The Odd-Couple
-sparkvallen

Disclaimers: All the usual disclaimers still apply. I'm still not Uncle George! ;) Pharinseaya Muac are based on friends and Rym is all mine!

Chapter Thirteen

Pharinseaya had intended for she and Rym to be essentially "undercover Jedi" with the suggestion of a clothing change on Coruscant. She had thought that by being inconspicuous and not recognizable as Jedi Knights, they'd have a better chance of working their way into the trust and inner sanctum of The Prophet.

She stared ruefully at the wild print material in the mirror that she was now wearing. See if I ever give Rym the authority to get us a costume again! she thought with a sigh. We definitely don't look like Jedi, at least...

"C'mon! Have a little faith, ya know, Pharinseaya," Rym was saying across the boutique from her. Svoby had opted for a resale shop in the commercial district that specialized in off-world fashions of the most extreme variety. The Jedi Apprentice was garbed in a neon yellow button-down shirt with bright pink pants.

Pharinseaya shook her head. "Rym, you look like a sun that's gone supernova."

"You look pretty cute yerself," she retorted with a big grin. "Ya said it yerself though. We're tourists. I take it you haven't ever noticed the touristy types, have you?"

"Not... really," she admitted, still looking dismayed.

"OK, then. It's a good thing ya put me in charge of this." Rym handed over the necessary credits to the chuckling clerk and the Jedi made their way back onto the streets. She'd even paid a little extra to have the boutique hold onto their traditional tunic and robes until they could return.

The Jedi Knight of the duo led them to a turoblift which they rode down three levels to the seedier part of the commercial district. On this level, a shopper did not find the fancy stores or even the resale boutiques. Down here, just a few levels below the busier areas, a customer found the pawn shops, the stores that carried exotic and sometimes illegal substances, gifts and more.

Given the reputation this Prophet seemed to have as an underground fad, Pharinseaya hoped that they'd find more of a lead on how to make contact with the character. She still had her personal doubts about the Jedi potential of such a character but also remembered that Jedi hopefuls came from all areas of life; even her companion Rym proved that fact.

"Still looks nicer than where I used to live," Rym remarked, looking around boldly.

"What're two pretty gals like you two doin' way down here?" came a male voice from behind them.

Pharinseaya and Rym spun to face the speaker, both of them unconsciously drifting a hand toward their lightsabers.

"Muac!" Pharinseaya gasped.

"You know him?"

"Hey, you're that Jedi Knight from the transport!" the security guard said with a startled smile. "And her little... um, protege?"

Rym stared wildly from Pharinseaya to Muac. "What's goin' on here?"

"Rym, Muac here was part of the security team on the transport we took from Corellia to Yavin IV," Pharinseaya explained. "He helped me locate you after our... incident."

"Oh." She looked down at her feet.

"So, what are you two doing down here, dressed as you are?" Muac wanted to know. He put his hands on his hips, looking at both Jedi.

"We're on a mission," Pharinseaya said.

"Well, I would have hoped Jedi had a better fashion sense than what you're displaying-"

"HEY!" Rym shouted.

"-becuase you're about as subtle as a Star Destroyer hiding in a used speeder lot, ladies," he finished.

"We look like tourists," Rym insisted.

"If you say so."

"What are you doing down here, Muac? Is this how you spend your down-time?" Pharinseaya looked around at the various 'suggestive' shops on their level and gave him a knowing look.

"Oh, please. Who knows what intergalactic disease one would contract down here. I'm down here also on a mission of sorts," he snapped.

"Maybe we could work together?"

Rym gave Pharinseaya a questioning glance. What's this all about? she wondered.

The Knight ignored the stare and kept her eyes trained on Muac.

"Why not," he said after some thought. "I'm down here looking up some clown called the Prophet-"

"You are?" Rym shouted.

"Rym!" Pharinseaya snapped.

"He told me this fortune, that I was going to get a promotion and be a part of something 'big.' And here I still am, providing security for a public transport. I want my money back," Muac explained.

Rym just stared, unable to believe that the Force had directed this man to them twice now and that he had information that was critical and useful to their mission.

"Did you see him here on Coruscant?" Pharinseaya asked.

"In a temporary shop, several weeks back," he replied. "I'd gone back there and learned that the Prophet had set up a new base of operations in the lower levels for better security, or so they said. Since I was a past customer, his goons seemed it safe to pass along the location of the new location."

Pharinseaya and Rym exchanged smiles.

"What are you two down here for then? What is your mission?"

Rym laughed. "Ya wouldn't believe it, but the exact same thing. Well, not the exact same because we didn't get a readin' or nothing, but..." She took a breath. "We were looking for the Prophet too because its thought he might be a Force sensitive. A potential Jedi."

Muac stroked his moustache and beginnings of a beard. "Hmmm... not that I've seen many Jedi, mind you, but I don't think he'd be the type you're looking for."

"No?"

He shook his head. "This Prophet didn't strike me as a Jedi-type. More styled after the Emperor than anything if you want my opinion."

Pharinseaya shuddered. "Point made."

"But we've still gotta see for ourselves," Rym interjected. "Not that I doubt you, Mr. Muac-"

"Just Muac."

"OK. Well, we still do need to find out, Pharinseaya."

She nodded. To Muac, she asked, "May we join you?"

"On one condition," was his reply.

"Which is?"

"We can get you into some better outfits. I won't be seen another step with you in those!"