A/N: I really don't want some Imperial Agent looking up MY info because someone thinks I'm getting paid for this. I'm not. Honestly. If you have money to burn, go get a SWTOR subscription, donate to an animal shelter... something. Also, sorry about the short chapter. Summers asked me to refrain from including everything so I don't spoil the surprises in the plot later on. Feel free to speculate in your reviews.

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Scheming

Agent Summers couldn't sleep. There was far too much work to be done. First, he had to file the report regarding the infiltration of the computer system on Nar Shadaa. Normally this would have been a quick and easy task, but this time he faced an intriguing complication – the slicer was no ordinary woman. She might be the one I need to take care of that little problem. He clenched his teeth unconsciously as he informed his superiors that the slicer had been killed trying to escape and no longer posed a threat to the Empire.

"What did you do with the body?" Watcher Two asked. Cipher pressed his lips together, chagrined. How could he have forgotten that part? Only a brief pause preceded his reply.

"Nothing more than trash like that deserved. It's floating in space somewhere near Quesh, if I recall correctly."

"That 'trash' could have had useful information, Cipher. You should done a more thorough inspection before tossing it out the airlock."

She's right about that part, he chided himself. He clasped his hands behind his back to keep them from moving to the site where Imara had stabbed him with his own tranquilizer dart. I should have noticed when she hid that thing up her sleeve. Damned smugglers.

"Humble apologies, Watcher. Allow me to make it up to you. Over dinner, perhaps?" He was not at all surprised when the woman scoffed at the invitation, but it was fun trying anyway. Now I know why Kaliyo chose to follow me. Everyone else takes themselves WAY too seriously!

"I don't have the time for that, Cipher, and neither do you. Since you have finally made it to Alderaan, we have another matter to discuss. Alderaan is governed by the wealthiest noble families in the galaxy. They've feuded for centuries, and are currently engaged in a full-scale war. Imperial Intelligence believes that one of the noble houses, or a noble within one of the houses, is financing the Eagle's terror network."

Summers absorbed the rest of the information, replying and asking questions as needed, then shut off the holocommunicator.

"Why did you tell her that?" Kaliyo inquired suspisciously after Watcher's projection vanished.

"Tell her what?" he evaded, then sidestepped further. "Don't you have to clean your guns or something?" The Rattataki grinned as if he had complimented her, then left the bridge. Had she bothered to look behind her, she would have noticed the image of a Sith Lord appear over the holoprojector, along with a large amount of data.

After almost a week of searching – when his official mission allowed time for it - and more than a few discreet favors called in, Summers finally found most of the information he was after. Most of his findings confirmed the concerns of his patron; a few revealed themselves to be false leads. The hardest part, of course, had been keeping things secret from Kaliyo. She might be a member of his crew, but he did not for an instant believe that made her at all loyal to him. If she found out what he was up to before he was ready, she might try to trade his corpse for a profit. And I'm sure this level of treachery would turn quite a hefty one. But the Empire needs this more than it needs the current state of affairs. They just don't know it yet. That was of course assuming Kaliyo didn't just think the whole thing was hilarious and see it as one more chance to snub authority. He fervently hoped it would be the latter when it did come time to include her in his plans.

With the research on the targets mostly completed, Summers turned his attention to the other side of the equation. Captain Imara Goodspeed, hm? Freelancer to the Republic... let's start with the criminal records. The history shown by the computer appeared fairly typical, except that it had no information dating earlier than three and a half years prior. He was fortunate enough to even find information on her ship. However, none of this was of any use to him if he had no way to enlist her aid. A search based on the surname yielded only one other person – the previous owner of the same ship, and apparently her father. No mother, no siblings. That can't be right...

He rubbed his chin thoughtfully as he rearranged the windows displayed over the console. The pieces were there; he just couldn't quite get them to fit together. He rubbed his eyes wearily, then got up to pace. A person doesn't just spring into existence fully grown. She had to have come from somewhere. What am I missing? His mind drifted to her utter distaste for the Empire, wondering again how anyone could so deeply hate someone they had never met. Unless... Cipher flew back to the computer to input some new search parameters, waited a few minutes for the system to run the information, then stared in disbelief at the results as they appeared.

"How interesting..."

"Any reason you want that particular freighter, Mister Webb? Captain Goodspeed is a very busy woman. Her services don't come cheap." The Ortolan black marketeer pulled up another window on his datapad and prepared to list off names of smugglers he (She? the man mused. I can never tell with some races) thought would be more suitable.

"I want to see if she's as good as her reputation, so we'll start with a simpler job first." The best lie is one with a good measure of truth in it, Summers – working under the psuedonym Webb – thought smugly. "Of course, you will not mention to her or anyone the prospect of a future job or my involvement in all this. Understood?"

The Ortolan bowed ubiquitously. "Of course, sir. We don't stay in business by telling our clients' secrets. And here on Hoth, going out of business means not being able to pay for heat. That's a death sentence. Rest assured, your secrets are safe with me."

"See that they are."

Back on his ship, Summers dialed up Imperial Intelligence on the holocommunicator. After impatiently going through the standard verification and security protocols, then waiting for another several minutes, Watcher Two's form finally appeared over the console. Despite her irritated expression, Summers gave her his best smile.

"Watcher Two. How lovely to see you again!"

"Cipher Nine. What can I do for you?" Her tone was coldly professional, as usual.

Cipher already had too much on his mind to take the opportunity to flirt with Watcher – his advances were invariably refused anyway – so he went straight to business. "I heard a disturbing rumor about a particularly tenacious terrorist cell working with Republic contacts on Tatooine. It's possible our missing Sith has gone to ground there. I would like to go investigate, but I'll need a Republic identity and some discretionary funds."

"I'll send a team immediately. Is there anything else to report?"

Cipher held his hands up in a "wait" gesture. "I was hoping to go myself. The rumor may be unfounded, and I don't want you to have to pull anyone from an assignment just to chase shadows."

Watcher looked at Summers carefully. "You just came back from a rough assignment yourself, Cipher. You're supposed to be recuperating."

"Watcher, I didn't know you cared!" Cipher had no trouble letting a touch of excitement into his tone. "If I had known you felt that way..." He grinned, presumably about the revelation, but just as much because she had taken the bait.

"Fine, you can go," she said hurriedly. "Report back if you discover anything. Watcher Two out." The projection disappeared before Cipher had a chance to thank her, which was probably just as well. He was having a hard enough time containing his laughter; a few short barks managed to escape despite his efforts. Kaliyo poked her head around the corner at the unusual sound and gave Cipher a curious look.

"You're not sick, are you? I had an akk dog once who made that sound right before its stomach burst. It ate some kind of parasite, and the thing grew inside until there wasn't any more room. It took weeks to get the smell out of the house."

Summers felt slightly ill just hearing the description. "That was gruesome, Kaliyo. No, I'm fine. Pack for warm weather. We're taking a trip to Tatooine."

"What for? Making up for this iceball?" The Rattataki gestured to the frozen planet slowly rotating in the viewscreen.

"I'm going to meet up with an old friend," was all the explanation he offered.