Chapter 2: The Lead

"You know, buddy, I think we found you a look."

Jas rolled his eyes, he could hear the amusement in Gabe Cooper's voice, even if he couldn't sense it though the Force.

He had only just stepped out of the sonic showers, and felt…if not better, at the very least more normal. He had changed back into his everyday clothes, his black shirt, pants with Corellian blood stripes, and his old nerf hide jacket.

He couldn't really do anything for his hair though, his encounter with that moss worm nest on Nar Shadda had caused him to go through a complete de-con cycle, which, among other things ended with him losing all his hair.

At least his eyebrows had grown back first, he looked at least…a little like his old self. The hair on his head was basically just black fuzz on his scalp, but at least it showed signs of returning.

That was good, for vanity if nothing else.

"My hair is growing back," he assured his clan brother, "If I had known what would happen going into that sewer, I would have let Miri go in first."

He shook his head.

"Though…I don't think she would have been happy to end up bald. She says her hair doesn't grow back like it used to, that is why it always looks so chopped."

Coop chuckled at that.

"A bald Fallenstar, that would have been something to see."

"Wouldn't it though," Jas agree.

He sighed.

"I'm not checking in so that you could see how I look. I was curious how the move went. Is everyone settling in well at the new base?"

"As well as to be expected," his friend and partner replied.

Coop's expression remained neutral, but Jas knew the truth.

His clan brother had liked what they had going on Pee bee, the planet had been the perfect headquarters for their organization. Such a move could be considered weakness by their rivals, but Jas had been insistent.

He remembered very well what Targo had told him when he revealed himself. He had not forgotten Coop's role in his banishment. Jas hoped to keep their old enemy's attention focused on him, but he was unwilling to take the chance that Targo might decide to target Coop again.

Jas didn't want that. Coop had far more to lose than him right now.

Jas Dar Bynn had no desire to put his friend, or his future loved ones, in any more jeopardy.

"The group is settling in," Coop assured him, Jonas has stepped up well in your absence, but you knew that he would, you've always said he would serve well in that role."

"He has done so before," Jas reminded him, "When I was off doing Jedi things, he proved himself more than capable."

Yes, Jas thought, though newer to the organization, Jonas Gillespie was a good second to his friend and partner, plus, if Jas did go off and try to find his own form of happiness, he could do so with a clear conscience knowing that the organization was in good hands.

Yet, he was getting a bit ahead of himself, wasn't he? That search for happiness depended on him finding Val and Vess, and so far, that search had turned up nothing. For three months they had been flying blind, hitting random targets and hoping to shake something loose, so far…they had nothing.

Jas tried not to get frustrated, but he couldn't help it.

Where had Targo fled to?

What was the old traitor's endgame?

Jas had all but decided that he was going to help Vess before she vanished, he had been all but ready to step away from his position within the organization and help Char Valenthyne seat her young mistress on her mother's throne.

Both his own desires, and possibly, the Force, had been pushing him in that direction, at least he thought they were.

It was also possible that he wanted it to be that way, that his attachment to Val and Vess had clouded his judgment, but if that was true…?

No, stop it right there, his conscience chided.

No questioning yourself now, find them, and bring them home safe.

That is the mission, and that is your first priority.

Yes, he thought with a nod.

It was.

He looked again on Cooper, his friend seemed more relaxed than he had been in the past, surprising what Jas had learned through their mutual friends.

"How is Randa doing?" he asked, "We haven't really had a chance to speak since everything fell apart."

"My blushing bride is adjusting," Coop promised him, "She misses what we had on Pee bee, but…"

Jas smiled.

"How is the morning sickness? I heard it has been pretty bad for her?"

"It is getting better," Coop replied, "The medical droid says she should be through the worst of it now."

Jas nodded; despite everything he was happy for his two friends.

Coop smiled.

"You will have a little niece or nephew in a few months, pal. Hope you are ready to see our little family grow, Uncle Jas."

Jas nodded.

It was nice to know that some light still shone, even with everything that was going on, but the problem with light is that it also cast shadows, dark shadows…

…shadows where evil things could hide.

Word of Randa's pregnancy was part of the reason that he had suggested the move. Targo had proven to have a flare for the dramatic, and a desire to strike cruelly at his enemies.

Striking at a man's family, his loved ones, Targo was more than capable of that.

Coop would be a father in a few months, and Jas was happy for him, for Coop and Randa both.

However, he also knew Targo, he might view Coop's happiness as a weakness to be exploited.

Jas had no desire to see his friend, or his new family suffer. He would do what he could to keep their old enemy solely focused on him, keep his eyes blind to all else but the threat that was hunting him.

He wouldn't let Targo hurt Coop, Randa, or the baby that was on the way.

He would shield his friends from their old enemy.

Whatever it took…he would do it.

"I just hope that Randa will be able to sleep through the night again," Coop said, "When the kid comes, we won't have that for a while, or so I've heard."

"It will be a chore, but it will be worth it," Jas promised him.

Coop nodded, he would not admit it over an open line, but he was both happy and scared about becoming a father. His own family had not been the best, so he worried that he might not serve well in that role either. Jas did his best to assure him otherwise.

Focus on Randa and the kid, he had advised, do that…and you will be more than up to the challenge of being both a husband and a father.

Coop accepted his advice, but remained nervous.

But that was good, Jas thought, that is exactly how a loving father should be.

"How is the Gilded Claw working out," Coop asked, changing the subject, "Burr said I could trust Rior, was he right?"

"She is serving her purpose," Jas replied, "Shusk is keeping the ship humming, and Miri and I are investigating any leads we can find on Targo. So far…we've had little luck."

Coop frowned, he shifted uncomfortably.

"I…uh…actually might have something for you on that front. It is a lead, could be dangerous, but…"

Jas perked up.

"There has been a sighting? Has Targo finally come out of hiding?"

"No, but my source has confirmed what he was doing before that business on Alderaan, the job he was doing before he snatched the ladies."

Jas considered that.

If Targo had been setting up the kidnapping while working for this person, he might have used them in some way, might have even left a clue or two of where he intended to flee.

It was something, he thought, anything might be of help at this point.

A recent contact of Targo's might have an idea where he might go to ground if threatened, or how to get in contact with him. They might even be hiding him.

Jas took a deep breath, trying not to appear over eager.

"It is worth a look," he said, "What is the lead?"

"The Wreck," Coop said, "You ever heard of it?"

"Heard the name, never been there," Jas admitted, "Some station in Hutt space isn't it, some kind of free port?"

"Close enough," Coop said, "There has been a lot of fighting on the Wreck in the last year. The Hutts finally pulled out, but their leaving has left a vacuum. Now, rival syndicates are fighting for control of it. It is not a very safe place to be right now."

"The Hutts actually let go of something they considered their property," Jas asked, "That is surprising."

"The Wreck has always been expensive to maintain, despite the value of its location. In the years since it first came online, the Hutts have created new ports and stations, making the place less important than it has been in the past. Guess, they decided to finally cut their losses, but to their rivals, the place still has value, as a beachhead, if nothing else."

"How does Targo fit into all this?"

Coop frowned.

"The way you might expect. One of the syndicates hired him to start hitting their rivals, a job he carried out with his usual sense of brutality. I don't know all the details, but the stories I've heard…well…let's just say it seems that Targo enjoys hurting people, but we already knew that, didn't we?"

"Yeah," Jas agreed, "We did."

"The Syndicate that hired him is known as Syfo Consortium, they are a group of slavers and spice dealers out of Mon Cala. They were forced off their home world and took shelter in Hutt space.

Jas nodded.

Spicers and slavers, he thought grimly, just the kind of people that Targo likes to work for, the kind that don't mind collateral damage.

Again…he felt a twinge of guilt. When he was fifteen, he had had Targo Sei at his mercy, he could have killed him, and cemented his control of Clan Nuna, but at the time, he had thought exile was a more painful punishment.

Everyone that Targo has hurt, everyone that he has killed, those deaths are on my head as much as they are his. The blood of those people is on MY hands!

Jas hated to think like that, but he feared it was true.

In casting Targo out of Clan Nuna, he had saved them, but in the process unleased a very ruthless and cruel brute on the galaxy.

He found himself thinking about something he had read long ago, about how people tend to create their own enemies.

In Targo's case, Jas feared that he had done just that.

The man had developed a very nasty reputation among his fellow hunters, Jas had learned about it as he and Fallenstar had travelled to the various guilds in the last few months. Targo was infamous in many hunter's circles; he only took dead or alive contracts, but…only if they were worth enough…dead. It was said that Targo never brought in any living merchandise.

Once again, Jas wasn't surprised.

The man's honor was worth nothing. It was why he had been exiled from the clan, and why this story had to end.

Jas nodded grimly.

He would not let Targo go this time. He owed it to all the people the man had hurt.

There had to be an end to Targo Sei. It wasn't revenge, or even punishment, it was precaution.

To save lives, he would do it.

To keep the galaxy safe, he would kill Targo Sei.

He wouldn't hesitate, not this time.

Coop continued his briefing.

"The Consortium had the Wreck fully under their control, or at least, appeared to. In recent weeks they have suffered several major setbacks, according to my source. Rivals are moving in again. The fighting is intensifying again.

Jas smiled cruelly.

"They might turn to Targo again, ask him to intervene?"

"They might," Coop agreed, "As I told you, it was a lead."

Yes, Jas thought, a really good one.

He smiled.

He was pleased.

"I'll have Rior set course for the Wreck, we should be there in a matter of hours."

"Whoa there, pal," Coop said quickly, "Don't be so quick to jump on this, the information did come with a price tag."

Jas paused.

"How much did the contact want?"

"Not credits," Coop clarified, "The information was offered in exchange for the promise of aid. Two Jedi Knights recently vanished on the Wreck, the contact would like you to investigate, see If you can turn up anything about their whereabouts."

The price took Jas by surprise.

Two Jedi…vanished?

"Do we know what these two Jedi were doing in Hutt space? It is a bit out of the way for two guardians of the Republic?"

Again, Coop shifted uncomfortably.

"They were apparently looking into a kidnapping, a noble and her bodyguard were snatched from Alderaan."

Jas' eyes narrowed.

What?

He couldn't entirely contain his temper.

Was Coop asking him what he thought he was asking of him?

Those…those Hutt spawn!

"So…let me get this straight," Jas said coldly, "The Jedi they assigned to find Vess and Val have gone missing, and now…your contact would like me to find them?"

"Sounds about right, yes."

Jas' frown deepened.

"I wouldn't happen to know this contact, would I?"

Coop said nothing, he didn't need to, all he did was step aside.

The little green figure stepped into the holo-field, had he been standing before Jas, he barely would have come up to his knee. His long black hair pulled up into a top-knot. The alien's dark brown robes looking almost black over the shimmering holo-comm.

Jas almost laughed; he should have known.

"Hello, Master Mondar," Jas said politely, "It has been a while."

The Jedi Shadow smiled, his long green ears rose slightly, a sign of amusement.

"Greetings, Jas Dar Bynn," he said bowing his head, "Right you are, a while…it has been."

Jas had to resist the desire to shake his head.

Mondar had been the one that had brought him back into the Jedi Order in the first place. He was the Jedi Shadow that had tracked Jas and his companions to their base on Corellia.

In the years since, the two had worked together many times. He had even offered to mentor Jas when the council agreed to make him an acolyte of the Jedi Order. Nothing had come of that offer, but the two had remained friends, and had gone on missions together, mainly when the Shadow was tasked with investigating Jas' old enemies the Sunset Collective.

The little Jedi was quite skilled, Jas recognized that, and now…it seemed that he had learned about the organization's fall back spot.

So much for their secret base, Jas thought, but then again, he should not have been surprised.

Mondar was no fool. Of course, he would be keeping tabs on the Cooper/Halcyon group. Even though Jas considered the little shadow a friend, he would not take the chance of Jas having a place to go to ground, should he have decided to betray the order.

Was that why he was here now? Had the council finally decided to have Jas taken into custody? He had resisted surrendering to them months ago.

Yet, that didn't explain why Mondar would help him now, did it?

Jas pursed his lips.

What was this?

What game was the council playing? They slap him down, ask him to turn himself in, and then send Mondar with this information…

…he couldn't see how it all fit together.

"Did the council assign you to bring me in?"

"Not why I've come, this is. Pleased with your decision, the council was not, but…not above letting you try, they were not."

His answer surprised Jas.

They wanted to see what he came up with?

That was…surprising.

"If you have come to ask me to turn myself in," he began, "I'm afraid that it is going to have to wait. I still have a mission to complete."

"Know this…I do," Mondar promised, "It is for this reason that I've come, yes. Need your help in this matter, I do."

At least he is being honest, Jas realized, he felt no deception from the shadow, his old friend had hoped that he might aid him in this, despite all that had happened recently passed between Jas and the Jedi Order.

Well, he could definitely say that he admired his fellow Jedi's courage at least.

"So, what happened?" he asked, "what drew these Jedi investigators to the Wreck?"

"Like you, seeking out the Bounty Hunter, Targo Sei, they were. Was sighted at the Wreck several times, before the matter on Alderaan, he was."

"And now…they've gone missing?"

The shadow nodded.

"Masters Swann and Zymron reported to the Council, they did. Were on their way to the Wreck, when vanished, they were."

"Did they say who they were meeting in their report, the name of their contact?"

"No contact was named, I believe. Wanted to speak with the head of the Syfo Consortium, they intended."

Jas digested that.

"They just went there, hoping to speak with the head of a major crime syndicate?"

"Seems that way, it does."

Jas considered that news with a frown.

Two Jedi, in Hutt Space, just walking up to a major crime figure, no subtlety, not even taking the time to scout ahead first…

He shook his head.

He was never one to be critical of his fellow Jedi, but…

A foolish choice, bordering on stupid.

Crime syndicates rose and fell on their reputation. The attention of the Jedi was not something they would like, and more to the point the reputation they could gain by dealing with two Jedi would have been a major coup, especially if they were having a problem with rivals. If a group was strong enough to deal with the order and be able to survive the consequences.

Jas shook his head.

What had they been thinking?!

Confidence was one thing, arrogance was another!

What kind of investigators had these two been?

He looked at Mondar.

"I take it these masters had little experience in dealing with the fringe? Why did the council give them this assignment?"

"Volunteered, they did. Worked closely on matters involving the Senate they did."

Closely with the Senate?

Jas didn't have to work hard to add up the facts.

He smiled.

"They wouldn't have happened to have been allies of my brother, were they?"

Mondar hissed and nodded.

"Worked with Sy Dar Bynn, they both did. Served well in the core worlds, they both did."

"The core isn't Hutt space," Jas said.

He tried to imagine how the meeting between the Jedi and the Syfo Syndicate must have gone. He imagined the two Jedi stepping onto the station, in their robes and radiating confidence, expecting the criminals here to bend to their every whim.

Things were different when you left the core. The Senate held little sway in Hutt space, and the syndicates were not easily cowed, who knew how they would react? If the group felt threatened…?

Jas considered his options.

"I could go there as a representative of the Cooper/Halcyon organization," he suggested, "Tell the Syfo people we are interested in establishing allies in Hutt space, maybe even seeking to invest in their operation. If they are having trouble with rivals, they might be up to negotiate. Cooper/Halcyon is known, respected…"

Mondar smiled.

"Work, it could," he agreed, "Try to impress you, these criminals may, tell you about the Jedi, they might. Perhaps…even tell you about Targo Sei, they might."

Jas nodded.

Yes, it might work.

He turned to Mondar.

"Does the council know about this? Do they know that you are reaching out to me?"

"Concerned about the missing Jedi, the council is. Asked me to investigate, they did."

Jas frowned.

His friend didn't answer the question, which was all the answer he needed.

Damn.

"That would be a no, then."

Mondar sighed.

"Jas," he said, "Not always right, the council is. Asking you, to help with this, I am."

Jas pursed his lips.

He was tempted to say no, to let the two Jedi twist in the wind. If he went to the Wreck and they were all right, they might try to interfere in his mission.

Yet, Mondar had asked him to help with this. His friend had asked for his aid.

Mondar had had his back many times. He liked and respected the little shadow.

Jas sighed.

Damn it.

He really needed to have his head examined.

Finally, he nodded.

"I will speak with the Syfo people," he promised, "See if I can find out what happened to the two Jedi."

Mondar grinned.

"Appreciate that, I do, Jas Dar Bynn."

"You're Welcome," he said, still feeling like he was making a mistake.

I thought I was done with the Jedi, and now here I am, being drawn back in.

I'm a karking fool!

"I will send word as soon as I can," he promised.

"All that I ask, that is," the shadow said, "Proud of you, Master Vey would be."

Jas winced.

He had not spoken with his Jedi Master since his choice to break with the order. The last time they had spoken, she had agreed to speak with the council on his behalf, tried to get them to see sense in the matter of succession on Bantoon.

"Have you spoken with Vey?"

"Briefly," he replied.

"How does she feel about this? Does she…understand why I'm doing this?"

Mondar chuckled, likely sensing Jas' insecurity.

"Understand why you are doing this, she does, knows your sense of responsibility, she does."

His expression turned serious.

"A conventional Jedi, you are not, Jas Dar Bynn. A bad thing, that is not. Plenty of guardians, sentinels, and consulars the order has. Sometimes…a different type of tool is needed. Go places that a normal Jedi cannot, you can. Understand that, I do. Vey understands."

He smiled again.

"Understand that…some on the council does. Willing to wait and see what you accomplish, they are."

Jas Dar Bynn considered that.

So, not all the council bought his brother's take on the Bantoon situation, and what happened on Alderaan, some of them were willing to see if he could do what they needed.

He should have been angry, maybe even felt used, but he didn't.

In truth, he didn't care what the council thought, as long as they didn't interfere with him finding, and saving, Val and Vess.

It was his mission that mattered.

Whatever it took.

"I will do as you ask, my friend," he promised, "Thank you for the lead, it is most appreciated."

"Welcome, you are," Mondar said, "Careful you must be, my friend, into dark places your journey will take you, tempted you will be."

"I've felt it," he admitted, "I'm not so arrogant to admit that I haven't, but I have no intention of falling, of failing the people that depend on me."

Mondar nodded, he seemed…satisfied with Jas' answer.

"Fallenstar, still with you, she is?"

"She is helping me, yes."

Hm," Mondar said with another nod.

"Keeping her in check you are? Making sure she is not going too far, are you?"

Jas almost laughed at that.

"I must confess, master, it has been the other way around several times on this mission. It is Miri who has kept me on the path. I won't deny that there have been moments that I've been pulled towards the darkness, she had pulled me back, each time, reminding me of why I'm doing this. She has been my light, as much as I've tried to be hers."

Mondar smiled, he radiated a sense of pleasure.

"Good it is that she has come to trust you," he said, "Always believed I have that she could be saved. The first step to her redemption, this mission may be."

"She is worth saving," Jas agreed, "I've spent enough time around her now to acknowledge that.

"Good," Mondar said, "Very good."

He bowed to his friend.

"May the Force be with you, Jas Dar Bynn, and good hunting."

"May the Force be with you always, master, and thank you."

The hologram faded.

Jas sighed.

Well…they had a new lead.

It was something he supposed.

He made for the door, he needed to speak with Rior, they needed to set course for the Wreck, but first he would need to reach out to the Syfo group, see if they would be willing to meet with him, on behalf of the Cooper/Halcyon organization of course.

The door to his quarters hissed open. Jas had needed to stop quickly.

Mirax Fallenstar was waiting outside, the former padawan turned bounty hunter was smirking at him.

"I'm your light, huh?" she asked.

She batted her eyes innocently.

"Oh Jas…I'm so touched."

He wondered what she meant for a moment, then he noticed the earpiece she was wearing.

His eyes narrowed.

"You bugged my hyper-comm unit?"

"Don't be paranoid," she replied dismissively, "I've bugged all the hyper-comm units. The program is designed to kick on should certain phrases be uttered: Jedi, council, shadows…"

She shrugged.

"I haven't survived out here as long as I have by taking unnecessary risks."

Jas shook his head.

Really, Miri, he wanted to say.

Really?

"We're you afraid that I was going to turn you in?" he asked her.

"No, but I was worried that the council might try to lure us into a trap, there are Jedi out there who would be more than happy if I ceased to be a problem, maybe you as well."

Jas considered that; she wasn't entirely wrong.

His dear twin brother came to mind, Sy wouldn't lose any sleep if Jas was to fail.

"Mondar's not trying to set us up," he assured her, "I trust him."

"As you say," she said with a sigh, "Just know that I have your back if things get unstuck."

Jas grinned.

"I know, and I appreciate that."

She smiled.

My Jedi sister, he thought, they were in an odd pair indeed.

They both followed the Jedi path, but had both fallen from what would be considered the purer faith.

Was that good or bad, he couldn't really say.

"So," she said falling in beside him, "The Wreck?"

"So, it seems," he said, "You ever been there?"

"Pulled a few jobs there," she answered.

"Got any allies on station?"

"None that I would trust with anything like this."

Jas nodded.

"So, we are on our own."

"I suppose so," she agreed, "Just you, me, and the Force."

Jas nodded.

It was enough, he thought.

It had to be.

For Val and Vess.

It had to be.