Alliances II: Civil War II Chapter Sixty-Six

As Sisko and Kurn returned inside, Sisko continued with his questions.

"So do you know where they are?" Sisko asked as they went back into Kurn's office.

Kurn motioned to one of his guards, who left, then returned a few moments later with a young, blonde-haired woman.

"This woman is Mara Jade. She claims to work for Jabba the Hutt."

"Then what are you doing here?"

"I have information which may be of use to you."

"Which is?" asked Sisko.

"I want something from you first. I want you to take me away from Jabba."

"It seems like you've done that for yourself."

"Staying on Tattooine is not enough. I want to leave this world."

"Very well. We'll take you with us. Now tell me, where is Admiral MacCleod and his team."

"Jabba has them at his palace. He's keeping Captain Watt for himself, and giving the others to Vader."

"Then we're going after them."

"You're a fool, Sisko!" said Kurn. "You think the seven of you would be enough against Jabba's men?"

"You could help us, Captain Kurn," said Sisko. "And I'm sure Mara here would lead us straight to them."

"It would mean the end of my forces here, and the end of my connection with the Rebel Alliance."

"But the beginning of your affiliation with the Free Federation," said Sisko.

Kurn thought about what Sisko said to him, then walked over to his desk and pressed his communicator. He then barked some orders in Klingon, before ending his communication.

"I'm assigning a Bird of Prey to this mission. I will command the ship. We can use the cloaking device to get near the palace. You will command your troops."

"And what about your embassy?" asked Sisko.

"My second in command will remain. I have ordered him to leave if the Imperials try to search the building for those droids."

"That is all I can ask, Captain."

The party continued as Watt once again was brought before Jabba and his hordes, wrists still bound.

"What do you want with me, Jabba?" asked Watt. "What use am I to you?"

"You are of great use to me, Captain Watt. You have knowledge of the Free Federation's defenses. I want that knowledge!"

"And if I don't give you what you want?"

"Then you will join your friends in the belly of the Sarlacc!"

"My friends? I thought you were giving them to Vader!"

"Vader will not meet my price! However, seeing you die will more than compensate for that loss, unless you give me what I want, that is!"

"Never! I will never betray my friends!"

"Then prepare the sail barge! The celebrations will soon begin as you are thrown into the Sarlacc's pit!"

 

As the Bird of Prey circled over Jabba's vast palace, Sisko looked down at the sensor readings.

"I'm picking up no human, Vulcan, or Klingon life signs!" he said. "They're not here!"

"Not many others are, by the look of these readings," said McQueen. "Looks like Jabba and his men shipped out."

"Then someone should know where they were taken!" said Kurn.

Kurn then turned to his helmsman, shouting at him in Klingon, telling him to land the ship.

Soon Kurn, Sisko, and McQueen beamed into the palace. Sisko scanned the area with his tricorder.

"There's hardly anyone here!" he said.

Kurn motioned for the others to remain still.

"I can hear something!" he whispered. "In the next chamber!"

Slowly, Kurn walked until he found the door.

With Sisko and McQueen behind him, he rushed into the room, and found two ugly-looking guards almost sleeping.

Taken by surprise, they were easily overcome by their attackers.

Kurn held one around the throat.

"Where are your prisoners?"

"W...what prisoners?"

"Two humans, a Vulcan, and a Klingon!" said Sisko.

"Th...the pit! Jabba took them to the Sarlacc's Pit!"

"What's that?" asked McQueen.

"Nothing but trouble!" Kurn replied. "Come! If we are to save them, then we must hurry!"

 

Jabba's life seemed to be one long party, whether it be at his palace or his massive sail barge.

Some people often wondered how he got to be the Delta Quadrant's most powerful crime lord.

Jabba looked out at a nearby skiff, as Weequay looked after his prisoners.

He tried to tell what they were feeling by their expressions, then remembered that such an exercise would be useless with Sutek.

Soon, the barge came to a halt, as did the desert skiff. They had reached their destination. All the shutters on the barge swung open. Jabba smiled as he saw his prisoners being pushed towards the plank that now hung over the gaping mouth of the Sarlacc.

"This is your last opportunity, Captain Watt!" Jabba boomed. "Give me what I want, and you and your friends will be spared!"

"I will not!" Watt said.

"Then you and your friends will spend the next one thousand years digesting in the Sarlacc's stomach! Kill them!"

Weequay held up his lance, and ushered Watt onto the plank.

Slowly, tentatively, Watt walked to the end, and with his hands still bound, found it difficult to keep his balance. For a moment it felt like his life had flashed before his eyes. Perhaps it had.

Perhaps this was how it would end for him, as dinner for the Sarlacc.