(AN: I feel pretty good since as of now I've completedly finished this arc, ngl it's pretty crazy, I am probably close to 100k words ahead of this chapter. Anyway because of that I'm posting early. Enjoy.)
A new day dawned on Coruscant, the sky a haze of smog and starship trails, marking the start of the gala aboard the Eternal Horizon. The massive vessel loomed in its private dock, a sleek behemoth of the finest and toughest materials from across the galaxy, its hull gleaming under floodlights, stretching as long as a Venator-class capital ship. Thousands of guests—senators, diplomats, corporate moguls, and their entourages—swarmed the boarding ramps, their robes and suits a dhowing of wealth, droids hauling luggage, security scanners humming as they processed the crowd. Shuttles and speeders clogged the airspace, ferrying more attendees, the air thick with the buzz of anticipation. Due to the issues with security the eternal horizon was raking things very seriously so that no one who wasn't invited was allowed to get on.
Padmè stood at the edge of the dock, flanked by Aubrie, Vaylin, her handmaiden Sabe, Anakin, and a squad of Naboo guards in their crimson uniforms. R2-D2 rolled nearby, flowing Anakin. Vaylin, clutching a datapad, briefed Padmé on the gala's schedule. "Each day starts with a diplomatic breakfast in the grand atrium, followed by optional trade and policy discussions. Afternoons have cultural exhibits—Naboo water sculptures, Corellian holo-art—and private meetings in the VIP lounges. Evenings feature banquets with live orchestras, then dancing and sabacc games. A few night's from now is a masquerade ball. I spoke with the crew, and they've arranged adjoining suites for you, Aubrie, Anakin, and Sabe, all on the executive deck."
Padmé nodded, her expression warm. "Thank you, Vaylin. That's excellent work. Are you sure you're comfortable in the workers' quarters? I can speak to someone to get you moved with us."
Vaylin shook her head rapidly, her hands waving. "No, no, no, I'm fine! It's more efficient this way. I'll be closer to the staff areas, it'll be much easier to coordinate with the others from there."
Aubrie, with her droid SD8 strapped to her back under her robe, glanced at the ship, its towering silhouette dominating the dock. "Efficient? Moving around a ship this size sounds like a nightmare. It's as big as a Venator, maybe bigger." She craned her neck, taking in the rows of viewports and the sleek curves of its design.
Anakin, arms crossed, pointed at the ship. "The Chancellor told me the elevators move up, down, sideways, and diagonally, that every elevator is connected."
Sabe raised an eyebrow, adjusting her hood. "How does that even work?"
Anakin shrugged, a half-smile on his face. "No idea. But it's impressive."
Padmé looked up at the Eternal Horizon, her hands clasped in front of her. "That it is..." Her gaze lingered, her mind turning inward. She thought of the trillions suffering across the galaxy—on Coruscant's lower levels, in war-torn systems, scraping by while this ship, a monument to excess, hosted the elite. It embodied everything wrong with the Republic: wealth hoarded by a few, flaunted in the face of poverty. She considered not boarding, walking away—she wasn't even a senator anymore, her role now advisory, her presence more symbolic than necessary. But refusing would stir political fallout, alienate allies, and weaken her influence. She hated these games, the endless dance of social politics, smiling for people she distrusted. Her chest tightened, but she kept her face composed, hiding the weight of her thoughts.
Aubrie touched her arm, her voice soft. "Padmé, you okay? You look... off."
Padmé forced a smile, though it didn't reach her eyes. "I'm fine, Aubrie. Just taking it all in."
Aubrie studied her, unconvinced, but nodded. "Alright. If you say so."
Anakin, less restrained, scowled at the crowd. "This whole thing's stupid. There's a war going on—planets are burning, people are dying, and we're spending a week with politicians kissing up to each other how amazing they all are. Why are we even here?"
Sabe pinched his arm discreetly, shooting him a sharp look. She leaned in, whispering, "Anakin, this is the honeymoon we never got. Stop complaining, or you're sleeping with R2 tonight."
R2-D2 let out a low, indignant beep, swiveling his dome.
Anakin chuckled nervously, rubbing his arm. "Sorry, sorry. I'll behave."
Padmé glanced at them, raising an eyebrow. "Is everything well?"
Anakin and Sabe spoke at once: "Yes!" They exchanged a quick look, and Padmé smiled softly, shaking her head before turning back to the ship.
The group moved closer to the boarding ramp, joined by Chancellor Palpatine and his aides, their red-robed figures cutting through the crowd. Palpatine approached, his smile warm, his voice smooth. "Lady Amidala, Vaylin, a pleasure to see you both." He nodded to Vaylin, who beamed, barely containing her excitement.
"Chancellor! It's wonderful to see you again!" Vaylin caught herself, straightening. "I mean I'm glad to see you well."
Palpatine's eyes twinkled. "How are you settling in as Padmé's assistant, Vaylin? It's a demanding role."
Padmé spoke first, her tone kind. "She's doing very well, Chancellor. Vaylin's been indispensable, especially with the trial and recent events."
Vaylin shook her head, her voice earnest. "I haven't been as good as Lady Amidala says. I've made mistakes, struggled to keep up. I'm trying, but it's... a lot."
Padmé touched her shoulder. "Don't be so hard on yourself. You've done wonderfully, considering everything I've asked of you."
Palpatine nodded, his smile gentle but probing. "Indeed. But if it becomes too much, Vaylin, we can arrange a less stressful assignment. Or perhaps you'd prefer to return home?"
Vaylin shook her head rapidly, her hands fidgeting. "No, I'm fine! I'll work harder, I promise. I want to stay."
Palpatine's smile widened. "Very good. Your dedication is admirable." He turned to Anakin, his tone warmer. "Anakin, my boy, I'm glad you accepted my invitation. It's fitting to have a Jedi representative at this event, don't you think?"
Anakin shifted, rubbing his neck. "You're kind to invite me, Chancellor, but I'm just a Padawan. I'm no representative. Maybe someone from the Council should've come."
Palpatine waved a hand, dismissing the thought. "Nonsense. You're too humble, Anakin. You're the Chosen One, a hero of Jabiim. You should take pride in that."
Anakin's face darkened, his jaw tightening. "You're mistaken, sir. I wasn't a hero on Jabiim."
Palpatine leaned closer, his voice soothing. "Come now, Anakin. Your actions turned the tide. The reports are clear you showed remarkable courage."
Aubrie stepped forward, her voice firm. "He means the real heroes of Jabiim are the one who didn't make it back, chancellor."
Palpatine's eyes flicked to her, pausing. "I don't believe we've been introduced."
Anakin gestured to her. "This is Aubrie Wyn, Chancellor, someone I fought with on Jabiim."
Palpatine's smile returned, but his gaze sharpened. "Ah, yes, I recall your name from the Jabiim reports. I'd very much like to discuss your experience with the superweapon, Aubrie. It must have been extraordinary."
Aubrie shifted, uncomfortable under his stare. "That weapon's better forgotten. It was a monster just creation, something that should never have existed."
Palpatine nodded slowly. "Indeed. A tragedy." He turned back to Anakin. "We'll speak more aboard, Anakin. Enjoy the gala." He inclined his head to the group. "I must board first, as protocol demands. Farewell for now."
They nodded, murmuring goodbyes as Palpatine and his aides swept toward the ramp. Padmé watched him go, a strange unease settling in her chest at his exchange with Vaylin, the way he'd pressed her, his smile too... strange. She opened her mouth to say something, but the crowd's movement pulled her attention, and she let it go. "We should continue," she said, leading the group toward the ramp.
The Eternal Horizon's scale hit them as they approached, its hull towering like a an entire city district, docking tubes and ramps bustling with activity. Droids scanned luggage, security officers checked IDs, and guests chattered. The group joined the queue, Naboo guards clearing a path. Padmé handed her credentials to a droid, which beeped approval, and they stepped onto a moving platform, whisked into the ship's main atrium—a cavernous space with crystal chandeliers, marble floors, and a central fountain spraying water in intricate patterns. Elevators lined the walls, their transparisteel pods zipping up, down, and sideways.
As they moved through the atrium, a man approached, his sharp suit and slicked-back hair. Collan Eislo's smile was too wide, his eyes lingering on Padmé in a way that made her skin crawl, his gaze sweeping over her form with blatant interest. "Lady Amidala," he said, his voice smooth, stepping too close. "A pleasure to have you aboard. I trust the accommodations will... satisfy you." He leaned in, his hand brushing her arm. "If you need anything, I'm at your service."
Padmé stepped back, her expression tightening. "Thank you, Mr. Eislo. I'm sure everything's in order."
Aubrie moved between them, her voice sharp. "She's fine."
Anakin joined her, his hand resting on his lightsaber hilt, his glare fixed on Collan. "You heard her. Move along."
Collan's smile didn't falter, but his eyes hardened. "Of course, though I do hope to speak with you later, regarding the trial of course. Enjoy the gala." He turned, disappearing into the crowd, his presence leaving a sour note.
Padmé exhaled, nodding to Aubrie and Anakin. "Thank you. Let's go."
A protocol droid greeted them, its silver frame gleaming. "Lady Amidala, your party's suites are on the executive deck. Follow me." It led them to an elevator, which hummed as it shot upward, then sideways, the ship's interior blurring past. They stepped out into a plush corridor, lined with gold-trimmed doors. The droid opened four adjoining suites, each with wide viewports, silk bedding, and private refreshers. "Your luggage will arrive shortly. Enjoy your stay."
Padmé thanked the droid, turning to her group. "Get settled. We'll meet for the welcome banquet tonight."
___________________________
Jaden crouched near the worker entrance of the Eternal Horizon, adjusting the holographic disguise device clipped to his belt. Its soft hum activated, projecting Taren Vok's face and voice, transforming him into the waiter. Beside him, Zule smoothed her server uniform, her device casting Lira Senn's features, her posture rigid as she tugged at the tight skirt. Their slicing comms, disguised as crew earpieces, linked them to Scout, positioned nearby, and Velea, monitoring from the Chiss stealth ship, cloaked and waiting for Scout to join her before latching onto the ship during the pre-liftoff diagnostic window. The gala was hours away, and they needed to board now to execute the plan.
Zule pulled at her collar, her voice low and tinged with annoyance. "This garment is intolerable. It restricts movement and draws undue attention. I cannot fathom how Lira functions in such attire."
Jaden straightened his tie, offering a lopsided grin. "You look good, Zule. Though Taren's boots aren't exactly a joyride either—feel like they're destroying my toes."
She fixed him with a stern loo. "Your discomfort is irrelevant. My uniform compromises mobility. Why did we acquire these identities? They seem ill-suited."
Jaden checked his datapad, shrugging. "Bad draws I suppose, we needed workers with the same race and height and enough dirt on them to blackmail or bribe them. Though Taren was a handful to pin down. I'm guessing Lira didn't make it easy for you either?"
Zule's jaw tightened, her voice formal. "She was uncooperative. I resolved the matter. And you? Did Taren prove difficult?"
He rubbed his neck, smirking. "Difficult? That's an understatement."
*Flashback*
Jaden knocked on Taren Vok's door, a rundown flat in a lower-level slum, credits stashed in his jacket for the bribe. The door cracked open, and Taren, a wiry man with twitchy eyes, peered out. "What's this about?"
Jaden held up a credit chip, his tone smooth. "Taren, I need your uniform and badge for the *Eternal Horizon*. Take these, stay low for a week, and we're square."
Taren's eyes flicked to the credits, but he shoved Jaden aside and sprinted down the corridor, knocking over a trash bin. Jaden cursed, giving chase, weaving through vendors and droids, shouting, "Taren, don't make me work for this!" Taren darted into an alley, vaulting a crate, and Jaden followed, dodging a street cart, his chest heaving.
Taren reached a speeder bike outside a cantina, firing the engine. Jaden spotted another bike, ripped open its panel, and hot-wired it, roaring after Taren through Coruscant's undercity, neon lights streaking past. Taren swerved into a tunnel, Jaden close behind, dodging pipes and hovertrucks. Taren misjudged a curve, clipping a wall, and his bike spun out, crashing into barrels. He stumbled up, pulling a vibro-knife, slashing wildly. "Back off!"
Jaden leapt off his bike, ducking a swing, and tackled Taren, pinning his arm and twisting the knife free. He slammed Taren against a barrel, panting. "Enough running. Take the credits, give me your gear, or you're done."
Taren slumped, nodding. Jaden tossed him the credits, and Taren handed over his uniform, badge, and datapad with his schedule, muttering, "You're nuts." Jaden watched him limp away, then headed back, sweat-soaked but victorious.
*Present*
Jaden sighed as he told the story, even speaking of how he nearly got outmanoeuvred by a waiter angered and embarrassed him in equal measure. "What about you?" He asked.
"How did it go with Lira?"
*Flashback*
Zule stood outside Lira Senn's apartment on Level 1313, a grimy tower block buzzing with holo-signs and street noise. She knocked, blaster holstered but ready, her voice even. "Lira, I require a discussion regarding employment." The door slid open, revealing Lira, a Zeltron with sharp eyes and a form-fitting outfit, leaning against the frame, arms crossed. "Who're you? I don't take walk-in jobs."
Zule stepped inside, maintaining distance. "I am aware you sell confidential information to tabloids. I require your uniform, badge, and access codes for the *Eternal Horizon*. Comply, or I expose your activities to your employer."
Lira laughed, cold and cutting. "Blackmail? That's your move? Leave, or I'm calling security." She reached for a comm on a nearby table, but Zule seized her wrist, twisting it and pinning her against the wall.
"That is not an option," Zule said, her tone icy. Lira broke free, landing a fist on Zule's cheek, and the two grappled, toppling a chair and a stack of datapads. Lira aimed a kick at Zule's knee, but Zule sidestepped, tackling her to the floor, driving a fist into Lira's stomach. Lira gasped, clawing at Zule's arm, but Zule slammed her head against the duracrete, dazing her, then delivered a final blow, knocking Lira unconscious, blood seeping from her lip.
Zule checked Lira's pulse, confirming she was alive, and dragged her to a storage cupboard. She bound Lira's wrists and ankles with zip-ties, gagged her with a cloth, and shoved her inside, tossing in a week's supply of protein bars and water pouches. "Remain silent," Zule said, locking the cupboard. She collected Lira's uniform, badge, and datapad with access codes, slipping out as a neighbor's door creaked, her breath steady despite the brawl.
*Present*
Zule exhaled, her tone dry. "I can't believe you allowed a waiter to lead you across the undercity?"
Jaden grinned, adjusting his jacket. "Yeah, well, you turned Lira's place into a combat zone. Locking her in a cupboard?"
Her expression stiffened, her voice formal. "It was effective. She's contained, provisioned, and neutralized. Your target likely speaks of his encounter to anyone who will listen."
Jaden chuckled, shaking his head. "Taren's too busy spending my credits to talk. I got his kit, same as you."
Zule's lips twitched, a trace of playfulness breaking through. "My approach was precise. Yours was... chaotic."
"You should try it sometime. Loosen up that Jedi discipline." Jaden said, winking.
She fixed him with a stern look, though her eyes softened. "Focus, Jaden. This operation requires precision, not your theatrics or improvisation."
He nodded, tapping his comm, his tone shifting to business. "Right. Scout, you in position?"
Scout's voice crackled, muffled by her stealth suit. "Yeah, behind a crate by the scanner. Slicing kit's ready. You two at the ramp?"
"Moving now," Jaden said, peering around the corner. He and Zule stepped out, joining a stream of workers hauling crates and other more delicate luxuries toward the worker entrance, a narrow ramp leading to a security checkpoint. Two droids and a human overseer scanned IDs, with a biometric scanner—retinal and fingerprint—beyond. Scout's task was to hack it, feeding Taren's and Lira's biometric data to clear them. Velea, waiting in the Chiss ship for Scout's arrival, would latch onto the maintenance hatch once the diagnostic window opened.
"Velea, you copy?" Jaden asked.
Velea's voice came through, tense. "Copy. Chiss ship's cloaked, holding position. Scout needs to get here fast so we can hit the window. I'm picking up some sensor noise—could be nothing, but it's making me twitchy."
Jaden frowned, catching the strain in her words. "Sensor noise? That's not ideal. Can you pin it down?"
"Not yet," Velea said. "Might just be dock traffic. Get onboard, and I'll sort it."
Zule glanced at Jaden, her voice low. "If they miss the window, our extraction's compromised. We'll be stranded."
"One step at a time," Jaden said, keeping his stride steady. "Scanner first, then we worry about Velea."
They blended into the crowd, Jaden adopting Taren's slouch, his waiter's jacket crisp, while Zule walked beside him, her steps stiff in Lira's uniform. "This attire is a liability," she muttered, smoothing the skirt. "If combat arises, I'm hindered."
Jaden's lips twitched. "You'll adapt. Just don't scowl at everyone. Lira's supposed to have a bit of charm."
Zule's eyes narrowed, her tone crisp. "Charm is for those to weak too unintelligent to speak logically."
He grinned, keeping his voice low. "Yeah... let me handle the smooth talk. You just keep looking like you're part of the crew."
They reached the checkpoint, where the overseer, a stocky man with a datapad, waved workers through. Jaden handed over Taren's badge, secured after the chase, while Zule passed Lira's, her hands steady, her smile thin. The overseer glanced at the badges, nodding. "Move along."
They stepped to the biometric scanner, joining a short line. Jaden tapped his comm. "Scout, we're up. Data ready?"
"Working on it," Scout said, her voice tight. "Got Taren's and Lira's biometrics from the database hack, but the scanner's got a new encryption layer. It's rejecting my feed."
Zule's jaw clenched, her whisper sharp. "Rejecting it? We're next in line. What's the delay?"
Jaden nodded to a worker ahead, keeping his face neutral. "Scout, how long?"
"Two minutes, maybe three," Scout said. "This encryption's a beast."
Zule's voice dropped, urgent. "Three minutes? The worker ahead is finishing. We're exposed."
Jaden glanced at the scanner, then at the overseer, who was arguing with a droid over a crate. "Scout, can you stall it? Trigger a system error, buy us time?"
Scout paused. "I can overload the input buffer, make it look like a glitch. It might draw attention. You sure?"
"Do it," Jaden said, his tone firm.
The scanner beeped loudly, its screen flashing red: "Processing Failure. Reboot Required." The worker at the console swore, slapping the machine, while the droid beside it ran diagnostics. The line halted, workers muttering. The overseer stormed over, datapad in hand. "What's the holdup? We're behind schedule!"
Jaden whispered to Zule, "Follow my lead." He stepped forward, holding up Taren's datapad. "Sir, could be a power fluctuation. I heard a tech mention grid issues earlier."
Zule nodded, her voice mimicking Lira's calm tone. "I observed similar disruptions on the service deck. The gala preparations may be overloading the systems."
The overseer scowled, tapping his datapad. "No one reported that. Stay here. I'm fetching a tech." He marched off, shouting at a droid.
Jaden exhaled, tapping his comm. "Solid work, Zule. Scout, status?"
"Almost there," Scout said, her voice strained. "Bypassing the encryption now. Twenty seconds."
Zule glanced at the line, spotting a worker with a scarred cheek staring at them. "That man's observing us too closely. He suspects something."
Jaden followed her gaze, keeping his posture relaxed. "Unlikely, just relax. Check your datapad, look busy."
Zule pulled out Lira's datapad, scrolling through schedules. "I detest this subterfuge. His scrutiny is unnerving."
"He's just curious," Jaden said, nodding to a passing droid. "Hold steady."
Scout's voice crackled. "Done! Data's loaded. Step up, you're clear."
The scanner beeped green, the error gone. The worker ahead scanned and moved through. Jaden stepped to the console, leaned into the retinal lens, and pressed his thumb to the pad. The scanner hummed, then beeped green, showing Taren Vok's ID. He stepped back, nodding to Zule. "Your turn."
Zule moved up, her movements precise, and scanned, her eyes locked on the lens. The scanner beeped green, displaying Lira Senn's ID. She joined Jaden, exhaling. "That was precarious."
Jaden tapped his comm. "Scout, you're a miracle. Get to the Chiss ship and prep with Velea."
"I know, I'm the best ," Scout said with a grin. "I'm moving, now will be with Velea in five."
Velea chimed in. "Good work. I'm tracking you on the feeds. Scout's en route. We'll latch when the window opens, but these sensor pings are still bugging me. Might be tight."
Jaden led Zule through the checkpoint into a service corridor, workers pushing carts, droids rolling past with linens. He kept his pace steady, nodding to a worker, while Zule walked beside him, her steps controlled. "You held it together," Jaden said, glancing at her. "Not bad for your first undercover stint."
Zule's lips pressed thin. "I prefer direct action. That scanner issue nearly derailed us."
Jaden nodded, his tone serious. "Yeah, but we're in. You nailed the cover story back there."
She exhaled, adjusting her skirt. "It was necessary. Do not expect such improvisation regularly."
They reached a service lift, and Jaden tapped his datapad, checking Taren's map. "This takes us to deck 27. Padmé's suite is pretty far but it's the most direct route that's not suspicious. When the reception starts, then I mwke contact with her."
Zule stepped into the lift, standing rigid. "Ensure you do not falter. We cannot afford further complications."
Jaden pressed the turbolift button and said, "We're on the Eternal Horizon, Zule. The entry's done, and we're in."
Zule crossed her arms and said, "The entry was the least complex phase, Jaden. The tasks ahead will demand far greater precision and discipline. What do we do until the reception?"
Jaden adjusted his waiter's jacket and said, "Check your schedule on the datapad. We don't need to be perfect workers, but we should show up for our shifts to avoid drawing attention from security or crew."
Zule pulled out Lira's datapad, swiped through the schedule, and stopped. Her tasks included serving drinks in the VIP lounge, ensuring guests' comfort, engaging in flirtation, sitting with them if requested, and remaining available for personal requests. The schedule detailed expectations: smile warmly, maintain eye contact, offer light touches on arms or shoulders, sit on guests' laps if invited, kiss cheeks as a greeting, feed them delicacies by hand if desired, and be open to private conversations in secluded areas. She looked at Jaden and said, "Jaden, explain this immediately."
Jaden grabbed her arm and pulled her into an empty service corridor with plain metal walls, overhead pipes leaking faint steam, and a floor scuffed from droid treads. A stack of crates sat in one corner, and a flickering light panel buzzed above. He said, "Zule, let's discuss this calmly."
Zule pulled her arm free and said, "I will not perform these duties, Jaden. Sitting on their laps? Kissing their cheeks? Touching them? Feeding them? This is degrading and unacceptable. You said I'd serve drinks, nothing more."
Jaden leaned against the wall, watching Zule reread her schedule, her fingers hovering over each task, "I know it's a lot, Zule, but you can dodge most of it. The lounge is gonna bechaotic, there will be hundreds of guests, staff running everywhere. Stick to the bar, keep the drinks moving, and most people won't notice you're not flirting or sitting with them."
Zule looked up and said, "You expect me to navigate this without clear guidance? These expectations are not mere suggestions, Jaden. They're explicit instructions to act as a whore, not a server. How am I to maintain my integrity when the role demands I behave like a hired escort?"
Jaden stepped closer and said, "You're not an escort. You're a Jedi. Use that. Stand tall, serve drinks, and if some senator gets too close, give him that look you're giving me now. They'll back off."
Zule said, "And if they persist? You've placed me in a position where I must either comply or risk exposing our operation."
Jaden said, "You won't have to. You're too smart for that. If it gets bad, signal me on the comm. I'll pull you out—say you're needed in the kitchen or on another shift. We're a team, Zule. I've got your back."
Zule exhaled, her voice softening. "You should have informed me from the start. I deserve transparency, Jaden."
Jaden nodded and said, "You're right. I kriffed up. From now on, I'll lay it all out, no surprises. Can we move forward?"
Zule exhaled and said, "Very well. I will fulfill my role, but I will not compromise my principles or dignity. Do not expect me to."
Three workers passed by, pushing a cart loaded with crates, one muttering, "Hurry up, we're late for the kitchen drop." Jaden and Zule stepped closer to the wall, waiting until the corridor was clear. Jaden said, "I wouldn't ask you to. I agreed to this job because I trust you to handle yourself, Zule. You're stronger than anyone I know." He rubbed her arm and said, "You've got this."
Zule said, "I will endure. But there must be no further oversights."
Jaden nodded and said, "Deal. Full transparency from now on. You have my word."
Zule studied him and said, "I will hold you to that. What now? I assume you have preparations to make."
Jaden said, "Yeah, I need to set up for the next step. You head to the lounge, start your shift. Keep your comm open in case I need to pull you out."
Zule said, "Understood. I will maintain contact. Do not deviate from the plan without informing me."
Velea's voice crackled through their comms and said, "Zule don't worry. You'll be the star of the lounge. Those senators will be tripping over themselves for you."
Zule said, "Velea, your commentary is unhelpful. Focus on your responsibilities."
Scout's voice came through and said, "I saw your schedule, Zule. What's a 'Corellian star-kiss'? Is it some fancy cocktail?"
Velea said, "I'll explain when you're older, Scout. Don't worry about it."
Jaden said, "Enough, both of you. Stay on task. Guests are still boarding, so we have time. Velea, you set for the diagnostic window?"
Velea said, "I'll be ready. Scout's almost here. Got some sensor interference, though—might make things tricky."
Jaden said, "Tricky how?"
Velea said, "Not sure yet. Could be dock noise, but it's persistent. I'll figure it out."
Jaden switched channels and said, "Scout, ETA?"
Scout said, "One minute from the ship."
Jaden turned to Zule and said, "I'm heading out. Be careful in the lounge." He leaned forward, kissed her lips briefly, and said, "Don't let those senators get under your skin."
Zule froze, blinked, and said, "I won't." She stood still as Jaden pulled back and turned away. He then left the little corrridor they were in and moved down the main corridor, nodding to crew members. He said to a server carrying a tray, "First gala? Pace yourself, it's a long week." The server nodded and said, "Thanks, it's overwhelming." Jaden bumped shoulders with a technician and said, "Don't let those circuits fry." He slipped the technician's Level 3 keycard from his belt and tucked it into his sleeve. He clapped a cook's shoulder and said, "Heard the kitchen's a madhouse. Good luck." She said, "Tell me about it—already out of Coruscanti eel." Living in the undercity he'd found that people are much less suspicious of those who purposely place themselves in the spotlight. People were naturally drawn to that light and those under it, be nice to people and they'll find it difficult to accuse you of things should something go wrong.
Jaden reached a terminal showing a schematic of the Eternal Horizon. Each crew ID had a security clearance: Level 1 for basic access—what guests had—Level 2 for service areas like kitchens, storage, and lounges, Level 3 for engineering and maintenance, Level 4 for bridge crew, and Level 5 for the Captain, Collan Eislo, and a few senior officers. Jaden's Level 2 ID accessed worker zones, but the kyber crystal was in a Level 5 gallery—at least when it wasn't open to the guests—and Eislo's evidence was in his Level 5 suite. The ship's servers tracked every ID, monitoring their number and location through a real-time registry linked to the mainframe. Adding or altering an ID would trigger a discrepancy, alerting security and freezing the ID until investigated. The stolen Level 3 keycard gave Jaden ten minutes before it was reported missing, a common issue during boarding, providing a brief window to act.
Jaden walked through corridors lined with metal panels and floors marked with droid tracks. Crew members hustled past, some carrying datapads, others pushing carts. He entered a turbolift, swiped the keycard, and pressed the button for main engineering. The panel beeped, flashed green, and the lift descended. Jaden looked around and saw no cameras, matching the blueprints he'd studied. He said, "Finally, a break." Cameras would have been a huge problem if they'd been put int he turbo lifts, would've made sneaking around a ship this big a huge hassle.
Jaden stepped out of the turbolift into main engineering, a vast chamber filled with towering reactors that hummed with energy, their vibrations pulsing through the durasteel floor as conduits snaked across the ceiling and control consoles lined the walls. Technicians in jumpsuits monitored screens, adjusted valves, and shouted orders, one calling out, "Check the plasma flow on reactor three, it's spiking!" Jaden slipped behind a coolant tank to avoid a camera mounted above a console, then moved to a locker room where metal lockers stood in rows alongside a bench and a pile of dirty uniforms in a corner. He grabbed an engineer's jumpsuit from an open locker, changed quickly, and stuffed Taren's waiter jacket into a bag. He glanced at his wrist terminal, which showed eight minutes remained before the stolen Level 3 keycard was likely reported missing.
Jaden blended with the technicians as he moved through engineering, keeping his head down as one worker glanced at him and said, "New guy? Don't touch the relays unless you're cleared." Jaden nodded and replied, "Understood, just heading to maintenance." His target was the server room adjacent to engineering, a high-security area restricted to Level 4 clearance or Level 3 with direct supervision, housing the ship's central servers that managed security systems, including ID tracking, camera feeds, and biometric locks, making it a prime spot for sabotage. And he couldn't just steal a level 4 ID, Bridge crew IDs were equipped with proximity alarms that triggered if separated from their user. Thankfully Jaden's plan hinged on a ship oversight: main engineering sat directly below the server room, and Level 3 IDs granted access to service ducts used for repairs, one of which led to the server room.
He reached a service shaft, swiped his keycard to unlock the hatch, and climbed inside, crawling through a narrow duct with smooth metal walls and dim emergency lights spaced every few meters. He checked his wrist terminal's blueprints, confirming his path, and moved to a grate overlooking the server room. Below, a technician typed at a console, surrounded by server racks with blinking lights, cooling fans whirring, and cables bundled along the floor. Jaden eased the grate open, dropped silently behind a rack, and crept closer, channeling the Force to overwhelm the technician's mind, as he lacked the skill for a precise mind trick. He pushed a wave of raw Force energy, flooding the technician's thoughts with pressure, and the man slumped, unconscious, his datapad clattering onto the console. Jaden caught it, set it down, and dragged the body behind a rack, propping it against a wall, checking the pulse to ensure the technician was still breathing.
Jaden sat at the console, plugged in his slicing kit, and accessed the server's core code, navigating a Coruscanti-grade neural network that integrated security, navigation, and crew management functions. He opened the ID registry, a database tracking every active ID by clearance level, location, and usage, and coded four Level 5 IDs, embedding them in a shadow administrator partition, a virtual sub-server running on a dedicated memory core parallel to the main system. He secured the partition with a fractal cipher, generating randomized data signatures to evade the server's integrity checks, and rerouted access logs through a dummy maintenance script, backdating entries to blend with routine updates, masking his session with a spoofed admin credential. He downloaded a complete ship map to his wrist terminal, revealing hidden maintenance routes, secure storage vaults, and Collan Eislo's private suite, filling gaps in his incomplete blueprint.
He stood, reset the console to its original state, and glanced at the technician, channeling the Force to project a mental suggestion, You're tired, planting the subconscious idea while the man was unconscious to make him attribute the blackout to fatigue. Jaden turned to leave but noticed a blinking alert on the terminal, tapped it, and pulled up a security protocol detailing a gravitic sensor net designed to detect mass distortions from cloaked ships by measuring micro-gravitational anomalies, paired with an ionic pulse that scanned for unregistered objects by emitting a low-frequency electromagnetic wave to map the ship's interior. Both systems remained active during engine diagnostics, triggered by the power-up sequence, explaining Velea's earlier concerns about sensor noise—this would detect the Chiss ship's mass and uncloak it instantly.
Jaden muttered, "Kriff," and tapped his comm, saying, "Velea, abort! There's a—" Static cut him off, the server room's durasteel walls and electromagnetic shielding blocking the signal. He cursed again, scrambled into the duct, and crawled quickly, the engines' hum growing louder as the diagnostic window opened. His wrist terminal showed four minutes left before the keycard was likely reported. He emerged in engineering, sprinted through corridors, dodged a technician who shouted, "Slow down, you'll break something!" and reached the turbolift, slamming the button. Inside, he tried his comm again, his voice urgent, "Velea, abort! Gravitic sensor net and ionic pulse—it'll spot you, even cloaked!"
No response came, but he exited the lift into a service corridor with exposed pipes and a flickering light panel, tapping his comm repeatedly, saying, "Velea, do you copy? Abort now!" Static persisted, and he ran faster, weaving past a droid carrying a crate that beeped, "Watch your path!" He reached a junction with a viewport showing the dock, the Eternal Horizon's hull filling the view, and tried the comm again.
"Velea, answer! You can't land! the security will catch you!"
(AN: Like I said before Gala Part 1 and Part 2 are bout 25k words each. So on here I'll break them down into smaller parts. Anyway a lot of stuff is gonna happen now… maybe a certain someone is gonna… smash…)
If you like my stuff consider supporting me.
Patreon.com/captainalfie78works