Buck Stops Here/Story

Buck Stops Here an MI5 Chronicles story

The Spire was an upper-class five-star restaurant that sat in the Senate District on Coruscant. The restaurant itself was a saucer shape that sat atop a thin tower that stood well over 180 meters. The prices of the food were so high that only the wealthiest beings could afford it. And formal-wear was required upon entering.

The restaurant's lift reached the top floor and the Human, Nicolette Riley, stepped through the doors wearing an elegant green evening dress. Her strawberry-blond hair cascaded down around her shoulders. Nikki, as her friends called her, was employed by the Secret Galactic Intelligence Service, better known as MI5. She coordinated the flights to and from MI5 Headquarters, so she spent a lot of time in the hangar bay. So it felt good to get out and have an elegant evening of fun.

Her escort for the evening was MI5 operative Jace Bont, the Zeltron who exited the lift right behind her. His suit was freshly pressed and there wasn't a hair out of place. Bont was fairly new to the organization and was...getting to know his co-workers better. Hence, the night out.

They were approached by a nicely dressed male Nautolan. "Ahhh! Mr. Bont! It's good to see you again."

Bont shook his hand. "You too, Fost," he responded. "And this is Miss Riley."

Fost took Nikki's hand. "It's a pleasure," he said, kissing it.

Nikki responded with a smile.

"Is our table-for-two ready?" Bont asked.

"Of course," Fost said. "Right this way."

Nikki took Bont's arm and they followed the Nautolan through the restaurant. As Fost ushered them toward their table, Bont recognized some of the other patrons. Some politicians, some celebrities...

"Here is your usual table, Mr. Bont," Fost said, pulling out the chair for Nikki. "Your waitress will be with you momentarily. Have a great evening."

"Thank you, Fost," Bont responded, sitting down.

The table was next to a window so they had an almost panoramic view of the Senate District. It was a breath-taking view. "You come here so often that you know the employees and you have a usual table?" Nikki asked, cracking a smile.

"Yes. I'm a regular here at The Spire."

Nikki had read MI5's file on Jace Bont, so she knew he was a ladies-man. He had probably taken many women here. But...she didn't want to think about that. She was just excited to be here. She had never eaten at The Spire. It seemed way out of her league.

"I actually never thought I'd get here," Nikki said, looking around the restaurant. It was quite lavish.

"Yes," Bont said. "It is rather nice here. And the view is incredible."

Nikki was looking at the other patrons. She noticed Senator Vogel Kell of Bespin sitting with Senators Onaconda Farr of Rodia and Ask Aak from Malastare. She also noticed Zena Muldoon, the popular Human holostar. But there was one specific celebrity that caught her eye. "Oh, look," she said to Bont. "That's Cambria Verpine over there."

Bont looked in the direction she was indicating but didn't see a Verpine, that insect-like species, anywhere.

"Her name is Verpine but she's actually Human," Nikki clarified. "Right there, wearing the red and white dress."

Bont found her. This Verpine woman was striking. Her light brown hair was up, revealing a rather sexy neck and shoulders. "And who is this woman?"

"She's one of the best limmie players on Coruscant," Nikki said. "She won the championship with the Mynocks last year in the Federal League."

The sport of limmie. That's something Jace Bont wasn't really into. "I take it you enjoy limmie."

"Oh, yeah," Nikki responded happily. "I played it as a kid. Obviously never pursued it further than that. I just played for fun." She nodded in Cambria's direction. "The Coruscant Mynocks are my favorite team."

"Good evening," a BD-3000 luxury droid said as it approached. The droid handed them each a menu and added, "I am Florence, your waitress for this evening. Would you like to start with some drinks?"

"Yes," Bont said. "A Vorzyd martini, please. Shaken, not stirred."

"And for the lady?" the droid asked, turning to Nikki.

"Uh... I'll have the same thing."

"I'll be back with your drinks in one moment," the droid responded, then hurried off.

"I'm sure you read my file," Bont said to Nikki, "so you already know all about me." Bont could see her trying to hold back a smile. "Why don't you tell me about you. There's got to be more to you than limmie and working in hangar bays."

"Of course there is," she responded. "Let's see... Before MI5, I worked briefly for the Republic's Judicial Forces."

"Really?" Bont questioned, somewhat interested.

"I wasn't in any of the combat stuff though. I was hired on to carry out secretarial duties. They transferred me to the Outer Rim to work for the Republic Outland Regions Security Force."

"Doesn't seem like that bad of a job," Bont responded. "What made you come to MI5?"

"Well..." Nikki hesitated and looked down at the table. "I...got involved with one of the Commanders. A young man named Wilhuff Tarkin. Fraternizing with a secretary was frowned upon in that organization. And when we got caught, Tarkin saved his own ass and blamed the whole thing on me, making it seem like it was completely my fault and I was forcing the relationship on him."

Bont was suddenly deep in thought. Could something like this happen at MI5 as well? Could both their careers be in danger because of this little evening out?

"Needless to say, I was fired but he kept his job," Nikki added.

"So, I--" Bont started, but was suddenly interrupted by the sound of someone yelling profanities. Both he and Nikki turned to see what was happening. A Human stepped out of the turbolift across the restaurant and pulled a blaster rifle from his coat. Instinctively, Bont yelled, "Get down!" and pushed Nikki down under the table.

As the man opened fire on the restaurant patrons, Bont tipped the table over sideways, using it to shield him and Nikki from the blaster bolts. Nikki had her hands covering her head as she knelt down behind the table.

"What's going on?! What's going on?!" Nikki screamed frantically.

Bont simply drew a hold-out blaster that was concealed within his coat and popped his head up over the edge of the table. He swung his right arm around to aim at the Human and fire off a few blaster bolts. The Human took them in the midsection and dropped to the floor.

Bont immediately hopped over the table's edge and strolled toward the Human. Nikki peeked out from behind the table and noticed the aftermath of the shooting. The Human must have just been firing at random because blaster bolt holes were all over the restaurant, in the ceiling and everything. Windows were blasted out, letting in the cool evening air, and a few bodies were laying motionless on the floor...none of the Senators nor celebrities she recognized. She then reached into her purse searching for her MI5 datapad.

Kicking away the Human's blaster rifle, Bont knelt down on one knee and jabbed the muzzle of his hold-out blaster into the Human's left cheek. The Human flinched and was breathing heavily.

"Who are you, and who are you working for?" Bont demanded calmly.

The Human responded with more profanity.

Bont swatted his arm in a back-hand motion pistol-whipping the Human in the face with his blaster, then jammed it into this face again.

"I won't ask again," Bont said.

The Human spit blood into Bont's face.

That really ticked him off. Bont grabbed the collar of the man's coat and lifted him off the floor to his feet. He then dragged him over to the nearest broken window and slammed him against the opening. Forcing the upper half of his body out the window, Bont had the Human leaning out over the 180 meter drop. Leaning him out the window with his left arm, Bont's right now had the hold-out blaster against the Human's forehead.

Nikki walked up beside Bont while looking at the information on her datapad. She said, "I was able to search MI5's database to find his likeness. It looks like his name is Haas Buck. Originally an orphan from Tatooine. He's been in and out of prison for a number of reasons and has been deemed mentally unstable."

Without taking his eyes off of Buck, Bont concluded, "So he's not working for anyone. He's just insane."

Buck just grinned, revealing teeth that were covered in blood.

Reading more of the information on the datapad, Nikki added, "Wow. Apparently he's murdered random people before."

"And he's still out roaming the streets," Bont commented, shaking his head.

"Pardon me," a voice said behind them.

Nikki turned to see the dark-skinned Human Bespinite Senator. "Hello, I'm Senator Vogel Kell. I've just notified the local authorities. They'll be here momentarily."

"Thank you," Nikki said, turning back to Bont and the Human criminal. "If you could help with the wounded in the meantime..."

Kell continued, "I couldn't help but overhear that you're MI5?" He meant it as a statement but it sounded more like a question. "I just want to say thank you for saving my life again. Your fellow agent Pandolfo Taproot rescued us from my crashed ship on Hoth earlier this year."

Nikki put up a hand to stop Kell from talking. "Okay. Maybe now's not the time," she said, motioning to the criminal leaning backward out the window.

Bont was wondering what the hell this Senator was doing. He should be working on stricter laws rather than interrupting the apprehension of a known criminal, who happened to be taking advantage of these lenient laws. Bont cocked his head slightly to catch a glimpse of Senator Kell in his peripheral vision. The split second he took his eyes off the criminal, Buck made his move.

Buck swiftly kicked Jace Bont in the crotch, forcing Bont to double over and release him. Buck then grabbed the Zeltron agent and pulled him toward the open window. With Bont in his grip, Buck leaped out. As the two of them dropped out of sight, everyone in the restaurant gasped or screamed. Nikki dropped the datapad and rushed over to the window.

As she looked down, she saw Bont hanging on to a horizontal railing that was attached to a support beam a few feet below the window. It was most likely used for maintenance on the structure. Haas Buck was nowhere to be found.

Bont began to climb back up to the window and Nikki helped him through it. She threw her arms around him and began to cry. Bont embraced her, comforting her.

There was a moment of silence, and then Senator Kell asked hesitantly, "Where is Buck?"

Bont glanced at the Senator.

Kell added, "The authorities will be expecting him on the ground floor."

"Buck said he would meet them down there," Bont quipped. "They'd better bring a spatula."

End