The Brush Fire Wars (Book 2)

[Akirapryde]

Night of the Reaper
Senator Quarters
Coruscant

Darap'Rar drew his eyes up from the datapad and smiled towards the two Twi'lek women. For longer then he cares to remember he had served his people in the Galactic Senate. He had survived assassinations, votes of confidence and even temptations to lead him in to scandal. His beloved wife was murdered by his enemies and his only son kidnapped. He has always placed the needs of his people above his own. Finally all the efforts of his enemies to stop his work will become useless. The work of him and all those that bled along side him will finally be paid off with tomorrow's vote in the Senate. “Your words are as a song on the wind to my ears." He said towards the older of the two women. He had worked so hard to get the votes that were needed to pass this bill. Sadly however, slavers have deep pockets and Senators have long greed streaks within them. But now these two former slave girls were going to become his secret weapon in the ongoing slave wars.

The oldest of the two was the most dare to him, he knew her life story better then anyone. Born in to slavery, beaten and abused as a slave till she was a young adult. Then she was freed by the man that would later become her husband. Her journey in to freedom was a trip through hell and then in to the light of freedom. But the two had accomplished the journey together. Their lives had been touched and their love grew deeper than he had ever seen in any couple before or since. Together they brought a healthy son in to this world and she held great pride in that young man. Her husband had been a man of vision, honor and deserving of great respect. He was Darap'Rar personal aide and close friend. It was just a year ago, tomorrow, that her husband was murdered in an assassination plot against Darap'Rar. The assassination was aimed at him, sadly the assassin had missed his mark and his dear friend lost his life. Darap'Rar personally held the blame for her loss and since that time had looked out for her and her son as best as he could.

"Your husband would be so proud to have his work being finished by you" Darap'Rar said softly. Her husband had been a long time crusader for Twi'lek rights and anti-slavery laws. It was because of their work for tighter laws governing the treatment and exploitation of slaves that triggered the assassination attempt. "Tomorrow when you speak before the Senate you will surely sway the votes we need to pass this bill" he said then turned to the younger of the two former slave girls. "And for you to be here during this will show the Hutts as a whole that our voice will not be ignored any further.” stepping forward and placing a hand on her shoulder, “It takes great courage to stand up before your former master and abuser and speak out against him for what he did to you." Ann was the youngest of the two and had been rescued from slavery only a few months ago. She was the personal slave of Cussuan The Hutt, and the Hutt Representative to the Galactic Senate. She had been targeted for rescue after word slipped out of her plight. Darap'Rar and Tann K'awil had personally funded and carried out the operation to rescue Ann.

The Ann smiled softly, "Thank you Senator. I owe Tann" she said as she gazed gratefully at the woman standing next to her, "my life and my freedom. If not for her, I would still be in chains at his palace." She smiled as the thought of this bill passing crossed her mind. It was ground breaking legislation that would allow Republic to reach beyond its own boarders to rescue slaves taken against their wills and force all slavers to prove that slaves were not taken from Republic worlds. It would also ensure that slavers such as Cussuan the Hutt could not keep slaves while he is residing on Coruscant. There was so much that this legislation could do for so many. She was excited to be a part of this moment in Twi'lek history.

Darap'Rar nodded with pride. These two women had beat the odds and the Hutts at their own game to be here today. Tomorrow they would speak before the entire Senate as special guests and he was sure that the votes he needed would be there for the bill to be passed in to law. He turned to the two Jedi behind him, "do you see Master Jedi. You speak of assassins and threats against us. How can I dare stop their speeches tomorrow. They have endured so much, face greater odds then I dare imagine. Only to be here for this moment in our history. I can not take this moment from them" he said with pride and happiness. The threats were real and even Darap'Rar had to admit it. But he could not stop now, so many times had this bill been put up and so many times the slavers had intermediated speakers and Senators alike. 'No! This time we must not be scared of them. We must stand strong!' he thought to himself.

Ann looked deep in to the eyes of the veteran Master Jedi as she stepped forward, "I am sure you understand what hardships a slave such as I have been through Master Jedi. I was born a slave and never knew freedom till a few months ago. The things HE " she said with disdain on her face, "made me do for him. The fear I lived in for months after my freedom. I need this. I need to look him in his large beady eyes and tell him that he no longer controls me. I have to tell him that I am free of his intimidation, free of him" She said defiantly and with fierce determination to the Zabrak Jedi Master.

Nop'Plan looked at the three carefully. The facts were true, the vote tomorrow could affect hundreds of thousands if not millions. However the threat was also very real. Jedi Investigators had managed to uncover the plot to kill the Senator and his two guests before the vote. They had learned that a lone assassin had been hired by the Hutts to commit the murders. Grand Master Quaad had personally ordered the protection detail and hand picked the team that would lead it. Nop'Plan had thought his career was over when he and his team refused to take the Grand Master's new oath, but then this mission came up. Nop'Plan and the Grand Master both understood the importance of tomorrow's Senate vote. He was honored to be part of such an important moment in history. However he could feel the dark hand of fate reaching over everyone. He turned to his Kel Dor Padawan and a bodyguard, "Jern, you two, check the balcony again. Make a full sweep and report back here."

The Padawan and bodyguard both nodded and walked towards the entrance to the balcony. Nop'Plan then turned to another member of his team, "go and check up on Drallon and the two bodyguards with him, make sure they are okay. I want them to keep a full sweep of the lifts and hallways." he directed to the seasoned Jedi Knight before him. The woman nodded silently and turned for the front door of the suite. Nop'Plan looked around at the two remaining bodyguards and a Bounty Hunter. They knew a lone killer was on his way, but they didn't know who, when or how. Decades of experience told him that they had to be successful the entire time during their watch. While their would be assassin needed only be successful once.

Something wasn't right and he could feel it right down to his bones. The force was guiding him and he could feel it. Calming himself while he focused on blocking out distractions so that he could open himself up to the force. His eyes closed softly as his mind explored his feelings. He could feel the force speaking to him. It was now clear as to what it was saying to him. It was a dire warning of the moment. He could see now what was to come and 'Oh my god!' he thought as his eyes snapped open. His vision shift to Honi who was as that moment reaching the front door. "NO! don't open the door!" But it was already too late.

Honi heard the door hiss open as she looked back at Nop'Plan. The dread on his face forced her to look back at the now open door. She saw the bodyguard before her and then his readied light repeater. She seemed confused for a millisecond till the figure behind him came in to focus. It was too late as the light repeater opened up on her. The blaster shots ripped through her body killing the Jedi Knight as the body fell to the floor. The deadly fire spread throughout the living room of the suite while the fully armored attacker tossed the body of the bodyguard aside to continue spraying blaster fire. Two of the bodyguards were caught completely flatfooted and took the full brunt of the light repeater's fire. They fell where they stood just moments before the door opened. Nop'Plan and the Bounty Hunter had not been caught flatfooted and were able to dodge the incoming fire.

Nop'Plan leaped in to action as he sprang across the room drawing out his lightsaber. He activated it as it whipped through the air. Its hum filled the air with a sense of security as he swung it at the attacker's weapon. The attacker had been taken by surprise as the experienced Jedi Master moved to sunder the large weapon. The attacker was forced to release the weapon or loss its arms and hands in the Jedi's attack. The attacker ducked to avoid the Jedi's second attack as it released the weapon. It also reached out with both hands and placed something on each side of the open door. The light repeater now littered the floor at the door as the combat continued.

The Twi'lek Bounty Hunter won the momentum next as he drew out his twin pistols and opened fire! Heavy blaster fire filled the entry way as both Jedi and attacker dove for cover. The Bounty Hunter landed a few solid hits but nothing that would take the attacker down. The Jedi Master knew he could lunch another attack but choose to let the attack make its move first and held the advantage. The attacker made its move next as it leveled both hands, one at the Jedi Master and the other at the Bounty Hunter, and fired a pair of large metal dart at each. Nop'Plan's lightsaber made short work of the dart meant for him, but the Bounty Hunter had no such luck. The dart hit him in his chest armor and electricity surged through him. Nop'Plan took the advantage to reacted to the attacker's vicious attack on the Bounty Hunter. He stepped forward and swung his lightsaber, cutting the thin cords that powered the dart. The Bounty Hunter would survive this battle but he was out of this fight. Already the attacker was drawing the right pistol from its holster.

Nop'Plan took the initiative next as he swung his lightsaber at the attacker. To his surprise the attacker whipped the pistol high in to the air as it reached out with both hands and grappled his lightsaber arm. With the attacker grappling his lightsaber arm, the attacker was committed to its actions while Nop'Plan had other force options. And he knew just want to do next as he smiled, he had the attacker. In combat, victory and defeat all fell to momentum and who won it. In this critical moment, Nop'Plan lost the momentum of combat.

The attacker drew back its right arm as it held his saber arm with its left hand. Twisting Nop'Plan's arm slightly the attacker slammed its right fist in to Nop'Plan's right elbow, shattering it. Nop'Plan screamed out with pain as the attacker dipped low and vanished behind him. Nop'Plan felt his arm being wrenched behind his back. The next thing he saw was the blade of his very own lightsaber piercing his own torso. Nop'Plan let out a muffled groan as the lightsaber moved side to side for added injury then he fell to the ground. He looked through his blurred vision to see his Padawan and the last of the bodyguards rush in to the room. He tried to scream out a warning but his voice failed him.

Jern entered the room just in time to see his Master fall before the attacker. The attacker spun around to face him as it reached out with its right hand to catch a blaster pistol that had fallen from the large vaulted ceiling. The attacker fired as Jern activated his lightsaber and deflected the blaster fire. The shot nearly hit the attacker as he deflected it. The attacker rushed forward as Jern tried to survey the situation. He had the momentum for the moment but caution turned in to indecision and cost the inexperienced Padawan the moment. The attacker tossed its blaster to its left and and fired it while it spun. The Padawan readied himself for the incoming blaster fire. He made a classic rookie mistake, failure to see the full attack coming. The blaster fire was easy for Jern to deflect. As the attacker spun and gained speed it unleashed a large combat knife ripping through the air.

The blaster fire deflected easily as Jern smiled, he never saw the blade ripping through the air. It was large enough, being nearly twenty five centimeters long in just the blade. But the young Padawan never let his focus drift from the decoy blaster fire. The blade hit him completely horizontal across the bridge of his nose and sunk right to the hilt guard. The force of the blade hitting him lunched the Padawan over a large piece of furniture behind him. The Padawan was dead before he ever realized the mistake he made. The bodyguard who was with the Padawan had time to see what had happened and knew that fighting would only lead to his death. He just stood there as the attacker walked up to him. He closed his eyes hoping that the attacker would show mercy. There would be no mercy for anyone this night. He never drew up his weapon as death came coming for him.

The attacker walked up to Darap'Rar who now was standing up from behind some near by furniture. “Here, I have credits.” he said holding out nearly a million credits in both hands, “Take my life, but let them walk out of here with their lives.” He said with his hands were shaking. He had every right to be scared. Right before his eyes, two Jedi Masters, a seasoned Jedi Knight, their Padawans, a high priced Bounty Hunter and his personal guards had all been killed within seconds by one attacker. “Please take my life, I accept this. But let them live. They mean nothing to you. This can end right here. I promise.” he said holding his hands out filled with credits.

The fear in the room could be cut with a knife as seconds turned in to lifetimes. The attacker took a moment to stare at the offering. Nearly a million credits was a great amount, but the orders were clear. 'No one in the room survives the night.' The attacker reached out with its hand and swatted the Twi'lek's hand away sending the offering scattering across the floor. Darap'Rar gasps in horror as Tann in a last act of self sacrifice lunged between Ann and the attacker. The Attacker drew out its second blaster pistol. The Reaper had come for them and it would not be denied tonight.

Captain Lirin would not loss another member of the Senate to an assassin again. He and his five man team ran down the hall as they heard lightsabers whooshing through the air and blaster fire. Then there was unsettling silence followed by some more blaster fire. They saw the bodies outside the suite as they approached the suite. The front door was closed, “Control, we're in position. What do you have!?” he said in to his communicator.

“Sir, there is one attacker at the far side of the room near the bay windows. I read a few survivors we are dispatching medical personal now. The attacker is just standing there. Not sure what he is doing but he is just standing there” The man at control said in a calm state.

Captain Lirin nodded, “Okay we are going in on three.” he said as he readied his blaster, “One, two, three!” he said as the door was opened by the Control Operator. Captain Lirin was the only one that was able to enter before they realized their mistake. They each heard the loud beeping too late to react. He looked down to see the device on the side of the door. “BOMB!” was all he could get out just as the explosion filled the entry area. The two devices the attacker had planted on the inside of the door and the four near the ceiling in the hallway ensured that help would pay for their rapid response. The blast blew Captain Lirin head first in to the living room.

Captain Lirin blinked several times to clear the blood from his eyes. He saw the attacker break the large window at the front of the suite with its elbow. He couldn't hear control but he knew that they were calling demanding an update. He watched as the attacker blasted from the suite with some kind of jet pack on its armor. But that is not what got his attention. He saw rolling on the floor a little canister. He looked around and saw five more. He screamed out in anger.

The attacker rocket from the suite in to the heavy traffic of Coruscant as a fire ball erupted from the suite. The fires from the military grade incendiary grenades would ensure that no one would survive the suite or nearby hallways. Later reports would show that the attacker vanished without a trace leaving behind a path of death of the likes never seen before by the Senate or the Jedi. In the end, it would be the Twi'lek people who would suffer the most as two great spirits for their freedom and betterment had been snuffed out. Behind as the fires raged, the fate of so much would now hang in the balance. Darap'Rar had it wrong, the assassin was not there for him alone. It was there for their historical moment. It was there to ensure that change for the Twi'lek people would not come on this day. It was there for one reason and one reason only, to spread fear!