And he walked. Usually Qui Gon could clear his mind and think rationally as he walked but today his mind swam. So instead he walked and focused on the motions of walking. Over and over he played the facts in his mind and they added up to one thing. But Qui Gon refused to see it. It unnerved him to think Crion would start a war. Crion was many things; arrogant, cunning and shrewd but he was not a murderer.
"Nodin?"
Qui Gon froze. He cursed himself, in his ponder he had forgotten to listen to the Force and had failed to sense the danger. He kept walking, ignoring the voice call for Nodin again. Five years ago he had assumed Nodin as an alias to infiltrate the powerful Barak crime family. He had climbed the ranks quickly finally positioning himself as the head of the family's personal aide. Later, when the Republic came he was useful to cripple the family but unfortunately it survived. The people that knew he was actually the Republic's spy were few but he couldn't be sure if the voice behind him was a friend or foe. He decided to take his chances. He turned purposefully careful to hide his lightsaber from view.
It was a woman he had known fleetingly. She was a courier, he remembered, and a good-heart if somewhat idealistic. She didn't know he was a traitor. She called herself Yuri Barak, and had been accepted into the family when she was orphaned by a rival family. She was small at 22 and had made the decision of protecting herself by allying with the Barak. She survived by Roan's graces. "Nodin, it is you! Where have you been hiding yourself at?"
He greeted her and hugged her. "Coruscant mostly, Yuri. I've gotten back into free lance protection. Hiring myself out as a bodyguard mostly."
"You left the family?"
"I fell out of graces with Roan." He allowed. "Losing his daughter while she was under my care wasn't a good career move."
"But I heard a Jedi killed her. You're good Nodin but not that good. It wasn't your fault."
He nodded but said nothing more on the subject. "So, what is a Barak herald doing out so far? 'Specially on a rock like this."
Yuri stepped back and stared at him curiously. He sensed her tensing and feared he had misstep. She frowned. "Same reason you're here I guess."
"The war?"
"The genocide, you mean." Yuri spat the words out like poison. "Tellus isn't ready for an army like us, and them Hutts in the Governor's palace know it too. Them and those Jedi jackals they have."
"When do you move?"
"The new lunar cycle. The new moon will shield our ascent to Tellus. They'll never know we were there." She spat again. "We'll going to murder them, Nodin. This won't be a war, it'll be a genocide."
"We do what we must." He offered. "And now I must eat, I'm starved." He turned to go and stopped. "Oh Yuri, one last thing."
"Yeah?"
"Who has the money on Telos to buy an army like that? Not even Crion has that kind of currency."
"It's a joint venture, I hear. Crion and some shirt called Resner. Funny thing is we only answer to Crion." She smiled at him. "Don't you think that's odd, Jedi?"
Qui Gon stiffened. He met her eyes.
"Forgot to tell you, didn't I? Those years ago when we met. I'm a telepath and well you see...I just don't like genocide."
He met Yuri's gaze and smiled. Bowing, he waited just long enough for her to disappear into the crowd again before looking up again. He was filled with thanks but also with dread. Xanatos' motto was to always have a back door. He had learned that from Crion and the Governor's back door was an army. The Barak were mercenaries as well as drug dealers and the best of both. As such, he could expect to confront Crion without blood shed. War was inevitable but it was up to him to ensure Tellus would not be harmed. Walking to the Croal's home, Qui Gon felt his heart sink. All around him, a beautiful, vibrant city gleamed. People moved about their daily business, greeting him and smiling. Old men talked politics in open aired cafes while children played one last game of ball before being rushed into their homes by mothers. Telos was a world at peace. And he was about to shatter that.
