Shattered Stars (TCW)

Chapter 13 -- A Dangerous Game

Corruption in the heart of the Republic! A governor of a sector of Coruscant has been siphoning public funds for years, but a lack of evidence has prevented his arrest. Taska Rokanh and a squad of her soldiers have been assigned to go undercover to gather evidence and protect the citizens of the galaxy's capital.

"Looking, uh, well-disguised, General," Ace said as he walked into the hangar, eyes going from Taska to the ground.

"Thanks, I think," she replied, adjusting her dress. The garment had a blue bodice with off-shoulder sleeves and a large white skirt. The partially exposed back was hidden by the curls that had finally been freed from their braid. "You're not too badly disguised yourself."
The commander's hair was slicked back, and the white of his dress shirt seemed to make his skin glow. "I liked my armor better," he told her, which brought a smile to her face.
* * *
"I spy with my little eye... our target in the southwest corner with an obnoxiously large diamond ring on his right hand," Zevi said through the comms.
Taska shot a deadly glare at Lark across the room, who nearly lost his composure over the comment, before disguising her communications by pretending to take a sip of rare Alderaanian wine. "Eagle eyes, please stay on task," she said exasperatedly.
"Sorry, General."
"Do we have confirmation on the target?" Ace asked, broad shoulders completely straight in his tuxedo. He turned his gaze to the window as he spoke, avoiding those who might want to strike up a conversation with him.
"Affirmative," Zevi told him. "98 percent match with what's in our database."
"Hit-and-run tactic?" Vis asked, lounging by himself at a table.
"Eh, he might notice," Taska said. "It's too risky. You have to remember, he's managed to keep his operations under the radar for years."
"I still don't understand why the Coruscant Guard aren't the ones doing this," Lark complained, pulling at the sleeves of his suit.
"He's a politician, Lark," the Jedi said, glancing to the side as someone approached her. "He knows a lot of them by name. He's bound to have his guard up around them, because he knows they'll be talking to him."
"And why are you whining? You were the one all excited about trying grilled bantha. I'm actually kind of jealous," Zevi reminded him, and Taska sighed again.
"Yeah, well it tastes like dirt," Lark grumbled.
"Focus," Taska hissed. "Maybe I could coerce him into a confession."
"I don't like where this is going," Ace spoke up, and he glanced at her from across the room.
"All I'd have to do is dance with him," Taska said. "Make him think that... I don't know, just get him to believe I'm on his side or something, and then get him to try and impress me by confessing to the money laundering."
"You mean make him believe you're attracted to him," Vis deadpanned, and flinched away from a particularly drunk Rodian that stumbled past his seat.
"Oh, he's a real heartthrob alright," Lark scoffed. "I mean, the hairline, the body, what more could you ask for?"
Taska felt her cheeks burn. "Why did I ever choose to bring you?"
"I was just asking myself that," Ace said. "But that's not an important question right now. Are you sure you want to do this?"
"Yeah," Taska's heart was in her throat. "I mean, not something I've ever considered doing, ever, but I can do it."
"We'll have your back, General," he reassured.
"Okay, I can do this," she exhaled.
"Governor Grisim," Taska said as she walked up to the tall man, plastering the biggest smile she could muster on her face. "It is such an honor to meet you. I've lived in Sector 7C for a couple years now, and I have to say, it is just a wonderful place to live. I'd love to hear about everything you do for our planet, our galaxy, really. You can't have a great galaxy without a great Coruscant," she said, loosely quoting an old speech of his.
"And you can't have a great Coruscant unless every sector is doing its best," he finished. "Now, here is an involved citizen. I like meeting people like you, Miss..."
"Brinvallo," Taska said, the fake name rolling off her tongue. "Lilcie Brinvallo."
"Enchanted, Miss Brinvallo," Grisim smiled, reaching for her hand and kissing it. "Now, what do you want to know?"
"Oh, everything," she proclaimed, trying to make it sound like she was completely engrossed in this man. You're going to tell me everything.
Ace watched carefully from across the room as the two danced, the older man's thickly gelled hair shining in the lights of the ballroom. She's a good actor, he thought as they went. Were it not for the occasional glances she shot him, even Ace would be convinced that she was enamored with the beast.
"Do you agree with the way the chancellor has been distributing taxes?" She asked surreptitiously as the man finished telling her all about the inner financial workings of the Coruscanti government.
"Well, it's not for me to disagree with the supreme chancellor, my dear," he replied. "Though I do suppose I think he could take better care of his public officials."
"Oh?" she put a confused look on her face, glossed lips pouting. "Does he not pay you enough? It seems to me you should be generously rewarded for everything you do for our sector."
The governor chuckled, tilting his head. "I can't say you would be the first to feel that way."
"Surely, there must be a way to fix that on your own."
"I may have found a way," he said, a sparkle in his eye.
Taska smiled. "A man as smart as yourself, of course you would have! What did you do to set things right?" She asked curiously.
Don't put up your walls now, don't put up your walls now, Ace thought. Zevi had been recording their whole conversation.
"I wouldn't want to tell you in an area so crowded," he said, his voice low.
Ace's blood ran cold, and Taska gave him a look over the governor's shoulder. The commander shook his head incrementally.
"Where should we go?" she said quietly.
"Lark, Vis, we're following her," Ace said quickly, already making his way to the door about 10 paces behind the couple.
"You're forgetting that she's a Jedi, commander," Zevi said. "It makes me a little uncomfortable, yeah, but she can handle herself."
"She shouldn't have to be in a room alone with that sleemo," Ace insisted.
Taska made the sign to stand down with her right hand, her left occupied by holding onto Governor Grisim. Right before they walked through the door, she signalled to follow loosely, no interference.
The commander sighed in frustration. Why do they have to be right?
He waited a few moments before stepping into the hallway after them, pretending to admire a painting directly in front of the door. He watched from the corner of his eye as the two rounded the corner to the right, towards the lobby of the hotel—and the elevators.
He dashed up the stairs, watching the number on the elevator stop at 6.
"Sixth floor," he said, loud enough for the others to hear what he was saying.
"Oh, Room 673," Taska's voice came clearly through his earpiece. "It's quite the suite."
Ace allowed a few beats to pass before sidling up to the door of 668, as close as he dared to go without interfering. Vis and Lark joined him shortly thereafter.
"Now, where were we?" He heard the governor say. Ace was sure he could hear the general's heart racing through the comms—or maybe it was his own.
"You were telling me about how you corrected the chancellor's error when it came to your payment," she said, her voice wavering only slightly. Ace couldn't see it, but she was terrified of how close she was to the wall just then.
"Just a little longer, and you can get out of there," Lark quietly encouraged her.
"Right," Grisim said, sounding louder now. "I'll need something in exchange for that information."
"What if I promised you a kiss?"
Lark set a discreet hand on Ace's chest. He needed it.
"Sure thing, princess.
"I stole it. It's as simple as that. Well, I don't really count it as stealing."
A squad of the Coruscant Guard joined them.
Taska hummed, refusing to let the hitch in her breath show. "How?"
"Oh, pretty simple. You just need a couple of loyal droids and complete trust. Now, where's my kiss?"
The governor's voice was quieter in his earpiece now, like he was getting farther away. That had to be a good sign.
"I'll give you something better," she said, her voice stronger. "You're under arrest by the authority of the supreme chancellor of the Galactic Senate for misappropriation of public funds."
"What is this, some sort of joke?" Governor Grisim asked, just as Sergeant Shadow kicked in the door.
"Far from it, sir," he said. "Hands above your head, please. You have the right to remain silent, should you forfeit that right, anything you say can and will be used against you during your prosecution. You have the right to an attorney. If you do not comply with orders from the Coruscant Guard Force, physical force will be used. Do you understand?"
"Doesn't this count as entrapment," he said angrily as he raised his hands.
"No, sir," Shadow replied professionally. "General, would you like us to take him in on sexual harassment as well?"
"No, Sergeant, that's alright," she said. "Just make sure he gets what he deserves."
"Will do, sir. Goodnight General, Commanders," he nodded to Taska, Ace, and Lark in turn.
"Are you alright?" Taska asked seriously as she saw Ace's face. "You're all red."
"Just ready to rough that man up a bit," he said. "You shouldn't have had to go through that."
"I'll tell you the same thing as everyone else: It is my duty, Ace. No one has to thank me, and no one has to apologize to me."
"Still," he said, calming down slightly as she placed a hand on his shoulder. "Are you okay?" He took a chance and set his hand on her shoulder in turn.
"Always," she smiled, relaxing into the touch of someone she knew wouldn't hurt her.
"After that, I think we need to show you the actually fun side of Coruscant," Lark brought up.
Ace sighed, amusement breaking through the adrenaline in his veins. "I'll call some of the boys."