Star Wars: Traits Of Descent

by Madman007

  Chapter Nine

  Errant Venture - Booster's office

  "Calm down, Booster," Corran said.

  "Calm down? How do you expect me to calm down when I have a killer running around on my ship? This was exactly what I was afraid would happen. He's already killed one Vigo using my own droid as his assassin. Then he kills a random guest. A paying guest, mind you!"

  Corran assured him, "Everyone assumes the man got drunk and fell."

  "And what happens when there's another death? And another? Pretty soon these accidents won't look like accidents anymore." Booster gave a gruff sigh. "You know, I'd almost prefer dealing with one of your Sith lords. At least they don't kill randomly."

  Luke wasn't going to argue with Booster on his wrong assumption about Sith lords. It wasn't the right time to argue with Booster in his current mood. He understood the Captain's worry. Mahc Tiernan had to improvise when Corran cornered him. In his desperation he murdered an innocent gambler in Trader's Alley. That was one less gambler to supply credits into Booster's establishment. Luke tried to keep Booster positive. "We can contain him to Trader's Alley. We can post guards at each of the ventilation shafts where he got through to Black Level."

  Booster sneered, "You already told me you want guard duty assigned to the Vigos non-stop. Now you want guards at more than a dozen vents. You're running out of guards. And I'm not sure I want my crew involved in this anymore." He cleared his throat and added, "Not to mention what you plan to do with Lt. I'hela Broadwater."

  "What do you mean?" Corran questioned.

  "I'm talking about the restriction order from her Chief to take her off this case."

  "How did you..."

  "Let's not pretend I don't have the resources for information the same as Karrde, Corran. Her Chief sent the alert in a broadwave across the HoloNet. That means he doesn't know where she is."

  "It also means she didn't report our position," Luke stated.

  "But the killer is here anyway."

  Luke replied, "Which is why we can't let her leave now. It's too dangerous. Even if she avoids the press, they can still get information from the NRS. Regardless if it's the truth or not."

  "Do you really think I'hela is the killer's source?"

  Corran answered, "Mara is getting an answer for that as we speak."

  Booster grunted, "Hope there's something left of the poor woman."

  Luke reiterated, "We are certain that Mahc received the information we gave I'hela somehow."

  Booster uttered, "We already did a sensor sweep of everyone as they came aboard, and there was nothing on the Lt. Broadwater. Data trails may tell you the who, but never the how."

  "Either way, we have Mahc's source plugged. I don't think he will make anymore direct moves against the Vigos without us knowing."

  "Can you guarantee that, Master Jedi?"

  "Nothing is guaranteed, Booster."

  "Then I have to make my move. As much as I hate to do this to you two, especially, I have to look out for my own concerns. As of now, the deal is off. I want those Vigos off my ship immediately."

  Corran snapped, "You can't be serious?"

  Luke pleaded, "Booster, think about this. They'll be sitting ducks if they leave now. We don't know if that will play into Mahc's plans."

  "I'm sure you can sense my lack of concern. Besides, you've confiscated his ship. He's trapped."

  Corran said, "He's also resourceful. He can kill for another ship. Or for his own."

  Booster asked, "There was nothing on his ship?"

  "No," Corran replied. "Anything he brought is with him now. The log has been erased. No ident codes. We don't have much to go on, Booster."

  Luke continued, "Mara is getting information from I'hela about her involvement with Mahc. She's also been researching information on Skarce Voxan himself."

  "Bet there's not much," Booster muttered.

  "Not yet. There may be something in Mahc's past that we can use against him."

  "That's pretty thin, Luke."

  "It's all we have right now. And I understand your concerns. We shouldn't ask more of you, but we're trapped too. Right now it's a stand off. We can't exactly go up there and listen to every mind. Especially when he's expecting it."

  Corran asked, "So how do we chase the invisible man?"

  After a moment of thought, Luke replied, "Maybe it's time I meet him."

  Corran tried not to laugh but failed. "And he's just going to meet you out of the kindness of his black heart?"

  Luke answered in a most sinister voice, "If properly motivated."

  The way he answered sparked a hesitance in Corran. The phrase sounded too familiar. He had heard it on holovids from the Empire when officers mysteriously died of asphyxiation. The voice wasn't human. It was amplified with a vocoder. Vader's.

  Luke must have caught Corran's thinking just then and turned fast at him. "That's not the motivation I meant, Corran. I believe Mahc sees us as a challenge. His intrigue is too much for him to ignore."

  Corran asked, "So how do we use that?"

  Luke stated, "I'll need to think on it." He turned to Booster. "That is, if we have some time."

  Booster sighed heavily. "Very well. Sounds like you have a plan. I can give you some leeway. I'll give you forty-eight standard hours. After that, I start ejecting Vigos one by one out of a space lock."

  Corran spat, "I can see why Mirax avoids business deals with you."

  "Hazards of nepotism in the business. A trait she received from me."

  Before Luke could negotiate the limited time that Booster gave them, his comlink went off. He answered it.

  "Luke, it's Mara. I've got I'hela's story."

  "And?"

  "It's better if you hear it for yourself."

  "On my way."

  Jade's Fire lounge

  Luke entered the lounge area on the Jade's Fire to see Lt. I'hela Broadwater sitting in a chair opposite Mara, who was sitting on one end of a sofa. There was no evidence of forced violence on I'hela. Not that Luke expected any. Mara seemed to have an unfortunate reputation for being violent in her interrogations. Booster assumed it. Luke figured that assumption came from her being associated with the Empire, an organization that was famous for their violent interrogations. Luke had been witness to Mara's methods. They were subtle, which was opposite of the Empire's methods. Mara could glean information from someone without them even knowing they gave it.

  As Luke greeted both woman respectively, Mara questioned, "Where's Corran?"

  "He thought it best to begin the watch on the Vigos. With all the commotion they've been alone too long." He glanced at I'hela, not with an accusing look but with a concerned one. He could be subtle too. He sat on the sofa on the opposite end from Mara. "So, what is your story, I'hela? What is your connection to Skarce Voxan?"

  The blonde woman looked at Mara and tried to plead, "You're going to make me tell this twice? You can't just give him the specifics?"

  Mara stated, "Because I know it already. And I'll be able to detect any discrepancies from the first time you told it. So, go on."

  I'hela huffed. "Fine." She faced Luke and started. "My connection to Voxan is not what you think."

  "I don't think anything now, I'hela. I listen."

  "All right. I have to start at the beginning," she said as she glanced at Mara, "again. My family is originally from Tepasi. My father was a prominent Senator representing Tepasi in the Old Republic. I was too young to remember our life there. I barely remember my brother and mother. I only have mental images of them."

  Luke suddenly reverted back several years before on Endor. He asked Leia about what she remembered about her true mother. Just feelings really...images.

  I'hela continued. "My brother was considerably older than I. We survived the Clone Wars, mostly because Tepasi wasn't deeply involved."

  Mara injected, "Tepasians have a reputation for not getting involved."

  "More or less," I'hela agreed. "Father became a representative in
the Imperial Senate once the Empire was established. Then, all Hell broke loose. Not long after the Clone Wars, father discovered incriminating evidence that would have linked some Senators with Black Sun."

  Luke nodded, following ahead. "Enter Skarce Voxan."

  Without verifying nor denying, I'hela went on. "I don't remember much. I was maybe two, three standard years old. But I remember one evening after dinner, I was playing in my toy speeder. And I fell off. My father had to take me to the med center. I had a sprained ankle but it was treated quickly. We weren't gone long." I'hela took a long gulp. "Turns out it was long enough. When father and I arrived back on our street, the blast went off. Our house. Destroyed within seconds. With my mother and brother inside. Dead." She breathed in deep. "My father was frantic, naturally. But I saw him. Standing nearby on the street watching the destruction. Almost like he was proud of it. My father saw him too. He shouted at him. I remember seeing him turn to see us still in our speeder. He must have known we were missing. My father still cried out to him. I don't remember what he said, but you could imagine.

  "Then, I saw Voxan raise his arm. He had the biggest blaster I'd ever seen. He aimed it at us. Father tried to speed away, but it was too late. He only fired once. It wasn't like a blaster shot. It was like a mini canon."

  Mara supplied with, "Must have been a X-5 Proton Launcher. BlasTech made a good one back then. It could vape a fighter from the ground and leave nothing left but particles."

  "Maybe," I'hela said. "I was too young to know. I remember my father grabbing me and jumping out of the speeder just as the shot hit. We were blown forward from the blast. Somehow, my father picked me up and we ran into the woods. You're right, there was nothing left of the speeder. It must have made Voxan believe we were gone. But we watched our house burn. I remember father telling me 'It's all right. It's just the two of us now. We'll be strong.' Even as a toddler, I knew we wouldn't be."

  "What did you do then?" Luke asked.

  "The HoloNet said we were all killed in the blast. It was blamed on a generator malfunction. Since there was no evidence of the speeder, it was thought to be part of the main blast. Voxan's name was never mentioned."

  "And it wouldn't be," Mara said.

  "Where did you and your father go after that?"

  "Coruscant. We could no longer be us. Father had to change his appearance. I don't even remember what he looked like before the blast. We became the Broadwaters. Eran was my father's name."

  "You don't know what your name was on Tepasi?" Luke questioned.

  I'hela slowly shook her head. "Broadwater is the only name I've ever known. Father would never tell me for my own safety. He said the people who survived that explosion on Tepasi no longer existed."

  Luke commented, "And because he couldn't have a background check hurt his chances to get into Carida. Or any other security position." Luke raised an eyebrow at her and she gave an apologetic look.

  "He did work in the Imperial Palace, like I said. Just not as a security guard. He was a janitor."

  Mara asked, "How did you avoid a background check to get into the NRS?"

  "Well, but then, we were legally the Broadwaters. But I was up front with my supervisors. I told them what happened to us and that Skarce Voxan was involved. They gave me the benefit of doubt with mentioning that name."

  Luke prodded, "But your father never stopped mentioning the name, did he?"

  I'hela looked down at the floor as if in defeat. "No. I had nightmares of that man. That image of Voxan standing by our burning house just watching...gloating...has haunted me since my childhood. My father never did stop mentioning Voxan. He swore revenge against him. All the time I knew my father, he wanted vengeance until his dying day."

  Luke surmised and said softly, "And by living with him all those years, you've adopted that vow to catch Voxan."

  "I suppose so. I suspect that was Chief Holt's reason for my restriction on this case. From my NRS Academy days and throughout my career, I've always talked about what I'd do if I ever caught Voxan. The truth is I never got close. All the research I did turned up nothing on him. He may not even be alive anymore. Though I did hear a rumor that he had a son. Is Mahc really Voxan's son?"

  Luke stated, "We haven't officially confirmed that yet. Even when Corran directly asked him he was evasive."

  I'hela admitted, "As soon as I found out that Voxan could be a suspect in these Vigo murders, I volunteered for the assignment. When Chief Holt denied me, I pulled some strings with other Chiefs who were more...sympathetic to my situation. And here I am." She leaned in closer to them in her chair. "But I want you to know something. I would like nothing more than to have a Voxan spend eternity in the Kessel mines or greeted with the end of a blaster barrel. I have no idea how Mahc would get information from me."

  Both Luke and Mara could feel I'hela's genuine honesty behind her words. They pondered as to how Mahc knew that the Anzati would be the one who would be alone.

  As if on cue, I'hela said, "You know, a data trail isn't always accurate. We used to run drills with them at the Academy and they would be sixty to seventy percent effective."

  Mara stated, "It got you to open up."

  "Only because my Chief sent the restriction on me. Speaking of that, what are you going to do with me?"

  Luke breathed before stating, "Officially, we have to disarm you, take your badge, and send you back to the NRS."

  Mara added, "But we can't do that."

  I'hela said sincerely, "Thank you."

  Mara replied, "Don't thank us too soon. The only reason we can't let you leave is because of your connection to Voxan. If you have a past history with Voxan, then Mahc knows it too. More to the point, we can't afford another death with the guests knowing. That would make the HoloNet news quicker than a Hutt can cheat."

  I'hela asked, "What is your next move with Mahc?"

  Luke explained, "Whatever it is, we have to do it within the next forty-eight hours."

  "What?" came the shout from Mara.

  Luke nodded. "Booster doesn't want the Vigos here. They are a magnet for Mahc to keep murdering innocent gamblers. In a way, I can't blame him."

  "That doesn't give us much time," I'hela remarked.

  "Us? You expect us to keep you involved with our case?" Mara asked.

  "I told you, I don't know how he got the information from me. You scanned everyone before they came on board. Including me."

  "And the fact remains, Mahc did make a move on the data given to you."

  Luke said in his famous calm voice, "Mara, give the woman a break. I don't feel anything from her that suggests she's lying. And neither do you. She just rehashed her traumatic past twice. You're just mad that we have no more leads."

  "I've warned you about analyzing me, Skywalker." She stood up and made to leave the lounge. She announced as she left, "I'm going to check on Corran."

  Once Mara was out of earshot, I'hela looked back at Luke and said, "She doesn't trust me now. And neither do you, I suppose."

  "Any reason why we should? You defied your own Chief so you can be on this case. You've told me of your desire to seek vengeance on anyone named Voxan. I can't have you acting blindly on your revenge."

  "Because it's morally wrong. Right, Jedi?" Her sarcasm was in full bloom.

  "Not only that. Also because revenge always leads to one path. Death. Even if you succeed, your soul is still lost. It's still filled with hate, and when it's completed, what then? You can still carry your hate with you for the rest of your life. Like your father did. And that makes both of you no better than Voxan himself."

  I'hela whispered in a hoarse voice, "My father was a shell of a man even before he contracted Mitzell's disease. I can't even imagine losing both the love of your life and your only son to a madman. He would constantly talk about what he was going to do once he caught Voxan."

  "Same as you did through the Academy."

  I'hela smiled humorlessly and said, "A chip off the old block. Except he died befor
e he had any resemblance of chance. When I heard who your suspect was, I thought I'd have at least a chance to confront Voxan. I owed my father that chance. My father's trait of hating Voxan had been descended down to me. It's all I have left of him."

  Luke sighed and said with no small amount of sorrow, "You know, I'm somewhat familiar with losing a parent or two. Although, I have yet to imagine the horror of losing a wife or son, simply because neither applies to me. Yet. My aunt and uncle were slaughtered by Imperial troops. All in the name of the Empire."

  "But you blew up their Death Star," she said almost proudly.

  "Not out of revenge. Out of necessity. If I failed, then millions more would have died. I used to think about those men who died on the Death Star because of me. But they had a choice. With that thought, I moved on." Luke paused and said, "It seems to me that your father couldn't let go of his grief for losing his wife and son. He turned that grief into rage against Voxan. It consumed him. Not unlike the dark side."

  I'hela was confused. "But father couldn't use the Force. Not like you can."

  "You don't need Force potential to fall in a the dark side. Voxan himself has proven that. Your father had his own dark side. The same will happen to you if you follow his path. You say his hate is all that you have left of him? What about his love for you?"

  "He didn't give it to me," I'hela said sadly.

  "The fact that you put your own career on hold to take care of him tells me that he gave you plenty."

  Errant Venture - Black Level computer station

  Luke entered the small alcove that housed a comp station. Corran was on watch of the Vigos, who were busy with another sabacc game. There were still mumbles of what happened to Jarvis. Some believed it was the droid malfunctioning, others believed it was hardly an accident.

  Luke approached the red-gold haired woman at the station who was working diligently. "So, how's Corran?" he asked wryly.

  "Fine."

  "I thought you'd be here. Checking out her story?"

  "Didn't have a chance before. As a rule I don't like to verify a person's story while they're looking over my shoulder. And using the Star Destroyer's comp has its advantages."

  "Such as?"

  "I can access more data from Bastion and Yaga Minor without looking suspicious on their end. I use my old access code that's embedded into every Star Destroyer built during the Empire's reign. I did have to mask the ident codes of the Errant Venture."

  "Hope you didn't tell Booster."

  She looked at him sideways and said, "What he doesn't know can't hurt him. Where's I'hela?"

  "She's resting now. I told her to. She's been through a lot rehashing her past twice like that."

  "I will admit she was more emotional with you. That whole bit about nightmares of Voxan and her father's talk of vengeance wasn't even mentioned the first time."

  "Must be your cool demeanor."

  "I'll take that as a compliment."

  He waited a moment to say, "I plan to still use her. A woman with her training? How can I not use her?"

  "So, restriction be damned?"

  Luke shrugged and repeated, "What her Chief doesn't know can't hurt him."

  Mara stopped researching and looked at him. "Who are you and what have you done with Luke Skywalker?"

  Luke chuckled and motioned to the screen. "You find anything?"

  "Actually, yes. Fairly easily." She clicked on a screen that showed an old HoloNet article. The subject was about a generator explosion that took the life of a Senator from Tepasi along with his wife and two children.

  Luke stated, "I guess she was right."

  "That's not all." She paged down the screen further into the article. "There's the names of the family. Should we tell I'hela what her true name is?"

  After a long pause, Luke answered, "No. She already has a name. The only one she knows."

  "My thoughts exactly."

  Luke turned his head slightly to her. "But you think something is wrong with this information."

  Mara sighed. "I wish you wouldn't do that."

  "Sorry. Habit. What doesn't add up?"

  "The fact that they never found any bodies. They assumed the explosion was so intense that it obliterated them. Generators can't produce that kind of blast. Plus, an explosion doesn't fit somehow. It just seems...I don't know."

  "Very un-Voxan-like?"

  She hesitated at his correct analysis and said, "Yes. He would never use a simple explosion to kill. It would be over too quick. No pain. No torture. No proof that he was there. There's no display of bodies."

  "There's no mystery to it like his other victims. You knew it was him but you couldn't prove it. With this, the explosion can be easily explained."

  "Exactly. And something else. I think it's strange that the last place I found Mahc was on Tepasi."

  "But that was how long ago? I'hela and her father would have already been on Coruscant for years."

  "Maybe he was trying to find them. But that would indicate that Voxan or his son knew that I'hela and her father survived. And if that's the case, why take so long to chase them? And what does Black Sun have to do with all of this." Mara put her head in her hands and exasperated a long frustrating sigh. "Ah, my brain hurts on this one. Thanks for getting me involved, Skywalker."

  "Maybe it's you who needs a rest."

  She took away her hands from her face and looked back at him. "I don't rest."

  "That could be your problem."

  "You're entering dangerous territory, Skywalker. How are we going to find Mahc on this ship?"

  "I'll think of a way. Maybe we need a more direct approach."

  "Oh, sure. Let's call out his name and see if he answers." She was sarcastic but she looked over at Luke who gave his most devious smile.

  Errant Venture - Trader's Alley

  "From my NRS Academy days and throughout my career, I've always talked about what I'd do if I ever caught Voxan. The truth is I never got close. All the research I did turned up nothing on him. He may not even be alive anymore. Though I did hear a rumor that he had a son. Is Mahc really Voxan's son?"

  "We haven't officially confirmed that yet. Even when Corran directly asked him he was evasive."

  "As soon as I found out that Voxan could be a suspect in these Vigo murders, I volunteered for the assignment. When Chief Holt denied me, I pulled some strings with other Chiefs who were more sympathetic to my situation. And here I am. But I want you to know something. I would like nothing more than to have a Voxan spend eternity in the Kessel mines or greeted with the end of a blaster barrel. I have no idea how Mahc would get information from me. You know, a data trail isn't always accurate. We used to run drills with them at the Academy and they would be sixty to seventy percent effective."

  "It got you to open up."

  "Only because my Chief sent the restriction on me. Speaking of that, what are you going to do with me?"

  "Officially, we have to disarm you, take your badge, and send you back to the NRS."

  "But we can't do that."

  "Thank you."

  "Don't thank us too soon. The only reason we can't let you leave is because of your connection to Voxan. If you have a past history with Voxan, then Mahc knows it too. More to the point, we can't afford another death with the guests knowing. That would make the HoloNet news quicker than a Hutt can cheat."

  "What is your next move with Mahc?"

  "Whatever it is, we have to do it within the next forty-eight hours."

  "What?"

  "Booster doesn't want the Vigos here. They are a magnet for Mahc to keep murdering innocent gamblers. In a way, I can't blame him."

  "That doesn't give us much time."

  Mahc switched off the data pad with the recorded conversation between Master Skywalker, Mara Jade, and I'hela Broadwater. Yes, you don't have much more time.

  He sat in a darkened corner of the gambling floor. The crowd barely knew he was there. Their minds were on making more money and drinking. Every so oft
en, he would think the same way just in case the Jedi were listening in. Although, he was among a thousand or more beings in the room. Even Jedi don't have the strength to weed out one single mind out of a crowd that large. Despite the overwhelming odds, he still didn't want to take a chance.

  He chose a table in the corner to listen to his latest recording. He listened carefully to I'hela's past. The past that she remembers, anyway. It was strange to him how a traumatic event could affect memory. Mahc remembered that particular night on Tepasi differently. It was his first job with father. But father wouldn't let him do it alone. He had to come along and supervise. But that's not why Mahc was mad at him. He had to bring his precious love with him. His father found himself in a commitment that he didn't want out of. He wanted to throw away the talents he had taught his son. All for her.

  Mahc was told by his father on several occasions that love destroys. Personal attachments were the barriers in their profession. His father had adhered to that philosophy very closely. Until he fell in love with her. She destroyed everything they had. She was the beginning of the end. She was the wedge that came between them. How he threw himself at her. It was sickening to watch. Mahc ended their father and son relationship that night. Father was so mad. It was the last time they spoke.

  Now the fractured distance was being mended. Posthumously. I am fulfilling your dream of vengeance on those who shunned you, father. I am sorry about our differences. You made a choice and I didn't honor it. The least I can do is honor your goal after your death.

  Stop it! Think of gambling. If I get enough credits from the slots I can get back into a hand of sabacc. And then I will win big.

  His feigned thoughts were interrupted by an announcement over the PA system.

  "Would Mahc Tiernan please come to the front desk. There is a message for Mahc Tiernan."

  His first thought was that they found him. No. They're guessing. If they knew where I was they'd be standing in front of me by now. They plan to draw me out. He had no plans to actually fetch the message in person. That would be too easy for them.

  He looked around the gambling floor. He spotted a young man who looked barely old enough to gamble and drink. Probably faked his ident card. Not like this place cared. As long as the credits keep flowing, age doesn't matter. The boy was playing a slot machine and judging by his intense glare at it, he was losing. Perfect candidate. Hungry for credits.

  Mahc prepared a Corellian accent. It was one of his many lessons from his father. An accent disguises better than any piece of clothing or accessory. "Hey, kid. Over here."

  The boy looked in his direction and hesitated at the old man.

  "Yeah, you. How'd you like to make twenty credits?"

  Money spoke volumes and the boy eased through the crowd to reach the dimly lit table in the far corner. He still had the high-pitched voice of pre-puberty. "What do I have to do?"

  "You hear that announcement before."

  The boy shrugged. "No."

  "Of course not. You were too busy. There's a message for Mahc Tiernan at the front desk. That's me. The problem is that I got myself into a little mess with some debt collectors from Ryloth. They may have a spotter out here looking for me. That's why I'm in the corner here. That message may be my contact to get me out of here. See, I can't go up there as me or they'll see me. All I want you to do is to get my message and bring it to me."

  "Won't they know you'd do this? What if they catch me and ask me where you are?"

  "That's the risk, kid."

  "Since I'm taking the risk in getting it, I should get thirty credits."

  "Hmm...smart boy. All right, thirty." Mahc took out a pile of credits and laid a portion down on the table in front of the boy.

  The boy grabbed them and counted. "Hey, this is only fifteen."

  "Half now, the other half when I get my message. Now go."

  The boy scrambled through the crowd. For a split second, Mahc thought the kid would settle for fifteen and run off. But he watched the boy go up to the counter. He watched as the clerk passed the boy something. It was too far to see from that distance. Finally, the boy ran back through the crowd and ended up back at Mahc's table.

  "Here ya go, Mr. Tiernan." He handed Mahc a folded piece of flimsi.

  After Mahc took the flimsi, he said to the boy, "Thank you, kid. You even showed respect by calling me by my surname. You're going to go far."

  "Whatever. How about the rest of those credits?"

  "Quick, too. Stubborn and arrogant. I was the same way when I was your age. Here ya go. Don't go spending it all in one place."

  The boy grabbed the rest of the credits and made a beeline to the nearest open slots.

  Mahc forgot him for now. He would remember his face when the time came. Mahc couldn't have a loose end like that. Poor kid. But that would be later. He unfolded the flimsi and there was a neatly written message.

  "North Slingball court. Thirty minutes."

  A devious smile formed on Mahc's lips. He muttered to himself, "Finally."