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Patrons forced themselves away from their lomin-ale filled mugs and the Twi'lek dancers to watch the special news report coming in on every Holo-Net channel.

"Former Supreme Chancellor, now Emperor Palpatine has just concluded the emergency Senate meeting and has completely dissolved the Republic into what he calls the new Galactic Empire. I repeat: has completely dissolved the Republic. This comes in light of the apparent conspiracy by the Jedi to overthrow the Republic and combat the rampant claims of corruption. More as it's made available."

The bartender flipped off the screen and chastised his customers. The more they focused on some report from Coruscant, the more he lost business.

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Pulsing lights in sync with the thrumming bass created the vibrant atmosphere that earned the Radiant Eclipse Cantina its name. Drunken patrons sauntered about, flirting and fraternizing as if they were oblivious to the fact that half a world away, the world was at war.

The cloaked figures of Alin Samera and Meryl Krisanja entered the cantina cautiously, the infectious music reaching their ears subliminally inviting them to dance. Alin surveyed his surroundings and made mental notes of all the exits. In all his years on Coruscant, he'd seen how things operated in those lower level cantinas, and this was no different. Seedy characters decorated the Radiant Eclipse.

Even without the Force, Alin could sense the tension. He immediately assumed it had to do with the fighting on the other side of Rhen Var, but would stock his concerns away once he'd secured transport for he and his squadron. Something here…

…isn't right. I feel it too, Master.

The Jedi Master glanced over his shoulder at Meryl and continued surveying his surroundings. He could sense everyone's eyes on them as they made their way through. His Sabers touched down in a secluded forest a handful of kilometers outside of the city where the Radiant Eclipse was located. Their orders were simple—if he and Meryl hadn't returned within two hours, they were to attempt to make a run for it on sublights. And with the ominous atmosphere they found themselves in, he feared he would need to

A Twi'lek barmaid bumped into Alin as he approached the bar, welcomed by the gruff voice of the stocky bartender.

"What can I do ya' for? Whyren's Reserve? Lomin-ale?"

A solemn smile from the Jedi Master and then an answer.

"I'm looking for transport off this rock."

The bartender loosed a throaty laugh. "Any other day, you'd be in luck. Most of these scoundrels in here could give you what you need." He beckoned for Alin to come closer as if he were about to betray a secret. "You do know there's a war being fought, right now?" The bartender whispered.

Alin knew, that by now, Rhen Var was no longer in Seperatist hands, but now a Republic planet. To him, it mattered little whose blockade they would need to run. They needed to get to the Jedi Temple and uncover what was going on before, as he felt it, the Dark Side engulfed everything.

The Jedi Master could feel Meryl's eyes on him as he simply waved his hand before the bartender.

"I'm looking for transport."

This time, the bartender sang a different tune. He pointed to the rear of the bar in the dimmed recesses where he could make out two silhouettes through clouds of smoke.

Alin and Meryl nodded appreciatively as they slowly battled their way through the unruly crowd of people until they neared the back of the bar where two men rested. The first man was focused on the scantily clad Twi'lek barmaids and dancers than the first, whose eyes seemed to be in the process of scheming and plotting. The second man they saw was a little different had powerful shoulders, a neatly stenciled beard and dark brown, trusting eyes. The Jedi Master and his Knight companion drew nearer to the booth the two men occupied and spoke at the first man.

"How much for the transport of five small ships and five humanoids to Coruscant?"

"Your pockets ain't that deep. It's impossible to get of this rock. Seperatists have this place blockaded and I'm not about to risk my ship if the price ain't right."

"Name your price."

The two transport pilots shared a look of amusement and leaned in to conference briefly.

"We want five hundred thousand."

Alin held back the urge to wince. A simple wave of his hand as he spoke: "You want to take the price down a little, yes?"

The first man, now apparently sober, managed a half-entertained smirk as he stuck out his hand, swiping up a pitcher of Lomin-ale from a waitress walking by. He filled his mug and topped it off with foam before he stared coldly back into the eyes of the Jedi Master.

"No wonder the Separatists are winning this war. Mind tricks don't work, Jedi. Five hundred K, or find another way off this rock."

Left no room to better his situation, Alin caved to the fee.

"I can give you three hundred here and the other two hundred when we arrive to Coruscant."

The man stood from his seat in the booth, and towered over Alin menacingly. The Jedi's hands found the cold cylinder that was his lightsaber and could feel Meryl's alarm in the Force as she too tensed on the activation thud.

Not yet, Meryl. Not yet.

The huge man smiled sinisterly into the Jedi's face and was reined in by the smaller man.

"You've got yourself a transport. The name's Baron Copel, and that over there is my co-pilot, Booster Terrik."

At that instant, Alin and Meryl relaxed as they feared, for just an instant, they would not escape the cantina without the shedding of unnecessary blood.

"It's a pleasure, Mister Terrik. I'm Alin Samera. This is Meryl Krisanja."

Meryl nodded customarily before calmly observing their surroundings once more.

"Meet us at dry dock twelve. My ship's called the Pulsar Skate. Here is my comlink frequency." Baron slid Alin a small piece of flimsipaper. "If there is any change in plans, contact me. And on my end, I'll do the same."

"We have an accord, Captain Copel."

Just as Alin turned to exit, a commotion broke out at the cantina's entrance. Discharges from DC-15 Blaster Rifles sounded out amidst the raucous and the Jedi Master already had his lightsaber drawn. It was time to…

GO!I'm right behind you, Master, sent Meryl through the Force.

The Jedi broke into a full sprint leading with an open left hand using the Force to part unruly bar patrons out of his way. As they drew to the exit, a pair of Clone Troopers peered in rifles first. Before they could open fire, Alin somersaulted high into the air, and at the apex of his leap ignited the green blade of his lightsaber with a snap-hiss. He sliced down, scything the blaster rifles into charred and smoking halves. Upon landing, he incapacitated one of the Clone Troopers by slicing him cleanly at the legs.

Following up in the blink of an eye, Meryl carved through the immaculate armor of the remaining Clone Trooper separating his shoulder from the torso with no resistance.

Just arriving as they prepared to make their exit was another pair of BARC Speeder Bikes, two Clone Troops on each bike.

No longer calm enough to communicate effectively through the Force, Meryl turned to face the new arrivals, "Master!"

Take the left! He sent through the Force.

And with that, the two Jedi charged, their blades of emerald and topaz shining beacons against an expanding darkness.