When Hell Freezes Over (Daxton/Judah/Thessa)

[Daxton Bane]

Old timers say Hoth was hell frozen over, well Tantra comes in as a close second. The only draw to this frozen hunk of rock was the mining operations being run by [member="Judah Dashiell"] and his family. That is what drew the Sith's attention. That darn farmer and his fishy wife were an annoying thorn to his side. Now that he was free from his Confederacy obligations he was free to pursue at his leisure. This was where he was going to make his first strike, one they would never see coming....

The spaceport air traffic control command was staffed by only two people. Given that traffic rarely arrived, they usually spent their time sipping warm tea or playing holo chess. They did not expect it when the doors hissed open and a guest stepped into their office, followed by a man that looked welded to strange contraptions all over his body.

Quickly getting to their feet, they were about to greet the pair, when the leader waved his hand from left to right, saying in a gentle voice. "You both look tired. There is no traffic coming in for the next few days, why don't you take a few days off. We will cover for you."

The pair were bewildered for a second, but their minds quickly accepted the suggestion implanted in their heads by the Sith. Nodding in acknowledgement, they gathered their things and headed out the door.

As soon as the pair had left, Daxton turned to his companion, a notorious slicer called Newjack. "Take care of things here. Nothing leaves or lands except the ships with the transponders I had given you. Is that understood? Good. Now get to work."

(To be continued)
[member="Judah Dashiell"]
[member="Thessa Kai"]

 

[Daxton Bane]

The Zabrak transport freighter, Killing Joke, was the last of ships to arrive. Five cargo freighters were hired from various spaceports to pick up heavy transport vehicles and bring them to this forsaken world and back again. Payment was made for records to disappear, nothing remained for anyone to trace.

As the transports began rolling down the ramp a human dressed in heavy furs walked down to greet the red cloaked figure waiting for him. "Greetings comrade. My name is Comrade Karl, Comrade Zao told me you wish to contribute to the glorious revolution."

The cloaked figure looked to and greeted him a smile. "Judah Dashiell, the pleasure of your acquaintance. Tell your men to form a convoy, we have much work to be done."

(To be continued)
[member="Judah Dashiell"]
[member="Thessa Kai"]

 

[Daxton Bane]

Leaving the men to load the ore into the cargo vehicles, the man who wore Judah's face rode the express lift down to the work area. When doors opened, a group very worried looking manager types were there to greet him.

"Welcome sir. We weren't expecting you or we would have prepared a proper welcome."

"Wouldn't that defeat the purpose of surprise inspection? Besides I had business nearby and so I decided to nail two birds with one stone. Is there a problem?"

"A problem? No problem sir, none at all. It's just highly irregular."

"I have been hearing that there are problems with reactor number two that the management hasn't been reporting."

Puffing his chest indignantly like an offended peacock, the head manager shook his head and said, "That is George and his malcontents, trying to stir up trouble again. Rest assured, sir, these are all baseless rumors."

"None the less, baseless rumors or not I need to have the reactor checked. Initiate a full lock dock down for the next four hours and report to the central hub."

[member="Judah Dashiell"]
[member="Thessa Kai"]

 

[Daxton Bane]

Crimson lights bathed the facility in an eerie glow as the protective blast door slammed shut. Questions flew over the comnet as staff asked for an update. The calm voice of the manager reassured them in a soothing tone, "This is not a drill. Please remain calm and att your stations. The facility is undergoing precautionary lockdown for the next four hours while repairs are being made. Please do not panic and remain at your stations. Thank you."

Putting down his communicator he turned to his employer and his eyes widened in shock to see the drawn blaster in his hand. Death was mercifully quick as the blaster bolt got him between the eyes. Before anyone else of the staff could move, the doors to the control room opened and a trio of combat droidekas rolled in blasters blazing. In a span of two minutes, the only organic left standing was the Sith.

Issuing an encrypted command to his droids the sinister party headed to Reactor number 2. Using the Force, Daxton had determined that the crust near the reactor was the weakest point in the entire structure. By programming the droids to self destruct in a particular pattern, it would cause a chain reaction akin to blowing a shotgun shell point blank against a paper target. The resulting back blast would rupture the tectonic plates, unleashing magma and possibly a huge ecological disaster. The destruction of this facilty would be foregone conclusion, just a damn shame he could not reveal his hand in it just yet.

As soon as the droids were set, he activated their self destruct timers and then made his way out of the mine. By the time, the cargo freighters took off from the space port, the detonations began heralding a new blow for the Sith. As the ships climbed to the void, filing false flight plans, he gazed back at the brewing catastrophe on this planet and smiled in glee.

[member="Judah Dashiell"]
[member="Thessa Kai"]

 

[Judah Dashiell]

[member="Thessa Kai"] | [member="Daxton Bane"] | Ceto



Judah yawned, stretching out in the bed. Clothes lay strewn around the large master bedroom and he had quickly given up trying to find his sleep pants at this moment in time. Arm encircled around Thessa, thumb brushing gently over a patch of scales. He was unusually quiet, thinking over the right words to say. Thoughts went back to when he asked Thessa to marry him -- both times. Judah was fairly certain he was less nervous then. No doubt the Galan already suspected something. She was smart like that.


"So...uh..." Judah cleared his throat a little. Was after fade-to-black the right time to bring this up?"...I...kinda got something to tell you."


"I may have built the family a little....'vacation' house. Something to fall back on when times look a little....uncertain." He shifted, blue eyes connecting with those iced-azure ones he knew so well. "I already know what you're going to say. My argument is the company is growing. Someone could get it in their head to kidnap you two or worse. You and Makai are my very first priority in everything I do."


"Besides, it may be nice.A quiet place to vacation when we don't want to be seen."


His comm started to buzz and chime a soft tone. Judah ignored it for now. If it was deadly important there would be a message or a callback. For now Thessa's reaction was the only thing on his mind.

 

[Thessa Kai]

[member="Daxton Bane"] [member="Judah Dashiell"]

Lazy thoughts sharpened as she rested against Judah's chest. Scale-speckled hand stopped tracing patterns along his chest. "Wait, what?"

She stared at him in the short space of separation. "Kidnap?" Driftwood brows lofted as a half cough, half laugh escaped her throat. "First of all, I doubt anyone would want to kidnap a semi-retired-flight captain-now-mom. And if they had any thoughts about Makai or me, they wouldn't get within four feet of us, or you. Are you worried about force users? You shouldn't be. We've taken care of plenty. Just look at how we handled....," voice trailed off. Even though they had taken care of Daxton, she didn't want to say his name, "...that Shorn guy."

 

[Judah Dashiell]

[member="Thessa Kai"] | [member="Daxton Bane"]



A soft sigh escaped him at her reaction. Judah wasn't sure why he didn't expect anything different. He struggled for a coherent reply -- one that would make Thessa see his side of things a little better. It wasn't like he was asking the family to become to reclusive hermits off in the wilds of the galaxy.


"Think about it. We live a fairly average life considering it all. I don't worry about one specific group. Its just...its not you and I anymore. Its going to be another two years or so before we can teach Makai how to point and shoot properly. Although I don't know anyone insane enough to try taking you on."


A small smile graced his features as he finished the sentence. Thessa didn't know the darker thoughts that circled his mind late at night. The what-ifs. Concerns for both of them. Memories of their bout with various Dark Siders and bounty hunters. Nor would she ever know. Judah kept those cards close to his chest.


Comm chimed and trilled again. The second time in less than five minutes. Reaching over, Judah flipped through the missed calls. Chalu. Second in command of Salacia Consolidated. His eyes squinted at the brightness of the screen, working to get back in contact with the Mon Calamarian. It didn't take long and he sounded rushed, winded.


"Judah, there's been an issue with the Tantra facility."


"Did it ice and lock up again?"


"No.Word has reached me of an accident. I'm headed out now. Not sure of the damage, I've been having trouble reaching the second shift Plant Manager. I should be there by morning. I'll let you know if you need to come out."


"Thanks Chalu. Hopefully its nothing major, we've got those fail safes in. I'll be speaking to you in several hours." Judah ended the communication and put the comm back down on his nightstand. Arm went back around Thessa as he went quiet for a long moment.


"I'm sure everything is fine."

 

[Thessa Kai]

[member="Judah Dashiell"] [member="Daxton Bane"]

"Judah," she sighed as the comm call came through. Her exasperation turned into concern. "We can talk about this more, later," she slipped out from beneath his arm and went to go pull on some clothes. "Just call it what it is and not a vacation house, okay?"

Aqua-lips twitched slightly at the corners.

"If you are going to check on this facility and it turns more into nothing, I'm coming with you. Ferox can watch Makai."

 

[Judah Dashiell]

[member="Thessa Kai"] | [member="Daxton Bane"]


"Dashiell Family Prison Camp? Fun for ages eight months to eighty-eight years." Judah couldn't resist the joke despite her exasperation. About to protest the fact Thessa wanted to come along for the mining facility trip he stopped. Despite the fact the issue was nothing and incredibly boring(or so he assumed), it was nice to have his wife tag along. Thessa never wanted to join in the business side of things. Judah never was sure why. The Galan certainly had a tough-as-nails personality when need be. Either way, it was always nice to spend alone/non-kid time with the Missus.


"Might want to grab the cold weather gear."


Judah got out of bed and pulled on his sleep pants, comm in hand once he was a bit more decent. Immediately he sent a message to his mother. Judah trusted Ferox -- to a point. It would be different if Makai could walk and talk. Droids could be fooled. Call him paranoid.


Ma, Thessa and I have an emergency to handle off-world. I've got the nanny-droid watching Makai. Would you mind coming to help out? I'd appreciate it. I will tell Ferox to let you in. You'll probably need to buy baby food soonish. Cred card will be in the kitchen cabinet.


A few minutes later a reply came back to his comm.


Of course son. Its about time I saw that boy again. Sproutin' up like a weed if I do say so.


----------------

Less than an hour later Judah and Thessa were aboard the Sirena. Sitting in the co-pilots chair, Judah ran his hands over the controls. He had the ship especially made for Thessa. Completely decked out in every package Santhe offered. Luxury leather, byrlark wood paneling, vehicle storage, extended warranty. It was probably the first time they had taken it for a spin, although Judah had flew it around on his own a handful of times.


"Next stop Tantra."