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"There is only one job all of you now have, until you complete it." I continued. "And that is reconnaissance. We need blueprints of the city, and where the negotiations will take place. We need blueprints of the building where the negotiations will take place. We need as detailed a list of who will attend these negotiations as possible. And we need anything else you might find relevant."
"And as for you my lady," Raena walked over to the Ambassador, her ever-present devilish grin spreading. "It's time for you to become a Jedi."
"How do you feel?" Raena giggled at the playfully scandalized look on Ambassador Tressle's face.
We'd outfitted her with a brown customary Jedi robe, her hood usually up, and she had also received light brown synthetic hair to hide her own nearly black hair. Raena wanted to give her white hair like the way she'd worn her own while we'd been in hiding. But I felt it was too noticeable of a change. We had even gone so far as to let her have a shell of a light saber; that is to say, the handle of a light saber, but no crystal or power to ignite the blade. But I hadn't left her unarmed. Nora Tressle also carried 3 conveniently hidden blasters. I told her to draw two of them only when she was in trouble and neither one of us was anywhere to be found. And I made sure she had a spare but she refused the fourth blaster because she said the other three were already an uncomfortable burden.
"Like I can take on any Kashill." Nora smiled a friendly grin at Raena.
"Ah, do not be so quick to put us out of a job," I joked. "We need the pay."
"I wouldn't dream of it," Nora laughed back. "Where to?"
"We return to your quarters to await our required information," I explained.
"How long do you think it will take them?" Raena asked as we left the store.
"Well, most of them were combat trained," Nora began in a tone that indicated information recollection. "But I think one of them was specially trained in reconnaissance and information gathering."
"That would be…" I thought for a moment. "Paris, most likely."
"No," Raena corrected me. "Paris would be decent if he worked at it. But Rogers is most likely the one."
"You're right," Nora exclaimed in an impressed voice. "How did you figure it out?"
"Ambassador," I began. "If anyone knows more about identifying another stealth op, he is short, and green."
"Short and green?" Nora sounded confused.
"You've lived a very sheltered life milady," Raena sounded mildly surprised. "Even non-Jedi's know of Master Yoda."
"Oh, is he a strong Jedi?" Nora sounded so innocently clueless I wanted to laugh.
"By all accounts, he is THE most powerful Jedi alive," Raena told her.
"Wow," Nora said.
We reached the Ambassador's quarters where Johan Bastille was standing guard outside of the door.
"Bastille," I said taking on my commanding voice again.
"Sir!" he snapped from his relaxed posture to a rigid attention.
"No need for that," I waved his formalities off. "I'm not your permanent commanding officer."
"True." Bastille resumed leaning against the doorway. "Thank you."
"Have the others reported back?" I pressed.
"No, they have checked in on time so far though." He assured me.
"Good," I said as we started to walk past them.
"Would you like to come inside and relax?" the ambassador offered.
"Yes ma'am I would." Bastille punched the access code in for us and led the way into her room.
"So," I laid down on the bed while Raena sat next to me in a more professional act. "What can you tell us about the negotiation chambers?"
"Well," Nora began to pace as I had earlier, while Johan took up Raena's previous seat. "They are sealed from both sides. It's like a large dome, 1 light hangs from the ceiling lighting up the table in the middle where the two parties that are to negotiate will sit. Their protégé are made to stand."
"That would be us," I thought out loud.
"Yes," she nodded confirmation. "There are no windows, and the entire building is made of steel."
"Where is it geographically?" Raena asked.
"Nobody knows," Nora shrugged.
"What?" I was shocked.
"Ceremonially, escorts are sent to take each party, blindfolded, gagged and ears plugged, to the negotiation point." Johan spoke up. "A mild sedative is also administered to dull the senses."
"That would explain it." I sat up. "Does anyone know who these escorts are?"
"Not that I know of." Nora sounded disappointed. "Sorry."
"You're not supposed to know," I waved her guilt off.
"It seems like something the Temple Masters would know," Johan chimed in again.
"Brilliant," Raena complimented him.
"Ambassador, come with us. I think you should know the location also." I said standing up and pulling my robe back on.
"No," she stayed defiantly seated. "I shall keep to the custom. If it is discovered that I learned, or tried to learn, the location of our meeting whatever we may negotiate will be called off and the war will continue with new ferocity."
"Of course," I realized the wisdom of her words. "Then I'll go alone."
"Want some company?" Raena stood up also.
"Thank you, that's a great idea." I faced Raena and gave her a quick kiss. "Johan you're with me."
"Déshawn!" she laughed not realizing I was serious.
"I need you here to protect the Ambassador." I explained to her. "If the Kashill show up here now, they must have absolutely no entry, and only you can guarantee that. Be seen leaving, then slip back in and stay hidden."
"Okay," she agreed without argument. "Hurry back."
"I will," I assured her. With one last, more passionate, kiss I turned and left with Johan.
"You love her?" Johan questioned as soon as we'd left Nora's quarters.
"With all my heart," I assured him without hesitation. "You have a special someone?"
"Not anymore," his head bowed.
"What happened?" I said.
"Back on my home planet, Earth, there was a brutal attack about 10 to 12 years ago." He began. "The planet was slaughtered, to this day I have no idea what killed everyone. All I remember is some kind of light."
"It was purple." I informed him in a grave voice.
"Yes, how do you know?" he sounded astonished.
"I was two at the time." I explained. "My mother was a Jedi Knight. When the attack began she went out to protect everyone she could. She made us stay hidden, for she was secretly training us to become Jedi Knights, against the Council's orders. That's why my brother and I are so powerful and ahead of our age."
"Wait," he stopped and turned to face me. "I was about to say a beautiful Jedi died saving my life."
"What?" I couldn't believe my ears. "Tell me everything you saw."
"Well, when they arrived you already have some idea of what they did. Everything and everyone was brutally murdered. This weapon seemed to…" he struggled for the words.
"Steal their soul." I told him.
"Yes." He said. "Anyways, I told Sharon, my girlfriend at the time, to stay hidden. I went outside, with the same intentions as your mother. I killed several of the troopers that were rampaging on the surface, but their sweeps with the soul reaping weapon made it difficult."
"It's a Force Harvester," I told him. "But go on."
"Well, just as I was dispatching about 4 or 5 of the soldiers, I lost track of my timing and the weapon almost hit me. But suddenly the waves of power were stopped, right before they hit me. And I saw her, your mom. The power she gave off was…simply amazing. Anyways, she held it off until she could move me to safety. I thanked her with all my heart and ran back to my fiancée." He continued. "But she was, well…"
"I'm sorry to hear that." I put a comforting hand on his shoulder. "But are you sure you didn't see my mother killed by the Harvester?"
"Yes," he said.
"Well, that was definitely what killed her," I muttered to myself. "There's something that happened after you left her and she died. What is it?"
"We should continue on, we can investigate later." He urged me.
"Yes," I followed him quickly.
After weaving through the thick-forested areas we finally reached the temple where we had met the Ambassador after we'd landed. I suddenly got the same chilling feeling I'd felt earlier when we were next to it. I calmed my mind and pushed the dread out of my thoughts, and let the Force sensitize me to any impending danger. I felt my body grow slightly warm and a nearly involuntary vibration began to run through my muscles.
"What's wrong?" Johan looked at my muscle twitches.
"Everything," I told him. "Some great evil is at rest here, and I think the Kashill intend to utilize it."