Chapter 24

Jedi Temple

Corran Horn had just ended a call to his father in law, Booster Terrik, when Shaznia caught up with him. The information Booster had given him had been unpleasant. Helpful yes, but unpleasant all the same. After listening to what Shaznia had gotten from Kultan Vor'esk, he quickly came to a decision on what to do next.

"Go topside to the Titan please Shaznia. Once there, you'll pick up Jaina, Michelle, Deanna and Deanna's mother Lwaxanna Troi. Meet me back here in one standard hour. I'll have further instructions for you after that's done. Anything else?" he said.

Shaznia answered, "Yes. Right before I left my house to go talk to Vor'esk, I got a strange call from a girl named Nirri. She said for me to be at the Demon's Battle Cave by 1200 hours tomorrow, and to bring some friends. I thought it rather cryptic. Any ideas?"

Corran answered, "You don't know?"

"Know what?" she asked.

"Ryu made it to the finals. It's been all over the datastream since he entered the Cave earlier this sevenday. Things like 'Champion comes out of retirement to avenge his son', 'Jedi Master to fight for ownership of the Demon's Battle Cave'; stuff like that has been floating around and making waves with a lot of my contacts in the lower levels." He said.

Shaznia nodded her head, "Ryu called me day before yesterday and told me about the Ysalamiri that Xoran had gotten for the Cave. Mara said she would track that with her old employer Talon Karrde to see if a data-trail could be found since Ysalamiri are highly restricted and expensive to transport anywhere. Other than that, I intentionally haven't kept track of Ryu's progress. If I do, I'll be too worried to focus on my end of the investigation. The Force tells me that Ryu is doing the right thing and I've left it at that. At any rate, when I get Michelle and the others from the Titan, I'll ask them if they want to go with me to the Cave tomorrow and to relay that to Admiral Picard. Would you be willing to come with us as well? You're familiar with underground events of the type in the Demon's Battle Cave aren't you?"

Corran nodded this time, "I am. I can't count the number of events like that my dad and I broke up when we both worked for CorSec back in the day. I have to admit also that I've wanted to see Ryu fight for a long time. I've watched the holos of his fights in the GFC but have wanted to see him fight in person. Just an FYI, Ryu is currently being given 10 to 1 odds for his fight with Xoran. Odds like that usually indicate big stakes. Let me rephrase, big stakes is the ownership of the Cave. With 10 to 1, I'm not sure I want to even speculate what that means exactly. You spent time as a fighter; do you have any notions on this?"

Shaznia shivered, "The only thing that even makes sense would be a Death Match, but Ryu would never participate in one. At least not knowingly; but with the Ysalamiri that Xoran has, Ryu can't get any insight through the Force while in the Cave. The sense I've been getting through our bond, is that he's been more focused on healing than Farsight."

Corran said, "That being said, yes, I'll go with you and the others. For now, go to the Titan and catch up with me in an hour like I said. Right now, I have something unpleasant to attend to. See you in an hour Master Dree-Jayks."

With the return of formality, Shaznia knew it was time to be on her way, "Yes Master Horn. I'll see you in an hour then."

New Republic Peace Officer Corps. Station 17

When Corran arrived at the station, he expanded his Force Awareness, his 'sphere of influence' he called it, to take in sensory information from an approximate range of four meters or so. After verifying that there were no threats in the immediate vicinity, he shrunk his sphere to its normal range of a meter or so. Requesting to see Senior Detective So Leet, he was sent in a few minutes later. When So Leet saw him, Corran got a distinct impression in the Force. More than dislike, less than hatred. Corran locked the door behind him and manually dialed all of the windows in So Leet's office to opaque. Before So Leet could say anything, Corran sat down across from him and said, "How long have you been on the take, Detective?"

So Leet scowled and said, "I don't know what you're talking about Master Horn. Jedi or no, you need proof and lots of it before you go throwing accusations of corruption around. You may have been CorSec in your day, but this is a new day. CorSec as you know it no longer exists in case you missed the memo. I've cooperated fully with Starfleet Security and the Jedi during this investigation. Unless you have something definite, you can leave and take your high and mighty, hum- er I mean high and mighty opinion with you when you go."

Corran sighed and said, "My high and might human opinion you mean to say? That's where you're wrong Detective and just so you know, I was still in CorSec when it died as an organization of justice and became something far less meaningful than it was. You want proof? I can give you enough proof to put you away for the rest of your natural life and for a Cerean, that's a long time. As much as I dislike flaunting family connections, this time, it's justified. You forget who my father in law is. He can easily arrange for the appearance of an 'anonymous tip' or ten. By close of business today, you'll get to be a guest of the very justice system you represent."

So Leet started to splutter, then he sagged in his seat and seemed to deflate by three sizes. "Name your price Master Jedi."

Corran shook his head, "Retire . . . today. You've got more than enough time in service. I do this as a gesture of respect from one former law enforcement officer to another soon to be former law enforcement officer. Just tell me what happened to you that made you so bitter and antihuman. I scrutinized your service jacket before coming here. That's how I know you haven't always been as you are now. Bitter, angry and tired, so very, very tired."

So Leet sat back in his chair and seemed to stare off into the past. "You're right. I wasn't always this way. Once, a lifetime ago it seems, I was as equal-minded as anyone you would meet from the Federation. I didn't care if you were Human, Rodian or Zabrak. Everyone was sentient to me; until the dark times, until the Empire. It came upon me slowly, so slowly that I didn't realize it until it was far too late to redeem myself. When I first started in this field, it was just the Republic Peace Officer Corps. I worked with the Cerean Jedi Master Ki Adi Mundi several times. We came to respect each other. I could go places that he couldn't and he in turn could get results I could only dream of. Until General Order 66 that is. After he'd been gunned down by his cloned human troops and the Emperor had distributed his fabrication that the Jedi were trying to take over the Republic, I started my descent into the abyss. The Republic which for so long had been blind to speciesism became the Empire of Humanity. If you were nonhuman you didn't count. So long as I didn't step out of line, I was allowed to keep my job. No matter what kind of evidence I could acquire in the course of an investigation, it seemed never enough to do more than get a petty fine assessed or a day or two in jail if the suspect was human. If the suspect was nonhuman, the law books would fall upon you so hard, there was only figurative dust left. At first, I was just passing on information to interested parties. I was still young by the standards of my people. Young and idealistic; then it became arranging 'accidents' where no body could be recovered and the person would be moved elsewhere within their employer's syndicate. I never accepted any bribes or pulled any triggers myself, but I did arrange for others to do so. From there I dug my own hole deeper and deeper until finally, I woke up one day and didn't recognize the person staring back at me in the mirror. Have you ever experienced confusion and uncertainty like that Master Horn?"

Corran nodded his head emphatically, "Yes I have Detective, but with the help of a great mentor and friend, I came to accept who I had become from who I once was and merged the two into what you see now, the first of the Jedi Investigators. A class of Jedi that specialize in mixing the letter of the law with the spirit of the Force. Tell me what you know of the group that calls itself H.A.T.E. and of the owner of the Demon's Battle Cave, Xoran."

Instead of speaking, So Leet reached into his desk and took out some datachips. He said, "What I know of H.A.T.E. is on those chips. Names, meeting places, known and suspected activities. It's not everything, but it is what I know. By doing this, my life is forfeit. I'll never get to enjoy retirement but in a way, I'm greatly relieved now."

Corran took the chips in hand and said, "Testify to the courts. The Jedi will protect you."

So Leet shook his head no and said, "I am reminded of an old saying back on my homeworld. After translation, it comes out as 'I've made my bed, now I must sleep in it."

Corran nodded his head and said, "I understand Senior Detective So Leet. I genuinely wish it could be otherwise."

After Corran left, So Leet accessed some private files that weren't on the chips that he'd just handed over. He sent his letter of resignation to the NRPOC Chief and a couple of private messages through the data stream, and then wrote down his decryption keys on a PADD. When he was done, he closed his office door. A few seconds later, the report of a blaster shot in close quarters was heard.

Jedi Temple, General purpose meeting room

By the time Shaznia returned from the Titan with the others, Corran had just finished going over the material that So Leet had given him. After listening to Jaina, Deanna and Michelle relate their experience with the psychometric vision, Corran cross-referenced what they told him with the information that So Leet gave him and had the name of the Rodian clan that was the most likely suspect for the attempted assassination of Admiral Picard. From there he put in a call with a different NRPOC station and arranged for the round up and arrest of the clan to be questioned. After finishing his call he returned his attention to the others in the room.

He said, "The NRPOC tells me that they'll have the suspect clan in custody by tonight and ready for questioning tomorrow. Ambassador Troi, are you certain you wish to help us during the questioning?"

Lwaxanna said, "Absolutely. What you want me to do is very similar to when I'm helping negotiate treaty or Federation membership applications with interested parties. It won't be difficult at all. What will we do until then is the more appropriate question I should think."

Corran said, "I'm planning on accompanying Shaznia to the Demon's Battle Cave tomorrow to see her husband Ryu fight in the finals of the local sector tournament he had to enter. That's the easy part of the process. The hard part is getting in to the fights. According to the datastream information, the arena seating has been sold out since the second day of the fights and it might be awkward to just walk in with lightsabers blazing."

Shaznia spoke up then, "There's an understatement if ever I've heard one, but I can help with that. I was meeting with Admiral Picard a couple of days ago when his Aide, Koni Komax mentioned that a pair of brothers owed him a favor from way back. These brothers I'm told, like to bet on the fights. If Koni puts in a call, I think he can get us a pair of guest seats in their box in the arena."

Michelle chipped in, "Better see if you can get a third seat for me. I don't want to miss this for anything."

Deanna and her mother shared a moment of mental speak and said, "My mother and I won't be joining you. She will need to spend some time preparing for the interrogations, so we'll both be returning to the Titan shortly as that it appears that we've done all we can to help at this point." A minute later, they were both gone.

Jaina nodded her head and said, "Likewise. I'm glad I was able to help out how I could but for now, my part in this is done as well. I'll be visiting with my mom, dad, brothers and their families for the next few days. If you need my help, call, and I'll be there as quick as I can." Turning to Michelle she said, "When you're done helping your Cousin, find me. Uncle Luke has an assignment for us that will take us offworld for a time. While we're doing that, I can resume your training. Any questions Padawan?"

Michelle shook her head, "Not at this time Master. Until then; may the Force be with you."

Jaina answered, "And you as well.", and left the room.

Shaznia got to her feet and said, "Thank you for everything Corran. As soon as I get home, I'll put in a call to Koni Komax. We'll meet tomorrow at 1100 and go over any last minute details before leaving for the Cave." Turning to Michelle she said, "You can stay in the guest room at home if you like Michelle."

Michelle got to her feet as well and said, "Thanks of the invitation Shazi. I'll take you up on it."

Corran said, "Glad I could help Shaznia. I'll meet you both tomorrow at 1100 then."