Kaliyo stretched and moaned and climbed out of bed. She'd picked up a new scar on Balmorra and examined it in a mirror. Not bad, but she'd had more impressive scars. Cipher Nine preferred stealth. Boring, but it kept them alive. And robbed her of the really cool scars. She shrugged and left her cabin. She didn't bother dressing. She always slept naked and lately had been walking around the ship naked. Ever since the shower on Balmorra. Cipher Nine had been hiding a damn fine ass, and Kaliyo wanted to tap it. No luck so far, but they had just landed on Nar Shaddaa, where anything could happen.

As usual, Cipher Nine was already up and training. Kaliyo could hear the agent's fists pounding against the training dummy. She reached the galley, grabbed a food pack and some water, turned around, and nearly jumped. The assassin stood in front of her with that odd smile on her face.

"Kaliyo," she said. "I hope you're well."

"I'm... I'm great. Thanks."

"Wonderful." She looked Kaliyo over. "Do you always walk around like this?"

"I'm trying to get into the Agent's pants."

"Really?" the assassin said. She closed her eyes and laughed a little. "You'll succeed before you leave Nar Shaddaa."

"Cool," Kaliyo said. "Don't tell Agent?"

"Of course not. Speaking of, how was that Zabrak I sent you?"

"She had skills," Kaliyo said. "I was sore for two days."

"Excellent."

"You know," Kaliyo said. "There's room for more."

The assassin got an odd look and moved close to Kaliyo, putting her hands on the Rattataki's hips. "Are you sure that's what you want from me?" she said in a low voice.

"On second thought," Kaliyo said. "I'm going to get dressed."

Kaliyo left for her cabin, and the assassin heard Cipher Nine groan from the corridor. "In here," the assassin said.

"Oh," the agent said, walking into the galley. "That explains why Kaliyo was running. Did she try to sleep with you too?"

"Yes, but she changed her mind. Now then, your message said you finished the code?"

"I did," the agent replied. She took a data card from a hidden recess in her boot. "I worked through the security subroutines and asked a cybernetics engineer to look at the rest. He wasn't happy until he saw the code, then he said you definitely needed his help. The requirements for the camera are very complex, but he outlined them carefully."

"Very good," the assassin said and hid the card in her belt. "Now I just need a good mask."

"Mask?" Kaliyo asked. She returned to the galley dressed with her rifle on her back.

"Do you really want to know?" the assassin asked.

"Not really," Kaliyo said.

The assassin smiled and said, "Cipher Nine, thank you for the help. Kaliyo." She looked Kaliyo up and down. "You do look good naked. Ta ta." She left as silently as she'd arrived.

Kaliyo said, "Never heard anyone make that sound scary before. Anyway, let's meet this Watcher guy."

"Step inside," Watcher X said, his back to the door. Mistake? No, he's cybernetic. He's watching them covertly. "Scan the apartment for the important things," he continued. First Year Academy instruction. He was trying to distract her. "Overt threats, escape routes, access terminals." He must be watching her, seeing if she would take the bait. She did all of this when she first entered. He wanted to see if she would repeat the scan. "Take your time. Now look again. Scan for concealed weapons. Hiding places. Anything innocent is probably a bug; anything you don't recognize should be analyzed later. Play the game- I can wait." Rote instruction. A ritual? Was he trying to maintain his sanity or give the appearance of it?

"Watcher X?" Cipher Nine said.

"Yes," he said. "Formerly Watcher Five. Formerly Minder Eight. Not that you're authorized to know it. You're a Cipher agent. Specializations in disguise, seduction, infiltration, assassination." He turned around. "You're brave to come to Shadow Town. This could be your future- a bomb in your head, trapped here like a criminal."

"But not yet," she replied. "Until then, we have business."

"Of course," he replied with an empty smile. "Watcher Two- my 'sister' in the eugenics program- told me what you need. The Eagle's terrorists are on the verge of acquiring mass quantities of a new genetic modification serum: Cyclone. They plan to distribute it across the Eagle's network."

"What does this serum do?" Cipher Nine asked.

"Cyclone increases a user's speed and focus, transforming an average human into a natural assassin," he told her. "It's also lethal- a minor defect."

"A type of stim," she replied.

"More than a stim," he said. "But that's the right idea. We need to learn who created the serum and find their link to the terrorists. You must obtain a sample- a Cyclone dose or a user's blood specimen. Distribution is done anonymously, but Cyclone is available to the underworld. There's an augmentation shop in the Corellian Sector- a place people go for fast, dangerous modifications."

"How fast, and how dangerous?" Kaliyo asked.

Cipher Nine sighed. "On your own time, Kaliyo. Where do I find this shop, and how do I get in?"

"I can give you an injection to mimic the effects of long-term genetic damage," Watcher X said. "You'll be slower and weaker, but you'd make a convincing Cyclone buyer."

"In other words," Cipher Nine said, "The right combination of stims and barbiturates. I can do that myself."

Kaliyo smiled and nodded her approval.

"Cipher training," Watcher X said. "Trust no one. Very well." He tapped his cybernetics. "I sent you the coordinates. Get me my Cyclone or my blood. Then we find the link to your terrorist enemies."

She checked the coordinates and nodded.

"One last thing," he said. "Why are you working with the apprentice of Darth Zash?"

She smiled and said, "You're not authorized to know."

He smiled back and nodded.

"Are you sure you used enough?" Kaliyo asked.

The agent leaned against a wall and watched her hands begin to flutter. "It metabolizes slowly. Longer to start, longer to end, so we don't run out of time." She shuddered, and her teeth began to chatter. "Good enough," she said. "I should be well in the throes of it by the time we get there."

"Who's this stranger coming into our shop?" the green Nautolan asked. "Do you know, sister?"

"I don't know, brother," his sister replied. "She handles herself well-but she's not one of our usual clients."

"She smells hurt," the male said. "Her genes are unraveling. She's had bad augmentations- but we can fix that."

"You're sure they're good?" the agent asked Kaliyo.

"I trust my source," the Rattataki replied.

"Who am I dealing with?" the agent asked the Nautolans.

The male replied, "My name is Ekayn, and my sister is Sabaya."

"We obtain augmentations for the needy," Sabaya said.

"I'm not 'needy'," the agent said. "I have a job to do. I need Cyclone. I know what it does."

"Poor creature," Sabaya said. "Probably a brave killer before her augmentations degraded."

"Cyclone will fix that," the agent said.

Ekayn said, "Unfortunately, we have none available."

Sabaya added, "Many desire to purchase Cyclone, and our supplies are reserved for... preferred customers."

The agent said, "How do I become 'preferred'?"

"Poor thing," Sabaya said. "You really are desperate, aren't you? I think we can afford to help. For a pittance, we can point you to our last client."

"It's a deal," the agent replied.

"Excellent," Sabaya said. "See, brother? There are always ways. The Evocii who came in yesterday to buy Cyclone... she wanted to strike against the slaver gangs. I don't know exactly where she's gone, but maybe you can find her corpse. She might have some left."

"Thanks for all your help," the agent said.

Ekayn said, "If you fail to find the Cyclone, we have other augmentations."

"I'll remember," the agent told them.

Kaliyo said, "Told you this was the place."

"You're getting better at that," the agent told Kaliyo. She leaned back in the elevator and injected an antitoxin to clear her system.

"Nar Shaddaa is home turf," Kaliyo said. "If we have the time, I'll show you around." She put a hand on the agent's leg. "I know all the best places."

Cipher Nine sighed. "Let's focus on the terrorists. Do you know which slaver gangs they meant?"

"I'm pretty sure I do," Kaliyo said. "And, they're not far."

"I assume you have my Cyclone specimen," Watcher X said from the holocomm. "I need to analyze the specimen, but I'll need equipment I can't buy in Shadow Town. There's an abandoned medical laboratory in the Duros Sector. If armed refugees haven't stripped it bare, you can run the analysis at the lab's bioscan."

"Any reason why I can't go to an Imperial lab?" the agent asked.

Watcher X said, "They might be... surprised by the request."

Kaliyo smiled.

"Very well," Cipher Nine said. "To the Duros Sector."

The transmission ended, and Kaliyo said, "That naughty Watcher Two."

"Terrorists," the agent said.

"Just imagining fun ways to blackmail her," the Rattataki replied.

"She keeps us alive," the agent said.

Kaliyo smiled again. "I'll give her a reason to keep me alive."

A few hours later, they had Watcher X on holo again. "Hello again, Cipher. Are you injured?"

"Local gangs," she replied. "I'll be fine."

"We gave better than we got," Kaliyo added.

"Technically," the agent said. "Now, what can you tell me about Cyclone?"

"Impressive," Watcher X said. "Genetic bonding agents. Molecular webs. Pure, perfect- take Cyclone and it becomes you. I'm going deeper now, Cipher. Looking for a signature to tell us who the artist is."

"And?" the agent asked.

"I have a corporate match," he told her. "Cyclone's coding process is registered to Synchet Industries. Synchet used to manufacture droids, food supplements, medical supplies, but they declared bankruptcy five years ago."

"Someone else must be using their technology," the agent replied.

"I'm finding one former Synchet executive currently on Nar Shaddaa," Watcher X said. "He left the company just before it dissolved."

"Shouldn't be hard to interrogate a rich businessman," she said.

"Your executive is named Jordel Tlan," he said. "Rich, eccentric, reclusive. Stays in his private casino lounge. Only associates with droids. No visitors allowed. No weapons allowed. He'll need a reason to talk to you."

"What's our leverage?" Cipher Nine asked.

"Use the resources you have," he said. "See those medical crates? Combine their chemicals correctly and you'll have an undetectable poison. Tlan's serving droids won't notice if you poison his drink."

"I'll consider it."

"Think you can talk your way into a meeting?" he asked.

"I will consider all options," she replied. "But, I will get the information."

"I'm Netula Pahn," the Twi'lek woman said. "I assist Master Jordel Tlan, tend to his lounge and the droids. How may I help you?"

"'Gift of the stars'," Cipher Nine said.

"My mom's like that," Netula replied. "But, you didn't answer. What business do you have with Master Tlan?"

"I need to talk to your employer, and I think he'll want to talk to me."

"Tlan doesn't take visitors," Netula said. "I'm the only person he's seen in a year."

"I hope he treats you well," Kaliyo said, leaning close to Netula.

Netula blinked. "Not like you're thinking. Or, like I think you're thinking."

Kaliyo smiled. "I am. Trust me."

Cipher Nine sighed and said to Natula, "Tell him an old friend wants to talk about Cyclone. He'll understand."

Netula shrugged. "If you say so. I'll give him the message and see what he wants to do."

"Alert: Scanning for weapons," a security droid said.

"Warning: Visitor is armed," another droid added.

Jordel Tlan said, "Ignore the droids." He sat back, looked the two of them over, and sipped his drink. "I don't know what you think you'll find here. Synchet's gone- bankrupted by the war and sold off piece by piece for a tidy sum."

"Not Cyclone," the agent said. "It's still around."

"So what?" Tlan said. "You're nobody to me. Why would I reveal confidential information to you?"

"I'm authorized to pay," she said. "An appropriate fee."

He looked her up and down again. "Anything other than credits on that table?"

"Possibly."

He looked at Kaliyo and said, "Both of you."

Kaliyo snorted. "Boy, did you hit the jackpot."

The agent said, "What can I expect for my... money?"

"VerveGen," he said. "They developed medical technology- mainly genetic modification serums. Not one of Synchet's more profitable branches. When we put VerveGen on the market, we got some strange buyers. Paid cash and kept their names secret- took the company and all its technology."

"Can you contact the buyers?" the agent asked.

"Not my department," he said. "But, I have records of the sale. It'll give you the old addresses. They're probably still there. Everything you want to know." He looked at both of them. "After."

The agent said, "Kaliyo, I hate to ask this of you-"

Kaliyo laughed. "All right," she said, pulling off her clothes. "Let's start with his cock in my mouth and your tongue between my legs, and we'll go from there." She turned to Tlan. "You're going to need some stims. Lots of them."

Cipher Nine moaned and arched her back while Kaliyo's tongue worked its magic. Jordel Tlan sat at the head of the bed, exhausted but enjoying the show. Cipher Nine gripped the bedsheets and cried out as she climaxed then collapsed.

"Enough," she said to Kaliyo, gasping for breath.

"I thought you had more endurance," the Rattataki said. She turned to Tlan. "What about you?"

"Kaliyo, my love," he sighed. "You have drained me in every way possible."

Kaliyo stood and stretched. "I knew we should have added the receptionist."

"Shower?" Cipher Nine asked. Tlan nodded toward a door. When she got back, she found Tlan doing his best to pleasure Kaliyo.

"What?" Kaliyo said.

"That's enough," Cipher Nine replied, pulling on her clothes. "Get dressed." Kaliyo rolled her eyes and left for the shower. "VerveGen?" the agent asked Tlan. He inserted a data card into his console, accessed the files, and gave her the card.

"All I've got," he said.

"Did you ever meet the buyers?"

He shook his head. "One of the other execs told me they creeped her out and not in a good way."

"Hardly surprising, considering the product," she said.

"True," Tlan said. "Thank you for coming by. I appreciate the reminder of what flesh can do. Be careful with VerveGen. They don't play around."

Kaliyo returned and gave Tlan a kiss before she got dressed. "Lasted longer than I expected. Not bad." She asked the agent, "Did you get what you wanted?"

"I did."

"Great," Kaliyo said. "Then we're all satisfied."

Once in the elevator, Cipher Nine started going over the data. "One hundred and four million, six hundred and thirty thousand credits."

"Weird amount," Kaliyo said.

The agent said, "That was the exact conversion of one hundred million Imperial credits to Hutt credits at the time of purchase."

"Shit's hitting the fan," Kaliyo said.

"Quite," the agent replied.

Kaliyo moved closer to the agent and smiled. The agent looked up, and Kaliyo leaned in for a good, long kiss.

"The infiltration has ended," Cipher Nine said.

"I was not your first woman," Kaliyo said, still smiling.

"Infiltration," the agent repeated. "Seduction. All part of the training."

Kaliyo kissed her again. "Does that include fucking?"

"Yes," Cipher Nine replied. "Three classes, actually. One for humanoids, the other two for different types of aliens."

"Are you serious?"

"Completely," the agent said.

"What was the homework like?"

"For the humanoids, we were paired off with a different classmate every night. The final exam was an orgy. We had to successfully pleasure three classmates without emotional commitment. They brought in a Sith Lord to sense us."

Kaliyo laughed. "Any way to audit this class?"

"Ask Watcher Two."

"Still," Kaliyo said and kissed her again. "We could have fun."

"I do prefer men."

"I bet I can expand your horizons. If not, you get practice, and I get orgasms. Win-win."

"Not quite," the agent said. "You would get bored of me and leave. You're a valuable asset. I prefer to keep you that way."

Kaliyo sighed and stepped away. "You're right. I would get bored. And, I don't want to miss our friend's big day."

"Big day?"

"She's one of those Sith Lords with a hundred plans going. I don't know what her endgame is, but I want to be there to see it. Fine, I guess we're one and done. Well, four and done, technically."

"Does this mean you'll stop walking around the ship naked?"

Kaliyo smiled again. "Probably."

"Hello, Cipher," Watcher X said from the holocomm. "Always pleasant to speak. You know, I managed to slice into the Star Cluster's holocams. I got to see how you handle field work."

"You recorded that?" Kaliyo asked. "Could you make me a copy?"

"Moving on," Cipher Nine said.

"Of course," Watcher X said. "That's why I'm here. Now we know about VerveGen-a Synchet Industries medical subsidiary purchased by a shadowy group of buyers."

"With Imperial credits," the agent said.

"Indeed," Watcher X replied. "Those buyers were presumably members of the terror cell. The company was acquired to produce Cyclone and other technologies. I've located the VerveGen offices, but I'm unable to obtain personnel records. Their data is very well secured. I need you to set up surveillance. Slice into public terminals around the building perimeter, and I can use HoloNet resources to see and hear inside. When you're done, come to Shadow Town. Watcher X out."

Kaliyo shrugged. "Kinda cute, but too creepy for my taste."

"Holy shit! You have a limit!"

Kaliyo gave the agent a sour look. "Can we go?"

"Sorry. I just need a moment to recover."

"Welcome back," Watcher X said, again facing out of his window. "Most people in Shadow Town seek escape. Freedom is the only reason they'd help the Empire. But Imperial Intelligence isn't offering me freedom. You know why?"

"I believe I can guess," Cipher Nine said. "Let's talk about VerveGen."

"If you insist," he said, turning around. "I've been able to monitor VerveGen's activities. The results are enlightening. As we suspected, they're manufacturing Cyclone. In fact, VerveGen is preparing a large quantity of serum for transport and distribution." He paused for a response, but Cipher Nine said nothing. "VerveGen's day-to-day management is expecting a visit from the owners. That's when the Cyclone will be turned over. Security will increase- employees sent home, holocams activated, internal defenses powered on. But get into the meeting unnoticed and you'll find the terror cell leaders."

"Time for an ambush," Kaliyo said.

Cipher Nine shook her head. "Better to tag the Cyclone and track the cells. Add something to contaminate it. Identify the cell leaders and pick them up later."

"Imperial Intelligence trained you well," Watcher X replied. "But the approach will require delicacy."

"Stealth is my specialty," she said.

"I'm aware of that," he said. "But even Ciphers have their limits. With effort, we can create a cybernetic disguise combining armor, implants and holographic technology. You would appear to be a class-five droid."

"No implants," Cipher Nine said.

"It's the most efficient way to get inside VerveGen," he told her.

"No implants."

"More to the point," he said. "It's the only way I can think of."

"Bullshit," the agent said.

"Really- there's no need to be squeamish."

She aimed her pistol at him. "Think of another way."

"Security will respond to that," he said.

"Security won't mourn you," she countered.

"Perhaps Watcher Two can convince you. Shall we contact her?"

She holstered her weapon and waited.

After the explanation, Watcher Two said, "I understand your reservations, Cipher Nine, but he's right. Implants are the only way to fool the scanners. The system must read your autonomic system directly to mask it. But, I assure you, you will return to Dromund Kaas immediately, and we will remove any trace of the cybernetics. We don't want you compromised any more than you do."

"Very well," Cipher Nine said. "Kaliyo, watch him carefully. Watcher Two, I want you to stay on holo and observe the operation."

"Of course," she said.

"Keep me awake," the agent said to Watcher X. "If we're going to do this, I want to see what's happening."

"As you like," he said. "I'll go as fast as possible."

When they were in sight of the VerveGen offices, the agent activated the holo disguise. She flinched when the implants activated then felt them pulse in time to her heartbeat and respiration.

"What do I do?" Kaliyo asked.

"Use your stealth generator, maximum power," the agent told her. "I can temporarily disable the more difficult sensors after I've passed through them. You'll be able to follow with a slight delay. Stay well out of sight, and do nothing unless you hear combat. With luck, I can plant the trackers without notice."

"Right," Kaliyo said.

They reached the VerveGen offices easily enough. Watcher X had been right; the factory was nearly empty. Kaliyo took a position well out of sight, while Cipher Nine approached the Cyclone shipment appearing to perform maintenance on the repulsor sled. Terrorists and VerveGen executives were grouped around a holotable with the Eagle staring down at them.

"...after the test results came in, we made some modifications," one of the executives said. "The serum lasts longer, and the side effects kick in later. But it's still lethal. No matter what we do, Cyclone will burn up its users from the inside out."

"The men and women taking the serum understand the necessity of sacrifice," the Eagle told him. "You've created a new weapon in our fight for freedom- one that we'll use to great advantage."

"We're all honored to hear that, sir," the executive said.

"Chorto," the Eagle said to one of his men. "Is the shipment ready?"

"Smugglers are ready and waiting," one of the terrorists replied. "As soon as we're done here, I'll get the serum to them."

"Excellent," the Eagle said. "VerveGen will remain under your watch. Raythen Predot will continue managing the business."

The executive said, "I appreciate your faith-"

"I'm sorry, sir-" one of the terrorists said, a cyborg with slicing implants. "I was doing a full sensor scan, and that droid over there is showing unusual readings."

"I don't recognize it," Raythen Predot said. "It certainly shouldn't be in the conference room."

"Apologies, master," Cipher Nine said. "The standard droids were shut down for the day."

"That's no droid," the cyborg said. "It's a hologram."

Cipher Nine stepped behind the Cyclone and drew her rifle just as the cyborg disrupted the hologram.

"Take her alive," the Eagle said. "I want to know who sent her."

"Yes, sir," Chorto replied and said to the agent, "You can answer questions now or after you're strapped down in a medlab. Your choice."

The terrorists drew their weapons and moved toward the agent.

"Sir," Raythen said. "We're not soldiers. We don't-"

"I'm not after innocents," Cipher Nine told him.

"Fine," the Eagle said. "Go." The VerveGen employees scurried away.

"Now that they're out of the way," Chorto said. "We'll deal with this."

Cipher Nine gave Kaliyo a signal and took cover. Kaliyo fired three grenades at the terrorists in rapid succession; flash-bang, smoke, and shrapnel. They'd used the technique before, and the agent had her IR goggles ready. In a few minutes, the terrorists were dead or incapacitated. The agent and Kaliyo approached the terrorists, but only the cyborg was in any condition to respond.

"Self-diagnosis," he said. "Critical. I'm going to die." He looked up at Cipher Nine.

The holotable sputtered. The Eagle disappeared in a wave of static, and Watcher X took his place.

"I detected weapons fire," he said. "A cyborg. How convenient. You eliminated the cell leaders. Now we must remove every trace of their operation and prevent their followers from regrouping."

"That wasn't the plan," Cipher Nine said.

"Plans change," he replied. "The terrorist communications hub must be destroyed. The man at your feet is our opportunity."

"He's a person, not an 'opportunity'."

"You don't believe that any more than I do," Watcher X said. "We can use his brain to locate the hub. You'll need to route me to his cortical implant."

"You can't do that," the cyborg said.

"There should be a standard interface somewhere on his skull," Watcher X continued. "Connect your holocommunicator and I can slice the data inside his mind."

"Please," the cyborg begged. "I'll tell you what you need to know. Just don't slice my brain."

"Go on," she said.

"The hub- it's in Network Access. The droids protect it."

Watcher X said, "We can't be sure he's telling the truth."

"Grid seven-alpha," the cyborg said. "Module five."

"I'm going to trust him," Cipher Nine said. "Seventy-five is my lucky number." She turned to the cyborg. "If you can drag yourself out of the building, you can go free."

"I understand." He struggled to his feet. "You won't see me again." He limped away.

Watcher X said, "Let's hope you haven't made a mistake trusting the word of a terrorist."

Cipher Nine said, "Trust can be difficult, but I'll manage."

"Fine. Get to Network Access. Assuming the hub is there, you should be able to destroy it. I'll contact you once it's down. Watcher X out."

Kaliyo said, "Just so we're on the same page-"

"Yes, he wanted the hologram to fail."

"I'm starting to hate this guy."

"Really?" the agent said. "You're usually there before me."

"Congratulations, Cipher," Watcher X said after the hub was destroyed. "You've struck the final blow to the terror cell. Survivors will be unable to regroup. Ties to the Eagle's network have been severed."

"What did you really want?" Cipher Nine asked.

He smiled at her. "Destroying the network hub sent a ripple through the HoloNet. Shadow Town security momentarily failed. I took the opportunity to escape."

Cipher Nine smiled back. "You're a dead man."

"Your anger is understandable," he said. "Keep it in check. Soon, one of your Watchers will notice the glitch. You'll be asked to find me. Hunt me. But I don't want you as an enemy. Tell your Watcher that I remain imprisoned. Once I'm safe, I'll share my secrets. You'll know everything Intelligence keeps from its Ciphers."

"Do you expect me to trust you?" she replied.

"Do you want the details of the eugenics program that bred myself and Watcher Two?" he asked. "The aliases of your 'friend'?"

"You sleazy freak," Kaliyo said. "Think you can play? You're dead. You're so dead."

Watcher X laughed. "You thought I meant you? Your crimes are hardly worth the effort." He looked at Cipher Nine. "I meant your real friend."

Kaliyo's jaw dropped. "Did you just threaten... scary Sith bitch?"

"Is that what you call her?" Watcher X said. "Would you like to know who she really is?"

"Fuck. No," Kaliyo said. "I like my head attached to my neck."

"You know how to make a tempting offer," the agent said to Watcher X. "But..."

"I'm sorry you feel that way," he said. "I should be going. I have to get to my ship, and you have an incoming call from your masters. Goodbye, Cipher."

Kaliyo let out a breath. "The man's a walking corpse."

A moment later, her comm beeped again. "Cipher Nine? This is Watcher Two. I'm routing this call through a half-dozen city subsystems. We're receiving reports that VerveGen is under attack."

"I just destroyed the cell's communications hub," Cipher Nine replied.

"I'll alert the teams," Watcher Two said. "But destroying the network hub creates another problem. It's possible Shadow Town's security was breached. Watcher X could take advantage of a fault like that."

"That's what I was about to report," the agent said. "He created the fault. That was his plan the whole time."

"Damn it all," Watcher Two said. "We can't have a rogue Watcher loose in the galaxy. Head for the spaceport. I'll try to delay any departures- but be fast. Nar Shaddaa doesn't acknowledge Imperial authority."

"Don't worry," Cipher Nine said. "He's not getting away."

"It's good to hear you say that. Watcher Two out."

"You didn't mention her," Kaliyo said.

"I know," the agent replied. She drew her vibroknife, slid open a hidden panel on the hilt, pressed three buttons, and returned the knife to its sheath.

"What was that?" Kaliyo asked.

"What was what?" Cipher Nine said.

"Right," Kaliyo said. "I didn't see anything."

They found Watcher X at a control panel near his shuttle, trying to slice the systems that prevented the ship from launching. He stood up as they approached.

"Look around," he said. "Note your target." He turned around. "Check him for weapons- held, concealed, improvised. Now scan the rest of the area. Does he have allies? Are they hiding? Are you outmatched without realizing?"

A red lightsaber blade stabbed him in the back, destroying his cybernetic heart. He let out a weak laugh before he died. The blade deactivated, and his body fell to the ground.

"He was really quite good," the assassin said. "I nearly didn't make it in time. Cipher Nine, that's two you owe me. Kaliyo, wonderful seeing you. I'll just let myself out." The assassin departed.

Kaliyo said, "That woman is every kind of scary possible."

The agent's comm beeped again. "Cipher Nine, this is Watcher Two. Please respond. I need a status update on Watcher X. I'm ready to put out a general alert."

"The situation is resolved," Cipher Nine said. "Watcher X is dead." She scanned the body.

Watcher Two said, "That's... that's excellent news. Well done." She examined the scan. "Is that a lightsaber wound?"

"No," the agent said. "Of course not."

"I... see," Watcher Two said. "Very well. That's all the evidence I need. I'll downgrade our security status and send a crew to collect Watcher X's corpse. Consider the matter closed. Records of his presence here will be erased, and you're not to speak of this further. I'll debrief you back at the ship."

They returned to their ship and contacted Imperial Intelligence. A droid appeared instead of Watcher Two. "Contact authorization denied," it said. "This is Imperial Automated Defense Corps unit CR-97. By order of Darth Zhorrid, Lord of the Dark Council, your ship is now in lockdown."

"Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes," Darth Zorrid said, stepping into view and shooing the droid away. "Cipher Nine, the last time we spoke, I called you to Korriban. Did you misunderstand what a privilege that audience was?"

The agent replied, "You asked me to seek out the people who assassinated Lord Jadus, and that's what I've been doing."

"You've not impressed me, Cipher," Zhorrid said. "You've given me no new information since your mission began, about the murder of Darth Jadus or otherwise."

"I assure you, my lord," the agent said. "I've reported all my findings to Intelligence."

"And Keeper has kept me informed," Zhorrid replied. "I'm disappointed by your progress, not your protocol. Now, my peers on the Dark Council acknowledge me- but they don't yet respect me. Not like they did my father. To secure my position, I must have my father's secrets- the mysteries he never deigned to teach me. Your task is to find one of his advisors. Of course, most of his advisors died with him on the Dominator... but not all. Vyord Yanol stayed behind and fled to Nar Shaddaa."

"Was he afraid of something?" Cipher Nine asked. "And why Nar Shaddaa?"

"Most certainly," Zhorrid said. "And why not?"

"Do you think Yanol knows something about the terrorists?" the agent said.

"I'm certain he knows something my father kept from me. That's enough. My sources have found his hideout. You will catch him and bring him to me. Zhorrid out."

"Get away!" Vyord Yanol said. He cowered against a computer console, his guards dead or unconscious around him. The agent admitted they had put up a good fight. "I've done nothing to you- I've touched nothing on this dustball... talked to no one!"

"I'm not here to kill you," the agent said.

"The Dark Council hired you, didn't it?" Yanol said. "Or the Galactic Republic? The Mecrosa Order? The Hutts?"

"Imperial Intelligence," Cipher Nine replied.

"Intelligence?" Yanol said. "Ha! Precocious meddlers. Not much better than the idiot girl Zhorrid."

The agent told him, "I don't have time for diplomacy right now."

Yanol laughed. "You really don't understand. Lord Jadus must have made preparations for his death. He was power, and fire, and brilliance."

"I honestly don't care," Cipher Nine said and shot him with a sleep dart. She said to Kaliyo, "Let's load him up and get going."

Kaliyo said, "Works for me."

"Wait," the agent said. "He wasn't just hiding behind this console. He was working at it." She sliced the console and copied what files she could. "Now we can go."

When they returned to the ship, they were contacted by Keeper and Watcher Two.

"Cipher Nine," Keeper said. "I understand you're running an errand for Darth Zhorrid. She has asked me to relay instructions. You are to meet her in her new chambers on Dromund Kaas- the ones formerly occupied by her father."

"Of course, sir," the agent replied. "I'm to have cybernetics removed-"

"Yes," Watcher Two said. "We have a team ready. But, I should warn you, Watcher X was one of our very best."

"They might not get everything," Cipher Nine said.

"I'm afraid so," Keeper told her. "You'll need periodic checkups until we're sure you're safe. Can't be helped."

"Understood, sir," she said. "If I may, sir, what's your opinion of Zhorrid?"

"She acts the fool," he said. "She's not beloved by the other Dark Lords- there was resistance to giving her her father's council seat. She demands every report from you as soon as we get them. Then she asks some very good questions and threatens to flay me."

"Thank you, sir. I had a similar impression. Not the flaying part, but the rest of it."

"Tread carefully with Sith. Always. Keeper out."

Cipher Nine went to the bridge, informed the spaceport they would be departing soon, and began to power up the ship. Kaliyo entered some time later, a bottle of something in her hand, and sat in the copilot's chair. She wasn't naked this time.

"If something goes wrong with the cybernetics," Cipher Nine said. Kaliyo looked at her. "If Watcher X left something behind, if it starts to affect me, go to our friend, not Imperial Intelligence."

Kaliyo thought for a moment. "Is she going to get us killed?"

"Possibly."

"Is it going to be fun?"

The agent sighed. "Make no mistake, she will earn a lot of powerful enemies."

"Cool," Kaliyo said. "I don't want a boring death."

The spaceport gave them clearance, and they took off.