intensely focused on Kenobi, calmly tells Kwade to consider himself fortunate that she’ll be able to fix his mistake. Communicating to one of her forces, she orders a specific squadron to go after the group in section 38. On the feed Obi-Wan eventually deflects a blaster shot into a surveillance droid, knocking out the feed. The general adds if possible to capture the Jedi alive.
Back on the planet the situation is gradually growing worse, as all five have their weapons out, started to spread out, and move sluggishly through the streets. They manage to reach a bridge where Anakin, Darelda, and Carima manage to make it in while HX and Obi-Wan provide defense and covering fire. When a damaged fighter attempts another run at them, it stalls and crashes right at the edge of the bridge, cutting off the latter two.
Organa tells them they have to get to the ship, which Skywalker balks at, yelling that they have to wait for Kenobi and 81. She shouts that they’ll be able to find another route and when he asks if they don’t, her silence says everything. He still refuses to leave, but Niwir advises him that the last thing Obi-Wan would want them is for them foolishly risk themselves. Anakin calms himself and quietly says “May the Force be with you Ben.” The trio then heads off on the bridge.
On the other side, HX observes that their options getting limited seems to the theme for this particular trip. Kenobi asks if there are any other ways back to the spaceport, and the droid replies that they don’t have quite enough time for any alternatives. Obi-Wan considers their situation for a moment and asks where a supply of speeders would likely be stored. 81 eyes literally light up and he tells the Jedi to follow him.
On the bridge the others reach the other side, but get caught in a firefight with an invading troop. The trio takes cover behind a small building while alternatively blasting back. Organa asks if they’ve got a plan. Anakin comments to Carima that she probably didn’t pack any more blasters, and Niwir grumbles it’s hardly the biggest mistake she’s made today. The Senator then remembers something and starts checking her clothes, searching for something
Anakin looks over Niwir and tells her he’s sorry. At her puzzlement he clarifies that he’s sorry she got dragged into all this and that if they get out of here, he’ll do more than just compensate her. “I’ll get you a better ship; I’ll even get you a nice place in Mos Eisley if I can.” She gives him a small smile, and when he tells her he never wanted to do this to a friend, she calmly replies that friendships can be strange things.
More to come…
(Incidentally, any feedback on this treatment would be greatly appreciated, if just to know I’m not crafting a complete mess or bore of a story already)