CHAPTER 1 â Mara meets Harris aboard the ISD Chimaera
Mara entered the bridge of the Imperial Star Destroyer Chimaera and headed straight into the state room, where Gran Admiral Pellaeon was waiting for her. She knew the Admiral only by his career reputation within the Galactic Empire which was impressive to say the least.
Pellaeon smiled allowing her to read how sympathetic he was in force towards her.
âDifferently from others, I have nothing to fear from you, Hand. I have a mission for you. Are you in between assignment from the Emperor? Or should I look for a bounty hunter?"
The Admiral knew how to handle people and for this reason, he tried to toy with her pride. Little did he know how different Mara Jade was.
"It's up to you Admiral, and how important this mission is for you." Mara crossed her arms - she was used to that kind behavior from fellow Imperials.
Pellaeon grinned as she seemed to have accepted the assignment and pulled a chair on his room, next to the bridge of the ISD Chimaera. Â
âPlease have a seat. It is a long storyâ, he says. Â
âHave you ever heard of Chibias? It is not that bad planet, I believe. It is located in the Mid Rim, close to Sibisme. There is a great concert hall thereâ, he explained staring at her beautiful emerald eyes.
"Please continue", Mara was totally focused on his words, quickly scanning her own memory for any additional information.
âThe Rebel Scum is plotting something from Chibias. We have control of the planet but we want to move stealthily. It seems there is a traitor in the Rebellion willing to cooperate. I could send Veres or a stormtrooper". Â
He briefly grinned. "but I believe that we need to be more subtle, less threatening to the Rebel deserter... perhaps somehow charming. We must find out where their fleet is, so that we can strike them at onceâ. The Admiral slammed the table as recalled the fallen comrades in past battles.
Mara smiled. "Understood, I'll make my way there tonight see what this rebel whistler has to say".
âDo you need transportation? I have a highly trained storm trooper who could help you in this kind of mission. His name is Harrisâ
The Hand denied with her head. "I can get there on my own" Â
She started walking away then pauses for a second. "And thanks for the information, I'm sure the Emperor will be pleased to know one more rebel cell has fallen".
She headed to her chambers.
The Admiral was about to protest as she walks away, but he is mesmerized by the sight of her rear, curvaceous body in the black skintight suit. He swallows dry and smirks, turning the communicator to Harris. Â
âSheâs on her way to her chambers. Youâre ordered to go with her. The Rebel shall be at the Concert Hall and you are to watch her. Thatâs what Vader commandedâ.
By the time she arrived at her chambers in the Imperial Destroyer, a young man around her age is leaning against the door. Standing at 1m88, he is well built and good looking. His blue eyes were piercing the Emperorâs Hand as she approached her room. âGreetings, Mara Jade. Iâve been told you are traveling to Chibias. Perhaps I may be useful.â He threw a data card towards her.
She stared at the young man standing by, the perfect prototype of a stormtrooper... before war gets to them. She guessed he was probably there because of Pellaeon. Â
"I wonder why Admiral Pellaeon things I'm in need of any assistance", she frowned.
Harris knew about the legendary beauty of Mara Jade. Nothing would have prepared him to her arrival - he was used to have women drooling around him and for the first time, he seemed to have momentarily lost his ground. His heart skipped a beat when she appeared and as he was told, she declined his assistance. A lone wolf. He approached her, trying to regain the confidence he was used to next to pretty women. She can definitively feel his strong signature in the force. As the data card he had thrown at her direction was on the floor, he bent his knees and took it. He raised his trunk and towered over her, tilting his head to the right. Â
âI thought you were going to take this data card in the airâ, he said placing the hand next to her in the wall and hitting the opening button of the door.
âYouâd rather listen to me. The Emperor may be displeased if you treat me unwellâ, he smirked as slid into her chambers.
She was used to higher rank officersâ attitude, but certainly would have never expected it from a stormtrooper, specially not from one so young. Probably had a nice post next to Admiral Pellaeon, his man of trust, and of course, it had gotten to his head. 'Men' she thought to herself, trying to maintain composure
"I don't like to play catch with strangers" she answered in a flat voice, standing still outside the door.
Harris entered her chambers and turned his back to Mara. He was not a force sensitive ânot that he knew anything about the Force - but he was stronger in the force than the average person. Little did Mara know that he reported to higher ranks than Admiral Pellaeon. Â
âMara Jade, we have two options. You can stay outside without knowing what I have to offer you. Or you can come inside, open a bottle or Corellian wine, listen to what I have to say and then, kill me with you bare handsâ, he said with an equally flat voice. Â
âOf course, you can do that, but I think itâd be a waste of imperial resourcesâ.
She could sense the young man's arrogance as clearly as his presence in the force. "At least I can agree to one thing, I will kill you with my bare hands" she said, walking in, the door closing behind her. Â
"Alright", she said, standing in front of him, her arms crossed. "The reason I won't kill you is?" She stares right at him, her patience running low every second.
âI thought we had agreed youâd kill meâ, Harris retorted as he walked to a computer station and tapped on the screen. âHow safe do you think it is?â
"I'm pretty sure it's not, feel free to get to the point please" She looked at the screen from a few steps.
Harris sat and showing no sign of fear, he typed an 18-character password. âCan you recognize this person?â A long file opened with the basic data about a certain Legolas Castor.
She carefully looks at the picture of the stranger on the screen
"Enlighten me", she asked, lowering her tone for a bit, she had no clue who that man was.
âIt comes as no surprise you are no familiar with. Heâs the new human ânephewâ serving Black Sunâs Xizor. I believe you heard about this criminal organization. We know they have been playing with us and the Rebelsâ, he was serious as he had heard about her past missions. Â
âThe point is: we do not know whether Legolas Castor is actually willing to provide us with some information or to set a trap for the fleet.â
"We should find out", she answered. The name Xizor certainly resonated in her memory. A highly influential character within the Empire, she had never really liked him, but he was in good favor with the Emperor, and whatever she thought about him was out place. Â
"There's a good chance that this guy Castor is only a pawn".
âThatâs why they are sending you. You have skills no other spy has, Mara.â Harris swirled the chair, so that he faced her. Â
âLegolas Castor has a weakness. Redheads. Of all species. We have a ticket for you and know what? Youâre seating just next to him in the concert hall in Chibiasâ, he says without making any effort to hide his concern about her safety. Â
âI was commanded to be away watching over you. Donât worry, I wonât be a dead loss. You may leave me behind if I get into troubleâ.
"So that was it", she thought to herself. She had used her looks as a wrap on of distraction before, in fact it was quite an advantage given certain kind of targets. Â
"I see you and your boss had everything set. Anyways, this should be a piece of cake" she said "Tell your superior I appreciate him taking the time to make preparations ahead", she added. Â
"Now, if you don't mind I'd like to get busy", she finished, walking up to her chamber door and opening it, gesturing for the young trooper to leave.
"Not my boss, our boss", Harris muttered in between his teeth without giving further explanation. He watched her rear swaying, almost in provocation to him - for a second, he wanted to slap it but he declined. Â
"I am glad we could come to good terms, Mara. You´ll not be down", he agreed with her request and stepped out of the room - as he was in the door, he added. "Look for an old HWK-290 light freighter in the docking bay. We are not using any imperial transport, since it would raise suspicious... and I will fly it", he added, leaving her chambers. He boarded the ship and waited.
Mara sighed. That trooper indeed had an attitude and that annoyed her, but she kind of like it. He was also very stubborn, something she would probably have to deal with. The information provided by Harris had been useful, and she herself had thought about piloting a low-profile ship to Chibias... Then there was the Xizor business... she had been on Chibias before, trying to bring some order back 8n to place after suspecting said ruler of treason, unfortunately, Xizor had his ways of not getting his hands dirty, so hard evidence of it was hard to find. Maybe, and just maybe allowing the stormtrooper to join her was a good idea, he could eventually come handy, she thought. She gathered her weapons and prepared a small bag with some appropriate clothes, she would have to merge at the concert hall gala and use her looks to her advantage. Â
After a few minutes she boarded the freighter and joined the pilot. Â
Harris decided to play the professional - if they were going to partner, there was no reason for them to fight each other. He stood up and bowed showing some respect. Â
âThereâs a room behind the pilot cabin: keep it for you, Maraâ he said as he prepared the ship to take off. Â
âYouâve just had a great stress in Sullust, so take advantage of this ride to relax. If you want to play sabaac or just drink some Corellian wine, Iâll be hereâ. Shortly after, the two entered the hyperspace. The trip would last 1 day in a series of pre-programmed jumps to the hyperspace.
She was suspicious of the trooper's sudden change of attitude. He had proved himself useful, but she wanted to make sure he was up to the task, she had known a few stormtroopers who despite of the rigorous training would miss a simple target more than once or even fail protocol. Besides, she wasn't just going to sit for the ride, inaction tended to ruin her concentration. So she went and sat next to him.
"So tell me, stormtrooper Harris, how good of a pilot are you?"
Harris did not hide his surprise when Mara approached him. Her attitude was stern and professional. He turned his eyes to her and nodded. "I have had my quota of dogfights with smugglers in some missions for the Empire. I'm still alive, so it may mean something", he said as the ship came out of hyperspace, turned slightly and made another jump. Â
"I plotted the known routes, even though the Hand may be authorized to use the Imperial-exclusive ones. I thought it'd be wiser, just in case someone hacks the NavComputer when we are out of the ship. It will cost us some time but will add some safety too." He swirled his chair slightly so that he could see her slender body. She was indeed pretty as he had been told. It was clear why she was the Emperor's favorite Hand. Â
"I do not expect that we need to use my skills as a jet fighter. I am more worried about going physical. Those Black Sun goonies do not think twice to beat and torture people. I'm glad I can join this mission. Their crime syndicate must be ended".
She was impressed by Harris's strategy skills, he had even planned ahead to cover up their tracks in case their transport was found. She smiled in approval. He was also very aware of the dangers they would probably encounter once they reached their destination, and most important, she was a professional but by no means infallible, he could see something she didn't. Â
"Let's make sure it happens", she eagerly added to his comment.
Harris stood up, towering over the redhead. He casually placed the hand on the back of Mara's chair. He knew he was winning her, although he lacked the degree of development in the force. "Yes, I don´t like those criminals", he snorted in disdain, trying to hide personal feeling of grief and suffering in relation to the Black Sun. Harris left her alone and walked to the cargo bay, where he took off the silly stormtrooper armour and put on a pair of bermuda. He began to do push-ups shirtless, focusing on what was to come.
"So that's what it is", Mara could sense this mission has a personal tint for the trooper, perhaps the memories of past battles... and loss. She could empathize with his words, she despised criminals for disrupting the peace and order the Empire worked so hard to keep. But she didn't know what it was like, to take something to the personal ground, after all she had nothing to lose except for her own life which she had dedicated to serve the Empire. She peaked for a second behind her seat and briefly saw the trooper's figure, he was strong and certainly above the average stormtrooper standard of fitness. She smiled and turned her attention back to the window and out to space. They both wanted the same thing, and maybe their motivation wasn't that different. They would both once again serve the Empire for the good of the galaxy.
