Awaking in moments after Alistair's call, Kess reaches out into the Force herself, straining to find the signatures he felt.
"I only sense a single distant presence. What could this be?"
*bzzzzzzzzz*
IG stands in a corner in Alerick's room, the only sign of life a faint glow in his eyes and the humm of electricity as he recharges.
*bzzzzzzzzz*
"Quite right Alistair. Now, or in the morning?"
You all wrap up your morning business from a relatively uneventful night. You are all seasoned travellers and a night in a strange Hutt's palace is pretty much like any other odd room you've bunked in.
As a team, you arrange a clandestine meeting together before the big event. Many of you have information to share. Others have just their patience to provide.
Colvin will enter the main room after using the refresher (or the chamber pot this is a Hutt palace after all). "Stone how are you feeling? Anyone else stir yet?"
Once the group is gathered to discuss, Alistair waits patiently for his turn before talking. "There is something I have to tell you. While Kess and I slept last night...," he starts, then pauses briefly to look sideways at Allerick before going on, " we heard, or felt to be more precise, a call for help. I am not sure what it was, perhaps the Hutt's prisoner? Regardless, when I tried to get a better sense of things by using the Force, I actually felt the presence of two other Force users nearby, one of them familiar."
He stops in order to let this new information sink in. "This is something we cannot overlook. If Darga's prisoner is a Jedi, he or she must be freed. And the second Force user identified and, if a threat, dealt with." His tone, although calm, is grave, an unusual occurence for the usually laid back man.
"I have no doubt then that this "force user" is the special prisoner that Darga has beneath us in the restricted areas. I attempted to gather information on this prisoner by leaning on the Major Domo but to no avail. He knows though that we know he is double dealing behind Darga's back. He is doing it with the Imps too. I had Allerick decrypt transmissions which prove it. The problem is that he is a cool customer and I don't have enough good will with Darga to prove that these transmissions are not forgeries. I also spoke with Six Six about the passes. He said like Stone just mentioned priviliged allies get these keys. My real concern is this meeting with the Imps, I was hoping to be out of here before that took place with the information we needed, who knows what kind of situation that meeting will land us in".
"There is something I have to tell you. While Kess and I slept last night...," he starts, then pauses briefly to look sideways at Allerick before going on, " we heard, or felt to be more precise, a call for help. I am not sure what it was, perhaps the Hutt's prisoner? Regardless, when I tried to get a better sense of things by using the Force, I actually felt the presence of two other Force users nearby, one of them familiar."
Allerick starts, looking up from his datapad as he finishes typing calculations. "Hey, don't feel like you need to be ashamed of your love! Just because some of the more perceptive of us totally saw that one coming, doesn't make your carnal lusts any less meaningful." Allerick smirks. "So, captive Jedi, eh? I'm game for stealing prisoners."
"This information raises the importance of our mission success for today. Maybee we should reconsider. This information may prove more vital than the thug we propose to save.
"Wait are we seriously endangering the entire mission to save that scum?"
"Wait are we seriously endangering the entire mission to save that scum?"
Allerick harrumphs and looks offended. "I am not saving that scum, I am executing a brilliantly designed plan to gain Darga's appreciation and trust through a minor miracle of pyrotechnics and a dazzling display of my art, which just happens to result in a living scumbag being returned to its natural environment."
"I am not saving that scum, I am executing a brilliantly designed plan to gain Darga's appreciation and trust through a minor miracle of pyrotechnics and a dazzling display of my art, which just happens to result in a living scumbag being returned to its natural environment."
"Oh well that's a relief then".
What could possibly go wrong?
Allerick nods at Eamch, holding up the datapad. "I know, I'm that good! Plus I've been over the chemical and physical vector 17 times. Everything is set and sure to be amazing!" Clearly sarcasm is lost on Allerick.
The time draws near. The throne room where Darga holds court is prepared. Allerick is on hand to see to his machinations. He has some curious bystanders but they stand off to the side to let you work.
The hour draws closer.
Stone and IG-MDz go to escort the prisoner with a few of the Gammorean guards. Their piggy eyes squint at you. One of the belches. That is the extent of their conversational prowess. Each of you grab one of Raden's arms and begin the long walk to his perceived demise. He is clearly nervous and looks about frantically for escape but he is bound by hands and has chains on his feet, allowing only short steps.
The hour is almost there.
Alistair, Colvin, and Kess wait in the throne room, anticipating the worst but hoping for the best.
Allerick clears his throat. "In light of the spectacle about to unfold, all I can say is this: you will always remember this as the day you saw genius in action." Allerick pauses, clearly waiting for the applause. When none comes, he looks momentarily miffed, then smiles smugly. "It is always the nature of genius to be unrecognized in its time, I suppose. You know how it is, Darga."
"This should be interesting. Be ready, if this goes bad we should target the bounty hunters first, they are the best shots in Darga's court", Colvin whispers to the Jedi.
The closer to the throne room you get, the more frantic Raden becomes. He beings to tug at your restraining hands. He begs. He pleads. He offers riches. He offers his service to you.
Time is fleeting - only a few moments remain. The tension is palpable from Raden. The excitement is equally palpable in the throne room.
Darga calls for entertainment before the 'show'! Dancers begin to sway around Allerick for the amusement of the Hutt. Muzak is piped in to aid in the display.
"I wish we could lend them to you, but given the rather distinctive sound they make you would be found out rather quickly unless you can cut the horns while the explosion is still happening. Not to mention the difficulty handling these things if you haven't been trained with them."
Before they drag Raden out there, Kess whispers to him, "If you make a grand show of it, you might make it out alive Raden. Just say goodbye to your horns." Kess winks at him, and then leaves him alone.
Raden's eyes bulge at the words from Kess and Stone. He licks his lips nervously, his sharp, pointed teeth gleaming as his mouth gapes open.
Raden is led to center stage where he is restrained. Allerick straps on wires and gadgets and what looks like explosive devices to the helpless scoundrel.
"Darga, I am sorry! Please have mercy!" The Hutt guffaws as only a Hutt can do. The spectacle of a pleading victim adds to his entertainment.
Kess turns away at first but then looks back, determined to see this through.
Colvin looks on with a steely gaze - indifferent in the outcome. He is more concerned with their exposure than what really happens to Raden. Of course, only he knows how he really feels.
Stone, IG-MDz, and Alistair work their way around to the wall where Raden is supposed to be diverted to.
Allerick had laid the groundwork throughout the previous day - rigging the wall and then covering it. Rigging the roof and the box under Raden's feet. Securing smoke canisters and small micro-explosives on the restraints. All of it supplemented with dead body parts scrounged up by the soldiers. 'Wonder why they don't smell' ponders Allerick as he works. He shrugs and keeps working. Nobody thought to ask where they came from either...
The countdown draws nigh...
It begins...
Allerick makes a big show of it. Darga is enthralled and eager for the spectacle to begin. Blah, blah, blah, I'm great, I am a master, blah, blah. Darga rumbles loudly. Six-six translates. "Blow him up already!"
Allerick glares at the droid for having been rudely interrupted. He pauses but eventually clicks the button and the cacophany is tremendous in the enclosed area. The lights are brilliant! The smoke billows forth and fills the space quickly - and then the exhause fans start straining to keep up.
First the wall explodes into dust. Next, Raden's restraints pop and he is shunted THROUGH what was left of the wall, where the soldiers await. The timing was superb - any sooner and Raden would have hit the wall; any later and the ruse would have been seen. In the confusion and the smoke and the flashing lights, Alistair ignites his lightsaber and pop-pop makes two horn-sized holes in Stones helmet in seconds and quickly powers off his blade. Stone glares at the Jedi but can't argue at the moment. They suit up Raden, fitting him in Stone's armor and newly modified helmet. IG-MDz escorts him quickly out through a side door. Stone makes himself scarce.
Next, the 'meat' explodes and coats almost everyone in the throne room with fleshy bits. They hit with dull, sickening thuds on most. Darga laughs even louder. He'd clap but his hands won't connect. He licks his sticky face with his tongue. The Hutt is thrilled!
Last, the smoke eventually clears - slowly. Nothing is left where Raden stood except for a few greasy slabs of 'something'. The nearby wall is demolished. Allerick puts on a show that his calculations must have been a bit off but nobody is really upset. Several aliens gather around to see the results and nod in appreciation. Allerick continues espousing his skill and mastery.
The plan was masterful and paid off. Raden is safe. Nobody had to die. Darga is pleased and sees your team in a new light...
Wordlessly IG takes hold of Raden's arm as he's dressed in Stones armor and quickly marches him down the pre-planed escape route. Reaching the exit he make Raden strip the armor before showing him out and telling him to get lost quickly. Gathering the armor he makes his way to Stone and hands him bakc the armor. "Mission sucsess." he declares.
Wordlessly IG takes hold of Raden's arm as he's dressed in Stones armor and quickly marches him down the pre-planed escape route. Reaching the exit he make Raden strip the armor before showing him out and telling him to get lost quickly. Gathering the armor he makes his way to Stone and hands him bakc the armor. "Mission sucsess." he declares.
The soldiers had given Raden a head covering, to be sure, before sending him on his way. No sense in such an obvious profile going on display around the palace so soon.
One of the swoops captured earlier is given to the scoundrel so that he can exit quickly. He flies out of there like a bat out of heck, not even bothering to look back!
Sory folks. My fault on the dead thread. I will post something very soon, I promise. Never give up, never surrender!