"Boss. That Pau'an male there at the bar is the senior aide to the mayor of Daiyu city."

Even before Amica had reported that I had sensed the darkness surround this person. And that brand of darkness was socialist in nature. From behind my gray hood I looked where the darkness was concentrated. Neither of us had expected this break; the only way to describe it. The Force as always was ever at work.

Using that aide as a Force launch point I scanned out along the energy field that linked to the mayor himself; for all things were bound in the Force; especially the living. Hiding criminal actions couldn't change that truth. Even more so when the chosen one was doing the looking.

I found the mayor's spirit. It was even darker than the aide. These were big time reds. The intel had proven right so far. "Both the mayor and his aide are reds." "Force confirmed?" I nodded. "Interesting. You must do what you need to boss." I looked at the aide. "Let's follow him back to the mayor." "And while we do that I will assess the mayoral defenses." Good plan so far.

My feelings told me there was more to this whole thing too here. The red parts were obvious; but there was something else…something elusive…

I stretched out with my feelings to better understand this connection. The entire city had become a dark side domain. Nuanced in the socialist way. And that darkness was focused. That meant it wasn't just a natural dark side nexus. It was by design.

Only palpatine had given off this kind of power which I'd sensed acutely many times as Vader. He'd done it to remind me that I was still the apprentice. It was also used as a power device to ensure his dominance over others.

There was only one conclusion possible based on this Force evidence. The Red Jedi had a base here too. And there were masters here too; for only mastery level power could generate a dark field like that. They were using it to corrupt the living here. To make them despair and to become radicalized as red militants. It was clever insidious and effective.

"Things here just got a lot bigger." Amica looked at me silently as she hadn't expected that. I didn't wanna say more until I knew more for sure; but she at least had a heads up now for it.

The aide prepared to leave the bar. "I have the mayor residence fully analyzed now boss." Good timing there too. We stood and followed after the aide. This was likely gonna get interesting.

With Amica locked onto the aide's biometrics in addition to my Force lock onto his soul we would stay with him well enough in the crowded streets. We were in no hurry and patience would guide our actions here.

"Boss" She said into my concealed earpiece. "There is little doubt that the mayor and his staff are permitting the spice trade to flourish here." "Agreed. We need to shut it all down. For good." "Copy that."

We neared the mayor's residence. It had a private army guarding it. "Boss. I'm intercepting mayoral comms traffic. There are pirates working for them saying they are aware of a Republic task force operating in the area." "Copy that. Good work."

I went down an alley between some buildings that were near the target. "Take up a sniper position" I told her. "I'll do the rest." "Copy boss."

When halfway down that same alley I Force leaped up to a rooftop and did some Jedi parkour before arriving on a rooftop nearest to the target. I crawled to the edge and stayed down with hood up.

The mayor definitely had money to afford the security I now saw. And it was safe to say that a mayor's salary couldn't afford to hire mercs like these guys. All this reinforced what I'd gathered so far.

No red Jedi though. At least nothing in the immediate area. But if we hit this dump they'd likely come flying in. That could go many different ways. There were civilians all around. I didn't want them to get hurt. They were under evil's influence as I'd once been. It wasn't their fault. I was here to help them.

I had to be more surgical about this. I spotted the aide enter the compound and was gone from sight.

"I'm in position Boss." "Copy. Don't fire unless I give the order."

There was no other rooftop between here and the target. And it was a big leap for even a Jedi to attempt. But not for the chosen one. I went to a crouch called upon the force and leaped up and over in the night sky and landed right on the target roof moments later. I also landed right in the current sensor blind spot. A precise landing.

But then the sensors rotated their scanner heads; this randomized the blind spots. I leaped again and landed where they weren't focused. I did this a few more times till I arrived at an upper wall portion to the structure.

This was it. I lit my sword and cut a hole in the wall. Sensing no one on the other side while doing this I then used the Force to set the cut wall piece alongside the inner wall. The sensors randomized again right as I finished this and entered.

"I'm inside." "Copy."

The mayor and that aide were nearby. His office wasn't far. I jammed the area sensors via the jammer on my utility belt. I then arrived at the door. I then used my multi tool to breach the door control panel and disabled the security and locking mechanism.

This was it. I held my unlit sword in my hand and opened the door with the other. Both pau'an males were surprised at seeing me enter. I used the Force to disable the hidden desk panic button. The mayor pushed it with futility a few times an instant later to no effect.

I kept my hood up. I was gonna wear my hood up more. Made me more mysterious when needed. It kept them nervous here. "Who are you?" "Your worst nightmare…"