Beyond - Legends Darkness on Daram (Leia, OCs)

LOL! Han would make a very cool King. He'd make sure all Corellians had a fast ship and lots of ale, but not necessarily in that order...

 

I have a feeling the Prince is about to discover that he's not a prince at all.

 

PonyTricks: Heh, don't all Corellians have those things already anyway?

mrjop2: Does that make him a frog?

 

Darkness on Daram

Part 7


The Palace Guardsman walked out of the Palace, through the Twilight Garden (guaranteed to be little used at this time of day). Depositing his distinctive helmet, midnight blue uniform and his royal issue blaster pistol in a prepared hidden cache he walked out dressed in the drab garb of a minor clerk. Scaling the Garden wall he found himself near the Central Gate, which he exited calmly showing the Guardsmen on duty his identification.

And after that Doran Skelt simply walked into the city, no one any the wiser to his presence.

A disguise as a Palace Guardsman was an excellent short term disguise; security was excellent but with more than a thousand members it was possible to infiltrate the Guard - so long as you kept your nerve and didn't press your luck.

Unfortunately Doran had discovered that he was not the only one to have thought of it. Months of planning, of carefully constructed false identities and contingency plans had been trumped in half an hour by pirate scum landing on the roof.

There were days when he regretted being an Intel man. As a smuggler or information seller he might have made his fortune five times over by now. Not that he was a poor man, but still... Besides as a crime lord he would probably have been able to have that psychopathic idiot Zon Kerann killed without too many questions.

Half an hour later, by the time he had reached the Rodian bistro he ate in at least once a month (as often as he dared), Doran had formed a plan that might just turn this to his advantage. He would unleash Kerann and her squad under the cover of pirates who had been left behind in the attack (by no means implausible considering the confusion). They would deal with Princess Leia, and if Kerann was stupid enough to get caught? well they could be written off as pirates.

In the mean time however he definitely had to get in touch with his boss. Oh not his superior manning a desk back in the Empire, but his other boss. The one who paid a great deal better.

***

"I am sorry but I cannot allow you to see the Admiral now Your Highness," said the red haired Daramian officer, "he is extremely busy."

She smiled at Leia with an air of polite smugness that suggested she was anything but sorry. "Now if you'll excuse me..."

"You will let us past. We have to get to see Admiral Piran," said Leia waving her hand. "Now."

The officers green eyes grew unfocused and her face turned strangely blank.

"We will let you past. You have to get to see Admiral Piran," she repeated mindlessly, "Now."

The officer nodded at Leia and she and the squad of naval guards that accompanied her stepped aside smartly, allowing Leia passage out of the Vanguard's hanger bay. Smiling at the officer in thanks Leia moved on.

"That was amazing," whispered Thais in awe. "I thought they'd never let us past. Can you do that to anyone?"

"Only the weak minded," whispered Leia with a smile.

They had taken ship has soon as possible to make chase on the pirates, but Leia had realized that they would need rather more firepower and speed to rescue Prince Rian. Hence the trip to see the Admiral and enlist his support. Though so far he had seemed rather reluctant to meet them.

"He just better give us a ship," said Thais strongly, "or else... or else I'll break every bone in his body. Slowly."

Leia glanced at the Twi'lek in new respect. The girl was desperately worried for Rian's safety and that seemed to have entirely brushed aside any fear she felt for herself: she had stubbornly insisted on accompanying Leia on this rescue effort despite the obvious dangers. Leia did not want to be in Piran's boots should the Admiral prove... unhelpful...

Though merely unhelpful might be the best of it. Leia had some quite dark suspicions about the royal cousin that she had not shared with Thais. She really hoped she was wrong.

Three minutes later they stood at the Admirals door. Leia chimed the com and after a moment a male voice stated: "Come in."

The doors opened.

 

Excellent update! Can't wait for more!

 

Glad you liked it mrjop2.

 

Darkness on Daram

Part 8


"I'm afraid the price has gone up again, Your Highness," said Captain Mmon. "I now require half a million credits."

Piran went scarlet with rage. "On top of the material you have already stolen no doubt," he spat angrily at the holoprojector.

"No doubt," agreed Mmon blandly.

Piran shifted in his chair weighing his options. They were vanishingly few. Bitterly the Admiral choked down his anger. He could and would settle this with Mmon later, but at the moment the pirate held the trump card.

"Very well," he muttered, "but you must hand over my cousin at once, and he better be ok. Do you hear me Mmon? If he is has caught so much as a cold while on your ship there'll be hell to pay."

Mmon smiled glassily for just a second to long. "Very well. We shall meet you at the usual coordinates. Goodbye Admiral - and don't forget your wallet." His holo image flickered out.

Piran glared at the holoprojecter. His plan had seemed to be a good one but things seemed to going... well not wrong but more complicated than he had envisaged. He certainly would not work with pirates again, that was for certain...

The door chimed. It had to be Commander Varyn; he had issued strict instructions that he be disturbed by no one but his aide.

"Come in," he said distractedly to com. "So Commander what about-," He looked up. Ah. Instead of the distinctive green eyes and red hair of Varyn was an entirely different, though still beautiful, young woman. Two beautiful young women actually; an Alderaanian human and a Daramian Twi'lek.

Suddenly Piran had a bad feeling about this.

"Good day Admiral, I am Leia Organa Solo and this is Thais Kar. We were wondering if you could help us."

"Ah, welcome to my ship Your Highness," he said with forced casualness. "I am afraid I do not have time to speak; we are right about to go into action now." He got up.

"It will only take a moment," assured Organa Solo, sitting down and making some sort of gesture.

"It will only take a moment," Piran nodded and sat back down. Well, he thought, that sounded most reasonable. "How may I help you?"

Was it his imagination or did that Twi'lek just suppress a giggle there? He glared at her.

"We require a ship to rescue your cousin," explained Organa Solo.

"Ah," he favoured her with his best smile. "In fact the Vanguard itself is just about to get under way. We shall track down the pirates."

"You would like us to accompany you on the rescue mission," said Leia with a smile herself.

"I would like you to accompany me on the rescue mission," answered Piran, flattered by that smile. Of course he had not intended to bring them along; had initially been very keen to get them off his ship as soon as possible, but it was so reasonable idea how could he refuse?

"Commander Varyn, please report to my office," he spoke into his comlink.

Seconds later the door opened and a red haired, green eyed officer stepped in smartly. She was quite beautiful, but there was a certain cold smugness about her a lot of high flying Daramians had.

"Ah Commander Varyn, this Princess Leia Organa Solo and Thais Kar. They shall be our guests for today. Please give them suitable quarters."

Varyn, who had been looking at Organa Solo in a mixture of suspicion and confusion, looked at him in surprise. "Of course sir," she paused confused, "er, I actually think I met Her Highness a few moments ago. She had to come and see you."

"Yes, yes," he waved in dismissal, "you may leave Commander. Your Highness, Ms Kar I shall speak with you later if that is alright."

He smiled at them. Most reasonable people.

***

"These quarters are empty," said Varyn.

"Thank you, I am sure they are fine," answered Leia.

Varyn's green eyes narrowed.

"I have two cousins in the Imperial Navy Your Highness," she spoke politely on the surface but with clear menace underneath. "I am afraid that the New Republic is not very... popular out here."

Varyn smirked as she allowed her threat to sink in.

"I understan

 

Oh just a note to say I asked on the Fan Art board if anyone would like to do pictures of Rian and/or Thais, so if that happens I'll add them into the story.

 

Thais is really getting a kick out of the Jedi mind trick! Wait and see, hmmm... I knew Piran was involved with the pirates. Now he's getting his just desserts! Somehow, I think it will end up being Leia and Thais who save the day.

 

Another good update!

I hope you luck with the Fan Art. I have not yet been lucky enough to find anyone to do Fan Art for me sadly. I've been trying for months. If you find someone, could you let me know so I can ask them if they could do some for me when they are done with yours?

 

dm1: I think its partly just that Thais thinks its a pretty cool ability in general, and partly that she finds it really funny that someone like Piran or Varyn, people who would pretty much have a very high opinon of themselves turn out to be weakminded.

Actually I sort of envisage the Daramians in general as being a little weak willed due to their culture; you are basically required to be an absolute bootlicker to someone ahead of you in society, leading eventually to a prince who wields total power. Sure a lot of Daramians will try and improve their station, by fair means or foul, but the foul means would be pretty underhanded - a Daramian might blackmail or even assassinate a rival noble but he would never be rude to him in public (unless he was a noble of inferior rank of course).

Close links with the Hapans probably haven't helped this much.

So Daramians are often cunning, but also often weakminded. And of course some are just idiots!

mrjop2: Thanks. Well I've yet to hear anything, but if I do I will certainly let you know.

 

Darkness on Daram

Part 9

Most people who knew her would describe Commander Kam Varyn was an ambitious, young, hard working officer, who even if she was neither as clever nor as skilled as she imagined herself to be was still a capable high flyer who was going places.

Currently, the place she was going was her quarters to try and sleep off a headache. It had not been a very good day (and parts of it she still had difficulty understanding), but perhaps if she could some rest she could find a way to get rid of that New Republic interferer; she would definitely raise her concerns with the Admiral later. Varyn smirked at the thought of throwing the two trouble makers in the brig ? surely they had broken some rule or two. She was still baffled as to why she had allowed a member of the New Republic on her ship.

With a mental shrug she dropped the subject. She did have something rather more important to think about.

When she had first heard they were going after the Prince, Varyn had at once volunteered to lead the boarding team. Imagine rescuing Prince Rian himself! Varyn sighed; she knew she was beautiful and she certainly knew how to use her looks but under ordinary circumstances she wouldn't even be noticed by His Highness. Too low born, though a distant ancestor was rumoured to have been the result of an amorous Hapan minor royal and a Palace Guard. If she heroically rescued His Highness on the other hand - well he would just have to notice her, and then...who knew?

Her quarters were brightly lit as always (Varyn had customised it herself, the lighting carefully design to accent her features) and warm. She had just started to remove her uniform when the holoprojector sounded. The priority channel.

Swallowing her ire Varyn quickly checked the door just to make sure before answering. The blue quarter sized holo of a man in an Imperial uniform shimmered into existence.

"Ah Commander," he said sharply, "so good of you to answer. Finally."

Varyn bit back a retort and attempted a smile. "I am sorry General Covell; I am always on hand to help the Empire."

Covell did not look overly impressed by this. "Indeed. In any case you may help us now; our contacts on Daram III have informed us that Leia Organa is on your ship."

"She is sir," admitted Varyn. "I... I am not quite sure how she got on the Vanguard."

"Regardless, it serves our interests now. You will arrange her death."

The Daramian officer blinked her green eyes. "How?"

"It is your ship Varyn," muttered Covell, "figure something out. You have your orders."

The holo flickered out, leaving a shaken Varyn.

***

"You want what?" Piran gaped at her.

Varyn's smile did not waver. "I want Princess Leia on my team when we go in."

"And that Twi'lek ditz too no doubt?"

"Yes," said Varyn. In fact she had not considered the Twi'lek at all but it made sense to tie up loose ends. "I believe both have some combat training and are eager to help."

Piran's eyes narrowed shrewdly. "I see... well we can't refuse volunteers now can we?"

"No sir," she answered, favouring him with her best smile.

After Varyn left Piran sat at his desk thinking. Well it looked like he would have to dispense with Captain Mmon earlier than he expected. The pirate had been becoming something of a nuisance and he would just have to get a new gang of pirates. In any case he had probably to persuade the Prince of the need for his expanded navy.

As for his unwelcome guests - well clearly Varyn had that particular problem in hand.

***

"So now they want us to fight?," wondered a nonplussed but pleased Thais.

"It looks like it," answered Leia with a frown. "Did she look rather happier this time to you?"

"Private joke," Thais suggested a little hopefully.

"Yes, but on whom?"

The Twi'lek blinked at her in confusion.

"Never mind," Leia sighed.

She paused lost in thought, before looking up again "By the way, can you fight Thais?"

The Twi'lek blushed. "Yes Your Highness. Well mostly, I did accidentally shoot my inst

 

Don't do it, Leia!

Nah, she make them regret they ever crossed her.

 

Hmm.. so the plot thickens. The Empire wants Leia dead, Varyn is going after the Prince. It seems everyone is after the Prince except Leia, and he seemed to have eyes for her.

I think Varyn is going to get more than she bargained for, don't you? She thinks that putting Leia in the middle of the fighting is going to result in her death? I don't think so, unless Thais accidentally shoots her.

Yup I agree, they all seem to be full of themselves, but are weak-minded in the end! Even if Luke might disapprove of Leia's methods, it sure is fun to watch her make fools of them! Piran is absolutely trying to get an expanded Navy. I think that Rian is going to be more convinced than ever of his own point of view.

 

mrjop2: I'm sure she will.

dm1: Some very interesting thoughts. I'm sure more than one person riding for a fall!

 

Darkness on Daram

Part 10

The pirate base was a large asteroid near the uninhabited moon Daram XII - sufficiently off the beaten track so no one would stumble across them accidentally, but close enough to make lightning raids low.

Having reached a tacit understanding with Admiral Piran Captain Mmon had little reason to expect trouble from the Daramian fleet, but the Gotal was not a fool. As far as the Daramians knew he only had three Interceptor-class frigates and a couple of squadrons of Headhunters and these were the only ships he ever used on raids. In fact, hidden amongst nearby asteroids nearby was his reserve: two Corellian Corvettes and a squadron of Y-Wings.

"Sir a ship has just dropped out of Hyperspace: its the Vanguard."

"Bring it up on visual," ordered Mmon. Sure enough it was the Vanguard - a 700 metre long mass of durasteel and heavy weaponry, cigarra shaped like some Mon Calamaria warships. Unlike them their was nothing organic looking about the Vanguard, which was proudly covered in chromium making it look some exotic and beautiful alien fish swimming across the skies.

Assuming that fish had 40 turbolaser batteries of course.

"Well, let us fetch our guest then," said the pirate captain to his men, "we do not wish the Admiral to be kept waiting."

***

"Commander Varyn will lead her team to attack the base here," said the Admiral pointing at a holo of the asteroid layout. "According to our Intel it is a blind spot and our marines will be able to slip in without being detected. Well not until it is too late anyway," he added with a hard smile. "I shall feign negotiation with the pirate leader; with his attention focused on the Vanguard we will catch him off balance."

Varyn positively licked her ruby lips in glee in at the thought of the coming battle. She flicked her eyes over to the Alderaanian and smirked: by the end of today she'd have ridden the Empire of one it?s most hated opponents (for which she had no doubt she would be highly rewarded) and she would be well on her way to becoming the next Princess of Daram.

Life was looking good.

"Now remember," she addressed the two-dozen marines than would be in on the mission, "set your blasters to stun; we can?t risk hitting His Highness."

As the assembled marines, along with Leia and Thais checked they were indeed on stun, Varyn switched her carbine and pistol to 'kill'. Good, no one had noticed.

"Good hunting Your Highness," she smiled politely at Leia.

***

Prince Rian had been waiting for this moment. The guard that had come to escort him to the Captain seemed a lumbering brute without two brain cells to rub together. Oh and the dispassionate Bothan doctor, who always seemed to look at him as if Rian was a particularly interesting experiment.

Rian had realised to his chagrin that the Gotal considered him too foolish or weak to escape, so had only bothered with the single thug and the academic.

Being underestimated by ones opponents was useful true, but it didn't do much for the old self esteem.

"So," Rian turned to the guard, "I don't suppose you want a title. I mean if you let me go I'm sure something could be arranged."

The thug grunted. Rian shrugged and turned to the Bothan instead. "How about a scientific grant Doctor. I am quite the patron of the intellectual community."

She peered at him. "Fascinating. You know I will be sorry to see you go: you are quite the most fascinating specimen I've encountered. I would love an opportunity to dissect your brain."

"A loss to science that you will lose your chance," commiserated Rian.

She looked at him warmly for once, as if at a pet that had done a surprisingly skilled trick.

"Exactly! It is so rare to meet a mind that understands the sacrifices progress demands," her fur rippled in some unidentifiable Bothan expression.

"Perhaps you should measure my head," suggested the Prince keenly, "that may give you some valuable data. It?s not the same thing but-"

"An excellent idea! Thank you Your

 

I think Varyn's about to meet those hidden ships. I hope Leia senses what Varyn's up to before she shoots... maybe she brought her lightsaber and can deflect the shot back where it came from!

I wonder if each sees that the other is lying, not just that they know the other side knows they are lying (I hope that makes sense, but I think you understand what I'm saying).

And now, on to the action...

 

The battle begins! Can't wait for it!

 

dm1: I think Piran was surprised by the pirate ambush and Mmon was surprised by the raiding party. They didn't distrust each other enough.

mrjop2: Thanks. Don't worry, plenty more action to come!

 

Darkness on Daram

Part 11

"Okay, let's do this clean and quick," ordered Varyn through her comlink. "The sooner we find His Highness, the sooner we can leave."

The Daramian marines wore a tight, form fitting vac suit: this meant they had limited air and almost no armour, but meant they could fight easily onboard ships, or in this case an asteroid. In any case it had been sufficient to get them in through the disused industrial waste shaft - apparently this place had once been a mining asteroid.

"Can you feel him?," asked Thais.

Leia concentrated, letting the Force flow into her.

"Yes... he's two levels down."

"Are you sure?," demanded Varyn.

Leia raised an eyebrow. "You have my word Commander Varyn."

"Oh," Varyn hesitated, and then turned to her men. "You heard Her Highness: two levels down, now."

***

The Vanguard had pulled back from the base itself. The first of the pirate Interceptors was already under way when a heavy broadside from the Daramian flagship raked across its bows.

The bridge cheered as the pirate vessel exploded. One down, two to go.

"Launch fighters Lieutenant," ordered Piran, "I want those Headhunters blown out of my sky. Concentrate our batteries on the right most Interceptor."

A slight rocking, followed by a general alarm. Piran looked at the screen in surprise, but the pirates were in no position to have fired on him.

"We've been hit sir," explained the lieutenant, "from behind. Looks like... two Corellian Corvettes and a squadron of Y-Wings. More pirates? sir, they must have been in hiding."

The Admiral hid his alarm. Suddenly the fight looked a lot more even than it had a moment ago.

Why, why had he ever trusted Mmon?

***

"We've lost the Kiltik and the Nightshrike reports heavy damage Captain."

Mmon nodded. He had expected as much from the Vanguard and her heavy weapons. In a fair fight his forces would undoubtedly have been cut to pieces.

Luckily this was not a fair fight. The Daramian battlecruiser would have to turn in which case she was in danger of being hemmed in against the asteroid; if the Vanguard did not turn her rear would be entirely open to attack by his reserve.

"Send in the Y-Wings now. Plan Nine."

"Yes Captain."

***

"Strang it," swore Piran, "turn. We'll have to break though into open space."

"But sir, Commander Varyn and her team-"

"Shut up," said the Admiral, "and do as I say."

The ship juddered with another hit. Individually the Vanguard was more than a match for any of the pirates, and in open space she would be able to bring her own speed and agility into play. Here amongst the asteroids she was so much lumbering dead weight.

Concentrated fire mauled another Interceptor, which limped out of the battle severely damaged. Now however the pirates had got their mark and began to hammer the Vanguard mercilessly.

***

The first serious resistance was a group of five pirates in pilot uniform - presumably Headhunter jocks heading for their fighters. They got them, but not before one of the Daramian marines had taken a blaster bolt to the stomach - and the fighter jocks had alerted the bridge.

"Well they know we're here now," said Varyn angrily. "Lets get a move on before the entire base comes down on us."

***

Half the Y-Wings never got through the Vanguard's defensive fire, but the ones who did scored a series of direct hits on a small area.

The deflector shields failed across the battlecruiser.

Piran could only look on in horrified disbelief as his beautiful ship died the death of a thousand cuts. His gunners did heroic work, finally destroying the last of the Interceptors, but they could not be everywhere at once.

"I told His Highness we needed a stronger fleet," he muttered to himself, "I told him."

There was no time to call for reinforcements - they would arrive too late; no way to retreat - half the engines had been knocked out.

No time for anything.

***

A massive explosion and then it was all ov

 

Leia had better be quick with that lightsaber of hers!

 

dm1: Better hope she didn't leave it back on the Vanguard.

 

Cool update! Awaiting the next one with lots of anticipation.

 

Darkness on Daram

Part 12

There was nothing wrong with Varyn's reflexes or aim and the bolt sizzled through the space that had, a second earlier been occupied by Leia.

Of course she had never tangled with a Jedi before, and even if Leia was partially trained at best the Force was strong with her. Knocking Thais to the floor as she dropped to the ground Leia felt the blaster bolt pass very close overhead.

The Daramian commander's eyes widened and she swore loudly. Leia did not know sufficient Daramian to guess her exact meaning but the tone suggested it would have been something that would have made a Hutt blush.

With a snap-hiss a brilliant green blade sprang to life in Leia's hand. A swift slash and Varyn was staring at her carbine in astonishment. Leia had sliced off the muzzle. The red-haired Daramian automatically reached for her blaster pistol but stopped when she saw Leia's expression - and the tip of a lightsaber a millimetre from her nose.

"I don't want to hurt you Varyn," explained Leia, "but if you give me no choice..."

Varyn wasn't stupid. Though she narrowed her green eyes in anger, the Daramian grudgingly raised her hands.

"Get her blaster," Leia told Thais.

The Twi'lek removed Varyn's blaster pistol. Then she brought it around and hit the red-haired Daramian in the side of the head with the handle. Varyn looked at her in confusion, then dropped unconscious.

"You know," began Leia, "I'm not sure that was *entirely* needed."

Thais smiled apologetically. "Yes, sorry Your Highness. It's just she really bugged me you know?"

Someone coughed politely. Turning around they noticed that the door was now open, and that a rather bedraggled looking Prince was looking at them in confusion.

"I don't suppose anyone can tell me just what is going on?"

***

"Captain, a ship is asking for permission to dock."

Captain Mmon gave the other pirate an incredulous look. "Dock here? Who in the void-"

"It's code registers as the Photine out of Onora."

Mmon's eyes widened.

"I see. Tell them to dock at the main bay. I shall be down shortly."

***

"I saw the way you knocked out that woman," Rian whispered to Thais. "That was incredibly brave! She has marine training and she could have been very dangerous."

"Oh, well, it was nothing." Thais said, blushing a little at the admiration in the Prince's eyes. "I just had to do something and I did it Your Highness. It was all thanks to Her Highness really."

Rian's eyes flickered momentarily to Leia and he gave the Princess a brief smile.

"Yes of course, I'm very grateful Princess Leia," he said before returning his attention to Thais. "But that you came along after me..."

"I... had to Your Highness. I mean you are my Prince," she stammered, lekku curling and uncurling. "My friend..."

Their eyes met. They smiled at each other.

Leia coughed politely. "Um, I think we better be escaping now..."

Reluctantly Rian and Thais broke their moment and turned to her.

"Alright," said Rian. "Let?s move. I think we might need to support Commander Varyn between us, at least until we reach those other marines."

At their looks the Prince drew up proudly. "Whatever else she is an officer of the Royal Daramian Navy and a subject of mine. I will not abandon her to pirate scum."

"Well said," answered Leia, smiling. She slipped out her comlink. "I'll just call the Vanguard."

No answer. Frowning Leia tried again. Still nothing, as if the Vanguard was no longer there to respond

Leia's heart sank. It would certainly explain the tremor she had felt through the Force a few minutes ago.

"Your Highness, I think I have some bad news..."

 

A Jedi would never leave her lightsaber behind! Good for Leia, good for Thais! Now how are they going to get out of there, hmmm... and what's the connection with the Photine? So many questions, so little time!