CHAPTER 14
Mos Espa was a thriving city, comprised of mud huts that were dwarfed by the surrounding plant life. Vines and moss covered a very little shop and market stand built at level. As the huts grew with additional stories, the plant life gradually lost its masking ability on the structures. Seemingly creating the revealing the desert that once consumed this planet was now won over by a nemesis of greenery. But the temperature emanating from the planet's twin suns did not change the heat. Tatooine was now a giant rainforest, with beautiful lush growth and majestic flowers that came be that standard. It was very difficult to believe that the Hutt's still had control. Not complete control, just over entertainment and capitalist gains, which the Tuskin natives found insulting. They had regained control over their homeworld over four centuries ago, and while they still welcomed many species to Tatooine. They cared very little for the Hutts and their greedy ways, all they truly gave the planet was crime, deception and of plight a scoundrels. Now a new kind of evil had emerged on this oasis of a planet and it was more powerful than any slug of a crime lord, or ancestor to the sand people could ever imagined. Only Master Oden and Noble Venad knew this, the Sith were here on Tatooine, and in Mos Espa. Amidst the lowlifes and dirty salesmen, a much stronger force was at work, one with darker intentions than even that of a Hutt. It was close, and grew closer as the Jedi made their way down the main street of the small city. Grem was covered in a customary grab often worn by those of his species, a large vested-shirt, and wide pants that comforted his unusual build, and no boots, this was customary for common vurks. Dorshe' managed to find the smuggler's disguise she used several years ago on an away mission. How it had found its way into her duffel, she could only describe as the will of the Force, but she was glade to see that she had it with her in this instance. Her hair was bundled back to hide its true length. The black leather jacket along with it durable pilot jump suit, and old naval boots would serve her well while in Mos Espa. "It's getting stronger Grem." She remarked trying not look directly at him as she spoke. The two Jedi focused on masking their bonds with the Force so as not to give away their Jedi nature. This only made it more difficult for them to focus on sensing the Sith presence. "I sense it's proximity as well!" he recalled the data about the case he was sent here for, having memorized it on the journey from Coruscant. Grem pointed to a small shop near the street corner. "Perhaps we should begin by questioning the girl's family. The data- pad said her father and mother own that small establishment by the end of the path." "Lead the way." She implied in a tone under her normal breath so as not to publicize their intentions. Grem did the same, taking casual steps in the shop's direction. From what Dorshe' could tell from its outward appearance, it seemed to be an old antiques shop. Outside the main door, which appeared to have no door at all, there were many items, large and small scattered onto the tables that lie in front of the shop. "K'loy's ancient treasures" she read from the sign hanging above the main entrance. She noted as they walked in what seemed to be a large hulk of metal from an ancient rebellion vehicle, at least that's what she could tell by the red phoenix like emblem on its surface. The main room inside the shop was big, but cramped with space taken up by all the antiques that filled it. Tall shelves contained many small but uniquely beautiful objects. Dorshe' could see the entire galaxy on those shelves and tables, a necklace that looked as if it were fashioned by the Ewoks on Endor. A royal Naboo hairpiece that could only be worn those who had at least three feet of naturally grown hair, and a small cube that looked familiar to the Jedi master. She could almost sense the force calling her to it, but she had to suppress that instinct or she might otherwise give herself away. Grem walked to the back of the store in search of its owner while Dorshe stood watch up front. Watching for what they didn't know but they still wished they had not needed to take such precautions. He passed many items that he would otherwise take the time to analyze to the fullest detail, but he knew his duty came first. Grem had reached the end of a far dark corner. There, he found an aged man with sun treated skin on a latter filing what looked to be like old papered text, or as master Romdel would call them, "Books". The graying haired man didn't notice the blue skinned reptile till he spoke. "Um." He cleared his throat to no advantage. "Excuse me sir!" he stated with success as the man looked down to find a tall Alien, with a large crest pointing out of his skull. "Yes? What can I do for you my friend?" he asked in a cheery expression He used to hide the pain of a loves lost. "Are you K'loy Banai?" The man glanced at Grem in a manner of concern as he placed the last of the text onto a shelf before him. "Yes, I'm him, is their something I can help you with." He began to step down from the wooden frame. "Actually there is." Grem tried his best to conjure up a quick alibi for why he was there, recalling a city once mentioned in a story about Luke Skywalker he heard from his former Master. "I'm an investigator from Mos Esiley, I and my associate have been assigned to help the local authorities here in Mos Espa to find out what happened to your daughter." The Vurk could see the sad tone resonating on K'loy's face, he would rather Grem have said'. find your daughter." Hearing anything else dims the hope he has for finding his child again. "Well I guess you will want to hear the how story." He stepped down, facing up to the widened eyes of Venad. K'loy then proceeded to walk back down to the main area of the shop, eyeing the conspicuous looking women waiting by his cashier's desk. "I'm sorry but I prefer to know the names of the people who are concerned for my Reima." Dorshe' answered not wanting Grem to give away their true identities. "I'm Nira Famrod my associate is Mr. Werg Manolk." "I see then what do you wish to know." K'loy began to polish the cube Dorshe' noticed earlier with his sleeve, not diverting his attention from Grem's words. "From what our information tells us your daughter was at play with other children when she was last seen." "Yes we were at the park in the town square on a picnic a week ago. I and my family were eating when a few children she said she knew from her school came over and asked if Reima could come and play with them on the nearby playing grounds." He began to polish the object in his hand with less precision as the memories of that day returned to him. "I took that time alone to be with my wife look into her eyes, share the passion we rarely can share when we are watching after our young one." Pain began to seep from K'loy into Dorshe'. She desired more times with Pacres as well. Tears crept behind the man's eyes as he continued. "We could not have turned our back on her for more than a few minutes, but when I turned to check on Reima, neither she nor the other children were there. My wife and I searched the entire park the rest of the day and into the night without success." Tears fell, but K'loy could care less at this point. "I managed to contact the local police, but they were of little use. I don't mean to say they didn't try to find her. In fact they did everything they could to find Reima, that's when they told me that she must have been kidnapped." His tears were replaced with anger. "If I didn't have my morals to suppress me, I might have killed that officer for even thinking that some monster would take my child! But realizing that would only bring more pain to my household I took matters to the Jedi on this planet only to find that they were away conducting some other investigation. Every night I pray that she is alive, that no harm has come to her. If there is anything you can do that tells me what has become of her, I would be willing to pay all I have for your services." Grem and Dorshe' despite their powers being held back could sense the desperation in his plea. "That will be unnecessary Sir." Grem mentioned. "We will do our best to help you and we wish no such payment." Dorshe' injected. Hope began to spring from K'loy. Why would these strangers wish to help me without money as motivation? Only a jed. Then he realized who they truly were. He placed his arms on the table, the cube now in his right hand propping himself so he could lean over to the women and the reptile. Grem and Dorshe' leaned over as well. "Your Jedi! Aren't you!" he whispered so as not to notify a nonexistent party. "Only kind of people on Tatooine who do anything without pay. Are Jedi!" Dorshe' realized there was no avoiding that obvious fact, Grem figured that eventually too. "Yes." Dorshe' replied in an even softer whisper. "But we're trying to keep a low profile, or rather a profile that dose not exist, Understood?" K'loy nodded. Understanding that Jedi know how to conduct their business, he leans upright and ends his interrogation. "Why has it taken you so long to find me, your office at Mos Edess said you were to busy to help me?" "We were sent by our off-world office." she hinted. "The higher ups believe there is something more dangerous at work here." "I see!" he returned without further question. Knowing very well when Jedi orders come from above, they are not simple matters. This frightened the shopkeeper even more. "Please let me pay you somehow, you are too much of a blessing to do this for me unrewarded. Not use to this kind of gratitude, Dorshe' decides to take advantage of this opportunity. "The Object in your right hand would be sufficient." K'loy was befuddled as he pulled the object closer to his face. "This? Are you sure! I have much more valuable antiques than this.thing?" he held it out a little farther. "I'll be honest, I don't really have any idea what 'it' actually is, but I'm sure its not as expensive as some of the other things I have." Grem was puzzled as well by Master Oden's selection, but she could tell that the force wanted her to find that object. Why else would she want such a dirty old antique. It has been said by people of her own race, that expecting mothers can make rash decisions due to their condition. But Dorshe' had her own theory as to why she did and it did not involve a sudden imbalance of hormones. "No I think if you'll insist on paying us. I would prefer to take that object even more now that you mention it." K'loy refused to understand why, he just took faith that the Jedi woman knew what it was she was acquiring cause he sure didn't. "Here you go then." He handed it to Dorshe'. She took it willingly. "Thank you!" "No, thank you!" He returned with a tearful grin. Grem decided it best to ask on more questions before they started their investigation. "Is their anything else you can tell us about your daughter that might assist in our search?" he inquired knowing very well he already had a full set of physical charts to identify Reima with. "I have her medical file with us, but that can only dwindle in comparison to a father's knowledge of his offspring." He clarified using his large ample blue lips. K'loy tried to think of anything that might help them find Reima, but he told everything to the authorities already, and the Jedi would already have that information if they got this far, but maybe not everything. He wasn't sure how this would help them find his daughter but it was all K'loy had to add. "Well, Reima was always a restless sleeper. She would often times have dreams about the people she knew, friends, family and even some people she didn't know. All in different situations." He thought harder, remembering a time not too long before her supposed abduction. "Some times she would even have these dreams during the day, when she wasn't a sleep. And the curios thing was, sometimes her Dreams came true." Dorshe' thought to herself. The sign of a child with the Force. "One time." he continued. "I was out in the backroom sorting through some boxes, when she came running down from the upstairs apartment we live in. yelling for me to stop what I was doing, at first I told her I had work to finish, but she continued yelling for me to come to her. When I said no again she began to cry, unexpectedly. I ran to her thinking she was in pain but I found no marks to prove such and that was when the entire shelve from which I was working at collapsed. That shelfe had a large piece of metal from an old X-wing fighter on top of it. Had I not come to check on what Reima was crying about, I would surly not be here now telling you this." His child most defiantly has been in tune with the Force. Grem thought to himself. "I don't know if that will help you any but that's all I can tell you that you might not know already. Anything else?" the Jedi looked to each other, they knew all they needed to know now. "That will do fine!" Grem added. "We shall be going, if we find any information about your daughter, you will be the first person we contact." Dorshe' leaned over to K'loy whispering to him once more. "May the Force be with you! K'loy Banai." She then leaded Grem out of the store as they returned to the busy main street, and for once in what seemed like eternity, K'loy felt hope. Grem on the other hand felt curiosity for the object now in Master Oden's possession. "What is it that you acquired from that man?" Dorshe' kept her eyes open in case anyone was or within earshot. "I believe it to be a Jedi Holocron." Venad's interest increased. "Why would K'loy have a Jedi Holocron?" "This is not like any regular Holocron." She returned. "The markings on it suggest that this Holocron has been around since long before the Galactic Civil War, a rare find indeed." "That's extraordinary!" his youthful exuberance almost given away to the passing pedestrians. "Yes Grem but let us worry about the device later right now we have work to do." The Vurk began to follow Oden in the direction of what appeared to be a local bar of sorts. "And I believe our next stop shall lead us in there." The pair entered the establishment via a large open wall that could accommodate a Bantha if it needed to. This cantina was surprisingly dark despite the large entry way that opened to the city-jungle outside. Dorshe' quickly scanned the room trying to fish out any being who might have a fathom of a clue to what happened to Reima, or any other kidnapped persons. Her eyes found just a person, he was a human, with tussled hair and a leather rancor jacket in one of the far corner booths, and he was surrounded by Twi'lek dancing girls, a true sign of fortune if you can afford to spend time with one of these entertainers, but Four. That was just stinkin' rich, and he sure didn't look like it. Dorshe' stepped closer to her accomplice as she told him of her plan. "You go to the Bar and keep an eye out for trouble, act inconspicuous. Don't do anything unless I signal you too, and under no circumstances are you ignite your lightsabre, unless you see a Sith coming at you with his own." Grem cocked a brow at Master Oden. "I thought you said I was incharge of this investigation?" He smirked with his plump lips. She returned with a smirk of her own. "Call it woman's initiative. Now go get a drink." "Yes Master!" he remarked in a playful but still determined tone as he made his way to an unoccupied dinking station to comply with his superior's order. While Dorshe' headed to the far corner of the booth to meet this man of humor, he had to be funny for those girls to be giggling as loud as they were. The Jedi master, put on a character fitting to her attire, only to help hide her true identity and hopefully it would pass off to the spoiled grizzly figure. She past many menacing beings of all walks of life, Dorshe' could feel their eyes viewing her form fitting jump suit, at least the half that wasn't concealed by her worn out jacket. This only caused her to sway her hips more, so as to tempt each one of them to try and face her. The high-pitched laughter increased as she finally reached the table of half naked multicolored females. Dorshe' stood before the party. In a ferial stance that signified her lust for attention which from the male's expression was more than welcome as a full sinister smile rose on his gruff face. "Well, well, what do we have here ladies?" the Twi'leks were nothing less than jealous as they evaluated the newcomer. "Looks like we might have made a new friend, what's your name Angel Dust?" Angel Dust? Her mind choked. That's the best he could do? Angel Dust, this will be easier than when I fooled Yoda into taking me on in that drinking contest back at the temple. "Names Del Mora and I come looking for somebody to talk to, how about you gorgeous, you feel up to the task?" He was more than willing, "By all means, join us please." Dorshe' needed to find a way to get rid of the distracting beauties. "Actually." she leaned her body over the table, arching her back, displaying her more promising features to the some what intoxicated man. "I was hoping I could spend some time alone, with such an attractive man like yourself." The man sandwiched between the four girls was surprised with an open jawed reaction by Dorshe's forward approach. He found this a very becoming aspect for a woman. "Girls! Why don't you leave me and the lady here a little while I and the lady here get to know each other?" He throw some credits on the table for the slender dancers to pay for their departure as Dorshe' practically pushed them out of her way so she could reach the dirty excuse of a human. She sat in the open space next to him, his eyes never leaving her body. "So." he propped his leg onto the cushioned seating, turning his body to better focus his attention on Dorshe'. All the while Grem looked on from the bar, waiting for the Bartender to make his way down to him, never taking his eyes off of Master Oden, but when you have three hundred and sixty degree vision it's hard for you to take your eyes off most anything. The Jedi knight would only use this to his advantage, along with his superior hearing, thanks to the resonating chamber that sets his people apart from most others. He was aware of ever person in the room, if the situation were to become hostile, he would know of it before anyone else. But right now, the only thing he was worried about was Dorshe'. While she is a Jedi Master and she has most likely been in even worse situations in her long career. She is also with life and Grem's people don't take such matter lightly. He felt it was in his blood to protect any woman in such a condition from harm, especially one who was noblely putting herself in the line of danger. Grem was anything but fond of her spontaneous decision to meet this lowlife, but he thought it best to yield to Master Oden's experience once again. The bartender finally made his way down to Grem, but to Grem's surprise the bartender wasn't a he at all. Rather a female and a very attractive one even by the Vurk's standards. Her hair was shoulder length, dark and very lustrous, but she was not human, not completely anyway. She had blue skin, much lighter than Grem's, with spots that ran down the back of her shoulders and the backs of her hands at least that's as far as he could tell without a peek underneath her garments. She also had horns on the sides of her head, two on either side lightly poking out of her skin with the darkest brown eyes Grem had ever seen in all his time traveling the universe. A small smile grew on his face, one he did not intend. The bartender returned the smile, which only made Grem's grow even more. "You goin' to order a drink buddy, or should I start charging you for staring?" Venad, now realizing his lack of control over his facial features quickly yielded his smile. "My apologies, I meant no offence." "An apology? Well I don't believe in all the three years I've been bartending this place, that I have ever once heard an apology, let alone one directed at me." She playfully remarked as she leaned her elbows on the table, closer to Grem. "That can only mean one of two things." The reptile cocked his elongated head at her composer. "Either you're a smuggler who knows how to charm the ladies into a one nightstand or your from a distant galaxy where good manners still exist." His smile returned. "Well, if I told you, I was a smuggler. Then I would have lost any chance I had at spending time with you outside these walls." She was amused by his honesty. "But on the other hand I would probably spend that time trying to tell you how manners still do exist in this galaxy in which case I doubt I or anyone else would end up getting their drinks." She laughed, displaying a full white toothed smile. "You are a charmer if not anything else. What will it be.?" Grem didn't know why he felt like telling this woman his true name but he saw no harm in it. "Grem, Grem Venad and I don't know exactly what I want? Maybe you could help me pick a drink.?" he leaned in slightly so he could hear her name clearly. "Jossal, Marie Jossal and I think you look like a man who could use a refreshing 'spring sunrise'." She reached under the bar and pulled out two small bottles of varying colors, as Grem glanced over to Dorshe' to make sure she was still alright. Marie couldn't help but notice the vurk's sudden switch of view. She traced his eyes to the self proclaimed booth of Gimer Notn as she finished pouring the glass for Grem. "Friend of yours?" she remarked in a fierce voice. "The lady's a business partner of mine!" he returned, winging his best alibi to cover that he wasn't with the man Dorshe' was interrogating, at least he hope she was interrogating him. "She just likes to have a little fun with people she doesn't know." He took a drink of the sunrise, his lips squeezed a bit at the sour taste. Marie voiced her concern for Grem's friend. "There are better people for your friend to be messing around with." "Oh? How do you mean." She began to whisper. "His name is Gimer Notn, he's probably the most vile smuggler in this region of space. If the republic officials knew a quarter of the things he's done they would have him executed." Grem was pulled back as hearing this opinion, execution hasn't been used in the republic since before the emperor's reign. This Gimer might be the lead he's looking for. "What makes him worthy of such a punishment?" his eyes still focused on Gimer, for fear of Dorshe's well being. "I personally don't know what he's done, except for the way he treats the dancers after he's had a view shots, but word of mouth is that he will take any job if it pays him well enough. I've heard that he's smuggled Jappor's acid, and some other lethal narcotics, along with poached animal skins from endangered species." She leaned in to the space where Grem's ears would have been, if he were like most other beings. "I've even been told that he's smuggled small children over to the unknown-territory." His eyes widened this was exactly what he wanted to hear, he had found a man who might very well know who was behind these kidnappings, but this man was also dangerously close to Master Oden and he could do nothing but sit there and watch. "Just the thought of him makes me sick you best keep an eye on your lady pal there before she gets herself into deep mess. He's the last kind of business you want to deal with." He took one more sip; his drink was still a bit tart for his taste. "Thank you Marie I will beware of this from now on, but I'm sure my friend can handle him on her own. Dorshe' glanced over to Grem, seeing that he was fraternizing with the pretty little blue bartender. He looked like he was having a splendid time with the spotted beauty, unlike the time she was sharing with Gimer. She had managed to find out his name through all his dirty jokes, and even dirtier looks that he gave her, and if there was one thing she was sure about. It's that he had managed to spend the entire time with her, without looking at her eyes. She grew tired of this she knew of only one thing that would force the information, without her literary 'forcing' it out of him. "So this Malastarian woman comes up to me at a bar up in Mos Eslef." Oh great, yet another dirty story, its times like this I regret the Force giving ever being a mouth to speak from. ".so that's when I told her! If you can't handle the heat then get out of the kitchen chica!" She had enough of this, while Gimer was distracted by his own over-obnoxious laugh, she gave him a humoring one as she reached into her jacket and pulled out her lightsabre underneath the table, out of common sight. "Well Gimer that's just about the most uninteresting thing I have ever heard!" she said in a seductive tone that left the smuggler more than confused at this point, but his attention to Dorshe's words sharpened as he felt something slowly graze his inner thigh. Inching its way to the buckle of his pants, his arousing state was abruptly cut off, by sensation of a small metallic barrel jabbing into his crotch. He took a gulp of air, as he feared the object is a laser pistol, but it wasn't a pistol at all. Rather something much more dangerous than a pistol. "Now listen to me Gimer!" Dorshe' demanded in her still seductive whisper so as not to draw attention, but Grem could see from across the room that something was wrong with him and knowing how Master Oden works he didn't want to know. "It's very obvious that you know something others have a blind eye to on this planet, but I won't be so easily swayed. You have information I need! And you are going to tell it to me, Understood?" He exhaled then took another loss of breath as she pressed the hilt deeper into his crotch. "Yes ma'am." "Good, now what can you tell me about recent disappearances of young children in this sector, especially anything involving one Reima Banai?" Now he was looking her in the eyes, tears being fought back to save what was left of his macho-persona. "I don't know any names I just take the cargo where I'm paid to take It." he sharply gritted his teeth as the hilt dug deeper so into his flesh. How dare he consider them as mere cargo! Her mind shouted, almost spilling anger inconsistent with her Jedi upbringing. "Then what do you know? Who is your employer? Where do you take the children once you have completed your tasks?" Her teeth were starting to grit now. "Alright, alright I'll tell 'ya anything just don't shoo." He was cut of by the scorching sounds of laser bolts searing his chest as Dorshe' hit the floor under the table. This sent the bar into a frenzy, everyone was trying to find their way out of the madness as Grem headed for Dorshe' fearing she had been hit herself keeping note of the cloaked figure that was first to exit. "Master Oden are you.?" "He's dead." She cut him off not to daring waste precocious time. "Did you see who shot him?" she stood up to the vurk as people still hurried out. "Yes, follow me!" and he ran for the exit as Dorshe' followed his lead. The main street was cluttered with people who were in desperate search of safety, and many others fleeing the rampage. The dark figure was running deeper into the city, the two Jedi made quick pursuit. They managed to follow him into an alley way, before the dark being fired a few undirected shots in the hope that it would thwart off his predators as he made a giant leap into the thick jungle behind the city fence. Grem had dodged a few of the shots directed at him, but Dorshe' had taken a bolt in the shoulder. The damage was minimum, her unique physiology took the blast with little worry of lasting repercussions. "Are you hurt Master Oden?" he shot in the mix. "No, now follow me." She ran to the wall and made a Force propelled jump over its relatively short height. Her Jedi counter part quickly did the same as they noticed the agent of evil hopping off from tree to tree in the distance they again did likewise closing the gap to their target. The assailant dropped his pistol in favor of a weapon to better combat his two opponents. He reached into his robe and pulled out a small metal shaft that could only be one thing. Grem could tell what it was. "Master Oden, He has a Lightsabre!" With that said Dorshe' ignited the weapon she still held in her hand as the dark man stopped on a branch to confront the Jedi soldiers. Master Oden exchanged blows with the dark one while Grem took another moment to pullout, and ignite his weapon. The vurk knew his massive weight could not be supported by the ample tree limb, so he latched his powerful opposable feet on to the adjacent trunk securing a position from which he could assist Dorshe' in her attack. The cloaked being, who could only be a Sith, was fiercely fending off his Jedi opponents with a master's skill. Dorshe' could sense no emotion powering his strikes it's as if he had no feelings at all, none but pure undeniable determination. He was not like the Sith back on Kamino, he was the Jedi equivalent to a Master. Not needing to rely on cheap tricks or evil deceptions, just his skill and his bond to the Darkside. With each swipe, or parry, or block Grem and Dorshe' could wield, this dark lord would defend himself by using their strikes to throw them off balance. Once Venad was dazed by a swift kick to his large face from the Sith's boot. The dark warrior cut off the half of the branch from the tree that Dorshe' was standing on. Sending her falling into the bushes below, the dark lord knew his orders were to take them alive so with one quick swipe of his red blade, he removed the upper section of the bark which the vurk had mounted his feet to. Allowing Grem to fall very ungracefully in a bush right next to his Orveasian companion, the two would have jumped back onto their feet if not for the twenty some black armored men pointing very large pulse rifles in their faces. The Jedi quickly realizing this was all one elaborate trap, deactivated their sabres, so that the descending blue and silver blades would signify surrender on the Jedi's part. The Sithlord leaped down from the remaining half of the tree branch so he may bear witness to the success of his mission. "Stand up!" He demanded and the Jedi did such, in order to be welcomed by the inevitable disarming and restraint so commonly done in the protocol of taking prisoners. While two of the soldiers secured their hands together behind their backs, Grem looked over to mutter at master Oden. "Looks like I've lost control of this investigation." He smirked despite the little hole they dug themselves into, as one of the soldiers pushed the Jedi in the direction of their ship, hidden by the massive trees. There they would be taken to their new accommodating prison cells on the cloaked ship in orbit of Tatooine.
Mos Espa was a thriving city, comprised of mud huts that were dwarfed by the surrounding plant life. Vines and moss covered a very little shop and market stand built at level. As the huts grew with additional stories, the plant life gradually lost its masking ability on the structures. Seemingly creating the revealing the desert that once consumed this planet was now won over by a nemesis of greenery. But the temperature emanating from the planet's twin suns did not change the heat. Tatooine was now a giant rainforest, with beautiful lush growth and majestic flowers that came be that standard. It was very difficult to believe that the Hutt's still had control. Not complete control, just over entertainment and capitalist gains, which the Tuskin natives found insulting. They had regained control over their homeworld over four centuries ago, and while they still welcomed many species to Tatooine. They cared very little for the Hutts and their greedy ways, all they truly gave the planet was crime, deception and of plight a scoundrels. Now a new kind of evil had emerged on this oasis of a planet and it was more powerful than any slug of a crime lord, or ancestor to the sand people could ever imagined. Only Master Oden and Noble Venad knew this, the Sith were here on Tatooine, and in Mos Espa. Amidst the lowlifes and dirty salesmen, a much stronger force was at work, one with darker intentions than even that of a Hutt. It was close, and grew closer as the Jedi made their way down the main street of the small city. Grem was covered in a customary grab often worn by those of his species, a large vested-shirt, and wide pants that comforted his unusual build, and no boots, this was customary for common vurks. Dorshe' managed to find the smuggler's disguise she used several years ago on an away mission. How it had found its way into her duffel, she could only describe as the will of the Force, but she was glade to see that she had it with her in this instance. Her hair was bundled back to hide its true length. The black leather jacket along with it durable pilot jump suit, and old naval boots would serve her well while in Mos Espa. "It's getting stronger Grem." She remarked trying not look directly at him as she spoke. The two Jedi focused on masking their bonds with the Force so as not to give away their Jedi nature. This only made it more difficult for them to focus on sensing the Sith presence. "I sense it's proximity as well!" he recalled the data about the case he was sent here for, having memorized it on the journey from Coruscant. Grem pointed to a small shop near the street corner. "Perhaps we should begin by questioning the girl's family. The data- pad said her father and mother own that small establishment by the end of the path." "Lead the way." She implied in a tone under her normal breath so as not to publicize their intentions. Grem did the same, taking casual steps in the shop's direction. From what Dorshe' could tell from its outward appearance, it seemed to be an old antiques shop. Outside the main door, which appeared to have no door at all, there were many items, large and small scattered onto the tables that lie in front of the shop. "K'loy's ancient treasures" she read from the sign hanging above the main entrance. She noted as they walked in what seemed to be a large hulk of metal from an ancient rebellion vehicle, at least that's what she could tell by the red phoenix like emblem on its surface. The main room inside the shop was big, but cramped with space taken up by all the antiques that filled it. Tall shelves contained many small but uniquely beautiful objects. Dorshe' could see the entire galaxy on those shelves and tables, a necklace that looked as if it were fashioned by the Ewoks on Endor. A royal Naboo hairpiece that could only be worn those who had at least three feet of naturally grown hair, and a small cube that looked familiar to the Jedi master. She could almost sense the force calling her to it, but she had to suppress that instinct or she might otherwise give herself away. Grem walked to the back of the store in search of its owner while Dorshe stood watch up front. Watching for what they didn't know but they still wished they had not needed to take such precautions. He passed many items that he would otherwise take the time to analyze to the fullest detail, but he knew his duty came first. Grem had reached the end of a far dark corner. There, he found an aged man with sun treated skin on a latter filing what looked to be like old papered text, or as master Romdel would call them, "Books". The graying haired man didn't notice the blue skinned reptile till he spoke. "Um." He cleared his throat to no advantage. "Excuse me sir!" he stated with success as the man looked down to find a tall Alien, with a large crest pointing out of his skull. "Yes? What can I do for you my friend?" he asked in a cheery expression He used to hide the pain of a loves lost. "Are you K'loy Banai?" The man glanced at Grem in a manner of concern as he placed the last of the text onto a shelf before him. "Yes, I'm him, is their something I can help you with." He began to step down from the wooden frame. "Actually there is." Grem tried his best to conjure up a quick alibi for why he was there, recalling a city once mentioned in a story about Luke Skywalker he heard from his former Master. "I'm an investigator from Mos Esiley, I and my associate have been assigned to help the local authorities here in Mos Espa to find out what happened to your daughter." The Vurk could see the sad tone resonating on K'loy's face, he would rather Grem have said'. find your daughter." Hearing anything else dims the hope he has for finding his child again. "Well I guess you will want to hear the how story." He stepped down, facing up to the widened eyes of Venad. K'loy then proceeded to walk back down to the main area of the shop, eyeing the conspicuous looking women waiting by his cashier's desk. "I'm sorry but I prefer to know the names of the people who are concerned for my Reima." Dorshe' answered not wanting Grem to give away their true identities. "I'm Nira Famrod my associate is Mr. Werg Manolk." "I see then what do you wish to know." K'loy began to polish the cube Dorshe' noticed earlier with his sleeve, not diverting his attention from Grem's words. "From what our information tells us your daughter was at play with other children when she was last seen." "Yes we were at the park in the town square on a picnic a week ago. I and my family were eating when a few children she said she knew from her school came over and asked if Reima could come and play with them on the nearby playing grounds." He began to polish the object in his hand with less precision as the memories of that day returned to him. "I took that time alone to be with my wife look into her eyes, share the passion we rarely can share when we are watching after our young one." Pain began to seep from K'loy into Dorshe'. She desired more times with Pacres as well. Tears crept behind the man's eyes as he continued. "We could not have turned our back on her for more than a few minutes, but when I turned to check on Reima, neither she nor the other children were there. My wife and I searched the entire park the rest of the day and into the night without success." Tears fell, but K'loy could care less at this point. "I managed to contact the local police, but they were of little use. I don't mean to say they didn't try to find her. In fact they did everything they could to find Reima, that's when they told me that she must have been kidnapped." His tears were replaced with anger. "If I didn't have my morals to suppress me, I might have killed that officer for even thinking that some monster would take my child! But realizing that would only bring more pain to my household I took matters to the Jedi on this planet only to find that they were away conducting some other investigation. Every night I pray that she is alive, that no harm has come to her. If there is anything you can do that tells me what has become of her, I would be willing to pay all I have for your services." Grem and Dorshe' despite their powers being held back could sense the desperation in his plea. "That will be unnecessary Sir." Grem mentioned. "We will do our best to help you and we wish no such payment." Dorshe' injected. Hope began to spring from K'loy. Why would these strangers wish to help me without money as motivation? Only a jed. Then he realized who they truly were. He placed his arms on the table, the cube now in his right hand propping himself so he could lean over to the women and the reptile. Grem and Dorshe' leaned over as well. "Your Jedi! Aren't you!" he whispered so as not to notify a nonexistent party. "Only kind of people on Tatooine who do anything without pay. Are Jedi!" Dorshe' realized there was no avoiding that obvious fact, Grem figured that eventually too. "Yes." Dorshe' replied in an even softer whisper. "But we're trying to keep a low profile, or rather a profile that dose not exist, Understood?" K'loy nodded. Understanding that Jedi know how to conduct their business, he leans upright and ends his interrogation. "Why has it taken you so long to find me, your office at Mos Edess said you were to busy to help me?" "We were sent by our off-world office." she hinted. "The higher ups believe there is something more dangerous at work here." "I see!" he returned without further question. Knowing very well when Jedi orders come from above, they are not simple matters. This frightened the shopkeeper even more. "Please let me pay you somehow, you are too much of a blessing to do this for me unrewarded. Not use to this kind of gratitude, Dorshe' decides to take advantage of this opportunity. "The Object in your right hand would be sufficient." K'loy was befuddled as he pulled the object closer to his face. "This? Are you sure! I have much more valuable antiques than this.thing?" he held it out a little farther. "I'll be honest, I don't really have any idea what 'it' actually is, but I'm sure its not as expensive as some of the other things I have." Grem was puzzled as well by Master Oden's selection, but she could tell that the force wanted her to find that object. Why else would she want such a dirty old antique. It has been said by people of her own race, that expecting mothers can make rash decisions due to their condition. But Dorshe' had her own theory as to why she did and it did not involve a sudden imbalance of hormones. "No I think if you'll insist on paying us. I would prefer to take that object even more now that you mention it." K'loy refused to understand why, he just took faith that the Jedi woman knew what it was she was acquiring cause he sure didn't. "Here you go then." He handed it to Dorshe'. She took it willingly. "Thank you!" "No, thank you!" He returned with a tearful grin. Grem decided it best to ask on more questions before they started their investigation. "Is their anything else you can tell us about your daughter that might assist in our search?" he inquired knowing very well he already had a full set of physical charts to identify Reima with. "I have her medical file with us, but that can only dwindle in comparison to a father's knowledge of his offspring." He clarified using his large ample blue lips. K'loy tried to think of anything that might help them find Reima, but he told everything to the authorities already, and the Jedi would already have that information if they got this far, but maybe not everything. He wasn't sure how this would help them find his daughter but it was all K'loy had to add. "Well, Reima was always a restless sleeper. She would often times have dreams about the people she knew, friends, family and even some people she didn't know. All in different situations." He thought harder, remembering a time not too long before her supposed abduction. "Some times she would even have these dreams during the day, when she wasn't a sleep. And the curios thing was, sometimes her Dreams came true." Dorshe' thought to herself. The sign of a child with the Force. "One time." he continued. "I was out in the backroom sorting through some boxes, when she came running down from the upstairs apartment we live in. yelling for me to stop what I was doing, at first I told her I had work to finish, but she continued yelling for me to come to her. When I said no again she began to cry, unexpectedly. I ran to her thinking she was in pain but I found no marks to prove such and that was when the entire shelve from which I was working at collapsed. That shelfe had a large piece of metal from an old X-wing fighter on top of it. Had I not come to check on what Reima was crying about, I would surly not be here now telling you this." His child most defiantly has been in tune with the Force. Grem thought to himself. "I don't know if that will help you any but that's all I can tell you that you might not know already. Anything else?" the Jedi looked to each other, they knew all they needed to know now. "That will do fine!" Grem added. "We shall be going, if we find any information about your daughter, you will be the first person we contact." Dorshe' leaned over to K'loy whispering to him once more. "May the Force be with you! K'loy Banai." She then leaded Grem out of the store as they returned to the busy main street, and for once in what seemed like eternity, K'loy felt hope. Grem on the other hand felt curiosity for the object now in Master Oden's possession. "What is it that you acquired from that man?" Dorshe' kept her eyes open in case anyone was or within earshot. "I believe it to be a Jedi Holocron." Venad's interest increased. "Why would K'loy have a Jedi Holocron?" "This is not like any regular Holocron." She returned. "The markings on it suggest that this Holocron has been around since long before the Galactic Civil War, a rare find indeed." "That's extraordinary!" his youthful exuberance almost given away to the passing pedestrians. "Yes Grem but let us worry about the device later right now we have work to do." The Vurk began to follow Oden in the direction of what appeared to be a local bar of sorts. "And I believe our next stop shall lead us in there." The pair entered the establishment via a large open wall that could accommodate a Bantha if it needed to. This cantina was surprisingly dark despite the large entry way that opened to the city-jungle outside. Dorshe' quickly scanned the room trying to fish out any being who might have a fathom of a clue to what happened to Reima, or any other kidnapped persons. Her eyes found just a person, he was a human, with tussled hair and a leather rancor jacket in one of the far corner booths, and he was surrounded by Twi'lek dancing girls, a true sign of fortune if you can afford to spend time with one of these entertainers, but Four. That was just stinkin' rich, and he sure didn't look like it. Dorshe' stepped closer to her accomplice as she told him of her plan. "You go to the Bar and keep an eye out for trouble, act inconspicuous. Don't do anything unless I signal you too, and under no circumstances are you ignite your lightsabre, unless you see a Sith coming at you with his own." Grem cocked a brow at Master Oden. "I thought you said I was incharge of this investigation?" He smirked with his plump lips. She returned with a smirk of her own. "Call it woman's initiative. Now go get a drink." "Yes Master!" he remarked in a playful but still determined tone as he made his way to an unoccupied dinking station to comply with his superior's order. While Dorshe' headed to the far corner of the booth to meet this man of humor, he had to be funny for those girls to be giggling as loud as they were. The Jedi master, put on a character fitting to her attire, only to help hide her true identity and hopefully it would pass off to the spoiled grizzly figure. She past many menacing beings of all walks of life, Dorshe' could feel their eyes viewing her form fitting jump suit, at least the half that wasn't concealed by her worn out jacket. This only caused her to sway her hips more, so as to tempt each one of them to try and face her. The high-pitched laughter increased as she finally reached the table of half naked multicolored females. Dorshe' stood before the party. In a ferial stance that signified her lust for attention which from the male's expression was more than welcome as a full sinister smile rose on his gruff face. "Well, well, what do we have here ladies?" the Twi'leks were nothing less than jealous as they evaluated the newcomer. "Looks like we might have made a new friend, what's your name Angel Dust?" Angel Dust? Her mind choked. That's the best he could do? Angel Dust, this will be easier than when I fooled Yoda into taking me on in that drinking contest back at the temple. "Names Del Mora and I come looking for somebody to talk to, how about you gorgeous, you feel up to the task?" He was more than willing, "By all means, join us please." Dorshe' needed to find a way to get rid of the distracting beauties. "Actually." she leaned her body over the table, arching her back, displaying her more promising features to the some what intoxicated man. "I was hoping I could spend some time alone, with such an attractive man like yourself." The man sandwiched between the four girls was surprised with an open jawed reaction by Dorshe's forward approach. He found this a very becoming aspect for a woman. "Girls! Why don't you leave me and the lady here a little while I and the lady here get to know each other?" He throw some credits on the table for the slender dancers to pay for their departure as Dorshe' practically pushed them out of her way so she could reach the dirty excuse of a human. She sat in the open space next to him, his eyes never leaving her body. "So." he propped his leg onto the cushioned seating, turning his body to better focus his attention on Dorshe'. All the while Grem looked on from the bar, waiting for the Bartender to make his way down to him, never taking his eyes off of Master Oden, but when you have three hundred and sixty degree vision it's hard for you to take your eyes off most anything. The Jedi knight would only use this to his advantage, along with his superior hearing, thanks to the resonating chamber that sets his people apart from most others. He was aware of ever person in the room, if the situation were to become hostile, he would know of it before anyone else. But right now, the only thing he was worried about was Dorshe'. While she is a Jedi Master and she has most likely been in even worse situations in her long career. She is also with life and Grem's people don't take such matter lightly. He felt it was in his blood to protect any woman in such a condition from harm, especially one who was noblely putting herself in the line of danger. Grem was anything but fond of her spontaneous decision to meet this lowlife, but he thought it best to yield to Master Oden's experience once again. The bartender finally made his way down to Grem, but to Grem's surprise the bartender wasn't a he at all. Rather a female and a very attractive one even by the Vurk's standards. Her hair was shoulder length, dark and very lustrous, but she was not human, not completely anyway. She had blue skin, much lighter than Grem's, with spots that ran down the back of her shoulders and the backs of her hands at least that's as far as he could tell without a peek underneath her garments. She also had horns on the sides of her head, two on either side lightly poking out of her skin with the darkest brown eyes Grem had ever seen in all his time traveling the universe. A small smile grew on his face, one he did not intend. The bartender returned the smile, which only made Grem's grow even more. "You goin' to order a drink buddy, or should I start charging you for staring?" Venad, now realizing his lack of control over his facial features quickly yielded his smile. "My apologies, I meant no offence." "An apology? Well I don't believe in all the three years I've been bartending this place, that I have ever once heard an apology, let alone one directed at me." She playfully remarked as she leaned her elbows on the table, closer to Grem. "That can only mean one of two things." The reptile cocked his elongated head at her composer. "Either you're a smuggler who knows how to charm the ladies into a one nightstand or your from a distant galaxy where good manners still exist." His smile returned. "Well, if I told you, I was a smuggler. Then I would have lost any chance I had at spending time with you outside these walls." She was amused by his honesty. "But on the other hand I would probably spend that time trying to tell you how manners still do exist in this galaxy in which case I doubt I or anyone else would end up getting their drinks." She laughed, displaying a full white toothed smile. "You are a charmer if not anything else. What will it be.?" Grem didn't know why he felt like telling this woman his true name but he saw no harm in it. "Grem, Grem Venad and I don't know exactly what I want? Maybe you could help me pick a drink.?" he leaned in slightly so he could hear her name clearly. "Jossal, Marie Jossal and I think you look like a man who could use a refreshing 'spring sunrise'." She reached under the bar and pulled out two small bottles of varying colors, as Grem glanced over to Dorshe' to make sure she was still alright. Marie couldn't help but notice the vurk's sudden switch of view. She traced his eyes to the self proclaimed booth of Gimer Notn as she finished pouring the glass for Grem. "Friend of yours?" she remarked in a fierce voice. "The lady's a business partner of mine!" he returned, winging his best alibi to cover that he wasn't with the man Dorshe' was interrogating, at least he hope she was interrogating him. "She just likes to have a little fun with people she doesn't know." He took a drink of the sunrise, his lips squeezed a bit at the sour taste. Marie voiced her concern for Grem's friend. "There are better people for your friend to be messing around with." "Oh? How do you mean." She began to whisper. "His name is Gimer Notn, he's probably the most vile smuggler in this region of space. If the republic officials knew a quarter of the things he's done they would have him executed." Grem was pulled back as hearing this opinion, execution hasn't been used in the republic since before the emperor's reign. This Gimer might be the lead he's looking for. "What makes him worthy of such a punishment?" his eyes still focused on Gimer, for fear of Dorshe's well being. "I personally don't know what he's done, except for the way he treats the dancers after he's had a view shots, but word of mouth is that he will take any job if it pays him well enough. I've heard that he's smuggled Jappor's acid, and some other lethal narcotics, along with poached animal skins from endangered species." She leaned in to the space where Grem's ears would have been, if he were like most other beings. "I've even been told that he's smuggled small children over to the unknown-territory." His eyes widened this was exactly what he wanted to hear, he had found a man who might very well know who was behind these kidnappings, but this man was also dangerously close to Master Oden and he could do nothing but sit there and watch. "Just the thought of him makes me sick you best keep an eye on your lady pal there before she gets herself into deep mess. He's the last kind of business you want to deal with." He took one more sip; his drink was still a bit tart for his taste. "Thank you Marie I will beware of this from now on, but I'm sure my friend can handle him on her own. Dorshe' glanced over to Grem, seeing that he was fraternizing with the pretty little blue bartender. He looked like he was having a splendid time with the spotted beauty, unlike the time she was sharing with Gimer. She had managed to find out his name through all his dirty jokes, and even dirtier looks that he gave her, and if there was one thing she was sure about. It's that he had managed to spend the entire time with her, without looking at her eyes. She grew tired of this she knew of only one thing that would force the information, without her literary 'forcing' it out of him. "So this Malastarian woman comes up to me at a bar up in Mos Eslef." Oh great, yet another dirty story, its times like this I regret the Force giving ever being a mouth to speak from. ".so that's when I told her! If you can't handle the heat then get out of the kitchen chica!" She had enough of this, while Gimer was distracted by his own over-obnoxious laugh, she gave him a humoring one as she reached into her jacket and pulled out her lightsabre underneath the table, out of common sight. "Well Gimer that's just about the most uninteresting thing I have ever heard!" she said in a seductive tone that left the smuggler more than confused at this point, but his attention to Dorshe's words sharpened as he felt something slowly graze his inner thigh. Inching its way to the buckle of his pants, his arousing state was abruptly cut off, by sensation of a small metallic barrel jabbing into his crotch. He took a gulp of air, as he feared the object is a laser pistol, but it wasn't a pistol at all. Rather something much more dangerous than a pistol. "Now listen to me Gimer!" Dorshe' demanded in her still seductive whisper so as not to draw attention, but Grem could see from across the room that something was wrong with him and knowing how Master Oden works he didn't want to know. "It's very obvious that you know something others have a blind eye to on this planet, but I won't be so easily swayed. You have information I need! And you are going to tell it to me, Understood?" He exhaled then took another loss of breath as she pressed the hilt deeper into his crotch. "Yes ma'am." "Good, now what can you tell me about recent disappearances of young children in this sector, especially anything involving one Reima Banai?" Now he was looking her in the eyes, tears being fought back to save what was left of his macho-persona. "I don't know any names I just take the cargo where I'm paid to take It." he sharply gritted his teeth as the hilt dug deeper so into his flesh. How dare he consider them as mere cargo! Her mind shouted, almost spilling anger inconsistent with her Jedi upbringing. "Then what do you know? Who is your employer? Where do you take the children once you have completed your tasks?" Her teeth were starting to grit now. "Alright, alright I'll tell 'ya anything just don't shoo." He was cut of by the scorching sounds of laser bolts searing his chest as Dorshe' hit the floor under the table. This sent the bar into a frenzy, everyone was trying to find their way out of the madness as Grem headed for Dorshe' fearing she had been hit herself keeping note of the cloaked figure that was first to exit. "Master Oden are you.?" "He's dead." She cut him off not to daring waste precocious time. "Did you see who shot him?" she stood up to the vurk as people still hurried out. "Yes, follow me!" and he ran for the exit as Dorshe' followed his lead. The main street was cluttered with people who were in desperate search of safety, and many others fleeing the rampage. The dark figure was running deeper into the city, the two Jedi made quick pursuit. They managed to follow him into an alley way, before the dark being fired a few undirected shots in the hope that it would thwart off his predators as he made a giant leap into the thick jungle behind the city fence. Grem had dodged a few of the shots directed at him, but Dorshe' had taken a bolt in the shoulder. The damage was minimum, her unique physiology took the blast with little worry of lasting repercussions. "Are you hurt Master Oden?" he shot in the mix. "No, now follow me." She ran to the wall and made a Force propelled jump over its relatively short height. Her Jedi counter part quickly did the same as they noticed the agent of evil hopping off from tree to tree in the distance they again did likewise closing the gap to their target. The assailant dropped his pistol in favor of a weapon to better combat his two opponents. He reached into his robe and pulled out a small metal shaft that could only be one thing. Grem could tell what it was. "Master Oden, He has a Lightsabre!" With that said Dorshe' ignited the weapon she still held in her hand as the dark man stopped on a branch to confront the Jedi soldiers. Master Oden exchanged blows with the dark one while Grem took another moment to pullout, and ignite his weapon. The vurk knew his massive weight could not be supported by the ample tree limb, so he latched his powerful opposable feet on to the adjacent trunk securing a position from which he could assist Dorshe' in her attack. The cloaked being, who could only be a Sith, was fiercely fending off his Jedi opponents with a master's skill. Dorshe' could sense no emotion powering his strikes it's as if he had no feelings at all, none but pure undeniable determination. He was not like the Sith back on Kamino, he was the Jedi equivalent to a Master. Not needing to rely on cheap tricks or evil deceptions, just his skill and his bond to the Darkside. With each swipe, or parry, or block Grem and Dorshe' could wield, this dark lord would defend himself by using their strikes to throw them off balance. Once Venad was dazed by a swift kick to his large face from the Sith's boot. The dark warrior cut off the half of the branch from the tree that Dorshe' was standing on. Sending her falling into the bushes below, the dark lord knew his orders were to take them alive so with one quick swipe of his red blade, he removed the upper section of the bark which the vurk had mounted his feet to. Allowing Grem to fall very ungracefully in a bush right next to his Orveasian companion, the two would have jumped back onto their feet if not for the twenty some black armored men pointing very large pulse rifles in their faces. The Jedi quickly realizing this was all one elaborate trap, deactivated their sabres, so that the descending blue and silver blades would signify surrender on the Jedi's part. The Sithlord leaped down from the remaining half of the tree branch so he may bear witness to the success of his mission. "Stand up!" He demanded and the Jedi did such, in order to be welcomed by the inevitable disarming and restraint so commonly done in the protocol of taking prisoners. While two of the soldiers secured their hands together behind their backs, Grem looked over to mutter at master Oden. "Looks like I've lost control of this investigation." He smirked despite the little hole they dug themselves into, as one of the soldiers pushed the Jedi in the direction of their ship, hidden by the massive trees. There they would be taken to their new accommodating prison cells on the cloaked ship in orbit of Tatooine.