The next noon AICA left the Far Side's hangar with her pilot and his girlfriend for a mission to the Genon System in the Galaxy's Inner Rim, to buy and secure some information from an Information Broker.

The Rest of the Taskforce was on it's way back to earth and they would catch up either later or on earth.

The Information Dealer had his headquarter on the mostly deserted planet, taking over the palace of the infamous Grappa the Hutt, a former member of the Black Sun. One had to be quite ballsy to be next tenant of such a place. On the other hand, informations were one of the most important goods in the galaxy and this Dealer was probably the best in his business.

And he was a Gungan.

SunTzu raised an eyebrow when he heard that, since the Gungans weren't well known for leaving their native world or rather waters on Naboo and care much for the outside world.

Zed-Zed Nel, the Gungan Information Broker, seemed to be quite the individualist among his people.

The trip would take them at least two and a half days and they'd make a few stops on the way.

Basically it was a roadtrip in space but due to mostly being in hyperspace they couldn't see much of the Universe unfortunately.

But the couple still did enjoy their trip, with Rei telling stories about how the Senshi got to where they are now, and both lovers sharing daydreams about where they still wanted to go as a couple.

They also had a lengthy talk about their individual powers and how it felt when they both connected to each other's essence lately.

Rei even wrested the promise from SunTzu that they would do a road trip somewhere on earth when they ever would find the time for that. Just the two of them, which made AICA a bit jealous but telling her that at that time Hotaru would probably have had her training finished and be able to fly AICA whenever she wanted to saved the day.

Stop number one, at the morning of the next day, was Gerrenthum in the Greater Javin, where they just stopped for some refreshment and food before they stopped on Eriadu in the evening for dinner and a few hours in a hotel to get some comfortable sleep in.

SunTzu or rather AICA on his behalf had booked them a room in an artsy small hotel in the art district of the planet's capital and Rei was enraptured by it's architecture and it's interior design.

The Artificial Intelligence also booked a table at a hip restaurant in the district for dinner for them. That's why the ship was so enthusiastic that they'd pack some finer clothes too.

It was galactic fusion cooking and Rei had to admit that the Nerf Tenderloin seasoned with Spices from Ryloth and Herbs from Kashyyk was one of the tastiest things she ever ate.

Afterwards the couple went to see the urban and street art with a walk through the district before they returned to their hotel room.

It was in the middle of the night when they came back, not that they got in much sleep in that night anyway.

Their room had a fantastic view over the art district and although Eriadu, caused by it's heavy industry and large cities, wasn't a beautiful planet, the art district and its colors, lights and architecture made a nice ambient.

The room's large bed was located in an oriel so that they had a 180 degrees view over the surroundings from it. Perfect for the young couple.

Eriadu costed them a few hours but they were advancing well in time and on the early noon of the third day they arrived at Genon.


The planet was brown and green with some blue blotches from orbit, mostly mountainous terrain with some small oceans and swamps.

The palace, looking a bit like a giant cocoon or wasp's nest was nested in one of the mountainous areas.

Way earlier than expected the radio came to life.

"A-Wing on the way to Genon, state your buisness."

"Lieutenant SunTzu of the Galactic Alliance and Diplomat Rei Hino of the Crystal Kingdom of Earth and the Sol System. We were told our arrival had been announced."

A few seconds of silence from the operator followed.

"We've been awaiting you. Mister Nel asks if your stay in Eriadu has been to your liking."

Inside AICA SunTzu wheezed, apparently the Gungan needed to remind them what his buisness was. Not that SunTzu or Rei weren't expecting this.

A few minutes later they landed in an opening in the palace, after being escorted from two T-Wing Starfighters since ever they entered the atmosphere.

The hangar was larger than expected and another four T-Wings, a Yacht and three smaller transports where there right now, taking up just half of the room.

AICA landed and a huge black colored Trianii in armor, with two regular guards behind him, holding blasters walked up to the starfighter.

The Canopy opened and SunTzu helped Rei out of the cockpit before he jumped out himself.

The Trianii were a huge feline humanoid species but this one was more than just an alpha predator, although his extremely muscular, sinewy body along with his fangs and sharp claws proofed that he was an extremely dangerous fighter. The Alien bowed down slightly before the two earthlings before he gave Rei a hand kiss, making Rei put on a smile and SunTzu raise an eyebrow.

"Miss Hino, it's a pleasure." The Feline-Humanoid said in a raspy, guttural voice.

Then he extended his hand to SunTzu.

"Lieutenant SunTzu, it's an honor to meet a war hero."

The Trianii walked past him towards AICA.

"And the masterpiece of starfighter construction, the Artificial Intelligence Controlled A-Wing."

"Oh My, finally a man with some manners. He even addresses me by my full name." AICA replied happily.

The huge Alien, being over two meters tall, turned around.

"Excuse me, i didn't introduce myself yet. I'm Kla'dok, Master Nel's Chief of Security.

My Master awaits you, so if you'd follow me please."

On the way out the hangar they passed an scanner that scanned for any weapons, explosives and more.

Armed guards were visible, every few dozen meters. Apparently Nel made enough money with information to able to run his own little private army.

After a few minutes walking through the huge palace they arrived at the former throne room of Grappa the Hut.

Two guards in front opened the big doors and Kla'dok lead them on into the room, directly in front of a throne where an older Gungan, in a leather robe with golden ornaments, was sitting.

Apart from his usual Gungan appearance his eyes had something distinct intelligent lying in them.

Kla'dok stepped up to his master and whispered something into the Information Broker's ear.

The Gungan began to smile and got up, spreading his arms in a welcoming gesture.

"Our guests from Earth. Rei Hino, the new up and coming star in Coruscant's political arena. And SunTzu, the man without a past but more scores in Spacefighter combat than ninety five percent of the fleet. Welcome in my palace. As you both already know I am Zed-Zed Nel, merchant of knowledge and wisdom." Very uncommon for a Gungan he spoke basic without any accent.

The two earthlings bowed down slightly and Rei began to speak.

"It's our pleasure Master Nel. Thank you for time."

"Oh, the pleasure is all mine, Miss Hino. I've already heard quite a lot from your Taskforce and your kingdom as well as of the two of you." The Gungan was quite charismatic.

"You mind if we introduce ourselves properly with a cup of Gatalentan tea?"

"Absolutely not, it sounds very inviting." Rei replied and the Gungan clapped happily in his hands.

"Very well then. If you would follow me."

They enjoyed some exquisite tea together and got to know each other. Nel told them, that his mother was a librarian and his father a merchant and as a young man he decided to honor his loving parents with an occupation that combined both their professions, information and being a merchant, and started to make business with selling informations. And nowadays, after he ran successfully built up an information network spanning through the rims in the Vong War, he was the galaxy's best information broker, even surpassing Talon Karrde.

He also was honest with them and told the couple that they had been tailed by men of his organization when they were strolling around on Eriadu. This was done for collecting information about them before they would arrive. He excused himself for the act but he called on their understanding.

Charming as he was he also urged them to not hide their relationship, as his organisation already knew about. Love is something beautiful he told them.

They had a light lunch following the tea and some more small talk followed.

Rei tried to direct the conversation towards the data they were here to obtain but the Gungan skillfully circumnavigated the topic.

After lunch he told the couple that they probably like to be on their own a while and called for Kla'dok to bring them to the guest room they would stay in.

Rei and SunTzu were a bit surprised as they were given a room, they didn't think they would stay the night.

"Well of course, we're having dinner on Denon tonight, it would get too late to fly any further." The Gungan told them. "And don't worry, we value your privacy highly. You have my word on that. I was once in young love too." The last sentence had a hint of sadness attached to it.

The couple entered their room and was told to be ready in two hours, for the trip to Denon. The trip would only take around one hour, since the organization had the data to a secret hyper lane from Genon to Denon. Not the worst secret to possess.

Their bed was a large sofa like construct where four more people could have laid In also.

While Rei laid down on the beddings immediately and kicked away her boots, as they were still wearing their flight suits, SunTzu got to work with a scanner, looking for any bugs that had been planted. He searched thoroughly but couldn't find any. The Gungan seemed to be really honest with what he had said.

"That's the newest scanner we have, Ami just got it from Coruscant. Guess we're safe here."

"I hope so for him, would be too bad if someone would burn down this beehive." Rei said nonchalant and a little flame appeared over her finger and she put on a grin.

"I love you Moeru Shōju." SunTzu said with an amused smile.

She blew the flame out and smiled to him.

"So come here and cuddle with me before we have to get ready my Doitsu no akuma. Being in the backseat for days deprived me of being next to you and I desperatly need love."

For a few minutes they enjoyed the closeness and embrace of each other before they got ready, putting on the more finer clothes they had brought along.

Rei was wearing a navy blue evening dress with a high neck and had put her hair into an elaborate braid, look completed with matching High Heels and purse.

SunTzu was wearing a dark-blue Italian cut suit with a white collared shirt, open collared and leather shoes.

Kla'dok, is dressed in a fine looking robe and no more armor, picked them up and the Trianii and the two Earthlings met Nel in the hangar, where he started complimenting their dresses.

"I think you understand that I have to take precautions too and that my starfighter won't stay in here alone."

SunTzu told the Information Broker.

"Of course. And this would give my IT Security a break. Your starfighter has been constantly trying to hack in our systems."

"I apologize, she is too curious."

"Nevermind, it was a good stress test for our data security."

SunTzu used his chrono to tell AICA to lift offf and land outside on a remote place, letting nobody come near her. A few moments later the fighter soared away.

The information dealer, his security chief and the two guardians then boarded Nel's personal yacht, which would bring them to the ecumenopolis.


Not even an hour later they arrived at Denon, a city spanning around the whole planet and it's population so high that it was second only to Coruscant.

One of the most important planets outside of the Core Worlds, it had even been a contender against Coruscant as Galactic Capital.

The Space Traffic wasn't any inferior to Coruscant as well but Nel's sleek space yacht immediately got a landing clearance in one of the most noble parts of the planet spanning city.

From their windows Rei and SunTzu watched the approach to the planet and could and just the color of it's atmosphere made it distinct from Coruscant as all they were seeing were buildings and lights.

Since the planet was so important, being virtually, the Capital of the Inner Rim with it's financial and economical power it was guarded very well too. Denon was the Headquarters of the 2nd Fleet under General Wedge Antilles, the legendary X-Wing-Pilot.

Most of the Fleet including their Commanding Officer was out hunting in the void but SunTzu noticed that quite a few Golan Battle Stations as well as Capital Ships, including several Star Destroyers and Star Defenders, were guarding the planet.

The yacht was guided to a landing spot, hundreds of stories above the ground, nearby a rooftop plaza where exotic trees, colorful sculptures and fountains formed a small park and exclusive boutiques and restaurants surrounded it.

The starship touched down and it's passenger got up.

"I don't know about you, but I have a bad feeling about this." Rei whispered to SunTzu as they walked down the ramp, hand in hand. He concentrated for a moment and closed his eyes. He could feel the energy emitting from Rei beside him and yes, there was something. Not outgoing from the broker or it's bodyguard but nearby.

SunTzu reached into his jacket.

Shit, he forgot. He left his pistol in AICA, being the nice visitor he was.

Rei noticed what he was looking for and he looked over to her and shook his head.

She sighed, of course it was up to Moeru Shōjo to safe the day again when something would happen.

Zed-Zed Nel walked ahead, telling stories about the place they were right now, gesturing with protruding gestures.

Behind him Kla'dok suspiciously eyed around, maybe he was feeling something too.

SunTzu and Rei closed up to him.

"You're looking nervous. Both of us feel a threat too."

"I already told the Master that I don't think this trip is a good idea. But he wouldn't listen."

Rei hurried up to the Gungan that was completely busy talking about the plaza and it's garden.

"Master Nel, I think something bad is going to happen. We all worry for your safety."

"Ah I see, Kla'dok made you worry with his Nonsense Miss Hino. We're in the middle of Denon. Nobody would be bold enough to try to attack me here. That would be absurd."

He absently gestured towards a purple colored tree.

"Here, have you ever seen a Nhimyosh-Tree from Ithor?"

While the Gungan was babbling about plants and statues they crossed the park and approached a expensive looking restaurant. His three companions behind him nervously scanned the surroundings

An Ensemble of square pillars of different height was between them.

As soon as they were in the middle of the monument six figures appeared, three from the back, a huge one from the front, directly in front of the Nel, and two from the side, they were located so, that every way outside was blocked.

And they came closer.

The one from the front, a scared Trandoshan, pulled out a long vibro blade and slashed at the Gungan, just before the blade hit the Gungans head the arm directing it was stopped from a muscular black furred arm. Kla'dok pulled the arm away, took out a blaster from his robe and shot another attacker that came running in with a knife from the left side. The Trandoshan was back and with a hit of the knife made the blaster fall out of the Trianii's hand.

Behind them four thugs, one human, the rest alien races, pulled out knifes of different sizes and closed in.

Obviously they were going for the Information broker as the first one tried to ran past SunTzu and was greeted by a fist in his stomach, making him loose the knife and making him slump down.

The other three now were warned and changed their target to the Pilot.

The first one tried to come running and stab his blade into SunTzu but was greeted by the heel of Rei's shoe slamming into his face's side.

A third attacker followed immediately and slashed against SunTzu who dodged with a small jump back before he immediately jumped back forward again, landing with force on the Rodian's foot, before SunTzu rammed his elbow in the alien's temple.

The Rodian stumbled back as Attacker number four tried to round them tackle down Rei, who stepped to the side and kicked into the alien's back, sending the attacker to the ground, where SunTzu knocked the thug out with a heavy kick into the head. Something inside the alien's skull fractured audible.

The first attacker was up again, had his knife back and was trying to get back at SunTzu but Rei, who just turned around, saw him, ran towards SunTzu, jumped on him so that her hands were around him but still giving her the ability to swing around SunTzu to kick the attacker in the face, knocking him down again.

He turned her around again and she jumped up, supported by him, hitting one of the attackers with both legs into his chest, making him tumble backwards.

SunTzu pulled her away in the next blink of an eye as one of the remaining two thugs tried to slash at her with a vibro blade and Rei landed safely behind with a turn.

Using SunTzu to swing around again the Sailor Senshi put her arms around her boyfriend and kicked the guy in the face.

She swung further around and SunTzu catched her in his arms, no she was in front of him again, back to his upper body.

„Enough playing around!" Sailor Mars said as she stood firm again and held up her fist that ignited into flames.

She stepped forward and rammed it into the next attackers face while SunTzu behind her headbutted the still dazed man that slashed at Rei beside her. The man stumbled back even more, as SunTzu broke his nose. Before he could fall down SunTzu grabbed his collar and began to drive his fist into the man's face. Blood splattered around as SunTzu punched his fist three times in a row in the man's face before he let go of the man's collar. The man was unconscious before his body hit the floor.

In the meantime Rei stepped forward, dodged a punch from their last attacker and drove a flaming uppercut Into the alien's chin, the Force enough to break the neck of the Weequay. A large black burn wound on his chin the guy became limp and hit the ground.

Rei let out a deep breather as the fire around her fist extinguished and she turned around. When SunTzu saw that the human's blood stained his suit he kicked the unconscious guy in the flank, cursing.

Behind them Kla'dok just let out an loud animalistic roar as he finally managed to beat down the Trandoshan with biting out a large part of the reptilian-like humanoid's throat.

Zed-Zed Nel was hiding nearby in between two of the pillars.

Kla'dok grabbed his blaster and after scanning for more threats headed to his master.

He arrived at the same time as the couple from earth.

"Master, it's not safe here, let's get back!"

They ran back to Nel's yacht, while the Broker made a hasty call with his communicator and just a few minutes later we're back on their way to Genon, the Information Dealer giving a warning order to his security guards.


As soon as the yacht was in hyperspace the Gungan, opened the collar of his robe, stood up from his seat and walked over to a corner nearby.

A carafe with an amber colored liquid was located there as well as some glasses that looked like tumblers.

He opened the carafe and poured four glasses. He took a big sip from his glass and let the liquid burn down his throat.

Then he handed the other three glasses to his bodyguard and the two earthlings before he sat down again.

Kla'dok was bleeding from different cuts and bite marks the Trandoshan inflicted on him in their fight. He was fiddling with the first aid kit to tend to his wounds.

SunTzu's suit and shirt were partly blood stained, but it wasn't his blood.

Only Rei still looked like she just came from a noble dinner, except for the cigarette in the corner of her mouth, that she shared with SunTzu.

"Kla'dok, Misses Hino, I have to apologize. I guess I got a bit too safe in my position. I didn't think there still would be forces out there that would dare to attack me."

SunTzu took a big sip too and then changed the hand he held the glass in, his hand hurted from the punches he slammed into one of the attackers.

"Someone doesn't want you to work with us. At first they tried to just attack you. And the attackers were no professionals and just using blades. Someone wanted to deliver a message here."

"Well, he made me recognize two things. First of all I won't back down. And second that I can trust you."

The Gungan pulled out his communicator again.

"Pilot, we're not going to the Palace, we're going to the house."

He pulled the communicator away again.

"We're going to my real home now, it's more remote and secret. I only show it to my closest associates and buisness partners."

A few minutes later SunTzu went to the yacht's bathroom to clean his hands and also cool his fist a bit.

Zed-Zed Nel turned around to Rei.

"At first I was reluctant to give you the Intel that your Intelligence Service wanted. The price was fair but it can be hindering to work with governmental forces in my business. But since you saved my life and i don't bow down in front of any threat i will give it to you. Just let my analysts put the last informations together."

"Thank you Master Nel, we are glad we could help. You mentioned something about another house. May I ask what's up with that?" Rei replied with a friendly demeanor.

"Yes, the palace is nice and all that but I prefer something more comfortable and intimate for myself. It's also located near a lake, after all I'm a Gungan. Don't worry, I'll send the coordinates to your starfighter so it can join us. On Genon we should be safe but this place is a bit more remote also."

The elder Gungan smiled.

"Don't worry, we'll find something for dinner for you too. And you'll have my word you get a room where the two of you will be unbothered tonight. I was young and in love once too, you know."

Rei nodded thankfully and then looked the Gungan in the eyes.

"So, we going to meet your wife then?"

The Gungan frowned and his face became sad.

"Unfortunately not. We never made it to marriage. While we were bringing information from one underwater city on Naboo to another our submarine was attacked by a large Sands Monster. I made it out alive somehow, she didn't. A week later I left Naboo."

The Information Broker held in for a moment, reminiscing about something. He was a bit absent.

"I sometimes still think about her, you know. The hunger for Information and knowledge is what drives me more than anything else. The good credits people are willing to pay for it is just a plus. But it costed me the love of my life, which was a high price. Maybe too high."

He leaned in a bit more and looked Rei into the eyes.

"Miss Hino, if you ever have to decide to give up your love for something else, think very, very well about it. You might regret it for the rest of your life."

SunTzu came back and the Gungan slumped back into his seat, helping his chief of security to put on some bandages.

An hour later they were on the approach for landing at the private house of the Information Dealer, AICA had taken point as soon as they reached the atmosphere.

It was a large, oblong building with another smaller house next to it, the living place of the domestic workers and guards. There was also a small hangar and a garage for hover vehicles on the compound.

The compound lay high in the mountains and was not easy to reach by foot.

The lake next to it was Crystal clear and shining in a beautiful blue.

The shuttle landed in the hangar and AICA landed in front of the hangar on a concrete square.

A group of guards, a medic droid and a Service Droid were already waiting for them in the hangar.

While the medic droid lead Kla'dok into the small infirmary of the villa the others entered what could be described as ballroom and they went through it and into a smaller room, a saloon. The next room was the noble decorated office of Zed-Zed Nel and he took his seat behind his desktop while he motioned the couple to take a seat.

The guards kept waiting outside.

He made a few short calls and than shared the news about what his men on Denon found out so far from the attackers. Or rather what they didn't find out.

Except one of them all were dead, the Rodian had died later on, on an internal cerebral bleeding. Only the guy that had his nose broken by SunTzu was still alive, but the man was a vegetable now.

Next time don't try to stab my girlfriend, Punk.

Nel also told them also that the data the couple was here for was getting processed right now and would be ready by tomorrow morning.

He picked up his communicator a last time and called his chef.

"As promised, we will have dinner. And now the droid will show you your room."

After they got some luggage from AICA the service droid let them through the house into another wing and opened the door to a beautifully decorated guest room with it's own bath room and a large bed.

As soon as the door closed SunTzu went to take a shower.

Thirty minutes later, SunTzu now was wearing one of the uniforms of the Taskforce, the couple had dinner with the Gungan.

SunTzu didn't know why but Rei didn't leave his side and basically was glued onto him. Not that he had a problem with it, he just wondered why.

The Gungan seemed to take a liking about the couple being so close with each other as well.

After dinner they said their goodnight to their host and left for there room.

Rei walked in first, thinking about to jump onto her boyfriend and be all over him like before on Denon but she eventually decided against it. She turned around and with her hands she stopped SunTzu.

"Wait a second." She told him with a seductive smile.

She turned to the bed again and walked slowly towards it with swinging hips. She stopped in front of the bed and looked over her shoulder before she opened her dress and let it glide down to the ground, revealing matching lingerie to the dress.

With gracile, catlike movements she crawled onto the bed and laid down, turning around to SunTzu again.

She pulled her braid over her shoulder before she motioned SunTzu to join her with a challenging look on her face.

The next morning the Service Droid woke them up early and they got ready, switching back into flight suits.

They had breakfast with Zed-Zed Nel and the couple was all over each other again. Afterwards the Gungan handed them the data chips.

"As requested, information about business a certain Junior Manager from Rendili did with Kengal Enterprises."

The couple looked dumbfounded at each other and then at the Information Broker again.

"Judging from your faces you didn't know what Captain Urawa and Admiral Artemis requested."

They both didn't, but hearing this meant they finally found a connection and with that the Intelligence could work.

Both thanked the Gungan deeply.

A few minutes later they were next to AICA and ready to board here.

Kla'dok was there too to say goodbye and although he had quite some bandages wrapped around him he seemed to be doing better.

Nel said his goodbyes.

"Miss Hino, Lieutenant SunTzu. It was a pleasure and a honor. I hope to see you soon again. Yout two make a beautiful couple, I wish you all the best with your relationship and in your life."

He shook their hands and when SunTzu and Rei were sitting and strapped in he yelled up to the pilot.

"Lieutenant, if you find any info about your backstory, I'm willing to pay a lot of credits for it."

SunTzu smiled and as the canopy sank down he replied.

"Yeah, me too."

SunTzu nodded to the Gungan and then started AICA's engines.

Before they jumped to hyperspace, SunTzu sent a message to the Far Side and Agent Smith, that they had the data and would fly directly to earth, with two small stops on military installations.