Chapter Twelve: The Scholar

I hadn't been back to Nal Hutta for years. The planet always reminded me of Jango and Boba…

I shifted uncomfortably in the uncomfortable booth of the saloon I'd chosen as my meeting point. It wasn't easy finding someone with an incredible amount of knowledge who also knew how to be discreet. The smarter ones usually liked to show off and spew what they knew, rather than stay quiet about it.

It had taken me a few months to find him, considering he was a bit of a recluse. When I'd heard about the human male, I'd been skeptical, considering his relatively young age. Still, my contacts claimed he specialized in histories of the jedi and sith. I hoped it went beyond the general term for those who followed the dark side of the force.

I'd tried to do some research myself, but considering there were eyes everywhere, especially with the Republic knowing my lineage, I could only do so much without raising suspicion. As far as they knew, I was still oblivious to my Sith background. I liked to keep it that way.

Some eyes cast my way in the saloon, but a hard glare from me sent there gazes turning away again. I was armed, like most of the beings in the bar, but unlike them, I had a reputation. The Oracle. Clean work, every time. Of course, some took to calling me Kida the Killer, too. I didn't really care.

My reputation had taken a bit of a beating after I took the job working for Senator Amidala. My heart twinged a little bit as I thought about it, but a quick swig of whatever liquor the bartender had given me chased that away. It had been a few months since I ended my employment with Padme, so I'd taken more jobs to try and build my reputation back. Still, some people thought I was picking sides in the war, rather than taking a job.

They were wrong, of course. Or at least, I think they were. I didn't really know which side of the war I agreed with. But I knew I agreed with Padme when she asked for peace. What good was a war, anyways?

I pinched the bridge of my nose as I took another drink. I kept tabs on them...on the down-low. Padme was busy working on something about a Privacy Invasion Bill, while the 501st, the last I'd heard, was on Ryloth. I'd been to Ryloth a few times, prior to the war finding its way to the planet. It was a happy place, filled to the brim with culture. The Twi'leks were kind people, though they'd had their own share of bloodshed.

Still, it saddened me that even they couldn't avoid the war.

"Oracle, right?"

I looked up at the male voice, hoping to see the scholar I was meant to meet. Disappointedly, I was met with an armored bounty hunter with a tan wrap around his head. I rolled my eyes, leaning back and spreading out to feign an air of confidence.

"You know my name, Dengar," I said, lifting my cup to my lips again.

"You were the one who was protecting Senator Amidala," he continued, sitting across from me. I peered at him over the edge of my cup, my eyes dark. So he was keeping up this game of taunting...very well, then.

"I didn't invite you to sit," I growled.

"Did you know that Bane took a job on Coruscant?"

I didn't. But I didn't want anyone to think I cared, either. "Did you know I could shoot you dead, right now, and no one would actually care?"

Dengar laughed, leaning forward on the table to look at me. "You wouldn't though. We all know you're too soft." I debated about rising to the challenge, but chose to act uncaring instead. I lifted my eyebrow at him as I took another drink. "No one knows what job he took, but I bet he's going after the Senator." I doubted that.

"How fascinating."

"Yeah...if only you were there to protect her," he prodded, trying to get a rise out of me.

I kept my face placid. It was unlikely Bane was going after her...though I also wouldn't put it past him. "I'm no longer employed by the Senator of Naboo," I voiced calmly, taking another drink. "So she's no longer my concern."

Dengar smirked. "You know Bane, don't you?" I glowered at the bounty hunter. Of course I did. "He's probably trying to get back at you." He lifted his eyebrows, glancing at the kyr'bes symbol painted on my shoulder plate. "Considering your affiliation with Fett."

He was right. I kept my emotions in check, even though I felt a sense of dread. Though, there were thousands of jobs on Coruscant. Millions. What was the likelihood that he was after Padme? "And you're telling me this...why?"

"Don't you want to do something?"

I lifted my eyebrow at him. "I'm getting a strong urge to punch you in the face."

"Come on," Dengar tried, giving me his attempt of a charming smile. He reached across the table and plucked my cup from my hands, moving to take a drink. I scowled and stood abruptly, my fingers trapping his wrist in a vice grip as I pulled him down to the table. Standing above him, my pistol drawn and pressed to the back of his head, he wiggled awkwardly, his face on the table.

"I told you not to mess with her, Dengar," a female voice sounded, my eyes flicking up to see a Zabrak with purple hair and brown eyes.

"Sugi," I greeted, not releasing Dengar.

She sighed, crossing her arms and watching us as the man struggled beneath me to no avail. "Are you going to shoot him?"

"I might."

"I was just-"

"Shut up," Sugi and I both said, silencing him.

"As much as I hate to say it, he's paying me to drop him off somewhere for a job," Sugi sighed. "Unless you want to kill him and take his place, as per the code."

"What code are you following?" I asked with a scoff. "The code says not to kill another hunter."

Sugi shrugged, giving me a smile. "Then fuck the code."

I lifted my eyebrows before finally laughing, shoving Dengar off my table. "Buy me a new drink," I told him, since I spilled mine from his hand when I grabbed him. He seemed pissed off, but made his way towards the bar nonetheless. "Since when do you team up with someone like Dengar?" I asked, giving Sugi a lifted brow.

She rolled her eyes, standing with her hands on her hips as I returned to sitting. "I'm not. He's just paying me."

"What kind of hunter doesn't have his own ship?" I smiled at the Zabrak. She was one of the few bounty hunters I actually enjoyed the company of. While she claimed to disregard the code, she actually had a strict set of rules based on her own honor. She never betrayed a client and certainly never went back on a deal. She was also rather charming and enjoyed the company of Embo, much like I did.

"Embo sends his regards, by the way," she said gently, giving me a small smile. "Though he was sad to miss his bounty. He says you owe him."

"I saved his life," I argued playfully. "But next time I see him, I'll buy him a drink."

Sugi chuckled. "He'll like that. What brings you to Nal Hutta? A job?"

"A contact," I replied allusively. She took the hint. That was another reason I liked her. She didn't pry...too much. "Yourself?"

"A job."

"Where?"

"Felucia. Protecting some farmers from Hondo's prying fingers."

I rolled my eyes. I knew Hondo, as most hunters did. Backstabbing and selfish. Though he threw a good party. "Do you have a good team? He won't be easy to fend off."

Sugi smiled at me. "I'm picking up Embo on my way. I also have Rumi Paramita and Seripas."

"Seripas," I grinned thoughtfully. "I haven't seen him in some time." He was a good hunter-practically the personification of 'tiny people do big things.'

She hummed, changing the topic. "Will I be seeing you on Tatooine any time soon? I know a lot of us miss seeing you in the cantinas of Mos Eisley and Jabba's Palace."

"Soon, I'm sure. Jabba's bound to have something for me to do." I glanced around, knowing that my contact was likely not going to walk over if I was surrounded by bounty hunters. Sugi understood my look.

"Good luck with your contact," she said gently as Dengar brought over another drink. She took it from him and set it on my table. "I'll see you around, Kida."

I gave her a silent nod, casting Dengar a glare as they walked away. Trying to get myself to relax, I leaned back in the chair and sipped my drink, forcing out an air of 'uncaring.'

"Oracle?" This voice was slightly accented, belonging to a thin man whose back was slightly curled, likely from peering over books every day.

"Who's asking?" I replied, peering at him. I could feel his mind racing. He was intelligent. My scholar.

"My name is Veris Hydan. You requested my knowledge...and my discretion."

I smiled slowly. "This way, please." I stood, leaving my drink behind as I led him through the back of the saloon and into the private section I'd secured for the meeting.

"What is it you would like to know?" he asked gently as he entered the room, fidgeting his fingers.

"You seem nervous, Mister Hydan. Do bounty hunters frighten you?"

"Criminals frighten me."

"I assure you that I'm not a criminal," I said gently, but he gave me a look.

"Yes you are. You stole a jedi starfighter."

"I returned it," I joked, before crossing my arms casually. "But you did your research."

He seemed flattered, if only slightly. "It's my job."

I hummed, gesturing for him to sit across from me. "I understand that you specialize in the studies of jedi and sith."

"I do," he replied hesitantly. "But I don't believe I can assist you if you're targeting a jedi. I can't be a part of that. I'm partially funded by the Republic."

I smiled, trying to ease his mind. "I'm not, I assure you. My questions lie within the sith side of your knowledge."

"You'll be pleased to know that they no longer exist." His tone was curt. Final. Apparently he didn't like the topic very much.

"We all know that isn't true," I replied. "Considering the debacle on Naboo all those years ago, as well as the involvement of Dooku in the Clone Wars."

"Some believe Dooku is a good man."

"Perhaps he is, but his powers still lie within the dark side, as you well know."

Hydan resigned himself to that knowledge, nodding slowly. "What would you like to know? Are you trying to hunt what you call a sith?"

"No. What do you know of the species?"

"The species?" He seemed surprised, leaning forward slowly. "They're all but gone."

"Gone?"

"Well yes. They were an ancient race, originating on Korriban. But they've been hybridized with human DNA for centuries, to the point where some don't even hold the original Sith distinctions."

"Which were?" I pressed.

"Red skin, for one," he commented, thinking. "They also had red or yellow eyes and distinct facial appendages like bone spurs or facial beard tentacles."

Well I didn't have any of those. High cheekbones, maybe...but no bone spurs and certainly not red eyes or skin. "How did they breed with humans?"

Hydan thought for a moment. "After the Second Great Schism, where Dark Jedi rose to fight the Jedi order, the remaining Dark Jedi were banished to unknown space, where they eventually found Korriban. These Dark Jedi took over the Sith people and ruled them, thriving off of the natural dark side connection the natives had."

"Were they bad people?" I asked. Hydan seemed curious about my interest in the matter, but continued answering my questions for now.

"No, no I don't think so. They were rather primitive, though, while they existed purely. They were connected to the dark side, but rather sophisticated and advanced in thinking as well. Though they were often violent, warring and sacrificing to their gods. But they were powerful sorcerers."

"Sorcerers?" I asked. "You mean force-wielders?"

"Perhaps," he shrugged. "Some believe so. But they were believed to be capable of making a star go supernova. Do you know of a force-wielder being able to do that?" I shook my head, glancing at my hands. "What is your interest in this, girl?"

"I'm paying you to answer questions, not ask them."

"Perhaps," he responded speculatively. "But I could better answer your questions if I knew their purpose."

I wasn't going to comply so easily. "Please continue. What happened with the Dark Jedi?"

Hydan sighed, but continued. "The Dark Jedi, after years of ruling over the Sith, found ways to merge their DNA using the force and alchemic abilities of the natives. Over time, the profound distinctions of the Sith people began to fade. However, many half breeds still showed some of the physical distinctions, though those that had more Dark Jedi blood could look nearly human."

I nodded, but didn't speak, prodding for the scholar to keep talking.

"This new hybrid became known as Sith Purebloods, though to qualify as one, a person would have to show enough physical traits of a Sith to be identified visually. So, someone such as yourself wouldn't be deemed a Pureblood, though you may have Sith bloodlines."

"Someone like me?" I asked, feigning innocence.

"That is why you called me here, is it not?" he guessed, his mind churning. "You discovered you have Sith blood in your veins."

I said nothing, but I suppose that was answer enough.

"Does the Republic know? The jedi?"

"No," I lied smoothly. "Nor will they be finding out." My voice was dark as I regarded the scholar.

"I must know," he said, brushing my threat off easily as he leaned across the table. "Though you show no physical signs apart from high cheekbones and a strong physique, do you have the other signs?"

"Such as?"

"A connection to the Dark Side of the force?" I breathed slowly through my nose, regarding the scholar. "Perhaps this is why they call you Oracle? You can foresee events?"

"No," I answered curtly. "A connection to the force, yes. But I don't believe it is the dark side."

"You don't believe?"

I swallowed. "There is a balance in the force that is constantly tipping," I said finally. "It shifts between light and dark. One can't exist without the other. So I think people should stay in the middle."

"Do you have training in the force?"

"No."

The man hummed, likely cataloging my words for his notes later. "I wonder what class your relation stems from. Most likely slave."

"Slave?" I hissed through my teeth.

Hydan blanched. "I apologize," he struggled. "I didn't mean to imply…"

I rubbed my forehead tiredly, wishing I hadn't left my drink in the bar. "Why do you think my lineage was a slave?"

The man swallowed thickly. "It's the most likely. There was a significant amount of hybridization within the slave caste. Besides, if you were a descendant of the Massassi-or warriors-you would have physical attributes, most likely. They were rather distinct, not to mention they were far from the most intelligent breed of Sith." He stroked his chin. "Though, your lack of physical attributes could be due to a great deal of muddling through the years. If I could have a blood sample, I could-"

I held up my hand, tapping my wrist comm a few times until my blood sample from Vindi's notes was displayed. "Will this do?"

"Wonderful," he gasped, looking over the data with wide eyes. "You certainly have a lot of human DNA, but despite all the muddling, you seem to be a miracle of nature."

"What do you mean?"

"Well your bloodline, despite all the human exchanges, managed to hit luck of heavy presence of Sith DNA every time. It's almost unbelievable that you don't have any physical traits, the Sith presence is so large."

I breathed slowly, regarding him. "You said that you could tell my class?"

"Race, more likely," he said dismissively as he read my test. My look of confusion caused him to stop for a moment to explain. "The Sith often determined caste by race. The Massassi, which I already mentioned, was one of them. There was also the Zuguruk, or the engineers, as well as-" He stopped, his eyes widening. "The priest class. Kassai."

"What does that mean?"

"Well they were incredibly intelligent, but also ruthless. They were impeccable in their knowledge of the force," he added, gazing at me. "Though their studies wouldn't have passed down to you, perhaps their spectacular connection to the force and the mystic arts did."

"Is there anything I should be concerned about?" I asked finally, sighing lowly.

The scholar shrugged, his interest likely shifting to the potential of studying me. Of course, that would never happen. "Perhaps an inclination to the dark side? And potential retribution from the jedi."

"I've done nothing to deserve that." Aside from the stolen jedi starfighter. But I wasn't lying when I'd said I returned it. I did. About 3 weeks after I stole it.

"Perhaps not," Hydan admitted. "But the dark army that once opposed the jedi in their great war consisted heavily of those with Sith bloodlines. They have reason to be suspicious, especially considering those that remain of the Sith civilization have all but disappeared."

I hummed, nodding slowly. "How would one like me have occured?"

He shrugged. "Time. Dark Jedi merging DNA with Sith...then that hybrid merging with another human. And so forth." The scholar fell silent as he regarded me. "If you would allow me to run some tests, I could better-"

I deactivated my wrist comm, silencing the man as I stood. "Is there anything else I should be aware of?"

Hydan watched me with icy blue eyes. "None that I can tell you without tests."

My fingers drew forth unmarked credits. "For your trouble." I drew out another handful. "And for your silence." He accepted the credits, watching me as I turned abruptly to exit.

"Be careful, Oracle," he called after me. "There are many who, should they learn your lineage, would pay much to hunt you down. There is still much distrust towards anyone affiliated with the word 'sith.'"

I looked over my shoulder at him. "Is that a threat?"

"A warning," he assured. "I'm a scholar, not a fool. I know when one is not to be trifled with."

Despite the grim subject, a small smile curved the corner of my lips. "Wise man." I left the private room and strode straight out of the saloon. The scholar's words had rattled me, despite the fact that knowing was a settling notion. I tried to tell myself that knowing my biology made me no different. As Jango always said, Gar taldin ni jaonyc; gar sa buir, ori'wadaas'la.

Still, my nerves were aflame with doubt and worry as I crossed the mossy grounds of Nal Hutta towards my ship. Despite my greatest effort, I felt like things had changed.

MANDO'A

Gar taldin ni jaonyc; gar sa buir, ori'wadaas'la - nobody cares who your father was; only the father you'll be (bloodline doesn't matter; what you do in life matters)