The stench of the lower levels once again filled Ghost's senses. The smell wasn't as bad here as it had been a bit lower down, but nonetheless, it wasn't pleasant. He had a job to do down here however, so he had resolved to stay. It was only a few hours since he had last spoke to Jason, but he was now much lower in the city, retracing the steps he had taken multiple times in the past. His path took him through the lower cities sprawling industrial slums, edging ever closer to a large dark spot in the distance. The spot itself was most strange, down here the lights were permanently powered, a result of them being the only light source. So a patch where all the lights were off was a rare sight.

The area itself was completely deserted, there wasn't even any buildings within it, none except for the large mass of junk at its center. The junk consisted mostly of large pieces of metal, structured almost like a mountain, it's tip soaring upwards in an attempt to make contact with the roof of the level.

He approached the dark area at a steady pace, ever aware of the strange looks he got from the areas residents that were going about their business. This was something he expected, after all, the area had an almost superstitious reputation among the communities that surrounded it. For none that entered ever returned. Some of the older members of the community might have been able to recall that Ghost had actually been here before, over 90 years ago. But he doubted they would, back then he had dressed differently, the only thing that was still the same was his mask, but that never changed.

After a few minutes of more walking he reached the edge of the dark area, and after a second of hesitation, stepped into it. Nothing happened, of course, so he continued into the darkness, dodging round piles of metal as he neared the structure at the center. He remembered where the entrance was from his last trip here, it was so small and insignificant that it could be easily overlooked as another weird metal sculpture. But if you knew the way, it was simple.

It was this entrance that Ghost laid his eyes upon as he climbed over a small pile of scrap metal, it's diminutive frame exactly the same as he had remembered it. With cautious steps he approached the makeshift portal, slipping through the shade that covered it, and finding himself in a dark, winding passage.

He started down the passage cautiously, if he wasn't welcome here anymore, this is when he'd find out. Luckily, nothing happened, and he was greeted by still air, and eerie silence as he followed the passage along. It eventually opened up into a cavernous room, it's walls, and roof constructed from metal of all shapes and sizes, each one with it's own unique place in the jigsaw that made up the room.

All round the sides of the room lay various workstations, lockers, vaults, and all kinds of display racks. The entire room was so dark that Ghost wouldn't of been able to see a thing, were it not for the dim light at the center of the room that he now stood under. He turned on the spot slowly for a while, scanning the room, but seeing nothing. The… thing, he had come to see didn't like to be seen, not at least, until it had seen you. And so Ghost called out, his voice calm, and even fairly quiet, speaking only one word.

"Merchant"

Almost instantly the sound of clanking metal came from behind him, followed by the swish of air as something jumped, landing behind him with a metallic thud. Ghost turned around and looked down, meeting the gaze of The Merchant. It was a small thing, mostly humanoid in shape, its body covered in a dirty brown poncho, an enormous bag on it's back, with spikes protruding from it. Both its arms and legs were metal, each one completely different to the next. It's face wasn't visible, hidden behind a grey mask, resembling the upper half of some flat faced predators skull. It's entire appearance was slightly uncanny, but the eyes were what really made it unnatural. They were nothing but silver pure silver, each one perfectly mirroring the other as pools of seemingly infinite knowledge and trickery.

Ghost had known this creature for a long, long time, and had probably visited it more than anyone. But even he had no idea what it was. It's shrouded body stopped him from identifying a species, and the one time he had attempted to use the force to help him understand, he had simply not understood a thing that came back. Since that day, he had been weary of The Merchant, as he would of anything he had no knowledge of.

After a pause of quiet, The Merchant made a strange clicking sound, cocking its head to the side slightly as it stared at Ghost, identifying him with a quick look of recognition, before his eyes returned to normal. "Ah, it's you again is it? Come come, tell me what it is you seek my friend" It's voice was jittery, and even somewhat delirious.

Ghost nodded slowly, not making sudden moves that might irritate the creature, something that he knew had happened in the past. When replying his own voice was it's usual quiet, low, and polite self, the unrest he felt from staring into The Merchants eyes not slipping through. "I have had a slight change in profession, so I need new gear"

The wretched thing nodded its head thoughtfully, before scampering off into the darkness, and out of Ghost's vision. The sounds of distant clattering reached his ears as The Merchant searched for something, though Ghost hadn't given any indication of what he wanted. During its search The Merchant called back to Ghost, it's voice echoing slightly within the large room, making it impossible to tell where it was coming from. "Pretty things pretty things, oh I have so many pretty things, what pretty thing will I give to the lost one today?" It's words were followed by a childish giggle, then all went silent. After a few seconds, the quick patter of feet could be heard in the darkness, and The Merchant appeared in front of him once more, clutching a belt that Ghost identified as a stealth generator in one hand, and a small object that he couldn't identify yet in the other.

The Merchant extended the hand with the belt in it out towards Ghost, motioning restlessly for him to take it, his head bobbing encouragingly. "Take it, TAKE IT! Will help with prying eyes, yes it will" The shout came suddenly, causing Ghost to wince slightly as the loud sound echoed throughout the room.

He reached down and took the belt, strapping it on round his waist under his coat. He then decided to give it a test run, activating it and watching as his body seemingly disappeared. The Merchant eyed him the whole time, making an irritated clicking sound. Deactivating the device, Ghost looked down to The Merchant again, nodding appreciatively. "Thank you, I think it will serve me well"

"Of course it will, wouldn't have given it to you if it wouldn't, STUPID ONE. Sorry, shouldn't shout, scares the birdies away" The Merchant then proceeded to open its second hand, revealing a small hunk of metal, carved into the shape of what seemed to be an owl. The carving was crude, but recognizable, something a child would make.

Ghost took the item from the waiting hand of The Merchant, inspecting it closely before depositing it into his pocket, next to the other metal trinket he possessed. The Merchant remained quiet throughout this process, though it waited eagerly for it's payment. Seeing this, Ghost quickly produced a model toy from his pocket. The model was a stormtrooper, E-11 in one hand, with the other raised towards the sky in a fist of triumph. The Merchant clapped happily, snatching the toy from Ghost's hands and scampering back off into the darkness.

Turning briskly, Ghost headed back through the passage that had brought him into the room, it was time to leave. After The Merchant accepted payment, that was it, there was no chance of further bartering or trade, and he hated to think what might happen if one tried to continue such things. But for now at least, he had everything he needed, and he hoped that he wouldn't have to return to this place for a long time.

From its perch, The Merchant watched Ghost leave, then giggled gleefully and scuttled down the wall till it reached a small concealed opening. It scuttled through the opening, emerging into a small room on the other side of it. The room itself was almost completely empty, the only notable things being a small table, and a ledge next to it, which led down into a dark abyss.

The creature approached the table, setting the toy stormtrooper down on it incredibly carefully. Then it scrambled off for a few seconds, returning with another figurine, this one in the crude shape of The Merchant himself. He set it down on the table, opposite to the stormtrooper, then got a good grip and started animating a small fight with both. He would jolt the stormtrooper round a bit, making blaster noises and moving his own figurine to evade. He did this for a few minutes, but then imagined one of the blaster bolts hitting his figurine, and let it fall to the table.

With his own figurine defeated, he raised the stormtrooper up into the air victoriously.

Then without warning, he slammed the trooper down into the table viciously, shattering it into pieces, but that didn't stop him. He continued to smash the toy into the table until it barely even resembled its original form, an unnatural scream of rage bursting forth and echoing throughout the room at the same time. With the toy destroyed, he swept its remains off the table and into the dark abyss in a rage, watching them fall into the darkness, until eventually it landed on a pile of toys in similar states. Each toy was different, next to the stormtrooper lay a clone and a few battle droids, next to them, Jedi. The pile faltered slightly, a few of the topmost toys toppling down the slope, passing countless other toys on it's way, a Sith warrior, a Je'daii, a Rakatan. One by one the falling piece passed them, until finally it landed on the ground.

Up above, the screams of The Merchant still echoed, it's shrill cries unfaltering in their hatred for that small little toy. But amongst the screams, it would shout out one phrase over and over. "I always win. I always win! I ALWAYS WIN!"