Meranda thought long and hard about what Bastila said as she walked to the cantina. The idea that she might be Force-sensitive was terrifying. The words she spoke to Carth only a few days prior rang through her head, that to be bound to the Force meant either being the galaxies slave or a rabbit animal needing to be put down. The idea that she would have to sacrifice her freedom and individuality or become everything she was fighting to destroy was dehumanizing and soul-crushing. Bastila said that it wasn't as extreme as that, that there was some wiggle room between living droid and a blight on existence. But somehow, maybe through her cursed connection to the Force, she knew her Jedi companion was sugarcoating it, speaking from a place of bias. But thankfully, she didn't have all day to dwell on her existential terror as she spotted her contact right away. She recognized him, Canderous, or something close to that. Meranda saw him intimidating some gangers and trying to salvage Bastila's escape pod, all for the local crime lord Davik.

"I saw you in the swoop race. Very impressive, Mysterious Stranger. You seem like the kind of person that gets results... And that's just the kind of person I'm looking for."

"Is the Exchange hiring or something? What do you want, Canderous?" Meranda wasn't particularly in the mood to play games with the merc and would not pretend otherwise. This seemed to endear her to him somewhat, at least it seemed that way from his chuckle.

"Well, to put it simply, Davik Kang promised me a fortune to be his enforcer. But he decided to cut my pay, and I don't like being cheated. So I decided that it was time to break the Sith blockade and get off this backwater world."

"Do you have a plane for that, or were you going to rush the fleet and prey you make it?"

"As I said, I saw you in that swoop race, and I thought, anyone crazy enough to race like that would be crazy enough to break into the Sith military base. I need someone to help me steal the Sith launch codes. Without those codes, anything leaving the planet will be vaporized by the Sith's automated guns."

"And, what guarantee do I have that you won't just fly off without me the moment you have what you need?"

Here's the deal: you get me those launch codes, and I provide the vehicle to get off-planet - Davik's flagship, the Ebon Hawk!"

"So what, am I supposed to just walk up to the front door say kissagram and they just let me in?" Meranda crossed her arms, liking the plan less and less the more she heard it.

"Not as easy as that, I'm afraid. The Sith base is protected by an encrypted security system. It would take a top-notch astromech droid to slice through it. Lucky for you, I know were to get just that. Davik was having one custom built by Janice Nall. Just tell her Canderous sent you, and she will sell you the droid, then you can get the codes from the Sith base."

"And your boss won't give a kriff about me stealing his droid?"

"Davik paid for the droid, but I'm the one he put in charge of the mission. He won't care how I got the launch codes, just so long as we get them. Normally I would just go in there myself, but everyone knows who I work for. If I went in, the Sith would send an army down to Davik's estate to get the codes back. That's why I need you."

"And the moment you don't, I'm dead in a gutter. I know how you Mandos operate!"

"Look, I don't like working with strangers either, but we really don't have much of a choice. I can provide a ship, and you can get the codes. We need each other. I'm going to wait in Javar's cantina. Come find me when you have the codes, and I'll make sure we both get off this rock." Meranda waited for Canderous to be out of earshot before turning to Carth and Bastila.

"So, what do you two think."

"Mercenaries are a cold-hearted lot, just as likely to turn on you as to help you." Carth said dismissively. She had a feeling he would say something along those lines. Of course, he was right, but he would have said the same thing even if the Mando was more trustworthy.

"I couldn't sense any deception from him, surprisingly. This might be just what we need."

"And have your senses ever been wrong?" The Jedi shook her head.

"I doubt he would have had the mental training necessary to block or trick me. Regardless, we should be cautious when dealing with anyone comfortable with working for the Exchange."

"Wouldn't be the first Mandalorian I killed, come one, we have a military base to bust into.

...

The droid shop was on the other side of the district from the cantina, meaning they had a long enough walk to justify an awkward conversation.

"Bastila, I was wondering something. How did those Vulkers manage to capture a famous Jedi like you?" Carth asked. "Were you knocked out when the escape pod crashed?"

"No, I was conscious. But my Force powers were exhausted using my Battle Mettetation on the Endar Spire. Without it, you might not have made it out alive."

"Fair enough. But I've seen you Jedi in action. There's no way those Vulkers stood a chance against your lightsaber."

"My lightsaber was..." An embarrassed blush formed on the young woman's face as she practically forced the following words out of her mouth. "Misplaced. I couldn't find it after the crash. I looked everywhere in the pod, but the Vulkers overwhelmed me before I could get my hands on it."

"Wait a minute, let me get this straight. You lost your lightsaber? Ha-ha! What, isn't that against some Jedi code of whatever?"

"Oh, leave the woman alone, Carth. Stars know I wasn't in the best shape either when we got here."

"Meranda's right Carth, this is no laughing matter! My saber must have rolled under my seat or something!"

"Hey, hey, hey, don't get made. I'm sorry. It's just funny to think of a legendary Jedi losing her lightsaber. Take my advice. Leave this one out of the history books."

"Well, well, my optimism seemed to have rubbed off on you, Carth. Just a few days ago, you were practically convinced that the Republic was doomed, and now here you are talking about a future where we get the write the history texts! A miracle if ever there was one. Now hush up you two, were here." Meranda said as they walked into the shop.

...

Meranda didn't exactly love the idea of just walking into the front door, but oddly enough, it was the least well guarded. The Sith probably, and with good reason, assumed that no one would be stupid enough to just walk in the front door. Meaning that they only had a receptionist to greet them rather than armed guards.

"Hey! Your not supposed to be here. This is a restricted area! You better have a good explanation, or I'm hitting the alarm."

"Fifty credits good enough for you to reconsider that?"

"Fifty credits? You've got a deal! The Sith have made my life a living hell ever since they took over this base. You know, it's about time someone stood up to the Sith! Just do me a favor and wait until I'm out of here before blasting the place up."

"Sounds good, just give us your access codes, and we'll send you on your way." The Twi'lik woman did just that before fleeing for her life. "T-3, would you be a dear and use these codes to start turning the Sith's security systems against them?"

"Weep weep. Do beep boop."

"Thanks, pumpkin~." The droid then rolled up to the terminal, and from the sounds of screaming and explosions, it sounded like the little guy was doing a good job. "Do be sure to cover our tracks when your done, including deleting all surveillance footage and disabling the cameras. Please and thank you." They then rampaged through the Sith base, killing every trooper and officer they could find, looting all the supplies they could, even rescuing a guy. While they were there, Meranda had T-3 screw around with every computer they came across as well, filling the Sith database with false orders and misinformation guaranteed to get a vast number of Sith troopers killed for no good reason. Eventually, they had to bust into the governor's office to get what they came for, finding a Dark Sider there.

"Who dares to inturupt my medetation!?" The Dark Sider scowled. He didn't have a lightsaber, so that was good.

"I thought meditation was about peacefully centering yourself? What would you even be meditating on? How many puppies you're going to have for lunch?" Meranda mocked, taking a battle stance, not sure what to expect.

"You will pay for... Wait, I sense the Force is strong in you, very strong" The Darksider then paused, his face scrunching before relaxing into a smug expression. "Who would have thought that a Force Adept could be found on such an insignificant planet? But your talents will be no match for a disciple of the Dark Side!"

"Your Sith devilry will be no match for my might, scum. The Sith will pay for their crimes against the galaxy!" Miranda's declaration only made the bald creep laugh.

"Oh, what righteous fury! Your passions serve you well, but they could serve you better under proper tutelage... But unfortunately for you, that makes you my rivel! This meeting is a stroke of luck for me - My master will surely reward me with my lightsaber for killing you!" Meranda charged the Darksider the moment he was done babbling, and he reflexively blocked her. A single doubt then crept into her mind. She was clearly Force-sensitive; what if the ease of her previous battles was just based on her drawing on the Force subconsciously? A few perries with the Darksider quickly put those fears to bed. He was so arrogant, so sure of his inevitable victory, that his defenses were sloppy. She and Bastila fought defensively, even letting him think he was playing with them a bit. But Meranda then cut him down right when he felt his most potent, she could practically taste his horror and anguish at the realization of how foolish he was, and maybe she could.

"Be mindful of your feeling, Meranda. That apprentice's words were not all hot air. You have to be careful."

"Right, sorry... It will take some time to figure all this out." Meranda then took the codes they needed and booked it before the fleet sent reinforcements.