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Also, my thanks to George Lucas for his universe-gone-writers'-paradise. I make no money on this, but if I did, I'd probably just buy more Star Wars stuff. :)

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The Stranger

The sun was peering over the horizon as a few people began to filter onto the levels of Coruscant. The streets were still relatively empty as Raven made her way along one of the higher-level walkways. She glanced around, wary. It was abnormal for S'rmen to ask for a pick-up and drop in this crowded, as well as recognized, of an area. She was near the district where the embassies for the Senate were located, a place even more extravagant than the general region of the political sector.

Raven slipped into an alley between two massive buildings, dark from the maintenance level that was overhead. She began to sift through the pouches on her belt. With a frown, she passed over the lightsaber clipped to her belt, finally locating a set of lock picks in a dog-eared leather case, making one last check that she had everything. Despite the fact she was no longer a Jedi, she still carried her weapon and tried to stay close to their ideals. The picks were also rather odd for her, since the Force made it possible to manipulate the mechanisms within an old lock easily. However, she was wary of other Jedi noticing such an action. Besides, it made more sense to an observer, given she preferred her history as private as possible.

Walking the length of the alley, she cautiously stood at the gap, closing her eyes to reach out with her senses. A small disturbance rippled through the Force, but she thought little of it. A morning where there wasn't some tremor of agitation was one she hadn't experienced since she'd could remember and reach out with the Force.

Taking a deep, steadying breath, she reviewed a mental picture of the area, pinpointing the old door leading, after a maze of stairways, to the room containing the data chip she needed. Then, she darted out, beginning to make her way swiftly down the street. Raven only made it a few steps when a young man, running hastily down the walkway, ran into her. They both fell heavily to the ground. Immediately, he rolled to the side, freeing her and jumping to his feet. He offered her a hand to get up when she saw the Coruscant Security forces running after him, the corps assigned to protecting diplomats' interests.

Using his offer to get back on her feet, Raven signaled him to remain silent, leading him back into the alley. Frustration welled within her because she didn't have time for this. However, another opportunity to make her attempt would surface. Most likely, this man had done very little to irritate the CorSec, but they would hunt him with dogged perseverance for merely wounding their pride. The CorSec, especially the diplomatic lackeys, were arrogant and intrusive. Raven would rather save this man's hide and foil her own plot than gratify them with his capture. Besides, with the corps afoot, she would be hard-pressed to accomplish her pick-up anyway.

She swung herself up onto a ladder leading to the maintenance level, reaching for her lock picks in the process. The man was still following her, his face blank, showing neither gratitude nor concern. Raven reached the small door leading to the area and yanked one of the lock picks out of the case still in her hand with her teeth. Shoving her cloak out of the way, she impatiently replaced the case in its holder on her belt, missing the interested look that passed through the man's gray-blue eyes at the sight of her lightsaber. She jammed the pick into the lock, listening carefully as she twisted it. The Force aided her in finding the right twist to the pick, since time was lacking to do the more traditional approach, and the door was open. They disappeared into the maintenance area as the CorSec flooded the alley, shutting the door quietly with the corps oblivious.

* * *

The maintenance area was dark with only a few emergency lights running along the floor as well as the bases of machine by which to see. Raven had never personally been up here, but she had always considered it a useful route. Large machines active in things like climate control and other systems for the huge buildings rumbled reverberatingly in the dark, making verbal communication impossible. Raven thought hard, trying to picture the street in her mind. An office building to some kind was to the east, her left as she had entered the alley. On the other side was an unknown embassy.

When she turned to regard her companion, he was looking above himself, also studying the make-up of their haven. He glanced at her when she looked at him, flashing her a trusting grin. The man was rather tall and well built, obviously no weakling. His hair fell past his shoulders, pulled back from his face with a simple leather thong. Even in the dark, his strong facial features were evident, especially his prominent nose and cheekbones. The glimmer in his eyes and the look of his face seemed to go against the simpleton clothes he wore.

Raven indicated that he should follow her. She set off, carefully making her way between the machines she didn't recognize. Quickly, she came to a dead end, but her companion located a catwalk that must serve to maintain the massive metal structures. The entire place reminded her of some kind of art gallery. They followed the catwalk, fortunately discovering a door at the end of it. With a shrug, she opened the door, hoping that the gamble had paid off.

The door opened into a clean looking hallway, painted a soft pleasant color. Raven glanced around, stretching out with her senses. Nothing seemed amiss; the employees were busily consumed with their jobs. Raven stepped out, and her companion followed, giving her a first good view of him.

His hair was a brown shade, laced with other colors. His nose carried a bulge in it, presumably from a break that hadn't set correctly. She could see his gray-blue eyes carried a kind of fire within them, sparked of intelligence and passion for something. There was something about his bearing that made her feel almost inferior, a quality she felt intimately acquainted with but couldn't precisely place. Still, Raven abandoned it for a moment.

"Pretend we're supposed to be here until we can find a way out," she whispered to him. He gave her a quick nod, indicating his support of the plan, and Raven began walking, looking for an elevator back to the main level. The man trailed behind, taking in everything around him.

A man in nice clothes rounded a corner, gave her and her companion a disgusted look then demanded, "What are you doing here?"

Giving the young man behind her a quick glance, Raven dubbed herself the leader of this little organization and replied, "You needed some duct work. Our sensors detected it, and we were dispatched here. Well, we fixed the ducts, but now we can't find out way out." Raven tried to sound as coarse as possible, hoping that he would accept her reasons without demanding some kind of credentials.

"Whom do you work for?" the man replied suspiciously, narrowing his eyes. No dice, Raven internally groaned.

Her companion stepped forward. With a small flourish of his hand he answered, "The Coruscant Power Company. You will show us out," he then prompted.

The other man nodded, accepting this explanation, echoing his words. He turned around and began to lead them down the maze of hallways.

Raven followed, filled with slight apprehension. She suddenly placed her small feeling of inferiority. The man accompanying her was a Jedi, and even though she had left the Order five years ago, she was afraid he would look down upon her for her decision. Raven now could sense his awareness of the Force, also feeling foolish for being so preoccupied that she missed it. However, the rogue couldn't help but wonder as to what his mission was. She walked along, deep in consideration that was carefully shielded, of course.

They were soon on the street again, finding it relatively empty, although Raven knew that was only temporary. "We should probably get you away from here," she said, turning to him. She smiled. "Then can I inquire as to what you did to incur the wrath of the CorSec?"

The man shrugged a little humorously. "I haven't anywhere to go. I was looking for somewhere to stay around here, but wasn't aware how expensive – and high profile – this area is. I didn't really want the attention of staying here."

Raven noticed a uniformed man rounding the corner with a lavender armband, a few more behind him similarly dressed. She indicated them and replied, "My place it is."