Bastila:

"Welcome to Edean!"

"Enjoy your stay on Edean."

"How are you, traveler? What brings you to G5-623?"

My face was going to crack from smiling so much. I had been in Czerka Corporation's Kashyyyk headquarters for hardly an hour and already I detested it.

"That was pretty impressive," Carth whispered. "How did you arrange a meeting with the head of Czerka on Kashyyyk?"

"Now is not the time to discuss that," I said. "Janos will be here any moment."

I couldn't help but feel tense. I always felt disgusted with myself after using the Force to invade another sentient creature's mind. Perhaps if Rian's emotions weren't raging through our bond, influencing me, I could have negotiated a meeting with Janos instead of using a cheap mind trick.

"/Greetings./" A plump Ithorian had what I assumed to be a fake smile. "/How can Czerka Corporation serve you during your visit to Edean/"

"Good afternoon," I replied. "I take it that you are Janos?"

"/Your assumption is correct, human/" the Ithorian said. "/How may I help you/"

"My companion is Carth Onasi, a representative of the Republic," I said. "And I come on behalf of the Jedi Council. I was hoping that you would be willing to answer a few questions."

"/I will do what I can to help you/" Janos replied.

Carth snorted. That man's talents obviously weren't in diplomacy.

I bit my lip, but continued on. "Tell me about the planet, please. I had heard it was called G5-623."

"/G5-623 is the numerical designation/" Janos explained.

The gurgling Ithorian tongue was beginning to grate on my ears. I took a deep breath and tried to push Rian from my mind.

"/The galactic Basic name is 'Edean,' chosen by corporate ballot among stock holders/" he stated.

"Ah." I nodded. "Might I pry as to why Czerka is even on Edean?"

"/You are going to try, regardless of what I say, are you not/" The Ithorian chortled. "/The simple answer is profit. Czerka Corporation is a business and discovered a rather promising venture on this planet./"

"Perhaps I lack the business savvy of those in charge of Czerka Corporation," I said. "But to invest in Edean seems like a waste. The planet's surface is a death trap and there's only so many giant wroshyr trees that the galactic market will demand. It would make more sense to inhabit, Ithor, for example."

I couldn't sense any reaction from the Ithorian. Perhaps he had been too long away from his herd, but I couldn't conceive of an Ithorian unaffected by the thought of his home world being mercilessly stripped of resources.

"/Edean is a trove of wealth/" Janos replied. "/This planet is home to many unrefined resources as well as an endless supply of labor./"

"Labor?" I asked.

"So you're slavers," Carth said. "Classy line of work."

I glared at him. Was I the only one in my blasted group to possess a rational thought? "Why would the Wookiees tolerate this?"

"/It's not me, personally./" Janos directed his words towards Carth. "/I merely represent Czerka Corporation at this outpost. There are other directors at other stations, of course. Arrangements have been made with the Wookiee leadership. Harvesting is handled as delicately as possible, relatively speaking./"

He was trying to retreat. I reached out to his mind. All I needed was a single foothold in his brain to begin to make him susceptible to my suggestions.

"Tell me about it," I said. "I might be more understanding if I understood." I could sense Rian strongly and it was making me horribly nervous. Her emotions danced vividly in reds and blacks. I vowed to teach her some deep meditative techniques once we were both back on the Ebon Hawk.

"/If it will ease your temper, I will give specifics./" Janos was looking at me curiously. I felt like I needed to lie down. "/We supply arms in exchange for a supply of healthy Wookiees. We are kept profitable and an agreeable leader is kept in power. It keeps the process from becoming a constant firefight./"

I was shaking. What was that rage that I sensed? Rian was killing. Or she planned to, in the most barbaric way she could imagine.

"Are you alright?" Carth asked.

This was inconvenient. It was hardly the correct way to squeeze information out of a person. I could have erected a shield against Rian, but that would have denied me Force energy for persuading Janos.

"I'm perfectly fine," I insisted. "I just haven't been on a planet's surface in so long. I need to regain my land legs."

"/I do not mean to be rude, but we have some scientific work going on at this facility/" Janos said. "/They require a sterile environment for precision. If you are ill, perhaps we should continue this discussion at a later date./"

"What is the leader's name?" I asked.

The Ithorian blinked. This was not how I had wanted this meeting to go at all.

"/I believe his name is Chuundar/" Janos replied. He backed towards the doorway. "/I don't deal directly with them, thank goodness. Far too brutish./"

"Thank you for your time, Janos," I said. I redirected all my energy towards a barrier. "I'm sure you're a busy person, so I won't bother you with anymore questions."

"/Of course/" Janos said. "/I would advise against going too far from the main landing area. The planet is still very much untamed and we do not send out patrols for lost tourists./"

"I'll keep that in mind." I made a beeline for the exit.

Carth was immediately on my heels.

"What was that about?" he demanded. "You looked like you were going to throw up on that Ithorian's shoes."

"The thought had crossed my mind, yes," I replied. "But I'm alright now."

"What happened?" Carth asked.

"Rian," I answered. "Something's off. I just know it."

"I think we should head back to the Ebon Hawk," Carth wrapped his fingers around my arm. "You can sit down, meditate or something. I'll make caffa."

I brushed his hand away. "We need to find Rian."

"You're really worried about her," Carth realized.

"I'm not concerned about her," I snapped. "I'm concerned about what she's done. Or what she will do."

Carth was staring at me strangely. Let him think I was insane, it made no difference.

"Let me look for her," he said. "You're trembling."

I grasped the wooden railing to the ramp that led to the docking area. Solid. I was steady. I took a deep breath.

Rian's thoughts spoke murder. I consoled myself with the fact that many thoughts stay in the mind alone and never come to fruition. But I could smell the hewn flesh and nearly taste the blood splattered on her hands. If I could just find her in time.

"Let's hurry Carth," I said. "I have a really bad feeling."

We trotted down the ramp towards the gate that led to the planet. An armed guard was in our way, filled to the brim with self-importance.

I was about to ask him to open the gates, when they were kicked in from the opposite side. Rian stalked through the gateway, an ugly welt on her cheek.

Behind her was Juhani. A searing anger radiated between the two women, while Mission sneered over her building panic.

"Rian…"

"Those hairy bastards took him," she snarled.