Cal had cut himself off from the Force before, but this was certainly the first time he truly wished to do it intentionally. A ferocious wind whipped at the Imperial banners that lined the gloomy street and as they swayed, he clenched his teeth tightly as another barrage of fear-anger-hatred crashed against his mental shields. That is one horrid sensation. Cal took a deep breath and threw up another wall, strengthening his shields – a rough patch-up job, to be sure, but a needed one.

This should have been an easy infiltration – get in, secure the data, leave, and show the galaxy that the Empire was not invulnerable – but nobody had predicted Senator Sejan's obsessive insistence on meeting the "captured" Cal only after sedating him heavily and so, here Cal was, on plan C, or perhaps D – he'd lost count. The Pau'un senator stood at the entrance of his yacht, peering out at the deserted alley, scanning back and forth until his eyes landed on Cal. Cal knew, surely, that the senator could not recognize him now – his hair was dyed black, buzzed short on the sides, and the center slicked back in typical new Coruscanti style. He had also exchanged his long-favored poncho for a slender grey suit with a crimson lapel that matched the color of the street lamps – why Bravo had that on hand, he'd never know. He straightened his back and, letting his hands rest lightly at his sides, he donned a serene mask as he walked towards the senator. Perhaps if a lightsaber and blasters could not do the trick, a sharper weapon would.

"Senator Sejan! Thank you for agreeing to meet with me on such short notice."

The Pau'un nodded gently. "Attaché Gashic, was it?"

Cal smiled and bowed low, right arm crossed in front of his body.

Sejan hummed approvingly under his breath. "A light Coruscanti accent, dressed as a senatorial aide, and yet educated enough to know customs from the Outer Rim – the Banking Clan chose well with their representative today."

Cal bowed again, deeper this time, pressing both hands to his heart. The senator laughed and, sweeping his arm towards the door behind him, nodded at Cal.

"After you, Attaché."

Cal entered the ship slowly, squinting his eyes at the sudden barrage of lights. The fluorescent overheads reflected sharply on the platinum inlays and Cal forced himself to drop his jaw in amazement.

The senator smiled. "Stunning, isn't it?"

Cal nodded quickly, eyes flickering around the room. Surprisingly, it was empty except for a droid idling in the corner, polishing the walls. That made life easier.

Sejan continued forward, through a passage on the left-hand side of the room, waving Cal onwards. "I would invite you for drinks, as is customary – as you seem to know – but a visit this late at night, this urgent, surely calls for more haste, doesn't it? You would not want to keep Vice Chairman Anolo waiting – if his punishments are as legendary as I have heard."

Cal followed diligently until they reached a small room with a hologram desk and a map projector. As Cal sat, Sejan pressed a small button under the table and the door behind them slammed shut before locking with a loud hiss. The Pau'un turned with a smirk and, leaning back in his chair, he pulled out a small box from under the desk. The black case popped open in his hands to reveal a small hammer and pliers alongside a saw, all dyed red. Sejan picked up the hammer and put it on the table in front of Cal.

"These are dangerous times, Attaché Gashic, as you well know. One can never be too careful." He paused, stroking the bottom of his chin. Then, sighing, he fanned his hands outwards. "Let's just say that those that waste my time and risk my safety get… put to question. I would hate for you to better understand what I mean."

Cal nodded nonchalantly before slowly picking up the hammer. A wave of anguish-pain-misery threw itself at his shields. Torturous screams. A Rodian in black armor staring at their right hand, two fingers crushed against the table. Streams of blood. The laughter of a Pau'un as he lifts the hammer to strike a young Twi'lek's leg, already bent and bruised, for a second time. The memories tore at his mind, wailing against the light of his shields. Gritting his teeth, Cal let out a deep breath.

What do we do with anger, Kestis?

Putting the hammer down gently, Cal looked inwards – The Mantis, Cere, Merrin – and let out a small wave of friendship-happiness to soothe the barrage. Slowly, he looked up at the senator, relaxed in his chair, and forced himself into the calmest, most subservient smile he knew – one perfected for guild bosses on Bracca and condescending Jedi Masters.

"Senator Sejan, I promise that the Banking Clan means only to put forth an offer today, one which we consider most beneficial to ourselves and, of course, to you."

The senator raised an eyelid and Cal continued calmly, measuring every word.

"We have been looking into trade routes to the outer reaches of the Empire. As you know, the Hutts currently monopolize that industry, and, frankly, no good-standing citizen of the Empire should ever have to deal with those slavers."

Sejan smiled widely. "Well, of course."

"And it would be a waste to have all that money pooling in the accounts of bounty hunters, smugglers, and spicers."

"It would…" the senator paused before nodding slowly, "I understand why you came to me. A loyal senator from the Outer Rim, well-connected to the emperor. Something to slip into conversation, a piece of propaganda here, a bit of support there, and I'd get the credit."

Cal forced out a boisterous laugh. "You said it yourself – who better than the most loyal senator from the Outer Rim to usher in a new age of prosperity for your galactic sector? Low tariffs, plentiful trade, open job markets, you name it."

The senator waved him on.

"What the Banking Clan would ask, in return, would be pittance, really – just the means to do the best thing for the largest amount of people."

They shared a quick grin and Cal leaned in.

"Senator Sejan, all we need, are the maps of the Empire's expansion to the Outer Rim."

The senator froze, turning slowly towards Cal, black eyes peering directly into Cal's own. He smiled widely as he slid a hand under the desk. "I have no idea what you are talking about, Attaché Gashic. Maps? Of the Empire's expansion? How would I have such a thing?"

Cal shook his head gently. "Senator, surely you see the necessity of this? As much as the Banking Clan knows, the Hutts have held much of the Outer Rim for so long that only through the Empire's resources, mainly intelligence, will this rotation of power, a coup, so to speak, occur. And that begins with knowing the Empire's current routes into the Outer Rim – into Hutt territory."

The Pau'un frowned, pausing a moment. "My apologies, attaché, I only wish I had the resources on hand to aid you in this, but I'm afraid that they are not available to me. However, once the Banking Clan, the Imperial Senate, and I have struck an agreement, I'm sure that this will be made accessible."

"I understand." Cal shut his eyes momentarily, letting his head drop forward and his back slouch against the chair. He could feel the senator watching him, a grey tendril snaking in his direction in the force, and he forced himself to stay down until the senator lifted his gaze. As Sejan moved away, Cal got up to his feet slowly. The senator turned back around, now holding a transparent bottle with crimson-colored liquid. Cal watched as the Pau'un poured himself a glass and smirked – perhaps it was time for something stronger, as Sejan was implying.

"Senator. Let us speak openly."

The Pau'un spun, glass in hand. "Have we not already?"

Cal forced out another chuckle. "Indeed, indeed." He paused. "We both know that this endeavor is not as simple as it appears. The emperor would be displeased to have a fault within his domain come to the forefront at something so trivial as a Senate meeting. As has always been true, the easiest route to a solution is… around the official path."

The senator sipped his drink slowly, the liquid staining his lips red. Then, putting the glass down, Sejan looked at Cal. "Going around the official avenues, outside of the emperor's view, to do trade deals on behalf of the Empire supposedly, in the Outer Rim. This is sounding rather like treason." Picking up the hammer and pliers from the table, the senator continued, "And you know what must be done with traitors."

Cal breathed in quickly, imperceptibly, and then let it out gently, pushing the fear-stress into the dark miasma that surrounded his shields, adding to the ever-present whirlwind. Then, clenching one fist behind his back, Cal spoke.

"Senator Sejan, perhaps I was not direct enough for you. I was guided in your direction by a particular friend of ours that asked that this agreement not ever reach the floors of the Senate."

The Pau'un shook his head. "Coercion or blackmail? I cannot even tell what your paltry efforts at convincing me are meant to be, Attaché Gashic." He spun the hammer in his hands. "Careful."

Cal turned away from the senator, heading towards the locked door slowly. Then, pausing, he looked over his shoulder. "The emperor will surely be displeased to be informed of your reluctance to help in the expansion and strengthening of his great empire, senator. Or, rather, soon to be former senator."

The hammer hit the table with a thud. Instantly, Sejan was on his feet, pushing his chair back with a screech. "The emperor?"

Cal nodded, his back still towards the senator. Sejan froze just a step behind him, hovering out of reach.

"Why would the emperor need my data?"

So he does have the expansion maps.

"It's an ISB matter – standard procedure. Each version is watermarked slightly differently, you see. There is a leak high up in the Banking Clan and, if you had simply decided to follow the path laid out for you, not only would this have helped solve that, but you may have additionally been able to still take credit for strengthening the Empire's position of the Outer Rim. Too late for that, unfortunately."

The Pau'un scrambled forward, laying a hand on Cal's shoulder, pulling him back into the center of the room. "Of course, if I had known… who would not have… for the emperor… yes, the maps, here, here, the maps." Then, stumbling back, the senator hit a button beneath his desk and a small datadisk slid out of a corner of the projector.

"Here, have them, please."

Cal turned back slowly and plucked the datadisk out of Senator Sejan's hands. "Thank you, senator. I will inform the emperor of your willingness to serve." As the senator nodded, half-bowing, Cal spun towards the closed door, and, with the swipe of a hand, it sprung open.

"Until we meet again, senator."

The door thudded shut behind him and Cal quickly made his way through the yacht. As he stepped outside, the wind howled by him, pushing him towards the street lights. Shaking his head, he quickly made his way to the blinking blue beacon hidden behind a small sign.

"You there, BD?"

The small droid came running towards him, stopping as Cal patted it on the head.

"Thanks, buddy. Got the maps!"

He slid the datadisk from his hand into a small slot at the back of BD's head. The droid chirped enthusiastically.

"Yes, yes, I know, I need to get another haircut after this, it's awful this way and I –," He clenched his teeth, repelling another wave of misery-fear-anguish.

"Let's get away from this blasted place, BD. Bode'll be waiting back at the Mantis – the Rebellion's waiting."