=Break Room, Security Station, Theed Hangar=

"Yeah. Can't believe it! A no duff Sith acolyte runnin' around… Yes, we'll head there right away… Nelson out."

Officer Dag Nelson switched off his comlink and rounded on Vin.

"Okay, Magic." Vin Rajik straightened at the sound of his nickname as Nelson sized him up and down. They were in the middle of dinner when Nelson had gotten an urgent call. Vin's mouth was full of five blossom bread, leftovers from a function earlier in the day, and he gulped attentively. Nelson sighed. "They've got a job for us."

"Yeah?"

"Channel's been buzzin' with word of a Sith acolyte in the city. He blew out a window of the palace. They've got a squad patrolling there."

"A real Sith?" Vin asked.

"Not necessarily; could be someone they hired. But they said he's got that Force mumbo-jumbo. Kinda like you."

"I'm not a Force-adept," Vin reminded him dully.

"Well, kid, you might as well be. Hogan asked for you specifically-" he jabbed Vin in the chest good-naturedly- "to check it out."

"Me? Why?"

"Well, you're a kid who don't like to be found. I guess they think you'll be good at spottin' others who feel the same way."

"Fine." Vin set down his dinner remorsefully. "Where am I going?"

"They last saw him scale the wall and run along the Street of Glory. Pushed a couple of folks. Now he's gone."

"What does he want?" Vin asked, rising and brushing crumbs off his uniform.

"Who knows? He's a Sith. You can't negotiate with them," replied Nelson, likely recalling his brush ten years ago with the last Sith to visit Naboo. He never shut up about this Darth Maul in the three years Vin had known him. "Let's take a ride around Theed, shall we?"

"Sure," said Vin wanly, and followed Nelson out of the break room. Nodding to a few of the other guards as they left, they made their way to the garage. The Naboo Royal Security Forces were on alert, halting spaceport departures and locking down the main hangar. But they'd been given clearance to take a speeder by the palace's Royal Guard, so they were cleared to go within moments.

Vin settled into the passenger seat while Nelson drove as always. "You know the deal, kid. I drive, and you use your magic."

"You got it," said Vin.

Vin was 17, and for the past three years, he'd been Nelson's ward. He'd only been on Naboo for that long, and he'd come to make a quick buck stealing, conning, and counterfeiting. But when he'd been caught pickpocketing a veteran of the Naboo Royal Security Forces, the law caught up with him. Dag Nelson, however, was merciful and saw potential in him. Perhaps he could be useful to Naboo's security forces with his experience in underground affairs and his talents in stealth and cunning. Vin was offered the choice of jail time, or two years of service as Dag's ward. He'd chosen the latter, and over the years developed a begrudging respect for Nelson that morphed into friendship, even. Vin had served out his sentence, but he'd chosen to stay. He was doing what he did best, working his magic…

Vin's sharp green eyes surveyed the streets they ambled down from their speeder, looking for any signs of strange activity. As the sun set, street lights began to glow. The dark would make good cover for a fugitive. Vin was searching for someone who didn't want to be found, and if he or she was as good as Vin, the search might be a bit tougher.

Good, a challenge. Staring at security camera feeds all day had been dull from day one. Vin wished he'd seen some action like Nelson had. He'd dealt with day-to-day crime like kids reprogramming official droids, the customs office reporting smugglers, guard duty during parades, et cetera, et cetera. Now something was actually happening for a change.

Vin licked his lips as he looked to his left in Nelson's direction.

"See anything?" Nelson asked.

"Nothing, Nels."

"We're makin' a pit stop at the guard office in the palace. Hogan wants to see you. Maybe he can drop you a few more clues."