Convergence/Chapter 19

19
                 It was, in fact, as lousy of a situation as Corian had ever seen. Oh, they had reached here fast enough, courtesy of Jhiranae’s new holo-friend. The Jedi had provided them a much faster route over the sea, skirting the coastline back to the original campsite so they were approaching from the north after less than a day of traveling. They could have arrived even faster, but Corian was unwilling to chance a journey over the open and turbulent seas of Yanibar in their rickety speeder. Even good weather wouldn’t have been enough to persuade him to cross the sea directly—clear skies would have made it easier for the Grasp to spot them. Instead, they’d struggled through a thunderstorm severe by Corellian standards and only moderate by Yanibar’s and nearly swamped the speeder in the shallows along the rugged coast twice. Yet here they were, on a ridge overlooking the camp a few kilometers away, as close as they dared approach, and the outcome was like running a race only to find out that the last hundred meters had to be run across burning lava.

 First, there were far more Grasp droids than Corian dared to tackle alone, which wasn’t that high of a number anyway. Part of him had entertained the fleeting notion that there were no more than a handful—a small enough number that he could defeat single-handedly, or maybe with Jhiranae’s help. However, that hope had been quickly dashed as they approached the old encampment. Dozens of Grasp droids were prowling around the archaeological camp. Relynxes, Falscions, Harnasps, and at least one Theutron had survived. Corian didn’t have the kind of firepower necessary to take them on directly—and probably nobody else in the entire sector did either.

 The next problem was that there was no sign of the hostages, but plenty of buildings where they could be stashed. The Grasp had apparently been uninterested in destroying the camp, though Corian still didn’t know what was so festering important about this site, this expedition, or this planet. They wanted something—that was apparent—but he still didn’t know what. And since he couldn’t confirm whether the hostage situation was real or not, he couldn’t start plinking away at the Grasp without them threatening a hostage. He might get one or two before they made the threat, but the element of surprise was too precious to sacrifice for only a few droids.

 Thirdly, the thunderstorm had continued to barrage the land with surprising ferocity. He was soaked and battered by wind and rain. Peering through the macrobinoculars he’d appropriated from Virmire only a week ago, Corian realized it was futile. There was nothing he could do for the hostages.

 “How bad is it?” Jhiranae asked from where she was crouched next to him.

 The rest of the archaeologists were huddled a few dozen meters back at Corian’s insistence, waiting by the speeder in case they had to beat a hasty retreat.

 “Hopeless,” Corian said, offering her the macrobinoculars.

 She silently scanned the campsite for a few minutes, silent as the rain pounded both of them with unrelenting ferocity.

 “That. . . doesn’t look good,” she agreed finally.

 “We should leave,” he told her. “Right now.”

 A flash of lightning lit up the ridge for a few seconds, followed by an earsplitting crack of thunder, as if to punctuate his words.

 “Why?” she asked. “I thought you wanted to come here.”

 “I did. To see if it was completely hopeless,” Corian said. “Guess what? It’s completely hopeless.”

 “What about your team?” Jhiranae asked.

 “They’re as good as dead,” Corian told her. “Getting ourselves killed won’t help. What did you expect?”

 “I don’t know,” Jhiranae admitted. “I just thought you’d think of something.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “There’s enough Grasp droids down there to take out my entire unit all over again. Those hostages down there—if they’re actually any hostages—knew the drill. The mission was to protect you—for whatever kriffing reason you all needed it. If the Grasp has them, they’re screwed, and that’s bad for them, but we can’t change their outcome. Only ours, and that’s still very much up in the air.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “All right,” Jhiranae said sadly. “I wasn’t trying to question your judgment. I just. . . feel responsible. Those people might die because of us.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “Those people,” Corian answered bluntly, “knew the risks when they joined the Five Worlds Defense Force. If any of them die, it’s because of the Grasp. Not you. Do you hear me?”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> Jhiranae nodded.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “I just wish we could do something.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “Well, if I had a wish and five credits, I’d be able to get a cold beer at the cantina. Assuming there was one. Now, can we go?”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> Jhiranae glanced back at the camp and distant shapes of Grasp droids.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “How much is beer usually at the cantina?” she asked.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “Five credits,” Corian told her.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> She scowled.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “I thought so.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “Yes, very clever. Now, let’s go.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “What would it take to free those hostages?” Jhiranae asked.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> Corian gritted his teeth, then tersely replied.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “Probably a miraculously-undetected EMP bomb dropped from high altitude with sufficient charge to zap every single droid in the area while somehow not scrambling the nerves of every living being in a five-hundred meter radius.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “That seems. . . unlikely to happen.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “That’s right, it’d be a kriffing miracle, which is why we’re not going to wait around for it,” Corian told her, finally losing patience and tugging her away.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “A wise decision, Lieutenant Gonnard,” a gravelly voice suddenly rasped from off to their side.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> Corian whirled, blaster rifle at the ready, only to have the weapon kicked out of his hands. His stinging fingers scrabbled for the blaster pistol in his holster, but there was already a blaster leveled at him by an armored figure.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “Don’t move, and you won’t be harmed,” the figure told him. “Draw the blaster and she dies.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> Putting action to words, the threatening weapon shifted to cover Jhiranae. Corian froze. It took a second, but it eventually registered in his mind that he wasn’t facing a Grasp droid, at least not a type he knew of. Nor did the voice sound fully mechanical.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “I am not Grasp, nor will I turn you over to them,” the armored figure told him. “Cooperate and you will live.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> Jhiranae had been just as surprised by the sudden assailant, but she’d drawn her stun baton regardless, brandishing it.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “How do we know that?” Corian demanded.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “Your grandfather sent me,” the mysterious assailant replied.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> Extending his other hand, he activated a holodisk and a holo of Admiral Sakantos appeared in eighth-size above the armored glove.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “Corian, I’ve made arrangements to have you delivered from Yanibar. You’ll accompany Whisper here to a neutral world, where you’ll have to find passage back to Corellia. Once Whisper drops you off, the Grasp will resume their hunt, so be careful. This was the best I could do for you, but it should give you a fighting chance.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> Corian scowled.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “Nice trick,” he said dismissively, but Whisper was implacable.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> The hologram continued.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “At this point, you’re likely suspecting a deception of some kind, so I will provide you with information that only I as your grandfather would know. Your mother’s name was Siriah. The woman you lost was named Ntani. And when you were little, your favorite game was climb-and-slide, but you could never beat me.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> Corian stiffened. Every single word from that hologram was true. The mention of his mother and Ntani filled him with anger, but he also knew that moving would likely be a fatal decision, at least for Jhiranae. Whisper’s finger was already on the trigger.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “You’re not here to capture us?” Corian asked.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “The holo is correct,” Whisper answered. “You and I will depart to a neutral world. The others are of no importance.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “And if I decline?” Corian asked.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “Then I stun you and drag you to my ship,” Whisper replied. “Any others who intervene are of no importance and can thus be killed or turned over to the Grasp for potential reward.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “That doesn’t seem very non-harmful to me,” Corian retorted.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “Cooperate and I will leave them alone,” Whisper told him. “I will only offer this once.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “Let’s do it your way then,” Corian responded.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “Slowly set your weapons on the ground,” Whisper ordered. “All of them.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> Corian and Jhiranae carefully complied, laying down the blaster, vibroblade, grenades, and stun baton.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “Lieutenant Gonnard, the holdout blaster in your left boot as well,” Whisper added.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> Corian gritted his teeth, but did as he was told.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “Both of you, move away from the weapons.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> Once they had done so, Whisper pointed back over the ridge.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “Both of you will walk this way. My ship is not far. I will release the female once we are aboard.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> With Whisper watching closely, both Corian and Jhiranae were marched across the back of the ridge. Jhiranae turned her head to say something to Corian, but Whisper was having none of it.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “Stay silent if you wish to live,” his voice grated. “Follow the ridgeline eastward.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> The going was rough, as they had to skirt along the edge of a steep slope, nearly losing their footing several times. Whisper seemed completely unimpeded, stalking along behind them as nimbly as a nexu. The rain finally subsided, but a frigid wind whipped through the mountains, chilling them both through their wet clothes. Whisper gave them only intermittent directions, allowing them to stumble along as best as they could. After at least ten minutes, he ordered them to descend the slope into a valley. There, Corian spied a small ship nestled on one of the few flat areas in these hills. He entertained some kind of attempt at resistance, but it seemed fairly hopeless. Whisper had them at blasterpoint and they were unarmed. Whoever he was, the bounty hunter had approached them undetected and disarmed him with ease. Even if he dared to try something alone, the attempt would likely cost Jhiranae her life.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> Corian racked his brain trying to think of something, but there was nothing better than a scooped-up rock to use against an enemy already pointing a blaster at his back. Whisper was playing it smart, staying far enough back to prevent any quick grapple attempts, but not so far they could lose him or dodge a blaster shot. He stumbled on a stone and tripped forward, running into Jhiranae. She managed to brace herself as Corian’s hands scrabbled for purchase on her back and belt. Corian quickly caught himself and straightened up, turning slowly with empty hands raised to show Whisper it was an accident. Their captor had steadied the blaster, but didn’t fire. No doubt he would have preferred to not have the sound of the blaster echoing through the hills if he could avoid it, now that the cover of rainfall was gone.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “Proceed,” Whisper told him angrily. “Carefully.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> Corian started forward again, his features carefully schooled into complacent innocence. He didn’t dare focus on it, and couldn’t even coordinate something with her if he wanted to, for Whisper would not allow it.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> It all came down to trust. He didn’t trust Whisper, grandfather’s message or no. The. . . whatever he was, was a bounty hunter of some kind at best. Corian doubted whether or not Whisper was actually going to take him to safety, or if he would leave Jhiranae and the others alone. Nor did Corian particularly think much of his grandfather, or his motives. On the other hand, Whisper decidedly had the advantage. Did he trust Jhiranae? How much was her freedom worth to him? If Whisper was telling the truth, Jhiranae might be able to get back to the others and they could hide out from the Grasp until the relief force arrived. Would that be better than taking a risk? After all, the chance of any kind of plan working hinged on Jhiranae not only having the idea but the competence to execute it. It all came down to trust.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> Corian weighed each potential decision, evaluated the likely outcomes, and managed to not trip over any more rocks as they descended the slope. Whisper’s ship was less than a hundred meters away. If he was going to act, he would have to do so now. Corian looked at Jhiranae—or at least the back of her head—and decided.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> He stopped and turned aside.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “Keep moving,” Whisper ordered.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “Just a second,” Corian told him. “I have to shoot a jet.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “Keep moving,” Whisper said.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “Fine,” Corian responded. “But space travel makes me a little squirrelly and I’m already cold and wet. I have no problems making a mess in your ship. Up to you.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> The crunch of Whisper’s boots stopped on the gravel.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “Relieve yourself quickly,” he said.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “Thank you,” Corian replied, turning away from Jhiranae and fumbling with his pants.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> If he had been going to pull something, this would have been the time. His clumsy ruse would only have worked on the sloppiest of captors, as this was the only opportunity he’d had for access to his belt. If he’d had a weapon concealed there somehow, there was no chance that he would have been able to draw it before Whisper gunned one or both of them down. So he didn’t try anything at all, because Whisper knew to be watching him for any such tricks.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> In that split second, Whisper’s full attention was on Corian, which meant that it was the perfect opportunity for Jhiranae to try something. This was the chance he was trusting her to act on with the knowledge from his earlier stumble. She had to do it perfectly—there would not be another chance.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> Over his shoulder, Corian heard the snap-hiss and the report of a blaster. He immediately ducked, scooping up a rock and whirling. To his surprise, he just barely caught a glimpse of the blaster bolt deflecting off Jhiranae’s lightsaber as she lunged, glowing blade whirling. A second snap shot barely missed her as she swung the lightsaber. The blow sheared through the barrel of the blaster, and Whisper fell backward from surprise. Before he could recover, Jhiranae was on him, pointing the humming blade directly at Whisper’s visor with its tip just barely touching the surface. The opaque visor started to smoke and glow red as Jhiranae brushed it with the lightsaber. The air smelled of molten ceramic.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “Let’s start over,” Jhiranae said, her eyes blazing. “Those ‘people of no importance’ have a better idea. Why don’t we leave you here and take your ship instead?”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> Whisper was silent.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “It’s probably rigged,” Corian offered, lowering his rock.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> Not that such a weapon would have done much against an opponent with such heavy armor, but hey, he was trying.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “At the very least, it’ll be locked down so we can’t use it.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “I see,” Jhiranae said. “If we can’t use his ship, then how do we keep your grandfather’s friend from causing any more trouble?”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “You know nothing,” Whisper spat.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> Jhiranae’s eyes narrowed.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “Tough talk from someone on the wrong end of a lightsaber,” she said.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “Well, I think Whisper here might be a bounty hunter,” Corian replied. “And if so, he might be willing to bargain.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “Unlikely,” Whisper told him.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> Corian smirked at him.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “Let’s try anyway,” he said. “How about you take me and all of the archaeologists off this planet in your ship? To, let’s say, Corellia.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “And if I refuse?” Whisper asked.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “Then you acquire the last nose piercing you’ll ever need, courtesy of my friend,” Corian threatened him. “And if she’s not willing, I won’t lose any sleep over it.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> Whisper was silent for a moment.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “We are agreed,” he said.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “Let’s use the ship to pick the others up,” Jhiranae suggested.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “Good idea,” Corian said. “Don’t you think so, Whisper?”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> The bounty hunter gave no reply, but Jhiranae started to back away so he could get up.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “Wait,” Corian told her. “Don’t let him up just yet.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “Why not?” she asked.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> “Because I don’t want him trying anything while I’m not looking, and I really do have to pee.”

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