Blackhats

"You sleemos really screwed the Gundark on this one," Barth berated the so-called gangsters surrounding him in the room. "When Tristan gets here….."

One of the low-life's lifted his eyes up from the floor. "He's coming here?"

Barth noted the quiver in the objector's voice. "Yes, we had a strangle hold on this system and you let it go to podoo." Barth briefly turned his back to the fearful man and faced the others. He quickly spun back around, blaster drawn and fired the criminal with the objection. "Anybody else think Tristan is a bigger issue than what we're currently facing?" Some of the newer or softer hearted guys stirred slightly. The harder more experienced thugs kept their composure even though the mere mention of Tristan scared some of them almost to death. "All right then, what's our first move."

"Look, boss," one of the men finally spoke up. "The problem is not us. The Magistrate is gone and the Jedi are everywhere. I don't know how they do it. It's like they know our moves before we do. I'm surprised they haven't crashed this meeting….."

"Then we obviously have a leak somewhere," Barth breathed in slowly. "The Jedi aren't here, that means the leak didn't know about this….. meeting of the minds," he purposefully exaggerated the sarcasm in his voice. "Find out who isn't here and plug the leak. I'd say that's our first move."

The second objector was not satisfied. "Yeah, there could be a leak, but the Jedi….."

Barth did not even turn towards his opposition. He merely raised his blaster and fired again. As the body dropped, he threateningly reissued his order, "Find the leak."

XXXXXXXXXXXX

"They are going to kill me!" Jessie tried to make his point known without his voice squeaking.

"You're point?" Myriam huffed.

Iesha tried not to snicker as Jessie tried not to whimper. "They know there's a leak."

"This Barth thinks the leak wasn't at the meeting. You'll be fine," Numa interjected. "For the time being…."

Myriam inched closer, "I'm the only one you should worry about. Whatever you're afraid they will do to you, I can do worse. And I promise you I will get to you first. Besides, you're only keeping tabs on Zeakwon. He's the one giving Master Granger all the real intel. You're just insurance."

"But….but…. Zeakwon was at the meeting too…" Jessie seemed confused.

"You're right," Numa tried to reassure him. "We've been doing this for a while. So while your friends are chasing down the wrong snitches, you're going to tell us more about this Barth."

Jessie stopped visibly shaking. "He's sort of like the boss's spokesperson in Syllian."

"The boss being Vespecio?" Iesha clarified.

"Right," Jessie muttered.

"And who is this, Tristan?" Numa pushed.

Jessie shook again, "Bad news." He glanced at Myriam. "Badder than you even."

Myriam grinned, "We'll see, I'm sure."

"He's the boss's number 2. He's the muscle, the enforcer, whatever you want to call him. Whenever there's a problem and he shows up to fix it, somebody dies."

Myriam grinned again. "I like him already."

"I hope the two of you get along famously. You're a perfect match for each other," Jessie groaned.

"Awwww…." Myriam shook her snitch's chin and patted his cheek harder than he appreciated. "You really do care."

When the Jedi let their mole go, he darted away as quickly as he could. "What next?" Iesha beat the elder two Jedi to the question.

Numa paused in thought. "Myriam you go rattle some cages. See what you can find out about this Tristan."

"Works for me," Myriam was off before any goodbyes could be offered. Iesha was a little disappointed. Sending Myriam off on her own not only meant that she would not get to hang around her, but that Numa intended to keep the padawan of the group under her wing. Of the team, Numa was by far the most "by-the-book". Iesha thought that the senior most member (after Granger) was more than capable for pretty much any mission, but there was still something she did not like. Maybe it was just her master's tendency towards unorthodoxy rubbing off on her, but Iesha could not shake the feeling that the most straight-arrow of the group could be a mole herself, for the Jedi Council. If they did in fact, have trouble trusting Granger, then she was the logical choice to report back to them.

"You wish I had sent you with her, don't you?" Numa broke Iesha's thoughts. Before Iesha could form a denial, Numa added, "Seeing her in action is quite amazing. We can all learn a lot from her."

Numa's sensitivity threw Iesha for a loop. "It's fine. I don't think she likes me very much anyway."

"Why do you say that?" Numa was sincerely puzzled.

"She never uses my name. She only refers to me as 'padawan'."

Numa snickered, "Think of it as a term of affection. She is very closed off. She is probably toughest on those she cares about and respects."

Iesha let the words sink in. She wanted Myriam's respect almost as much as Granger's. Although not as experienced as Numa, after Granger, she had the best reputation of the team. "Why are you so worried about what she thinks…. Or anyone for that matter?" Numa broke into Iesha's pondering again.

"I don't know," the padawan mused. "She's just good at what she does. It would be nice to have her respect."

"Respect is important, but do not get too wrapped up in the approval of others," Numa warned. "Not even your master's"

Although Iesha realized the wisdom of Numa's words, she could not help but feel in tinge of anger. Who is she to instruct me? I have a master. Then Numa's warning seemed to take on a new meaning. Suddenly she realized that they had been wandering through alleyways for some time. Iesha pressed for a change of subject. "Where are we going anyway?"

Numa grinned, "We need a patsy, someone who can appear to be the mole to keep suspicions away from Jessie and Zeakwon."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Barth could not help, but gulp as the ramp from the ship began to descend. Having just berated the men for not fearing Tristan, he also tried to not shake visibly. Zeakwon, standing next to Barth noticed his higher-up's hint of nervousness. He suddenly felt better. It dawned on him how much pressure the bosses must be putting on Barth. Bartha was Syllian as far as he was concerned. But suddenly Tristan appeared at the top of the ramp and Zeakwon's worries came flooding back. Tristan was rumored to have a sixth sense of sorts. What if the boss's enforcer saw right through the underling that was snitching to the Jedi?

At first glance, Tristan was not that much of an opposing figure. He wore the standard dress of any Outer-Rim outlaw, except for the wide-brimmed black hat atop his head. Only the baddest of the bad wore a hat like that. It screamed for attention. Only a newb looking to make a name for himself or someone who had already earned a reputation, like Tristan, would dare to wear something that would stand out that blatantly.

"Welcome to Syllian, buddy," Barth tried to sound friendly instead of nervous. He approached the Number Two to shake hands. No one was really "friends" with Tristan, but Barth had worked with him enough to feel like he did not have to be formal.

Tristan calmly pushed up the brim of his hat. "What's the update?"

Barth swallowed hard. "Nothing's really changed."

"The mole?" Tristan raised an eyebrow as the trio moved away from the ship.

Barth swallowed again, "We're narrowing it down…."

"You have two days," Tristan warned.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Zeakwon carefully made his way through Syllian's back alleys. He was always careful, but today even more so. He had not met with the Jedi in quite some time. He zig-zagged through the alleys to cautiously lose anyone who may be following…. Anyone who maybe following him and anyone who may be following the followers. When he reached the proper alley, he saw Granger and Iesha standing alone in the shadows. "Yeah?" He tried to sound as inconvenienced as possible.

Granger motioned with his head to the opposite dark corner where Numa was hiding within her cloak and the shadows. "Do you know Gratis the Pimp?" Numa inquired.

"Of course," Zeakwon spat back.

"We're going to arrange it so that he appears to be the mole, "Numa continued, "and you will catch him."

For a second relief flooded into Zeakwon's veins, but then he began to calculate the repercussions. "Barth may buy that, but Tristan's too smart. Gratis is our top earner. No way he'd be a snitch."

Numa glanced at Granger, then continued. "Gratis is one of the few whose income has increased since the Magistrate's death. You can convince Tristan that he was in league with us."

"Was?" Zeakwon clarified.

"In a few hours, Gratis will have a very public confrontation with us," Numa motioned between herself and Iesha. "After that, it should be fairly easy to convince the family that he is the mole and you will be the one who brings him in," Numa explained.

Ganger added, "That should keep anyone off your trail and get you in closer with this Tristan.

Zeakwon could not help but grin, "That may just work, Jedi."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Numa and Iesha sat in a corner booth where they could see the entire bar. Numa took a long draw from the Nargila hose, then passed it to Iesha. "Aren't these even more addictive than death sticks?" Iesha inquired.

"That's why it's important to discipline yourself to practice everything in moderation," Numa responded.

Iesha smiled politely. She hated the way Numa always seemed to drop nuggets of truth, but she had to admit that she had learned a lot watching Numa work and hearing those nuggets. The padawan turned her attention back towards Gratis's table. He was heavily involved in a Sabacc game, but full of enough drink that he was beginning to get rowdy. She saw Zeakwon and his henchmen at their table across the room. They appeared to be minding their own business, which was exactly the plan. "When do we move?" Iesha asked not impatiently, just out of curiosity.

"We'll move when he's drunk enough."

"How will we know that?"

"The Force will let us know," Numa grinned.

It was not too long of a wait before the Sabacc table became obviously out of hand. Without saying a word to each other, Numa and Iesha rose to make their way across the room. The bouncer met them at the table, "No problem here, Jedi. We can handle it," He turned to face the Sabacc players. "Time to go."

"Get lost whelp," Gratis blew off the suggestion and continued to argue.

"Now," the bouncer reiterated. When Gratis turned with a violent lust in his eyes, the bouncer eyed the Jedi nervously.

"You're afraid of a couple of Jedi?" Gratis backhanded the bouncer like one of his girls.

Before the bouncer hit the floor, the green beam of Iesha's saber was in Gratis's face. "Step outside with us, Gratis," She pronounced his name carefully and slowly to suggest this was not the first time they had met.

"Maybe when the game's over, sweetheart," Gratis sneered.

"Or maybe now," Numa insisted. "You've been ducking us."

"I've been what?" Gratis could not hide his shock at the Jedi's words. By this time, Zeakwon and his crew had also reached the table. "I'm afraid, Jedi, that you have me deeply confused."

"Then come outside so was can straighten the whole thing out," Iesha nearly nicked Gratis's nose with the tip of her saber as he placed his hand on the hilt of his blaster.

Completely unexpected, Iesha felt the back of Zeakwon's hand come across her mouth. She fell to the floor, near the bouncer, as her lightsaber rolled to Gratis's feet. As blood trickled out of the corner of her mouth a rage that she had never known passed through her. It felt….. powerful. Numa extended her saber and stepped between Iesha and the gangsters. "You will regret that."

"I don't think so Jedi," Zeakwon motioned with his head. Numa glanced around her to see what seemed to be the entire bar with blasters pointed in their direction.

Ever calculating his next move, Zeakwon weighed his options. He would hand Gratis in as the snitch as planned. That would win him favor with Tristan. He could let the Jedi go as planned and stay in favor with Granger or he could kill them, and make an enemy of Granger, but score even more points with Tristan as well as build an undreamt of reputation. "Get out of here, now," he spat at Numa. Gratis and Iesha reached for the lightsaber. "I'll take that Zeakwon insisted. He scooped it up for himself as Iesha rose to stand behind Numa. With only her lightsaber between them and nearly one hundred blasters, Numa and Iesha slowly backed out of the bar.

Once they were out of the door, most of the bar went back to their business. Delighted, Gratis turned back to the table to resume the Sabacc dispute, "Now where were we?" He quickly noticed Zeakwon's men and even a few of his own still had their blasters out. Gratis glanced at Zeakwon.

Zeakwon returned the glance with a grin. "I think it's you and I that need to step outside."

XXXXXXXXXXX

Barth stared with delight at Gratis's head that decorated his desk. Of course, it was Tristan who was sitting in Barth's seat behind the desk that needed impressing. "I told you I'd get him."

Tristan ignored the bragging and eyed Zeakwon. He flipped the captured lightsaber in his hand. "Do you know how to work one of these?"

Zeakwon shrugged. Barth reached for the saber, "I'm sure there's a button…." Tristan's cold stare stopped Barth's reach. He returned his gaze to Zeakwon. "Wasn't it sort of sloppy for the Jedi to confront their mole in public?"

Damn! Zeakwon panicked on the inside, but kept his cool visibly. "I guess it was sloppy of them to lose a lasersword too."

Tristan pondered the comment, then cracked a slight smile, "They say you pimp-slapped that Jedi."

Zeakwon lowered his head, but could not help, but grin. The rumors were even better than he hoped. Barth, not liking the respect that Tristan was showing Zeakwon, added, "I hear she was only an apprentice."

Tristan made his annoyance obvious, "And how many Jedi have you slapped? Even apprentices?" He turned his attention back to Zeakwon, "Why didn't you kill them?"

Zeakwon swallowed. "I figured killing two Jedi would only bring more our way. I got a business to run."

"Smart," Tristan mumbled.

"I'd'a killed 'em both!" Barth interjected. "You were just scar….."

Tristan had enough of Barth's babbling. He raised a hand. Barth felt his throat tighten and he began to gasp for air in mid-sentence.

Zeakwon saw Barth drop to his knees. He did not understand what was happening, but somehow he knew Tristan was doing it. A fear that he could not explain crept up his spine.

Tristan kept his hand raised as Barth dropped to the floor and began to roll around in the last vain attempts to gasp air. "We must be sure that we go the right mole." He lowered his hand when Barth stopped thrashing. "You run Syllian now."

Zeakwon was too scared to grin. "Soooooo….. you want I should keep looking for the snitch?"

Tristan pondered the question for another second. He again picked up the lightsaber. The metal shaft gleamed in the light of the desk lamp. "No, bring me a Jedi."