Carth Onasi Comes Home ch50

At the security checkpoint they were given hard looks from the men standing guard. The trio descended on the crowd at the gate and gave no indication they were going to stop. But Lassiter appeared to have been right about Czerka's enforcers. Unlike the employees stopping to show identification, the green and gold uniforms worn by Jolee and Carth carried more authority than any identity card. Though the thunderous expression hewn onto Carth Onasi's face may have helped part guards and employees alike. Without a word to anyone they passed the gate and continued along the footpath to the administration building. 

Beyond the double doors, emblazoned with the Czerka logo, the large lobby served as the show room for the factory. Around the perimeter of the room several models of weapons were kept on display.  Standing at the center of the room was a small desk. Two smiling young women sat behind the glossy black counter with datapads in their hands. 

Upon entrance the sight of Zaalbar immediately drew the attention of the receptionists. A wookie did not go easily unnoticed. While the women were exchanging looks Jolee began to prepare for questions but their eyes slipped onto the uniforms. The receptionist on the right nudged her companion and both seemed to shrink into their chairs. Jolee sensed their anxiety and but did not feel bad about it. The old man couldn't muster up much sympathy for anyone who choose to work for Czerka.

Carth led the way around the reception desk without even glancing at the women. When he reached out and tapped the control panel one of the receptionists cleared her throat. Whatever she had been about to say died on her lips when Carth wheeled around glaring. It was becoming clear to Jolee his friends bad disposition was not an act. The lift doors hissed open and they ducked inside. While the receptionists looked on the doors slid shut and they were finally alone.  

"You're going to spoil the effect if you keep fidgeting like that," Jolee said staring at the doors. At his side Carth was tugging at the ill-fitting jacket. For the moment it was better not to mention the obvious ill-temper.

"Easy for you to say. All you had to do was roll up your sleeves," Carth muttered. His hands dropped to his sides but a scowl was left on his face. At least the mean look fit in with the role of a Czerka enforcer the Jedi decided.

As the lift slowed to a stop Jolee searched the Force and felt no immediate threat waiting. The doors opened onto a short empty hallway. Most of the administrative work was carried out a story below. As such they had no expectation of meeting many, if any, employees on this floor.

In a hurry Carth led them to a door at the far end. He tried the controls and they buzzed back, an angry sort of sound, for being locked. With an huff Carth extended a hand to Zalbaar. The man was a seething mess of impatience and frustration. Worry descended over Jolee as he probed those dark feelings. Usually level-headed to a fault Carth's concern for Revan, and the child she was carrying, was clouding his thoughts. 

Zaalbar took a security spike from his bag and passed it to Carth, who jammed it into the lock. In the few seconds it took to slice the mechanism Jolee exchanged a look with the Wookie. They shared a silent appraisal of their friends impatience. 

"Finally," Carth muttered when the secured doors hissed apart. Grunting the man reached up and fiddled with his jacket again. 

Cold air enveloped them as they stepped into the room beyond. It housed several large terminals. Each one ran varying functions of the administration building and the weapons factory. Only one controlled security and access to Czerka's secret laboratory. Since the terminals were self-sufficient, needing attention only when a problem arouse the room should have been empty. So the sight of a short balding man in an orange and black jumpsuit startled all three of them.

"Hey! This is a secure room," the man cried. Nervously he swallowed, recognizing the enforcers uniforms. Still his hand went for his communicator. "Uh, you need a passcard to come in here. Only engineers get those."

"We have autho - " Jolee began while simultaneously reaching with the Force to give a psychic nudge. Carth was a step ahead. Taking two large strides he approached the man and on the last step pulled his fist back. The blow was solid and caught the balding man unexpectedly on the left temple. 

"Carth!" Jolee barked more than shocked by the violent gesture. Unconscious the little man dropped to the floor in a heap. Carth shook his hand, swearing. 

"He's not hurt," Carth said defensively. 

< Revan would not have approved. > Zaalbar growled. 

"We don't have to tell her," Carth snapped while looking around the room. When neither of his friends responded he reluctantly faced them. There was a stubborn glint to his eyes. "Now we don't have to worry about him alerting anyone to our presence now. What if someone wanted to know why he wasn't up here working?"

< What if he was expected somewhere? >

"Or to check in with someone," Jolee added gesturing to the mans dropped communicator. Carth looked for himself. His shoulders slumped. "I get you don't trust Lassiter. Don't let your judgement be impaired for it sonny. Act like the admiral you're supposed to be."

Despite the glare Carth fixed on him Jolee didn't look away. This was Tiru Varn all over again. No matter if Carth didn't want Revan to know about this, she was going to be told. Jolee kept his eyes on the man, his own expression stern and disapproving, until the admiral looked away.

"Let's get this done," Carth sighed shaking his bruised fist a final time. 

There was nothing remarkably different about the terminal controlling security for the laboratory. It stood as part of a circle, among the other machines with no special markings to identify it. While Carth accessed the system, Jolee turned his attention to the man passed out on the floor. A decent lump was rising on the bald mans temple. Frowning Jolee looked to Zaalbar and gestured for help. The Wookie lifted the man and brought him to a bench on the far side of the room. Carefully Zaalbar eased the inert body onto the seat. 

"Damn fool, he's putting us all at risk with this tantrum," Jolee muttered. Taking a moment the old Jedi composed the bald mans limbs, folding his hands on his chest. Undoubtably he was going to experience a nasty headache when he came around. And he would probably be eager to speak with building security about the incident. Jolee hoped they were going to be long gone by then.

"I think I've got it," Carth announced. Briefly he turned his face up from the screen. "Looks like we can see a security camera as well."

Jolee and Zaalbar joined him, flanking him to look at the display for themselves. Flashing the screen came up to a root menu. Several options presented and Carth picked the first one. The image changed to a video feed of a long, empty corridor.

"This must be the old recycling waste tunnel," Carth said nodding at the scene. He tapped the image and the root menu returned. The second option allowed for the locking mechanisms which sealed the tunnel to be overridden. Quickly Carth selected it and the video feed returned. 

Daylight flooded the tunnel as the door opened. Three long shadows jumped onto one wall. Jolee recognized two of them immediately. The dark shapes leapt forward, followed by their owners. Cautiously Revan led the way inside. Mission came after, keeping close to Revan. At the rear was Lassiter, no less cautious than Revan, but he seemed to focus his attention more on her than anything else.

"He's planning something," Carth grumped. 

"Calm down Carth, neither Revan or myself picked up any deceit from him," Jolee said shaking his head. "Focus. Get the rest of the locks and the security system down."

Reluctantly Carth's hands moved across the panel, switching away the security feed to go back to the root menu. The recycling tunnel led straight to an elevator burrowed into the planets surface where the hidden lab was nestled like some horrible seed harboring the worst plagues the galaxy had ever known. 

Beyond the recycling tunnel there were no security cameras. To Jolee it was an odd choice. Was Czerka overconfident in their security he wondered, or did the company prefer to have no record of activities carried out in their laboratory. At least Jolee could rely on the Force if Revan or the others got into trouble. Though from this distance there was little he could do to give assistance. It would take a few minutes at least to reach the far side of the factory.

"Damn," Carth swore then exhaled sharply. The terminal flashed a warning, prompting for a security code to disable the gun turrets outside the laboratory doors. Zaalbar handed over one of Mission's computer spikes. It took three more before Carth shut the targeting system down. 

"Now we wait," Jolee sighed. Zaalbar moved from the terminal to stand watch at the door. Crossing his arms over his chest Jolee glanced at the unconscious man sprawled on the bench. The display changed as Carth brought the video feed up again. Jolee looked back and saw the group stopped outside the elevator. 

Revan was talking to Mission, her hand on the girls shoulder. Without sound it was impossible to tell what was being said. After a moment Mission nodded. The way her hands clasped, fingers twisting and pulling together, leapt out to Jolee. Whatever Revan was saying caused the Twi'lek to grow nervous. Mission stepped back while Revan and Lassiter walked inside the lift.

"Why isn't she going with them?" Carth demanded. There was a reassuring smile on Revan's face, directed at Mission, when she turned back to the open door. As the lift closed on the pair Carth exclaimed, "She was supposed to go with them!"

"I'm sure Revan had good reason," Jolee said dismissively. 

< It's probably the plasma grenades. > Zaalbar growled from the doorway.

"Mission?" Carth was holding his personal communicator in a white-knuckled grip. "What did Revan say?"

On the screen the Twi'lek jumped, startled by the sound of Carth's voice barking over the radio. She turned scanning the corridor for a camera.

"Uh, she said it was safer up here. Good work on the security system by the way," Mission said.

"What about Lassiter? Has he tried anything?" Carth asked.

"No. Why? Actually he was telling Revan about one of her old teachers. Kreia I think it was," answered Mission, still glancing for a camera. Jolee glanced to Carth. That was a name he knew with more than passing familiarly. He wondered if the admiral knew anything of Kreia and her questionable teaching methods. 

"Mission, tell me exactly what he told her," Carth said slowly. 

"She asked him about some fight between her and Malak when they were padawans. Revan was pretty keen to know if Kreia had watched it," Mission said and they watched her shrug. She leaned against the wall.

"Not likely," Jolee snorted. He saw the questioning look in Carth's brown eyes. Waving a hand the Jedi added, "Kreia was blind."

Carth was silent for a long moment. Then he shook his head. 

"Revan wouldn't ask that without a reason. She suspects Lassiter is up to something," 

"Now don't start - " he began, eager to calm Carth's paranoia.

"I know Revan," interrupted Carth with a small measure of vehemence. Stepping back from the terminal Carth made for the door. "We shouldn't have trusted this guy. I'm not leaving them alone."

Before Jolee could even form a protest the doors opened and Carth jogged into the hallway. Grimacing Jolee slammed his palm on the edge of the terminal. 

< Should I follow him? > Zaalbar asked.

"Ah, let him go. He can explain himself to Revan," Jolee grumped.