FORSAKEN IV - Harbinger of Chaos

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

"What do you want to talk about?" said Anto Kreegyr.

"The future," said the dark-clad man, watching through a pair of electrobinoculars, the fathiers run. They sat by themselves atop the stands of the racetrack. The cheers of the crowd masked their conversation.

"I'm listening."

"You're interested in the item to help your cause."

"Like everyone else."

"No, not me. I want it to aid our cause."

Kreegyr turned to him making his considerable physical size apparent. "You better choose your words wisely."

The man continued to watch the race. "The Separatists were defeated, not purged. The Empire knows that and they fear it. More and more people are waking up to the realization that the Republic may have won the war, but the galaxy lost to the Empire."

"Who are you?"

The man lowered the electrobinoculars and said, "The Idiot."

The answer didn't amuse Kreegyr. "You know what I mean."

"Those people at the auction—tyrants, terrorists, criminals—they want the weapon to conquer. We want it to liberate. We care about something larger than ourselves and we're willing to do whatever it takes to achieve it."

"For someone who claims to be on the same side, you don't do much to prove it."

"My name is Luthen Rael, and like you, I seek to lift the boot of the Empire off the galaxy's neck and know that the price of freedom is blood."

Kreegyr sneered. "Are you trying to con me?"

"I'm trying to get the weapon to our side. The other buyers; the Hutt Cartel, the Tapani nobles, the wealthy barons, the crime lords? You can't presume to outbid them. Prince Xizor alone has enough credits to buy this entire planet."

"You don't know what I'm capable of."

"All I need to know is that your people have to bribe the Scrapper Guild to arm yourselves with the very weapons used to defeat you."

"And what do you propose our side do?"

"Pool our credits together. Let me purchase the weapon for us."

Kreegyr sniggered. "Why you don't give the credits to me?"

"Because no one knows who I am. If you buy the weapon, everyone will know it belongs to the Separatists, and the Empire won't be far behind. But if I buy it... Then, it'll disappear without a trace, only to be used when the time is right and for the benefit of the galaxy."

Kreegyr's sniggering grew louder. "How can I be sure you won't disappear too?"

"Because one finger can poke an eye out." Luthen lifted his index digit. "But five—" the leather of his glove creaked as he made a fist "—can strike down an enemy and knock him out."

Kreegyr scratched his beard, contemplating his options. "Are you telling me you have more credits than Prince Xizor?"

"No, but do you know what this is?" Luthen reached into his shirt and pulled out a necklace that contained a blue crystal with clear upper portion

"I have no idea."

"It's an ancient relic called a Kuati Signet that commemorates the uprising against the Rakatan. It's worth at least 50,000 credits. That, plus our money pooled together, will give us a chance of walking away with it. You don't have to transfer the credits until we have to pay the Sugi."