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Jan Lomona and the Delicate
Deception 1998/1999 short story by Mark Newbold Three years after Episode IV - A New Hope Jan
stepped carefully around the still steaming corpse of the huge Luugar creature and raised his Blaster to the brim of his
cap. He was more than aware of the
cold vapour trail being released from his lips - the night air on Wennicas
could bite hard and leave a man gasping his last if unprotected. Jan Lomona was far too wily a smuggler and
traveller to be caught out in such a fashion. A thermal jacket covered his tall broad
frame, his legs encased in boots. His
face was peppered with a thin beard, growing through the frost on his cheeks. And his ocean blue eyes peered carefully
around the corner of the warehouse, searching for other Luugar
creatures - or worse. He
could see nothing, which he knew from bitter experience didn’t necessarily
mean that there was nothing there.
Steeling himself against attack he rubbed his fingers together and
moved forward, running across the courtyard to the entrance of the loading
bays twenty meters away. Checking left
and right he flicked his Blaster back to stun and rolled across the wall to
the doorway. Time for a house call he thought to himself. I
only hope Jezzren’s not expecting it. Jan
could see his own reflection in the doorframe, his cold features etched into
the chrome. With regret he
frowned. Jezzren had been Glann
Cipple’s aide and confidante for almost fifteen years, and a good friend to
Jan and many others besides. Once
Cipples successful mission to Abrogard had been completed Lomona knew, as did
many others that Glann would require certain loose threads tying up, the
pre-eminent one being Jezzren and his unforeseen deception. During the difficult period of the mission
to Abrogard Glann had known of the existence of a spy, a spy he christened Naaven after Naaven Torr, an operative
with the shortsightedness to double-cross
Cipple. But no one, apart from
Himbimimam who finally figured out who the mole was, could ever guess that
Jezzren had betrayed them. It’s always the ones you least expect who
turn around and stab you in the back thought Jan with a twinge of
sorrow. Jezzren cited his reasons for
his betrayal as simple cash - he had a family he hardly ever saw and
children’s mouths to feed. But Jan
didn’t buy that. Glann may be many things but he ain’t no
miser. Jezzren did well out of being
such a trusted aide. There had to be
more to it than that. But
what? Lomona knew that he was no great
detective. He preferred to leave that
kind of lateral thinking to the likes of Carlonian Feese or Goah Galletti,
men accustomed to the quick thinking lives of assassins and bounty
hunters. Lomona was no slouch when it
came to mind games, but he far preferred an easier ride. And there weren’t many easier rides in the
Setnin Sector than Jan Lomona. What was that? Kids?
Just what I need. Jan slipped his Imperial Caterers Guild cap off,
stuffed it into his pocket and peered over the window ledge. Yes, it was just as he had feared. There was Jezzren, seated at a short wooden
table surrounded by two children and his wife. Jan could barely make out their
surroundings, but it appeared that they had converted this mid-town warehouse
on Wennicas into some kind of home. Not exactly the kind of retirement you
were looking for, eh Jezz? Lomona couldn’t help
but recognise the looks on their collective faces - happiness. Genuine happiness that simple credits could
never hope to buy. Jezzren’s son and
daughter laughed as he recounted some tall tale to them, his wife smiling as
she cleared the table. It looked as
complete a picture of a family as Jan had ever seen. And
Glann’s sent me here to end it. For
good. Lomona crouched back away
from the window, rubbing the bridge of his nose. He parked himself on the floor and shook
his head slowly. Something didn’t
quite add up here, but he couldn’t figure out what it was. Cipple had quickly learned of Jezzren’s
location and even now, weeks after his deception he had yet to finish him
off. Why? But it wasn’t that which bothered
Lomona. Why did Glann send me to
kill Jezzren? Why me and not Feese or
Galletti? Or Glann himself? It preyed on his mind as he huddled from the
increasing cold winds of Wennicas. Why
indeed send Lomona, a known smuggler and free trader to kill an enemy when he
has hundreds of assassins and ruthless employees to do the job. Jan shook his head again. It made no sense to him. Glann’s known for his
efficiency and this entire set up
is a million klicks from efficient.
Jan was so lost in his thoughts that he didn’t notice the soft touch
of a shadow fall across him, blocking the moonlights, or the hiss of breath
until the attack had begun. “Stang!”
He managed to get out before flipping himself forward to dodge the assault of another Luugar
creature. Wennicas’s’
most vicious inhabitant, a distant relation to the Wampa ice creature of
Hoth, swung it’s massive forearm at Lomona and brushed across his back as he
dove out into the speeder lane. The
impact knocked his trajectory off and he hit the floor with a thump. Rolling onto his back swiftly he kicked
backwards with his feet and shuffled four meters backwards away from the Luugar. It turned
and growled menacingly at him, teeth bared and claws out. Oh stang, like I really need this right now? He brought his Blaster to bear,
fiddling for the switch to change the setting to kill again, but the frost
and cold had frozen the switch firmly in place - he could only stun the
beast. And
even a P-48 Type three would only make it angry. Or angrier. If
that was possible. Jan
rolled again and brought his feet up, standing and digging into the snow for
purchase to gain ground away from the Luugar, but
it was right behind him and as he began his escape the animal swung out again
and clipped him hard, this time sending him crashing into a parked
speeder. Oww, that hurt he thought as his knees buckled
and a steady gush of blood began to dribble from between his lips. It was warm, the warmest sensation he’d
felt since the bath he’d had that morning and he almost welcomed its
presence. But not as much as the Luugar welcomed the sight and smell of it. Roaring in triumph the creature swung
around to face Jan, crouched and snarling. I think I’m in trouble. Hauling
himself back to his feet Jan gripped the Blaster and slung a dozen stun bolts
at the advancing animal, but just as he feared the barrage only served to
make the beast angrier. It slowed down
visibly but its advance didn’t stop.
Lomona had nowhere else to go, the speeder being parked in a line
bumper to bumper with two other vehicles.
He couldn’t roll underneath, the anti gravity pressure being sure to
injure him. He couldn’t roll over
because these Wennicassian speeders had been fitted
with anti-weather bubbles, therefore protecting them from the bitter ravages
of the eastern trade winds. No, there
was only one alternative. He’d have to make the Blaster switch turn
to the kill setting. He turned his
back briefly on the Luugar and found the lip of the
speeder door. Aligning the switch with
it he thumped down hard. Nothing, the
sweat from his fingers, or perhaps simply moisture in the air had conspired
to freeze his Blaster to a useless position.
He Blasted a few more stun bolts at the Luugar
who was only meters away now. Again,
he hammered the switch. Nothing. Again. Nothing. Come on Lady Luck, don’t let me
down!! Just
as he thought it and just as the Luugar’s arms were
preparing to wrap themselves around Lomona in a
deadly embrace the switch released itself and enabled Jan to use the highest
setting. Which he did, several times
and to deadly effect. Seconds later yet another Luugar lay steaming by the curbside. Jan Lomona blew out a trail of freezing
air. Jezzren if you only knew
the trouble you’ve caused you’d have flown a lot further away than Wennicas.
Like say, the Red Nebular. Glann
Cipple ran his fingers down the spine of the artefact and smiled thinly with
appreciation. He could hardly remember
a time when he had seen such a perfect specimen of Brevnian
craftsmanship, much less hold it in his hands. Eyeing its delicate curve and weight he
felt transported, away from the confines of his office on Amagad, away from
the presence of his wife Bella beside him.
Art and ancient pieces such as this statue meant almost everything to
him. And right now, holding this piece
in his hands, he thought of no troubles - no problems. Life could hardly be any better…. “There’s someone outside, I’m certain of
it.” Jezzren
checked around the windows edge again and drew back, glancing nervously at
his wife and children who hid behind their beds in the corner. He felt a twang of regret, of guilt as he
saw them cowering. Like criminals, like cowards. Like me. He swallowed and made a move for his
coat. “I’m going out there to see what
it is.” “Jezzren, no.” His wife Samerra moved from her hiding spot
and walked right up to him. “If it is
someone from Amagad then you’ll be a sitting Glawp. Don’t try to be a hero, not now.” Jezzren
frowned, his eyebrows knitting together in sorrow, as he looked his wife in
the eye. “Samerra…what I did, I did for you and the
children. To give you all a better
life. To spend some real time with
you, not to just say goodnight when I got home and try not to wake you up
when I left in the morning.” He looked
at the hard floor again. “But I’ve
failed. I’ve failed you so badly. This,” He gestured at the warehouse around
them. “this
was not what I had in mind. I had
plans for us. To travel to Gista. Stay with my brother Marekk for a few
weeks. Then travel out towards the
Core Worlds. Maybe find a new life on Correllia, or Selonia. If only I’d been more careful.” Jezzren frowned at the ground again. Samerra shook her head and took his face in
her hands. “I love you, no matter where we are. The children love you. You’re their father, and my husband. Whatever we do we do together, understand?” Jezzren
nodded sorrowfully. He understood all
to well. I promised you paradise and gave you purgatory. I only hope you’re as forgiving of me in
twenty years time as you are now. “Just let me check outside. I won’t be able to settle unless I know
we’re going to be okay.” Samerra,
seeing that he wouldn’t let the situation rest, moved aside and allowed him
to wrap his coat around him. Then,
bracing herself against the icy blast, let Jezzren
outside and heaved the door too, before the deadly Wennicassian
weather bled the heat from the warehouse. Jezzren
corrected the goggles around his eyes and activated the night-vision
facility. The blizzard had increased
in intensity, hurling icy darts of ice all around. Jezzren was well protected from the assault
- money was one thing that his household was not short of. The opportunity to spend it freely,
however, was. He moved parallel to the
warehouse to the corner and checked left and right. He spied the still steaming corpse of a Luugar creature resting against a landspeeder. Strange,
he thought. Luugars usually only hunt if there’s a scent to follow. And I’m the only one here - “Hands up Jezz. And turn around slowly.” Jezzren
closed his eyes in defeat as he raised his arms high above him. Turning around he saw the unmistakable
figure of Jan Lomona, Blaster pointing directly at his heart. He paused momentarily, unsure of his situation. Lomona? Why would Glann send a free trader to
assassinate me when he’s got people like Galletti and Feese to do those
jobs? Unless I’m not worth the
prestige. Or unless Lomona’s changed
his line of work in the past few weeks.
Jan
waved the Blaster nozzle at the smaller man before him. “Why’d you do it Jezzren? Why betray Glann after fifteen years?” Jezzren
shrugged and shook his head. “Do we have to discuss it here? I’m freezing to death.” “I wouldn’t think the cold would make much
of a difference in the afterlife. That
is, if you believe in an afterlife?”
Jan frowned inwardly. Jeez. Is that the sort of thing Goah would
say? No wonder I’m a free trader. The lines are way better. “I guess you know where I’m staying at the
moment? I bet Glann’s had spies
tailing me ever since I left Amagad.” This
time it was Jan who shook his head. “No pal.
We got a confirmed ID five weeks ago.
One of Glanns guys saw you here in the marketplace and checked in. Otherwise, I doubt we’d have found
you. I was sent here to find you after
I’d finished another job on Tatooine.” So it was just me being
paranoid? Seeing agents in the
shadows, thinking I was being tailed every step of the way for the past few
weeks. Dammit! Jezzren looked downwards and sighed. Everything had gone wrong, almost from the
minute he decided to cheat on his employer Cipple back on Amagad. Why did everything have to be either so
bland or so disastrous? Guys like me aren’t meant to have easy
lives. We just make up the numbers for
folk like Lomona to look good. “So, what are you going to do with me
then?” Asked Jezzren. Lomona
frowned and slightly lowered his Blaster muzzle. Now
there’s the question. He was still
unsure of what direction to take with this.
Kill him now and be done with it?
But what about his wife and kids?
I’ve got Paige and Frans to
worry about now – how can I deprive Jezzren’s family of their Father, however
crooked he’s been? And I can’t help
but think back to what Glann said when he sent me out here – `Deal with
Jezzren. Do what you must. But I never want to lay eyes on him again,
understand?’ Jan shook his head at
Jezzren and the smaller man tensed. That’s not a death warrant,
it’s a license to use my disgression. “Why couldn’t you just fly into the Core
Worlds, eh? Take your family and
disappear forever?” Jan lowered his
Blaster. “Why’d you have to go and
make everything so damned hard?” Jezzren
glanced up, unsure of what answer to give.
Is this a change of heart? For my children’s sake I prey it is. Jan
cursed something Huttese under his breath and put away his Blaster. “You’re lucky it’s the Fifth Day of
Shallamballa or else you’d be visiting your family as a poltergeist.” He managed a weary smile. “As it is, you’d better tell them to pack
their things and be ready to lift off in twenty minutes.” Jezzren
released a long breath and smiled back at Jan. “I can’t think of anything to say…” “Don’t say anything. I just hope I don’t regret this generosity
someday.” “You won’t. And neither will I.” Twelve
minutes later Jezzren appeared at the door of the warehouse with Samerra and
his two children wrapped in thick coats, carrying their bags and
belongings. He walked towards Samerra
and took the large case from her small hands and lifted their daughter into
the crook of his arm. She giggled,
unaware of the severity of the situation and how near she had come to being
the daughter of a single parent.
Lomona began striding down the road towards the hazy lights of the starport
a kilometre away. Jezzren jogged
alongside the silent smuggler. “I know that you’re going out on a limb
for us Captain Lomona, but where exactly are you taking us?” He paused, his mind turning over a lurching
with horror in time with his stomach. Maybe this is just a ruse to get us to
come quietly. Maybe he’s taking us to
Glann right now. Jan
looked down at Jezzren. “Where do you want to go?” Before
he could answer, the little girl turned to Jan and smiled broadly. “Daddy want to
visit Marekk.” “Seetah…” Began Jezzren. “Who’s Marekk?” Asked Lomona. “And more to the point, where is Marekk?” “Marekk is my brother. He lives on Gista, near the mining
facilities on the east continent.” He
sighed. “We were planning on staying
with Marekk whilst we sorted our situation out.” Jan
nodded as he turned the corner to begin the long walk alongside the open
starport, passing snow covered starships and freighters. “Sounds as good a place as any. Besides, Gista’s
not too far from Wennicas. And I’m
certain our old friend Gaalent will appreciate a visit.” They
both managed a smile at that. Gaalent
operated from the mines of Gista and had plans to begin a run to the Core
Worlds – a plan, which proved to be so much hot air. He threatened Lomona’s life and offended
Glann Cipple. A visit by the assassin
Goah Galletti followed, but Jan was still unsure whether it was a simple
courtesy call or something much darker.
His curiosity demanded to be satiated.
Jan checked the sky. “We’d better hurry. This storm’s getting worse by the second
and we’ve got plenty to do.” He’d
just reached that perfect moment of comfort, when the body is totally
relaxed, the temperature just right and the soft music not too loud to
disturb but just loud enough to encourage sleep when there was an almighty
knocking at the door. Marekk almost
choked with shock and rubbed his eyes with balled fists as he strode to the
door. “Who the hell would knock my door at this time of night?” He began, until he realised that he was
staring into the broad chest of a very tall A-desandian male and the fresh
giggling face of a two-year-old infant girl. “Seetah?”
He laughed and took her from the arms of the A-desandian, his head
still obscured from view by the short door.
Seetah opened her arms and hugged her uncle. “What are you doing here baby?” His mind was still reeling and his thought
processes were scrambled. Why was his
niece being handed to him by a strange A-desandian? “Brother?”
Marekk
turned again, to see his brother Jezzren and his sister-in-law Samerra slip
around the towering man and enter his apartment. And from behind the mans
leg he could see his nephew Duuloh peer nervously into the homely room. He smiled dumbly. “Jezz, why are
you here? Shouldn’t you be on Amagad?” Jezzren
shook his head as he took his brother in a fierce hug. “Amagad is the last place I want to be
right now.” He motioned to Jan who saw
the signal and entered the room. “This
is Jan Lomona. He’s…helping me out at
the moment.” Marekk
nodded, visibly impressed. “The
captain Lomona? It’s a privilege. I’ve heard so much about you.” Lomona
smiled. “All good I hope.” “That very much depends.” He looked at Samerra. “Why are you here?” Jan
raised his hands to intercept the reminiscing. “Jezzren will tell you later in infinite
detail. But I need a quiet word with
you now…alone.” Marekk
opened an adjourning doorway and motioned for Jan to enter. Once inside Marekk crossed his arms and
faced Lomona. “Right Captain. What is this about?” Jan
paused a moment and sucked air through his teeth. How
do I say this without giving too much away?
The guy thinks I’m a celebrity – I don’t want to spoil the image for
him. Oh hell, just tell him straight!
“I’ll be abrupt. If Jezzren or his family leave this rock, I
want to know about it. If you don’t
tell me about it, I’ll know anyway. I
know way too many people on this rock for them to leave without me finding
out.” He paused and stepped closer to
Marekk, lowering his voice. “I could
have shot Jezzren for what he did across Glann. I’d have been more than justified, but
Cipple gave me some latitude and I’ve decided to use it.” He stepped back and eyed Marekk with a
narrow glare. “Don’t make me regret
it.” Marekk
nodded and offered Jan his hand, which the smuggler took. “I don’t yet know what my brother’s done,
but I do know that you’re a man of your word.
My family will stay here until I get the word from you for them to
leave, not before.” Jan
Lomona released Marekk’s grip and fixed him with a
stare. “Make it happen.” The
Berone Sunrise powered down on the
landing platform outside Glann Cipples Fortress and steamed quietly in the
soft rain. Wrapping his overcoat about
him he exited the huge Stock Heavy Freighter and entered the building,
swiftly being ushered through the lobby and into the turbo lift. Shaking water from his coat he stepped out
of the lift and walked the short corridor to the double doors of Cipples office. Glann
Cipple sat impassively, facing towards the window with its majestic view of
the city of Amagad. His city of Amagad. Jan seated himself without invitation and
eased back into the couch.
“You won’t have any more
troubles with Jezzren.” Cipple
twisted the seat slightly and raised a tumbler of Geenau Whiskey to his lips. “I’d better not.” Jan
frowned. Surely this was what Glann
wanted, a happy ending for all? Okay,
so Jezzren deserved to be shot for what he’d done, but Glann now had the runs
to the Core via Abrogard. He’d bested
Dressel and Treece and all his other opponents. And if he wanted Jezzren as a corpse he’d
have sent Carlonian Feese or Goah Galletti.
Or
worse still he’d have gone himself. “I hope you’re right. For Jezzren’s sake.” Lomona
stood and slipped his coat back on and with a shrug he left the room. Glann
swivelled the seat around and watched the door close behind the smuggler. “Not for Jezzren’s sake Jan. For yours.” Jan Lomona and the Delicate
Deception
1998/1999 short story by Mark Newbold Three years after Episode IV – A New Hope Histories - Set a few short weeks after the events depicted in
Jan
Lomona and the Sirens of Amagad, Delicate Deception tells of what happened to Glann
Cipples traitorous
secretary Jezzren after his betrayal of his former employer. Taking place on the worlds of Wennicas, Gista and Amagad, this mini
tale sets up an interesting moral dilemma for Jan - follow Cipples orders to
the letter, or use his disgression and allow a man and his family to live. Cast
of Characters
Jan
Lomona Jezzren Samerra Glann
Cipple Bella
Cipple Marekk Seetah Duuloh |