Dorn: A Star Wars Story

2. Asset

I should have known when the word "flashy" was used in a banquet scenario that it was Sevens who was the one hosting it, but believe me when I say that it was still somewhat of a surprise to walk through the doors of that meeting hall and see more familiar faces than I was comfortable with. There were factions in the Senate that still supported the Empire and the old way of doing things, vehemently opposed by the new faction led by Organa and her band of cronies. Not that I liked the Imperial politicians much better. 

I recognized a few of them from the old speeches and debates we would see on the holonet from time to time. They were all snakes and I hated every last one of them with the passion of a thousand suns, but they were better than the alternative, I guess. I found myself never having much of an opinion on the matter of politics because nobody had time for it in the trenches. Of course, two seconds after walking in, someone took me by the arm and half-dragged me away across the room, and when I finally got a look to see who it was, I was greeted with a greying and grinning Sevens, who had barely changed since I last saw him save for apparently inheriting the wealth from his father if the aurodium ring he wore meant anything.

"Dorn! I am happy you're here!" He paused for a moment and then pressed the button to open up a room next to us, "You look dashing in full black. It suits you."

"How are you even alive?" I asked as he walked me into a small hallway and turned to me with another smile. "I figured the annihilated you guys."

He held up a finger and turned his smile into a smirk, "They tried. Sadly, I'm a little... resilient, and so are my men. I didn't feel comfortable going with Sloane after her little stunt with Rax so I decided to cut my losses and bring my men to Vardos. We stashed the TIEs and took a transport where we could. We've kept in touch since a little job opportunity has opened up." he paused for a second and returned his regular Sevens smile to his face before he put a hand on my shoulder, "It's good to see you, Dorn. I don't have many friends left around here, you know?"

"Yeah," I nodded as he walked forward and keyed in the code for the door at the end of the hallway. "Gotta admit, it does feel good to see a familiar face."

"Oh, then you'll love this!" He stepped aside as I met him by the door. When it opened... Well, if I had been drinking, I wouldn't have been when I saw who was in there.

Commodore Morrissey was arguing with an aide of some sort while Director Dorne sat sipping what looked like some wine and looking like he wished he was somewhere else. Beside him was a very blue and very familiar face. Inraas was sitting, legs crossed, beside two other Chiss, both of whom had their eyes snap directly to me when Sevens chauffeured me into the room.

"Major Dorne," Inraas nodded to me as I approached them. "Unfortunate that you didn't take me up on my offer."

"Hard to do in prison."

Inraas actually chuckled and even Director Dorne seemed surprised. "True. It is good to see you unharmed. You are a man of talent, and that you have come back here to aid our cause is a boon."

My face must have shown some level of confusion because Director Dorne chuckled, "Oh, he has no idea..."

"The Imperial Remnant," Sevens supplied as he motioned for me to follow him and take a seat beside him across from Inraas. I did as he continued to explain, "Those of us who didn't follow Sloane to wherever she went have decided that it's time to secretly begin working to take back our Empire from the Rebels. Want to know who made it out?"

"Moff Gideon of all people..." Lorias rolled his eyes and looked to me with a shake of his head. "That son of a bantha literally cannot die."

Considering that I was technically Mandalorian, hearing that he was kicking after the poodoo he pulled on what were my extended family by adoption didn't sit well with me. Kando and his clan had suffered for it. "Anyone worth anything?" I asked as I sat back on my chair, and the venom wasn't missed by Lorias.