Leviathan 2: The crew that shall remain nameless

HK

System activation. Operation autonomous. Photoreceptors active. Target human. Terminate

Terminated. Verify location T3. Activate

What do we do now?

'It seems to have worked.'

Affirmative. Locate computer access. Panel off, arm extended. System sliced

'Locate master and other crewmembers. Terminate all that stand in the way.'

All?

'Not us you pile of spare parts.'

Portal activated. Terminate-abort. Life Form Juhani. Follow

Canderous

I came to as the med techs were whining about my weight. Big deal. They were using an anti-grav lifter on a flat deck to move me, not packing me across rough terrain on their backs. We entered a room, and they moved me from the lifter to a table. One of them was leaned over me. 'Better set up a heart spike, 50 units of adrenaline.' As the second one turned to get it my arms snapped up, and I caught the first one by the neck. I crushed his larynx, and he went down choking as I rolled onto my feet. The other man turned, and had enough time to see me before my fist caved in his skull. There were two Sith guards in uniform, perhaps against a normal human they would have had a chance.

Against me there was a chance, but not a good one. They expected me to be injured, slowed. The second died less than three seconds after the first med tech.

I really hated to use the Confar, the 'body slowing'. I was always a bit off for a while. My reaction time up to 4 tenths of a second instead of the usual 3. There was a sealed crate in the corner, and I laced my fingers under the lid, ripping it off. My weapons and armor were in it. Nice of them. I checked the rifle. Fully loaded.

I walked over to the hatch, and opened it. The man standing outside had enough time to know I was there before a bolt of plasma ripped him apart, I turned the corner, and the other two at the end of the passageway went down like ten pins. I charged down there, and around the corner. There was a blast door in front of me. I hissed. My weapon would cut through it, but if I did, it would set off every alarm on the ship

Jolee

The guard had Zaalbar in restraints, and I'm an old man, so he thought he had it covered. We walked into the holding area, and he opened a field. 'Get in.' He snapped.

'But we are in.' I said. 'Aren't you supposed to get out?'

'Wait, you're right. Stay here.' He walked into the cell.

'Aren't you supposed to give me that?' I pointed at the key. He looked at it, then slowly disconnected it, and handed it to me. He came awake as the force field lit off.

'What the-' He stared around. 'You come back here or I'll-'

'Do what? Use harsh language?' I asked. He drew his sidearm, and fired. Bad idea. He was on the deck as the bolt bounced around the bulkheads and field. It might take a while for it to expend enough energy to be safe.

The other cells were filled with people, at least a dozen all told of just about as many races. They clamored for us to let them out. I was busy with Zaalbar's cuffs.

'Give me a minute to get my bearings.' I admonished them. Zaalbar had gone toward the end of the entryway, then backed up. He signalled for me to wait. Then a guard marched into view. As he turned toward me, Zaalbar came up, and picked him up by the neck. He couldn't break his neck through the armor, but after slamming him into the bulkhead two or three times, Zaalbar broke just about everything else.

We ran to a set of canisters on the wall, and found a gold mine of weapons and armor. We carried it all back in front of the cells. 'For when we get the doors open.' I promised.

The rear room was marked as a guard's barracks, so we didn't go that way. Instead we turned left, heading out. There was a security room, and we opened the door. There were two guards, and I picked one up slamming him into the wall with the force as Zaalbar shook the other into unconsciousness. He went to the computer console, and keyed in.

Sasha

I wanted to wail. The wonderful place as I thought of the ship was empty, and bad people took my friends, my Amma Mata. They had moved around, poking at our things. I wanted to scream, to hurt them, to kill them! I wanted wail at my pain. My wonderful place was going to be destroyed again!

I cradled the light-beam weapon I had picked up. Amma Mata would not be pleased when she found out I had it, but I was so angry with them! She had told me I had to be trained, but I didn't care. I would protect the wonderful place. I would kill all of them when they came!

But to do that I had to get out of here. I had to hide in the big ship. I climbed down, and opened the grill. No one was in the cargo hold, and I took the time to eat a halo fruit. Amma Mata loved them, so did I. I took another, sticking it inside my robe. I would give it to Amma Mata when she came back.

I stepped out into the passageway. There was an evil man there, and he saw me, running toward me to catch me. As he grabbed, I pressed the button. With a hum the blade of light shot out and through his chest. He fell away from me and I felt a savage joy at his death. If I had known how good this was, I would have stolen one from the Manlorey months ago!

I ran across and down the ramp. The bay was huge, but I saw a grill and ran toward it. The vents here were larger, almost large enough for me to stand up in. I began moving down them. There was a junction box. I opened it, and saw a maze of colored wires and fiber optics. I pulled some out, ripping them. And alarms began to sound. I liked it. Whenever I came to another junction box I ripped out other wires. Sometimes all of them, sometimes I just cut a few.

When I heard people climbing into the vents I dropped down into an empty passageway, entered another section, and went on. Then alarms sounded that I had not caused. I used the noise to move back to the wonderful place. There was the information box in the cockpit, and I touched it. I couldn't read yet, but Amma Mata had been teaching me to use one that used pictures instead of words. I touched that panel, and began working my way through the system. There was a set of red controls at the center and I touched them. They were the guns. I touched a control that set them to fire at any movement, then pulled up the ramp.

Mission

'Get in girlie.' The guard snarled, shoving me into the cell.

'Quit crowding me! I spun around 'Sheesh! Don't you Sith ever bathe? I've smelt Gamorrean males in heat that don't smell as bad.'

'I would suggest you shut your trap. You're only going to make it worse for yourself.'

'What, worse than putting up with slimy Sith that smell like Rancor dung?'

'Maybe some time in solitary will teach you some respect.'

'Respect is earned you troglodyte. Who designed those uniforms? A color blind Rodian?'

'Very funny. Be sure to ask the torturer when he comes. Maybe he'll laugh while you scream.'

'What, you're going to torture me?' I squeaked.

Oh, no snappy comeback that time eh?'

'No. I was just wondering what would be worse than dealing with you.'

He tried to slap me, and we tussled for a few seconds. He finally threw me back into the cell, and flicked the field on. 'It may be a while. We're busy torturing your friends. But we'll get to you in a while. Try to think of snappy patter for the torturer. It will make his day.' He laughed as he walked away.

I rubbed my back, then pulled out the pass card I had lifted. 'Or maybe I'll just walk out. I wonder when people will stop underestimating me?' I used the card to open the cell. Across from me, a Rodian looked up hopefully.

'Little girl let me out too?' He asked. I looked in the next cell. Three Rodians sat there looking dazed.

'What about your friends?'

'Too late for them. Sith use them for torture. First the Captain, then the pilot, then the navigator. All crazed with pain now. Soon me too if you leave me.'

'But you'll foul my escape.'

'No. Me think you too smart for that. Me trade for freedom.' He reached behind him, pulling out a small card shaped device. 'Me good with electronics. I have special Ice program. Go through any security. Put in computer, it sit up and beg for you!'

'Wait a minute. You're a prisoner! How did you get that?'

'Me made it before they capture us. Me hid in one place they not look-'

'Please, spare me the details.' I said. I checked the cell. It was easy to bring the field down. He handed me the Ice as he pushed past me.

'Oh Eww!' I groaned. I didn't have a pocket to put the damn thing in! I went on down the passageway. There was guard, but he was tromping the other way so I slipped across. There were containers at the end and I opened them. Stun rods, armor, and some computer spikes and a stealth belt. Things were looking up.

I slipped on the armor and belt, then picked up the stun rod. There's a way to jimmy the power electrodes, and I knew it. The rod bleeped then the telltale glowed red. If I hit someone with this, he'd get a full charge instead of the tenth normally released. Not even armor would stop that!

I slipped back to the entryway, and coughed. The guard turned, unsure. Then he walked toward me. His blaster rifle was out, and he was alert. But me I've been a fly on the wall before. As he walked past I stepped out behind him, and slapped him between the shoulder blades with the stun rod. It heated up so fast I squeaked, and dropped it. The suit of armor collapsed, and I took his rifle and a couple of grenades. Choice.

I ran down to the door marked Security. I popped the door, and was flinging grenades even as it opened. Lucky for me they didn't give the guard any frags. Just concussion and sonics so the equipment wasn't damaged. Not that it helped the two guards in the room. One was blasted off his feet. The other staggered for a few seconds until I put a mercy round through him.

I considered using the Ice, but I've been making computers sit up and beg for years. I sliced in, and began working my way through the firewalls. People forget that a firewall is great to protect against outside access, but people don't protect themselves from their own computers often enough.

I checked Central. As I did, there were a rash of weapons discharge warnings, but I killed them before anyone was notified. He was headed for a door marked MAXIMUM SECURITY CENTRAL HOLDING and I checked where it led. According to the schematic, it was where Danika was being held so I popped the door, and again covered the rash of weapons markers. Really I think Canderous needed to learn how to relax.

I checked portside, and someone was trying really ham handedly to access it. I noticed a quirk, and sent ZAALBAR?

I got back, Mission?

Mission: THE ONE AND ONLY

Jolee: MISSION, THIS IS JOLEE. WHAT'S THE SITUATION?

Mission: CANDEROUS IS BREAKING DANIKA AND CREW OUT RIGHT NOW. WAIT ONE. ALL RIGHT. JUHANI AND THE DROIDS ARE ON THE LIFT. I SENT IT UP TO CENTRAL LOCK-UP

Jolee: WE'RE GOING TO LET THE PRISONERS HERE LOOSE

Mission: NO! IF ALL CELLS GO DOWN SIMULTANEOUSLY, THE MUTINY/ BOARDING ALARM SOUNDS!

Jolee: OH

Mission: WAIT A TICK

I considered, This big loaf of bread had a crew of almost 2800. We were outnumbered by 280 to one already. Maybe we could even the odds out?

Mission: JOLEE, REMEMBER MY BROTHER'S NAME? DON'T SPELL IT OUT OR SAY IT!

Jolee: AFFIRMATIVE

Mission: GOOD. I'M GOING TO RIG THE CELLS ON YOUR END TO COME DOWN WHEN THE CELLS HERE GO DOWN. BUT I'M ALSO CHANGING THE COMMAND KEY PASSWORD ON THE MUTINY SYSTEM

The mutiny/boarding system has only one use, to restrict movement aboard the ship in the even of a mutiny, prison break, or boarding action. The boarders or mutineers have to cut or blast their way through the ship. The officers on board have the codes necessary to open the doors, but no one else does.

But that assumes the codes they have are good. In the case of a mutiny, the Captain issues new codes to officers he considers loyal.

But the only ones loyal to me were my crew. When I reset this, we would have access, but no one else.

I finished, then hit the button, releasing a horde of crazed Rodians and whoever was over in Portside. When I did alarms sounded, and every blast door in the place came down. I reopened those between me and the elevator, then those in Central that would have stopped us from escaping there. I hefted the rifle, setting it to burst. 'Now it's time to rock and roll!'

Karath

The alarms sounded, and Admiral Karath looked up in annoyance. 'What the hell-'

'Breakout in Starboard and Portside holding simultaneously.' An officer reported. 'Boarding alarm in effect.'

'Get the troops from their barracks and have them deal with that.'

'Yes sir.' The com officer input the code, then again. 'Sir, the code isn't working!'

'What do you mean the code isn't working?' Karath snapped. He opened his own com panel, and input his code. Instead of a response, he got a rude word in Twi-lek. He hissed. 'Guard! Begin transmitting on you command channel to the closest troops to our location. Have them transmit to those beyond your range, and keep it up until every section has reported. You're men will stand ready to protect the bridge. Have the hanger deck controls disabled. Only access to them is to be here.'

One of the two Dark Jedi on the bridge looked at him. 'You don't honestly think they will come here!'

'I know Carth Onasi. He'll come.'

Leviathan

Danika

The door opened, and a blaster rifle ripped through the guards on our cages. Canderous walked in, and began thumbing controls.

'Good work.' Carth said.

'Thank Mission.' He retorted. 'She popped that door, and even now the excrement is hitting the rotary impeller.' As he said that there were alarms screaming. 'Mutiny alarm. The only ones that can move are our people.' As he spoke Juhani and the droids came in. We ran to the storeroom off the section where we had been imprisoned, and gathered our weapons. It felt good to be armed again. As I turned, Jolee and Zaalbar arrived. We handed out weapons all around, and took off at a dead run toward the elevator. It opened, and Mission waved us in.

'Bad news. I blocked most of the crew off, but someone on the bridge beat me to the hanger doors. We can get into the ship, but we're stuck inside.'

'No. There's the control on the bridge.' Carth said. 'I want to have a word for our host before we get out of here.'

'We had best hurry.' Bastila said. 'I can feel Malak approaching. I don't think any of us want to be here when he arrives. None of us is powerful enough to face a Sith Dark Lord.'

'We need some kind of plan.' I said.

'Surprise will have to do. Mission has cut our adversaries to a minimum. We will strike fast.'

'I'll take the others and head the other way.' Canderous said. 'We'll clear the route for you.'

'Count me in for the bridge.' Carth said.

'I'm coming too.' I told her.

'Bastila nodded. 'A small team can move faster. Canderous, go.'

We hopped out of the elevator at the bridge, and watched it run on down. Then we moved out. The resistance was scattered, but it started to get heavier the closer we got to the bridge. We finally reached the access door, but it didn't open.

'Sealed from the inside.' Carth said. 'We'll have to do it the hard way.' He motioned, and we ran down the passageway to a door marked Secondary Bridge Access. He opened a locker, and began tossing out space suits. 'There's an emergency hatch to the bridge just forward about a fifty meters. Can't be locked from the inside, it's used for evacuation. We'll get in there.'

I slipped into the suit, and when the others were ready, we entered the air lock. An Interdictor is so huge, it's like walking in a city. As we waddled down the outer deck fighters on patrol raced past us. I kept my mind focused on the door ahead. The panic I had thought I would feel was absent. The Firaxa had done something for me on Manaan at least. The door opened, and we gathered into the airlock. As the pressure equalized, I fidgeted. I could feel the dark presence of Malak approaching, and I wanted to be away.

We dropped the suits, and went into the next compartment. There were guards, we dealt with them. Then there was only the door to the bridge itself. I motioned, and Carth activated his energy shield. Of us all, he could not deflect enemy fire,

Saul Karath turned as we entered. He stood near the end of the officer's walkway, flanked by dark Jedi. There were four Sith armored troopers. Carth would have to deal with the two that flanked the door. The rest were ours.

'Congratulations on making it this far.' Karath said. 'Very resourceful, Carth, I see you learned my lessons well.'

'All I learned from you was betrayal, Saul!'

'That isn't true and we both know it.' He looked to me. 'This is your final chance to surrender. Lord Malak has entered the system, and will be here in just a short time.'

'He speaks the truth. I can feel him approaching.'

'Surrender now and I can promise to go to him on your behalf and plead for mercy-'

'Mercy! I have seen enough of Sith Mercy!' Carth screamed.

Saul sighed. 'You always did like to do things the hard way, Carth. I know he would have wanted live prisoners, but corpses will have to do.' He motioned toward us.

The dark Jedi moved even as Bastila and I did. I blasted one off his feet with a force bolt as I deflected fire from the two Sith troopers ahead of us. One went down as I deflected the bolt into him, the other bolt took Karath in the stomach. Then the dark Jedi was close enough to fight. He struck furiously, but I deflected another shot from the last trooper into his chest. I reached out, and the trooper lifted, spinning like dust caught in a whirlwind as I turned, cutting into the dark Jedi facing Bastila. I threw my lightsaber, the blade slicing into and through the helpless trooper then turned.

Carth was storming toward the body of Karath, his face furious. The men behind him had two smoking holes in each body, one in the chest, another in the head.

'Carth...' Karath whispered.

'He's still alive!' Bastila gasped.

'Not for long.' Carth growled. 'It's time to end this!'

'Carth.' I grabbed his arm. 'Don't become what you hate.'

'Don't you realize what he's done to me, to my life?' Carth raged. 'He deserves this!'

'Becoming him will not ease your pain, Carth. He will have won if you do.'

'Carth. Before I die... I must tell you something.' Carth knelt beside him. I moved to the access control computer, and opened the docking bay. Behind me I could hear an urgent whisper. 'Didn't know, did you?' I heard a pained laugh. 'Remember my dying words, Carth... Whenever... you look at what you thought... were your friends!'

I saw that the ship was set on course toward the Star Forge, but I couldn't access the coordinates. I slammed my fist on the console in frustration.

I turned, and Carth rose from the body. 'He said...' He looked at me with such hatred I stepped back. 'It can't be true. Damn you to hell, Saul!'

'What did he say?' I asked.

'Shut up!' He screamed at me. He rounded on Bastila. 'It is true, right Bastila? And you knew! The whole damn Jedi Council knew!'

Bastila sighed. 'Carth, please, it's not what you think. We had no choice! You have to understand-'

'So make me understand!' Carth roared.

'What are you two talking about?' I asked. Carth gave me a look full of venom. Bastila's was one of pity. I wasn't sure which bothered me more.

'Carth, this is not the time or the place. Lord Malak is not far away, and we do not have the time to argue. Please, Carth. I'm only asking you to trust me for just a little while longer.'

'Carth, I don't know what this is about, but she's right about that. We can't just stand here!'

Carth nodded. 'All right, Bastila.' He looked at me with all of that hate. 'I will trust you Bastila, until we're out of here.' His words cut me because any trust he had had in me seemed to have evaporated.

'I promise you both explanations as soon as the Ebon Hawk is out of here.'

Carth glared at me. 'After you.'