Love and Hate

Chapter 3: Welcome to Qiilura

CLASSIFIED, HIGHEST: ENCRYPTION ONLY

You're the best in your field; the best soldiers, tacticians, sappers, communicators, survival experts. I picked you personally because I want you to train the best commandos in the galaxy. You'll have everything you need, whatever you want, except for one thing: home. This is a top-secret operation. You will not tell anyone where you're going and you'll never leave Kamino. Ever. As far as your friends and family are concerned, you're already dead.

–Jango Fett, recruiting his handpicked commando instructors, the Cuy'val Dar–in the Mandalorian tongue, "those who no longer exist"

Imbraani, Qiilura; three standard months after the Battle of Geonosis, one and a half years after the Fall of the Red Room

Ghez Hokan's P.O.V.

   I hate Neimoidians. They have a taste for such elaborate and inappropriate grandeur, it actually disgusts me.

   I run up the steps of the veranda, helmet tucked under one arm, in a rush to get the meeting with the di'kut done and over with. I ignore all of the servants and walk into Lik Ankkit's spacious office uninvited. And what do I find but Qiilura's commercial overlord watering pots of flowers on the windowsill. Pathetic.

   That's when I see her. Standing directly behind Ankkit is a human female, maybe in her mid- twenties, with blonde hair pulled into a braid. She's wearing a black combat suit and fingerless gloves, a thigh holster on each leg.The one on her right is carrying a DC-17 pistol, and the other holds several vibroblades. But what really catches my eye is the time-glass symbol engraved on the front of her belt. What are one of them doing here? I think, confused.

   My observation is interrupted by Ankkit as he pauses his watering to flick one of the flowers, releasing a powerful, sickly-sweet scent into the air, inhaling with parted lips.

   "I do wish you would knock, Hokan," he says without turning around. "It really is most discourteous."

   "You summoned me," I say flatly.

   "Merely wanted to introduce you to your newest volunteer and check on the progress of your conversations with the Jedi."

   "Well, if there are any, I'll let you know right away," I say before turning back to the girl, who seems to notice me as well. She seems completely unimpressed with my conversation with Ankkit. That makes two of us, I think, turning my attention back to Ankkit and asking, "Care to introduce me?"

   "Ah, yes, of course," says the Neimoidian, setting his watering can down on the windowsill. He turns to the girl and tries to take one of her hands, but she smacks his arm down.

   "No," she says, her voice laced with annoyance. She walks forward and extends her hand to shake. "My name is Inessa Skirata."

   Liking this girl already–and wondering why her name sounds so familiar–I switch my helmet to my left hand and take hers with my right. "Ghez Hokan," I say, even though she most likely already knows my name. "So you're here to join my militia?"

   "Yes," she says. "Even though I don't think it really counts as a 'militia'." She smiles. "But I believe we will be working very well together." She smiles, and warmth spreads in my chest. Despite my better judgment, I find myself returning the favor with one of the warmest smiles I've given any living creature.