Here, have this.

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Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars.

35 BBY or 965 ARR (Two years before Yinchorr)

"Enjoying the party." Komari said in a quiet and comforting voice as she leaned over and wrapped her arm around my waist. Then she whispered, "If you have a glass then they won't notice your nervousness as much. So drink and relax. You look far too tense. Just not too much, you are quite the lightweight." She held out a glass of some fancy wine to me.

I rolled my eyes as I took it, mimicking the way Komari had held it. I took a drink. It had a very fruity jogan fruit flavor. The warm liquid did make me feel less nervous. I knew it would help, but I was never much of a drinker in both lives.

"Mmm," I took another. The music also seemed to add a comfortable ambiance. They had done mostly instrumentals to this point, but a zeltron lounge singer had taken to the stage and was singing a soft melody.

"Easy for you to say," I retorted. "Parties like these are your department."

Komari smirked and took a sip from her own drink. "Well, then stand there, look absolutely gorgeous, and let me do the talking." She held out an elbow and I snaked my arm through it. I couldn't have looked that good. Komari had me in a dark purple dress that showed way too much skin. You could see my ankles and neck, and I felt naked without my veil. My hair was done up in an asymmetrical style. It was embarrassing.

Of course I was a native born Mirialan so showing any amount of skin was a good way to get a sandburn. In contrast to my apparent awkwardness, Komari was a beacon of radiance. Her red dress was low cut, and hugged her frame in a way that drew many looks. I must have looked so plain in comparison.

"Okay got it. Now where is our target?" I covered my nervousness by getting down to business and trying to look over the crowd. I took another drink while I did so. Sometimes, I miss being 6'3" like in my old life. In this one I was barely 5'8" so the only way that I felt tall anymore was when the Grandmaster was in the room. Regardless, Komari nodded in a direction.

"Not as of yet, but it seems he is preparing for a speech." Komari indicated with a subtle sweep in the indicated direction. We passed an Enchani woman in a white dress, her insanely pale skin and white hair made her easy to pick out. She had an equally pale Enchani man holding her effects dressed in some sort of skintight bodysuit that showed off his physique. He had a choker that indicated he was all but enslaved much like many of their men were. She carried herself like a warrior and most likely was considering their culture. She eyed Komari's body devilishly as we passed. I glared, but she gave me a "What would you do about it?" look. Komari sensed my protective instinct.

"She has no idea what she would be in for if she tangled with you, my little Krayt Dragon." Komari's lip turned up into a smile.

"Little," I found myself scoffing.

"Don't worry, your height makes you… endearing." She winked, and I couldn't help but blush. Komari chuckled.

I decided to focus on the mission. The fact that I and even that enchani chick were allowed at this party was already strange.

"Is he going to address the aklay in the room?"

"I don't know. It seems to be what this party is about from what I could gather." Komari took another sip as she subtly scanned the room.

Our host, a Coruscant native went by the name of Den Al'thor. Other than being a quirky philanthropist, Den was not vocal about his views in public. He was an average sized human with a mop of brown hair lathered in pomade with a lighter skin tone, just shy of the pale most of the Coruscant elite boasted. He had a pencil thin mustache and dashing smile.

The band had just ended their song and the lead vocalist stepped back. Den took her hand and thanked her for coming. The Vocalist smiled and nodded before she exited stage. He stood before the mic. He cleared his throat and spoke.

"Hello again. I would like to thank you all for coming. I am sure that many of you have no doubt seen some new faces." Some looked around seeing the Zeltrons, Pantorans, and Mirialans like myself present. "I invited them here because they share the same outlook many of us do." He said slyly and continued. "So I will get straight to the point, I stumbled on an interesting paper the other day. He held up a datapad and read off the title. "The Human Race… I can already see the sneers, but I took the time to read it fully as even I was skeptical. The more I did so the more it revealed to me a truth. It revealed a disadvantage we have been blind to. Whoever authored this clearly saw it and wanted it to be discussed. That the idea of Near-Human, specifically regarding our species offshoots and sub-species should not apply. That we should embrace our distant brethren. For they highlight one of our species greatest strengths. Adaptability. They show us our species can conquer any obstacle and thrive."

He let his words sink in a moment. "Now for the real revelation. This paper points out that those who originally classified our offshoots in fact did so to divide our race. Not taking this paper at face value I did my own research. I did indeed find the authors of the nomenclature were setting to divide our species and its offshoots from the start. Because my friends, Human's make up more than half the population of the known galaxy." Again he paused for effect. "Now add in our subspecies." He said with a grin.

A voice called out from the crowd. It was an older dark-skinned man, with gray hair with some young tan-skinned human woman on his arm.

"Were not those distinctions made by some of the earlier supporters of our cause." The man said.

He seemed skeptical. I could see he was not purposely looking at the Near-humans present due to his own preconceptions. It felt like an act of sorts.

"Yes, Mister Hahgan," there seemed to be a hushed whisper at the name. "That is a good point, and I believe those distinctions were made in error. The text describes those that did make the distinction at the time and failed to recognize the origins of many. Considering various first contacts, much history of how they were transported to their worlds had transformed into myth and was intertwined in religion and folk tales. Whether it was Rakata interference or a colony ship of the pre-hyperspace Zhell." Den said, trying to assuage doubts.

The old man nodded, "Perhaps I am just too old and stubborn. However I would be remiss in dismissing the advantage this gives us." Den smiled. A look passed between them. I think this Hahgan fellow was a pre-planted doubter considering how easy he acquiesced. Komari's eyes widened in surprise, when she took a closer look at the old man. She leaned over and whispered.

"That is Torren Hahgan. One of the biggest hardliners of the Humanocentric movement. Not to mention a big name on his home planet of Eriadu." I looked at Torren again.

"Really, it did seem like he was playing the skeptic purposely." I gave Hahgen another look. He did seem pleased with himself. He could tell many in the room were taking his change of heart seriously.

"If he is on Den's side, this little change in humanocentric doctrine is all but a done deal. That or Den is on his side. It is possible he had Den throw this little party together," Komari seemed worried. I mean this was a big cause for concern. This small change could make the Empire stronger down the line. If it ever formed in the first place. The Empire could pretend it was still Alien friendly and not have to actually recruit true aliens. This wasn't good as near human recruits were the backbone of the Rebel Alliance.

"Do you know who wrote the paper Den mentioned?" I couldn't help but take another sip.

Komari shook her head and whispered. "It was published anonymously on the holonet, around ten years ago. Dooku thought the author had sought to divide the humanocentric community and it did… at first. It nearly fractured, but it held on barely. We thought it would be years before they bounced back."

"It does seem to have had the opposite effect… or possibly the intended." I took another sip. This stuff was good. Komari nodded.

"Ah, Ms. Alison Gunn was it?" A feminine voice drew our attention. I had picked the names for our aliases and couldn't help myself. The ol' Mass Effect fan I was. I was surprised I remembered anything at all outside Star Wars. I figured I might as well grasp at the memory while I could for the fun of it.

The woman in question was standing there with an amused, yet impatient expression on her face. I looked at Komari to see a dark-haired woman with piercing green eyes approach. She wore a bright blue dress that highlighted her dark skin. She was in her early thirties. She looked like a mere trophy wife, but her eyes were calculated.

"You have me at a disadvantage, Miss…" Komari said casually while offering a hand.

"Mrs. Al'thor," she said proudly as she lightly shook Komari's hand.

"Ah, a pleasure to meet you. Your husband's speech was very inspiring." Komari said.

"I see you have taken to my husband's point of view rather swiftly." She looked down at me with a forced smile. "Miss…"

I offered my own hand and responded. "G-Goto." I added a fake stutter. Well it wasn't really all that fake, but I rolled with it.

"Charmed, I hope you are enjoying the party." She smiled and took my hand as well. It felt like she didn't quite agree with her husband, but supported him nonetheless. That was the vibe I got. I couldn't gather which direction she didn't agree with him on was the issue. Still there was a hint of intrigue in her eyes. I took a drink in front of her. I hoped it would sell my cover and the drink was good. Really good. I should have another after this one.

"So what is it you wished to talk to me about. I am not one for discussing business at an event such as this." Komari said as she deftly grabbed another glass of wine from a passing waiter's tray and took a sip.

"For someone as young as you, that is a surprise. Most young associates of Den's like to get a foot in the door at these events. To be honest, I find it tiresome as well. However, I am told you are quite the procurer of various armaments." Mrs. Al'thor said.

"Nothing ruins the mood by discussing business while enjoying a good vintage." Komari said. The way she said implied she got the line for Dooku.

"Of course, but sometimes, allowances must be made." Komari led me as she followed behind the Party hostess. She stopped and offered various greetings to guests. Even that Haghan guy. Up close he wasn't as old as he looked, perhaps mid-fifties with graying hair. His Dark skin hadn't quite started to wrinkle yet. Then again, he seemed rich enough to afford the skin treatments in the Core Worlds.

We eventually ended up in a finely furnished back room. Mrs. Al'thor sat down primly at a table made of some wood that probably came from exotic locale in the outer rim.

"Your associate should go back to the party." There was an undertone of annoyance in her aura. Komari didn't react at all.

"She brokered much of the deal through the discrete channels we worked with. She stays." Komari pulled out a chair for me for effect and I sat down. Thanking her with a smile.

Miss Al'thor nodded, hiding her agitation rolling off her, but she hid it outwardly well enough. So she was more of a hardliner than her Husband then if my senses were anything to go by.

"Very good, now we have one more to wait on." It was then our target entered. She was a tanned skinned woman. She wore a black and red dress that had a large flower on the hip. Funnily enough it reminded me of the Vera Keyes dress from the Sierra Madre in Fallout New Vegas. Still can't believe I remember that game after all these years. She looked absolutely stunning with her hair tied back, with some sort of flower in her hair.

However it was her cybernetic eye that stood out. It was a very expensive one that just looked fake enough for someone to catch that it was fake despite mirroring her organic eye in its soft hazel color.

She was our target. She was wanted in connection to a murder of an official on Alderaan. We were sent to track down and bring her in.

"Ms. Loren, this is Ms. Gunn and her second, Ms. Goto." I sensed a faint recognition from Loren at the mention of our assumed names. This set me on edge and I took another sip. This stuff was getting to my head as I felt all sorts of fluttery vibes. Dammit, don't go overboard. I thought to my self.

"Pleasure," Loren said and sat down.

"Now Ms. Loren, I heard you and your little group were in need of weapons. Ms. Gunn here is an arms dealer. I wanted to introduce you both." Loren nodded.

There I saw the look in her eyes, they seemed to widen a bit at the arms dealer reference. "Oh, you really can work miracles, Cal." Damn was she like me. Or was I seeing things. I took another drink to cover any facial tells. I wonder if she would recognize me. Then again, the tattoos on my face might throw her off, and I wasn't wearing the veil so I hoped I was safe. Komari was an obscure character as well, so our covers still might be safe.

"Just doing my part." Mrs. Al'thor said. "Now do you have the manifest of what you need?" Loren nodded and Miss Al'thor nodded. Our Hostess got up and left.
"I must tend to my guests."

Loren pulled out a datapad after Al'thor left. She slid it across the table to Komari. Komari deftly snatched it up and read it. She nodded before handing it over to me. I perused the list. It was your standard fair. Some Blastech rifles and pistols. Even a few Sorosuub force pikes. What really threw me off was the RPGs and explosives. It was enough for a small outfit. That and all of these particular models were some of the cheaper variants.

I handed it back to Komari. I gave her a nod. "Looks like you want to outfit an small army?" Komari said. I took the datapad again and looked through the list.

"A private security force." Loran corrected.

"B-bit on the cheapside." I commented with a fake stutter once again. I leaned into my nervousness, still looking at the pad. I looked at Komari nervously who nodded, and back to Loren quickly adding,

"W-what I mean is we could get you some b-better rifles if you wanted. P-Private Security generally likes to show off their professionalism through their armaments." These rifles were too basic for contractors.

Loran chuckled, "Well, we all gotta start somewhere. Especially after the minor shake up we just had in the outer rim." I wondered what the hell they could be talking about. The only thing I heard of any note going in the Outer Rim was the Techno union buying Salucimai. The Mandolorians were causing a ruckus, but that sounded like some sort of war game Jango was holding between clans in their space. That was about it, so this had to be a personal affair.

"Well, we can get these blasters rather easily. Question is? You have the creds?" Komari said.

"You deal in republic creds," Loran's voice was laced with skepticism.

"Of C-course we do." I said, "N-nothing-" Komari cut me off.

"What my second is trying to say is that dealing in hutt druggats is all well and great, but creds have their uses. Dealing in foreign currency is a fine way to draw attention. There's a time and place for Hutt money, but in the Core, do as the Core Worlders do." Komari smiled that infamous disarming smile.

Loran looked at Komari with a hint of recognition, and thought for a moment. I could sense that she knew Komari was right, but there was something else on the strange Merc's mind. Eventually, she nodded, "There is wisdom in that, we would want the weapons to be untraceable."

Komari rolled her eyes and shook her head in a matter that said "obviously." Loren blushed slightly in embarrassment. It was a stupid question.

Komari then threw her a bone. "It is always important to ensure such things are worked into the finer details. Now I am not one to pry, but why go through all the trouble to hire us. We are small. So why not go to the Core to buy weapons you could easily find in the outer rim?"

"Simply put, to avoid stings. And it never hurts to attend one of Cal's parties. Especially watching the Movement get its poodoo back together." Komari nodded. Loren was a believer or was pretending to be in order to fit in at this party.

Komari shrugged, "This business is always a risk. We will get what you need. Now is there any other business you need."

"Nothing that can be discussed in future after we ensure you are not all talk." Loren said.

"Understandable," Komari chuckled dangerously. "Am I dealing with a group of idiots?" Loren looked taken aback.

"I-" Komari cut Loren off.

"You aren't after guns, you are after a patsy. I don't know why you need this shit, but damn are you going about this all wrong. Gun running is an art and all this" Komari gestured around her at the party and then held up the datapad. "is completely unnecessary. What are you really after? Are you some sort of cop? Because only they could be this obviously stupid. Don't get me started on the basic bantha fodder you want us to risk our lives for."

Loren grew a backbone. "I was taking an invitation from a friend and if I knew you were so insecure about running some cheap blasters then maybe you really are small time." Komari to her credit sputtered. Loren had given them an angle through an "insecurity" to play on. Komari relaxed a bit and played on Loren's preconception. She was good at this.

"Fine, We'll run your damn guns. Hardly worth the trouble." Komari took a drink. She leaned back. "To be fair, with all this pangantry, and flair, we expected a big job. I thought we were going to be getting paid to move disruptors or something just as exciting. So we just let go of that outburst and begin again properly." The false admission seemed to appease Loren and she relaxed until that last sentence was uttered and nearly spit out her drink. Komari said the last part so innocuously, but to Loren was a damn signal flare.

That clearly set off bells in the woman's mind, I could sense it. She looked at Komari with new eyes. Do doubt trying to see if Komari would give off any more hints. If the dress from my favorite game and the recognition at one of the game's biggest mottos "Let Go, Begin Again," was any indicator, then I may be dealing with another person like me. Had I finally put a face to the Butterfly?

I had no idea what to do. I couldn't help but gawk when she wasn't looking. Half of me wanted to reach out and say hey, this is pretty crazy isn't it? The other half was more pragmatic. I gave nothing away for now.

Komari seemed too obvious to what she just said and how she said it. She hit a button calling for more drinks. Mine was getting rather low. I took another sip as Loran swept her gaze my way. I pretended to lose myself in the wine's flavor which wasn't hard to do. I wouldn't be able to stand if I kept this up.

"Well, I didn't expect to have the deal go down here of all places, but Cal tends to like finding the time to broker deals on the side when she can."

I decided to pry. "Sh- She p-part of your outfit?"

"No, just an acquaintance we met along the way." Loran continued to look at Komari with an odd sense. However, I refused to prod further. Loran if she was like me, would have no doubt trained in force mind blocking technique and would pick up on the action.

"I know better than to prod in a client's affairs, but I can't help but assuage my curiosity somewhat. What exactly do you do?"

"Prepare for our war torn future of course." Loren took a drink of her own glass. That was cryptic. There was a knowing smile under her glass before she set it down. Komari being the phenomenal actress she was, smiled back mirroring Loren's.

"Sounds good for business." Komari held up her glass, "To our wartorn future then." I raised mine as well. Loren raised up hers.

"I will send you the drop location. Though perhaps we could meet to discuss more specific details later." Loren said with a knowing purr.

Komari smiled in kind, "I would like that." Though her smile was that of a predator knowing its quarry would come to them rather than the other way around. I would have been jealous if I hadn't known it was an act. Komari was almost too good at this. Loren picked up on my jealous look and gave me a smirk that made me want to reenact Plagueis' first kill where he choked some banker at a dinner table.

I noticed a shimmer in her eye. It was cybernetic. A well hidden one. She must be recording this for later. Hopefully our covers were solid enough to be maintained long enough for an arrest to go through. If the Murder in question hadn't been a senator's aid then the Jedi would never have been involved.


We arrived a day early for Komari and Loren's "unofficial meeting". We scouted out the location and decided to get a read on the location where we would meet. I was not in a good mood. Nothing was going to happen, I knew I was being overly concerned, but this irrational sensation was nagging at the back of my mind. Was I jealous? No, why would I be jealous of a murderer hitting on my girlfriend.

Well, possible murderer. Loren was wanted in connection to the murder. It didn't mean she had done it. Still, I am sure the authorities would find something to pin on her. Perhaps Solicitation. I was perched on a rooftop watching the whole as the Komari approached the door of what amounted to a spaceport motel. It was well maintained, but not so much to stand out really. I swear this was a setup. They had to know we were some kind of law enforcement.

If Loren was who I thought she was, then It had to be a given. I couldn't discount the possibility that I was just seeing what I wanted to see. If I were dropped into the body of a non-force sensitive, how likely would it really be that I would go out of my way to capture a Jedi and for what purpose?

I saw Loren casually walking along the sidewalk toward the door. Komari had walked back a bit and timed her arrival to coincide with Loren's arrival.

"Oh, fancy that," Komari moved in close to Loren. Loren for her part was not at all unnerved. I could sense her excitement from here. She was no longer in the fancy dress, instead wearing what looked like a… really? The wasteland charmer outfit. It wasn't the same color, but the black skirt and leggings, and the shiny blue coat were a dead giveaway. Almost like she was trying to signal to others like ourselves. Then again if she thought Komari was another reincarnate…

"It seems our meeting her was fate." Loren moved in closer. Komari leaned down and kissed her. Komari was thoughtful enough to warn me that she might have to catch the target off guard. I expected something like this, but did she have to kiss Loren so hard? I shook my head.

The door of the motel hissed as it slid open and they practically fell inside. It slid shut and after a moment, I felt it, a hollow but brief void of life. The loss of life. What the hell. It had to be Loren, Komari's death would have been a whole lot more… loud. It wasn't long before I was commed.

"Ah, Kark! Lumi got in here." I raced to the back of the motel and Jumped through the bathroom window. I saw Komari standing over the bed. She was shaking her head. She looked at me. There was an annoyed look that masked a more concerned one as I entered.

"She just fell over after I started to question her." I walked over to the corpse. I noted the fake she sported seemed to have a blemish inside of it. I looked closer and sure enough, it was blackened on the inside.

"Some sort of ocular explosive. Did she say anything before… you know."

"She was going to. Her mind shields were all but down once I kissed her. She was going to answer me when." I looked at the woman once again. The woman who was no doubt like me. What kind of asshole would rig an eye of their fellow like this? One that didn't want the Jedi finding out what they were after.

I took a deep breath and dug my finders into the dead woman's eye socket.

"Woah, what are you doing?!" Komari shouted.

"I need to be sure." I ripped out what remained of the eye with a sickening crack. Its casing was still intact, but its small explosive didn't need to be a large one, especially inside the skull. I pulled it apart carefully. Sure enough. Inside was a blackened and fractured kyber crystal. I noticed a broken comm unlink. What really stuck out was the etched butterfly in the prosthetic eye's outer casing. Half of it was shaved off, but enough remained to identify it. They were watching and sacrificed their own when they found out the Jedi were on to them. Did Loren even know this was planted in her eye?

I held up the bloody and blackened eye prosthetic for Komari to see.

She shook her head. "She was the only lead on the Alderaan case and now this. Just who are these karkers?"

I knew exactly what they were, and now I could confirm that there was more than one. My biggest fear was that they now assumed Komari was one of them as well. Then again they might reach out to her in the future if they didn't simply attempt to kill her. I had more than I started with, yet still not enough to find a lead. Loren couldn't be a ghost in the system. No, there had to be more trials to follow. They would go to ground again. They always did. Still, they would trip up at some point and I would be there to take them down.