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Mistaken Identity Chapter 57 - Just Business
🕑 Added 2025-04-04 21:02:16 +0000 UTCHigh above the bustling lower levels of Coruscant, in the gleaming upper city where the air was cleaner and the towers scraped the sky, Aubrie stood in a sterile meeting room, her patience wearing thin. For days, she'd been locked in a frustrating back-and-forth with a representative from Draxon Docking Incorporated, the company that owned the docking yard where she'd left Jaden's ship. She'd trusted the place to be secure, but now the ship was gone—stolen or impounded, she couldn't get a straight answer—and every conversation with the company had led nowhere. She'd started with polite requests, then moved to firm demands, but the bureaucratic wall she faced refused to budge.
The representative, a thin human male with a pinched face and a datapad clutched tightly in his hands, sat across from her. His nameplate read "Korin Vex," and his voice carried the monotone drone of someone who'd given the same excuses a thousand times. "As I've explained, Ms. Aubrie, we've followed standard protocol. The ship's disappearance has been logged, and our investigation concluded it was removed from our custody under unclear circumstances. Per Draxon Docking regulations, recovery at this stage is close to impossible. However, we're prepared to offer you compensation—eighty percent of the ship's retail value, not including any aftermarket upgrades."
Aubrie's hands tightened into fists at her sides. "I don't want credits," she said, her voice sharp but controlled. "That ship wasn't mine to lose. I need it back, or at least some answers. Do you have security holos? Anything from the docking bay that could show who took it?"
Korin Vex didn't even look up from his datapad. "I'm afraid that's against company policy. Our security recordings are proprietary and not available for public review. If there's anything else we can assist you with, please let us know. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a meeting to attend." He stood abruptly, gave a curt nod, and walked out of the room, leaving Aubrie alone with her frustration.
She exited the Draxon Docking building, her boots clacking against the polished durasteel floor, and stepped onto a wide walkway overlooking a speeder lane below. The hum of traffic filled the air, but it did little to calm her. She leaned against the railing, her jaw tight, and muttered, "Karking bureaucrats." The curse felt foreign on her tongue—she wasn't one to lose her composure—but the situation had pushed her to the edge. Jaden had trusted her with his ship, a reliable Delta-7 he'd painstakingly modified over the years. Losing it felt like a personal failure, a betrayal of that trust. She shook her head, chiding herself silently. *How could I let this happen?*
Reaching for her comm link, she tapped the frequency for Padmé Amidala. The device buzzed briefly before connecting. "Padmé, it's me," Aubrie said, her tone heavy. "I've been at it for days with Draxon Docking, and I'm still nowhere. The ship's gone, and they won't give me anything—security footage, logs, nothing. All they're offering is credits."
Padmé's voice came through, steady and reassuring. "Aubrie, I'm sorry it's been such a mess. At least with the credits they're transferring, you'll be able to get another ship. It might not be as good as Jaden's, but it's something."
Aubrie sighed. "Yeah, I know. But it doesn't change the fact that I failed him. That ship meant a lot to him." Her chest tightened with guilt, a feeling she couldn't shake.
Padmé picked up on it immediately. "You haven't failed anyone. Look, I've still got some pull from my Senate days. I'll reach out to a few contacts and see if they can lean on Draxon Docking. Maybe we can get them to hand over the footage. At the very least, we might figure out who's responsible."
Aubrie managed a small smile, grateful for the support. "Thanks, Padmé. I owe you."
Padmé's tone lightened. "Nonsense. We're friends—you don't owe me anything. When are you heading back?"
"Soon," Aubrie replied. "I'll be there before the cycle's out."
"Want me to send my private transport?" Padmé offered.
"No, it's not that far. I'll manage with public transit." Aubrie paused, then added, "See you soon. Bye." She ended the call and pocketed the comm link, leaning against the railing again. Her gaze drifted across the endless sprawl of Coruscant's upper city, towers gleaming under the artificial lights. 'Jaden... where are you?' The thought hit her hard, stirring a mix of worry and something deeper—longing she'd buried for too long. It surged up, threatening to overwhelm her, and she forced it back down. Admitting those feelings out loud felt like crossing a line she couldn't uncross, so she kept them locked away.
A sudden prickle ran up the back of her neck, the Force whispering a subtle warning. It wasn't an immediate danger, but a presence—someone watching her with ill intent. She didn't react, keeping her posture casual. Sudden movements might tip him off. Instead, she straightened slowly and started walking toward a nearby public transport platform, her pace deliberate. She wove through the crowd, taking a route that let her catch a glimpse of her tail without being obvious about it.
He was a human male, broad-shouldered and rough-looking, with a scarred face and a dark jacket that blended into the city's grime. His eyes flicked toward her too often for it to be coincidence. Aubrie discreetly activated a small recording device on her belt, capturing his image as she passed a reflective panel. Satisfied she had what she needed, she quickened her pace, slipping onto a crowded public transport shuttle just as the doors hissed shut. She glanced out the window as the shuttle pulled away—no sign of him following.
The ride back to Padmé's apartment was uneventful, and soon she was stepping into the familiar main living area. Padmé sat on a cushioned sofa, sipping a steaming cup of something aromatic—Naboo spice tea, a blend of local herbs with a sharp, earthy scent. Vaylin, Padmé's aide, stood nearby, pouring another cup from a sleek carafe. Padmé looked up and smiled. "Aubrie, good to see you. Want some tea?"
Aubrie shook her head, her expression tense. "No, thanks. I was followed on my way back."
Padmé's smile faded, replaced by a frown. "Followed? By who?"
"I don't know yet," Aubrie said, pulling out the recording device. "But I got this." She activated it, projecting a holo of the scarred man. "He didn't do anything—just watched me. Made my skin crawl."
Padmé studied the image, then stood. "Come with me. I've still got senatorial access to the Coruscant security database. We can run this through and see if there's a match." She led Aubrie to her office, a small but well-equipped space with a terminal built into a polished desk. Padmé keyed in her credentials, and the system hummed to life. She uploaded the holo, and the database began its scan.
"Did he try anything?" Padmé asked, glancing at Aubrie.
Aubrie shook her head. "No, just followed me. Kept his distance."
"That's strange," Padmé said, her brow furrowing. "But after the attack on the Jedi Temple, maybe it's not surprising. Could be remnants of whatever force hit them, looking for easy targets now that you're no longer with the Order."
"Maybe," Aubrie replied, her tone uncertain. "You should watch yourself too, Padmé. If someone's tailing me, they might come after you next. This could be bigger than just the Temple."
Padmé stood there, biting her thumb as she thought it over. The attacks kept piling up—first the ambush on her and Jaden outside the Temple, then the assault at the pre-trial, and now the full-scale strike on the Jedi. Someone powerful wanted Jaden gone, and likely anyone tied to him. The terminal beeped, pulling her attention back. A match had been found.
The screen displayed the man's profile. "Torv Krenn," the computer announced in its flat, mechanical voice. "Human male, age 38. Known criminal with a history of petty theft and assault. Noted for strong anti-Jedi sentiment. Served time in a Level 3 holding cell for injuring a Jedi in the lower levels. Released six months ago."
Aubrie's stomach tightened. "Anti-Jedi. That explains the interest in me."
Padmé's expression darkened. "This isn't good. If he's out and following you, there's something deeper going on. Be careful, Aubrie."
"I will," she said, her mind already racing. "But why me? And why now?"
Padmé crossed her arms, staring at the profile on the screen. "I don't know. But between this and Jaden's ship disappearing, it's starting to feel connected."
Aubrie nodded, the weight of it settling in. They stood there, the unanswered questions hanging heavy between them. Who was behind this? What did they want with Jaden? And why were they targeting her now? Neither had the answers, but one thing was clear, something was seriously wrong here, and they both knew it.
Aubrie shifted her weight, crossing her arms as she looked at Padmé. "Any progress on finding Jaden?"
Padmé sighed, her gaze dropping to the floor before she shook her head. "I've talked to everyone who'd listen or spare me a moment. Called in favors from senators, security chiefs, even a few old contacts in the undercity. But it's no use. The undercity's too big—thousands of levels, each one a city of its own. It's like trying to find a needle—"
"In a haystack," Aubrie finished.
Padmé let out a small giggle. "More like a needle in a stack of other needles." Her smile faded fast, and she sighed again. "I have faith we'll find him eventually, but the way things are looking, it's going to take time."
Before Aubrie could respond, the door slid open, and Vaylin stumbled in, carrying a tray with a teapot and cups. She beamed at them, her bright smile lighting up her face as she nearly tripped over her own feet but caught herself just in time. "I thought Lady Amidala might like some tea in her office, so I brought it!" she said, her voice bubbling with enthusiasm.
Padmé smiled back, though it was tired. "Thanks, Vaylin, but we're pretty much done in here."
Vaylin's eyes widened, and she started apologizing right away. "Oh no, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to interrupt! I'll set it up in the main atrium instead, right away!" She turned to leave, but as she did, she let out a sharp scream, dropping the tray. The teapot and cups crashed to the floor, spilling Naboo spice tea everywhere. Vaylin clutched her head with both hands, wincing in pain.
Aubrie was at her side in an instant, kneeling next to her. "Vaylin, what's wrong?" She placed a hand on Vaylin's shoulder and reached out with the Force, letting it flow through her fingers as she tried to sense any injury or cause for the sudden outburst.
Vaylin shook her head fast, still holding her temples. "I'm fine, honestly, I'm fine! I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to make a mess!" Her voice was shaky but insistent.
Padmé stepped over, crouching beside her and helping her to her feet. "Vaylin, maybe you should take the rest of the day off. You don't look well."
Vaylin waved her hands in protest. "No, no, it's not necessary, I promise I can keep going!"
Padmé's tone turned firm. "That's an order, Vaylin. Go rest."
Vaylin opened her mouth to argue, then glanced at the spilled tea. "At least let me clean this up—I made such a mess!"
Padmé shook her head. "I can handle it. Go take care of yourself."
Aubrie stood up, brushing off her knees. "I'll escort her to her chambers, just to be sure she's okay."
Vaylin started to object again. "Really, it's fine, I can—"
"It's best to be safe," Aubrie cut in, her voice calm but leaving no room for debate.
Vaylin sighed, then turned to Padmé. "I'm so sorry again, Lady Amidala." She gave a quick bow before following Aubrie out of the office.
They walked down the hall together, Aubrie keeping an eye on her. After a moment, she said, "I couldn't sense anything wrong with you physically. No injuries, no sickness. What happened back there?"
Vaylin shook her head, her steps slowing. "I really am fine. It's just... lately, I've been having nightmares. That's all."
Aubrie glanced at her. "Want to talk about them?"
Vaylin hesitated, her fingers twisting together as she walked. Then she looked at Aubrie, her expression tightening. "They're terrible. In the dreams, I'm hurting people—so many people. Some I know, but most are strangers. And when I wake up, I feel exhausted, like I haven't slept at all."
Aubrie nodded, thinking it over. "Maybe you should see a medical droid. They've got remedies for sleeplessness—could help with the nightmares too."
Vaylin smiled, though it didn't reach her eyes. "I'll do that. Thanks." They reached her quarters, a small door tucked into the side of Padmé's apartment complex. She stopped and turned to Aubrie. "I'll be okay now."
Aubrie gave her a quick once-over with the Force again, just to be sure, then stepped back. "Get some rest. I'll check on you tomorrow."
"Thank you, Aubrie," Vaylin said, her voice soft. "Goodbye." She slipped inside, the door sliding shut behind her.
Inside her quarters, Vaylin leaned against the wall, breathing heavily. The room was plain—bare walls, a simple bed, a single table, and a drawer unit next to it. She crossed to the bed and sat down, her hands trembling as she opened the drawer. Inside was a bottle of sleeping medicine, along with several others just like it, some empty, some half-full. She grabbed the fullest one, twisted off the cap, and tipped it back, swallowing far more than the recommended dose. The bitter taste lingered as she set the bottle down and lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling. She closed her eyes, hoping this time she'd dream of home—Naboo's green fields and quiet lakes—instead of the violence that haunted her sleep.
Back in the office, Aubrie returned to find Padmé mopping up the spilled tea with a cloth. She looked up as Aubrie entered. "Is she okay?"
"Physically, yes," Aubrie said, crossing her arms. "But she's having nightmares. Bad ones. Says they're wearing her out."
Padmé frowned, setting the cloth aside. "Poor thing. She's always so cheerful, I didn't realize anything was wrong."
Aubrie nodded. "She's hiding it well. I told her to see a medical droid. Might help."
"Good idea," Padmé said, standing up. She glanced at the terminal, where Torv Krenn's profile still glowed on the screen. "Between Vaylin, Jaden, and that creep following you, it feels like everything's falling apart at once."
"Yeah," Aubrie agreed, her jaw tightening. "And I don't think it's a coincidence."
___________________________
Down in the grimy depths of Coruscant's undercity, Velea, Jaden, and Zule moved through a narrow alleyway, their boots scuffing against the uneven duracrete. Zule walked a step behind, her arms crossed, and after a few minutes of silence, she spoke up, keeping her voice low. "Remind me why all three of us need to do this, and why Jaden's going of all people?"
Jaden glanced back at her, his face hidden under a dark cloak and a mask that covered his mouth and nose, leaving only his eyes visible. "Me and Velea know what we need to buy, and you're here in case we have to split up, which we probably will because things tend to go to shit around me." He kept his tone matter-of-fact, adjusting the cloak to make sure it stayed in place.
"When things go wrong, they'll likely be after me, so I want you and Velea to stick together," he added, his voice steady.
Velea, walking beside him, chimed in without missing a beat. "Or if I'm a lost cause, save Jaden, because one of us needs to finish the ship, and then we can worry about the other."
Zule tutted, shaking her head. "You are crazy." She turned away feeling annoyance flair up in her chest. She'd been in a bad mood for days, ever since she'd walked in on Jaden and Velea on the sofa, both of them naked, Velea rubbing Jaden's cock while he leaned back, eyes half-closed. Zule didn't know why it bothered her so much—she didn't understand the knot in her chest or the heat that flared up whenever she thought about it—but it had left her snappy and restless, and she couldn't shake it.
Jaden caught the edge in her voice and looked at her. "I'll be fine, Zule, relax."
She didn't respond, just kept walking, her jaw tight. They moved through the alley for a while longer, talking about what they needed: a new hyperdrive coil, power converters, a set of durasteel plating, some wiring for the ship's controls, and a few extra blaster packs just in case. Velea rattled off the list like she'd memorized it, while Jaden added a couple of tools he wanted for personal projects. Zule listened, then stopped and threw her hands up. "Where the kriff are we supposed to find a place that has all of that?"
Jaden smirked, stopping in front of a rusted airlock set into the alley wall. He punched a code into the panel, and the door hissed open, revealing a dim, sprawling space beyond. "Welcome to the biggest black market on Coruscant," he said, stepping aside to let them see.
Zule's eyes widened as she followed him through the airlock, Velea right behind her. The market stretched out in every direction, going miles up and down through the undercity levels, a maze of stalls and walkways. Bridges connected the platforms—some were solid durasteel, others were rickety planks and cables that swayed when people crossed. Shouts and haggling filled the air, vendors calling out prices for everything from ship parts to spice, while droids rolled through the crowd, hauling crates or scanning for thieves. Jaden turned to them, gesturing at the sprawl. "You can find most things in the galaxy here, as long as it's not military-grade or brand-new."
Velea let out a high-pitched squeal, her excitement bubbling over, and bolted down the nearest set of stairs, her boots clanging on the metal. Jaden chuckled, shaking his head, and started after her, his cloak flapping as he moved. Zule trailed behind, her arms still crossed, taking it all in but keeping her distance from the other two.
They hit the main floor, weaving through the crowd, and Jaden led them toward a cluster of stalls piled high with ship components. Velea darted ahead, stopping at a table covered in coils and circuits, picking up a hyperdrive part and turning it over in her hands. "This could work," she said, holding it up for Jaden to see.
He nodded, stepping up beside her to haggle with the vendor, a grizzled Twi'lek with a missing lekku who barked a price in Huttese. Jaden countered with a lower offer, keeping his voice low so the mask muffled it, and after a minute of back-and-forth, the Twi'lek grumbled and took the credits. Velea stuffed the coil into her bag, grinning, and they moved on to the next stall.
Zule hung back, watching them work, her mood still sour. She didn't get why she had to be here—Jaden and Velea clearly had it handled—but she stuck close anyway, scanning the crowd for trouble. They picked up the power converters from a Rodian who tried to overcharge them until Jaden stared him down, then grabbed the durasteel plating from a human woman who threw in some extra bolts for free after Velea complimented her welding skills. The wiring came next, a tangled bundle Jaden tested with a small tool to make sure it wasn't fried, and the blaster packs they got from a shady-looking Zabrak who didn't ask questions.
Halfway through, Jaden stopped to check their list, muttering to Velea about splitting up to save time. Zule cut in before he could finish. "If we're splitting up, I'm not running off alone—I'll stick with Velea like you said."
Jaden nodded. "Fine, you two take the east side, look for the tools and maybe some fuel cells if you can find them cheap. I'll hit the west end for the rest."
Velea slung her bag over her shoulder, already heading off. "Meet back here in an hour—don't get lost!" she called, disappearing into the crowd with Zule jogging to catch up.
'I've got a bad feeling about this,' Zule thought to herself.
...
A few levels up from the black market's chaos, Darren crouched in an empty alcove, peering through the scope of his rifle at Zule, Velea, and the cloaked man he figured was Jaden. He wore the same armor from his attack on the Jedi Temple: matte-black durasteel plates over a reinforced bodysuit, scratched and dented from past fights, with a helmet that sealed tight and glowed faintly at the visor. His scope zoomed in on the trio, and he pulled back from it, smirking behind the helmet. "I got you," he said, his voice dripping with malice.
It had been weeks since Jaden vanished, and Darren had almost given up on tracking him down after every lead went cold. Then his contacts tipped him off: Lieutenant Commander Velea had resigned from the Republic Navy and headed into the undercity. Back when Collan first hired him to grab Jaden, Darren had put tails on everyone close to the guy—Velea, Zule, even that senator woman—figuring it was a long shot but worth the effort. Turns out he was wrong about it being useless. Velea's trail got him to this level, but it was Padawan Zule Xiss who led him straight to the cloaked figure he was now sure was Jaden.
Darren's smile widened under the helmet. His payday was close—just one grab away. He thought it was a shame Collan wanted Jaden alive; killing him would've been simpler and more satisfying. He stowed the rifle on his back, clipped a repel line to the alcove's edge, and jumped, letting the line catch his fall as he dropped two levels. He landed in a crouch, still able to see the cloaked man through the crowd. His helmet's HUD tagged the target, matching height and weight to Jaden's profile, and as long as he kept him in sight, the tracking wouldn't lose him. Darren straightened up and started following, weaving through the market's mess of bodies and stalls.
Back down on the main floor, Jaden moved through the market, checking stalls for anything useful. He stopped at one piled with crystals and scrap, digging through it, but found no kyber crystals—not that he expected to. He clicked his tongue, annoyed, thinking there wasn't much he could do about it here—kyber wasn't exactly common. He kept walking, passing a row of stalls that caught his eye, pleasure booths, lined up with toys, holovids, and sleek pleasure droids posing in display cases, their synthetic voices calling at passersby.
It made him think of Velea. Flashes hit him—her naked on the sofa, her hand wrapped tight around his cock, stroking him while he groaned. He shifted his stance, adjusting his pants as the memory stirred him up. Not now, he told himself, sighing. It was easier to focus back when these urges didn't burn through him all the time. He grinned stupidly, thinking he'd drag her into the captain's cabin later for some fun once they were back on the ship.
He chuckled to himself, still grinning, and didn't notice the guy in front of him until he barged right into him. "Sorry," Jaden started, but froze when he felt a blaster barrel press into his side.
"Don't move," a rough voice said.
Jaden looked up and saw a human staring back at him, face filthy with a crooked grin, wearing patchwork armor that looked like it'd been scavenged from a dozen different fights. "Our boss has been looking for you, Mr. Shan," the guy said, jabbing the blaster harder into Jaden's ribs.
Another blaster pressed into his back, and a second human stepped into view, this one taller with a scar running down his cheek. "Quite a few people been looking for you," he said, his tone flat.
A third guy moved in from the side, shorter but stocky, his blaster aimed at Jaden's chest. "You got our bosses up in a tizzy."
"Big boss lady been tearing the undercity apart for you," the first one added, smirking.
"Now come with us," the scarred one said, reaching out and ripping the hood off Jaden's head, exposing his face to the dim market lights.
Jaden chuckled nervously, glancing between them as the mask dangled uselessly around his neck. "Ah, kriff," he muttered, realizing he was boxed in.
(AN: So we are back with our boy Jaden. Things are happening. Our boy now has two different groups after him, three of you include Aubrie and Padmè. But tbf they have nice intentions... very nice intentions. Anyway expect a lot of action next chapter and a good amount of lemons and limes in the next few chapters as Jaden gets used to being a person. Hope you enjoyed the chapter.)
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