13

happy valentine's day batchers! ❤️ enjoy a double post for the holiday!!

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Talthera was somehow worse than Ord Mantell – something Saedii had thought impossible.

Most of the buildings were constructed out of old, broken-down ships spliced together haphazardly, creating misshapen, oblong buildings that looked on the verge of collapse. Rust was more common than paint, creeping along the edges of each building like ivy, and most of the windows appeared to be cracked or broken entirely. Stretching between each were uneven, winding roads that looked like they'd been drawn by a toddler.

As the Marauder settled down into an empty space at the edge of the city, Echo shook his head. "I don't like the looks of this."

Saedii didn't either. Already, a strong smell from the city was wafting up through the vents, carrying the scent of rot and decay. It was the pungent smell given off from a dead body left to rot too long in the sun.

"We don't have much of a choice." Hunter slid his helmet on. The Force was heavy and frenzied around him, charged with anger and reluctance. "Omega, stay close. I don't like the looks of this place."

Clutching her plasmabow in her hands, Omega tucked herself in to Hunter's side.

Tech sat at the controls. His broken leg had been spliced with a walking splint – a mechanical splint that took all of his weight and allowed him to walk without further damage. Despite this, Hunter had ordered him to stay at the ship, to ensure they had a hasty getaway. Just in case.

"A scan of the atmosphere surrounding the meteor has revealed that it is not compatible with life," Tech reported as he read the monitor. "Alternate oxygen sources will be required."

Echo disappeared from the cockpit, returning a moment later with two respirators. One for Omega and one for Saedii.

The respirator made a slight whirling sound as it adhered to the bottom half of Saedii's face. Cold, fresh oxygen began to filter in through her nose and mouth. Next to her, Omega put hers on as well.

"These are the meeting coordinates Phee provided," Tech reported, pulling up a map. "According to the mission briefing, she should be waiting for you outside."

"It's called blackmail, not a mission briefing," Crosshair said coldly.

Wrecker growled. "I don't like this! It's like being given orders all over again!"

"We don't have much of a choice." Hunter's helmeted gaze slid over towards Saedii, who looked away.

Outside, it was cold and desolate. Broken vials and small little bits of what appeared to be black powder crunched under Saedii's boots. Unconsciously, she touched her lightsabers – hidden in the depths of her robes. The feel of them gave her needed confidence.

The smell got worse as they stood in the wind. Wrecker coughed explosively just as Saedii caught a glimpse of a half-rotted corpse, hidden in the shadow of a nearby freighter. Most of the flesh had been torn away – gnawed, if the marks on the bone were to be believed – so that only black, oddly shaped bones remained. At the sight, Hunter slipped out his blaster and pulled Omega closer to his side.

"There you are." Phee emerged from the hull of a very small T-6 shuttle. On the side, the faint markings of the Republic were only just visible. "You lot are late."

"We're here, aren't we?" Hunter's voice was unkind.

Phee smiled at the sound and glanced at Saedii. "A good choice on your part."

Almost imperceptibly, Wrecker moved closer to Saedii.

"Shall we?" Phee gestured to one of the narrow, winding streets behind her. Something small and spiny scuttled away under one of the street lamps.

The group moved slowly, weapons tight in hand. Around them, peering out of broken windows, dark, leering faces watched their every move. Saedii could feel the wickedness and malintent in the Force around them. The desire to harm and kill.

"Charming place, isn't it?" Phee said lightly, like they were merely taking a stroll through a Coruscant garden.

No one answered her. Behind Saedii, Wrecker gave a little growl.

"You get used to the smell," Phee continued as if they were having an active conversation. She gestured down a side street, where a shadowy figure cowered into the darkness. Saedii caught the flash of a blade. "And all the people that want to kill you."

"We're no strangers to people wanting us dead," Echo said stiffly. He, too, had noticed the person lurking and flashed his blaster in his direction.

There was a faint shkt! as the blade was sheathed.

"If you're so familiar with this place, why did you need us?" Hunter asked.

Phee gave a little chuckle. "Just because I've been here before doesn't mean I like coming alone. I thought some company would be nice this time around."

"Hostages, you mean," Crosshair grumbled.

"I prefer the term business partners."

Slowly, the deserted streets around them gave way to a busy, bustling marketplace. Each stall sold a different kind of illegal drug: spice, drathroot, galaxy dust, tranquilizers. Saedii's eyes narrowed in on an old man sitting off to the side of the street, eyes glazed and humming to himself.

In a way, it was sadder than Ord Mantell. Most of the shoppers appeared thin and ragged, eyes surrounded by dark shadows. They shuffled eagerly through the stalls until they found one they liked, where they hastily pulled out credits to make a trade.

"What kind of business are you here for again?" Echo asked suspiciously. His gaze was also on the people around them.

Phee waved him off. "Just a simple trade."

"What kind of trade?"

"Trust me. It's better if you don't know too many details."

Saedii rolled her eyes. "We don't know any details."

"You know enough."

Ahead of them, a massive fence was rising up along the horizon. It had been constructed with hunks of scrap metal – sharp, jagged chunks welded together, creating a spiny, impenetrable wall. Thin, faintly glowing lines of wire ran along the top, humming with electricity. And spaced out on top, in uneven intervals, were tall thin lances, containing...

Severed heads.

Omega turned her face into Hunter's side.

At least a dozen heads had been impaled on the lances, all in varying degrees of decay. Each one had its eyes and mouth open – forever locked in a scream.

"Welcome to Sikta. The palace of the Spice Queen." Phee crossed her arms, surveying the intimidating fortress hidden behind the fence.

It was much the same as the other buildings around them – made from salvaged pieces of old ships. But this one was massive. Built from the remains of what appeared to be an old cruiser and painted black and red.

Hunter surveyed it, helmet swinging along the length of wall. "How are we supposed to get in?"

"Easy. We walk through the front door." Phee gestured to the gate, where two massive Gammoreans were waiting with tall spears in hand. "The Spice Queen is expecting me."

Hunter turned and exchanged a look with the group. Even with his helmet on, Saedii knew he was not happy. "Tight formation while inside. Weapons sheathed but in easy reach –"

"There's one more thing you should probably know before we go inside," Phee said, turning to face them. There was a bemused lift to her lips that Saedii didn't like.

Hunter, either, judging by his tone. "Which is?"

"The Spice Queen doesn't allow men in her fortress."

Saedii stifled a groan. This was going to go over well.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Echo demanded.

"It means you lot wait out here while me and the kid go in to make the deal."

Kriff. Hunter really wasn't going to like that.

"Absolutely not." Hunter took a step in front of Saedii, as if protecting her from Phee's attention, which had shifted in her direction. "It's too dangerous –"

"She's a Jedi. She can handle it." Phee looked at Saedii with just the faintest hint of amusement. "Can't you?"

Saedii let out a low sigh and moved around Hunter. Of course Phee had left out this valuable detail in the mission brief. It would be better for the whole team to just get it over with instead of sitting around and arguing. "Let's just go."

"I don't like this," Echo stated.

"Duly noted." Phee turned a look to Saedii. "You got those glow sticks with you?"

"Yes."

"Good. Keep them close."

"Can I come?" Omega asked. "I'm a girl."

"No," Hunter said at the same time Phee said, "Sure."

When all four Clones turned a blistering look in her direction, Phee gave a little shrug. "What's the harm? It's a diplomatic mission. We'll be in and out in ten minutes. She'll be perfectly safe."

"Those severed heads beg to differ," Crosshair said coldly.

But Omega was looking determined. "I'll be safe with Saedii. She won't let anything happen to me."

"See? You've got nothing to worry about," Phee insisted.

Hunter turned in Saedii's direction. Saedii gave a little shrug. She knew from experience that Omega could be stubborn when she really wanted to. If Omega wanted to come, she'd get her way.

"Please, Hunter. I want to help," Omega begged.

Sure enough, Hunter gave a defeated sigh. "Fine. But you stick with Saedii and do whatever she tells you. Understand?"

Omega gave a solemn nod. When she turned and met Saedii's eye, her expression lit up with excitement.

Placing a hand on Omega's shoulder, Saedii guided her in the direction of the palace.

"Your friends sure are prickly, huh?" Phee remarked as the gates loomed closer. Behind them, the gaze of the Batch was heavy on Saedii's shoulders.

"They don't like being lied to." Saedii's voice was clipped. Angry.

Phee snorted. "I never said they'd be allowed in. Just that I'd need their help getting out."

"Lying by omission is still lying."

"Also noted."

At the gates, the two Gammoreans straightened at the sight of Phee, Saedii, and Omega approaching. With a shock, Saedii realized that they were female – thinner and with smaller tusks than their male counterparts. Apparently, the Spice Queen's dislike of men extended to her staff as well.

One of the Gammoreans lowered her spear, blocking the gates. "What do you want?"

"The Spice Queen is expecting me," Phee said smoothly.

"What's your name?"

"Phee Genoa."

The other Gammorean grunted into her earpiece. After a moment, she gave a very sharp nod.

With an ear-splitting groan, the gates began to open. Inside, the palace entrance loomed – a big hole blasted into the side of the cruise, with the hull of a fighter jet covering the outside like a door. Not exactly what Saedii would consider a "grand entrance" for a palace.

"An escort will meet you inside the gate," the first Gammorean said with a hint of warning. "Don't go anywhere without her."

"Wouldn't dream of it." Phee gestured Saedii and Omega inside.

Once the gates had shut behind them, Phee leaned in close, lowering her voice to a mere whisper, "Now that we're here, I should probably let you in on another little secret."

Saedii cut her a look. "What secret?"

"We're not actually here to make a trade."

The gnawing anger in Saedii's gut shifted to full-blown rage. "What the hell are we here for then?"

"There's something the Spice Queen has that I want. But I don't intend to trade her for it."

"You're going to steal from the Spice Queen?"

"Yes, and you're going to help me."

This mission was getting worse and worse. Saedii could already picture the look on Hunter's face when he found out what was going on. He was going to be furious. And Phee had let Omega come along, knowing how dangerous it would be?

"This wasn't the deal," Saedii hissed as, ahead of her, the giant hull-door began to slide open.

Phee plastered a welcoming smile on her face as a long figure emerged from the inside of the Sikta palace. "Think about it, kid. Your friends would have never let you in here if they knew what we had to do."

"For good reason, too." Saedii cut a look down to Omega, who was looking around the wide courtyard with interest. "Stealing from the Spice Queen is a hell of a lot more dangerous than trading with her."

"Only if we get caught."

Saedii let out a hissing breath.

The figure heading towards them was tall and lean, with a grim, gaunt face. Sharpened teeth stuck out of her mouth like razors and two tall, fury ears stood straight up on her head. A Shistavenen.

Whispering out of the corner of her mouth, Phee ordered, "Just distract the Spice Queen while I swipe the goods. If everything goes smooth, then we'll be out in ten minutes and she'll be none the wiser."

"Distract? What am I supposed to –"

"Shh!"

Saedii made a face, running her hands back over her lightsabers for reassurance as the Shistavenen approached.

"Shiveen," Phee greeted.

The Shistavenen growled, "You're late. The Spice Queen expected you ten minutes ago."

"Sorry about that. Traffic." Phee's voice was just a little smug.

It took an effort for Saedii not to roll her eyes. There was no way that this was going to work.

"You're lucky the queen is more generous than I. She still expects you." Shiveen jerked her head towards the open door behind her.

Phee gestured Shiveen in before them. "We'll follow your lead."

In front of her, Omega was wide-eyed as Shiveen disappeared into the gloom before them. She glanced up at Saedii, waiting to see what she did. Saedii gave her the briefest of nods to let her know it was alright.

Lowering her voice so low that Saedii had to strain to hear, Phee said, "Here we go."