The time of the republic

Chapter Eight

Chron slung his bag back on once the speeder was parked. Mos Eisely, a den of scum and villainy. Rey had left to talk with some of the citizens earlier. Chron pulled Qwinn onto his shoulder and left the garage they were parked in. He didn't know much of this city, or this planet really. All of his knowledge was from reading in the temple. Reading a map and actually being here were very different things. He walked down the main street and dodged a speed bike. The cantina seemed a good place to start, people talked when they drank. A sign pointed him to the nearby Mos Eisely Cantina. He walked into a dark room, filled with smoke and lively music.

"We don't serve droid kind here. That thing will have to wait outside."

"I can deactivate Qwinn. They'll just wait in my bag."

The bartender grunted and nodded. Chron apologized and tapped Qwinn on the eye. The droid folded up, its lights turning off. Chron gently placed it in his bag and sat at the bar. He ordered a drink and looked around as he waited for it. The room was unusually busy for the middle of a rotation. Chron picked up his drink and walked to a nearby table where a Twi'lek sat alone.

"Hello. Have you seen a man in a white mask pass through Mos Eisely lately?"

The Twi'lek looked at Chron and finished his drink. Chron watched as the man put his cup on the counter, threw a couple credits to the bartender and left.

"Rude."

Chron sat down and sipped his drink, scanning the bar. Most of the patrons were side eyeing him, and the others couldn't see past their own cups. He would get no information here. Chrons comlink beeped.

"Chron? Where are you? You left my speeder alone in Mos Eisely? You're old not stupid."

"I'm sorry Rey, I thought my talents would be best used finding information. I'm at the cantina."

"No ones gonna talk to you there, half of them have death sentences on their heads. My contact is waiting for us. Meet me at docking bay seven."

Chron finished his drink and thanked the bartender. The bartender growled at him and began cleaning his glass. Back out on the street, Chron saw no signs pointing to docking bay seven.

"Excuse me, where is docking bay seven?"

The hooded woman glared at him and walked away without a word. Chron frowned. He reactivated Qwinn and stopped an astromech droid.

"Qwinn, ask it where docking bay seven is. The sooner we're off this pile of sand and anger, the better."

Hello. Docking bay seven.

The astromech beeped out a message and twirled its head around. Qwinn listened for a moment and nodded.

Follow Chron.

Finn accepted the gloved hand of a mandalorian to his feet. Tarfaka was still slumped over, with Paro pulling at his chest. Three mandalorian picked up the wookies body and carried it out of the room. Paro followed them, crying. Finn pressed the button to lower the platform. As they reached the floor, a door opened in front of them. A remaining Storm trooper stood there.

"The First has fallen. But the Second rises."

He clicked the detonator in his hand. Finn threw out his hands at Poe as the world turned to fire.

Sith'ari watched as the dome of the senate building cracked, fire pouring out of the doorway.

"Land us in the lower districts. I have business to take care of before the vote tomorrow."

B4 nodded and swung the ship around. Payg pulled on her hood, clicking a lightsaber hilt to her belt. She wore a breathing mask of her own. Sith'ari pulled his own hood over his head, his white mask shining in the darkness. The duo left the ship as soon as it landed and walked through the debris crowding Level 1. A dark doorway slid open at their approach, allowing them entry. As it shut behind them, the room hissed. Disinfectant sprayed, clearing them of the toxic conditions outside. Payg removed her mask as another door opened, leading further inside. Super battle droids lined the walls beside them, with destroyers flanking a doorway at the end. The duo walked in as an unseen figure coughed.

"Hello Grievous. Is it ready?"

"As you commanded it to be, Sith. There shall be no delays in their capture. I have ensured that the pilot would return. My droids stand ready. Have you brought the breakers?"

"They're being refined as we speak, I will drop them on this level when we leave. Do not fail me general."

Grievous bowed his head to the Sith. Turning, Payg replaced her mask and joined her master leaving the room. As they entered the decontamination chamber again she spoke.

"Can he be trusted master? Will he allow us to complete the plan?"

"He could not stop us if he wished to. I have contingencies for that one as well."

The two returned to their ship where B4 was waiting. With a command from Sith'ari, B4 pressed a button. Two doors opened on the side of the ship, depositing two massive Scorpenek droids. Their eyes flashed as Grievous took control of them. The droids marched off to join the generals army.

"Take us to orbit B4. Full cloak."