Chapter XXXV - Child of The Emperor (Jaren)

I looked across the table at my padawan and strangely saw a different person. Her expression was tight and anxious, showing more emotion than her usual reserved disposition. There was a hint of a scar over her left eye near the temple, a mark from her past that she never talked about and I hadn't noticed before. The knot in my gut since the moment I heard she was a Sith tightened and twisted as a deeper realization settled over me. I didn't know this person. We had spent almost a year together, put our lives in each other's hands, argued heatedly, and struggled will to will, yet as I looked into those blue eyes, all I saw was an enigma.

Deep in thought, I failed to realize that those blue eyes were focused on me. "Jaren," Kira called with a hint of annoyance, "you're not listening."

"Sorry," I shrugged, "I was thinking about something."

"This is important," she added with a hint of anger. "My life is in the balance here."

"I know."

"You saw the look on Master Aleusis's face; the council is ready to throw me out of the Order!"

"Let's not overreact," I replied as I put a hand up gently. "Master Kiwiiks is revered by the Order, and she chose you as a padawan."

Still, I wondered how much Master Kiwiiks knew of Kira's past, or if she could sense more of my padawan's psyche than I could. It was hard not to feel resentment at the fact that Kira's past was hidden so intentionally and thoroughly, and I questioned if the Force was really my ally after such a misjudgment. That resentment had rushed out of me when we were finally free of the trap Lord Valis and the Imperials had set for us. I lashed out at her angrily then, feeling like all the times she had questioned me for not being 'Jedi-like' had become a steaming pile of hypocrisy. After that confrontation, we had chosen to ignore each other on the journey to Tython; after the High Council called us home. Despite her frustration with me, desperation drove Kira to confront me before we landed. She wanted to know if I would support her. My initial thought was, hell no, but I ended up telling her that I would think about it. Now, with the Council almost ready to convene, the time for thinking was over.

The concerned look in her eyes as she stared at me echoed the thoughts drifting through my mind. "Master Kiwiiks isn't here, and she's not my master anymore. If you don't support me . . . I'm finished."

There had been many times over the past months when I asked Masters Din and Kiwiiks to separate us, to give me a new padawan, and now I had that opportunity. No one would question my motives or Jedi principles if I chose not to teach a former Sith. Yet somehow, I didn't feel that strong conviction anymore - something had changed. Before I could respond to Kira's comment or delve deeper into my perplexing thoughts, people started filing in and the meeting began.

Kira and I stood up as Grand Master Shan approached the circular table. "Greetings, Jedi Dwar and Padawan Carson. Please be seated." She gestured to the seats, nodding at the other masters who were walking up as well. "We are still trying to reach Master Kiwiiks on Tatooine, but I think we can begin the meeting while we wait." More than half of the council was present through hologram, their blue images appearing on the table in front of the seats they would normally occupy — only Grand Master Shan with Masters Aleusis, Gnost-Dural, and Traless attending in person.

"Not everyone on the council has heard the full story of what transpired near the Kadavo system in Imperial space. Would you please briefly explain what happened to the council?" Grand Master Shan asked me.

I proceeded to tell the story of how we traveled to the abandoned mining facility to pick up Admiral Hacklin but fell into a trap laid by Darth Angral instead. A Sith lord named Valis was the only life form present on the abandoned asteroid when we landed, but the trap was sprung when we realized that Valis was not the admiral. Other ships dropped out of hyperspace and closed on the asteroid quickly. At that moment, when our instinct was to flee the trap, Valis began to speak, acting like he knew Kira. He commented about her past - being a 'Child of the Emperor', and that it was her fate to return to him. I explained to the council that Kira looked confused and anxious, rejecting the Sith lord's offer to take her back to Korriban. When it became apparent that Kira would not cooperate, he attacked us to prevent our escape. The battle to return to our ship was intense, but in the end, we managed to get away. I went on to explain how Kira had admitted that her past in the Empire was true, and I reported to the council as soon as it was safe to do so.

"That's quite a harrowing tale," Master Bekarn spoke through his hologram. "it's a little concerning that Republic Command would risk Jedi assets on such a mission. It seems to me that the admiral's defection was a ruse all along."

"We felt the same way," I replied, "as did General Var Suthra. Precautions were taken to discover the trap. Unfortunately, the Imps were craftier than we planned for. They must have guessed that we were scanning the sector and waited until we landed to bring in reinforcements."

"Seems like quite an elaborate plan just to catch two Jedi?" Master Aleusis wondered aloud.

"Darth Angral would stop at nothing to avenge his son," I replied.

"Jaren killed Darth Angral's son, Lord Tarnis, on Coruscant several months ago," Grand Master Shan stated to the rest of the council before turning back to Kira. "There is the issue of your past, Kira. I have read the report, and I am grateful that you have acknowledged your connection to the Empire, but it is concerning that you did not discuss your past with us earlier."

Kira glanced at me awkwardly. "I kind of wanted it behind me," she answered, speaking to the council but looking at me with hopeful eyes. "When Master Kiwiiks found me and offered me a better life than living on the streets of Nar Shaddaa, it felt like I had a new start."

"Was Master Kiwiiks aware of your past?" Master Traless asked, leaning forward and looking concerned.

"She didn't ask, and I didn't tell."

"Isn't that a little deceptive?" the master pressed.

"I didn't consider it important," Kira answered stiffly, not liking the Jedi master's insinuation. "I ran away when I realized what they were making me into - before the brainwashing could take effect. Once on Nar Shaddaa, my past became an alternate reality that I pushed out of my mind. I wanted to bury it - forget it. There was no intent to mislead."

The council members appeared serious around the circular table. "Even without the intent to harm or mislead, this is unfortunate news," Master Traless stated somberly.

Kira looked at him stiffly, "Why? I'm not what they were training me to be. I ran away because I didn't want to become a Sith."

"That might be true," the master agreed, "but deception seems to cloud the issue, with the possibility of subliminal control or even some form of dark Force enchantment."

Kira looked around the room and then at me with confused and desperate eyes. "I meant no deception . . . I thought my past was over. You can't possibly believe that my running away and then being found by a Jedi was planned?"

"Master Traless is right to be cautious," Grand Master Shan spoke measuredly. "The Sith have infiltrated the Jedi Order and Republic High Command before. You fought and defeated one of their deepest and most damaging agents in Lord Tarnis on Coruscant mere months ago. We must be vigilant against any potential threat."

"I'm not a threat to the Jedi," Kira asserted.

"I understand that you may not be a threat willingly," the Grand Master countered, "but the Sith have traditions and dark Force abilities that may lead to subconscious programming."

"What does that mean?" Kira asked as her eyes scanned the room. The faces of the council members looked watchful and serious, and the mood in the room felt heavy. The council was taking the news even more seriously than I expected.

"Doctor Yu'Ong would know more," Master Aleusis stated. "He is the lead psychiatrist for the Jedi Order and a high-ranking member of the medical board on Tython. He has learned much of the Sith arts of deception and manipulation and has access to the Noetikons. I recommend a full evaluation to determine if the padawan's past has any lingering control over her actions."

"How would such a thing be possible?" I asked in surprise. It seemed terrible to think about something being planted in a child's mind that could be used against them years later.

"As I said, Doctor Yu'Ong would know the best way to answer that question," Master Aleusis responded, "but there is evidence of dark Force auras lingering around places and objects. Those auras have been known to influence living beings, even sentients . . . There is no telling how the Sith could use dark side Force energy to influence people. Then, there are the more physiological and psychological possibilities such as subliminal messaging and subconscious mental suggestion. We all behave in patterns and habits, many of which are subconscious. It could be possible that the Sith have created patterns of subconscious thought or motivations that are still affecting the padawan."

"I would know if I'm being manipulated," Kira said defensively. "It's the reason why I ran away in the first place. I sensed that they were trying to do things to my mind."

"Still, I believe Master Aleusis is right," Grand Master Shan said thoughtfully. "We should be cautious, not because we distrust you, Kira, but the Sith have a history of deception and manipulation. I would like to meet with Doctor Yu'Ong and discuss the situation with him before we make any further decisions."

I looked around the room and noticed that the masters were still concerned. My eyes landed on Kira last, and I noticed her sinking demeanor. "For what it's worth," I spoke into the quiet moment after Master Shan's statement, "I believe that Kira has moved beyond her past. We've spent a significant amount of time together, and though things haven't always been easy, I never once questioned her dedication to being a Jedi. In many ways, she's a better Jedi than I am."

"Your opinion is noted, Jaren," Grand Master Shan nodded. "I would like you both to stay in the temple until tomorrow. Once I've had a chance to talk to the doctors, I will let you know what the council's recommendations are. We have other matters to discuss, so you are dismissed."

There was a pause while Kira and I rose and headed for the exit. Neither of us spoke as we walked back to the temple hangar where the Defiant was parked. I had my own confused feelings about Kira's past and the trap we fell into several days ago, but the seriousness of the situation sunk in when I observed the reactions of the High Council Members. Not only was there concern for Kira's well-being, but her future as a Jedi seemed to be at stake.

"Hey," she said gently next to me. "I appreciate you putting in a good word," she added when I turned to look at her.

"No problem," I shrugged, stopping at the ramp to our ship.

"I didn't get the sense that things went so good back there."

"The council seemed to take things pretty seriously," I agreed.

"I know my past isn't affecting me," she grumbled with a glance in the direction of the council chamber. "You know that too, don't you? I mean, I've never done anything to endanger you, or help the Empire. It hasn't even entered my mind."

"The revelation of your past has come as a shock to me," I admitted, "but I meant what I said to the council. In some ways, you are more like a Jedi than I am."

She looked back toward the council chamber again with a frown. "They're going to throw me out over this."

"Don't jump to conclusions," I tried to assure her.

"Getting probed by a psychiatrist and all his medical contraptions doesn't sound like a lot of fun. Maybe getting thrown out is a better option?"

"Don't you want the peace of mind of knowing that there aren't any lingering effects from what the Sith did to you?"

"I would already know if there was," she protested.

"You mentioned in your report about possible blocked memories . . . gaps in time that you can't recall."

"Maybe I blocked out those memories for a reason," she frowned again.

"Well, let's not make decisions before the council does. As frustrating as it is to wait, I'm afraid that's what we are going to have to do."

We parted ways after entering the Defiant. I went to my room to check messages and do some of my daily routine.

The next morning, we were called into Grand Master Shan's office. Kira was quiet and nervous as we walked through the temple. The atrium was nearly empty and dimmer than usual because of the overcast day, our footfalls echoing in the large space as we walked across the ornate, tan stone floor. Grand Master Shan was in her office with Doctor Yu'Ong and Master Aleusis. They seemed to be in the midst of a conversation when we were ushered in.

"Please sit down," Master Shan stated, motioning to the empty chairs around the conference table. "I've considered your situation, Kira, and I would like to say up front that it is my desire that you complete your training and become a Jedi. That being said, I feel it is in the best interest of the Order to have a post-traumatic assessment done on your condition. I think it will be beneficial to you personally, and it will help the Council evaluate the best plan for moving forward."

"I don't mean to be difficult," Kira replied flatly, "but what kind of 'assessment' are you going to put me through? It kind of sounds as traumatic as my childhood."

Grand Master Shan glanced between the two of us. "Aren't you being a little dramatic?"

"I understand your hesitation, Padawan Carson," Doctor Yu'Ong broke in, "but the assessment will be minimally invasive and will progress only with your cooperation."

"Minimally?" Kira glanced at me dubiously.

"Just some brain and body scans with leads adhered to the skin. We should do a standard medical exam as well. Your most recent records are almost a year old."

"Great, more probing."

The doctor and Grand Master Shan exchanged a look before she stood with a sigh. "It may not sound enjoyable, padawan, but it is necessary. I'll leave you and the doctor to discuss the specifics. Jedi Dwar, I will show you out." She gestured toward the door, and I gave Kira a final glance before stepping out of the room. When the door to her office closed behind us, Grand Master Shan's countenance changed. "Padawan Carson seems reluctant to proceed with our evaluation?"

"It's just her way of dealing with things; she's got a dry sense of humor."

The Grand Master eyed me seriously. "I've looked at your files. Master Din has noted numerous times that you have had difficulty working with your padawan, even going so far as to request a reassignment?"

"Yes, we've had a rocky relationship up until recently." I didn't want to add anything more because of the way the Grand Master was observing me. She seemed to be rethinking her decision about Kira.

"Master Din thought it would be good for both of you to try and work together. Do you agree with him?"

"I didn't at first, but as time has passed, I'm beginning to see the wisdom in his thinking."

"How so?" she inquired.

"Well, these past few months have been challenging for me. The Jedi way is not very compatible with my upbringing or culture, and seeing things through other perspectives has been instructive."

"There are difficulties with acclimating older Force users into the Order," Grand Master Shan stated. "Some masters are urging us to limit new candidates to young children for that reason, but the conflict with the Sith Empire has not afforded us that luxury. We need as many Jedi as we can train. Despite your older age when joining us, you have become an important member of the Order."

"Thank you," I nodded.

"Considering your personality conflict with the padawan, in conjunction with the revelation of her past, I will approve her reassignment if you want to formally request it again."

I looked past her at the closed office door. "I'm not sure I'm ready to make that decision," I answered. "Can I have time to think about it?"

"Of course," she nodded with a hint of surprise flickering in her gaze. "There is another issue I need to discuss with you. Both Masters Din and Kiwiiks have not reported in for several days. Master Din indicated that he may be out of contact for some time in his last report, so I am not overly concerned about him, but Master Kiwiiks appears to have gone missing."

"Missing?"

"Yes, General Var Suthra said that she reached the remote research facility and secured it but has not made any further contact. There are no official Republic assets on the planet to conduct a search, and I am concerned for her well-being, so I am tasking you with finding her. General Var Suthra is already aware of my decision and preparing the latest information for you to study. I want you to leave as soon as possible."

General Var Suthra briefed us about all of the secret weapon projects that were compromised by Lord Tarnis on Coruscant. I recalled what he had said about the project on Tatooine being remote and well-protected. "The research facility on Tatooine was supposed to be well hidden. The general didn't seem overly concerned about it being attacked."

"I understand," Master Shan agreed. "It still isn't his top priority, but several Jedi Council members, including me, have concerns about Master Kiwiiks. Call it a premonition if you'd like, but I think she is in danger."

"Is there anyone closer? Tatooine is a long way from here."

"Unfortunately not. The increased tensions with the Empire have our people spread out thinly."

"That may be by design," I grumbled.

"I'm concerned that you may be right, but at the moment there is nothing we can do about it. Master Kiwiiks is your superior and a very capable Jedi. If she is in trouble, then the danger must be formidable. Your first task is to find her and report back. General Var Suthra stated that the weapon being researched on Tatooine poses a serious danger if in the wrong hands. He is preparing a military team for deployment to defend it if necessary. We need your intelligence report first and foremost. I don't want you risking yourself in a rescue unless the odds are in your favor."

"I'll go and prepare my ship for the trip."

"Don't leave until the general's update is transmitted to you," Master Shan added. "I'm sorry that we don't have more resources to assist you at the moment, especially considering you will be without your padawan."

I looked past the master at her closed office door again, wondering about Kira. "I hope you don't find anything wrong with her. She can be a bit stubborn sometimes, but her heart is in the right place."

"She's in very capable hands with the doctor."

I went straight back to the ship and told C2-N2 to run an inventory and a pre-flight check. Then I went to my room and looked through my messages but was disappointed to find nothing from the general or the twins. While catching up on my morning routine, I began to feel melancholy about the mission. Weeks ago, the ship seemed busy with three companions aboard, then it was down to one for the past few weeks, and now there would be none. My thoughts drew inward and I began to wonder if there was ever a time when I was truly alone.

Mid-morning, Kira returned to grab her things. She didn't look any happier than when she was sitting in the Grand Masters office. "So, I hear you're off on a wild adventure without me," she complained as she directed C2-N2 toward the hatch with cases of personal items.

"I'm waiting for the general's report before I leave."

"Well, don't get into trouble this time, 'cause I won't be there to bail you out."

"Master Shan has already told me to play it safe," I replied.

"Good, you need more people talking sense into you." She walked past me toward the hatch and then turned around. "Don't get too comfortable doing things on your own, 'cause I plan on passing all these assessments quickly. The last thing I want to do is hang around Tython getting scanned by doctors and looked down on by the council members."

"They're only doing their jobs," I stated, sensing her frustration.

"Yeah, well . . . I don't like being the focus of their attention."

"I get that."
"Thanks," she added hesitantly. "Whatever you said to Master Shan in the hallway outside her office seemed to lighten her up a bit."

"It was nothing," I replied. Kira probably would not have taken too kindly to the discussion about dropping her as a padawan.

"Well, it makes me feel like someone's on my side," she added. "Stay in one piece, and hurry back to pick me up."

With that, Kira walked off the ship, and I again felt a pang of loneliness. It was a weird feeling for someone who always had friends and companions around, and I didn't like it.

General Var Suthra's report came in after lunch, and I read it over quickly. Master Kiwiiks had traveled out to a set of coordinates in the Jundland Wastes, a remote and inhospitable area of Tatooine. She had gone out to secure the research project but disappeared, and it was up to me to find out what happened. Tython Orbital Control was notified of my departure and gave me clearance, and I punched in the coordinates for Tatooine. The trip would take almost two days to get from the Deep Core out to the Outer Rim, with many intermediary jumps to follow the trade routes. With a press of a button, the ship came to life and lifted out of the Jedi Temple hangar and up into the clear blue sky. The temple shrank away in the rear-view camera as the ship accelerated upwards. Kira was down there somewhere, and I was leaving without her for the first time in a year.

Later that evening I was in my room exercising and decided to contact the twins to see how they were doing. I was struggling with the lack of companionship, the past week especially. It was souring my mood and making me a little snippy; even Kira had commented on my disposition. Now even she was not around for company. I could not help feeling like it was no fun to be a Jedi as I yearned for a night of partying and companionship. Strangely, B'Zeya's com went to a message, so I canceled the call and tried to contact Cen'Zeya. Her com went to a message as well, and I tossed my datapad onto the bed in frustration. As I wrapped my knuckles and then began pounding the heavy bag it dawned on me that I had never heard either of their answering messages before. They had always taken my calls. Thoughts began to bother me while I punched the bag harder and harder. The last few conversations with them had been more abrupt than usual, and Cen'Zeya had mentioned something about the fact that I had not called them in over a week.

I was a little busy! I fumed internally in response to my recollections. It was a crazy few weeks with everything that happened, and I wasn't concerned about the twins, or at least I didn't think I had to be. Now, a little niggling was bothering my thoughts, and I wondered if something was wrong. The heavy bag was just the right tool to work out my frustration on, and afterward, I lifted some weights before jumping in the shower. When I rechecked my datapad, there was a note from Cen'Zeya.

Hey, noticed you called but I couldn't pick up. We're out in a busy area, and it would be difficult to hear.

It was nice to see a response, but at the same time, it tweaked me even more. Where were they that they couldn't answer the com? My mind imagined a nightclub with loud music and obnoxious patrons trying to pick the twins up. Why am I jealous? I grumbled internally. It wasn't like me to be the sulking one at home. I quickly spoke a message to the datapad in response, not enjoying the whole message thing.

Wanna talk now?

I waited a bit, staring down at the message screen, but nothing happened. In frustration, I tossed the tablet back on the bed and went to get a bottle of mineral water. Without a response, I walked the ship, ending up at the bridge to check out the nav computer. We were only a quarter of the way through the trip, somewhere just past Perma along the Corellian Run. Frustrated with the lack of response from the twins and the eerily quiet ship, I decided to turn in.

The ship set down in a dusty, open-topped hangar in the town of Anchorhead. I landed there because, in the general's report, he mentioned the name of an independent materials broker who was running a front operation connected to the military research facility. The man's name was Fauler, and I wanted to get his perspective on what was happening before jumping into the middle of things. I paid the docking fee and made my way through the dusty streets until I found the business district. It was early evening local time, and the twin suns were low on the horizon but still bright and hot as I began asking around in the shops and business offices. It took a while before I found anyone who recognized the name, and they directed me toward a cantina named the Gasping Gullet. Apparently, the parts and equipment merchants favored that particular dive.

The cantina was in a seedier part of town, and my old self perked up at the sound of dance music and the sight of crowds hanging around the entrances to bars and clubs. A year or two ago, I would have detoured into the busiest club for a few drinks and companionship, and it took a lot of effort to keep walking. The Gasping Gullet was at the end of the row and not the nicest-looking establishment. The blockish, sand-colored building was unremarkable and had few windows. The entrance to the bar was down a set of stairs and through a dimly lit, double-door entrance. The sound of a small band playing overwhelmed most of the patron conversations, and as my eyes adjusted to the lighting, I noticed a more subdued crowd. This was not the type of club you went to for entertainment.

I walked up to the bar and got the attention of the Rodian behind the counter. "What's the favored drink around here?" I asked.

"A Tuskan Tumbler," the bartender squeaked at me while cleaning up his serving shelf.

"I'll take one." A moment later a tall glass was slid in front of me with a creamy liquid inside. I took a drink and paused at the strange flavors. "I'm looking for a man named Fauler. I heard he's in the business of trading parts and equipment."

The Rodian shook his green, lizard-like head at me.

"Anyone in here who might know him?" I asked as I swept my eyes around the dim cantina.

The bartender shook his head at me again, and I got the impression he wasn't going to answer my questions, whether he knew anything or not.

Irritation boiled up in me. I did not have time to piss away playing games with the locals. Master Kiwiiks could be in grave danger, and I needed information fast. Swiping my drink off the counter I began to walk around asking patrons if they knew anyone named Fauler. In response, I received many stares of surprise or disdain but no information, until finally two Gamorrean thugs approached me from a back room and started grunting at me and waving toward the door. The pig-like guards didn't scare me, but I needed the locals' help, and busting up a cantina was not the way to get it. Reluctantly, I backed away from the thugs toward the exit. Once outside, one of them pushed his green fist into my chest with an aggressive grunt and showed me a holo-chip. I took it from him after he nodded at me, and then he grunted again and waved me away.

I climbed the steps and found a shady spot along the building to activate the holo-chip. The image of Fauler appeared in the small hologram above the chip and he stared at me. "What the hell! Are you dense as a board?"

"I got your attention, didn't I?"

"Sure did, but not before Czerka agents, Hutt bounty hunters, and Imperial spies got you marked and followed, and thanks to you hollerin' my name everywhere they now know you're interested in me. Don't they teach you Jedi anything about being covert?"

"Look, I don't have time for games. I need your help finding a Jedi named Kiwiiks . . ."

"If you want my help, go to the bazaar and pick out some local clothing so that you don't scream touristy Jedi everywhere you go, preferably something that hides your face since everyone in Anchorhead knows you're a Jedi now - though your size will be hard to miss. The holo-chip's got an address in it. Wait a few hours and track me down."

Aggravated, I set off to do what he said but was interrupted by my com ringing. To my surprise, it was Cen'Zeya calling.

"Hey," I answered. It had been over a day since the few short texts between us, and I had decided that I was not going to play the chasing game with them. Still, it was nice to see her small image hovering over my wrist.

"Hey," Cen'Zeya echoed back. "Where are you?" she asked as her head scanned around.

"I'm on Tatooine."

"Tatooine? You never mentioned you were going there."

"It's kind of an emergency. The past few weeks have been a mess." I thought about explaining everything, but it seemed too complicated to go into. "How's Nar Shaddaa treating you?"

"It's fine," she replied.

A group of short, cloaked figures came down the street toward me, squeaking in a strange language. As they grew close, they eyed me suspiciously and I was reminded of Fauler's 'tourist' comment. "Look, this isn't a good time. Can I call you back?"

"Sure, but I may not answer."

"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked in frustration.

"I don't know . . . you're busy . . . I'm busy."

She's playing games, I huffed internally. "You know I'm doing something important here, right?" The statement sounded bad when I heard my voice saying it, and I suddenly wanted to take it back.

"Right," she nodded, her face unreadable.

"Look, I'll call you in a couple of hours - after I get a few things taken care of. We can talk as long as you want."

"In a few hours isn't good," she answered shortly.

"What's the problem?"

"I'll be asleep. It's almost midnight on Nar Shaddaa."

"Okay, well . . . how bout I call you in eight hours, will you be up?"

"I suppose. Look, I gotta go. Call me later."

Before I could say anything further, the com was cut and I was left staring at my wrist. Frustrated, I began walking toward the central square of Anchorhead. I had been around enough girls to know that the call I just had did not go well. Something was off with Cen'Zeya, but I couldn't figure out what it was. When I reached the shopping district, I had to sideline my thoughts about the twins and focus on the mission.

Fauler would not help me if he felt exposed or threatened, and he was my only lead on what had happened to Master Kiwiiks. Resigned, I set about finding a local disguise. I picked up a hooded desert robe in a small shop along a quiet side street and carried it back to the ship to change. Turning on the holo-chip, I found the address and figured out how to get there before walking through the quiet hangar into the now-darkening streets. Fauler's comment about me being watched, especially by Imperial spies, sobered my thinking and made me wary. Tatooine was in free space, part of the remote Outer Rim. The closest claim on the system would be by the Hutts, whose cartels and illicit businesses operated throughout the Outer Rim, but lack of governmental authority meant that anything could happen at any time. Fauler knew that the Imps were here and that they likely knew about me. That spelled trouble for me and probably Master Kiwiiks.

I meandered around for a good half-hour just in case I was being followed, and finally ducked into a dark alley near the address on the holo-chip. When I was satisfied that I wasn't followed, I Force jumped onto the second floor of the building and entered through the back door. The two Gamorrean thugs were there, and a little surprised to see me show up unannounced, but Fauler called them off from another room before stepping forward.

"At least you don't look like a Jedi anymore. Were you followed?"

"If I was, I lost them."

The man made a head motion to the Gamorreans, who grunted and moved in opposite directions to cover the doors. "There's a lot of crafty people in Anchorhead," he grumbled, "you can't be too cautious."

"About the Jedi?" I asked.

"Safe, at least until you showed up."

"How can you be sure?"

"Because they need her."

"They?"

The man gave me a harsh look. "How much do you know about what's going on here?"

"Not much, I'm afraid."

"Well, you'd better sit down," he sighed while pointing to the small table in the corner. We settled into chairs opposite each other and he stared at me for a moment. "You're Jedi friend showed up at an inopportune moment and did the only thing she could - surrender."

"I don't believe she would just surrender," I countered. Fauler looked like a shrewd guy, and I was beginning to wonder if I could trust him.

"It's not like she had much choice . . ."

"Master Kiwiiks is very capable; there would need to be a major threat before she would consider giving up."

"You mean like a Sith Lord?" Fauler shot back quickly, "and the threat of many people, possibly hundreds, losing their lives if she didn't act carefully."

My mind flashed to the moment Lord Kallig started killing soldiers around me. Bitterly, I had to concede that Master Kiwiiks would likely try a peaceful solution to save innocent lives. "Why do you look so happy about that?" I snapped, not liking the man's crafty grin.

"The only thing I'm happy about is the fact that your friend had the presence of mind to keep me alive because if things got lethal, I would likely have been one of the casualties."

"How so?"

"Shit," he huffed, "where do I start? The Republic's secret, not so secret, project has been known to all the major players on this dusty planet for some time."

"How is that possible? It was top secret and supposed to be hidden in a remote location."

"One word, Jawas."

"Jawas?"

"Yeah, the creepy little midgets with yellow eyes. You must have seen them walking around; they're everywhere. Anyway, the chief scientist of the project, Doctor Here'en, befriended a few of the little critters and started using them to provide her materials. You see, the Jawas are scavengers and scrap merchants. They've got a trade network that nearly spans the whole planet, and nothing spreads faster on that network than valuable information. Pretty soon anyone who cared knew what the good doctor was buying and where the shipments were going."

"I thought you were her supplier?"

"I was, and she shoulda kept it that way, but I was taking too long to procure some basic materials, and she thought she found a better way. It may seem like Tatooine is remote and unimportant, but trying to bring goods into a sparsely populated area is a lot harder than it seems. Hell, it'd be easier to smuggle into Nar Shaddaa or Coruscant than out here. Thousands of ships pass through those systems every day, way too many for anyone to keep track of. Out here, where only a few ships a day land, it's impossible to hide things from anyone curious."

"How does this fit in with Master Kiwiiks?"

"Okay, I get it - get to the punch line. The Hutts knew about your 'secret' project, and Czerka knew . . ."

"Czerka?"

"Yeah, the tech giant. They mostly work in Empire space - they're one of my best clients out here."

"You work for Empire corporations?"

"Hey, I gotta pay the bills," he protested. "I work for anyone that pays. People don't know my affiliation to the Republic, and I've worked hard to keep it that way. Anyway, if Czerka knew, you can be sure that Imperial Intelligence knew. Add in the Jawas and several bandit groups, and you get pretty much anyone of importance on this sandy planet."

"So, a Jedi comes in and …?" I asked in frustration.

"Hold on, you're trying to skip an important step. Everyone knew the Republic was up to something, but no one knew the exact details. On top of that, no one wanted to interrupt the research until the project was close to something useful, so everyone was biding their time and just watching. That is until your Jedi friend showed up and upset the balance. The Imps guessed that if a Jedi was here, then it was likely to shut the project down. They couldn't wait any longer and made their move, but at the same time Czerka wanted their part, and the Hutt Cartels wanted a piece too. Your Jedi friend got caught in the middle of that power struggle and decided to surrender to the Sith to prevent the destruction of the facility and everyone involved."

"Why wouldn't they just kill her?"

"Because Doctor Here'en convinced them that she was close to completing her research and that the weapon would soon be ready for testing. Why destroy everything when you can capture it instead."

"The doctor switched sides?"

"I don't know about that. If it were me, I'd do what it takes to buy time - hoping for a rescue or opportunity to escape."

"That still doesn't explain why they would keep Master Kiwiiks alive?"

"Maybe the doctor refused to continue her work unless people were kept alive? Maybe the Imps want to use her as a bargaining chip? I don't have all the answers . . . I'm just telling you what I know."

"So, you're saying that a Sith Lord and Imperial assets are holding Doctor Here'en, all the Republic personnel, and Master Kiwiiks hostage while they complete the weapon?"

"Basically . . . Czerka's got some personnel in there too trying to figure out what the Republic was doing. They're hoping to steal the research. The Hutts have assets inside the facility too, from what I've heard, and they are searching for a way to profit off the project as well."

"What a mess," I sighed.

"I have to assume that your appearance has made it a lot worse. I mean, there was a three-way standoff where everyone was willing to bide their time, but with you showing up that balance has been thrown off. The chance that someone is going to make a grab for what they can is pretty high, and I'm betting on the Imps to make the first move."

"Master Kiwiiks could be in trouble then."

"Everyone could be," Fauler added. "The Imps are going to want to have the weapon, so right now things depend on how close the research is to completion. If the doctor was sharp, she'd play it on a knife's edge and be close but not finished. Unfortunately, I'm not up to date on the research and wouldn't know what it meant if I were."

We stared at each other for a moment as the gravity of the situation sank in.

"That's all I got for you Jedi, and don't expect me to be of any help with a rescue or anything. I'm a salesman, not a covert ops specialist."

"You said your neck was stuck out over this as well," I stated.

"Yeah, but I can run to my Czerka buddies and beg for protection, or worse case jump planet and cut my losses. You don't want to depend on me anyway, like I said, I'm a salesman. I see that look in your eye," he added, "what are you planning?"

"My first thought was to go in guns blazing," I admitted.

The man shook his head. "Bad idea. There'd be a lot of dead people, including possibly your Jedi friend, even if you managed to win. If I were you, I'd take some time to see if you can come up with a better plan. That Jedi girl did a good job keeping the death and violence at bay, it'd be a shame to waste her efforts."

He was right, despite my impulse to charge in. I got up and paced away from the table. "I don't think we've got a lot of time - if what you said about my presence is true."

"Yeah," he agreed. "I would think the more conspicuous you are the better."

"You just told me to blend in," I complained.

"That was so you didn't draw attention to me. If you're worried about your friend, then your best shot is to telegraph your next moves and let the Imps keep an eye on you. If you disappear, it's going to make them worried and cause them to act."

I looked back at him harshly. "If I telegraph my moves, they can attack me," I complained. "I don't trust them to act rationally? Hell, I don't know if I even trust you."

"Good point," he nodded. "Tatooine is full of crooks and liars. Your safest bet is not to trust anyone."

"Shit," I grumbled. "Are you trying to help or just being a pain in the ass?"

"I'll tell you what," Fauler said as he stood to face me. "I'll give you some information to check out. If it's useful, then maybe you'll start trusting me."

"What kind of information?"

"Out in the Jundland Wastes is an outpost called Dreviad. There's a clan of Jawas out there, friends of the doctor's, if you can call them that. I've known the Jawas to be conniving snakes, more likely to sell you for droid parts to make a buck than befriend you, but the doctor felt differently. You can't tell them apart, the midgets, so you'll have to ask around for one named Veek, he's part of the trade group that works with Doctor Here'en. Take the local speeder service out there and ask around. See if my info checks out. Be as conspicuous as you can, that way the Imps don't get jumpy. While collecting information, you can think of a better way to get us all out of this situation."

"Isn't asking around going to cause more trouble?"

"Possibly, but everyone will know what you're doing, so they won't feel threatened or surprised. If they confront you, then do your Jedi thing."

"My Jedi thing," I repeated with a frown. "You know, I don't feel like you're being very helpful."

"I've told you everything I know," he countered. "I've got a business and reputation to maintain out here, and I'm not trained for conflict resolution. If I get wind of anything else, I'll pass it on."

The conversation made me even more frustrated, and I left the room through the back door where I entered. Jumping down into the dark alley, I made my way toward the music echoing from the main square. I wandered for a bit, tempted to enter the large bar with flashing dance lights and more patrons than it could hold. What would it hurt to blow off some steam, my old self thought. Master Din had asked me to control my urges and be more deliberate in my actions, and I had tried to be a good Jedi for over a month. I didn't want to ruin things now, so I kept walking past the bars toward the spaceport and my ship. While I walked in the cool evening air, I wondered about the twins again; wishing I could be with them.

Back at the ship, I decided to shower. The sand and dust seemed to have gotten all over me. The situation was way more complicated than I anticipated, and the hope of a quick rescue dribbled out of me and down the drain with the shower water. Master Kiwiiks was still alive, and that was good, but getting her and the Republic weapon away from the Imperials was going to be a real challenge. Worse, it was not the challenge I excelled at - charging in and swinging my lightsaber, but rather diplomacy and intrigue, which was more my father's domain. I cursed the fates that put me in this situation as I shut off the water and reached for my towel. This was not a job for Jedi Knight Jaren Dwar, but for the son my father wished I was.