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Chapter Text

Master Codebreaker had some lucky days on Canto Bight, but tonight wasn’t one of them. In one of the city’s alleyways, two criminals held him up by his arms while another drove a fist into his ribs.
Codebreaker stumbled to his knees, only to be thrust back to his feet. His muscular attackers were dressed nicely enough to avoid an ejection from the city’s casino, but their scars divulged the story of their criminal lifestyles.
“Careful,” Master Codebreaker said in his famously smoky voice. “You’re going to get blood on my coat.”
One of the men smashed his knuckles against Codebreaker’s nose. Codebreaker kept his cool. This wasn’t the first time he’d been roughed up by gangsters, and it certainly wouldn’t be the last. At least, he’d hoped not.
The aggressor took a step to his side, making room for a stylish young woman. She wore an exotic dress, accentuating her already slender figure. A glint of hope hit Codebreaker’s eye.
“Lovey? You’re a sight for sore eyes! Tell these men to release me at once.”
“I’m afraid that’s not how this works,” Lovey said, her voice soft as ever. His throat tightened when he noticed the small vibroblade glistening in her hand.
“And here I thought you’d treat the love of your life with a little more class.”
“Love was only part of the act, darling. I never felt a thing for you.”
“Of all your lies, that was by far the least convincing.”
A look of remorse crossed Lovey’s face. It was quickly overtaken by anger, as she pressed the blade deeper against his flesh.
“I’ve tried breaking that blasted code of yours for years,” Lovey said. “You’ve left me no choice but to take your title by force. Tell me how to break the code, and I promise your death will be swift.”
“You already know I’d take that to my grave.”
“As you wish,” she said, turning to her bodyguards. “Boys-”
“Wait!” he commanded, with enough authority to make the guards hesitate. “Vahs endku juma losku!”
At the completion of his phrase, a holdout blaster protruded from Codebreaker’s jacket sleeve. With the help of a cybernetic attachment, it whirred right into his hand! He fired a shot into one of the thug's chest, sending them tumbling into a wall of stained glass.
He fired the next round into another thug's head, killing him instantly.
The final thug swung up the aim of his blaster rifle, but he swung too slow. He was shot three times before collapsing into the city’s tile.
Finally, Codebreaker shifted his aim to Lovey. She gasped, fluttering at the sight of its barrel. With his free hand, he wiped the blood from his nose. It wasn’t until then, he’d realized it was broken.
“Well, then,” Codebreaker said, his finger relaxing from the trigger. “Words cannot express the potency of my disappointment.”
She was speechless. There was nothing she could say to help her case.
“Do not mock me. If you’re going to shoot, shoot,” she managed.
“Surely we can handle this like adults,” Master Codebreaker said, lowering his blaster. “Leave the planet of Cantonica. Find some other rock to take your exploits, and perhaps we can part as friends.”
“Or… We could get back together?” Lovey suggested, stiffly.
Codebreaker let out a deep sigh. It was tempting, of course, but he knew better. If this ordeal had taught him anything, it was that Lovey was just like everyone else on Canto Bight: greedy and foolish.
“I’m afraid that’s no longer an option.”
“Fine,” she said, seething. “I’ll take my leave, then.”
He watched as she left, presumably forever. Through his endless series of petty flings and romances, Lovey was the only woman he truly adored. Their relationship had lasted years, only to reach its abrupt end. And for what? A single, witless con? The experience had left him rattled. Part of him wanted to reconsider, but he knew their love wouldn’t survive the night.
He took a final look at the corpses surrounding him. To his knowledge, none of them were of any significance. How did an elegant woman like Lovey get tangled up with a crowd like this?
Fortunately for Codebreaker, the Canto Bight Police Department would never spend the resources to investigate the deaths of petty thugs. Still, he had no intention of putting that to the test.
As he turned to leave, Master Codebreaker felt the breath driven from his body. He let out a gasp, overwhelmed by a sharp pain that appeared in his back. The source was unmistakable: a vibroblade.
Lovey had returned. He swung around, looking deep into her desperate blue eyes. They narrowed with the ferocity of someone claiming their revenge.
His confusion and surprise had overwhelmed him. Almost unconsciously, Codebreaker lifted his blaster and pressed the trigger. The final bolt hit Lovey’s chest, spinning her around. Codebreaker collapsed with her, letting out a groan as the blade sunk deeper into his wound. They were face to face, lying pitifully on the street. He watched the life drain from her eyes; a grim reflection of his fast approaching fate.
He could hear combat boots hitting the city’s tile, louder and louder. He looked up to see two police officers, stun sticks already drawn.
“Freeze!” one of them yelled. The irony of the officer’s command almost made Codebreaker laugh. That was, if he wasn’t fighting to stay alive.
“Relax, rookie. He’s not going anywhere,” the other said. “File the report. I count four bodies, at least.”
The obedient officer holstered his stun stick, replacing it with the datapad on his belt. He typed frantically, documenting the scene.
Master Codebreaker knew how poorly this looked. It was enough to ruin his reputation for good, though it may not have been so bad if it wasn’t for Lovey. For socialites of her caliber, Canto Bight conveniently scraped together it’s excuse for a justice system. It was only the wealthy and powerful that had any protection here.
Besides, Codebreaker had no idea how far Lovey’s con stretched. It seemed safe to assume she was working under one of the city’s major crime bosses. Possibly Big Sturg Ganna, who’d been trying to uncover his real name for nearly a decade.
Master Codebreaker’s identity had acquired so much intrigue, so much mystique, that the answer had become invaluable. Secrets were Canto Bight’s most valuable commodity. He couldn’t blame whoever hired Lovey to attain it. After all, it was just business.
Besides, none of it mattered now. Soon, Codebreaker would find himself on the wrong side of a locked cell. Any pleas of self-defense were of no interest to these officers. As far as they were concerned, he created a public disturbance. He was a liability to Cantonica’s tourism, and these deaths would dip into its profits. Fortunately, it was an expense he could afford.
“How much are they paying you?” Master Codebreaker asked the cop. Codebreaker groaned suddenly, feeling the sharp pain return in his back.
The typing officer looked up from his datapad, smiled wickedly, and continued with his work. It told Codebreaker everything he needed to know: these cops had a price.
With his remaining strength, Codebreaker twisted the ring off his finger. He tossed it to the older officer, who caught it with ease.
“It’s platinum,” Codebreaker said. The officer inspected it in awe. Just by holding it, he could feel its weight, and by extension, its legitimacy.
“New orders,” the officer said to his ward. “Toss that report into the archive. Get these bodies in the ocean.”

Decades later, Master Codebreaker had become old and wrinkled from the strain of time. The vibroblade had left a deep scar on his back, but he continued to live; some days out of determination, others out of spite.
Codebreaker was still the city’s chief enigma, or at least that’s how he liked to see himself. The mystery of his identity, much to his delight, preserved his legacy. The resigned consensus was that Master Codebreaker was the best at what he did. He’d die before he’d let anyone disprove that notion.
Codebreaker had lived a full life by human standards, but he kept his wits all the same. Maybe it was the zero-g massages he received at Zord’s Spa and Bathhouse, or perhaps it was his immaculate diet. Regardless, Codebreaker had aged remarkably.
As he became weaker physically, the strength of his legend had only grown. The city saw him as a charming old relic, although some suspected him of being a monstrous serial killer. Codebreaker had never denounced these claims, choosing to keep his interactions with the public to a minimum. With the exception of his occasional trips to the casino, Codebreaker had become a bit of a recluse.
Codebreaker watched the sunset, where his idyllic mansion overlooked Canto Bight’s artificial beach. He winced, thinking of all the bodies hidden in its shore. Poor Lovey, he always thought. Her fate never ceased to depress him.
“Excuse me,” a female voice said. Master Codebreaker turned to meet its gaze. It was a clunky, platinum-plated protocol droid named L0-33.
“Yes, dear?” he answered casually.
“Your meeting with Jexton Koyles is scheduled for tonight.”
“It is?”
Master Codebreaker looked stunned. His memory failed him increasingly often.
“Would you like me to reschedule?” L0-33 asked.
“No, thank you,” Codebreaker said, taking a sip from his wine glass. “It could be months before he’s back on Canto Bight.”
L0-33 had been Codebreaker’s companion for over a decade. The droid, who he programmed himself, had been the only trustworthy thing in his life. In his youth, he preferred the company of more unpredictable creatures. These days, he tried to leave his risks at the casino.
“Jexton and I are playing a game of zinbiddle,” Master Codebreaker said, happily. “And you’re coming with me.”
“Let me guess. You’re gambling another one of your starships?”
“Yes, but that’s hardly important. What’s really on the line is my pride.”
Codebreaker’s opponent, Jexton Koyles, held a level of celebrity that rivaled his own. He was a crime lord who managed to unite thousands of miscreants under one shared goal: fighting for a lawless galaxy. They called themselves The Marauders. Jexton brought an unmatched level of structure to his criminal empire. To top it off, he was one hell of a gambler.
“And what do you stand to gain?” L0-33 asked.
“Not much,” Codebreaker said. “I just want to see him lose.”

Chapter Text

Not everyone in Cantonica got their thrills from a pair of dice. Jemma Hale found hers behind a desk in the Canto Bight Police Department. Between her stooped posture and stout build, Jemma experienced all the ailments that came with a sedentary lifestyle.
Nevertheless, Jemma liked her job; the only trouble was getting there. She traveled through the city’s underground parkade, a stain on an otherwise perfect metropolis. The parkade was hidden from the tourists and high-class like a nasty secret. It was dark and dangerous, at least relative to the rest of the city. She slogged through with her hands stuffed inside the pockets of her long coat.
Jemma had spent her entire life on Canto Bight. She knew better than to indulge any passerbys. Instead, she kept her eyes glued to the ground. It was easier said than done, especially with the city’s salesmen vying for any attention they could find. Or in this case, a driver.
A speeder cab stalked her, driving at a pace that perfectly matched her own. It was as if they were mocking her, waiting for the opportunity to pounce. She kept her eyes forward, quickening her pace.
Everything in Canto Bight had a price. A tourist might accept a “free drink” one minute, only to find themselves charged hundreds of credits the next. Here, a favor was only the beginning of a scam.
Finally, the window to the speeder rolled down, revealing a delicate-looking man behind the wheel. Jemma stopped, finally turning to face him.
“Thom?” Jemma asked, in her husky Coruscanti accent.
“Why, hello. Hi, hi, hi,” Thom said, with a nervous smile. He was a human about her age, though his demeanor was more reminiscent of a protocol droid. His tailored suit and matching black cap gave him a regal appearance. It was standard chauffeur apparel, but it looked especially great on him. Or at least, Jemma thought so. She gave him a relieved grin, revealing her rabbit-like teeth.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
“I thought I’d offer you a ride. But you seem like you’re enjoying yourself. Maybe I’ll just leave you be,” he said, sarcastically.
“You’re just in time, actually.” she said, delighted. “My feet are dying for a rest!”
She opened the door and climbed into the passenger seat. She could feel the envious stares of her peers as she entered the cab.
On Canto Bight, it was considered a high honor to be chauffeured by a human. Most of the speeders were operated by droids, or in some cases, the vehicles drove themselves. The luxury of a human operator was generally only possessed by the wealthiest citizens, and Jemma was clearly not the type.
“So, uhm, where to?” Thom asked, his skinny hands tightening around the wheel. “To work, I’m guessing?”
“Have I become that predictable?”
“Well, it’s not like you get out much these days.”
“Oh, hush,” Jemma said. She couldn’t deny it, but Jemma wasn’t in the mood to be teased.
Thom didn’t need directions. He knew the route. As he drove, he inspected himself in the speeder’s rearview mirror, skittishly primping his brown, curly hair.
He was neither smooth nor subtle, but Jemma didn’t mind. She found him quite handsome, in a gawky sort of way.
“So what is it you do again?” Thom stammered. “Codebreaking, right?”
“I’ve told you about it before,” Jemma said, with a teasing smile.
“Well, sure. But I still don’t know what it means. Breaking codes. I’d imagine it’s a bit like solving a puzzle?”
“Some people compare it to that, sure. But I’ve never found that to be true. More often than not, puzzles carry linear solutions. Straightforward answers. Codebreaking is far more complex. Every decryption is like learning a language that nobody wants you to speak. For example--”
Jemma stopped dead in her tracks, catching herself on another one of her rants. If she wasn’t careful, she could go on for hours.
“I’m sorry,” Jemma said. “It’s not particularly interesting.”
“No, no! It is fascinating,” Thom lied. “I just don’t have the mind for it, I guess.”
“Yes, you do,” Jemma protested. “You’re one of the smartest men I’ve ever met. You ask me, driving is a waste of your talents!”
“What? You think I’m wasting my life?” Thom asked, with mock offense.
“You know what I mean. You have a great mind. Really.”
Thom smiled triumphantly. It would’ve sounded patronizing, had she not been so sincere.
“I watched one of your mother’s old holodramas last night,” Thom said.
“Did you?” Jemma asked. “Which one?”
“The Great Fathier Race, I think it was… You ever watch her work?”
“What? Sands, no.” Jemma said. “Not since she… You know...”
It had been six years since Jemma’s mother, Drelia Hale, had gone missing. Or more accurately, six years since she was murdered.
Though it was considered an open-and-shut case by the authorities, Jemma knew in her bones it was true. The investigators reported that her mother’s presumed death was a tragic case of failing health. That was garbage. Her mother had never been sick a day in her life!
The result of the “investigation,” which Jemma considered too generous of a term, had driven her to join the Canto Bight Police Department. Even if she wasn’t permitted to leave her desk, at least she could play a minor role in administering justice.
“Maybe you should check them out,” Thom said. “Some of her holodramas were really good.”
“So I’ve heard,” Jemma said. “I think it would make me too sad. I’m still grieving, Thom. I know it’s supposed to get easier, but… I miss the way things used to be.”
“Then why stay on Canto Bight?”
“It’s the last piece of her I have,” Jemma said. “I know it’s stupid, but when I look at these streets, I can almost feel her presence. Her warmth.”
Jemma’s inheritance money had dried up long ago, picked away by the city’s con artists and thieves. To compensate, she worked long, hard hours just to break even. These days, she was practically an indentured servant, desperately trying to pay the bills to her shabby underground apartment. But it was worth it. Canto Bight brought back all the memories Jemma so desperately craved.
Thom was the only one who knew where she lived, and she liked it that way. But beyond its privacy, Jemma’s favorite feature of her apartment was its view of her mother’s old home. If she looked hard enough, Jemma could see it still amongst the other distinguished structures.
“Looks like we’re here,” Thom said, parking the speeder in front of the station. “Are they giving you any breaks tonight?”
“I could take one in a couple hours. Why?” Jemma asked. “You wanna talk on the comlink or something?”
“Actually, I was wondering…” Thom began, clearing his throat. “I was wondering if you’d like to meet me for dinner. No pressure or anything, but I made reservations for two at Zubrik’s Buffet. They offer almost any dish in the galaxy, it’s incredible!”
“Thom, that’s sweet. But I--”
“Everything’s already bought and paid for. It’s on me. Really. But if you’d rather not, I understand.”
Jemma took a long sigh. She felt indebted to him for sparing her from her usual walk. It was often the most frightening part of her day. Still, she didn’t care for the proposal. It sounded like Thom was asking her out on a date. The last thing she wanted was to jeopardize their friendship. Well, apart from hurting his feelings.
“No. Thom, it’s perfect,” Jemma said. “More than I deserve.”
“I couldn’t disagree more,” he said. “Besides, it’s kind of a special occasion.”
“Is it?”
She couldn’t tell if he was joking. After all, his birthday wasn’t for another couple months.
“I have an announcement, and I’d like to do it over a nice meal. If it’s alright with you, I mean.”
“In that case, I suppose I’ll see you there.”
Thom tried to repress his glee. She rolled her eyes, stepping out of the car.
“See you soon!” he said.
She shut the door and marched up the police station’s steps. Jemma held her badge to the building’s scanner, until it let out an affirmative beep. The door wooshed open and she made her way to the back room.
She slid off her coat and draped it across her chair, plopping herself into her usual spot.
Jemma’s favorite part of the job was its solitude. She worked with the lights off, her face illuminated solely by the vidscreens that surrounded her. The only person to ever interrupt her was her boss which, to no surprise, is exactly who greeted her tonight. He swung the door open, trudging towards her desk.
“You have a busy night ahead of you,” Captain Cross said, dropping a datapad to her desk. Cross was a large man with a pale-blue uniform that stretched across his broad shoulders. Although he was a decade or two past his prime, his stature was enough to intimidate almost any criminal pulled in for questioning. Still, with the stun prod attached to his waist, it didn’t much matter how his suspects were feeling.
“Get this decrypted within the hour,” he said, tapping his finger against the datapad screen. “And would it kill you to bathe once in a while? You smell worse than you look.”
“Nice to see you too, Captain.” she said, with a smirk.
She looked down to her uniform, stained by something in the ration pack she ate on yesterday’s lunch break. Admittedly, she had gone a few days without a proper wash. She may have even stunk. But there was too much work to be done. In her life, codebreaking always took precedence: no exceptions.
“Now hurry! I’ve got a computer slicer on Naboo who’s itching to steal your job,” the Captain said. Jemma had heard that line a million times. It was probably a bluff, but Jemma could never be sure. Either way, it kept her working hard enough to be irreplaceable.
Despite their rocky relationship, Jemma adored the captain. Of course he had a bit of a mean streak, but he was the closest thing she ever had to a father. In the midst of her twenties, she was far past the need of a parental figure. Nevertheless, she found it eased the pain of her mother’s absence.
While she’d heard questionable things about the other officers, Cross’ reputation was different. Time and time again, he proved his integrity was infallible.
Upon picking up the datapad from her desk, Jemma saw a long message inscribed in gibberish. Or at least that’s how it appeared to the untrained eye. The symbols were written in the 34-letter Aurebesh writing system, but there were no spaces to designate the beginning of a new word. It was clearly designed to throw off the reader, unless they had a way to break the cipher. Lucky for Jemma, it wasn’t a particularly sophisticated one. She scrutinized the words, paying special attention to the repeated letters until finally…
She figured it out. Each letter had been shifted back two places in its numerical position in the alphabet. It was sloppy work, really. Whoever had developed this encryption clearly hadn’t known much about codebreaking.
Smarter criminals generally threw in another obstacle, like reversing the order of each line or even writing the words diagonally. Sometimes, it took Jemma months to decrypt the more complex codes. Lucky for her, the majority of Canto Bight’s criminals were reckless and stupid.
Jemma decrypted the note, line-by-line.
To the Canto Bight Police Department,
Jemma immediately assumed it was an anonymous tip. After all, it happened considerably often. Fearful witnesses or disgruntled gangsters leaving mail at the station. The encryptions were basic enough to be solved, but complicated enough to stump potential threats.
I have enjoyed killing your celebrity starlets for years now.
Jemma stiffened her posture. Her pulse raced. She looked over her shoulder, making sure nobody was watching.
Lula Sooger, Skyla Sandon, Drelia Hale...
Drelia Hale. Her mother. Jemma took a ragged, unsteady breath. She suddenly felt like she was standing face-to-face with her mother’s killer. Could this be true? Should she keep this message to herself?
I think I will kill again.
No. She had to tell the captain. Whether the threat was credible or not, they needed to find the person responsible! She decoded the last line, which appeared to be a signature.
Master Codebreaker

Captain Cross’ office was far more organized than Jemma’s. The light bounced perfectly off his accolades. Trophies and badges had been arranged neatly across the walls, with inscriptions that detailed his acts of heroism and bravery.
Jemma rushed into the office, presenting the datapad with an awkward urgency. She felt sick to her stomach, overwhelmed by the adrenaline.
“You look pale,” Captain Cross said. “Like, more than usual.”
“It’s my mom,” Jemma said, flatly.
The Captain straightened his posture, his usual look of annoyance twisting into something more empathetic. She had his attention.
“Just read it,” she demanded.
He did as she asked, reading the note aloud. When he was finished, he let out a deep, guttural laugh. It was the last reaction she had expected. The Captain was a jerk at times, but Jemma considered this a new low.
“You find this amusing?” Jemma asked, snatching the datapad from his grip. “Someone confessing to killing my mother?”
“It’s obviously a fake,” Captain Cross said, matter of factly. “We get these kinds of confessions all the time. These people are attention seekers. Nothing more.”
“What?” Jemma asked, dumbfounded. “How could you be so dismissive?”
“For starters, if this really were Master Codebreaker, why would he sign his name, hm? And why would it be such a basic encryption?”
“Maybe because he knew you wouldn’t do anything about it. So far, you’re proving him right.”
“What do you want me to do? Arrest him?”
Normally, Jemma chose her words very carefully. Tonight was different.
“No. Let me do it,” she said.
There was that ugly laugh again.
“You’re more useful to me behind a desk,” Cross said. “Besides, you have work to do. Like those two withstanding encryptions you have yet to break.”
“Those aren’t real. I tried my slicer kit - it’s just gibberish,” Jemma said. “Let this be my next assignment. I’ll investigate Master Codebreaker and see if there’s any credibility to the threats.”
“Not gonna happen,” Cross said. “Even if I wanted to certify you, that means all kinds of tests and paperwork. Neither of us have the time for that.”
“Please. You know how much this means to me. What if we do one of the tests now? If you just give me a chance, I promise I’ll never ask you for anything ever again.”
Captain Cross weighed his options. He knew Jemma was never going to let this go. The only thing more certain to him was that she’d never pass the exams.
“Fine.” he agreed. “But you only get one shot. Alright?”
“Deal,” she said, taken aback by his offer. As far as Jemma knew, nobody had ever won a negotiation with the Captain. It could only mean one thing: he wasn’t taking her seriously. This was her chance to prove him wrong.

Chapter Text

“There’s three tests,” Captain Cross explained, leading her across the station. “If at any point and time you fail, the exam will be over and you will be forced to return to your regular duties. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Captain.” Jemma responded. She was beginning to feel the weight of this opportunity. Whatever they asked of her, she had to pull it together. The resolution of her mother’s murder was counting on it.
They made their way into a cramped white room, where a small droid awaited them. Its shape was rigid, with its structure more lamp-like than human. Its singular eye pulsed red, and it's dark body whirred slowly in their direction.
The room was lit as bright as possible. It took Jemma’s eyes a minute to adjust, and even then, its brilliance left them strained.
“Take a seat.” Cross said. “I’ll start you off with a lie detector test. Standard stuff.”
Captain Cross yanked a couple of black wires hanging from the droid’s body. They possessed circular, adhesive tips that stretched onto Jemma’s forehead. He stuck one on each side of her temple, firmly pressing each one into her skin. He did the same over her wrists, and had her place the last one onto her heart. They barely stuck. One slight move could’ve been enough to rip them out.
Jemma sat as still as she could, watching her vitals that displayed on a monitor behind the droid. She had no time to prepare herself before Captain Cross fired off the questions.
“Your mother’s name is Drelia Hale,” Captain Cross said. “Answer with a simple yes or no.”
Her pulse spiked, and the droid let out a harsh beep. Red flashed up on the screen until Jemma took a deep breath. Jemma looked at the Captain with a crisp glare - he was trying to throw her off.
“Yes,” Jemma said. She couldn’t afford to lose her cool like this, especially so early into the test. Somehow, she was going to have to keep it together.
“Just calibrating the systems,” he said, with an innocent shrug.
The droid made an approving beep, which Jemma assumed was an acknowledgement of her truth.
Jemma had seen these machines being used on criminals and suspects before. The droids were programmed with different modes and calibrations for all kinds of alien species. Each of them contained different psychological tells. Out of all of them, humans could be read the easiest.
“Have you, or do you ever intend on doing any kind of illegal substances such as poison plant, death sticks...?”
“No,” she replied, calmly. She didn’t need to wait for him to finish listing them off to know her answer. The droid registered another truth.
“Regardless of your feelings towards a suspect, do you swear to detain them without the use of lethal force unless absolutely necessary?”
“Yes.”
Another truth. Jemma hardly ever lied. She never saw much use for it.
“As a codebreaker, do you believe you can break any encryption?”
“No.” Jemma answered.
There were all kinds of things she’d never be able to break. The Master Codebreaker’s infamous quantum bio-hexacrypt was the most notable example. The man once used it to post his identity on a public node, offering to relinquish his title if anyone managed to crack it. To her knowledge, she’d come the closest. After years of trying, she decided it was simply impossible.
The biggest obstacle of quantum bio-hexacrypt was that the solution changed every second. By the time Jemma could look at the code, the solution was already obsolete.
Jemma always fantasized about cracking quantum bio-hexacrypt, but now, it would’ve been even sweeter. The idea of embarrassing Master Codebreaker, stealing his title, and his celebrity? It was beautiful. But, if she could pass these tests, there was a far more satisfying solution: finding evidence that he killed her mother, and locking him away for the rest of his wretched life.
“Have you ever, out of frustration, made up a solution to any of the evidence you’ve decoded?” Cross asked, thinking he might get her with this one.
“No.”
Another truth. The questions rattled on for half an hour. Cross dug deep, using this as an opportunity to ask her about things he had always wondered. Items that had gone missing in the office, nights where she clocked out late, and even hypotheticals. Cross always knew Jemma was honest, but the extent had surprised him. Not a single lie.
“Alright…” Cross huffed, as if irritated by her truthfulness. “One last question, and we can move on.”
“Fine,” Jemma said, folding her arms.
“Let’s say you find out Master Codebreaker is responsible for your mother’s murder. Would that solve anything?”
Jemma hadn’t thought that far ahead. The possibility that it wouldn’t ease her grieving, or that it would simply worsen, had been too discouraging to entertain.
“I don’t know,” she decided, softly. “Guess I’ll have to find out.”
Captain Cross watched her for a moment in silence. Finally, he stood up to remove the wires. He shut off the droid and unceremoniously opened the door.
“Did I pass?” she asked.
“Yeah,” Cross said, wanting to get the next part over with. “But I wouldn’t be too confident in the next part if I were you.”

Captain Cross led Jemma to the police station’s shooting range. The occasional blaster fire on the other end of the hall echoed through the corridor. They weren’t alone in here. The other shooters were separated by twelve different lanes, which provided ample privacy.
“Time to test your aim,” Cross said, handing her the blaster. It was a standard-issue Relby K-25, used by all Canto Bight police officers. Jemma held it awkwardly, adjusting her grip until she finally settled on a two-handed stance. “You’ve never held a blaster before, have you?”
“No,” she admitted. “But it seems pretty straightforward.”
“Not in this case,” he said, hitting a button on the booth. Instantly, a hostage scenario was queued up. It was a set of four holograms. The blue, life-sized figures presented three thugs that held an innocent alien at gunpoint.
“You have three shots. Use them wisely.”
“What if I hit the civilian?” Jemma asked.
“Automatic failure,” he said, bluntly. “Good luck.”
Cross almost felt sorry for her. This was a challenge fit for an upper-class marksman. Jemma had no chance, and her determination was as humorous as it was pitiful. Nevertheless, she aimed down at the sights of the blaster.
Boom. Jemma nearly shrieked from the gun’s recoil, as it exploded in her hand. She refocused her eyes, trying to see if it hit anything.
“That’s a miss,” Cross said, with a devastating amount of finality. “There’s no coming back from that. We can call it here, if—”
Boom. Before he could continue, Jemma fired again. One of the holograms vanished. Maybe it was a fluke, but she actually hit it! She couldn’t help but smile.
“Wow,” Cross said, clearly impressed. “But the targets are too spread out. You’re not going to hit two of them in a single shot. It’s over.”
Boom. Her final shot. Jemma watched hopefully, but alas, it hit nothing.
“One for three,” Cross said. “Better than I expected. You should be proud of yourself, but unfortunately--”
Jemma spawned an idea, grabbing the datapad on her belt.
“Come on, what are you doing?” Cross asked. But she ignored him, furiously typing commands into the screen. Before Cross could probe any further, the remaining two thugs vanished. All that was left was a single hologram: the unaffected civilian.
“Actually, Captain, I believe I passed,” Jemma announced triumphantly.
“Very funny. But this is a test of marksmanship, Jemma. You failed to hit your targets.”
“On the contrary. After expending my ammunition, I sliced into the facility’s configurations. I disposed of the assailants in a non-lethal fashion, causing far less chaos than if I had drawn a weapon.”
“You did not possess the adequate aim.”
“No. I possessed something far more resourceful: a cunning solution.”
“If you think any of this translates to being an officer, you’re wrong. If I wanted to, you’d be fired for slicing into a police station.”
Jemma swallowed nervously. Technically, he was right. Her clever little solution was illegal.
“I’m sorry, Captain. I admit it’s a grey area,” Jemma said, summoning the conviction for one last push. “But I’d like to propose that you allow me to take the third and final test. Perhaps we can allow its outcome to determine my fate?”
Cross scratched at his beard. As far as he knew, nobody had breached the police station’s security so efficiently. It’s not like it was any less impressive than hitting the targets. Still, the girl had gotten a little smug for her own good. If the next test didn’t humble her, nothing would.
After all, the best way to crush her spirit was to let her fail on her own.
“Fine,” Cross said. “I let you get cute with this one. But no more tricks.”
“Agreed,” Jemma said, trying to repress her excitement. “Thank you.”

The final test was located in the headquarters gymnasium. An indoor track awaited them, stretching around for a perfect lap. Upon closer inspection, there were hatches and spring-loaded walls of all sorts. This wasn’t just a path, it was an obstacle course.
Jemma sighed. This was far from her ideal test. Jemma had been rather lazy her whole life. While the other children went outside to play smashball, Jemma spent her childhood indoors playing with tech.
“Our security droids are built to run twice as fast as the average human,” Cross said. “To pass, you’ll have to match their pace. You’ll have five minutes to run this course. If you fail, or are otherwise debilitated by any traps, you will receive an automatic fail. Any questions before we proceed?”
Debilitated by traps? This was more involved than she thought.
Jemma stalled, thinking of any possible advantage she could conjure. She was already on thin ice with Cross. There was only one way out of this, and that was to run the course - fair and square.
Success was highly improbable, but that wouldn’t stop Jemma. If she could just push herself beyond her limits, she could finally use the police department’s resources to investigate her mother’s death. Failure was not an option.
“I’m ready,” she said, lining up at the start.
Jemma took a breath. Cross placed his finger over the chronometer’s start. Any second now, the test could--
“Go!” he yelled. She snapped her attention back to the course, quickly starting on the path. Only a few steps in, and she’d already felt a burning inside her chest.
Before she could make any headway, a durasteel gate wooshed up to block her. Jemma slammed against it, taken by surprise. Once the gate shot back down, she proceeded.
Her pace wasn’t cutting it. She pushed herself to go faster, to go harder... But her body wasn’t cooperating. She was heaving for air, ready to topple over at any second.
It had been six years since Jemma could remember running. The night two officers came to her doorstep. When they informed her of her mother’s disappearance, she didn’t know what else to do but sprint it off.
Two padded walls ahead of her smashed together with a horrifying amount of force. She imagined herself standing between them, squished like a flatcake. It seemed unlikely, but nevertheless, it appeared violent enough to injure whatever stood in its path. There was no time to lose. Jemma snuck through the gap before its walls could collide again.
She forced herself to persevere, but the nausea was getting more difficult. She was exercising muscles that had gone neglected for years.
Tripwires shot out from beneath her, connecting across the walls. By the time she’d noticed, she’d already slammed to the ground. Jemma yelled, feeling a horrific twist in her ankle.
She picked herself up, dragging her feet along the course.
The next obstacle was a large gap, which fell between two halves of the track. It was about a six-foot drop into something… Brown. From this height, Jemma figured it was mud, or maybe even some kind of slime. A balance beam connected both sides, and a fall would’ve guaranteed failure.
Not only was Jemma slow, she was also uncoordinated. She stumbled to the plank, spreading her arms out as evenly as she could. She proceeded slowly, rebalancing whenever necessary. She could feel her ankle swelling up, with a jolting pain complimented each step.
She lost her balance, tipping from the beam. In an instant, she was covered in brown sludge.
Jemma swam back to the top. Predictably, it smelled horrific. Any embarrassment she would have felt was overridden by the searing pain persisting in her ankle.
Above, she could see Captain Cross. Jemma could only imagine what he was thinking...
Pathetic girl. I’ve met Hutts with more stamina than you!
To her surprise, he tossed down a rope. She grabbed it with both hands, and Cross managed to heave it back to the surface. Even for Cross, it was an impressive display of strength.
“Come on,” Cross said with a grunt. “Get up.”
She looked horrible. A pained, exhausted, dripping mess - unable to move.
The silence between them was miserable, reeking of unspoken failure. Jemma wondered if it was better this way. She was practically a walking brain. Clearly, she was out of her depth. Still, the thought of Master Codebreaker remaining unquestioned left her enraged.
Cross offered her a hand. She accepted, and Cross hoisted her to her feet.
“You’re not going to stop chasing this guy, are you?” Cross asked. “Even if I fail you?”
“No,” she said, softly. “You know I can’t.”
Cross let out a deep breath, weighing his options.
“I’m not going to pass you. But if you promise to give this up, I can certify you for a one-night investigation.”
Jemma couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
“One night, you understand? And if I hear Codebreaker’s name again, you’re fired.”
“Yes, Captain,” she said. “I promise.”
“Don’t. I just want you to move on. You’re driven, honest. One of the best employees we have. I’d hate to see your corpse wind up on that beach.”
Jemma nodded. The danger of this job wasn’t lost on her, but the threat still sent a chill down her spine.
The Captain spoke into his comlink. “Cross here. I need Detective Meeko to the gymnasium right away. We’ve got a rookie cleared for a one-night investigation.”
“Detective Meeko?” she asked. It was a name she’d never heard before. Though, she didn’t know anyone besides Cross.
“Your new partner.” Cross said. “Try not to let him drive you crazy.”

Chapter Text

Jemma used the gymnasium’s shower to scrub the mud off her skin. She left her hair in its usual mess, ignoring the complimentary make-up in the women’s locker room. She was tempted to cover the dark circles under her eyes. After all, she couldn’t remember the last time she’d slept.
Cross left a spare police uniform for her. It was a drab grey, with the bottoms seamlessly altered into a skirt. It was nearly identical to the one she already had, with the addition of a betaplast collar draped around its shirt. It gave the uniform a more hefty, formidable appearance.
Jemma buckled the tactical belt around her plump midsection, which held the same Relby K-25 blaster she used at the range. The fact that Captain Cross trusted her enough to include it in her arsenal was, in a way, touching.
“How do I look?” she asked, limping into the Captain’s office. Her ankle was still causing her pain, but she figured she’d grab a medpac on the way out. Not that it would help much.
“Fine,” Cross said, shortly. “Just don’t get too attached. It won’t last long.”
“Understood,” she replied, dutifully. The burden of this responsibility was beginning to feel increasingly real. She’d already known all the police protocols by heart. Now it was time to apply them. She would not fail her Captain.
Jemma hadn’t noticed the violet-colored Rodian sitting across from Captain Cross. His scaly skin was a dim purple, its faded color hinting at the man’s old age.
“Are you Detective Meeko?” she asked, as he stood to meet her gaze.
“Yeah,” he lisped, his huge black eyes widening at her question. She was surprised to see a Rodian speak such fluent Basic. Still, his impediment suggested he’d rather be speaking in his native language. “Why? Were you expecting someone else? Someone more handsome, maybe?”
“Well, no,” Jemma said. “I was just wondering--”
“I’m kidding. You’re not good with sarcasm, are you?”
Cross and Jemma shared a pitiful glare. Cross said it all with his eyes. “I warned you about him.”
“Master Codebreaker will be in the casino. He’s playing in some sort of casino game,” Cross said. “It’ll be crowded there, so don’t make a scene. Unless you receive a direct confession, I do not permit you to arrest him. Remember: he’s old. Harmless, really.”
Harmless? Jemma would decide for herself. In the meantime, she gave Cross all she could manage - a gentle nod of acknowledgment.
“You got it, chief,” Meeko cut in, snide.
“Now get out of my office,” Cross said, shooing them away. “Both of you.”
Meeko sauntered out of the room, leaving Jemma to play catch up. Meeko’s trench coat hung below his knees, swinging about with each clumsy step. It was far too large for him. The Rodian was practically swimming in it.
“Will you please slow down?” Jemma asked. “I have a sprained ankle.”
“You know, this was supposed to be a slow night for me,” Meeko said, ignoring her request. “I was going to grab a couple drinks at Klang’s Place. Then I get word I’m supposed to assist a one-nighter in some good for nothing investigation. So, thanks for that.”
“Wow, I’m sorry. How rude of me to force you to do your job,” Jemma said.
“Oh?” Meeko said, his snout curling into what she guessed was a frown. “So you do understand sarcasm?”
“Are you just going to just belittle me all night?”
“All night? At the pace you’re moving, we’ll be lucky to make it there by Life Day.”
“You’re insufferable,” Jemma mumbled, doing her best to pick up the pace.
They arrived at Meeko’s dingy speeder. It took him several tries to correctly input his speeder’s sequence code. She sighed, trying her best to summon the patience for his glaring unprofessionalism. After the fifth attempt, Jemma decided to memorize the code out of boredom.
“Come on, come on…” Meeko grumbled, to no one in particular. The vehicle seemed nearly as old as he was. He gave it a firm pound.
Finally, the ignition roared on. Its engine spat out a horrible noise, taking a second to stabilize.
“I’m dying to know,” Meeko said, turning to Jemma. “How’d some dweeb like you manage to become an officer?”
“I was about to ask you the same thing,” Jemma said. “I thought the unqualified detectives were phased out by security droids.”
“You may not have noticed, kid, but I’m a little past my youth. When I was hired, there were no physicals, no background checks. As long as you could carry a blaster, you could carry a badge. Even in my prime, I never would’ve passed those tests. Which is why I’ll ask again… How’d you manage it?”
“None of your business.”
Meeko grunted. It was the best she was going to give him, and he knew it.
Meeko drove his speeder to the beach, where he stationed his vehicle in an illegal spot.
“This is a parking violation,” Jemma said. “You’ll have to put us somewhere else.”
“Honey, we’re here to enforce the rules. Not follow them,” he said, lazily stepping out of the car. He hit a button next to the speeder’s hover thrust indicator, and a hologram shot above the engine's hood. It displayed the Canto Bight Police Department logo, with a warning not to tow the vehicle.
“You’re only supposed to use those for emergencies,” Jemma began.
It was pointless. Part of her wondered if his attitude was a test. Perhaps she was supposed to correct his behavior. Deep down, she knew his carelessness was too real to be an act.
“Thank goodness there’s drinks in the casino,” Meeko said. “Besides, watching you interrogate this Codebreaker guy sounds fun. Always hated those lavish types.”
“Me too. Guess we’re living on the wrong planet.”
“Tell me about it,” Meeko said. She nearly made him laugh.
They used the steps to approach the Canto Bight Casino. Neither of them were impressed by its massive, dome-like structure. Jemma had seen the outside many times, particularly when she’d explore the city with her mother. However, this would mark the first time she’d seen its interior. At least, assuming she could get past the bouncer.
A barrel chested Devorian stood outside the door with his arms folded. Two crooked horns protruded from his head, and a devilish smile appeared on his wicked, red face.
“Hey,” they said, loudly. “The casino is reserved for tonight’s event. You’re not allowed in, unless you’re a guest of Mr. Koyles or the Codebreaker. ”
Jemma raised an eyebrow. Whatever Master Codebreaker was doing here, it was more eventful than she had imagined.
“Relax Torgell,” Meeko said, like he’d done this a million times before. “We’re here to conduct an investigation.”
“Then you’ll have to come back another time.”
“What? We’re police. You can’t just--” Jemma protested.
But Torgell could. His job was to protect the casino’s cliente, many of whom were criminals. The last thing they wanted was two officers poking around during one of the biggest games of all time.
“I don’t care if you have badges,” Torgell said. “This is a sold out event. Come back with a warrant.”
Warrants took time. With Jemma’s one-night certification, it wouldn’t be enough.
“We’ll be in and out of here quickly,” Jemma pleaded. “But you have to let us--”
“I don’t have to do anything,” Torgell said with a scoff. “But I like you. For a thousand credits, I’ll act like you two snuck in.”
It was a ridiculous offer. To many attending, it wasn’t actually much money. But neither Jemma nor Meeko would’ve been able to afford it.
“A thousand credits, huh?” Meeko said. “I’ve got a better idea. How would you like to be arrested for extortion?”
“How would you like to have that snout ripped off your face?” Torgell said.
“Well, it’s not ideal. But adding assault to your rap sheet would certainly tickle me.”
Torgell growled, clenching his fists. He looked ready to tear Meeko apart. Not that Jemma would necessarily mind, but still: he was her partner.
Jemma’s hand crawled for her stun stick, hoping to remain unnoticed. The second she felt its grip, Torgell stepped aside.
“Go on through,” he said, spitefully. “Rodian slime.”
The two entered the structure. They were surrounded by rows of table games.
Live music was amplified throughout the building. It was a little loud for Jemma’s liking, the sound of the f'nonc horns brought a smile to her face. It reminded her of the music she listened to with her mother.
It was going to be a challenge to find Master Codebreaker in this mess of table games. As they advanced, Meeko stole a drink from the plate of an SE-8 waiter droid.
“You’ll have to pay for that, sir--” the droid began.
“Canto Bight Police Department business,” he declared, with enough authority to shut the droid up.
“I have to admit, I’m impressed with how you handled that guard,” Jemma said, choosing to overlook his blatant thievery.
“Don’t thank me. I just like making Torgell mad.”
“Well, thanks. You did well.”
“Word of advice: people in this city will try and walk all over you. Some of them have wealth, others have power. But we have a badge. And that’s all that really matters. Now let’s find this Codebreaker and get out of here, huh?”

Master Codebreaker arrived at the casino with his droid companion, L0-33. Though it was impolite, he loved to keep Jexton waiting. Codebreaker was fond of walking around before a match, in hopes of seeing an old friend or two during his visits. Commiserating with the older patrons about “the way things used to be” was his favorite pastime. If nostalgia was Codebreaker’s drug of choice, Canto Bight was his dealer.
To his delight, Codebreaker spotted tonight’s friendly face. Collecting her winnings from a game of hazard toss was none other than the pirate legend, Maz Kanata. The orange alien stood on top of a stool to compensate for her four-foot stature.
“Master Codebreaker!” she yelled, silencing the crowd around her.
“Maz Kanata,” he announced coolly, walking over. “You haven’t aged a day.”
“And you’ve aged a lifetime,” she said. “Last time I saw you, there were only a few streaks of grey in your hair.”
“Tragically, it seems to have spread,” he said, chuckling. Maz and Codebreaker had drifted apart over the years, but they were always able to pick up right where they had left off. “What brings you to Canto Bight? Don’t you have your own gambling den?”
“I came to see you play. For old time’s sake.”
“I doubt it’ll be very thrilling. This city is a shell of what it once was.”
“That shell seems to be enough for you.”
“The shell is me,” Master Codebreaker said. “This city is who I am.”
“Is that so?” Maz said, with a stifled giggle. “A person is more than just a place. If you don’t like the direction this city has taken, perhaps you should find a new one.”
“And leave it in the hands of those who ruined it?”
“No. Something else is holding you back,” she said, matter of factly. She adjusted the lens corrective goggles, scrutinizing him. Master Codebreaker sighed as she edged closer. He had forgotten about this side of her. Maz seemed to believe she could peer into people’s souls. It was a charming gag, but he found her theatrics to be rather tedious, at times.
“You’re afraid,” Maz said. “Afraid that when you’re gone, people will stop talking about you.”
“Have you seen how many people showed up tonight? My reputation isn’t diminishing anytime soon.”
“Of course. The great ‘Master Codebreaker.’ The best of the best. But if you leave Canto Bight, your legacy will fade. So you hide in the comforts of your past, no matter how miserable it makes you.”
“Are you done?” he asked, exasperated by her insights.
“Hmph. Still stubborn as always,” Maz said, with a wistful smile. “You haven’t introduced me to your droid friend.”
“This is L0-33, and she’s far more than just a friend.”
Maz leaned over the table to shake the droid’s hand.
“Pleasure to meet you,” the droid said, its arm whirring up and down.
“Likewise,” Maz said. “I’m glad Master Codebreaker found someone who could tolerate him.”
“Hey, give me a little credit. I programmed someone who could tolerate me.”
They shared a laugh, while L0-33 shifted its gaze between the two. No matter how much Codebreaker tried to instill the notion of humor, the droid could never seem to comprehend it.
“Well, I shouldn’t keep Jexton waiting any longer,” Master Codebreaker said, checking his chronometer. “Perhaps we can catch up after the game?”
“I’m afraid I can’t stay,” Maz said. “But we’ll see each other again. I’m sure of it.”
“Very well,” Codebreaker said. He adored catching up with Maz. It was just the pick-me-up Codebreaker needed before his game. “Lovely to see you.”
“Likewise, ‘Master Codebreaker’,” Maz said. “And if you ever find yourself on Takodana, come find me.”
“I will,” he said, sincerely. If Codebreaker ever left this planet, he knew it was the first place he’d go.
Codebreaker proceeded with L0-33 to meet his opponent. The crowds watched him in awe as he passed.
“Well, I suppose this is it,” Codebreaker said. “Wish me luck, L0-33.”
“Not all gambling is luck. There are a plethora of ways to improve your odds. Avoid any alcoholic beverages, quit while you're ahead, and never--”
“I should’ve programmed you to be a little more superstitious,” Master Codebreaker said, with a smile. “There’s merit to that too, you know.”
Suddenly, he was interrupted by two officers: a human girl with a limp and a Rodian. He recognized the Rodian as Detective Meeko, but the girl must’ve been new. She was looking him straight in the eye - like she wanted him dead.
“Excuse me,” the girl said, intensely. “I’m Officer Jemma Hale. I have a few questions for you.”

Chapter Text

Jemma had never seen Master Codebreaker in person before, but she had dreamt of it. He was built sturdier than she’d expected. His pristine white coat contrasted sharply against his weathered features. Even in his old age, he looked like he could star in one of her mother’s holodramas. At the very least, he would’ve made an excellent villain.
“Pardon?” Master Codebreaker asked, leaning in closer. “Say it again, if you would. My hearing isn’t quite what it used to be.”
“I’m going to ask you a few questions,” Jemma repeated, louder this time. She presented him with the encrypted datapad, which he’d hardly glanced at.
“We’ll have to do this some other time, dearie. I’ve got a game to catch.”
“No. We’re doing this now.”
He let out a deep sigh.
“Very well,” he said. The girl’s intensity had commanded his attention. “What is it you’d like to know?”
“The Canto Bight Police Department received an encrypted datapad. It’s a confession, and it appears to have been personally signed by you.”
“Is that so?” Master Codebreaker asked, suddenly amused.
“Yes. In it, you admitted to killing three people. One was a racer known as Lula Sooger, and another was a woman you referred to as Lovey.”
Jemma watched as a wave of anxiety overcame him. Saying her name seemed to wound the man. She could use that.
“That’s utterly dreadful. But I created no such encryption. It seems we’re involved in some sort of hoax.”
Codebreaker turned to leave, turning his attention back to his companion droid. Jemma couldn’t let this opportunity slip away. She needed to be bold.
“You also listed my mother, Drelia Hale!” Jemma said, turning the heads of the patrons. “You knew her! Didn’t you?”
Master Codebreaker looked at her with a newfound awe, choosing his next words carefully.
“Of course I knew Drelia,” he said, without hesitation. “She never told me she had a daughter. Look at you—“
“Don’t,” she said, recoiling away the hand that was moving towards her cheek. Jemma could feel her resentment for him rising to the surface.
“Master Codebreaker, we are running terribly late,” L0-33 said.
“Okay,” Codebreaker said, as calmly as he could to quell Jemma’s temper. “Unless I’m under arrest, I’ll be taking my leave now. For both of our sakes, I hope you find whoever’s responsible—“
Jemma took a sharp step in front of him, blocking his path.
“Just admit it,” she demanded. “You killed my mother, just like you killed Lovey.”
“Please don’t say her name,” Master Codebreaker said, with a frown. “She was very important to me.”
“So you admit it? You killed Lovey?”
“I didn’t say that.”
Detective Meeko munched on some grapes he snatched from a platter, chuckling at the spectacle.
“As I said,” Master Codebreaker answered, drawing out each syllable. “I’ll be taking my leave.”
He pushed his way past her, with L0-33 following closely behind. Jemma had nothing to stop him.
“Alright, we’ve had our fun,” Detective Meeko said. “Time to do what these idiot gamblers can’t and cut our losses.”
“Isn’t there anything else we can do?” Jemma asked. She’d come too far for it all to end in such an unsatisfying manner.
“Not unless you want to beat a confession out of him. Happens more than you’d think.”
“Fine then,” Jemma said, defeated. “Let’s get out of here.”
They left the casino, walking back to Meeko’s speeder.
“You never told me Drelia Hale was your mother,” Meeko said.
“Are you going to tease me about that too? Because I’m seriously not in the mood--”
“No, no,” Meeko said, sympathetically. “I just mean it’s surprising, is all. Completely explains the chip on your shoulder. Must’ve been hard losing her.”
“It was.”
“Well, you’re not alone. I lost a son to this blasted city,” Meeko said, with a pitiful tremble in his voice. “He was just a teenager.”
Jemma could hardly imagine Meeko as a dad. Still, she understood how losing family could change a person.
“I’m so sorry,” she said, sincerely.
“I used to be just like you. Young, organized. Little too clever for my own good. But one day I stuck my snout where it didn’t belong. Got close to unraveling a big conspiracy. A little too close, as far as the Marauders were concerned.”
“Hold on,” Jemma said, stopping him. “The Marauders killed your son?”
“I shouldn’t even be talking to you about this,” Meeko said, snapping himself out of it. “The lesson, Jemma, is that we’re just law enforcement. You asked me why Cross keeps me around... It’s because I know when a case is better left unfinished.”
“You can’t just give up. Imagine if I just stopped trying. I’d never find justice for my mother’s killer.”
“Sometimes it’s best to just move on.”
“I can’t,” Jemma said. “And I won’t.”
“Suit yourself. Hey, if you’re so determined, maybe there’s something about your mother in the archive. If it even exists...”
“You mean amongst the criminal records. I already checked. There’s nothing on there about my mother, or Master Codebreaker.”
“No, dummy,” Meeko said. “The archive.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Surprised you’ve never heard of it. It’s sort of an urban legend, really. Supposedly, it has every incident ever filed by the police. Even the stuff they tried to bury.”
“And you believe it?”
“Sure. I doubt they’d just delete them.”
“That can’t be right. I’ve sliced into the police station before, and I’ve never seen anything alluding to a database like that.”
“That’s because it’s not on a server. They store it on a terminal back at headquarters. It’s locked away in the basement, protected by god knows how many encryptions. If it even exists.”
Jemma’s eyes widened in surprise. Finally, some good news!
“Brilliant! I’ll ask Captain Cross to show me.”
“No. He’d fire you for bringing it up, and he’d do worse to me for telling you about it. It’s… It’s not meant to be discussed.”
“Well I have to try something,” Jemma said. “Would it be possible to break into it? Hypothetically speaking.”
“Well, you’d have to hire one hell of a computer slicer.”
“That won’t be necessary. I could manage it.”
“Hold on,” Detective Meeko said, stopping in place. “You’d really attempt something like this? Aren’t you supposed to be some goody two-shoes?”
“I’d do anything to get to the bottom of my mother’s case. If this is the only lead, then so be it.”
“You’d have to bypass top-of-the line security systems. Not to mention, erasing every trace you were ever inside.”
“It’s well within my capabilities.”
“Alright. But I want in.”
“Why?” Jemma asked, suddenly suspicious. “What are you getting out of this?”
“Isn’t it obvious? The information on that terminal is worth a fortune. If you’d prefer, we could sell it piece by piece. By the time we’re done, we’d have enough money to run our own Canto Bight.”
“No. We can’t do that,” Jemma said. “I’m the first person they’d suspect if there was a leak. I’m the station’s codebreaker!”
“Then we frame the only person more famous for it than you: Master Codebreaker.”
“Frame him?” Jemma repeated. It was an amusing idea, but she wasn’t convinced it was practical. “He’s playing at the casino tonight, remember? He already has an alibi.”
“Then they’ll assume he hired a computer slicer. He has enough credits.”
“But what would be his motive?”
“Maybe it’s greed. Hell, maybe it’s pride. The guy calls himself Master Codebreaker, right? Maybe he wants to prove he’s still the best.”
“I don’t know… He could still be innocent, for all we know.”
“Only one way to find out - slice the terminal. So what do you say? We got ourselves a deal?”
“I’ll help you. But we’re not selling the information. It all goes public, understood? For my mother and for your son.”
“Fine. Sounds like a date,” Meeko said, with sarcastic enthusiasm.
Suddenly, Jemma remembered the date she had scheduled with Thom. She gasped, checking her chronometer.
Sands. She was supposed to meet him thirty minutes ago! In all of tonight’s excitement, she’d completely forgotten about it!
“Meeko, do you mind driving me somewhere on the way back?” she asked, with an exasperated sigh. “I told a friend I’d meet them at a restaurant. Dubrik’s, I think it’s called.”
“Dubrik’s? How’d you manage that?”
“I know, I know. Fancy restaurants aren’t my usual scene--”
“No, I meant ‘how’d someone like you make a friend?’”
“If you’re going to be a comedian, I can just walk.”
“That depends. You gonna help me break inside the archive or what?”
“I haven’t decided. Let me think about it.”
“We don’t have much time. It’d be much easier to pull this off while you still have the proper security clearances. They don’t give detectives like me access to the basement, and your status as an officer expires at midnight, yeah?”
Jemma nodded. Of course, even without the security clearance, she could probably slice her way through the systems. But this operation was intended to be simple. An extra step could be the difference between pulling everything off without a hitch and getting caught red-handed.
Out of the corner of her eye, Jemma spotted a light pink Twi’lek walking on the beach’s surface. Curiously, she was accompanied by an SE-8 waiter droid. Her leather clothes ruled out any possibility of her being a casino employee.
“Excuse me, miss,” Jemma said, limping her way to the Twi’lek. “What are you doing here?”
“I’m taking this droid back to my speeder,” she shot back. “Now buzz off.”
“What’s your business with it?”
“It’s mine. Unless you’d like to take it from me, puffer pig.”
Jemma gave her a dirty look. The silence between them was interrupted by a buzz from Jemma’s comlink.
“All units be advised,” Captain Cross said, his voice booming out for both of them to hear. “An SE-8 waiter droid has been stolen from the Canto Casino. Suspect is a pink Twi’lek. Should be considered armed and dangerous.”
The Twi’lek smirked, watching as Jemma shuddered out a breath. She wondered if it was worth it to challenge the woman. She seemed experienced, like she’d survived a million gunfights before. What would make this one any different?
Meeko, who was a fair distance away, gave Jemma a look. The Rodian's eyes said everything: Jemma. Don’t.
No. She wouldn’t be like all the other officers, so quick to turn a blind eye. It’s how people like her mother disappeared with no resolution. Even if this was the only thing she accomplished as an officer tonight, she’d do her best.
“You’re under arrest for the suspected thievery of a droid, violation 18L/C,” Jemma recited, whipping out her blaster. “Please put your hands in the air or--”
Before she could even check if the stun was on, the beautiful Twi’lek shot Jemma from the hip! Her hands were like lightning, and her aim was nearly perfect. Jemma felt the impact on her betaplast collar, knocking her into the sand. Her equipment weighed her down, until she summoned the strength to pick herself up.
As she did, she watched Meeko thrust a stun stick against the criminal’s torso. The Twi’lek let out a pained yelp, collapsing into unconsciousness.
Meeko managed to surprise her. She must not have noticed Meeko, or known he was an officer. Jemma couldn’t blame her. He certainly didn’t look the type.
“You alright?” Meeko asked Jemma, as he knelt down to the criminal.
“Yeah,” she groaned. “Thanks.”
“If you ever have to defend yourself, the stun stick’s going to be your best friend. ‘Specially if you’re lucky enough to catch ‘em off guard. No matter what species or metal they’re made out of, remember to aim for the heart. Keeps them from getting back up. At least for a while.”
Meeko pocketed the girl’s credits, rummaging through her bag until he found an identity card.
“La’Shaa Habreen,” Meeko said, reading off the ID. “Wonder if that’s her real name.”
“I... I need to call my friend. Tell him I won’t make dinner,” Jemma said, still completely dazed. The fall had knocked the wind right out of her.
“No, no. Take your break,” Meeko said. “I’ll bring you to your restaurant. I can drop off La’Shaa on the way back to the station.”
“Are you sure? She’s not too much trouble?”
“Yeah. And for what it’s worth, I’ve never heard of someone taking a blaster shot on their first day. Let alone, living. If you ever want to pursue this line of work, you’re going to need to get better at choosing your battles.”
Jemma didn’t regret it. Still, she wouldn’t dismiss Meeko’s advice. After all, he probably just saved her life.
“Enough talk. We should get rolling,” he said, shackling the unconscious Twi'lek's hands with a pair of stun cuffs. “Gimme a hand with her, would you?
Jemma grabbed the Twi’lek’s legs. Together, they stuffed her in the back of the speeder. Jemma looked at the SE-8 waiter droid, raising an eyebrow. Its helmet-shaped head gave the droid a faceless appearance, while blue neon lights shined around its wrists and chest.
“Hello,” it said, pleasantly. “Did you know the population of Canto Bight is a staggering five organisms?”
“It’s a quarter of a million, actually,” Jemma mumbled. “Meeko. What’s wrong with this droid?”
“It’s been tampered with. Put it in the back of the speeder as evidence.”
Jemma ushered it into the speeder next to La’Shaa. Meeko gave it a final inspection, scanning it for any hidden bombs or weapons.
“It’s clean,” he decided. “Now let’s get you to Dubrik’s.”

Chapter Text

Detective Meeko made a habit of zipping through the streets at a pace far beyond the posted limits. Just this once, Jemma was able to appreciate his disregard for the rules. She’d spent the entire ride hoping Thom was still waiting for her. As apprehensive as Jemma was about their date, she couldn’t stomach the idea of standing him up.
Jemma was thankful La’Shaa had remained unconscious throughout the ride. Unfortunately, her droid spent the trip reciting falsehoods about Canto Bight. Jemma sighed in relief when they arrived.
“Remember,” Meeko said, as Jemma stepped out of the speeder. “I want an answer when you’re done. I don’t care if you’re in or out, but I need to know for sure.”
Jemma nodded in acknowledgment before Meeko sped away.
She rushed into Dubrik’s Buffet, which was advertised by strips of elegant golden neon. The place was even nicer than she had imagined. The smell of expensive colognes permeated the air. A female Quarren, dressed in pristine robes, greeted her from behind the podium.
“Hello,” they said softly, preoccupied with something on her datapad. When she looked up, the greeter froze at the sight of Jemma’s police uniform. It seemed as though everyone in the dining area had taken an interest.
It was easy to distinguish the tourists from the locals. The natives of Canto Bight had a look in their eyes that came from years of hiding terrible secrets. The tourists simply stared with gentle fascination.
“Is there a problem, officer?”
It took Jemma a second to remember her attire. It probably wasn’t appropriate wearing her uniform off duty, but she didn’t have the time to change. This was a pit stop. Nothing more.
“No. Sorry,” Jemma said. “I’m here to meet someone. Thom Watam is the name.”
Right on cue, Thom gave her a shy wave. She could see him in the dining hall, delighted by her presence.
“I see,” the greeter said. “It appears he’s paid for two. Go right ahead.”
Jemma moved past the Quarren, taking a seat at Thom’s table. Thom had an array of half-eaten plates surrounding him. Clearly, he’d been waiting for a while.
“I’m so sorry I’m late,” she said sincerely. “You wouldn’t believe the night I’ve had, and it’s not even half over. Not that it’s an excuse—“
“You don’t need to explain yourself,” Thom said. “Really. I’m just glad you were able to make it.”
Jemma tried to ignore the lingering gaze of the buffet’s patrons, but she wasn’t used to it. Normally, no one ever spared her a passing glance, let alone treated her as the center of attention.
“Everyone’s staring at me,” she mumbled.
“Can you blame them?” Thom said, amused by her bewilderment. “What’s with the uniform?”
It certainly stuck out, especially compared to how formally the patrons were dressed.
“Well…” Jemma said, not sure where to begin. “We got an encrypted message at the office. Nothing particularly novel, but this one had a confession at the end of it. Signed by Master Codebreaker himself.”
“Did it really?” Thom asked, amused. “What were they hoping to accomplish with that?”
“They just wanted to gloat. They bragged about a string of celebrity murders. All female… He said he killed my mother.”
A wave of shock hit Thom’s face. He looked exactly how she felt when she cracked the code.
“That… That can’t be real, right? I mean that has to be someone messing with you?”
“It’s real,” Jemma said. “And he said he’d kill again.”
Thom was at a loss for words. He didn’t appear to entirely believe her, but at least he didn’t laugh like the Captain.
“Captain Cross allowed me to question him,” Jemma said.
“That must’ve been—“
A soft-spoken waiter droid interrupted.
“Welcome, most esteemed guests. Can I bring you anything? Meats? Cheeses? Jellies straight from Elphrona? Whatever your heart desires!”
“Do you have flatcakes?” Jemma asked, hopefully.
“Yes. Would you like toasted flatcakes? Sweet? Or perhaps you’d prefer the Trandoshani variety?”
“All of them. Bring me a plate or two of those, please. Actually, let’s start with three.”
“Are you sure?” Thom asked, with a scoff. “This place costs a lot of money. I mean, they carry just about every meal in the galaxy. Surely there’s something more exotic than flatcakes-”
“I just want flatcakes, Thom.”
Thom realized how futile it was. After all, flatcakes may have been her favorite thing in the galaxy. He’d never met someone so obsessed with a food.
“Flatcakes it is,” Thom conceded.
“Very good,” the droid replied. “I’ll have that right out.”
As the droid trotted off, Jemma couldn’t seem to remember her last thought.
“You were telling me about Codebreaker. How they sent you to question him?” Thom reminded her.
“Ah, right - it was a dead end,” Jemma said. She looked around, lowering her voice. “But I might have a new lead.”
“Really? That’s great!”
“Yes. But... “ Jemma began, only to hesitate. Was Thom really the type that could handle a secret? Of course he was! After all, he was her oldest friend. He’d do anything for her. “My next move isn’t exactly legal.”
“Oh no,” Thom said, dreadfully.
“The partner I had tonight... He told me about something called the archive,” she whispered. “It’s a computer terminal. Allegedly, it has every police report ever filed. There could be something about my mother on it. Thing is, if I want to see what’s inside, I’ll have to sneak in and slice it.”
“You’re going to slice into the police’s headquarters?”
“It wouldn’t be the first time tonight.”
“When are you planning on doing this?”
“He says we should make our move tonight. I… I don’t completely trust the guy, but I’m desperate.”
“This sounds like a horrible idea.”
“I know. And maybe it is. But if I don’t do something, the investigation’s over. Master Codebreaker walks free, and I may never get another shot at justice.”
“Jemma, this doesn’t sound worth it. What if you get caught? This is your job, your life.”
Suddenly, three plates were placed in front of her - filled to the brim with assorted flatcakes. Jemma immediately began to engulf them, like she was trying to get it over with. It was the best meal she’d had in ages.
Thom fidgeted, trying to resist the urge to remind her of proper dining etiquette and the politeness of using silverware. Instead, Thom thought of how he was going to deliver his own news. Surely, it would convince Jemma to reconsider this idiotic scheme. The idea of her ending up in jail was practically his worst nightmare.
“Mmm. This is much better than the ones I’m used to,” she said with her mouth still full. “Thank you, Thom. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this.”
“Right,” Thom said, clearing his throat. “Well… As I said before, I’ve brought you here for a special announcement.”
She mumbled an affirmative, reaching for another flatcake.
“As you know, I’ve been chauffeuring people like your mother for years. Most of them are among the richest people on Canto Bight, or at least they tip like it… I’ve made a lot of money Jemma. And I’ve been really, really smart with it.”
Thom paused dramatically, really savoring this…
“I’m moving to a new planet.”
“What?” Jemma said, frozen. “You can’t.”
“Don’t worry,” Thom said with a smile. “I want to bring you with me.”
“I…” Jemma said. “Thom, I don’t know what to say.”
“I know you have a life here, and I don’t mean to spring this on you. But you won’t have to worry about credits. I have enough for both of us to live very comfortably. Of course, you can still work if you like, but--”
“When are you leaving?”
“I don’t know. How’s tomorrow sound?”
“Why?” Jemma groaned. “Why can’t you just stay here?”
The smile disappeared from Thom’s face.
“It’s the people, Jemma. All the pretension, all the greed. It’s too much. I’ve lived here my entire life, and I’m starting to understand that Cantonica will never make me happy.”
“But what about me? Don’t I make you happy?”
“Why do you think I’m asking you to come? You’re not like anyone else here. You’re like… A spinebarrel flower surviving in the desert. Your existence is miraculous. It defies nature. You’re enduring a place you don’t belong, because it’s your habitat. But you don’t know any other life. You deserve somewhere better. I can show you what that looks like, if you’ll let me.”
“Are you thinking of somewhere close, at least?”
“I haven’t decided. Bespin, maybe? You can help me choose, if you have a preference.”
“I just… I don’t know. I’ve never been closer to finding out who killed mom! If I leave now, I don’t think I could ever forgive myself.”
“Jemma please,” Thom pleaded. “Your plan is to break the law, just for a chance at busting some celebrity cretin. You know how much I loved Drelia, but I promised her I’d look after you. I told her I’d keep her daughter safe, no matter what the cost. Now I finally have my chance. Please, just ask yourself: what would she have really wanted? Hm?”
Jemma was taken aback. She’d gotten so wrapped in finding the truth, she hadn’t even considered where her mother would’ve stood on this. In all likelihood, she would’ve rather seen Jemma move on. She certainly wouldn’t’ve liked seeing Jemma break the law.
“It doesn’t matter,” Jemma decided. “Maybe she wouldn't understand, but the decision is mine to make.”
“That’s selfish, and you know it,” Thom said. It was the closest she’d come to seeing him angry.
“It’s not just about finding her killer! It’s the memories I have of this city. If I leave this place now, I may as well be starting a new life.”
“What’s so wrong with that?”
“I had a childhood here. There were times I was truly happy. I may never feel that way again, but at least here, I can reminisce.”
“You act like your best days are behind you. I can promise you something better, but you’re not trusting me enough to take it!”
“Of course I trust you! But if I abandon this city, I’m abandoning my mother.”
“I understand how that feels. When my dad got sick, I struggled too!”
Jemma could recall the day Thom’s father died. For a while, Jemma was his shoulder to cry on. They’d bonded so profoundly in their grief. He was a mess, and taking care of Thom had become her favorite distraction.
Thom was the spitting image of his dad. It only made sense when he took over the chauffeur business. He counted himself lucky it didn’t die with his father.
“I can’t leave,” Jemma said, hopelessly. “I just can’t.”
“Fine,” Thom said, throwing the napkin from his lap to the table as a gentle gesture of frustration. “I’ll go by myself.”
“Thom, please.”
“It’s alright, Jemma. It’s like you said - it’s your decision to make. Enjoy the rest of your time here. Just… Don’t call me,” Thom said, standing up from his chair. Even more eyes rested upon them as he marched out the door in frustration.

Jemma exited Dubrik’s Buffet with a heavy heart and a horrible stomachache. The extra flatcakes she’d ordered hadn’t made her feel any better about Thom’s departure, and it wasn’t for lack of trying. Was this the end of the greatest friendship she’d ever had? No. The only friendship she’d ever had.
Detective Meeko was waiting for her by the entrance, leaning on one of its walls.
“You thought about my offer, kiddo?” he said.
Jemma’s eyes were still red from crying in the buffet’s bathroom. Either Meeko didn’t notice or he didn’t care. Either way, she was glad she didn’t need to explain herself.
“Yeah,” she said, wiping her nose. “I’m interested.”
“Good,” Meeko said, grinning from antenna-to-antenna. “Follow me.”
He led her down a secluded alleyway, where they had enough privacy to talk at whatever volume they liked. Meeko pulled up a map of the police headquarters on his datapad, turning it to Jemma.
“You’ll use your security credentials to enter the basement. Chances are, it’s going to be protected by a few security droids.”
“Security droids? Those things are practically indestructible. How are we going to get past them?”
“You’re an officer. Just act like you belong and there shouldn’t be any problems.”
“So what will you do?”
“I’ll stand outside and make sure no organics come in to investigate.”
Clearly, Meeko had assigned himself the easy job. Lucky him.
“Now, the terminal should be right here,” Meeko said, drawing lines across the datapad’s screen. He seemed to be drawing her a path. It wasn’t until then that Jemma noticed the Rodian’s long, suction-cupped fingertips. They were rather silly-looking.
“Plant this on the server, and we should manage a clean getaway,” he said.
Jemma took the datapad, reading the note.
With warm regards, Master Codebreaker
It was short, sweet, and arrogant. A perfect imitation of Codebreaker.
“It sounds just like him,” Jemma said, with a wicked smile. “Good job.”
Jemma knew that framing him was quite devious. But if Master Codebreaker was truly innocent, he’d have nothing to worry about. At least, that’s what Jemma told herself. After all, the archive could just as easily prove Master Codebreaker’s innocence as it could his guilt.
“Ready Jemma?” Meeko asked.
Jemma gave Meeko a final once over. She was just going to have to believe that this wasn’t some elaborate setup. Meeko was certainly shifty, but he had no reason to lie. At least, as far as she could tell.
“You know, it’s difficult for me to trust you too,” Meeko said, as if reading her thoughts. “For all I know, you could get caught and rat me out to lessen the punishment. I just have to believe that you can pull this off, and more importantly, that you can keep it a secret. But I know you will. We stand too much to gain.”
Meeko had a point. She didn’t even know if she could do this successfully… But she had to try.
“Alright,” she decided. “Let’s make this quick.”

Chapter Text

“So we’re really doing this,” Meeko mumbled, stepping into the elevator.
“Guess so,” Jemma said.
He was making her nervous. Meeko was supposed to be the one with a cool head. Hearing him so rattled reminded her of how much was at stake.
Since she was a child, Jemma avoided Canto Bight’s gambling outlets. Now, she was betting on the existence of this archive with her life. If she didn’t at least try to find this terminal, this investigation was all but finished.
“I’ve been trying to get into this place for ages,” Meeko said. “And now it’s all happening so fast.”
“I almost forgot to ask. How’d things go with our criminal? La'Shaa, I think her name was?” Jemma asked, hoping to change the subject. If he kept going on about their plan, she was going to lose her nerve.
“Fine,” Meeko said. “She’s definitely got a mouth on her.”
“She called me a puffer pig. You ever hear that one before?”
“More than you can imagine. It started out as a Marauder joke. Nice little term for cops, and… Well, you know how those things spread.”
Ding. The elevator doors opened. Showtime.
They walked down the hallway until they were greeted with a large vault, blocking their entrance to the basement. A security droid loomed over them, startling Jemma with its presence. In all her years working for the department, she’d never seen one this close.
From a distance, they appeared humanoid. But from where Jemma was standing, they looked horrifying. They wore the same outfits as the organic officers, but the dome-like helmets were sculpted into their metallic heads. Jemma was glad the captain hadn’t forced her to wear any headgear. It looked cumbersome, especially on someone with normal proportions.
“Freeze,” it said, in its deep electronic voice. Its piercing red eyes brightened with each word. “Scan your credentials for entry.”
Jemma was frozen. Meeko nudged her to comply.
“Right,” she said, reaching for her badge. She pressed it to the vault’s scanner, only to hear a rattling beep.
“Failure,” the security droid said. “Leave now, or back-up will be called.”
“What’s going on?” Meeko asked in a whisper.
“I don’t know,” Jemma said.
Meeko unsheathed a utility blade, twirling it around his slender fingers. Jemma’s eyes widened with surprise.
“What are you doing with that?” Jemma asked in a harsh whisper. “Don’t you know that’s against protocol?”
“Oh, we’re worried about protocol now?” Meeko asked, stifling a chuckle. He tucked it back in his trench coat, realizing the absurdity of the idea. He wasn't going to defeat a security droid with a measly blade. Not to mention, whatever else waited beyond the vault.
“Come on. We should get out of here,” Jemma said, pulling him by his wrist.
Jemma limped back into the elevator. She had no intention of testing the droid’s patience. After all, she couldn’t let it alert Captain Cross. She had no excuse prepared.
“Hold on. Where do you think you’re going?” he asked.
“We have to call this off. Cross must not have given me the right clearance for this. Or maybe he doesn’t trust me enough to access the basement.”
“Gee. Imagine that,” Meeko said, sarcastically. “Guess we’ll have to find another way in.”
“How? I’d need to slice that thing open, and that security droid isn’t going anywhere.”
“You can’t slice into a security droid. They’re controlled from Zenith Tower.”
Jemma raised an eyebrow. Zenith Tower, the local headquarters of the Marauders? Why would Zenith Tower control the security droids?
“What?” Meeko snapped, noting her quizzical expression. “Like I said, I investigated the Marauders! Ask me about it sometime.”
Before Jemma could inquire further, Meeko was already pitching a new plan.
“We just have to find a way to move the droid.”
“With what? Our arms?”
“No. Make something up. Something big enough to get every security droid in Canto Bight dispatched away from here.”
“That’s a horrible idea!” Jemma said. Calling in a fake threat would make them the biggest suspects in the city.
“Fine then. I’ll do it.”
“Meeko, no! This is already too dangerous--”
Before she could continue, Meeko spoke into his comlink.
“Detective Meeko to the Canto Bight Police Department. We just received a report about a hostage situation at Old Town. Bombs everywhere. Could be nothing, but best to be sure.”
“You blasted idiot!” Jemma said, in utter horror. “Do you realize what you’ve done?”
“Yeah. I got us in.”
There were certain protocols in place to keep the peace on Canto Bight. Protocols that were easily, and quite often, exploited. In the event that any upper-class lives were put in jeopardy, all security droids would be diverted to the source of the disruption. It was overkill, but that’s just how Captain Cross liked it.
The vault door creaked open with a wave of security droids flooding outside. As soon as they were packed inside the elevator shaft, the vault door locked itself shut. Jemma counted at least nine of them.
Jemma and Meeko stepped out of the elevator. Once it shut, they appeared to be entirely unsupervised. However, it only made their surroundings more eerie.
“We’re never going to get away with this,” Jemma said, in despair. “You’ve completely blown our cover.”
“It’ll buy us a good ten minutes,” Meeko said, confidently. “We’ll get in, get out, and meet those droids in Old Town. I can explain that it was all a misunderstanding.”
“A misunderstanding?”
“Sure. If we can manage to frame Codebreaker like we planned, the police will assume he called in the threat. Or, that he paid someone else to do it for him. It fits our narrative quite nicely.”
Jemma couldn’t believe it. This old Rodian was making the entire thing up as he went along! He was more clever than he looked, but that wasn’t saying much. Still, a lot was going to have to go right for this to work.
“Now would you slice that door open please? We don’t have a lot of time.”
Jemma approached the terminal, readying herself. She removed the datapad from her belt, keying in commands until she was connected to the police station’s server. From there, overriding the controls would be a breeze. To Meeko’s relief, Jemma had it cracked in under a minute. With one final command, the vault door’s lock disengaged.
“I had to go rooting around the controls,” Jemma said. “Remind me to erase the terminal’s history logs. I doubt they could trace it back to us, but best to be thorough.”
“Got it,” Meeko said. “Let’s go.”
They creeped into the vault, proceeding with caution. It was too dark to see anything, and navigating the room was a challenge. Jemma searched her belt for the police grow rod.
The glow rods were unique flashlights equipped with advanced configurations - perfect for scanning a crime scene for fingerprints or DNA. Nevertheless, the basic light suited her purposes just fine.
Jemma frowned when she turned it on. It revealed nothing but piles of datawork and cumbersome filing cabinets. This legendary archive was nothing but a glorified storage space. With the police department's vast wealth and resources, she found its unglamorous presentation surprising.
Jemma went in for a closer look, only to hear a crash from behind. Meeko had collided with a chair, carelessly left in front of the entrance.
“Are you alright?” Jemma asked, turning to face him.
“That depends,” Meeko said. “Is it here?”
Jemma flicked the flashlight around until she found it: a dusty old terminal kept right on a desk.
“Right where you said it would be!” Jemma said.
She maneuvered her way to it carefully, making sure not to trip on the piles that littered the floor. She knelt to the terminal's control panel and booted the system on. That was as far as Jemma got before the computer demanded a four digit password.
“Sands,” she cursed.
“What? What is it?” Meeko asked.
“It needs a passcode. Four numbers. Got any ideas?”
“Not really,” Meeko said, scratching his head. “I could think up a guess?”
“It says we only have three tries, so you’d better be sure.”
“Let’s try--” Meeko started, only to be thrown to the floor. Jemma turned around to see a massive security droid standing over him. Its glowing red eyes were the clearest thing in the room.
“You two are under arrest,” it said, in a monotonous tone. It repeated these words, whirring around with its janky movements. Its clumsy motion and horrid voice led Jemma to conclude that the droid was defunct. Jemma thereozied it had stayed behind due to its inability to follow orders.
“Wait, wait, wait!” Meeko said. “We’re officers of the Canto Bight--”
The security droid thrashed its knuckles into Meeko’s temple, rendering the Rodian unconscious. Normally, these droids were programmed to avoid violence at all costs. This one possessed no such concerns.
Before she could check on Meeko, Jemma could feel the droid’s metallic fingers close around her throat.
“You two are under arrest,” it repeated, mindlessly. Jemma could feel its grip tightening around her windpipe, its fingers curling with a robotic precision. She pounded her fists onto its arms, but it was futile. These droids were meant to withstand blaster bolts; what good were Jemma’s flimsy punches going to do?
As she felt her oxygen slipping away, her thoughts drifted to Meeko. He certainly wasn’t coming to her rescue this time. But maybe he wouldn’t have to.
She reached for the stun stick on her belt with Meeko’s words echoing through her mind: aim for the core.
She shoved the stun baton into the droid’s chest, electrifying its body. It recoiled, as if in pain, until it tipped lifelessly to the ground with a booming thud.
Jemma dropped to her feet, dusting off her uniform. Her feeling of relief was overtaken by all the loose ends surrounding her. Jemma would have to erase any record of their presence on the security droid. As for Meeko, he was going to have to get his bearings. And quickly.
“Meeko,” she said, slapping his scaly face. He was totally unresponsive, but as far as she could tell, he was still breathing. At this rate she’d have to drag him out of here. “Meeko, wake up!”
Jemma sighed, reminding herself to stay focused. As soon as she could figure a way into this archive, then she could worry about how she’d get Meeko out. Suddenly, Jemma spawned an idea.
If she could access the droid’s brain, perhaps there’d be some record of the passcode. It seemed like a long shot, especially considering how broken the droid was before being electrified. Still, Jemma didn’t have any better ideas.
She bit down on her glow rod, craning her neck to position the light.
Jemma crawled to the security droid’s unmoving body. Its metal head was attached perfectly to the droid’s neck. To access its brain, she’d first need to find a way of severing its head. It wouldn’t be possible with her bare hands.
She took Meeko’s vibroknife, which effortlessly pierced the droid’s armor. The wires spilled out from its head into a tangled mess. She dumped everything out on the ground, until its core was officially hollowed out. Finally, the droid brain was hers!
She plugged it into her datapad, where she could finally access its contents. It was no wonder this droid lost its mind. The programming was all wrong! But there was no time to fix it.
Fortunately, she was able to bypass her way into the droid's databanks with little effort. The maneuver would’ve taken the average codebreaker hours to pull off.
There were nearly a hundred data entries inside. One of them, conveniently labeled “terminal passcode,” contained Jemma’s magical four digit number: 2187.
She entered it into the archive’s system, and to her relief, it worked! The terminal loaded thousands of archived logs, which Jemma found overwhelming. She plugged the datastick into the terminal, navigating her way through each report.
Before she could commit to framing Master Codebreaker, she needed to know if he was truly guilty. In the corner of the screen, Jemma found the terminal’s search function. She filtered the reports to those containing “Master Codebreaker.”
It yielded a modest twelve results.
According to the reports, he was far from innocent. Each of them contained detailed accounts of his murders. Among the many victims were the reported deaths of Lovey, Lula Sooger, and of course, her mother! It was just like Codebreaker’s confession said!
Codebreaker used the same methods each time. The reports described Codebreaker shooting the victim with his holdout blaster, and dumping their bodies into the city’s artificial beach. It was as efficient as it was cruel.
She had the proof that she needed. She only hoped it’d be enough. It was Captain Cross’s apathy that forced her into this pursuit to begin with. He didn’t believe her about Codebreaker’s confession and he’d probably deny the reports to boot.
He may have even known about them. After all, something like this wouldn’t have gone under his nose. Unless the Captain’s apathy wasn’t apathy at all!
Perhaps Master Codebreaker had purchased Captain Cross’s secrecy? And who knew what else the department was sitting on. Jemma had to get this information out to the public. It was the only way to get justice for the victims.
She uploaded Master Codebreaker’s forged note in place of the archive. Finally, she pulled the datastick from the terminal, loading it onto her datapad. She walked out of the basement, moving back to the elevator where there was still light. With the tap of a button, Jemma could post it all onto one of the city’s public nodes, making it available for anyone and everyone to read.
Just for good measure, she used an old slicer trick to make sure it couldn’t be removed. From there, the media reporters and journalists could take care of the rest.
Jemma spun around to see Meeko, who’d finally awoken.
“Oh, good. You’re finally--” Jemma began, relieved.
Meeko held a blaster by his hip, aimed right for her.
“Drop the datastick.” he demanded.
“Meeko, I don’t understand. What about the plan?”
“You don’t get it, kid. I’m selling that information.”
“But you said--”
“I said whatever I needed to get you down here. Your role in this is over.”
“But you were right. Every report ever filled is in this archive. We can’t keep this to ourselves!”
“I won’t. I’ll be sharing it with the highest bidder.”
“What about your son? What about exposing corruption?”
“Best to just move on, Jemma. Take my word for it.”
A look of sadness crossed Meeko’s eyes. It was quickly overtaken by aggression. “Now drop the damned datastick or I’ll take it from you myself.”
“What are you going to do, stun me? Leave me here to tell Cross all about your plan?”
“I’ll sell that info before they know it’s gone. This was always a one-way trip for me.”
“So, what? You were always going to let me take the fall?”
“Truthfully, your fate was never much of a concern.”
“You slimy, double-crossing—“
“You should be thanking me. Leaking the information was suicide. Why would Master Codebreaker break into the archive to leak his own police reports? It breaks our story. At least now, you can tell Cross that I held you at blasterpoint and made you do my dirty work. They might not even punish you.”
After the archives confirmed her mother’s murder, Jemma had little regard for the consequences of their actions. She was fine being sent to jail, as long as she took Master Codebreaker with her. Still, the Rodian was right. The only way Jemma could leave this basement a free woman was by letting Meeko sell the information and playing the victim.
Unfortunately for him, she had no intention of backing down.
Jeema hit the button on her datapad to upload the data. Meeko’s finger tightened around the blaster’s trigger.
“Did you just--?" Meeko started.
The fierce expression on Jemma’s face confirmed his fears.
“You stupid girl!” Meeko said, shaking his blaster. “Take that blasted thing down, before anyone sees it! Or I’ll shoot you and do it myself.”
“You’re welcome to try, but I’ve encrypted it to reupload itself upon deletion. You’ll need my help to break it. Not that I ever would.”
Meeko groaned, taking the blaster off stun.
“Jemma. This is your last chance. Take it down, or I swear I’ll kill you.”
Jemma was certain he was bluffing. Still, she wished she wasn’t betting her life on it.
Suddenly, the elevator doors wooshed open. At the end of the hallway was a dreadful sight: Captain Cross was accompanied by four security droids, all about his height.
“Meeko,” Cross said, unfazed by the scene before him. “Drop the gun.”
Meeko cooperated, tossing his blaster to the floor.
“Captain Cross,” Meeko managed, his voice suddenly trembling. He had no way of explaining why he was holding his partner at blasterpoint.
“I’m disappointed in you,” Cross said, turning to Jemma.
Meeko and Jemma shared a confused glare. News couldn’t have possibly traveled this fast. Other than Meeko’s betrayal, the heist had gone off without an issue. It couldn’t just be bad luck that led Cross down here.
“Your boyfriend told me all about this little scheme of yours,” Cross said. “Isn’t that right, Mr. Watam?”
Jemma hadn’t even noticed him, dwarfed by Cross and his giant enforcers. It was Thom, looking at her with his big, sorry eyes.
“I’m sorry,” he pleaded. “It’s like I told your mother… I’d do anything to protect you, no matter what the cost.”
“This is the exact opposite of protecting me, Thom!”
“I knew you couldn’t get away with this, so I negotiated. With my information, they agreed to lessen your sentence. You could’ve served decades. Now, you’ll only serve a few months!”
“I take it this offer doesn’t apply to me,” Detective Meeko said, sardonically.
“Trust me, Jemma,” Thom said. “This is the last way I’d want you to remember me by. But you don’t deserve to spend the rest of your days locked away in a cell. In time, I think you’ll thank me for this.”
“I won’t ever forgive you, much less thank you, you kriffing idiot!” Jemma yelled. Jemma could’ve simply retired with him, and they’d be on a starship to whatever planet she liked. But she chose Canto Bight. Was this his twisted form of revenge?
“Besides,” she added, turning to Captain Cross. “You’re too late.”
“What do you mean?” Cross demanded.
“I’ve already uploaded the archive. Perhaps if you’d gotten here a minute earlier, you could’ve stopped me.”
A wave of muted horror appeared on the Captain’s face.
“Cuff them,” Cross mumbled to the security droids.
Jemma knew better than to resist. Cross was an award-winning marksman, and the security droids alone would have her concussed before she could flinch.
She knelt to the ground, placing her hands behind her head. Meeko cursed under his breath and followed suit.
“Ready a couple of interrogation chambers for Meeko and Jemma,” Cross instructed. “Make sure they aren’t too comfortable.”

Chapter Text

Jemma sat still, trying her best to avoid a zap from her stun cuffs. For the second time tonight, she found herself hooked into the lie detector droid. Ironically, she felt more comfortable now that she wasn’t trying to impress the Captain.
Jemma’s equipment had been confiscated. Her uniform remained untouched, with the heavy betaplast still draped around her shoulders. It was far too heavy for her liking. She had no idea how the officers wore this equipment all day.
Cross swaggered into the interrogation room. He placed himself across the table from Jemma. She was reminded of Meeko’s comment about how the police department forced confessions from their suspects. She wasn’t sure if he was joking or not, but now, it seemed more credible than ever.
“You’ve made a real mess,” Cross said. “I trusted you, and you made a mess.”
“To be fair, you betrayed me first,” Jemma said.
“I betrayed you, huh?” Cross said, scoffing. “How do you figure that?”
“You knew who killed my mother, and you hid that from me. How could you?”
“It’s complicated.”
“How?”
“This interrogation is for you, Jemma. Not me.”
Jemma folded her arms. She had no respect left for him.
“You’re not going to talk, fine. I will. I don’t tell many people this, but my father onvr served as a stormtrooper. In the war between The Resistance and The First Order, he’d made his way up to a sergeant.”
Jemma didn’t know much about the war’s history, but from what she could tell, the stormtroopers were the bad guys. That much was hardly surprising to her.
“He was one of the only men to survive The Battle of Exegol. Hundreds of thousands of brave men died that day. But against all odds, my father survived. Know why?”
Jemma gave him a blank expression, refusing to indulge him.
“As he watched his comrades get shot down from their starships, he had an epiphany. These troopers were giving their lives to a dying cause. They’d already lost. So he made the smartest decision of his life: he surrendered. The Resistance took pity on him. Held him prisoner for close to ten years. He turned his life around, met a woman, and the rest is history.”
“What’s that got to do with any of this?”
“There’s two kinds of people in this world, Jemma: martyrs and survivors. Do you think those dead stormtroopers really accomplished anything by standing their ground? Trying to figure out your mother’s killer has proven just as fruitless.”
Cross slid her the datapad, with the archive’s reports posted to the server.
“Nobody’s found it yet,” Cross said. “We’ll get it taken down before anyone even notices. And all your work will be in vain.”
“Brilliant,” Jemma said, sarcastically. “How do you plan on bypassing my encryption?”
“I don’t. You’re going to help us.”
Jemma cackled.
“If you think I’d ever erase what I’ve uploaded, you’re mad.”
“Fine. If that’s your decision, you’ll serve a life sentence. The other prisoners will eat you alive.”
“Better than helping you cover up the skeletons in your closet.”
“Do you realize how many people you’re hurting by doing this?”
“I’d certainly be putting some corrupt officers out of a job.”
“And some honest civilians too. A lot of those reports were faked.”
“Faked?”
“Our officers made them up. Why do you think all these people went unpunished?”
“But why would you make up police reports? It doesn’t make any sense.”
“There’s a lot you don’t know, Jemma,” Cross said, choosing his words carefully.
“Then tell me. Is the police department working with the Marauders?”
“Not working with. Compromising.”
“What’s the difference?” Jemma asked.
Cross was so knee-deep in his own semantics, she couldn’t even understand him anymore.
“The Marauders came to Canto Bight about a decade ago. There were hundreds of them. It was anarchy,” Cross said. “I’m talking completely out of control. At least until their leader, Jexton Koyles, made me a deal. If I kept the Marauders out of jail, he’d make sure their behavior stayed… Manageable.”
“What are you talking about?”
“It was a trade. If I turned a blind eye to their crimes, Jexton would personally handle the more problematic criminals. Keep them in line. You know - the murderers, kidnappers, thieves… Anyone too uncivilized for the city.”
“And you’ve been protecting them ever since?”
“It’s the easiest way to keep control, Jemma. They listened to him.”
“You had issues with organized crime, so you decided to let their boss handle it? What kind of police captain are you?”
“My priority as a captain isn’t justice. It’s to ensure order. If I didn’t work out a deal with them, this city would’ve fallen into lawlessness. Trust me, the Marauders did the same thing to plenty of other systems, no matter how civilized.”
“You’re a coward,” Jemma said. “Thanks to you, people like Master Codebreaker can kill my mother and get off scot-free!”
“And without me, you wouldn't’ve had a childhood! You and your mother would’ve watched this place burn to the ground.”
“So what? You want me to thank you?”
Cross sighed. Jemma was testing his patience.
“Alright, let’s say you win… You leave the information up on that node and The Canto Bight Police Department is shut down. Who enforces the law?”
“Hopefully someone with a moral compass. That would be refreshing.”
“Don’t be naive. We’re the only thing keeping the Marauders from running this city. When we’re gone, Canto Bight goes with it. At least, the way you knew it.”
Jemma hated to admit it, but Cross was probably right. As flimsy as their protection was, it kept the Marauders at bay.
“Atrocities are going to occur in this city with or without the police. But we can at least supply a veil of secrecy. Give people the luxury of living unafraid. Blissful ignorance, like yours.”
“But what about the people who deserve to know? I just wanted my mom’s disappearance investigated! Sands. If I had known you were just sitting on the answer this entire time--” Jemma said, interrupting herself. “Just tell me this: why are you helping Master Codebreaker? He’s a Marauder, isn’t he?”
“Help us remove your encryption and I’ll answer everything you want to know.”
Jemma was tempted to give in. She wanted answers more than anything in the galaxy. But how could she trust him? Nothing was keeping him from going back on his word, or even shooting her as soon as she removed the encryption.
“I’m going to have to decline your offer, Captain.” Jemma decided.
“Fine,” Cross grumbled, stepping out of his chair. “Enjoy life in a cage.”
Captain Cross exited the room, leaving her hooked into the lie detector droid. He saw no reason to waste anymore time.

Thom stood on the other side of the interrogation room window, nervously sipping his black caf. He intercepted the Captain as he walked out of the room, keeping pace with Cross’ stride.
“So, uhm…” Thom started, fumbling nervously over his words. “You were bluffing on the last part, right? About her getting a life sentence?”
”No, Thom. I was dead serious.” Cross said.
“What?” Thom looked at Cross in utter disbelief. “That wasn’t part of our arrangement.”
“Our ‘arrangement’ was to stop this from happening in the first place. But you were too late. Circumstances have changed.”
“That’s not fair,” Thom protested. “I wouldn’t have done this if I knew-”
“I gave her the chance to cooperate. She refused. Whatever happens next is her fault, not ours,” Cross said, walking off. “If you’re going to leave this city, I’d suggest doing it now. Things could get very strange.”
“Where are you going?”
“To get that archive taken down - one way or another.”
Thom watched as Cross left the building. There was no arguing with his judgement. He was every bit as stubborn as Jemma.
It didn’t take long before two security droids came to bring Jemma out of the interrogation room. As they escorted her through the hallway, Jemma passed Thom with a sour look.
“I’m so sorry,” Thom said, following her with a solemn expression. “I wish you had agreed to come with me. Now more than ever.”
“I’d rather be imprisoned on Canto Bight than go anywhere with you,” she said.
That seemed to hurt him. Good.
“I truly hope to never have the misfortune of seeing your face again. Just go. Enjoy your retirement.”
Thom was speechless. What could he possibly say? He’d never be able to forgive himself. It didn’t matter where in the galaxy he’d travel to.
One of the security droids gave Jemma a shove. It was time to keep moving.
Jemma was escorted to a high-security cell, protected by one of Canto Bight’s advanced ray shields. The standard spaces were known to be particularly vulnerable to computer slicers. Cross knew better than to confine her to an environment she could simply slice her way out of.
Jemma’s stun cuffs were undone as she was pushed inside the room. Despite the hopelessness of her escape, Jemma was relieved to be away from Thom. That was, until she saw her cellmate.
It was the pink Twi’Lek: La’Shaa Habreen.
“Hey, puffer pig!” La’Shaa said, mockingly. “Decided to drop in, huh? Bet we’re going to have a lot of fun together!”

Chapter Text

Jexton didn’t live on Canto Bight, but his presence was always palpable. His Marauders were everywhere, infecting the city like a disease. The city’s high society had become so polluted with scum and villainy, it was difficult to tell them apart from the locals. Tonight, Master Codebreaker would make Jexton pay for what he'd done to Canto Bight.
Codebreaker and L0-33 made their way to the VIP room. Its elegance was stunning, even by the casino’s standards. Jexton had reserved it months ago in hopes of ensuring the intimacy of their match.
These two men weren’t famous for their gambling. No. They were revered for their respective myths. Master Codebreaker, “the poet with a blaser” versus Jexton, “the well-mannered warlord.” Either of them would’ve been enough to summon a crowd. Pitting them against each other was the perfect recipe for an event.
From all over the galaxy, gambling enthusiasts and reporters came to watch. Although the patrons were prohibited from accessing the VIP room, the game was broadcast across Canto Bight’s casino. The game was shown on every vidscreen the casino had. Record-breaking crowds huddled together in anticipation, their eyes glued to the vidscreens. Those who couldn’t attend were forced to rely on the HoloNet for the results.
At Jexton’s request, the audio was not transmitted. The men would be free to converse about whatever they pleased.
Jexton sat at the zinbiddle table, surrounded by tidy-looking bodyguards. Underneath his leather coat was a set of blast-resistant armor. Even with his assured privacy, Jexton could never let his guard down. If there was one thing Codebreaker respected about Jexton, it was his meticulousness. With Jexton’s fame, even a careless fashion choice could bring upon his death. He’d already survived countless assasination attempts as it was.
“Pleasure to see you, Master Codebreaker,” Jexton said, polite as ever. Jexton rose to offer him a handshake.
“And you as well,” Codebreaker replied, insincerely.
Despite his grey, slicked-back hair, Jexton was still a few decades younger than he was. He reminded Codebreaker of his younger self: suave, handsome, but above all, civilized. On paper, it was difficult for Codebreaker to hate him. Nevertheless, Jexton made it easy.
“I was beginning to think you couldn’t make it,” Jexton said.
“Well, now you can rest easy,” Codebreaker replied.
“So, what are we playing for today?” Starships, I’m guessing?”
“Of course,” Master Codebreaker said, powering up the holodisplay built into his table.
The holotables were built to show the audience what possessions Jexton and Codebreaker were putting on the line. Upon pressing the switch, the model of an angular-looking starship was projected. Its sharp wings and light design made its maneuverability obvious. Jexton grinned, rubbing his hands together.
“Ah. The Emerellian!”
“One of my finest ships,” Master Codebreaker said.
“It’s a little delicate for my tastes, but I do love its story!”
The ship had allegedly come from the fabled planet of Emerellia. It was sculpted with one of the rarest metals in the galaxy, capable of reflecting light to an almost blinding degree. Flying it during one of Canto Bight’s sunsets, for instance, could produce a beautiful glow across its surface.
“Do you believe in the story of Emerellia?” Master Codebreaker asked.
“I tend to doubt anything I haven’t seen with my own two eyes,” Jexton said. “Planets are no exception.”
“I happen to think it’s true, but who’s to say for sure?”
“How delightfully enigmatic. Appropriate, considering its owner.”
Just for kicks, Codebreaker was tempted to challenge Jexton for his darksaber. It was an ancient weapon, beyond any price. An old custom dictated that the weapon could only be won in combat. Even to Jexton, the darksaber was simply off-limits.
“I’m assuming you can match my ante?” Master Codebreaker asked.
“I can do more than match it,” Jexton said. When he pressed the button on his holodisplay, they could hear the crowd gasping from the casino lobby.
It was The Negotiator. The galaxy’s indestructible vessel. With the ship’s endless luxuries and accommodations, the massive ship could house up to forty passengers. It was built strong, intended for slow and deliberate movements.
The Negotiator’s reputation came chiefly from the ship's hidden firepower. The ship’s incredible weaponry led to the Marauders devastating victory against the New Republic. The Battle of Nar Shaddaa was nearly a stalemate, until Jexton’s expert piloting and tactical prowess won them the fight.
To most, taking a ride on the ship would’ve been far too expensive. The idea of owning it was unfathomable. Jexton was satisfied with his own audacity.
“What do you say, Codebreaker? Your myth against my legend.”
“You must be awfully confident,” Codebreaker said, almost skeptically.
“Against you? Hardly. I only prefer to keep things interesting.”
Master Codebreaker was among the wealthiest celebrities in the galaxy. However, his fortune had depreciated with his age. Meanwhile, Jexton’s resources were practically infinite.
“I accept your offer,” Codebreaker said, as if there was ever any doubt.
The two holodisplays flashed white, signaling that the bet was locked. The game of zinbiddle had begun.
The goal was to build the best hand possible, and ideally, beat your opponent’s. It was a far more sophisticated variant of a card game called sabacc, and by extension, far more complicated. Despite the staggering number of people watching the game, most didn’t understand the rules.
The game had faded into obscurity through time. Some of the more intelligent players developed card-counting techniques to improve their odds. The refined strategies and complicated rules scared off most newcomers. However, Jexton and Codebreaker had been around for years before its decline.
Master Codebreaker trusted Jexton as far as he could throw him, but Codbreaker knew he wouldn’t resort to any tricks. Gambling was his and Jexton’s only outlet for risk-taking. Neither of them would ever muddle that by cheating.
The game offered its players three decks to choose from. Jexton drew first, opting for the left deck.
“If you don’t mind, I have a proposition for you,” Jexton said
“If this doesn’t involve the game, forget it,” Master Codebreaker said, dryly.
“I need a codebreaker.”
They continued to take turns, their eyes never leaving the cards. Master Codebreaker cokced an eyebrow.
“So it’s a business offer?”
“Nothing nefarious. Just an encryption too advanced for my slicers.”
“And what makes you think I’d help you?”
“Wishful thinking, I suppose.”
Codebreaker looked at his cards. He could call zinbiddle now, and probably win the hand. But it was far too early. The object of the game was to build your deck over the course of many games, not just the round. He decided to spend this time building up his game instead.
“What’s the encryption protecting?” Codebreaker asked.
“A New Republic flagship. I’d like to launch an attack, but their shields are far too advanced. I need it sliced.”
Unlike most of the galaxy, Master Codebreaker was rather fond of the New Republic. While most people preferred that planets remain self-governing, the New Republic pushed for galaxy-wide laws that made the planets resemble their old self.
At the very least, these laws prevented factions like the Marauders from forming in the first place. At the moment, the New Republic were Jexton’s biggest opposition. However, the war had become increasingly lopsided over the years. It wouldn’t be long until the New Republic had finally reached its end.
“This is a political affair,” Codebreaker said. “And you know as well as anyone I don’t choose sides.”
“Zinbiddle,” Jexton declared, revealing his hand. Jexton had won, fair and square. “Good game, my friend.”
The holodisplays vanished from the table. Cheers could be heard outside. Clearly, Jexton was the local favorite. Master Codebreaker attempted to stifle his envy.
“I’m going to miss that ship,” Codebreaker grumbled.
“I’d happily return it, if it meant acquiring your assistance,” Jexton offered.
Even if Codebreaker wanted to help Jexton, he wasn’t sure he could. His memory had declined with age, and his codebreaking abilities weren’t far behind. Still, he’d die before he let the public know that.
“Forget it. Find some other slicer,” Codebreaker said.
“We both know nobody else matches your skill,” Jexton said. “What could I offer to make you reconsider?”
“You want to know the truth? There aren’t enough cantocoins in the world to get me to help you. If I had my way, the Marauders would be out of this city for good.”
Jexton scratched at his stubble, stunned by Codebreaker’s frankness. Normally, when Jexton asked people to help, he wasn’t asking at all. It was almost a nice change of pace from the usual response: fearful obedience.
“How about a wager, then?” Jexton proposed.
“How do you mean?”
“If I win, you help me disable those shields. If I lose? I’ll make sure the Marauders never step foot in this city again.”
Codebreaker weighed his options. It was certainly a gamble. Aiding Jexton in his warmongering destruction would be a horrid way to spend his final years. However, driving Jexton from the planet was far too sweet to pass up. Besides, his deck was becoming astounding. The odds were certainly in his favor.
“How do we know we’ll fulfill our ends of the deal?” Codebreaker asked.
“We’re men of our word,” Jexton said, self-assured as ever. “As long as we put it into our holodisplays, that’s good enough for me.”
Jexton had built an unmatched reputation for honesty, let alone for a gangster. Codebreaker was certain he’d deliver on his promises. At least, to the ones made in public. After all, decades of candor and follow-through was precisely what got Jexton his power to begin with.
“You have yourself a deal,” Codebreaker said.
They typed their terms out in the holo-displays. Their bets were sealed, their respective offers now public. This would, without any shadow of a doubt, be the game of Master Codebreaker’s life.
“Very well,” Jexton said. “Why don’t you start us off?”
Codebreaker reached for a card. His palms were sweating. It had been years since he felt a rush like this during a casino game.
“I’m curious. Were you always this wealthy, Codebreaker?” Jexton asked. “Or did you amass your fortune over time?”
Master Codebreaker ignored his question, focusing on his cards.
“Ah, yes. I should know better than to ask the legendary Master Codebreaker anything personal. For what it’s worth, you have the look of a self-made man. I like to think we have that in common. I was born without a credit to my name. Just a low-born smuggler. But I pulled myself up by my bootstraps. Made connections Worked hard. See, the Marauders were built decade by decade, starting from nothing. Really not dissimilar to what you’re doing with those cards. Crafting the perfect deck. Using your intuition to guide you to your next move. Anyone can build a legacy like that, given the freedom to do so.”
“Is that what the Marauders are about? Freedom?” Codebreaker asked, with a scoff.
“Wouldn’t you say so?”
“I’ve seen the way they operate. They exploit and cheat their way to the top. It’s not about freedom, it’s about oppressing those who have less. Your Marauders are only loyal to you because you provide them with power. They’ll cut your throat the second you become less convenient for them.”
“Is that what you think will happen?” Jexton asked, amused by his prediction. “You think my own people turn on me?”
“I think it’s more likely that someone more modest will come along. They’ll overthrow you, take what’s yours when you least expect it. That tends to be the way it works for powerful people like us.”
Codebreaker drew another card, smiling to himself. This was going perfectly. Not only was he going to beat Jexton. He was going to do it with a perfect hand - the legendary ion barrage. Canto Bight would be talking about this for decades.
The doors to the VIP room wooshed open. Master Codebreaker nearly jumped from his seat, startled by the unexpected intrusion.
It was Captain Cross, accompanied by two security droids.
“Master Codebreaker,” Cross announced, clearly not wasting any time. “I need you to come with me.”
“Am I under arrest?” Master Codebreaker asked, facetiously.
“Yes,” Cross replied.
Codebreaker could tell by the Captain’s frown that he wasn’t joking. Master Codebreaker rattled through every possibility. As far as he knew, he hadn't broken any laws. At least, not recently. Was this that girl’s doing? Regardless, Codebreaker was caught in his second legal misunderstanding of the night.
“Can it wait?” Jexton cut in. “We’ll be done in a few moments.”
“ I assure you, the matter is of paramount importance,” Cross said. “Now please, Codebreaker. Come with me or I will be forced to detain you.”
Victory was within Codebreaker’s grasp. The Captain’s timing couldn’t have been worse. By the looks of it, Jexton seemed to agree. He must’ve had a competitive hand too.
“Perhaps we can pick this up in an hour or so?” Jexton suggested.
“Unlikely,” Cross said. “If you’re lucky, this will only take up the rest of your night. Now move.”
Codebreaker knew the game wasn’t worth being stunned over. He stood up from his chair as cooperatively as possible.
“Come on, L0-33.”
“Your droid stays here,” Cross said. “That’s non-negotiable.”
Jexton noticed the frown appear on Codebreaker’s face. Obviously, Codebreaker cared a great deal for it. Just before Codebreaker could press the issue any further, Jexton intervened.
“Don’t worry,” he said. “I’ll watch L0-33 like she’s my own.”
It didn’t seem to make Master Codebreaker feel any better.
Cross clicked a pair of stun cuffs around Codebreaker’s wrists. The crowds confused murmurs grew louder as Codebreaker was escorted out. Just like that, their game had reached its abrupt and unsatisfying conclusion.

Master Codebreaker sat in the passenger seat of Cross’ speeder, his hands still bound by restraints.
“Care to explain the meaning of this?” Codebreaker asked. “I thought we had a deal.”
“Things have changed,” Cross said. “Someone leaked the archive. Every report the police have was posted to the public. That means the Lovey report, the Lula report, all of it.”
“What?” Master Codebreaker asked in disbelief. “You’re joking, right?”
“Nobody’s noticed. But we have to act fast.”
“You blasted fool!”
“Relax. We can take it down. Only problem is she built an encryption that re-uploads itself when deleted. We’ll need you to break it.”
‘I’m sorry, she?”
“An officer of ours, Jemma Hale. From what I understand, the two of you have met.”
Master Codebreaker let out a heavy sigh. He’d only known her for a few hours, and she was already proving to be quite the thorn in his side.
“And what if the encryption isn’t cracked in time?” Codebreaker asked.
“Then the locals will call for your arrest... And I will act accordingly.”
Cross’ words sent chills down Codebreaker’s spine. His days of codebreaking were largely over, but now, his reputation and his freedom were on the line.
He thought losing to Jexton was his worst case scenario. He couldn’t’ve imagined this.

Chapter Text

Master Codebreaker accompanied Captain Cross to the station, replaying the final moments of that blasted zinbiddle game in his head. He was just moments from what would’ve undoubtedly been the most talked about win in Canto Bight history. It could take him years to reconcile his disappointment.
Now, he’d traded one challenge for another. If he couldn’t break the girl’s encryption, Master Codebreaker would become a wanted man. Anyone in the city could happen upon the leaked reports, unless he worked fast. With tonight’s luck, it wouldn’t be easy.
Cross removed Codebreaker’s stun cuffs before they entered the basement.
“Were the restraints truly necessary?” Codebreaker asked. “A zap from one of these things is liable to kill a man my age.”
“The encryption’s right here,” Cross said, slamming his hand on the top of a datapad. “Be quick about it. Unless you’d prefer to be known as a murderer.”
The clock was ticking. Unlike zinbiddle, this was a game of skill - not luck. If Codebreaker was fortunate, the solution would prove to be quite simple. In his experience, a self-uploading virus was little more than an ametaur gimmick. They were especially simple to counter. After all, he’d coded many just like it. At least, when he was younger.
Codebreaker searched through the datapad, looking for the source. It was subtle, embedded within a line of code. He deleted a line, only for it to miraculously rewrite itself.
Incredible. Somehow, the girl had managed to restrict any edits to her virus.
“Need a slicing kit?” Captain Cross offered.
“No. I have something better.”
Codebreaker unfastened the red plom bloom pin from his coat. The pin fit perfectly inside one of the datapad’s memory ports. The device was far more than just a brooch; it was a gadget he’d created long ago. The pin contained a virus capable of halting the computer’s safeguards. It could effectively freeze the mainframe of any datapad or terminal he’d encountered.
“Can you fix it?” Cross asked. It was the only time Codebreaker ever heard him sound nervous.
“Ask me again in a minute,” Codebreaker said.
The datapad seemed to detect Codebreaker’s maneuver. An error message appeared on the screen, informing him that the safety measures were in place. In the blink of an eye, the screen fizzled into darkness. He seemed to have triggered some kind of failsafe; one that caused the datapad to destroy itself.
Codebreaker groaned. The girl was using new tricks. Techniques from a more contemporary era of codebreaking, and consequently, ones he’d never encountered before.
Codebreaker mumbled a curse for allowing himself to fall so behind. He’d grown complacent in his age, too comfortable with his title. Even his greatest trick had been rendered obsolete.
“Did that datapad just… Destroy itself?” Cross asked.
“It appears that way,” Master Codebreaker admitted. “She’s clever... Annoyingly so.”
“I know,” Cross agreed. “What else can we do?”
“I understand you’ve attempted to delete the reports from the server, but have you tried deleting the server itself?” Master Codebreaker asked. “It’s the nuclear option, but it might have to do.”
The server contained all kinds of useful information. Birth records, rap sheets, and other useful details about Canto Bight’s locals. Cross would’ve preferred to leave it intact, but his choice was an obvious one.
“Do it,” Cross said, looming over his shoulder.
They moved to the main terminal, where Codebreaker accessed the server’s controls. He booted up the process to delete the server, and without wasting another second, Codebreaker entered the command.
“…So that’s it, then?” Cross asked. “We’re in the clear?”
“Looks like it.” Codebreaker said, a smile appearing on his face. For a second, he thought the girl had stumped her. But he’d developed an ingenious solution at the last possible moment. It was a rush, just like the old days!

Jemma looked around at the cell. The space was small and cramped, particularly with La’Shaa cornering her.
“Well, well, well…” La’Shaa said, with an evil smile. “I’ve done time in all sorts of places, but I’ve never shared a cell with a puffer pig. Let alone, the one that put me here in the first place.”
La’Shaa grabbed Jemma by her uniform, slamming her against the cell’s ray shield!
Jemma was never good in fights. It was one of the many reasons her mother had her homeschooled. Nevertheless, Jemma could never completely escape the cruelty of her peers. In time, she learned just how to stand up for herself.
“Stop,” Jemma commanded. “You don’t want to hurt me.”
“Yeah? And why’s that?” La’Shaa asked, amused by her conviction.
“Because I’m not just an officer. I’m a codebreaker.”
“I don’t care if you’re the Supreme Chancellor. I’m going to make you regret putting me here.”
“You’ll need my help if you want to escape,” Jemma said. She hadn’t decided whether or not she’d truly help the outlaw, but either way, it sounded more fun than taking a beating. Not that it would stop La’Shaa.
“I already have a plan!” La’Shaa said.
“You might be able to escape the cell, but you won’t make it out of this facility without me. There’s all kinds of protocols in place. Contingencies you won’t see coming.”
That seemed to get La’Shaa’s attention. La’Shaa released her grip, and Jemma knew that the tides had turned. La’Shaa was under her thumb.
“Good,” Jemma said, dusting off her uniform. “Now tell me your plan so I can make it better.”
“You remember that droid? The one you saw me steal.”
“Sure. Although I hardly see how that’s relevant.”
“When your partner searched it for weapons, he wasn’t very thorough. I knew what I was doing was risky… So before you two got the drop on me, I hid a ray shield scrambler inside its storage compartment.”
Jemma couldn’t believe it. Ray shield scramblers were highly illegal on Canto Bight, precisely because of their use in freeing criminals. She’d never heard of anyone having access to them, let alone carrying them around.
“The scrambler has a small proximity, so SE-8 will have to make their way down here,” La’Shaa said. “It shouldn’t be a problem, unless your partner locked it away somewhere.”
“Meeko probably took them to the evidence room. But I’ve seen less intelligent droids escape that place before.”
“If that’s the case, we’ll be out of here in no time!” La’Shaa said. “Hey, what’d they bust you for anyway? Must’ve been pretty bad if they threw you down here with me.”
“Why does it matter?”
“You just don’t look like the criminal type. I’m guessing it was something brainy. Embezzlement, maybe?”
Jemma refused to answer.
“Come on! At least tell me how you got caught!”
“It was my boyfriend, Thom. Well, not a boyfriend. Just…” Jemma said, suddenly stammering. “Someone I used to be quite fond of. He told the police department about, uh, something I was planning. They caught me in the act, and...”
“First lesson of being a lowlife criminal: don’t tell anyone your plan.”
“It was more of an idea, at the time,” Jemma said. “What about you, huh? What possessed you to steal a droid from the casino?”
“Well,” La’Shaa said, making sure nobody was within earshot. She looked like she was about to disclose the world’s biggest secret. “Not a lot of people know this, but those waiter droids contain some of the most high-tech gyroscopics in the galaxy.”
“Oh?” Jemma asked, genuinely interested. “I would imagine so. After all, there’s never been a case of one bumping into a customer.”
“Exactly! And they’re wasting those droid parts on the service industry. They’d be much more profitable- er, effective in something like a piloting droid.”
“I suppose that would make for some very safe space travel.” Jemma said, playing along. “So what are you, then? Some kind of engineer?”
“A droidsmith. And once I figure out how to mass produce the gyroscopics, I’ll be a rather successful one.”
“Not to nitpick, but I think there’s something wrong with its personality matrix,” Jemma said. “It was spouting incorrect facts at me the entire time.”
“It’s not the personality matrix. It’s the memory bank. I messed it up when I was replacing it. Sloppy work, I know.”
Jemma nodded, impressed by La’Shaa’s knowledge. Jemma could slice into nearly any droid in the galaxy, but she didn’t know much about their hardware. She’d met all kinds of self-proclaimed droid enthusiasts, but La’Shaa seemed to be the real deal; even if she was prone to mistakes.
“There’s a guy who sells memory banks real cheap on Mos Espa, but you know… One problem at a time,” La’Shaa said.
“Is that where you’re going? If we escape, I mean.”
“Of course. And if you’re smart, you’ll leave too.”
She hated to admit it, but La’Shaa was right. There was nothing for her on Canto Bight. Nevertheless, she’d made up her mind about staying. Even if it meant living in this cell.
Just then, Jemma and La’Shaa could hear the trotting footsteps of a droid. It was SE-8, with a handheld device clutched in its hand.
“You made it!” La’Shaa exclaimed. “Use the ray shield scrambler. Quickly, before anyone sees you!”
“Did you know that ray shield scramblers are highly encouraged by the Canto Bight Police Department?” SE-8 said.
“Yeah, yeah,” La’Shaa said. “Just free us you silly pile of scrap.”
SE-8 pressed on the device and the ray shields flickered off. La’Shaa walked out of the cell, with the other two lagging behind. Between SE-8’s mild movements and Jemma’s limp, La’Shaa realized she was trying to pull off a getaway with the two slowest people in the galaxy.
“Alright, brainiac. You’re up,” La’Shaa said to Jemma. “What do we do now?”
“We have to play this smart. If the security droids see us, it’s over,” Jemma said.
“Maybe we can slice them? With my droid expertise, and your slicing abilities...”
“I had the same idea, but the droids aren’t controlled from the police station. It’s some other place. Some Tower,” Jemma said, recalling what Meeko had told her. “Besides, we’re nearly out of time. If anyone’s checking the sensor, they’ll already know we brought down the ray shield.”
“Dammit,” La’Shaa said. This was going to be harder than she thought.
“Just follow me,” Jemma said, leading the way.
The Canto Bight jail was like a maze. Each of its corridors looked the exact same. It was enough to make La’Shaa’s head spin. Fortunately, Jemma seemed to know exactly where she was going...

Master Codebreaker shook Captain Cross’ hand, stifling a wince. Even in his old age, Codebreaker possessed a perfectly firm grip. But Cross’ was something else. Intense to the point of bone-crushing.
“Take it easy,” Codebreaker said. “You’ll tear my arm off.”
“Sorry,” Captain Cross said, sincerely. “Sometimes, I don’t know my own strength.”
“I don’t envy the man who has to learn it the hard way,” Codebreaker said, with a half-smile. “I assume we’re done here?”
“Yes. You’ve done well, Master Codebreaker.”
“Try to avoid any further scandals, please.”
Codebreaker forgave Cross for his earlier intrusion. Inconvenient as it may have been, Codebreaker chalked it up to bad timing. Considering the alternative, he was glad Cross had enlisted his help..
As he turned to leave, Codebreaker heard the Captain’s comlink buzz. It was the voice of an officer. One he didn’t recognize, full of worry and franticism.
“Captain!” she said. “I don’t know if you’ve seen the HoloNet… But someone discovered the archive.”
Codebreaker could feel his heart skip a beat. The officer continued.
“I don’t know how it happened, but practically all of Canto Bight’s talking about it!”
The look in Cross’ eye hardened. His hands clenched into fists.
“Anything else, Lieutenant Pakker?” Cross asked.
“I…”” the officer began, her voice breaking. “Two prisoners have escaped, sir. Seems to be the result of a ray shield scrambler.”
“Thank you. Sound the alarms,” Cross said, turning the comlink off.
“Let me guess...” Codebreaker said with a sigh. ”Our arrangement just got a little more complicated?”
Cross said nothing. He didn’t have to. He spoke by drawing his stun stick.
“I can change my name,” Codebreaker offered. “Move to a new system. You can tell the city I… Disposed of myself.”
Master Codebreaker’s celebrity had, for the most part, only carried weight in Canto Bight. It was a huge galaxy, and Master Codebreaker was more than capable of making himself disappear. He never wanted to leave the planet, but it had become perfectly clear it held no future for him.
“I apologize,” Cross said. “But what would that say about this city if I let a wanted murderer escape?”
It was pointless to argue with Cross, and physically fighting him would prove just as fruitless. These days, Codebreaker could hardly handle a Jawa. Let alone, the seven-foot Captain.
“Come quietly and I won’t lay a hand on you,” Cross said.
It was as generous of an offer as he could expect, but Codebreaker only had a few years left to live. He had no intention of spending them behind a cell. Lucky for him, he possessed the perfect rebuttal.
“Vahs endku juma losku!” Codebreaker shouted. Almost immediately, his holdout blaster jutted into his hand.
For decades, that simple phrase was enough to tip the scales of any conflict in his favor. Tonight would be no exception.
The Captain sighed, placing the stun stick back on his belt. He raised his hands in the air.
“Nice trick,” Cross said. “Guess I should’ve seen it coming.”
“They seldom do,” Codebreaker said, with a cheeky smile.
Codebreaker shot Cross in the chest, knocking him to one knee. Cross growled like a rancor. Smoke fumed out of the impact of his chestplate. Codebreaker’s stun blast hardly did anything! Cross rose to his feet, swaggering towards Codebreaker.
Codebreaker shot Cross again. And again. And again. Until finally, he was knocked to the ground. Cross winced in pain, unable to move from the force of the stun bolts. To a normal human, a single shot would have sufficed. Even now, Cross was still wide awake!
“Captain, I respectfully decline your offer,” Codebreaker said, blowing off a wisp of smoke from his blaster. Any more shots, and the gun would’ve overheated. “I’m leaving this city for good. And I’d greatly appreciate it if you let me do so in peace.”
Cross was in too much pain to properly speak his mind. He could only manage a single word.
“Never.”
Master Codebreaker frowned. He considered finishing the Captain off, but the two shared too much history. Killing him wasn’t the kind of thing Master Codebreaker would do, and there was never a more profound time to prove it.
Codebreaker placed his hand in the air, allowing the holdout blaster to slide back into his sleeve. He stepped out of the room, leaving Captain Cross to slip into unconsciousness.

Jemma punched in the code to the evidence room, packed wall-to-wall with lockers. They contained confiscated items of all sorts, arranged alphabetically by the prisoner’s last names.
Jemma was able to find her belongings relatively quickly. She knew this station like the back of her hand. Once, when there were no encryptions to break, she’d been ordered to organize this very room.
Jemma retrieved her utility belt and police equipment, loading a new power pack inside the Relby K-25 blaster. As an added bonus, a handheld radar that showed the proximity of nearby security droids. They were shown as red dots, and the radar updated its scans every few moments.
“Hold on,” La’Shaa protested. “I need a blaster too!”
“You shot me, remember?” Jemma said, rolling her eyes. “You don’t get a weapon.”
“First of all, I shot your protective gear. Not you. Trust me, if I wanted you dead, I would’ve aimed higher.”
“You expect me to believe you missed out of the goodness in your heart?”
“No. I missed because I thought you were cute.”
“Oh. That’s…. Sweet? But I don’t--”
“Relax, puffer pig. I know you have a boyfriend.”
Jemma grabbed a EL-16 rifle from one of the other lockers, handing it off to La’Shaa. It was a crude, two-handed blaster. The gun was heavy and rusted.
“Yuck,” La’Shaa said, awkwardly gripping the blaster. “You’d expect the crimelords of Canto Bight to have better taste in weapons.”
Just then, the police station’s alarms screeched through the building. The alarms in each room pulsed wildly. Jemma had been working at the station for years, and in that time, she’d only heard them during the annual fire drills.
If that wasn’t enough, a security droid’s voice boomed over the PA system.
“This is not a drill. Be advised. Two dangerous inmates have escaped.”
“That’s obnoxious,” La’Shaa said. “You think that’s for us?”
“Hush,” Jemma said, starting to feel annoyed by La’Shaa’s constant chatter. “Time to leave.”
Jemma and La’Shaa snuck out of the room. Jemma checked her radar for security droids. They were surrounded, but Jemma knew just how to avoid them!
“This way,” Jemma said, directing them to a catwalk. It was a steel bridge leading to the control room. It was installed only for maintenance purposes, making it the perfect path for a discrete escape. Unfortunately, it contained no guard rails. A fall from this height would surely prove lethal.
Jemma checked her radar and spotted two security droids below. She was the first to step on the bridge, which produced a horrible creak.
“Won’t they hear us up here?” La’Shaa said.
“Probably not over the alarms,” Jemma said. “I’m more worried about them spotting us.”
La’Shaa agreed. She knew all about the security droid’s vision-enhancement technology. Keeping in the dark was probably their best bet. She’d only wished there were a better, slightly safer alternative.
La’Shaa was horrified as she took her first steps on the beam.
“You’re afraid of heights?” Jemma asked.
“Mostly the falling portion,” La’Shaa said.
“I know it’s scary, but we’re going to be okay.”
Jemma was frightened too. She wasn’t sure it could support all three of their weights, but being forced to pose as the brave one eased her worries.
As they inched their way across, Jemma wondered why she was helping La’Shaa in the first place. Just because she had lost faith in Captain Cross didn’t mean she had lost her faith in the law. At least, she hadn’t lost faith in the idea of it. La’Shaa was a criminal, after all.
She considered arresting La’Shaa now, while she was vulnerable. Admittedly, the idea was somewhat treacherous. However, Jemma knew La’Shaa was just as likely to betray her if an opportunity presented itself.
Out of the corner of her eye, Jemma noticed La’Shaa losing her balance.
Sands. Jemma dropped the radar, snatching La’Shaas wrist in its place. She pulled her close, steadying her back onto the platform.
“Thanks,” La’Shaa said.
A loud crash echoed throughout the facility. The radar fell to the floor below them, exploding into a mess of electronic parts. The security droids snapped their gaze to the object, craning their necks up at the trio.
Jemma, SE-8 and La’Shaa had been spotted.
The security droids fired their blasters! Jemma was certain they were set to stun, but that wouldn’t make their falls any less deadly. For whatever reason, the droids didn’t know or care!
La’Shaa was quick with her rifle, returning fire with the EL-16. She didn’t miss a shot, but it hardly made a difference. Her blaster bolts bounced off their impenetrable armor plating.
“Damned clankers!” La’Shaa shouted.
“That word is a lovely compliment to droids of all sorts!” SE-8 said, unfazed by the bolt that whizzed by its head.
“Forget it,” Jemma said to La’Shaa. “We have to keep moving!”
Sparks flew from the bridge, impacted by the blasts! Hardly anybody survived a gunfight against security droids. However, these two were only equipped with hand blasters. Their firearms lacked the range to demonstrate the droid’s impeccable aim.
Jemma, La’Shaa and SE-8 finished their stride across the walkway, squeezing their way into the control room. To Jemma’s relief, there wasn’t a single droid awaiting them.
“Glad that’s over,” La’Shaa said, looking around at the wide array of vibrant levers.
“It's only just started,” Jemma said, starting to lose her cool. “Now the police know where we are! And they’ll hunt us like animals until we’re back in that cell!”
“Guess we’d better do something about that, then,” La’Shaa said, pointing her EL-16 blaster at the control panel.
“Wait!” Jemma yelled. “What are you doing?”
“Improvising.”
“That’s going to release the prisoners from their cells. You’d start a riot!”
“What’s the downside?”
“You can’t just--”
La’Shaa fired into the control panel, frying a hole through the machinery. Jemma turned to the control room’s vidscreens, displaying footage from the cameras. All at once, every cell door was unlocked.
Even at a glance, Jemma recognized some of the faces on the security feeds. She was familiar with many of the inmates, and in some cases, she played a part in ensuring their arrest.
She thought of all the horrible atrocities these criminals committed. Jemma had made such a huge portion of her life about structure, about order. Now, because of La’Shaa, it was all reduced to anarchy.
Jemma closed her eyes, saying the only words that came to mind.
“La’Shaa. You kriffing idiot.”

Chapter Text

Captain Cross awoke to an alarm blaring through the station. It was nearly loud enough to drown out the screaming from his comlink.
“Captain!?” the officer yelled. “Captain, do you read?”
Cross reached for the device, weary. It was Lieutenant Pakker again.
“Cross here,” he said, straining as he picked himself up. He could still feel the impact of his stun bolts.
“I don’t know how to describe it, sir. The doors to the prisoner’s cells just… Opened. Even the ray shield was disabled!”
Cross sighed. He didn’t think it was possible for Jemma to escape her cell, but he underestimated her once again. It was the last time he’d make that mistake.
“We’re trying to get the situation contained, but we need back-up! A few of the inmates have already escaped!”
Disaster after disaster, Canto Bight hadn’t experienced a night like this in nearly four decades. Worst of all, it was happening under his watch.
Would this be his legacy? Would he always be the captain who allowed Canto Bight to dissolve into chaos? No. He wouldn’t let it stand.
“I’m on my way over,” Captain Cross said. “Get a squad of security droids to pursue Codebreaker and Jemma Hale.”
“Codebreaker and Jemma? You mean that dweebish codebreaker?” Pakker asked. “I mean, sure. We’ll make sure they’re brought back in one piece.”
“No. Make an example out of them.”
“You don’t mean—?”
He didn’t need an answer. Pakker swallowed gravely, surprised by the Captain’s orders.
“...Yes, sir.”
The comlink blipped off, leaving nothing but the sound of Cross’ hurried footsteps. The Captain would resolve this. It didn’t matter who he had to hurt.
Cross made his way to the holding cells, where a glorious power struggle was unfolding. Cross watched in awe as the security droids and organic officers alike worked together to subdue the horrific riot. Under different circumstances, their unity would’ve made him proud.
The officers planted themselves to the ground, pushing back against the mob - but it wasn’t enough. The convicts had developed tactics of their own. Some crawled over their fellow prisoners, using whatever gaps they could to slip through the man-made blockade. Others launched the smaller, slimmer species over the enforcers. With every passing moment, another convict had escaped. Now that Cross was here, none more would pass.
Cross drew his stun stick, igniting it with a grimace. The preoccupied officers turned to him, watching as he advanced into the battle.
“Move,” Cross demanded.
“There’s too many of them!” one of the young officers shouted back.
The officer was shoved by Cross, who threw himself into the tide of escapees. He swung his stun stick into the crowd, dazing whatever was in its path. Cross’ movements were as powerful as they were imprecise, but it hardly mattered. No matter where he directed his attacks, he was guaranteed to hit someone.
“Get. Back. In. Your Cells,” Cross shouted, between his strikes. Even with the thundering alarms, everyone in the jail could hear him. But nobody listened.
Cross was swarmed with combatants, grabbing at his arms and legs like disobedient children. They slowed his movements, peppering him with their labored strikes.
It didn’t matter. Cross pulled away from their grip, cracking his stun stick over one of the prisoner’s mouths. By the time their teeth hit the floor, Cross had knocked out another two prisoners. Nobody could stop him. He continued thrusting the electrified end of his staff into their stomachs. Cross’ words rung through the halls once more.
“Get. Back. In. Your. Cells.”
This time, he got a response. For every prisoner that was concussed, another would cower back to their cell. Eventually, Cross promised himself, all of them would yield. Or they would be made to.
Cross was panting, nearly out of breath as he continued to clobber his opponents. One by one, they were jolted to the ground.
The other officers moved in with their shields, closing in on the horde. They jabbed the convicts who got too close, until they were met with less and less resistance. Thanks to the Captain, the conflict had become manageable. But it wasn’t over yet.
As the prisoners cleared the way, Cross’ final opponent was revealed. Cross recognized the man immediately. The only human on Canto Bight taller than the Captain.
“The Mangler of Canto Bight,” Cross said, in between breaths.
“Hey, Captain,” he said, with a sneer.
“Stand down. I assure you, it’ll be less painful.”
“Not for you.. See, I’ve been looking forward to this little rematch for years.”
Cross knew he could take The Mangler, but he couldn’t risk any further intervention. He had to end this swiftly. He turned to the officers, without wasting a beat.
“Kill him,” Cross said.
The human officers looked at one another, in confusion.
“Now.”
The Mangler laughed, as if it was a joke. It wasn’t Cross’ usual style.
His chuckle was stifled by a cascade of blaster fire. None of the security droids hesitated. The Mangler was dead.
Taking a final look at the mess, Cross couldn’t decide whether he felt triumph or pity. He settled on indifference.
In all of his years of service, Cross had never ordered an execution. Not until tonight. None of the organic officers had fired their guns, too shocked by the Captain’s orders.
“Get this place cleaned up,” Cross said, to no one in particular. “From now on, no more hesitating. If I tell you to pull the trigger, pull the trigger. For many of you, this will be the most chaotic night in your careers; I’m talking life or death. For the rest of the night, if anyone gives you trouble - I want your blasters off stun. Understand?”
There was silence among the crowd. In unison, they met his question with a collective approval.
“Yes, Captain!”
“Good. We won’t survive with mercy.”

Jemma and La’Shaa made their way to the station’s massive garage, taking cover behind a stack of crates. It was lined with rows of police speeders and GB-134 pursuit crafts. The speeders, more commonly known as “jet-sticks,” were as powerful as they were fast.
A scowl was glued on Jemma’s face. She hadn’t forgiven La’Shaa for starting a riot, and she probably never would.
“Oh sorry,” La’Shaa said, sarcastically. “Did freeing those criminals hurt your feelings, little miss lawful?”
“I should’ve let you die.”
“Not the first time I’ve heard that one,” La’Shaa said. “Trust me, this was our best shot at escaping. Nothing gets puffer pigs off your back like a little diversion!”
“I wouldn’t be so sure about that,” Jemma said, gesturing to a couple of security droids guarding the facility.
“Dammit. What are they still doing here? You think we should take one of those jet-sticks?”
“Forget it. I don’t know their sequence codes, and the police speeders can’t be hotwired.”
Jemma noticed Meeko’s speeder, still parked across the hanger. She remembered the password Meeko had entered earlier in the night. Unfortunately, it was parked right in front of the security droids.
“The one over there is an option,” Jemma said, pointing to Meeko’s vehicle.
“The dingy-looking one? Let me guess: it’s your partner’s? It suits him.”
“We just have to get those droids away,”
Jemma grabbed the glow rod from her belt and handed it to La’Shaa.
“Throw this as far as you can,” Jemma said.
“Why don’t you do it?”
“Because. You look like you have the better arm.”
La’Shaa couldn’t dispute her logic. Codebreakers weren’t known for having the best physiques, and Jemma was hardly an exception. By comparison, La’Shaa’s life on the run had kept her quite fit.
“Alright, fine,” La’Shaa said, begrudgingly.
La’Shaa gave the glow rod an impressive hurl, chucking it across the garage. It rolled right past the security droids, luring them to investigate the noise.
When the droids were out of sight, Jemma and La’Shaa crept forward to the speeder. La’Shaa hopped in, stuffing SE-8 in the back. Meanwhile, Jemma crawled into the driver seat and entered the code.
Jemma was greeted with a warning on the dashboard. The speeder’s fuel ran dangerously low. Even now, Meeko’s incompetence was causing her problems.
The engine roared on, while La’Shaa readied the aim of her EL-16. Jemma had nearly forgotten how loud the speeder was
“Are we sure this thing won’t fall apart?” La’Shaa asked.
“It very well could,” Jemma said, lacking confidence. “Is your SE-8 ready to drive? I can’t pilot this.”
“Why don’t you switch places so we can find out?”
The security droids emerged from their distraction, blasters drawn. A flurry of shots came straight for them!
“Scratch that, we’re out of time!” La’Shaa said, returning fire. “Just put your foot on the acceleration and get us the hell out of here!”
Jemma floored the speeder, crashing through the hangar gate! The durasteel fence was taken out, lodged through the speeder’s windshield.
Jemma couldn’t see a thing with the gate blocking her view. La’Shaa reached over, using the butt of her rifle to strike the gate out of sight.
“Thanks,” Jemma said, her eyes wide with panic. She’d never driven a speeder before. In fact, she’d never been far enough from home to need to!
The citizens of Canto Bight leapt out of the way to evade her as they wooshed along.
“So,” La’Shaa shouted, over the wind. “How’s it feel?”
“Driving? Surprisingly intuitive!” Jemma yelled back.
“Just keep going until we’re out of the city!”
“No. This is as far as I go.”
“What do you mean!?”
“I’m not leaving Canto Bight. You can take the speeder, but I’m staying put.”
“Huh? You’ll end up right back in that cell!”
“Maybe. But this is my home.”
Jemma was blinded by a spotlight, appearing from the night sky. The two security droids had caught her using the police’s jet-sticks! They soared through the horizon, the aircraft’s laser cannons pointed directly at them!
Through the amplification of the jet-stick’s megaphone disks, an electronic voice boomed through the sky.
“You have ten seconds to pull over.”
“I don’t think we can lose them!” La’Shaa said. “Not when they’re piloting those!”
Jemma sighed. She knew La’Shaa was right. The jet-sticks were some of the most maneuverable speeders in the galaxy. It was part of what made Canto Bight’s Police Force so powerful.
But she couldn’t give up hope. Jemma continued down the pathway, searching for an exit.
Jemma went slow, keeping pace with the citizens in the alley. She grabbed for the speeder’s safety harness, clicking herself in.
“Buckle in,” Jemma commanded. La’Shaa gave her a look of protest. “Now.”
“Fine. But we need to go faster,” La’Shaa said, locking her harness. “Not that it matters. At this rate, even a hyperdrive couldn’t save us.”
“Then our best bet is to stay near the crowds,” Jemma said. “The security droids won’t fire on us. Not if it means risking the tourist’s safety.”
“You sure about that?”
“Yeah. Protocol dictates that--”
BOOM. A thunderous warning shot from the jet-stick’s cannons roared out, sending the entire crowd into greater panic. Clearly, these droids had no intention of playing by their own rules.
Back to Plan B. Jemma pumped the acceleration as hard as she could! Meeko’s engine sputtered, as if it could give out any second. Their only hope was to step on it!
One last error on the dashboard. Their fuel tank was officially empty.
“No, no, no!” Jemma whined.
BOOM. Another shot from the jet-stick, sending bursts of tile into the air! It was just shy of a perfect hit. The remaining citizens made a break for it.
As the fuel emptied, Jemma’s speeder slowed to a halt. The officers were already lining up their next shot. They wouldn’t miss again.
La’Shaa tensed in her seat, bracing for an impact.
One last message. The speeder had switched to an alternative fuel source: hyperdonium. The engine had sputtered right back on!
“There’s hyperdonium in this thing!?” La’Shaa said, excitedly.
It was one of the fastest fuels in the galaxy. It was highly illegal, used mostly by racers. Meeko probably intended to use it after stealing the datastick.
Jemma could feel the speeder’s velocity as the hyperdonium shot from the engines. She could hardly make out her surroundings with how fast everything was flowing by.
They finally had a chance! But not if she couldn’t control it.
“Stay on it!” La’Shaa said. “Don’t stop!”
“We’re going too fast!” Jemma said, weighing her options. In the distance, Jemma spotted the outline of a figure. It was approaching hard and fast.
“Come on! This is our shot!” La’Shaa said.
“I can’t,” Jemma said, defeated.
“What!? Go!”
Jemma threw on the brakes, swerving to a halt just before impact. It was a little girl. She’d nearly killed a little girl.
Jemma exhaled in relief. No escape was worth the death of an innocent life. The girl’s dirty outfit and lost expression spoke volumes. Whether their parents were killed or simply left the child here, the girl was an orphan. Her and Jemma had that much in common.
BOOM! A direct hit against the speeder. The missile flipped Jemma and La’Shaa right in the air until they crashed violently back to the ground.
Jemma rolled out of the speeder, summoning the strength to pick herself up from the ground. She stood on a pile of busted glass, watching as the two security droids began their advance.
Jemma shuddered as she noticed the child she had stopped to save… She was lying in the street, dead from the explosion.
The security droids no longer cared about capturing Jemma alive. That much was clear. Her blaster had already proven useless against the droid’s armor. There was no denying it: Jemma had lost.
In the blink of an eye, a speeder rammed through the droid's bodies. The seemingly indestructible security units exploded into a mess of metal limbs and wires. The mysterious vehicle braked in front of Jemma. Its tinted windows slowly descend.
It was Master Codebreaker.
“Get in the damned speeder,” he grumbled.

Chapter Text

Master Codebreaker was the last person in the galaxy Jemma wanted to see. If nothing else, she assumed leaking the archive would lead to his arrest. Yet here he was, a free man. Perhaps it was all in vain.
Jemma could barely process the death that surrounded her. The haunting image of that poor girl, struck down by a missile she had never seen coming. More than likely, La’Shaa had suffered the same fate. Now, it was only a matter of time before Jemma followed suit.
“I said get in the speeder!” Master Codebreaker yelled, revealing a blaster. She fluttered at the sight of its barrel, stepping inside and buckling in.
Master Codebreaker kept the weapon on Jemma, steering with a single hand.
“Stupid girl,” Codebreaker said, his eyes glued to the road. “Do you realize what you’ve done? The magnitude of which you’ve ruined my life?”
“I guess now we’re even,” Jemma shot back.
“Even? I told you I didn’t kill your mother!”
“That’s not what the archive said.”
“The archive is a lie! They made those reports up!”
Jemma considered. It seemed to be a popular story.
“That’s what Cross told me,” Jemma said. “But why?”
“I’m being squeezed for credits, you simpleton. I killed one person. One.”
“Was it my mother?” Jemma asked, a teardrop falling from her cheek.
“No! It was a woman named Lovey. I… I shot her in self-defense. A horrendous mistake, really. Had I just shown a little restraint, maybe she--”
Codebreaker stopped himself. He’d already re-lived it a million times in his head.
“After that night, the police realized how much I’d pay to keep a secret,” Codebreaker continued. “So the police made up murders. Held them over my head. They threatened to release the reports unless I paid them a fortune to keep it to themselves. It was all nonsense, you see?”
“Why didn’t you just leave the planet?” Jemma asked.
“Because. This is my home.”
Jemma hated to admit it, but it made sense. If the Marauders were working with the police all along, perhaps Codebreaker was being extorted. Even worse, Jemma may have had more in common with Codebreaker than she thought. If his story was true, he loved this city just as much as she did.
“Your mother opposed the Marauders, just like me,” Codebreaker continued. “She knew the vile things they were capable of. She swore if she ever caught them in the act, she’d report it… And they punished her for it. Had I known she had a daughter, believe me, I would’ve reached out earlier. Tried to help.”
“Help?” Jemma said, glaring at the blaster Codebreaker still held on her. “Is that what this is?”
The girl had a point. Master Codebreaker retracted the blaster back into his sleeve.
Codebreaker refocused his efforts on escaping the crime scene. They pulled into a long line of speeers, blending seamlessly into the crowd.
“I wasn’t going to hurt you,” Codebreaker said. “Out of respect for your mother, I’m putting you somewhere safe. I know someone who can get us new names. Put us anywhere in the galaxy. Don’t worry about credits, I can cover--”
“I’m not leaving,” Jemma said, firmly.
“I know it’s hard. Frankly, I despise it. But your mother already died trying to fix this city. She wouldn’t want it to take you too.”
“I had my chance to leave. I didn’t take it then, and I’m not taking it now.”
“Jemma. If there’s anyone who wants to live out the rest of their years on Canto Bight, it’s me. But look around. There’s nothing we can do. We’ve lost.”
Jemma groaned. He was right. The life she knew was over.
“Just answer me this,” Jemma said. “If you didn’t kill my mother, who did?”
“I don’t have the slightest clue,” Codebreaker said. “But whoever it was, I’m willing to bet Cross helped them cover it up.”
The traffic had only gotten worse. They were completely stopped. From out of nowhere, a metal hand knocked against the speeder’s window. Codebreaker jumped, looking at the officer droid in horror.
“Roll down your windows please. I need to see your identification,” the droid said.
“Blast it,” Codebreaker mumbled. The darkened windows of his speeder would protect his identity, but not for long. The officer droid pounded on the window once more, losing his patience.
“Excuse me,” the droid shouted through the window. “Roll down your window and show me your identification. Now!”
Unlike humans, the droids couldn’t be bought. To make matters worse, their speeder was sandwiched between two other vehicles. Fleeing was not an option.
“This is your final warning,” the droid stated. “You have five seconds to roll the window down before I resort to violence.”
“You got any ideas, kid?” Master Codebreaker asked, turning to Jemma.
“Five,” the droid began.
Jemma thought back to her and Meeko’s escape, when the Rodian used his comlink to draw the security droids away. Unless Cross had overridden the droid's programming, it could work.
“Four.”
On the other hand, perhaps it was better not to. Master Codebreaker was going to be caught red-handed, just like she always wanted. But, part of her actually believed he was telling the truth!
“Three.”
If the droid found out she was in the speeder, she was as good as dead. The Canto Bight Police Department had proven more ruthless than ever. She could stand the idea of living in a cell, but she was too young to die!
The jet-stick’s missile was meant for her, not the little girl standing in the street. She doubted the officers cared. Probably chalked her up to collateral damage.
“Two.”
Even if she still couldn’t trust Master Codebreaker, at least there was a chance he was honest.
“One.”
Jemma unclipped the comlink from her belt, speaking into it.
“We need all units to the podracing arena. It’s… On fire.”
Jemma was a horrible liar, but it seemed to suffice. The security droid turned, sprinting away from the vehicle.
Master Codebreaker let out a relieved breath. Just like that, traffic seemed to be moving again.
“If you hadn’t destroyed the entire fabric of my life tonight, I’d be inclined to thank you for saving it,” Codebreaker said.
“I doubt it’ll last long,” Jemma said. “Where do we go now?”
“I bet they’ll have security droids protecting my mansion. It’s a shame, really. I have all kinds of ships there. Ships fast enough to get us to another system. But we’re better off waiting for my contact.”
“Your contact? How long will that take?”
“Five hours, maybe? We just need to survive the night.”
Jemma took a deep breath. She couldn’t take much more of this. Even if she did make it out alive, what kind of life was waiting for her? Would she always be looking over her shoulder?
“We can do this,” Master Codebreaker said, reassuringly. “Trust me. I’ve endured far worse. But we’ll need a plan.”
“I know a place where we can lie low,” Jemma said.
“Where?”
“It’s… It’s my apartment.”
“Your apartment? Do you grasp the logic of going into hiding, darling?”
“Only one person knows I live there. It’s on the outskirts of town. A real dump, actually. Trust me, the police would never think to check it.”
It was absurdly straightforward, but maybe that’s what they needed. At this point, any other scheme was just as big of a risk. Until they escaped this planet, they’d be hunted to the ends of Cantonica.
“Fine. Tell me the way,” Codebreaker said.

La’Shaa’s eyes cracked open as she awoke to the smell of burning metal. She watched in horror as fire engulfed the speeder. She wasn’t sure whether the fire was caused by the crash or the missle. All she knew was the flames were getting closer!
“SE-8!” she yelped, turning to the passenger side. SE-8 pivoted its neck to her, nonchalantly.
“I would estimate that we have twenty minutes before we should begin to exercise caution,” SE-8 said.
“What? No, we gotta get out of here, dummy!” La’Shaa unbuckled her safety harness, dropping to the ground. She rolled out of the vehicle and dragged SE-8 to safety.
La’Shaa stood the droid up, inspecting the scorch marks that appeared on his armor plating.
“Dammit. This crash really did a number on you, huh?” La’Shaa asked.
“My physical condition has never been stronger,” SE-8 said.
“Whatever. We have to go.”
La’Shaa grabbed the droid’s arm, only to have it ripped from the socket. Wires that had previously connected the torso to the limb were exposed, dangling down unattractively. La’Shaa sighed, picking the droid’s arm off the ground. She didn’t have time to repair it now.
La’Shaa spotted two security droids on the ground, mutilated into scrap. Was this Jemma’s doing? It didn’t seem like her. Whoever it was, they’d managed to buy La’Shaa an extra few minutes. Still, it wouldn’t do her much good unless she thought of a plan.
A voice came from the droid’s comlink, yelling at the top of its lungs.
“Captain Cross to security units. Do you have eyes on Jemma Hale? I repeat, do you have eyes on Jemma Hale?”
La’Shaa rolled her eyes, almost offended. She thought all this fanfare was for her, but clearly, Jemma was in deeper trouble than she had anticipated.
To her surprise, a luxury escort speeder swung in her direction, abruptly slowing to a halt. La’Shaa whipped the blaster from her belt with her free hand, firing off a few shots into the windshield.
A man wearing all black dove out with his hands in the air.
“Wait, wait, wait!” the man said, horrified. “My name is Thom Watam! I’m here to help!”
“I’m not going back to jail!” La’Shaa said.
“What? I’m not an officer! I’m a chauffeur! I’m completely unarmed, so if you could please put the blaster away--”
“If you’re unarmed, what’s stopping me from taking your vehicle?”
“Uh. Because I’d report you?” Thom said, nervously. Clearly, he hadn’t thought this far ahead. He wasn’t helping his case, either.
La’Shaa had never seen this man in her life, but he had an earnest look about him. With his driver’s cap and light frame, he was the most unthreatening human she’d ever seen. More importantly, his clear complexion and spotless outfit made him look quite wealthy. La’Shaa narrowed her eyes, slowly lowering the blaster.
“Fine,” she said, advancing to the back of the speeder. She held the door open for SE-8 and they stuffed themselves inside.
“Aren’t you going to buckle in?” Thom asked.
“Is everyone in this city uptight?”
Once they were safely strapped in, Thom zipped his speeder out of the area. As they fled the scene, La’Shaa and SE-8 were thrown around in the back.
“Watch it!” La’Shaa said. “I was already in one speeder accident tonight.”
“I told you to buckle in,” Thom said, suddenly remembering the girl’s willingness to kill him. “Right. Sorry. I’ll be careful. Is that a droid arm in your hands?”
“It’s not important. Who’s this friend of yours?”
“Her name is Jemma. I saw the police chasing you two on the HoloNet. They didn’t identify either of you, but… I knew.”
“Ha,” La’Shaa laughed, with a self-satisfied expression. “You’re the boyfriend she was telling me about.”
“Boyfriend?” Thom asked, his eyes widening with surprise. “She said that?”
“I wouldn’t get too excited. She hates your guts, pal.”
“She has every right. I’m… Trying to make it up to her.”
La’Shaa couldn’t believe how pitiful he sounded. Thom was actually fighting tears.
“I thought maybe you’d have an idea about where she was headed.”
“I wouldn’t help you even if I could. The only thing worse than a puffer pig is a snitch. Jemma’s odds are better without you. Not that I really care.”
“So she really didn’t tell you anything? Anything at all?”
“I… All she said is she wasn’t leaving the planet. I doubt you’ll be able to find her before the police.”
“I know. But I have to try.”
He closed his eyes, imagining where he’d hide if he were in Jemma’s shoes. If it were him, he’d have turned himself in from the start. But Jemma was different. She was brave. And annoyingly inflexible.
Nothing could pry Jemma from this wretched city. No matter how wrong it was for her, Canto Bight was her home.
Her home. That was it! Thom picked Jemma up from her apartment before. She even mentioned that he was the only person that knew where she lived. There wasn’t a hideout in the galaxy that would’ve been more convenient!
“I think I know where she is,” Thom said. “And if you don’t mind, I could use your company. After all, you seemed pretty handy with that blaster.”
This little droidnapping job became far more than La’Shaa had bargained for. She just wanted to find an SE-8 and leave… But her best chance was to bide her time. At least until the police found Jemma, and the planet loosened up its security. In the meantime, everything was on the verge of chaos.
Right now, Thom’s speeder was as secure of a place as any. If nothing else, it kept her moving.
“Alright, fine,” La’Shaa said. “Get us to Jemma’s.”

Chapter Text

Captain Cross took a moment to collect himself inside his office. From beginning to end, tonight had been an utter nightmare. The Captain had been forced to sacrifice his own humanity for a chance at saving the city, but at this point, he wasn’t sure how much of it he could salvage.
It hurt Cross to pursue Jemma so relentlessly. He’d genuinely loved the girl. Knowing he played a role in her mother’s murder crushed him, but being around her eased his guilt. Jemma was a sweetheart, and hands down one of the most dependable employees he’d ever had. At least, until tonight.
Cross cursed himself for allowing her to become an officer in the first place. He assumed she’d grow discouraged, surrendering to the unbreakable mystery of her mother’s killer. He simply wanted her to move on.
A buzz from the comlink. Cross answered it instantly.
“Yeah?”
“Captain,” the officer said. To his surprise, it wasn’t Lieutenant Pakker but Seregant Bleeke. His demeanor was icier, but Cross appreciated his bluntness. “We’ve found two dismantled security droids outside the station. They were in pursuit of one Jemma Hale, who managed to escape with her life. Quite narrowly, I presume.”
“What? How?”
“We don’t know, sir. A few missiles were discharged, but there was only one casualty: an orphan girl. We couldn’t identify them, but if we work swiftly, I doubt anyone will notice she’s gone.”
Cross could feel his heart skip a beat. He could bear the responsibility of killing The Mangler, Codebreaker, and Jemma; but this felt like something else entirely.
“Tell me you’ve at least dealt with Codebreaker,” Cross said, reaching for any possible silver lining.
“Not even a visual on him, sir,” Bleeker said.
“I want checkpoints set around Cantonica. No ships get in or out without proper credentials. If anyone on the leak tries to flee the planet, arrest them.”
He could hardly believe he was going to such lengths to capture these two codebreakers, but the public needed to witness their downfall. To see such a massive data leak prevail would surely inspire other aspiring slicers.
Cross tried to brace himself for the inevitable backlash of his precautions. After all, the wealthy never liked being told to stay put. Even so, a little fuss from the locals was the least of his worries.
“What about the Marauders, sir?” Bleeker asked.
“Hmph,” Cross said, thinking. It was finally time to choose between his allegiance to the Marauders and the guise of maintaining order. He strove for a happy medium. “If they can prove they’re affiliated, allow them to pass.”
“Very well.”
“And don’t call me back until you have good news.”
“About that... I’d recommend having Pakker shut down communications for a while. There was a fake report about the podracing arena being set ablaze. It was a woman’s voice. Deep. Could be the girl.”
That was Jemma, alright. Diverting the security droids with a fake emergency. She’d been borrowing from Meeko’s tricks.
Without their communications, the police would be crippled. Considering who they were up against, resorting to encrypted messages wasn’t a proper solution either. Still, they didn’t have much choice.
“Very well. Have Pakker shut it down,” Cross said, turning off the comlink.
Cross turned to his door to see Jexton Koyles, standing over its threshold.
“Hello, Captain,” Jexton said.
“Jexton,” Cross said, stiffening his posture. “Apart from my earlier intrusion, how are you this evening?”
“I’ve been better,” Jexton said, bluntly. “I had only one goal tonight: recruit a codebreaker and return home to Nar Shaddaa. Easy enough, wouldn’t you agree? Instead, I’ve watched this city descend into chaos. Between the escaped convicts, missile-firing speeders and leaked police reports… People are afraid. And I don’t blame them.”
“I’m doing everything in my power to resolve the issue.”
“I’m aware. Nevertheless, I’d like to remind you why I leave this city in your control. It provides an escape. It’s a place my Marauders can live fearlessly. Where we can forget about life’s hardships, and live among high society. If you can’t take the power back, there will be consequences.”
“Like I said, I’m trying,” Cross said, growing annoyed. “Don’t forget who your friends are.”
“And don’t forget who has the leverage,” Jexton said, pulling a device from his jacket pocket. It appeared to be some sort of switch. Cross scowled at the sight of it. “I don’t think you understand the implications of tonight’s data breach. Many of my own men, trusted associates, were on it. You have until tomorrow morning to fix this, or Canto Bight will be under my authority. Understand?”
“I’ll see to it that it gets done.”
“Good,” Jexton said. “I want those Codebreakers.”

Detective Meeko sat in the cold room, twiddling his slender-looking thumbs. He’d never sat on this side of an interrogation table before. So far, he found it far less appealing.
The door wooshed open. It was Cross, his cape fluttering through the air. He towered over Meeko.
“I heard some alarms earlier,” Meeko said. “What’s going on? Some kinda riot?”
“It’s contained,” Cross said. “No thanks to you.”
“Come on, Captain. You gotta know I had nothing to do with the girl stealing that archive. Honest, I was trying to stop her--”
“That’s poodoo, and you know it.”
A wry smile spawned on Meeko’s face. There was no fooling Cross.
“Alright, fine,” Meeko said. “What are you gonna do? Lock me up?”
“That’s an option,” Cross said. “But I believe in second chances. You used to be one of the best detectives in the galaxy. What would you say to a little job?”
“Depends. What do you need?
“Jemma and the Codebreaker are hiding somewhere on this planet. If you can find them for me before sunrise, I’ll let you walk free from all the mischief you’ve caused. Hell, once they're secure, I’ll even get you past the security perimeter around Cantonica.”
Meeko snickered. It almost sounded too good to be true, but Cross was a straight shooter. At least, more often than not.
“So you’re letting me off the hook, but not the codebreakers? What’s your game here?”
“You messed up. And frankly, it would do my heart good to see you rot for it. But there’s one difference between you and them: you didn’t embarrass me in front of Jexton. If the codebreakers get away with this, they could overtake the city. You’re my best shot at making sure that doesn’t happen.”
“Fine,” Meeko said. “Get me a blaster. I’ll take care of the rest.”

Codebreaker and Jemma drove through the parkade into the more run-down, dangerous portion of the city. Despite living in Canto Bight his entire life, Master Codebreaker had never actually bothered to visit this side of town. As far as he was concerned, it wasn’t a part of his magnificent city.
“My speeder stands out like a sore thumb over here. I mean, it’s practically worth more than the entire neighborhood!” Codebreaker said, suddenly realizing his insensitivity. “I— I meant no offense.”
“No. You’re right,” Jemma agreed, seeing no use in disputing it. “We should leave it here. See if we can walk the rest of the way.”
His vehicle was already drawing too much attention. Somehow, it had to be disposed of.
“...Yes, agreed,” Master Codebreaker said, reluctantly. He’d miss it terribly, but they needed to stay focused.
As they made it further up the street, they passed terrifying creatures that were all too familiar to Jemma. Codebreaker looked at each one as they passed by.
“Always great to see the locals,” he said sarcastically.
“Don’t stare,” Jemma said, giving him a gentle nudge.
“Right. My apologies.”
An Ithorian emerged from the dark, creeping up behind them. Codebreaker jumped, mumbling a curse. It didn’t take much to scare him these days, but the slyness of his approach was enough to frighten anybody.
The Ithorian talked hurriedly in his rumbling voice, speaking an obscure language. Presumably, the Ithorian dialect.
“I’m sorry, I don’t understand,” Master Codebreaker said, over-articulating each word in hopes of getting across his confusion. It was futile. The Ithorian continued to ramble, his bassy tone growing louder. The beggars around them began to take notice.
“He’s asking for credits. Says they’re for his daughter,” Jemma said. “For what it’s worth, I don’t think he has one.”
Codebreaker dug into his pockets, handing the alien a few credits.
“There,” Codebreaker said. “For your imaginary offspring.”
His actions had only attracted more attention. Crowds of vagrants approached, surrounding them from all sides.
“Oh, wise Codebreaker! Can you spare any more credits?” he heard one of them shout. Codebreaker felt his pulse race. Now was not the time for public recognition.
“So much for keeping a low profile,” Jemma mumbled.
Codebreaker pulled some credits from his pocket, tossing them to the ground. He watched the poor citizens of Canto Bight wrestle for his change like a pack of Vornskrs. It was a horrible sight, but it provided an adequate distraction. Codebreaker and Jemma pushed their way through the crowd, making their escape!
“We’re almost there,” Jemma said, pointing to a shabby-looking apartment.
The door wooshed open as they entered. It was dark, messy, and reeked of garbage. The rusted, metal walls reminded Codebreaker of the inside of a trash compactor. It was certainly better than being homeless, he thought, but not by much.
“For somebody so analytical, I would’ve expected something a little more tidy,” Master Codebreaker said.
“I’ve never had anyone over before,” Jemma said, with a small shrug. “And I certainly wasn’t expecting your company.”
“Fair enough.”
The apartment’s layout was compact, and downright miniscule compared to Codebreaker’s mansion. There was nothing but a kitchen, a bathroom, and a bedroom. Any furniture was littered with slicing tools and unfinished projects. Codebreaker could barely find a place to sit.
“Thanks for translating back there,” Master Codebreaker said. “I’m surprised you can understand Ithorian.”
“I’m surprised you don’t. After all, the closest thing to being a codebreaker is a translator.”
Master Codebreaker chuckled. It was a comparison he’d never considered. He always found learning languages to be far too tedious for his liking. It certainly didn’t compare to his more bombastic hobbies, like flying luxury ships or gambling. Besides, if he’d ever needed a translator, he always had his companion droid do it.
“I’d argue being a mathematician is closer,” he said.
Codebreaker hadn’t even noticed the fat creature sitting on Jemma's bed. It was a sheffi, a popular pet amongst locals. Useless little things, but charming nonetheless. Its grey fur and big black eyes had blended it perfectly into its surroundings. Jemma cleared a place for herself on the bed, pulling the lazy creature to her lap.
“This is Doz,” Jemma said. “The closest thing my family has to an heirloom.”
Sheffi’s could live for centuries, and Doz was no exception. The creature had been alive since the days of the High Republic.
“Actually, I believe we’ve met,” Codebreaker said. “Your mother brought that thing everywhere. For as long as I’d known Drelia, she was quite fond of it.”
“Her,” Jemma corrected. “Doz is a ‘her.’”
“Right. Well, your mother took Doz everywhere. Truth be told, I’d always wondered what happened to the thing.”
“She was passed right down to me, just like everything else.”
“Everything else?” Codebreaker inquired. “What else of hers do you have?”
“I’ll show you,” Jemma said, hoisting Doz off her thighs. She leaned up against her bedframe, readying herself to push.
Codebreaker assisted Jemma, but he’d grown too old to be of much help. Together, they pressed the bed far enough to reveal a hatchway. It was built seamlessly into the wood flooring, making its position quite subtle. Jemma cracked it open, leading them to a staircase that descended to the basement.
Jemma flicked on the lights, surprising Codebreaker with its scale. It was bigger than the apartment itself, filled with artifacts and memorabilia of Jemma’s mother. Among the many pieces were props used in her mother’s holodramas, datapads with authentic scripts, and even a life size hologram of Drelia herself!
“Do you realize how many credits you could get for all this?” Codebreaker said, in disbelief. “You wouldn’t have to live in this tiny apartment, that’s for sure--”
“It’s not for sale,” Jemma declared, defensively.
“Why, of course,” Codebreaker said, taking the hint. “I didn’t mean--“
Behind Jemma, he spotted something rather strange. Amidst her endless collection was a small hologram of himself. It was all surrounded by clues regarding Drelia’s disappearance. The display had been painstakingly arranged and connected. With all that ‘evidence’ stacked against him, it made him look like the incontestable culprit.
“I thought it was you for the longest time,” Jemma said. “And honestly, I’m still trying to get used to the idea that it isn’t.”
“I understand,” Codebreaker said. “I think most will assume the same, especially after seeing the archive. But trust me when I say you’ve been misled. No matter how many people buy into these poppycock conspiracies, the people who know me will understand I’d never hurt your mother. Not in a million years. I don’t care about clearing my name or changing the minds of the public. It’s become rather clear I’ll be remembered as a killer, not a codebreaker. But if I could just change your mind… Well, that’d be enough for me, Miss Hale.”
“You already have,” Jemma said, with a smile. “And if it’s any consolation, I was a big fan of yours. You know, before I thought you killed my mom.”
“It shows,” Codebreaker said. “You really know your way around code.”
“Thank you. I’ve spent my life studying it. I assume you did the same?”
“Not necessarily,” Codebreaker said, casually. “I was simply born with an aptitude for it.”
Jemma couldn’t believe it. Was Codebreaker so proud that he couldn’t even admit he practiced? Nobody was ever born the best at something.
“Uh-huh… That reminds me, did my virus stump you?” Jemma asked.
“Huh?” Codebreaker said, caught off guard by the question. “Well… Kind of. I couldn’t remove those blasted files from the archive, so I had to delete the whole server!”
“And that worked?”
“Yeah. But somehow the press got to it first.”
“So what you’re saying is I bested you?”
“It’s not that simple. Your method relies on new trends and cheap tricks.”
“Just because they confound you doesn’t make them cheap,” Jemma said, mockingly. “Maybe people should start calling me the Master Codebreaker.
“Congratulations. You cheated your way to a half-victory. Once you can break my quantum bio-hexacrypt, then we’ll talk.”
Jemma laughed to herself. She’d clearly bruised his ego a little.
“Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to see about obtaining a couple of new identities.”
Codebreaker climbed back upstairs, removing the holoprojector from his jacket-pocket. Once he was out of earshot from Jemma, he clicked it on.
A tall Kel Dor with folded arms appeared as a blue figure. The mean-looking smuggler wore a dark breath mask with a unique design. He looked like someone you couldn’t trust, but that was to be expected in this industry.
“Skelk. I trust you’ve received my message,” Codebreaker said.
“Yes, Codebreaker.” he said, calmly. “What you’re asking me to do isn’t easy, especially on such short notice... I’m willing to help, but it’ll cost you.”
“Name your price.”
“For two identity changes? Three billion credits.”
“Three billion?” Codebreaker repeated, in disbelief. It was precisely Codebreaker’s net worth, which he assumed was probably by design.
Codebreaker forced himself to remain calm. These negotiations always started high, but by the time Codebreaker was finished, he’d find a way to lower Skelk’s rates. “What about that time I helped you off Nal Hutta, hm?”
“I’ve already taken that into consideration.”
“Then surely you’ll agree that half a billion credits is more than fair.”
The Kel Dor let out a series of self-satisfied coughs, which Codebreaker assumed was his laugh.
“This isn’t a negotiation. Every single person who got exposed from the leak wants a new start. My services have never seen such high demand.”
“And you think they can beat my price?”
“You overestimate your own wealth, Codebreaker.”
Skelk had a point. While Codebreaker was absurdly rich, he didn’t even make Canto Bight’s top one hundred wealthiest patrons article. The Marauders had taken his fortune, gradually extorting him with the faked reports.
“My other clients would be willing to pay far more,” Skelk said. “I’m offering three billion as a final favor between friends. I’ll even accommodate a droid for no extra cost. I know how fond you are of your--”
“No thank you, Skelk. I’ll do it myself.”
“Yourself? I don’t think you understand what you’re up against. The police have checkpoints all around Cantonica. You’ll need the proper clearance to escape. But I could get you that overnight, alongside the necessary transportation. I’m still a few systems away, but I could be there in as little as a few hours. Unless you’d prefer to remain in hiding, of course. But, if you’re still not sold, I’m happy to sell my services elsewhere.”
Codebreaker sighed, taking a moment to think. He hadn’t known about the police’s perimeter checkpoints, which were notoriously difficult to evade.
Codebreaker may have been arrogant, but in this case, he knew his limits. Besides, if he planned to start a new life, perhaps it was better to leave his wealth behind.
“That won't be necessary,” Codebreaker said. “I’ll wire you the credits. Just get here as soon as you can.”
“Good. I’ll see you in a few hours.”
Codebreaker turned the holoprojector off. Jemma climbed up from the basement, holding Doz under her arm.
“How’d it go with your guy? Can he do it?” she asked.
“Yeah. It cost me every last credit I had, but he’ll be here. I’d start thinking about new name if I were you, because--”
Suddenly, a loud bump. With the apartment’s sloppy infrastructure, it could’ve been anything. But something didn’t feel right.
A muffled voice from right outside. It was a man, his words incoherent. They grew closer, and the second half of his sentence was unmistakable.
“--and make sure to have your blaster ready. You might have to use it.”

Chapter Text

“Take cover,” Codebreaker whispered. Jemma had already replaced the sheffi in her hands with her blaster. She leaned up against a wall as cover, while Codebreaker sauntered to the door.
It opened instantly. It was a slight-looking man, a waiter droid and a Twi’lek with a blaster rifle aimed directly at Codebreaker.
“Hello,” Codebreaker said, cautiously.
“Is that… Master Codebreaker?” the man asked, to no one in particular.
“Why, yes,” Codebreaker said, graciously.
“He’s here to kill Jemma!” the man shouted. “Blast him!”
Codebreaker hoped to solve this without violence, but clearly, that was no longer an option.
“Vahs endku juma losku!” Codebreaker yelled, with a blaster protruding into his hand.
Jemma looked at the surprise guests with bewilderment. Two people she never thought she’d see again: Thom and La’Shaa.
Sands. One of the only good things about Jemma changing her name and fleeing the galaxy was that she’d never have to see Thom again.
Before either of them could fire, Jemma revealed herself.
“Everyone!” she yelled. “Drop your weapons!”
Had she been second later, a shootout would’ve proven inevitable. Everyone slowly lowered their guns.
“Nice to see you, Jemma,” La’Shaa said, waving with her rifle.
“Jemma,” Thom mumbled. “I… I came here to explain--”
“Have you brought the police this time?” she asked, annoyed.
“What? I--- No.” Thom said, his gaze transfixed on Master Codebreaker. “Could we… Could we maybe talk in private?”
“I told you she wasn’t gonna wanna see you,” La’Shaa said, with a shrug.
“Fine,” Jemma agreed, leading the way to the basement.
La’Shaa and Codebreaker were left to themselves, birthing an awkward silence.
“Sorry I nearly shot you,” La’Shaa said to Codebreaker.
“I’ve experienced worse first impressions,” he replied.
“I’m La’Shaa. La’Shaa Harbreen,” she said, casually.
“Pleasure to make your acquaintance, La’Shaa,” Codebreaker said, extending a hand. La’Shaa stared at it, and shaked it with reluctance. She despised handshakes. Nine times out of ten, they were the start of a con.
“If you haven’t already put it together, I’m Master Codebreaker. Yes, yes... That Master Codebreaker.”
“I’m sorry, who?” she asked.
“I… Really?” Master Codebreaker was beside himself. Even the youngsters usually recognized him. “It’s not important. I presume you’re from some other system?”
“Yep. University of Bar’leth. Graduated top of my class.”
“University of Bar’leth? That’s quite the accomplishment. Their academics department--”
“I was being sarcastic.”
Normally, Master Codebreaker laughed at bad jokes to be polite. At the moment, he couldn’t even stomach a chuckle.
“The code to your holdout blaster. Vahs endku juma losku,” La’Shaa said, pronouncing it in her natural dialect. “That’s Twi’leki saying.”
“Yes. Everything ends in loss.” Codebreaker said.
“In my experience, that’s only true for losers.”
“You’re still young,” Codebreaker said, a pained smile growing on his face. “Give it time.”
“Are old people always this cynical?”
“You just say whatever’s on your mind, don’t you?”
“Pretty much.”
“Good. That’ll be a nice change,” Master Codebreaker said, finally noticing the waiter droid. His missing arm and dented plating made him look absurd. “Did… Did you steal that from the casino?”
“Thanks for noticing,” La’Shaa said, delighted by Codebreaker’s observation. “It was actually Jemma who arrested me for it.”
“She’s made a habit of that, hasn’t she?”
“Did you know this apartment is the most expensive piece of property on Canto Bight?” the SE-8 asked, suddenly chiming in.
“The droid’s in worse shape than it looks,” Master Codebreaker said. “And that’s saying something.”
“Yeah, yeah. I’ll fix it.”
Codebreaker felt his thoughts drifting to his companion, L0-33. He knew, barring a miracle, he couldn’t take her with to begin his new life. After all, he hadn’t seen L0-33 since his game with Jexton. Trying to get her back would certainly get him captured, killed, or worse.
“What’s wrong?” La’Shaa asked. She sounded apathetic, but Codebreaker could tell it was sincere.
“Tomorrow is the first day of my new life,” Master Codebreaker declared. “I’ve been thinking about all the things I’ll be leaving behind. My casino. My friends. My status... But the thing that hurts the most is losing my partner. She’s probably in some holding facility, waiting to get auctioned off to some collector.”
“I’m sorry, what?” La’Shaa said, perplexed.
“I… My partner is a droid companion.”
“Oh,” La’Shaa said, stifling a laugh.
“Forgive me if I don’t see the humor in it.”
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” La’Shaa said. “I’m in no position to judge. The last girl I loved pushed me out of her ship. Since then, I haven’t been keen on trusting anyone. Or heights... Or even staying in one place for very long, really.”
“What’s it like? Moving from planet to planet?”
“Lonely,” La’shaa said. “This SE-8 has been the best friend I’ve had all year, and we’ve only known each other for a few hours. That’s the thing about droids. People are messy. Predictable. Complicated. But I can always figure them out.”
“To droids,” Codebreaker said, raising a bottle of wine from the kitchen.
“To droids!” La’Shaa agreed, grabbing a glass.

Thom closed the hatch to the basement. He took a deep breath, his eyes wide with adrenaline.
“That was Master Codebreaker!” Thom said.
“I know,” Jemma said. “Turns out, he’s harmless.”
“But the report said he killed your mom!”
“It’s… It’s complicated.” Jemma said. “Look, why are you even here?”
Just when he had an explanation in mind, he was distracted by all the memorabilia of Jemma’s mother. Thom had never seen the inside of Jemma’s apartment before, only its run down exterior. He wasn’t sure what he had in mind, but it surprised him how much she’d hoarded.
“Wow,” he said, involuntarily. “Sorry. It’s just a lot of stuff-”
“Just get on with it, Thom!” Jemma snapped, slugging him in the arm.
“Ow! I just wanted to say I was wrong. Completely and utterly wrong. I should never have told the Captain about what you were doing here.”
“Be honest: did you do it to get back at me for not leaving Canto Bight?”
“No. I don’t think so. Maybe a little? I don’t know! I didn’t trust that you were making the right decision, and I figured maybe I could ease the consequences... Then, Cross changed the terms of our agreement. Said you’d serve a life sentence if you didn’t remove the archive. But here’s the part you don’t know about: I got revenge.”
“Revenge?”
“I looked for the public node where you leaked everything and downloaded it to a datastick. Then, I gave it to one of my friends in the press. From there, he was able to get it on the HoloNet!”
Jemma placed her hands over her face. If Master Codebreaker’s reports were falsified, how many other innocent people would be arrested for the leak? And now this was galaxy-wide?
“What’s wrong?” Thom asked.
“The police created the reports to extort people!” Jemma said. “They’re corrupt. Most of them probably aren’t even guilty.”
“Oh no... Did I mess up?”
“No, Thom. I did. I shouldn’t’ve leaked that stupid archive in the first place! I thought it was the right thing to do, but...”
“It’s okay! I’ll tell my friend. Maybe he could spread the word and set the record straight? Geez, I’m so sorry.”
“It’s alright. It’s nice having you back, actually. When you came in, I… I thought you were still working with the police. But you actively stood against them.”
“Maybe you were right. Maybe I was angry that you didn’t want to leave with me. But I don’t care about any of that. I don’t even care about being arrested. I just want to be with you.”
Jemma had known him for years, and in that time, she’d never found him quite so charming. Maybe it was the stress, but Thom couldn't have come at a better time. Thom blushed as she laid her hand on his cheek.
Once he looked a little more comfortable, she reached in for a kiss. It was as quick as it was satisfying.
“I… I’m sorry I made you choose between me and your home,” Thom said.
“This isn’t my home anymore,” Jemma said. “Wherever you go, I’d prefer to be by your side.”
“They set up a perimeter around the planet. We can’t leave for awhile, but maybe once the security eases up-- ”
“Actually, I’m leaving in the morning.” Jemma said. “Codebreaker bought two tickets off this place, and-- Sands.”
“What is it?” Thom asked
“Codebreaker spent all his credits on two identity changes. There’s no way we can both get off.”
“I have money too, remember?” Thom said. “Close to a hundred million credits, in fact!”
“It took Codebreaker’s entire life savings to make this happen. Your hundred million won’t be enough.”
“Oof. Well… We’ll figure it out. We always do,” Thom said, trying to remain optimistic. No matter what came to pass, he wouldn’t let Jemma risk her life just to be together. More than anything, this was about honoring her promise to Drelia.

Jemma and Thom climbed out of the basement. Master Codebreaker was leaning against the wall, drinking a bottle of Jemma’s wine. La’Shaa, on the other hand, had borrowed Jemma’s tools to reattach SE-8’s arm.
“Looks like you two have made yourselves at home,” Jemma said, throwing her hands on her hips. Thom knew her unamused expression all too well.
“Oh you’re back!” La’Shaa said, still modifying the droid. “Did you two lovebirds make up?”
“What are you doing to that SE-8?” Jemma said, changing the subject.
“Giving it a flamethrower arm, duh.”
“The droid has a busted memory bank and you’re giving it a flamethrower?”
“Well, when you put it like that…”
“I told her it was a bad idea!” Master Codebreaker said, taking another swig.
“I’m only going to let it engage when SE-8 sees someone who wants to kill us!” La’Shaa protested.
“No. I’m not having a flamethrower anywhere near my--'' Jemma said, stopping herself before she could elaborate. She’d nearly forgotten La’Shaa was a thieving criminal. She didn’t want her to know about her expensive collection.
“Near your what?” La’Shaa probed, suddenly intrigued. “What are you hiding down there?”
PEW! A blaster shot from right outside.
The door wooshed open, its control panel now fried!
Everyone snapped their attention to the entry, where a gaunt figure stood in an oversized trench coat. He held a blaster at his hip.
Jemma recognized him instantly. Detective Meeko.
“Vahs endku--” Master Codebreaker began, only to be shot square in the chest. Codebreaker spun around, his lifeless body slamming against the floor.
La’Shaa sprinted for her EL-16 rifle that she left on the kitchen counter. Meeko shot her before she got close.
Jemma panicked, fumbling for the Relby K-25 on her waist.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Meeko warned, as he began his advance. Jemma gave Thom a furious look. Had he sold them out again?

Chapter Text

La’Shaa and Master Codebreaker were face-down on the floor. Meanwhile, SE-8 remained in the corner. With the droid’s dark paint job, it went entirely unnoticed by Meeko.
“You shot them!” Jemma yelled.
“Relax, kid. My blaster’s on stun,” Meeko said. “But you make any sudden moves, and I’d be happy to change that.”
It was a minor relief knowing Codebreaker and La’Shaa were only concussed, but it hardly eased her feeling of defeat. With Meeko at their doorstep, their location was surely compromised.
“You have to believe me! I didn’t tell anyone how to find us,” Thom said in a panic. She couldn’t help but feel sorry for him. The boy had seen more danger tonight than he had in his lifetime.
“I believe you,” Jemma said, reassuringly. If they were going to make it off this planet alive, she’d have to start trusting him.
Meeko took another look at the Twi’lek, letting out a whistle.
“You’re working with La’Shaa now?” Meeko asked, finally noticing SE-8. “And her stupid droid, too?”
“Yeah. We escaped from jail and made off with your speeder.”
“You took my speeder?”
“We crashed it. Well, technically, the police blew it up with a missile.”
“That’s a shame,” Meeko said. From the hurt in his voice, it was clearly more sentimental than she thought. “I’ll miss that old thing.”
“How’d you find us?”
“You made it easy. Couple of bums were talking about how they saw Master Codebreaker. Said he made it ‘rain credits,’ or something like that. The idiots lead me right to ya.”
“So, let me guess... You escaped in the riot? And now you want revenge?”
“It was the Captain who let me out. Told me if I found you before sunrise, he’d pardon me for my crimes.”
“And you believe him?”
“More or less. Now slide your blaster over to me.”
Jemma unholstered her weapon, doing precisely as he asked. She hated giving it up, but she’d do just about anything to keep Meeko’s finger off his blaster.
“Good,” Meeko said. “Now, when I take you back to the Captain, you’re going to hear some really bad things about me. For my own sanity, I’d like to clear the air.”
“What do you mean?”
“For starters, they’re going to tell you I killed your mother.”
Jemma shuddered at his words. The mere image of it made her sick.
“Did you?”
“I… I was part of a small crew.”
Jemma slammed her eyes shut, fighting tears. She couldn’t even look at the hideous Rodian.
“It was supposed to be an easy job. Just me and a few Marauders.”
“You were working with them?” Jemma said, her voice trembling.
“I started off investigating them. Cross warned me not to, but I was never good at taking orders. Didn’t take long before I uncovered their connection to the police. So they took my son and held him as leverage. Said I could have him back if I kept my mouth shut and did a job for ‘em.”
“And that job was killing my mother?”
“A couple politicians, actually. The DuneCrofts, I think their names were? The job was to get in, rig an explosive to their speeder, and get out. But things got messy. Your mom witnessed the whole thing. I saw her run to grab a comlink, and…”
“You shot her?”
It broke Thom’s heart to watch Jemma get so upset. He almost would’ve preferred to be stunned by Meeko’s blaster than see her cry.
“I would’ve done anything to get my son back,” Meeko said. “We’d gotten away with the politicians' murders, but the Marauders found out about your mother. They considered the job a failure and killed my son as recompense. I guess they thought it would teach me some sick lesson about collateral damage.”
“I’m glad they did,” Jemma said, clenching her fists. “So you could know how it feels to lose the person that’s most important to you.”
“I wasn’t expecting two murders to turn into four. If I could, I’d take back everything I did.”
“But now you’re here, making the same mistakes you did six years ago. Ruining other people’s lives to try and fix your own.”
“I just wanted to save my family. If you had the chance to save yours, you would’ve done the same thing.”
Jemma considered Meeko’s point, but it simply wasn’t valid. There was no way she’d commit a double homicide to save a life, even if it was her mother’s. She would have found another way. Somehow.
“I wanted revenge just as bad as you. Maybe worse,” Meeko said. “But it’s not possible. They’re too big and too powerful. If the New Republic can’t get rid of them, what chance do we have? It’s like I’ve been telling you: you just have to move on. And now, I’m going to do exactly that.”
“You don’t have to do this. You can help us fight them,” Thom said, finding the courage to speak up.
“It’s too late for that,” Meeko shot back.
“Why?”
“Because I already called for back-up five minutes ago.”
Captain Cross stepped into the house with a security droid at each shoulder. Each of them had their blasters drawn, ready to fire.
“Good work, Detective Meeko,” Cross said. “Once they’re secured, you can trust I’ll hold up my end of the bargain.”
Meeko was relieved. He had no idea where he’d spend the rest of his days, but he was grateful it wouldn't be inside a cell.
To Jemma’s surprise, Captain Cross had two thermal detonators hanging from his belt. Canto Bight’s officers were never permitted to use explosives, but who was going to tell Cross what he could and couldn’t do?
At this point, she could only hope he wouldn’t use them.
Cross saw no point in stunning Jemma, or the pathetic looking man with the chauffeur cap. There was nowhere they could run, no chance of overpowering them. At this point, they were little more than prey.
“You. What’s your name?” Cross demanded.
“I’m T- Thomkin,” he said, his knees wobbling. “But people call me ‘Thom.’”
“You never told me you had a boyfriend,” Cross said, turning to Jemma.
She frowned. It wasn’t clear if Cross was mocking them or trying to start a conversation. Either way, she wasn’t going to indulge him.
“Get them restrained,” Cross ordered the security droids.
SE-8 watched as the security droids locked Master Codebreaker and La’Shaa into stun cuffs. The droid’s optics rested on its leader, Captain Cross. SE-8 recognized the man’s uniform as that of a high-ranking police officer. With the blaster rifle in the officer’s hands, SE-8 had everything he needed to assess the man’s nature.
“I have detected one threat,” it announced, gleefully.
“You guys hear that?” Meeko said, with a laugh. “It’s detected a threat.”
For the first time, the blue neon lights on the SE-8 shifted red. SE-8 raised its modified arm, and an extensible launcher shot from one of its panels. Cross was almost amused, until he realized the droid’s weapon was pointed straight at him.
A rush of fire erupted from the SE-8’s flamethrower arm, setting the apartment ablaze. Cross dove for cover, and SE-8 adjusted his aim accordingly.
The security droids were caught in the crossfire, set aflame by SE-8. The flames ate away at their armor. WIth a flame of this magnitude, the security droids were liable to be melted into scrap.
Jemma scooped her blaster from the floor, crawling behind a kitchen counter with Thom. She caught a peek and watched the carnage unfold.
“SE-8! Stop!” Jemma screamed.
It was hopeless.
Whether she liked it or not, this was all La’Shaa’s doing. It was as big of a testament to the Twi'lek's mechanical prowess as it was her short-sightedness. Although her work was admittedly impressive, La’Shaa didn’t program the droid with any regard for its master's safety. The SE-8 would continue shooting until Cross was dead, or it’s fuel was depleted.
“That thing’s going to get us all killed!” Thom said, shouting over the chaos.
“Just stay behind me!” Jemma said, sliding her blaster off its default stun setting. Taking a life wasn’t something she’d ever considered before. The notion was still so foreign, so unthinkable. Still, she was willing to do whatever it took to protect Thom. The notion of avenging her mother also helped.
While Cross was contending with the droid, Meeko was still on Jemma with his blaster. She returned fire, shooting blindly over the counter. If she managed to take him out, she and Thom could make a beeline for the exit. It was their best chance of making it out alive!
One after the other, each shot failed to hit Meeko. In fact, she’d come closer to hitting Master Codebreaker’s detained body.
While Meeko fired back, Cross managed to dispatch the SE-8 with his stun stick. Just like her other allies, he toppled straight to the ground.
The flames were still spreading rapidly, lining the walls and roaring through the apartment’s infrastructure. Thom hacked as the smoke filled his lungs.
They were out of time. Even if she defeated Meeko and Cross, she couldn’t abandon her friends. She dropped her blaster to the ground, sliding it across the floor.
“We surrender!” she shouted over the roaring fire.
“Good,” Cross yelled back. “Now come out with your hands up!”
Jemma turned to Thom, who was in the midst of a panic. She grabbed his hand, squeezing it hard enough to get his attention.
“We can’t win,” Jemma said. “I’ll make sure they know you’re not involved. That you’re just an innocent guy who got caught up in all this madness,”
Before he could protest, she interrupted him.
“On the count of three, we’re going to stand up, okay?”
Thom shook his head, swallowing nervously.
“Okay.” he agreed.
“One… Two… Three…”
Thom and Jemma stood up together with their hands stretched to the sky. Almost instantaneously, Cross and Meeko hit them with stun bolts. They collapsed on the floor, slipping into unconsciousness.

Chapter Text

Jemma woke up in the back of a transport speeder, with her wrists chained to the seat. Master Codebreaker, La’Shaa, and Thom were tethered the same way. They looked weary, but at least they’d made it out alive.
“Ugh,” Master Codebreaker groaned. “Don’t you just despise waking up from a stun bolt?”
La’Shaa seemed to give off a slight shrug, like she was accustomed to it. Thom was the only one still out cold.
Unfortunately, all of them had been disarmed. Even Codebreaker’s quick-draw sleeve was confiscated. Jemma was left with nothing but an empty utility belt.
They must not have been out long, because the police were still outside her apartment. Peering out of the speeder, Jemma noticed more officers arriving on the scene. They pulled out the charred remains of the two security officers and an SE-8. None of the droids had survived.
Her mind wandered to all of the things she had lost. All the luxuries and treasures her mother had passed down to her. Priceless valuables, all damaged beyond repair. Now they were little more than ash. She wondered if there was any way Doz could have survived, but even that seemed unlikely.
Jemma felt horrible, and seeing La’Shaa collapse into a quiet sob had only made her feel worse.
“Hey,” Jemma said. “We’re not dead yet.”
“I know,” La’Shaa said. “It’s just… I’m going to miss that droid.”
If La’Shaa hadn’t decided to equip the droid with the directive to burn its adversaries, perhaps Jemma’s apartment would still be standing. Jemma resisted the urge to make a slight about La’Shaa’s horrid plan. After all, holding a grudge wouldn’t do them any good. Besides, the droid’s antics had actually given them a fighting chance.
“I lost my home in that fire. All the important things that belonged to my mother are destroyed,” Jemma said, with as much empathy as she could muster. “But we made it out alive. That’s what matters.”
“I know, I know,” La’Shaa said, pulling herself together. “It’s just SE-8 is the closest thing I’ve had to a friend.”
“Perhaps,” Codebreaker said. “But for now, you’ll have to make do with us.”
La’Shaa snickered, wiping the last tear from her pink cheek. She still didn’t trust these three. But that didn’t mean she didn’t like them.
Captain Cross entered the driver seat of the transport speeder, checking their restraints one last time.
“Let me guess. We’re headed back to jail?” Codebreaker asked, with mock enthusiasm.
“Not yet,” Cross said. “Jexton wants to meet you at Zenith Tower.”
Jemma’s heart raced at the mere mention of the name. Jexton, the leader of the Marauders, wanted to meet them in one of Canto Bight’s nicest buildings?
“You’re joking, right?” Jemma asked.
“Dead serious,” Cross said. “Not sure what he aims to do, but I can promise you this much... He’s going to end this madness, once and for all.”

Zenith Tower held the record of being the tallest structure in Canto Bight, and it wouldn’t be surpassed anytime soon. The needle-like building was just shy of stretching to the clouds, making its height appear limitless to those below.
The building was Jexton Koyle’s design. Since its debut, he’d kept a close eye on the tower’s operations. Tonight’s widespread pandemonium had caused Jexton to close early, or at least, that’s what he told the public. The more accurate idea was to meet Codebreaker in the most convenient location possible: a tower with no witnesses.
Cross and Meeko escorted Jemma and her friends into an elevator shaft. It was headed for one of the top floors, and under different circumstances, they would’ve counted themselves lucky. Patrons could spend hundreds of credits to dine in its upper levels, which provided a 360-degree view of the city.
As the elevator shot through the skies, Jemma couldn’t help but be awe-struck by the view. Thom was too nervous to think anything of it. The only person who handled it worse was La’Shaa. To avoid thinking about their altitude, she imagined all the different ways this meeting could go. The Twi'lek wondered if it was possible to bargain for her life. After all, with her intricate knowledge of droids, she could be a useful servant. At least, until she escaped.
Master Codebreaker yawned, unimpressed by their surroundings. He’d been up this elevator many times, the attraction had lost its novelty. He was, however, able to appreciate the silence. At least, while it lasted.
“So what am I supposed to do? Hang around with you all night until you decide to honor our deal?” Meeko whined.
“It won’t be too much longer,” Cross said. “Just be patient. The job isn’t done until the prisoners are secure.”
“They look pretty secure to me.”
“This exchange will require my undivided attention. And trust me, when it comes to getting you off Cantonica, you’ll want me to put my best foot forward.”
Meeko huffed, exhaling in annoyance. Meeko always got the last word in, but Cross’ uncompromising nature was common knowledge among his employees. Jemma couldn’t blame Meeko for giving up.
“See that podracing track?” Cross asked, pointing out Canto Bight’s arena as their surroundings wooshed by. It took Jemma a moment to realize he was talking to her. “You know, it wasn’t always swoop bikes that they raced.”
“Is that right?” Jemma asked, with mock interest. She was already an expert on this city’s history. Like codebreaking, it was rare to meet anyone that could tell her something she didn’t already know.
“It used to be a racetrack for fathiers,” Cross said. “Huge creatures that had these crazy long legs. It was a staple of Canto Bight: live, unpredictable entertainment you couldn’t find anywhere else. But the fathiers were abused, exploited for the sake of the spot. A couple Resistance fighters broke them out, and the fathiers wreaked havoc. I’m talking millions of credits worth of damage, all because of two reckless idiots.”
The Fathier Incident. Master Codebreaker smiled. Though the day lived in infamy among the locals, Codebreaker relished the chaos of that splendid evening.
He was in the middle of one of the most impressive winning streaks in Canto Bight’s history. Lovey had accompanied him to the casino tables, only months before betraying him. They’d enjoyed themselves considerably, at least until the escaped fathiers began their city-wide rampage.
Although it complicated the process of cashing in his winnings, Codebreaker could hardly hold it against the creatures: it was simply their nature. He even named one of his most expensive speeders after the magnificent beasts.
“You know what happened to those fathiers, hm? Most of them were recaptured, and put down for their disobedience,” Cross said. “The city filled the void with something less wild: luxury podracing. My point is, Jemma, that nothing ever dies in Canto Bight. It simply finds a replacement. Here, injustice is fixed by more injustice. It’s not like things would be any better without me.”
“You killed an innocent child trying to capture me. I can hardly imagine anything worse than you, Captain.”
“Then you haven’t met the Marauders,” he said, solemnly.
The shaft doors opened.
Jexton was awaiting their arrival at a long table, with a basket of bread in the center.
“Welcome in,” Jexton said, with a friendly smile.
A chandelier hung from the ceiling, producing a cozy, warm glow. With all the elegant decor, it felt more like an art gallery than a dining establishment. If there was a more expensive room on Canto Bight, Master Codebreaker hadn’t seen it.
“Someone remove their restraints, please,” Jexton demanded. “I know our current circumstances are unpleasant, but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy ourselves.”
“Jexton, I’m not sure that’s such a good idea,” Cross said.
“Why not? The tower’s locked down. Between that and the perimeter you set up around the planet, where could they go?”
With great reluctance, Cross removed their stun cuffs. He knew better than to challenge Jexton. Sometimes, Cross thought the gangster was a little too hospitable for his own good.
“How benevolent of you,” Master Codebreaker said, rubbing his wrists. His disdain was obvious.
“There’s no need for sarcasm,” Jexton said.
“There’s also no need for fraudulent pleasantries. I know what you’re capable of, Jexton. You might as well throw us off of this tower and be done with it.”
“If you believe me to be so violent, perhaps you should proceed delicately.”
Master Codebreaker swallowed hard. No matter how little he had left to lose, Codebreaker wasn’t ready to die. Death frightened him ever since he saw the life drain from Lovey’s eyes.
It was the slipping away part that scared him the most. The transition from life to death, where all that was left was pain. Even if it only lasted a moment, the sensation seemed terrifying.
Codebreaker decided to cooperate, and everyone took their seats.
“Help yourself to some bread,” Jexton said, with a smile.
Thom felt sick to his stomach. There was no way he could eat while contending with his nerves. La’Shaa had no such qualms. She reached over to grab one of the rolls, taking a huge bite. It was as warm and delicious as she could’ve hoped.
Master Codebreaker flashed her look of annoyance.
“What?” La’Shaa asked, her mouth still full. “If we’re going to die, I’d like to be well-fed.”
“If any of you would like to get something going in the kitchen, don’t hesitate to ask,” Jexton said.
Jemma considered his offer. If La’Shaa’s prediction was true, this was her final opportunity to eat a proper meal. Her decision was obvious.
“Do you have flatcakes?” Jemma asked.
“You mean like… The breakfast food?” Jexton asked, raising an eyebrow.
Jemma nodded. The childishness of her request seemed silly to Jexton. Still, compared to the usual ostentatiousness from the city, he found its modesty refreshing. Jexton whispered something to a stylish waiter, who appeared out of nowhere. The waiter nodded, rushing out of sight.
“I’m sorry, I don’t get it,” Thom said, no longer able to help himself. “Why are you being so nice to us?”
“Because, dear boy, I’m trying to impress you. After all, I’m looking to give one of you a job,” Jexton said. “I never figured anyone would get their hands on that archive, but the four of you managed to make it happen! Now, which one of you was chiefly responsible for tonight’s unpleasantness?”
There was a deafening silence.
“Don’t be shy. Nobody’s in trouble or anything. Quite the opposite, really,” Jexton said.
Jemma slowly raised her hand.
“Ah.” Jexton said. “It was you! The flatcake enthusiast!”
“The idea was mostly Meeko’s. I was just there to help him break the encryption,” Jemma said.
“Well that’s the part I found most impressive,” Jexton said. “This whole night, I’ve been trying to hire someone like you. But your friend, ‘Master Codebreaker,’ has been stubborn as a reek. First, I was going to beat him in zinbiddle to earn his services. If that didn’t work, I’d get him arrested and blackmail him into working for me. Even had one of my guys scramble together a fake confession to get some proof going.”
“Hold on,” Jemma said, trying to keep up. “You were the one that forged Codebreaker’s confession?”
“And let me guess: you were the codebreaker that unscrambled it,” Jexton said, laughing. “How delightfully ironic!”
“And here I thought you had a shred of integrity left in you,” Codebreaker said. “Silly me.”
“I’ll admit, it’s not my usual style,” Jexton said. “But I assure you, the ends justify the means. If I get this encryption sliced, I could finally destroy the New Republic for good. But of course, you already knew that.”
Jemma turned to Cross. Just before she could chew him out for sending her on a wild goose chase, the Captain’s pathetic look of surprise told her he never knew in the first place. Cross wasn’t Jexton’s co-conspirator, Jemma decided, but rather his tool.
“Truthfully, I feel foolish,” Jexton said. “I appear to have wasted a tremendous amount of time trying to recruit Master Codebreaker, but as it happens, he’s only the second best slicer on Canto Bight.”
“No. He’s the better Codebreaker by far,” Jemma argued. “In fact, he’s the only person I’ve met who can do things I can’t.”
“Actually, Jemma, he’s right,” Master Codebreaker admitted. “Earlier, when you asked me if I was stumped by your encryption: the answer is yes. I couldn’t keep up with your techniques. Your virus locked me out of the datapad. That’s never happened before. I’m afraid your skillset has surpassed mine.”
Jemma was astounded by his humility. She wondered if this was a trick. Perhaps Codebreaker was trying to take the crosshairs off himself.
No. His sincerity was unmistakable. Codebreaker turned back to Jexton.
“And even if I was still as talented as you expected, I’d still refuse your offer. Just as I’m refusing now.”
“If that’s the case, then I truly have no use for you,” Jexton said, turning to Jemma. “You, on the other hand--”
“No,” Jemma said. “Your Marauders killed my mother. I’d rather die than help your cause.”
“Oh? I’m sorry to hear that. Who was your mother? Perhaps I can shed some light on--”
“Drelia Hale. My mother was Drelia Hale.”
“Yes, I remember that quite vividly,” Jexton said. “If I’m not mistaken, it was Meeko who messed up the job.”
Jexton gestured to Meeko, who was sitting on the opposite end of the table. He looked away, trying to hide his face in his slender hands. All Meeko needed to do was survive this meeting, and he’d be off the planet for good.
“Meeko performed a hit job on two politicians. Nobody else was supposed to die, but he dropped the ball. Still, it was nothing more than a tragic accident. Nevertheless, I saw to it that he was punished. Do you believe he should pay a harsher price?”
Jemma considered, pushing out the sadistic fantasies that filled her head. Now was the time for bargaining, not revenge.
“No. That’s not what I meant,” Jemma said.
“Then name your price.”
“I’d like you to let my friends go and provide us transportation off-world,”
Jemma didn’t hold her breath. Surely, he couldn’t be that accommodating. Not after all the trouble they’d caused. Jexton pulled a datapad from his coat, placing it on the table.
“Agreed. But before I can let you go, I need this decoded,” Jexton said. “Once this is solved, then you can leave.”
“You expect us to believe that?” Master Codebreaker asked. “The minute we do your dirty work, you’ll kill us all.”
“And what good would that do me? Killing the best two codebreakers in the galaxy? Your talents are valuable, and I don’t like burning bridges. Not unless you force my hand.”
Jemma hated herself for it, but she felt Jexton’s terms were fair. Refusing to work for the Marauders wouldn’t bring her mother back. On the other hand, this encryption was clearly valuable. What if breaking it could make the Marauders powerful enough to destroy hundreds of other innocents? Not to mention, the stain it would put on the Hale family.
The conflicted Jemma looked to Codebreaker for guidance. The frown he was wearing screamed it all: don’t do it. Immediately, she felt just as decisive as he did.
“I won’t,” Jemma said. “You’ll have to find someone else.”
Master Codebreaker gave her a pained smile. He was pleased by the girl’s resolve, but he wasn’t fond of what awaited them.
“Very well. Just remember, I tried being diplomatic,” Jexton said, with a defeated tone. He walked to the center of the room. The floor beneath him opened, revealing a platform that slowly rose from the ground. “Perhaps this will change your minds.”
Codebreaker’s companion, L0-33, stood front and center. It trotted across the platform, confused by its surroundings.
“Master… Master Codebreaker?” the droid asked, softly.
“L0-33!” Master Codebreaker said, rising to his feet with the swiftness of a man decades younger.
The droid had two wires attached to its torso, plugged into a large generator. The scorch marks across its chest suggested that Jexton had already tested its electrical capabilities.
“During our zinbiddle match, I could tell you two shared a connection.” Jexton said.
“Jexton, please,” Codebreaker pleaded. “If you kill her, I’ll--”
“Kill her? Oh, I’ll do much worse than that. When I’m through, you’ll be begging me to put it out of its misery.”
Codebreaker began to curse himself for installing pain receptors on the droid. He wanted her to be as lifelike as possible, feeling the highs and lows of an organic existence. After all, he couldn’t relate to anything that wasn’t capable of heartbreak, much less desired to have a relationship with it.
“I know just how much these droids can take without overloading their circuits,” Jexton continued. “I can give it a lifetime of pain, you see.”
La’Shaa cringed. It was as horrific of a fate as she could imagine. Even if the pain was technically only simulated for droids, agony was still agony.
“Trust me, I don’t take pleasure in this. After all, I always fancied myself a romantic. It’s a terrible thing, having your heart played with.”
“You’re a monster!” Codebreaker yelled.
“Engage shock,” Jexton commanded. At the sound of his voice, the electricity crackled through the droid. An electronic scream rippled across the room as L0-33 was overwhelmed by the jolt of lightning.
“Stop it!” Codebreaker said. “I’ll do your job, just stop!”
“Very well,” Jexton said. “Destroy it.”
The potency of the current rose to a horrible crescendo, as did L0-33’s torment. Even Jexton winced as the droid erupted its final scream. A single tear strolled down Master Codebreaker’s cheek as it toppled over, a burnt shell of what it used to be.
Codebreaker collapsed back in his chair, utterly defeated. The droid’s suffering had finally ended.
“I believe I’ve made my point,” Jexton said, as unaffected as he could. “We’ve all lost a lot today. I heard you even lost your home to a fire. Good news is, Captain Cross managed to save a pet sheffi. I assume it’s yours?”
“Yes,” Jemma said, unsteadily. Any relief she would have felt regarding Doz’s survival was worthless knowing it was in Jexton’s captivity.
“And you're quite attached to this pet, I assume?”
“Yes,” Jemma said, too afraid to lie.
“Good. Now if you fail to break the code or attempt to deceive me in any way, I will make L0-33’s punishment look like child’s play. Then, I’ll sell you and your friends to the highest bidders. Do we have an understanding?”
Jemma nodded, her face scrunching into a sob. Jexton slammed his fist on the table.
“Say it.”
“I’ll break your code,” she managed.
“Good,” Jexton said, drawing himself back to his full height. “I’ll be back in ten minutes. I expect you to have made some headway by then… And of course, your flatcakes should be out shortly.”

Chapter Text

As Jexton left the room, Cross sized up the remaining prisoners. None of them had the strength to overpower him, but he still would've felt safer seeing them in restraints.
Jemma’s last hope was to appeal to Cross’ moral compass. Or at least, to whatever shreds of it were left.
“Is this what you wanted?” Jemma asked him. “I thought everything was about order for you. Now you’re forcing us to help a warmongering psychopath? What will this do to the rest of the galaxy?”
“The Marauders are anarchists, sure. But anarchy is inevitable. The best you can do is contain it. Try to keep it from destroying your world.”
“The second it’s convenient for them, they’ll overthrow you,” Codebreaker said, his eyes still watering. “None of us deserve this.”
“Don’t act so innocent, Codebreaker. All this only happened because you killed Lovey. And we let you get away with it for decades. But your luck’s finally run out. You should be grateful it lasted you this long--”
Cross felt his body go numb, as an electric shock buzzed through his back. He bellowed in pain as the sparks of a stun stick pressed against his spine. He toppled to the floor, revealing a small figure behind him.
Jemma’s eyes widened in awe. It was Detective Meeko.
“That’s enough bantha fodder for one night, don’t you think?” Meeko said, placing the stun stick back in his belt. Before anyone could question his motives, he was already cuffing Cross to the table with a pair of stun cuffs.
None of them knew how to respond. Eventually, Thom spoke for all of them.
“Why are you helping us?” Thom asked.
“Trust me, pal, I’m asking myself the same thing,” Meeko said. “I was all set to leave this planet and move on… But tonight brought back some painful memories. That piece of filth tortured my son the same way he fried your droid. I may not be the best, but the Marauders are pure evil. I wouldn’t wish Jexton upon my worst enemy, which evidently, would also be Jexton.”
Master Codebreaker removed a slicing kit hidden inside a secret compartment of his dress shoes. No matter how many times he’d been captured, nobody ever thought to check his footwear. He hurried to the door to slice it open.
“I’ll stay here and cover your escape,” Meeko said. “I know just the thing--”
Meeko stopped as he saw the Relby K-25 blaster pointed straight at him. Jemma had picked it up from Cross’ belt while Meeko was preoccupied.
She moved the setting off stun and took a breath.
“I see how it is,” Meeko said, with a sigh. “If it makes you feel better about your mom, then fine. Shoot me. But, I wouldn’t mind one last chance to make things right.”
La’Shaa looked at Rodian, then back to Jemma. She couldn’t help but smile. It never seemed like Jemma had it in her to kill someone. Not until now.
“Jemma,” Thom said, cautiously. “I… I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”
“The boy’s right,” Codebreaker said. “Meeko wants to help us. I think we stand a better chance if we leave him alive.”
Jemma weighed her options. Would sparing him really matter? What if this was all just an elaborate trap? After all, Jemma knew Meeko better than anyone else. Tonight, she found it especially difficult to trust anything that came out of his mouth. Still, if it gave them even a slight edge against the Marauders, perhaps it was worth the risk.
“Fine,” she decided, tucking the blaster back in its holster. Meeko couldn’t help but feel relieved. Dying at the hands of Jemma would have felt a little unceremonious for his liking.
“I’ll be honest... I don’t think escaping the tower’s going to be an option,” Meeko said. “The entire place is under lockdown. Hell, I wouldn’t be surprised if they had police droids on every floor.”
Jemma thought back to the first time she’d heard of Zenith Tower. Hours ago, Meeko had referred to it as some sort of control center.
“The droids. Can they be sliced?” Jemma asked.
“Technically, yeah,” Meeko said, rubbing his shoulder with apprehension. “But it’s a longshot. You’d have to lower the shields on the top floor, just to have a chance at slicing the terminal.”
“Really? Another encrypted terminal kept underground?” Jemma said.
“Because it worked out so well for us earlier.” Meeko quipped.
They’d certainly had a full night since then. For better or for worse, it was nearing its end.
“I’ll head to the shields,” La’Shaa said. “You codebreakers can take care of the more complicated part.”
“If you’re splitting up, take these,” Meeko said, unclipping a comlink from his tactical belt. He did the same with Cross’ device, snatching it from his collapsed body. “It’s a two-way communicator. Completely encrypted. It’s what me and Captain Unconscious used to talk once he shut down the police’s comms.”
“Gotcha,” La’Shaa said. “Anything else?”
Meeko grabbed the thermal detonators from the Captain’s belt. He tossed them casually to La’Shaa, and she only barely caught the second one.
“Use these on the shield generator. That should do the trick,” Meeko said.
Finally, he passed a stun stick to Thom. As far as Meeko could tell, it was the final weapon in Cross’ arsenal. The Captain would wake up completely unarmed.
“What about you?” Jemma asked.
“I’ll stay behind. If I get lucky, I can distract Jexton and cover your escape.” Meeko said. “If I’m even luckier, I’ll kill him.”
“I…. Thank you,” Jemma said, beginning to realize the gravity of his sacrifice. “I’m sorry about earlier.”
“You mean when you almost shot me?”
“More specifically when I said I was glad the Marauders killed your son. That was horrid… But also the shooting part, I suppose.”
“Don’t sweat it, kid,” Meeko said, waving her off. “I knew you didn’t mean it.”
Jemma forced a smile. If Meeko pulled this off, Jemma owed him far more than an apology.
The doors zipped open. Master Codebreaker’s work was done.
“We should get out of here,” he said, trying not to seem rude. “It won’t be long before Jexton realizes we’re gone.”
“Go,” Meeko agreed. “And may the Force be with you.”
Jemma rolled her eyes. She’d never believed in anything called the Force, and she hated the silly references to it. Still, when facing certain death, she could excuse a little spirituality.
Jemma gave him a final nod before they hightailed it to the elevator.
“You take the elevator down! I’ll use the stairs,” La’Shaa said, splitting off from the group.
La’Shaa was still the fastest, but Jemma was moving faster than she had all night. Her limp was finally easing up, allowing her to favor one leg and maintain a nice gallop.
Master Codebreaker, however, had trouble keeping up. His run had slowed considerably since his youth, but he refused to dwell on it. They simply didn’t have time. Thom made it to the elevator first, pushing the call button.
“I hope La’Shaa’s going to be alright,” Master Codebreaker said, between breaths.
“You think we can trust her?” Thom asked.
“Not really,” Jemma admitted. “But what other choice do we have?”
Ding. The shaft doors opened, and they placed themselves inside. They were headed to the basement, and with any luck, it would only take a few minutes.
”I’ll have to be the one to slice the terminal,” Master Codebreaker said, rolling up his sleeves.
“You don’t think I can do it?” Jemma said, almost offended.
“Not unless you know quantum bio-hexacrypt.”
“The Marauders use bio-hexacrypt? I thought only you could do that.”
“They didn’t just blackmail me for my credits. They had me develop their security systems too. The ciphers on those terminals are completely unbreakable. Unless, of course, you’re the one who designed it.”

Jexton sighed as he returned to the dining room. Cross was handcuffed to a table, still unconscious. Meeko stood up slowly, feigning a pained moan. Jexton watched, unamused.
“Agh… What happened?” Meeko asked.
“Spare me the theatrics,” Jexton said, his arms folded behind his back. “You never were a good liar.”
Meeko chuckled. His little charade wasn’t very convincing, but it didn’t need to be. The Rodian had Jexton right where he wanted him.
“I will give you one chance. Where did they go?” Jexton demanded.
“It seems to have slipped my mind,” Meeko said with a smirk.
Meeko snuck a glance at Jexton’s armor. The vest seemed impenetrable. His best course was to go for the man’s face, which appeared to be unprotected.
With as much speed as a man his age could, Meeko pulled the stun stick from his belt.
Meeko hurled the baton towards Jexton’s neck, only to feel his wrist caught by a leather glove. Many had spoken of Jexton’s skill in hand to hand combat, but Meeko hadn’t believed reflexes like Jexton’s were possible.
Meeko groaned, trying his best to pull away from his grasp. It was futile.
“It’s funny. People hardly challenge the Marauders. But when they catch me by myself, they have a tendency to believe they can best me,” Jexton said.
He sent a sharp kick to Meeko’s narrow chest, sending him tumbling into the carpet. Meeko dropped his stun stick as he fell back. With that, the wind was knocked right out of him.
Jexton removed his coat, pulling a rectangular lightsaber from his belt. But, this was no ordinary saber. A black beam shot from its long, ridged hilt. The weapon was thin, whistling through the air with a sinister hiss.
Meeko had heard of it only in legends: this was the Darksaber.
“You’re not the first person to underestimate me. More often than not, I consider it a convenience. Be polite and reasonable, and nobody will ever perceive you as a warrior. Miscalculations like yours are precisely how I acquired this weapon in the first place.”
If Meeko was going to survive, he’d have to change up his strategy.
Meeko pulled out his blaster, and began to fire.
With an almost robotic precision, Jexton deflected each bolt until Meeko emptied his blaster
Meeko watched as Jexton advanced, spinning the saber around in his hand as if practicing a drill. With one large step, he brought the darksaber’s blade down on Meeko’s head.
Meeko was decapitated.
Jexton couldn’t afford anymore distractions. Without breaking a sweat, he powered down his saber and clipped it back to its belt. With any luck, it was the last time he’d have to use it tonight. The last thing he wanted was more carnage.
The gunfire had awoken Captain Cross, who finally awoke.
“Jexton!” Cross called out. “The bastard got me in the back. Help me out of these stun cuffs, would you?”
“And why should I do that, Captain?” Jexton asked.
His response caught Cross off guard. He always knew Jexton had a dry sense of humor, but there wasn’t a hint of levity in his voice.
“What do you mean why? So I can help you recapture them!”
Jexton smiled. He was hardly worried. The security droids would make quick work of his escapees. At the very least, he figured they’d be more helpful than the Captain.
“I prefer you as you are,” Jexton said. “Maybe I’ll deal with you later.”
“But… We’re partners!”
“We were. I’d warned you that you had until morning to pull yourself together. Instead, you’ve made a mockery of your leadership.”
“You can’t leave me here!”
“Don’t worry. This city will be much safer under my control.”

As La’Shaa entered the top floor, she’d nearly forgotten she was inside the luxurious Zenith Tower. There were no windows to boast its altitude. The design was far more industrial than the floor below, as if it was designed by old Imperials. With the steel floor grates and wall paneling, the room produced a metallic smell.
A small set of stairs led her to the only source of light in the room: the blue glow from the shield generator. The cylindrical, hourglass-shaped machine appeared easy enough to destroy, especially with her thermal detonators.
Before she had the chance to arm the explosive, the door wooshed open behind her. She didn’t have to look to know it was Jexton.
“I was expecting to find all four of you here,” Jexton said. “But I take it you split up. Smart.”
“We have our moments,” La’Shaa said, unfazed by his icy demeanor.
Jexton sighed in disappointment. Meeko’s betrayal and Cross’ carelessness had already given the others a head start.
Still, as long as La’Shaa didn’t destroy the generator, her friends would have no chance of escaping.
“I presume you’re going to try and find a way to disable the shields. That way, your friends can access the terminal’s basement and slice their way out of here?” Jexton asked.
“Something like that,” La’Shaa said.
“You don’t appear to be like the rest of them. You’re a criminal - aren’t you? You certainly dress like one. There’s no reason the two of us should be on opposing sides. After all, the Marauders fight for people like you. The opportunists, the dark horses willing to carve their own path in life. You of all people should know the value of lawlessness.”
“I could care less who wins this little war of yours.”
“Then what motivates you? Credits? Power? I understand you came to help your allies, but I can offer you something much sweeter.”
“I’m listening.”
“Walk away, and you can escape with not only your life - but an absurd amount of credits.”
“How much?”
“Name your price.”
“A million?”
“Done,” Jexton said. “One million credits. And if that’s not enough, you can join the Marauders whenever you like.”
La’Shaa weighed her options. Jexton’s offer made perfect sense. Still, turning her back on her friends just didn’t sit right. No amount of credits could change that.
“You want to know something funny?” La’Shaa said.
“What’s that?” Jexton said, his hand subtly going for his darksaber.
“A few hours ago, I would’ve leapt at the chance.”
La’Shaa activated the detonators, hurling them towards the generator.
“Vahs endku juma losku, baby!”
“You stupid--” Jexton began.
The explosion produced a massive blast, rumbling the tower to its core.
Jexton and La’Shaa both were defenseless against the debris that collapsed over them. The shield generator had been demolished, along with nearly the entire floor.

Chapter Text

Jemma, Codebreaker and La’Shaa were in Zenith’s elevator when they felt the tower rumble. The distant boom came from the rooftops.
Jemma reached for her comlink.
“La’Shaa? La’Shaa, can you hear me?” she asked.
There was no response.
“I think she did it,” Master Codebreaker said. None of them were optimistic about La’Shaa’s loyalty, but in the end, she was willing to die for their escape. Still, Jemma hoped with every fiber of her being that she hadn’t.
The shaft came to a violent halt. The elevator lights flickered before powering down completely. Master Codebreaker was knocked off his feet and Jemma was thrown into Thom. He grabbed her shoulders and steadied her with caution.
“Are you alright?” Thom asked.
“Yeah,” she said, still rattled. “Are you?”
“I’m fine. Thanks for asking,” Master Codebreaker mumbled, sarcastically.
“What happened?” Thom asked.
“Probably just a power surge. Throwing thermal detonators at a shield generator can have funny side effects. Don’t worry. I’ll get us up and running again. In the meantime, you two resume planning your honeymoon.”
Jemma appreciated Codebreaker’s whimsy, but it reminded her of an important point: she and Thom had no endgame. It was an important discussion that could no longer be delayed.
“Let’s say we make it out of here alive - then what?” Jemma asked. “We’d never make it off the system by ourselves”
“I don’t know,” Thom admitted. “Maybe we hide out here for a couple months?”
“A couple months? We could hardly even survive the night.”
“Forget it,” Master Codebreaker said as he connected a computer spike to the elevator’s control panel. “Thom, you can take my ticket.”
“But Master Codebreaker--” Jemma objected.
“I’d prefer to keep you two together,” he said. “Trust me. I know how it feels to be young and enamored. It’s the most positively profound thing I’ve ever experienced. And I can’t think of anyone who deserves it more than you two.”
“I don’t know how to thank you.”
“Don’t,” Codebreaker said. With one final maneuver, the elevator powered on again. “Thank me for this instead.”
It only took a minute before the shaft descended to the basement. Master Codebreaker was surprised by the lack of interruption. Perhaps La’Shaa or Meeko had done the impossible and defeated Jexton. If that were the case, their odds had increased exponentially.
The trio made their advance, creeping through the hallways. Though it was much cleaner and brighter than the police station’s basement, it failed to ease Jemma’s mind. She held the only blaster among them. Avoiding the security droids would be their best bet.
“Looks clear to me,” Master Codebreaker said. “We should be close.”
“Let’s hope that’s true,” Thom said. His knees began to shake. Jemma took his hand and smiled. Thom forced himself to smile back.
A door whooshed open behind them. Five security droids had revealed themselves, unleashing a barrage of gunfire!
The three slipped into cover behind one of the corridor’s pillars. The columns were taut and narrow, providing little protection. For the moment, they moved fast enough to remain alive.
Jemma returned fire. She missed nearly all of her shots. The few that landed did virtually nothing.
“Dammit,” Jemma said, pulling back the pillar.
She took a breath, forcing herself to concentrate. What did she do when her aim had failed during the exam? She changed the nature of the challenge.
Jemma stuffed the blaster into Codebreaker’s hands, replacing it with a datapad.
“Cover us!” she yelled.
Codebreaker assisted as best he could, awkwardly reaching past the two to lay down fire. His accuracy was barely better than Jemma’s.
Meanwhile, she sliced into the building’s systems. Jexton’s lockdown had certainly complicated the process, triggering unique firewalls she could barely keep up with.
She’d have to work faster than ever! The droids were getting closer, growing more aggressive by the minute.
“What are you doing?” Codebreaker asked, shouting over his own blaster fire.
“Slicing into the server!” Jemma shot back, trying to concentrate.
“Slicing into the—? That’s impossible!”
“I can assure you, it’s very possible! It’ll let me engage with basic functions. I can trigger the lights, control the temperature, or even…”
Jemma was finally in! She readied her finger over the datapad, watching the droids intently.
“Or what!?” Codebreaker snapped.
“Or close the blast doors.”
With a simple tap on the datapad, the doors slammed shut. The two droids unlucky enough to be standing in its path were sliced in half!
The dismembered droid parts fell at their feet, silencing the carnage.
“You did it!” Master Codebreaker exclaimed. “You sealed us in!”
Just as he spoke, one remaining security droid approached from behind. It had undoubtedly made its way down from the terminal, which was only a few yards away. They were so close! They couldn’t die yet!
The security droid fired off his blaster, but it was too slow!
Thom drove his stun stick into the droid’s torso, shrieking as it almost toppled over on him. Thanks to his quickness, none of them had been shot! Or at least, he hadn’t thought so.
Master Codebreaker fell to the ground. He was hit in the leg.
“Dammit,” Codbereaker grumbled, searing in pain. Jemma and Thom rushed to his side, kneeling down to his height.
“How can we help?” Jemma asked.
“You can’t,” Master Codebreaker snapped. “I… Sorry. Look, it’s nothing a bacta bath won’t fix. But I won’t be able to walk. You’ll have to go on without me.”
“But Master Codebreaker…” Jemma said, searching for a rebuttal. They knew it was true. He couldn’t move in his current condition. But without him, they couldn’t complete their mission! “What about the quantum bio-hexacrypt? There’s no way I can decode it myself.”
Master Codebreaker found himself conflicted. Giving up the solution to his code would erase the last shred of relevance he had. For decades, it was his signature move. Without it, he had nothing to offer the galaxy.
The thumping of blaster fire began to pound against the blast doors. The shield would hold, but not for long.
“I’ll teach you,” he decided.
“Teach me?” Jemma asked, dumbfounded. “But there’s no time!”
“Listen to me: it’s simple,” Master Codebreaker said, managing a reassuring smile. “Quantum bio-hexacrypt is unbreakable because the solution re-scrambles itself every second. All you have to do is freeze the systems.”
“How?”
Master Codebreaker unpinned the red brooch from his coat, handing it to Jemma.
“With this. Stick it in the terminal’s dataports, and it’ll prevent the solution from changing. Then, it’ll be no different than breaking any other code.”
It certainly sounded like something she could handle. After all, she had to. Their lives were depending on it. Master Codebreaker grabbed her by the shirt, pulling her closer.
“I meant what I said. You’re the best codebreaker I’ve ever met. If anyone can pull this off, it’s you. Now go! Both of you!”
Jemma and Thom stood up, racing into the room at the end of the hall.
Master Codebreaker gripped his blaster, readying his aim. It wouldn’t be long before the security droids made it through the blast doors, but he had no intention of going down without a fight.
The terminal was there waiting. With its wide monitor and state-of-the-art technology, it was the nicest computer Jemma had ever seen before.
She followed Codebreaker’s instructions, placing the pin inside the memory port. Just as expected, the systems froze. All she needed to do now was decrypt it, just as she decrypted Master Codebreaker’s fake confession!
The only difference, however, was that the code wasn’t written in basic Aurebesh. It was written in the foregin language of Mando'a. Fortunately, she had studied the fundamentals during her extensive homeschooling. Her experience with it was rusty, and many of the Mando’a letters were awfully difficult to distinguish.
The pressure was getting to her, clouding her thinking. Try as she might, Jemma was having a difficult time. She refocused her mind, testing the different possibilities to the best of her recollection.
It took three attempts before she guessed the passcode. As quick as Jemma could, she navigated to the security droid controls.
“Sands!” Jemma yelled, slamming the terminal’s panel in frustration.
“What is it?” Thom asked. Normally, he found it amusing when she lost her temper. Now, it only frightened him.
“I’m in the system, but look!” Jemma said, pointing to the terminal. “I’ll have to override the droids manually. I don’t know how to do that!”
Thom looked, and sure enough, she was right. None of it made any sense.
“Maybe La’Shaa could walk us through it?” Thom offered, with a shrug.
Jemma frowned. She was quite sure La’Shaa was dead, but it seemed pointless to argue. She grabbed her comlink and spoke into it.
“La’Shaa? La’Shaa can you hear me?”
Nothing.
“She can’t hear us, Thom. We’re on our own.”
Suddenly, the crackle of static. Jemma’s eyes widened with surprise.
“Yeah?” the Twi’lek’s voice asked, sounding concussed. “I’m here.”
A wide grin appeared on Jemm and Thom’s face. By some miracle, La’Shaa had survived. There was still hope!
“I thought you were dead!” Jemma exclaimed.
“Yeah,” La’Shaa said. “I used the thermal detonators to take down the generator. Jexton was there, and the damn ceiling gave in on us! My legs are stuck under the rubble. It got Jexton, too, but he looks fine. I have a feeling he’ll be awake any minute.”
“Then we’d better make this quick. We sealed ourselves inside the main terminal. The security droids are outside trying to get us, and I’m trying to reprogram them! But, the terminal’s interface is really confusing.”
“Tell me what we’re looking at here.”
“Just a bunch of diagnostics. Can’t make sense of any of it.”
“Okay. Don’t touch anything unless I tell you to. See the menu? Look for the section that says ‘cognitive modules.’ See it?”
“Yeah,” Jemma said, doing her best to keep up. “It says there’s over three hundred linked units!”
“Sounds about right. You have to override their enemy detection systems and breach the droid’s processing computers.”
Jemma entered the commands, bringing up a table with three columns; allies, threats, and bystanders.
“Now what?” she asked.
“It’s easy. Just transpose the allies and threats columns. That way, they’ll attack the police and assist the wanted fugitives.”
Jemma did precisely as the Twi’lek asked. By the time she was done, the maneuver had felt easy. Perhaps too easy.
“That’s it?” Jemma asked, hopefully
“Just save the changes and you should be good to go!”
Jemma continued, only to be met with a warning prompt.
“Insufficient processing power,” Jemma read aloud. “Executing selected changes will cause the terminal to overload... It’s asking me if I’d like to proceed.”
“Don’t do anything!” La’Shaa yelled. “Unless you want that computer to blow you up.”
Figures, Jemma thought. Nothing could ever just be simple.
“Maybe we could trigger it remotely?” Thom suggested. “Or activate it on some sort of delay?”
“Doubt it,” La’Shaa said, hearing him through the comms. “Even if we could, you’re sealed inside. And I’m stuck under a kriffing piece of ceiling!”
“…So what do we do?” Jemma asked.
“I don’t know,” La’Shaa admitted. “One of you might have to--“
The line was interrupted, cutting to static.
“La’Shaa? La’Shaa!?” Jemma yelled.
No response. Jemma looked behind her to see that the blast door was nearly destroyed!
“Great,” Jemma said, sarcastically. “So we have two options; overload the terminal and save Master Codebreaker, or let the security droids come in and kill us all.”
“I’ll do it,” Thom said. “I’ll overload the terminal.”
“Don’t be silly. There’s gotta be a way we all make it out--”
Thom turned Jemma’s head until they locked eyes.
“Jemma: we’re out of time.”
“No. No, no, no! Thom - stop.”
“It’s the only way.”
“No. That’s stupid. I won’t lose you like I lost my mom,” Jemma said. “You can’t put me through that. You can’t. You just can’t!”
“You remember the promise I made her?” Thom asked.
His words echoed through her mind. I’d do anything to protect you, no matter what the cost.
“I can do this,” Thom said. His bottom lip quivered as he fought the urge to cry. “I want to do this.”
“You’re the only person who’s ever cared about me like my mother did.”
“I doubt I’ll be the last,” Thom said. “I love you, my beautiful spinebarrel.”
Jemma kissed him on the lips. She leaned in forcefully, as if her intensity would make the gesture more potent, more enduring. She never wanted it to end.
For both of their sake’s, Thom pulled away. The rest of her words would have to remain unspoken.
Jemma slowly stepped outside of the room, her eyes glued to her lover. Using the control panel inside the room, Thom lowered the blast shield. It was the last Jemma would ever see of him. With any luck, his face would stay vivid forever.
Jemma forced herself to turn around. She rushed to meet Master Codebreaker, who still had his blaster trained to the door.
There were hundreds of holes punched through the door by blaster fire. The security droids had weakened it enough to pry it open with their hands. Jemma could see the silhouettes of the murderous figures peeking through the entryway. The red lights in their eyes were looking appropriately horrific.
Master Codebreaker turned to Jemma, noting Thom’s absence. He nearly inquired about it before drawing his own conclusions. He didn’t know what to say except…
“I’m so sorry.”
BOOM. His dreadful notions were confirmed by the explosion behind them. Whatever the boy had done, he’d paid for it with his life.
The droid's red eyes faded to a tamer green as they halted their bombardment. For the first time since the blast door had shut, Jemma and Master Codebrekaer were treated to silence.
“He did it,” Codebreaker mumbled in disbelief. “He turned the droids to our side.”
Jemma was wrestling with too many emotions to give Master Codebreaker a proper reply. Jemma wanted to hold it against Thom, but she knew his enormous sacrifice may have bought them a way out.
After all, what could Jexton do against an army of security droids? All they had to do now was find a way to get Master Codebreaker walking again. Then, they could make their escape!
But, of course, there was still one loose end…
“Congratulations,” a distorted voice cut in. It came from her comlink. Master Codebreaker and Jemma shared a glance; they knew exactly who it was.
Jexton Koyles.
“Where’s La’Shaa?” Jemma demanded.
“She put up a good fight. Certainly a more formidable one than Meeko.”
“Don’t you hurt her. Please.”
“Meet me outside in five minutes. We’ll talk.”

Chapter Text

In a feeble attempt to free himself, Cross yanked his hand violently against the durasteel table. The cuffs were clasped firmly against his wrist. He reminded himself of the criminals he once mocked, hopelessly squirming about to try and free themselves. He never expected to be one himself.
Cross checked his utility belt for anything that would help him escape. His weapons and keys were missing, presumably stolen by Jemma and the others. All that was left was his comlink and megaphone disk. Neither would do him much good, especially after he shut down communications to counter Jemma’s exploits.
Cross knew he probably deserved worse for trusting a man like Jexton. Before tonight, both parties had formed a successful working relationship, compromising for each other whenever necessary. He knew one day they’d reach an impasse, but Cross never thought it would happen under his watch.
Cross almost wondered why Jexton hadn’t finished him off. Perhaps he planned on giving Cross a fair chance to defend himself. Or maybe Jexton wanted to make a more public example of him. Either way, Cross needed to reassemble the other officers to survive.
By some miracle, the sound of comlink had sizzled online.
“Captain?” a woman’s voice said, with heavy interference. “Captain, do you read?”
It was Lieutenant Pakker! Cross unclipped the device from his belt.
“I can hear you, Lieutenant,” he said.
“I hope you don’t mind, but I brought the comms back online.”
“Good. Very good,” Jexton said, making an effort to contain his relief. “Are you alright?”
“Not really, sir! The security droids went rogue. They’re attacking the Marauders. Then, the Marauders started attacking us. It’s a complete mess!”
Cross smiled wickedly. Jemma must’ve re-wired the droid’s programming to attack the criminals and help them escape! Finally, it was an even battle… Now he just had to pick a side.
“The Marauders are not to be trusted,” Cross decided. “I’m handcuffed on the top floor of Zenith Tower. Send all the back-up you can.”
“You’ve got it, Captain,” she said.
“And Pakker?” Cross said. “When this is all over, expect a promotion.”

The lockdown protocols of Zenith Tower had been disabled.
For Jemma, the only difficult part of their exit would be getting Master Codebreaker out with her. He was still agonizing over the blaster bolt he took to the leg. With his arm slung around Jemma’s shoulder, they eventually made their way outdoors.
Accompanying them was a small crowd of pacified security droids. There were ten of them behind her, though Jemma wasn’t positive it’d be enough.
The courtyard of Zenith wasn’t any less magnificent than its inside. The entrance was surrounded by marble walls that dwarfed the tower, making the structure appear taller than it already was.
Zenith’s regularly scheduled fountain show played out behind them. It was queued for the start of each day to close out the night. Colored streams of water shot to impossible heights, and under different circumstances, Jemma may have found it amusing.
Jexton awaited their arrival with La’Shaa. The poor Twi’lek was on her knees, with Jexton’s ignited darksaber inches away from her throat. Jemma had seen all kinds of strange energy weapons in the evidence lockers, but nothing like this. This was far more sinister.
They weren’t alone. In fact, close to thirty Marauders lined the walls, wearing their own individual attire. Many of them were dressed rather formally, having just made their way from the casino.
Although Jexton had a small army, the average security droid was worth about three Marauders. The battle was deceptively even.
“Freeze,” one of the security droids said, in its deep and electronic voice. “You are under arrest.”
“Hello again, Jemma,” Jexton said, with a bold smile. “As promised, your Twi’lek friend is safe and sound.”
“Let her go,” Jemma demanded.
“I take it you reprogrammed the city’s security droids?” Jexton asked, peering around at the surrounding armada.
“Thom gave his life to make it happen.”
It was clear from her tone that she held Jexton responsible.
“I apologize. If there’s one thing I despise, it’s splitting up young love,” Jexton said, with a surprising amount of sincerity.
“What about L0-33?” Master Codebreaker said, no longer able to help himself. “You had no qualms about torturing me with her destruction.”
“Because, dear Codebreaker, you were never meant to survive the night. And besides, it’s difficult to feel too badly. At nearly every opportunity, you actively invite peril into your life”
“That’s not true.”
“Isn’t it, though? You produced decades of intrigue around your true identity. You let its fortune, its legend, build… Until people were willing to kill for it.”
“I’m not responsible for the misdeeds of others.”
“Perhaps not. But you’re certainly responsible for your own. You even shot dear old Lovey to save your own skin.”
“None of that was ever my intention.”
“Face it. You love trouble. After all, if you didn’t want people to play your game - why would you create it?”
Master Codebreaker had no rebuttal, and he was far too weary to argue.
“Of all planets, of all places… Why Canto Bight?” Codebreaker asked. “You already control dozens of systems.”
“Well… The weather certainly beats Nar Shaddaa,” Jexton said, whimsically. “I’ll take the dry heat of this place over those chilly nights anyday.”
“It’s a shame. Losing such a wonderful place to the likes of you.”
“Yes, of course. Unless anyone has anything else, I’d like to draw this to a close,” Jexton said, with a worrying amount of confidence. “Though your performance was impressive, I believe you’ve officially exhausted my patience.”
Jexton removed a switch from his jacket pocket. Clicking the device, the armed security droids that surrounded them were deactivated. Each unit collapsed, powering down simultaneously.
In the unceremonious display of power, Jemma and Master Codebreaker were left defenseless. Their plan had failed.
“Your friend’s sacrifice was largely in vain. See, it was never a question of if I’d overtake the city, but rather when. Thanks to you three, it’s happening now!”
Jemma scowled as Jexton hovered the darksaber closer to the Twi'lek’s neck. Just before he could lob off the woman’s head, a gruff voice appeared over the echo of a megaphone disk.
“Drop the weapon,” the voice said. “Or we’ll shoot.”
Jexton looked up to Zenith Tower. It was Captain Cross, holding the aim of his blaster rifle on Jexton’s head. On both sides of him were Pakker and Bleeker, two high-ranking officers with blasters of their own.
Even so, it hardly evened Jemma’s odds, and Jexton knew it. The man simply smiled, showing off his perfect teeth. His reflexes were probably quick enough to block whatever shots came his way. Nevertheless, the extra help was as appreciated as it was surprising.
“Ironic,” Jexton said, turning to Master Codebreaker. “Our game of zinbiddle was interrupted, yet the stakes have remained entirely the same! Either I leave this planet forever, or your legacy is destroyed.”
“My legacy died with the leak,” Codebreaker said. “It’s only you who stands to lose.”
Suddenly, Jexton was illuminated by two spotlights. No, three! A fourth one, for good measure!
They came from a squad of single rider jet-sticks, piloted by the remaining organic officers. Jemma had seen the speeder’s rocket launchers firsthand. Against them, Jexton’s chances of victory were slim at best.
Cross had him dead to rights, but killing Jexton would put him on the hit list of every Marauder in the galaxy. It was a war this planet simply couldn’t win.
“Well, this is certainly an interesting turn of events,” Jexton said, as if he genuinely appreciated the spectacular display of force.
“This is your final chance to surrender,” Cross said again, his voice booming to those below. “Throw down your weapons and we will spare your lives.”
“Just do what he says!” Jemma shouted.
If Jexton defied their orders, they’d all be caught in the crossfire. Especially considering the blast radius for the jet-stick’s missiles.
Jexton was tempted to resist. He’d fantasized of dying in a last stand, facing insurmountable odds like these. But Canto Bight wasn’t worth it. Besides, it wasn’t in his nature to double down on the lives of his staff.
Jexton powered down the darksaber, clipping it back to his belt.
“Everyone,” he announced. “Lower your weapons.”
Though it pained the less rational members, the Marauders did exactly as he asked. They were paid far too generously to question orders.
“And to think I would’ve set these people free,” Jexton said, remorsefully. “Perhaps it’s for the best. This planet is more high-maintenance than I’d thought. I’ll leave this city alone under one condition: none of you will oppose me. If I hear so much as a rumor that you’re plotting anything against the Marauders, I will see to it that Cantonica is destroyed. Understand?”
Jemma nodded. Knowing Jexton’s history, his threats were far from empty.
“Good,” Jexton said with a wink. Finally, he turned to Master Codebreaker. “I will withdraw my Marauders. If it’s all the same to you, we’ll depart on The Emerellian. I trust you find my terms agreeable?”
“It’s all yours,” Master Codebreaker said, with a shrug.
“Very well. Take care of yourselves.”
The second he walked away, La’Shaa rose to her feet. She threw her arms around Master Codebreaker and Jemma, letting the relief of their survival wash over them. Against all odds, they outlasted all of tonight’s dreadful occurrences!
Looking out across the horizon, Jemma caught her first glimpse of light in the sky - a pair of twin suns, peeking out slightly from Cantonica’s mountains. Dawn was finally upon them, and the atmosphere was fading to a lighter blue.

Captain Cross watched as Jexton and his army left the premises. The negotiations were over, and with any luck, the Marauders were yesterday’s news.
“They’re just... Leaving,” Lieutenant Pakker said in disbelief.
“A surprise, to be sure, but a welcome one,” Sergeant Bleeker added.
“It’s not over yet,” Cross said. He spun around with his blaster rifle, heading towards Zenith Tower’s elevator.
“Sir? Where are you going?” Pakker asked.
“I’m dealing with the three downstairs. It won’t take long.”
Captain Cross took the elevator down. He’d made it outside in record time, holding a small cage in his hands.
The three fugitives hadn’t gone anywhere. They took a moment to recuperate from their injuries, and they weren’t in any condition to make a break for it. By the looks of it, Master Codebreaker and the Twi’lek were lucky to be standing.
“Let me guess,” Master Codebreaker said. “Now that the Marauders are gone, you’re going to arrest us?”
“Not exactly,” Cross said. “I wanted to bring Jemma something before I turned myself in.”
“Turn yourself in?” Jemma asked. It sounded too good to be true.
“A lot of people got hurt tonight, and it was my fault. I thought working with the Marauders protected people. But you found a better answer. A way to rid them of this planet for good.”
“I don’t disagree, but turning yourself in?” Jemma asked. “You could just keep your job. Focus on reforming the department.”
“I don’t trust myself with that responsibility, and neither should you,” Cross said, solemnly. “There’s a talented officer at the station named Lieutenant Pakker. She’ll be taking my place as captain. If you’d like, I can tell her to reinstate you as the codebreaker.”
“I think I’ll be taking a break from law enforcement. At least for a little while.”
“Completely understandable,” Cross said. “I brought this as a parting gift.”
He handed her the small cage. Peering inside, she could see Doz napping inside of it. Her pet sheffi had survived. It was, perhaps, the only belonging of Jemma’s mother that hadn’t been destroyed.
“Jexton wanted me to return it if you cracked his code,” Cross said. “Lucky for us, his demands aren’t our problem anymore.”
“I can’t tell you how much this means to me.”
“You don’t have to,” Cross said, with a slight smile. He turned to the trio. “Take care of yourselves.”
As Cross walked off, Master Codebreaker took his place.
“I’m terribly sorry about what happened to your old flame. If I had the opportunity to exchange my life for his, I would’ve taken it in a heartbeat,” he said.
“I know you would’ve,” Jemma said, with a reassuring smile. She adored Thom. It was difficult for Jemma to imagine living in a world without him.
“If there’s anything I can do, please--”
Just then, Master Codebreaker was interrupted by an alert from his holoprojector. It was Skelk, looking stoic as ever.
“Nice to see you’re still alive,” Skelk said. “I’m about thirty minutes from entering the system. I take it you and the other passenger are ready?”
“Yes. Your timing is perfect as always, Skelk.”
“Good. Meet me at Docking Bay 77. Plan on leaving immediately.”
The line cut. La’Shaa knew this was the plan, but part of her wished she could go with them. Still, she’d find her own way, like always.
“Right, then,” Codebreaker said, giving Jemma a once-over. “What do you say? Are you ready to start the first day of your new lives?”
“I… If it’s alright with you, I think I’ll stay on Canto Bight,” Jemma said.
“Oh?”
“The idea of leaving this place behind was a little easier for me when Thom was still around. Besides, now that the Marauders are gone, it might not be such a bad place to settle down.”
“Of course,” Codebreaker said, understandingly. His eyes darted to La’Shaa. “How about you? You need a new start?.”
“Really?” La’Shaa said, smiling. “Yeah. Can I grab something first?”
“Depends. Can you do it in thirty minutes?”
“I’ll see you at Docking Bay 77,” she said, taking off with haste.
Master Codebreaker took a final look around, breathing in Canto Bight’s air.
“I almost feel bad leaving this place,” Master Codebreaker said. “I can’t help but wonder how many poor souls in that archive found themselves in my shoes… Accused of crimes they never committed.”
Jemma hadn’t forgotten. In fact, she’d already formulated a resolution.
“I’ll go to the HoloNet and personally discredit the leak. I promise you, you won’t be remembered as a monster.”
Master Codebreaker smiled. His old reputation no longer mattered to him, but it eased his final reservation about leaving his old life behind.

Chapter Text

Docking Bay 77 was normally patrolled by police officers, but tonight was a rare exception. There were no droids or organics to demand their credentials. No one to deny them entry or explain the proper departure protocols.
Jemma and Master Codebreaker stood on the platform, waiting for La’Shaa to arrive. Wherever that Twi’lek was, she was cutting it close to the deadline.
“You’re sure you want to leave?” Jemma asked. It was rhetorical, but it seemed to be the most tactful way of asking for an explanation.
“Yes, Jemma. I’m done letting my past rule my future.” Codebreaker said. “Besides, I paid Skelk in advance.”
“Oh! I nearly forgot,” Jemma said, digging into her pockets. She produced his red plom bloom pin, carefully presenting it in her hand. “Thanks for letting me borrow it. And better yet, showing me how to use it.”
“Keep it,” Master Codebreaker said, gently closing her palm. “The pin belongs to the Master Codebreaker. And that’s you, darling.”
“You’re... You’re offering me the moniker?”
“Earlier, Jexton asked me why I challenged the galaxy to break my code. Truth is, I was hoping for someone like you to come along. Sometimes, the best way to preserve a legacy is by passing it on.”
Jemma smiled. She couldn’t believe it was happening.
“And Jemma… Since you’re staying, would you mind doing a little house-sitting?”
“You don’t mean—” Jemma started.
“The mansion’s all yours. If you want it.”
“I’m not sure how to thank you.”
“Don’t. Thanks to you, people will be talking about me for ages!”
“Won’t I need a keycard to get in the house?”
Master Codebreaker simply pointed to the red pin, still held in her hands.
“This is the key,” he said, with a wink.
“You know, people will wonder about you. About where you went.”
“Tell them the old Codebreaker’s dead. Tell them that you’re better.”
“Uh-huh. And where will you really go?”
“I'll start by visiting an old friend. Beyond that, I’m not quite sure.”
Jemma nodded. The future was uncertain for both of them. The only certainty was that their paths would never cross again.
La’Shaa had come sprinting in with a new, polished SE-8 droid. It trotted in, failing to compete with her speed.
“You won’t believe it!” La’Shaa exclaimed. “It was just sitting inside the casino. It’s in perfect condition, too! Brand-new memory bank, perfect processors, and of course, the gyroscopics are upgraded too!”
Jemma frowned. After all they’d been through, she still wasn’t fond of La’Shaa’s tendency to steal.
“What? Did you think I was going to leave this place without getting what I came for?” La’Shaa asked, with mock innocence.
Jemma rolled her eyes. Lecturing La’Shaa would’ve been a waste of breath. Especially considering what little time they had.
Skelk’s freighter appeared on the horizon. The four engines on its back gave the vehicle some heft, but it moved quickly. Master Codebreaker had gotten his money’s worth.
“Hey. Puffer pig,” La’Shaa said. “I’m real glad to have met you.”
“Me too. In fact, you’re one of the first friends I’ve ever had,” Jemma said. “But alas, vahs endku juma losku.”
“Good job. I mean, you butchered the accent a little, but I understood it.”
“Still headed to Mos Espa? Or will you tag along with Codebreaker?”
“Not sure yet. All I know is these droid parts are going to make me rich.”
Jemma smiled, shaking her head.
“How will you ever spend all those credits?” she said.
“No idea,” La’Shaa said. “But I’m not built like you. I can’t settle down or stay in place for too long. Sometimes I wish I had your discipline.”
“To be fair, I could do with a bit of your adventurousness.”
“Looks like we’ve both got stuff to work on.”
La’Shaa affectionately slugged Jemma’s arm while Skelk’s ship descended behind them. When the landing gears touched the platform, that meant it was time to go.
“Take care of yourself, Master Codebreaker,” Jemma said.
“You too, Master Codebreaker,” he replied, playfully.
Master Codebreaker, La’Shaa and her new SE-8 stepped up the ship’s entry ramp, waving their final goodbyes. As the ship prepared for takeoff, Jemma could hear Master Codebreaker bickering with Skelk. She stifled a giggle as it got more contentious, and eventually, more distant…
Jemma watched as Skelk’s ship disappeared into hyperspace.
She couldn’t help but picture her and Thom taking off on the ship, departing with a promise of two happy endings. She’d never forget him for as long as she lived.
But she had a new purpose.
Jemma knew precisely where Codebreaker’s mansion was, but it wasn’t an area she’d often visited. It was far too rich, far too fancy for her blood. But now, it was home.
The streets were practically empty, which came as no surprise to Jemma.. Canto Bight’s citizens cleared out by sunrise. With the exception of it’s maintenance crew, nearly everyone on the planet was nocturnal. After all, nothing exciting ever happened during the daytime.
The mansion was gated like a castle, and Jemma inched her way to the door. An old-fashioned access panel was the only way inside.
Just before she could knock, a green laser scanned Jemma’s body from head to toe. When the red plom bloom was detected, the device let out an affirmative beep.
“Welcome Master Codebreaker,” an electronic voice said. The door wooshed open, allowing her to step inside.
Jemma wrestled off the heavy betaplast collar, tossing it aside. She immediately felt lighter with it off her chest.
The mansion was breathtaking. She didn’t think it was possible to have a home larger than her mother’s, but the manor exceeded her expectations in every conceivable way.
Within the massive foyer, Jemma was greeted by a terminal. It was large. The same size as the one in Zenith’s basement, in fact. Jemma wondered how Master Codebreaker managed to get it through the door.
After tonight, she swore she didn’t want to see another terminal for the rest of her days. Still, Jemma couldn’t suppress her curiosity. She accessed the terminal and found a note, encrypted in quantum bio-hexacrypt.
Jemma recalled Master Codebreaker’s instructions, hoping her first decryption wasn’t a fluke. She placed the pin inside the memory port, freezing its systems. From there, Jemma got to work on the pattern. It took her ten minutes, but it felt like no time at all. She translated the note onto a datapad.

To the new Master Codebreaker,

If you’re reading this - it means you’ve either killed me, bested me, or both. Either way, congratulations. Now that you’ve chosen to take up residence, allow me to explain just a few of the manor’s amenities.
The house is equipped with ten bedrooms, six bathrooms, and two gymnasiums. Hopefully you get more use out of the extra space than I did. The underground hanger holds all my speeders. At the time of writing this, I own forty-five. Equally impressive is the kitchen, which houses every appliance you could ever want. Matter catalysts, caf distillers, thermal jugs… Whatever you need.
Finally, the patio offers the best view of the beach you’ll find on Canto Bight.
This entry will delete itself within the hour, alongside every trace of my identity. I’d prefer it to remain a secret. Please, make yourself at home.

Jemma smiled mischievously. Now that she could decrypt quantum bio-hexacrypt, Codebreaker’s identity could be cracked before it erased itself for good.
No. After all he’d done, she had too much respect for his privacy. The least she could do was honor his wishes.
Jemma explored the home further, stumbling upon rooms and passageways that Codebreaker’s letter failed to mention. The largest of which being Codebreaker’s theater.
There were rows of seats, and a long cabinet near the viewscreen held hundreds of holodiscs. Amongst the vast catalog of holodramas, Jemma spotted a collection of her mother’s works.
She knew just the one to watch: The Great Fathier Race. She plucked it from the collection, and with the press of a button, her mother’s film shot on the vidscreen. She took a vacant chair near the middle of the room and took a breath. Nothing could brace her for the emotions that followed.
When her mother appeared as a hologram, a large smile stretched across Jemma’s face. It had been far too long since she heard the sound of her voice. She giggled involuntarily, feeling a release of pure ecstasy.
It took five years, but Jemma could finally relax into her new reality. She’d grieved horribly, but tonight, the smile came before the teardrops. For the first time in her life, Jemma knew she was going to be alright.

Chapter Text

It had been two full years since the night of the Leak. At least, that’s how the HoloNet described it. Despite numerous investigations, the public never found out why the Marauders left Canto Bight. Or, even more mysteriously, why the old Master Codebreaker had been replaced by a young woman.
As a tribute to her predecessor, Jemma decided to keep her real name a secret. Some speculated that she was a clone of the first Codebreaker. Others thought the girl was him, and that his new appearance was simply the result of reconstructive surgery. Jemma was fine with either explanation. If nothing else, it prevented people from invoking her mother’s name, or calling her skills into question.
The only people who knew her true identity were those that pursued her during the Leak. Even if one of them came forward to divulge that information, it would’ve been lost amongst the hundreds of other rumors.
Jemma made her way down to the Canto Bight Police Headquarters. She never visited, but the two-year anniversary left her feeling nostalgic. She walked up to the front desk, where an overwhelmed clerk was tending to some paperwork.
Jemma recognized the employee from their time as co-workers. Clearly, the familiarity wasn’t mutual.
“I’m here to see a prisoner,” Jemma said.
“Look, you’re just going to have to wait. It’s a busy night and--” the clerk said, only to realize who they were talking to. The red plom bloom on Jemma’s shirt gave it away. “Oh. Master Codebreaker. I didn’t… Wow. Honestly, I thought you were a myth.”
“I can assure you, I’m very real,” Jemma said, with a forced smile. “I’m here to see Cross.”
“Uh, yes! Please, right this way!”
The administrator flew to their feet, escorting Jemma downstairs. The jail cells were cleaner than she remembered. It was one of the many improvements the police had made. At least, since the Marauders were driven from Canto Bight.
“This is him,” the man said, giving Jemma a small bow. “Let me know if you need anything.
Cross sat alone in the darkness. He was silent and still, as if stuck in a catatonic state. His body was bruised and battered, and one of the Captain’s eyes had been swollen shut.
Just as she wondered if this was the same Cross she remembered, he caught her gaze.
“Well, well, well… If it isn’t Master Codebreaker,” he announced, his voice as guttural as ever. “Or should I say, Jem--”
Jemma placed her finger over her lips, shushing him.
“I’m joking, I’m joking,” he said. “I get the HoloNet updates here. I know about your little alter ego. Very clever.”
“It’s good to see you, Cross,” she said. He liked seeing that big, stupid grin of hers. “They’re keeping you in solitary?”
“The other prisoners don’t like me very much. Many of them hold a bit of a grudge.”
“I can’t imagine why,” she said, sarcastically. Cross chuckled to himself.
“Why’d it take you so long to visit me, hm?”
“To be fair, I don’t leave my house for much of anything these days.”
“It shows.”
Cross had a point. Even with her newfound celebrity, Jemma’s fashion sense and grooming habits had hardly improved. Somehow, she’d become even more reclusive.
“How’s Captain Pakker doing?” Cross asked.
“She’s done an excellent job running the department. Especially considering what she had to work with.”
Jemma wasn’t lying. Though corruption still existed within the department, it had improved drastically with Pakker’s zero tolerance policy against police misconduct. Anyone caught taking bribes or conspiring with criminals were fined, and in some cases, expelled.
“And what about you?” Cross asked. “Do you break encyrptions for them?”
“Pakker asks me for a favor every now and again. But for the most part, I’ve moved onto freelance work.”
“Freelance?”
“Yeah. Codebreaking, slicing, you name it. The pay is good. At least, good enough to live here. It pays the bills.”
“Not sure what that’s like. I’ve lived here rent-free for the past couple years,” Cross said. “I’m glad things are going so well for you. I assume that’s why you came? To fill me in?”
“Actually, I came to thank you,” Jemma said.
“Thank me? Why?”
“When my mother died, it tore me apart. I didn’t have anyone I could trust except you, and… Well, Thom. Part of me still hates you for everything you did during the Leak. But you were there for me when it counted. You pushed me to become the best codebreaker I could, even when nobody else noticed me. For that, you’ll always be a hero to me.”
Cross didn’t cry. But if he ever had, he would’ve done it now.
“Have you ever heard from that old Codebreaker? Or your Twi’lek friend?” Cross asked, changing the subject.
“Not since the Leak,” Jemma said, with a wistful sigh. “I just hope wherever they are, they’re happy.”
Cross nodded in agreement. He’d liked those two quite a bit. Though admittedly, it was easier to appreciate them in retrospect.
“You know, Cross. I can probably get you out of here,” Jemma said, quietly. “I can infiltrate the security systems and--”
“No, no,” Cross said, decisively. “I love it here. After all, what better place to bring order than a correctional facility?”
Jemma smiled. Cross was as happy as she’d ever seen him. Perhaps, like her, he’d finally found his purpose.
“Very good,” she said with a smile. “I’d better get going. I don’t want to be late for my meeting.”
“A meeting, hm?”
“Yeah. A potential client. Could be something. We’ll see.”
“Come visit me again sometime, would you?”
“Sure thing, Captain,” she said, with a whimsical salute. “See you around.”

Like every other business consultation, Jemma chose her mansion as the rendezvous. The mansion was as convenient as it was secure. From turrets hidden within the ceilings to the energy shields bordering each room, the prior Master Codebreaker had installed a security measure for every scenario.
While contingencies like these were often exploited, Master Codebreaker programmed them using quantum bio-hexacrypt. That meant nobody could slice into them besides Jemma.
Jemma was grateful for it, too. After all, it saved her the hassle of hiring security. Besides, it’s not like she trusted anyone beyond herself.
The client, a disheveled old man, had kept her waiting for an extra thirty minutes. Jemma was always keen on arriving early. She despised it when people were tardy.
“Sorry I’m late,” the client said, scratching at his grey stubble. “Getting here was a nightmare.”
He brushed past Jemma, moving with the swagger of a man much younger. He removed the cloak that covered his deep brown eyes. He tossed it on Jemma’s sofa, revealing an old flight jacket underneath.
“Nobody can know I was here,” he added, sharply. “Some bad people really want me dead.”
“Your secret’s safe with me,” Jemma promised.
“Thanks,” he said, sinking himself into Jemma’s couch. “Wow. Comfy. This must’ve been expensive.”
“It was,” Jemma said, unamused. “Now before we get started, I have three rules.”
“Shoot,” the man said, coolly.
“One. No political jobs. Anything involving the Marauders, the New Republic - you can forget about it. Two. I only work locally. I will not, I repeat, will not leave Canto Bight to do jobs. Finally, rule three. I expect my credits upfront. No exceptions.”
It was clearly a rehearsed speech. She polished it with each and every job, but the stranger wasn’t impressed.
“Well then, Master Codebreaker,” they said, with a half-smirk. “What if I told you I was a New Republic leader with no credits, asking you to come with me to Endor to help fight the Marauders?”
“Then I’d advise you to get out of my house and try your luck somewhere else,” Jemma said, throwing her hands on her hips. “I might even be offended that you wasted my time.”
“Don’t be so hasty,” the man said. “My name is General Poe Dameron. I looked into what happened here a couple years ago. The night of the Leak, you took the Master Codebreaker mantle. And all at once, every Marauder up and vanished from this planet. Call me presumptuous, but I think you might’ve had something to do with that.”
Jemma frowned. Part of her wanted to take credit for it To finally express how much she despised the Marauders. But she hadn’t heard from them in years. Only rumors that they’d gotten stronger.
There was finally peace on Canto Bight. She couldn’t risk getting involved in an unwinnable war.
“Look, the Marauder’s security was coded in quantum bio-hexacrypt. I’ve talked to hundreds of slicers. Nobody can crack it. But rumor has it you can. If you agree to help us, the New Republic could stand a fighting chance--”
Jemma didn’t answer. She simply scowled.
“You’re not gonna do it, are you?” Poe asked. “Fine. But tell me something... How the hell did you get those bastards to leave you alone? Was it blackmail? Sheer firepower?”
“You need to get out of my house,” Jemma said, raising her voice. “Now.”
One of the turrets ripped down from the ceiling, aiming its blaster at Poe. She was bluffing, of course, but it was enough to startle the old general.
“The New Republic could really use someone like you,” he said, wagging a finger at her.
“I bet they could,” Jemma said.
Poe threw the cloak back on his head, and started towards the door.
“If you ever change your mind, you know where to find me.”
She watched remorsefully as he left. Of course Jemma wanted to help. Her mother certainly would have. But the galaxy was a complicated place.
Maybe I could do something one day, Jemma promised herself. But in the meantime, the New Republic and the Marauders were not her concern. After so much loss, after so much sacrifice, she was finally happy...