CHAPTER EIGHT
The impassive look on Admiral Gavin Darklighter's face was enough to tell Wallen that this discussion was not going to go anywhere.
"I'm sorry, captain," the Tatooine-born admiral said. "But we can't spare any fleets or squadrons to go to Odryn, or wherever the Lok Revenants hang out."
Wallen frowned. "Not even Rogue Squadron?"
Darklighter shook his head. "The pirates might see their presence as a threat and cause trouble for the Alliance as a whole- trouble which we can't afford since we're still rebuilding from the Glorian War."
Wallen sighed and nodded in defeat. "I understand, sir. I'll speak with the director about it."
"All right. Dismissed, captain."
Wallen saluted the admiral and exited his office. Outside, he headed into the Intelligence HQ complex which was connected to the Defense Force's base. Making his way towards Director Kalenda's office, Wallen hoped that the director's calm composure would be enough to offset his building apprehension regarding Black Sun's movement.
However, when he entered the office, he found the worst face he could expect awaiting him.
Regathering himself and staring into the other man's dark eyes, Wallen said, "Captain Girdun?"
Heol Girdun smiled mirthlessly in response. "That'll be Director Girdun to you from now on, Captain Nix."
Wallen refrained from swearing under his breath. "Er, care to clue me in on this? Last I saw, Belindi Kalenda was director of Intelligence and you were serving in the Security Force."
Girdun grunted- his way of laughing, basically. "I got transferred and promoted. Don't know why or how, nor do I care; maybe I'm just that good."
Wallen narrowed his eyes skeptically. "Or maybe you cheated like a Hutt."
A tense silence between the two men until Girdun said, "Now then, how goes the investigation of Loth Ja'far's murder?"
In detail, Wallen explained to him what he and Taaku found out about Ja'far, the subsequent death of Vuren Rackus, the Mandalorian snippet, and what Goran Beviin told them about Corda Ordo, Kadar, and Scav.
When he finished, Girdun sat in silent contemplation before saying, "Admiral Darklighter is right; we cannot spare the resources to cross into Black Sun's territory, especially when they have a band of pirates helping them."
Wallen frowned. "Well then, how about Taaku and I- and maybe a few other agents- take a shuttle to Odryn and handle things?"
The director snorted. "Sure, and once you're done, I'll have your ashes sent to your wife."
"I don't have a wife."
"Good. Less work for me then."
It took all of Wallen's will to not punch Girdun in the throat. Instead, he said, "So what do you suppose we do?"
"Nothing," Girdun said, leaning back in his seat. "It's pretty obvious, isn't it? Loth had dealings with Black Sun and they killed him to keep his mouth shut. Same with Rackus. Case closed."
"And what if you're wrong? What if there's an ulterior motive at work?"
The director threw his hands up in the air irreverently. "Well, until they start murdering senators and the like, I don't think we have anything to worry about. Dismissed, captain."
Wallen glowered at Girdun but said nothing as he stormed out of the office, not even bothering with a formal salute or farewell. As he strode down the main hallway, he almost did not realize anyone was following him until that person spoke.
"A pain in the rear, that Girdun, eh?"
Wallen whirled around to see a human male, dressed in a general's uniform, with green eyes, black facial hair, and a shave head. Wallen at first did not recognize him until he noticed a large scar that crossed the other man's left cheek and forehead.
"General 'Face' Loran?" Wallen asked. "The child star of the Empire?"
Face grimaced. "I see that my reputation proceeds me. But yes, that's me. I heard about your investigation and reports regarding Black Sun."
"I'm glad you've notice, because apparently the director doesn't give two shakes of a womp-rat's tail."
Face nodded solemnly. "I figured as much. Which is why I came to you. Tell me, have you ever heard of Wraith Squadron?"
"Of course," Wallen said. "You're asking a fellow Intelligence officer who's had the fortune and misfortune of dealing with them in the past."
Face chuckled at that. "Right. Anyway, we would like to offer our assistance in your investigation."
Wallen blinked. "You mean... you'll accompany me to Odryn?"
"Sure," Face laughed. "What, were you expecting us to escort you to the Opera House instead?"
Wallen smirked. "Just making sure. But what if Girdun finds out?"
"Ah, what's the worse he can do? Glare me to death?"
Wallen frowned. "Not even Rogue Squadron?"
Darklighter shook his head. "The pirates might see their presence as a threat and cause trouble for the Alliance as a whole- trouble which we can't afford since we're still rebuilding from the Glorian War."
Wallen sighed and nodded in defeat. "I understand, sir. I'll speak with the director about it."
"All right. Dismissed, captain."
Wallen saluted the admiral and exited his office. Outside, he headed into the Intelligence HQ complex which was connected to the Defense Force's base. Making his way towards Director Kalenda's office, Wallen hoped that the director's calm composure would be enough to offset his building apprehension regarding Black Sun's movement.
However, when he entered the office, he found the worst face he could expect awaiting him.
Regathering himself and staring into the other man's dark eyes, Wallen said, "Captain Girdun?"
Heol Girdun smiled mirthlessly in response. "That'll be Director Girdun to you from now on, Captain Nix."
Wallen refrained from swearing under his breath. "Er, care to clue me in on this? Last I saw, Belindi Kalenda was director of Intelligence and you were serving in the Security Force."
Girdun grunted- his way of laughing, basically. "I got transferred and promoted. Don't know why or how, nor do I care; maybe I'm just that good."
Wallen narrowed his eyes skeptically. "Or maybe you cheated like a Hutt."
A tense silence between the two men until Girdun said, "Now then, how goes the investigation of Loth Ja'far's murder?"
In detail, Wallen explained to him what he and Taaku found out about Ja'far, the subsequent death of Vuren Rackus, the Mandalorian snippet, and what Goran Beviin told them about Corda Ordo, Kadar, and Scav.
When he finished, Girdun sat in silent contemplation before saying, "Admiral Darklighter is right; we cannot spare the resources to cross into Black Sun's territory, especially when they have a band of pirates helping them."
Wallen frowned. "Well then, how about Taaku and I- and maybe a few other agents- take a shuttle to Odryn and handle things?"
The director snorted. "Sure, and once you're done, I'll have your ashes sent to your wife."
"I don't have a wife."
"Good. Less work for me then."
It took all of Wallen's will to not punch Girdun in the throat. Instead, he said, "So what do you suppose we do?"
"Nothing," Girdun said, leaning back in his seat. "It's pretty obvious, isn't it? Loth had dealings with Black Sun and they killed him to keep his mouth shut. Same with Rackus. Case closed."
"And what if you're wrong? What if there's an ulterior motive at work?"
The director threw his hands up in the air irreverently. "Well, until they start murdering senators and the like, I don't think we have anything to worry about. Dismissed, captain."
Wallen glowered at Girdun but said nothing as he stormed out of the office, not even bothering with a formal salute or farewell. As he strode down the main hallway, he almost did not realize anyone was following him until that person spoke.
"A pain in the rear, that Girdun, eh?"
Wallen whirled around to see a human male, dressed in a general's uniform, with green eyes, black facial hair, and a shave head. Wallen at first did not recognize him until he noticed a large scar that crossed the other man's left cheek and forehead.
"General 'Face' Loran?" Wallen asked. "The child star of the Empire?"
Face grimaced. "I see that my reputation proceeds me. But yes, that's me. I heard about your investigation and reports regarding Black Sun."
"I'm glad you've notice, because apparently the director doesn't give two shakes of a womp-rat's tail."
Face nodded solemnly. "I figured as much. Which is why I came to you. Tell me, have you ever heard of Wraith Squadron?"
"Of course," Wallen said. "You're asking a fellow Intelligence officer who's had the fortune and misfortune of dealing with them in the past."
Face chuckled at that. "Right. Anyway, we would like to offer our assistance in your investigation."
Wallen blinked. "You mean... you'll accompany me to Odryn?"
"Sure," Face laughed. "What, were you expecting us to escort you to the Opera House instead?"
Wallen smirked. "Just making sure. But what if Girdun finds out?"
"Ah, what's the worse he can do? Glare me to death?"
* * *
Kadar toed the dead Devaronian Vigo with his booted foot. As he figured, Pol Zurn had lied to him; Varak did not know of Xalren Mithric's whereabouts either. This left only the Feeorin Scav and the Vigo reported to be on Arkania.
He knew that the Underlord would not be on his homeworld like the other Vigos were; it was too risky and obvious. Perhaps he ran a business like Azul Obez had on Lianna, or perhaps he had an even more obscure position, such as a merchant on the streets of Taris.
Kadar cursed under his breath. If neither Scav nor the other Vigo knew where Xalren was, then his trail would go cold and Black Sun would continue to operate as long as it still had its head.
As he headed back for his starship, the White Rider, he reached into his pocket to feel the snipet of veshok wood he always carried as a good luck charm.
Instead, he found a hole in his pocket.
Kadar froze in his tracks. The one remnant of his previous life was gone, and with it the chains that had held him from fulfilling the vengeance he longed for- had been craving for ten years.
He knew now which Vigo he would "visit" next, regardless if they led him to Xalren or not....
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