Chapter Two:

"You're certain this information is accurate?" Dishon demanded of the man in the cantina. "She lives outside the city in a tent?"

"At the moment, she is there, yes," the man grumbled. "But she does not live there permanently. Why she is here is a mystery to me."

Dishon tilted his head. "What do you mean?"

The man's eyes narrowed. "Look, pal, you paid for information on the crazy woman's location, not her history. You wanna pay for that too?"

Dishon sighed irritably. He had all but run through his stash of credits, and he needed to save what he had left to get to wherever this woman sent him.

"Fine, I'll leave it be, but if you're lying to me, I will come back for you," Dishon warned.

"I'm terrified," the man said sarcastically, turning back to his drink.

Dishon thinned his lips and then left in a flourish of robes. Dishon walked along with his face concealed and lightsaber definitely hidden. He didn't need to give himself away. He was already on edge with his being on the run; he didn't need the added stress of others knowing what he was and assuming they knew him.

His stomach grumbled, reminding the man that he hadn't eaten since last night. But Dishon ignored it in favor of finding the mysterious woman everyone in town knew to avoid or respect. No one knew why she was on the planet, but no one seemed too keen on asking her either. The locals gave the woman her space and didn't interfere in her affairs, but none of them would say why except to warn him that she could be dangerous when need be.

With this in mind, he traversed a path through the city. When he arrived at a worn-out road— which led to a small forest—Dishon strode purposefully, determined to see this woman for himself.

00000

Dishon kept his hood low as he walked up to the ancient-looking tent he had been directed to. As far as he could tell the tent was empty, but that didn't mean it was.

And Dishon could feel the presence of someone inside the collection of animal hides that made up the walls and roof of the structure. He hesitated at the door, and then carefully folded back one flap.

"Hello?"

Silence greeted him, as did a dark interior, but Dishon had come too far to back out now. The reason Dishon was even on Belkadan in the first place was because he'd heard from a well-paid bounty hunter back on Tatooine that there was a woman here who knew of the Jedi's side of the Force. Thus he had gone to the bounty hunter here on Belkadan to learn of her local whereabouts.

And while Dishon knew that Jedi knowledge was forbidden, especially for the Inquisitors, he had to try and find something on them. He no longer wanted to be an Inquisitor; he didn't want to kill people anymore. Dishon wanted to learn of the Jedi ways, to become a warrior of the Light, and no longer remain a servant of the Dark.

With a determined, if cautious air, Dishon entered the tent at last and stood silently. Now that he was inside, his eyes adjusted to the lack of lighting, and he discovered that there was in fact some illumination from lichen that had been grown on stones placed within the abode.

The furniture was sparse, yet small, as if they were meant to fit a child rather than an adult. There was a ring of stones set in the middle of the floor with a smoke outlet in the tent above, and then Dishon saw the flutter of a curtain and he froze, his hand instinctively going to his lightsaber.

"Why have you come here?" a voice asked in the darkness.

"I have heard that you know of the Jedi Knights of old," Dishon answered. "I want to learn more."

"Jedi information is illegal," the same voice remarked— a woman clearly, and he thought it was his contact.

"Only if you're caught with it," Dishon retorted mildly. "Please, I have come a long way... I need help."

Dishon could feel the other pause in consideration, and then a shadow moved closer to the ring for a fire, and he caught the glint of light on eyewear.

"Come closer."

Dishon pursed his lips, but ultimately obeyed, walking up to the woman and doing a slight double-take to find her so... small. She had orange skin, a rounded face, and goggles of some sort that appeared to be adjustable.

"Let me see your eyes," she instructed, gesturing with a small hand.

Dishon knelt and she gazed at him intently, making him feel as if she could see right through him. Yet, though she was obviously intelligent and had been rumored to know of the Force— and was sensitive to it, Dishon suddenly realized— she didn't seem trained in it. But maybe that was an illusion to protect her.

"You are a troubled soul; I see it in your eyes. And yet... though you seek to make a difference as a Jedi, I feel it isn't you who is meant to do this."

Dishon frowned. "What are you talking about?"

The woman offered a sad smile. "Things you don't need to know. You wish to learn of the Jedi, yet you are too afraid to follow through."

Dishon stood rapidly, an angry retort on his lips, but it died before he could speak when her brows rose knowingly. She was right: he was afraid. Yes he wanted to be a Jedi, but he wasn't sure if he could actually follow through on that. He was afraid to make himself a target by learning of the Jedi's ways.

Before Dishon could respond, the walls of the tent were ripped down, and the woman jumped in surprise. Dishon leapt to his feet, drawing his lightsaber as green-armored men rushed onto the scene, one of them wearing an orange pennant on his shoulder.

Dishon snarled and ignited his blade, instantly going on the offensive... and was stopped in midair when he leapt at Commander Cody.

"Excellent work, Commander," Emperor Vader stated as he walked slowly but authoritatively onto the scene. "Expect to receive a reward for your success."

Cody's head dipped even as Dishon trembled in fright while the Emperor continued to hold him with the Force. The man stepped forward, his fine-tailored clothing shifting perfectly with his form to not hinder him in any way.

"And we have at last caught up to you, Dishon," Vader stated, his ocher eyes cold and calculating.

Dishon gazed upon the man's pale face and swallowed hard. "Master, please, have mercy."

"On a Jedi-wannabe?" Vader snapped angrily. "I think not. You will return to Coruscant to be publicly executed. You will be made an example of what happens when one breaks my law concerning the Jedi."

He levitated stun-cuffs onto Dishon's wrists and secured them before he let the man drop to the floor with a thud. "Take him to the shuttle."

"Yes, Your Majesty," Cody snapped a salute and got to work issuing orders, and as Dishon was escorted roughly away, Vader approached the woman.

"Your name," he demanded as he studied the orange-skinned alien. It was odd how the woman before Vader reminded him of Master Yoda.

"Maz Kanata, your majesty." The woman bowed deeply, and Vader saw no fear in her gaze.

"He came to you for information on the Jedi," Vader growled. "Why would he do that?"

Maz remained calm, dipping her head in a show of subservience. "I am old, Your Highness, and I remember the Jedi. I know of them, yes, but I did not share any knowledge with him, as that is forbidden. I have not disobeyed the law, Majesty. It is not a crime to remember."

Vader studied the woman again and touched her mind enough to confirm that she hadn't told Dishon anything of value... except that someone would rise against Vader. He snarled venomously and grabbed the woman by the throat.

"You would dare try prophesying against me?!" he thundered at her, even as she choked openly him his iron grip.

"I only spoke that he was not strong enough to rise against his master," Maz managed to say. "I did not say for certain that anyone would oppose the Emperor."

Vader continued to choke her, and then he threw her to the floor, where he then removed her right hand, giving her the honor of using his lightsaber. As she screamed in agony, Vader turned to his troops.

"Burn everything she has. Leave noting untouched."

Cody didn't argue, instead calling for his men to assist him and within minutes the men returned with flame-throwers, which were used on all surfaces until a raging blaze filled the air around Maz and Vader.

"Let this be a lesson to you, ignorant fool, that I am unopposed, and untouchable!" Vader ground out, turning away from the woman while she faded in and out of consciousness. "I am Emperor, and none has the ability to remove me from power."

With that he left, taking his men with him. Once onboard the shuttle, Vader accepted the datapad Cody gave him that contained all pertinent information on the smuggler Han Solo and Chewbacca the Wookiee.

"This man has defiled my law, and he willingly aided a wanted Imperial fugitive," Vader told the commander. "He will be dealt with."

Then Vader had a thought, and he smiled cruelly. "And I have just the person for the job."

He straightened. "Commander Cody, instruct your men to continue looking for Solo, but to not engage him. If they gather any Intel, I want it given to me immediately."

"As you wish, Your Majesty."