Chapter 49

I sat at a table in a small kitchenette, watching Kina Ha bustling around the place, reaching into cabinets, gathering all manner of ingredients and speaking aloud to herself as she worked. It was a clear coping mechanism she had developed to deal with her solitude .

Her place was a small apartment just down the hall from the moon pool.

The abbreviated tour she took me on showed a well lived in, almost cozy place. Starkly at odds with the sterile atmosphere the majority of kaminoans lived in. It had various items on the shelves that were both ancient and more recent. Quite a few of which I recognized. She actually had an old personal cloaking device and shield from the Old Republic era! Unfortunately, a brief probe of technometry told me that the both were just fancy non-functional relics. Time had not been kind to the inner workings. Those old shields were wet paper bags to modern blasters and the stygian crystal in the cloak had long since burnt itself out from use.

Her small living room had a woven meditation mat sitting in front of an expansive window, looking out into the dark abyss of the ocean outside. Just the idea of meditating in front of that view made me internally shudder. There was also a 200 year old holovid projector, which had a neatly organized case of data chits beside it. The floor was bedecked with a patchwork of carpets that had origins from many worlds - one of which I recognized was an ancient Nubian quilt and other decorative items that definitely came from Mandalore as well.

"Water, padawan?"

Kina put down a long glass in front of me.

I debated for a while, even tapping a bit of prescience. I could use my helmet's emergency induction port to drink, but was it safe to take off the helmet to drink and eat here? The future didn't seem to indicate me getting sick, but I was still worried about Kina.

"Really young one, stop prodding the future and take that helmet off, if I was going to get sick from something, best it happen and get it over with," she scoffed.

I shrugged and buried my surprise that she could even sense my prescience actively. I broke the seal of the helmet and lifted it off, freeing my lekku and montrals from their sheaths and pushing them back to a more natural arrangement.

"Doesn't that feel better? It's a wonder you can stand being cooped up like that," she asked, her big black eyes did quite well in expressing her emotion and intent.

"Of course it does, master."

"And don't worry your lekku about the food, I'd be a poor host if I fed you something unfriendly to a togruta stomach."

I put my helmet down and took a sip of the water. Very fresh and cool, with a subtle hint of the natural minerals in there. She obviously had a working desalinator down here.

"So you use Force stealth to return to the surface for parts when things break down?"

Kina openly smiled and nodded. It was such an alien expression to see on a kaminoan. In the Force, she was… warm, welcoming. It was like being out in the sun on a cold winter day.

"I generally make a trip every hundred years to the surface. As much as I'm mostly self-sufficient down here, there are some things that I can't smith or make by myself in the machine shop. For food, there's an indoor greenhouse and I take the sub up to hunt at around the 300 meter level."

That a kaminoan was capable of unassisted 300 meter diving was rather incredible. That was about the deepest non-aquatic species could go with scuba gear. Even aquatic species like the Mon Calamari, kept their settlements and cities around the 200 meter mark. They could go deeper, but given their activities in space and on the surface with land dwellers, sheer practicality meant they kept things shallow.

She kept the small talk going as she continued to prepare the dish.

"So what sports do you follow, youngling?"

"Pod racing mostly, master."

"Ah, then you have a fellow aficionado in me. My holonet receiver is quite old and it's difficult to stay informed about the galaxy. Of course, I prefer it that way. I let a holovid download every week or so."

"How up to date are you about…"

She held up her long hand gracefully. "I know my kind has grown an army again for the Republic. Let's not talk about unpleasant things so quickly, dear."

She placed the dish of food directly into a cooker appliance, tapped a few buttons and it hummed to life. A mere two minutes later it was done and she served it to me. It was a mostly meaty dish of seafood, mixed with a few aquatic plants. I was very tempted to run a probability line to test whether it would agree with me, but stopped myself.

I grabbed the offered utensils and began eating without hesitation.

Kina smiled and patted me on the shoulder. Yup, that had been a test.

She walked past me and took a seat on a long backed reclining chair that definitely had a 'home made' feel to it.

The food was good. No, it wasn't just good. It was bloody excellent. It melted in my mouth and hit every note of flavor. For so long, since the start of the war, I'd been on the military gruel that was served on the Resolute and even though I'd managed to improve it somewhat over time by stopping for fresh ingredients, the chefs just didn't have culinary experience working to the level you'd expect from those who worked in it professionally. Most chefs who worked on the Resolute were also troopers themselves who saw frontline action.

Kina evidently had a considerable amount of time during her hermitage to perfect a lot of skills. I'd yank her off this planet to serve in the Resolute's kitchen in a heartbeat. It was a stupid thought, but my taste buds were in heaven.

"So where do they race these days?"

"Malastare, Tatooine, Coruscant, Oovo IV, Baroonda, Ando Prime, Ord Ibanna, Mon Gazza," I recited the list.

"Only eight worlds?"

"Some have multiple tracks, the circuit is 21 races in a standard year."

Kina nodded regally, "Suppose the cost of hyper travel in this era forced this somewhat."

"The racing calendar has already been shortened because of the war. Malastare was hit with an invasion, so their races won't be held this year."

"Didn't happen in my day, those races kept going… even under the Eternal Empire."

I blinked in astonishment. My vision and my senses had given me some ballpark estimate for her age, but for her to be around then…

"You were alive during Revan's time?"

"He was active during my third century of life. I never saw him personally or talked to him. I was too busy traveling the galaxy and avoiding his Sith wannabes, though I had to dispatch a few to become one with the Force when they become too annoying," she sniffed in disdain.

"Did you fight in the Cold War after or against the Eternal Empire?"

"I fought against Vitiate and his lackeys. My contribution was one blade in an army of many. I claim no special feats or significant victories. It is in the past, where it belongs."

I nodded and continued eating, my mind whirling and struggling to find a solid footing. There was no way I was going to fangirl or ask stupid questions. There was one question though, that was burning in me.

"Why are you here, master?"

Kina Ha put her hands together in an almost praying gesture, "It's not really a topic for conversation over a meal, Padawan Tano. I sense it will inevitably lead to something that will spoil your appetite. There is no urgency here."

I let out a breath and nodded, just… continuing to eat.

In the fast pace of the war and everything that went with it, had I forgotten the simple lesson of patience?

"Though I do have a most grave question for you," she continued, speaking in a very foreboding voice. "Are you a fan of bolo-ball?"

I inwardly winced, "I'm rather ambivalent about that sport. I'll watch it, but it's never really appealed to me."

Bolo-ball or limmie, depending on what planet you were on, was the Corusca Galaxy version of association football i.e. soccer, with the twist that full body tackles were allowed. It was also highly popular on Mandalore and numerous other worlds throughout the galaxy, but not on Coruscant - though the planet did have a team in the Galactic Cup. The strongest team with the most rabid fans were from Fwillsving - who left their capital city almost in ruins due to the enthusiasm of their celebrations after they won the Cup.

Kina frowned at me and I sensed a slight hint of anger. It almost made me want to disappear into the floor, such was its strength.

Then her mood swung a full 180 and she gave a big smile, "Good, you stand up for yourself, even in the face of a three thousand year old Jedi Master."

"Uh, shouldn't that be 3900 years old, master?"

"I've long since given up keeping an accurate tally of the years, padawan. Since when does a padawan question or correct a master? What does that young grszhrufft teach you on Coruscant these days?"

I had no idea what word she used there, nor was it any language I knew. She was also yanking on my chain and clearly enjoying it.

I finished the last bite of my meal and put my utensils into the proper position to signal I was done.

"Did you enjoy the meal, padawan?" Kina asked pointedly.

"Master, should you desire to open a restaurant, I will be your most avid customer."

"Interesting idea, padawan. I'm afraid it would have to be specialized to aquatic foods though," she grinned. "Now that you have a full belly, I suppose I should answer your question. Why am I here? The impetus was the same as what led you to me. A vision from the Force. It struck me while I had briefly been living on Vorusku. It spoke to me of my people creating an army of countless soldiers of the Dark Side. At the time, our proficiency in cloning was far from well known, we were very careful to pick our customers, research them and offer the service. If they refused, measures were taken to erase their memories. We knew all too well the power we offered to potential clients, the long term ramifications of it. The Sith were a known factor in those days and we would never do business with them - too unstable and just as likely to stab you in the back after they had gotten their clone army. The vision indicated that something had gone very wrong.

"I rushed back here with all speed, only to find there was no such army. At best we had just produced a few small clone divisions to supplement a number of PDF armies for what was the Mid-Rim back then. It was clear that my vision had been of the future and so I determined I would have to stand vigil over Kamino and wait. Keeping an eye on every customer and clone army my people made."

"And in three thousand plus years, nothing matched your vision or seemed odd?" I asked in amazement.

"No."

"Nothing about this clone army, with the Republic as a customer, stood out to you?"

"No," she said, tenting her fingers again. "However, your presence, sent so clearly via a vision from the Force, to interrupt my vigil means something is wrong. I must have missed something about this one." Kina closed her eyes and I felt the Force congeal. It was the only word I had to describe it. "That the Republic is a customer is not a surprise to me, after they so foolishly disbanded the Army of Light. Anyone with a hint of common sense and foresight could determine that one day, a challenge would emerge to the status quo. It is not in the nature of the universe and life to endure a period of stagnation as the last five hundred years has shown. It did surprise me that a Jedi Master was the one to initiate the contract for the clones."

I jumped on that thread, "And what did you sense about the second Jedi Master who followed him?"

Kina Ha opened her eyes and gazed at me. It felt for the briefest of moments like I was the smallest molecule under a microscope.

"He was older, more experienced. He wore loss on his shoulders like a heavy cloak, a weary heart, jaded… oh." She placed her hands on her lap and stared out towards her living room. Her emotional control was superb, yet through the Force and this close I could tell she was in the grip of extreme anger towards herself. I placed myself in her shoes, thousands of years of vigil, only to be fooled at the last possible moment. All that time… for seemingly nothing, wasted. "A remarkable talent," she said at last.

"Count Dooku of Serenno, also known as Darth Tyranus, current leader of the Confederacy of Independent Systems. Former Jedi Master who also sat on the High Council. Taken as an apprentice by the current Sith Lord of the Banite Line, Darth Sidious."

Kina turned to me, her eyes burning with intent. "I have added my shielding and obfuscation to your own. Speak, Padawan."

I nodded and obeyed.

Kina Ha listened patiently and didn't interrupt me as I spoke of… almost everything.

The history of the Banite Sith.

Palpatine, which segued into a discussion of recent history of the last fifty years in the galaxy.

How the galaxy was carefully orchestrated into the current conflict.

The rise of the Trade Federation and its prominence in galactic affairs.

The CIS.

The current political dance in the Senate and how the Jedi fit into it.

The Grand Army.

The biochip and all the Orders programmed into it.

The weakness of the Jedi, the Shroud, Sidious' foresight.

Anakin, the Prophecy.

It was a relief to unburden myself fully like this. To someone who not only would listen but could do so without fear of having fucking Sidious waiting in the wings with an assassin or a plot to twist it into his own advantage.

After hours of speaking, I ran out of steam.

Master Kina stood from her seat and offered me another glass of water, which I gulped down greedily.

"It's wrong," she said at last, putting a large comforting hand on my back. "Everything about this situation, the state of the galaxy, the Jedi, the Force itself. How could I've been so blind to it?"

"It's because the Force itself has been 'attacked'," I explained. "I only have theories, but it was something that Plagueis did."

"Immortality, the old goal, always with them it's the same story," Kina scoffed, she walked towards her chair and dumped herself in it with a huff. "So selfish, so desperate to cling to the flesh and this plane of existence."

"The difference is that in the old days it was ritual and power, Plageuis was a man of science and he succeeded in creating life from the Force."

"You have post-cognition as well?" she asked in astonishment.

"No, I draw from the future probabilities," I explained wearily.

"Much is explained, so you see futures where these truths and facts are revealed. It leaves you paths to draw backward and investigate."

"That's one way to look at it, Master."

"Fascinating," she said and folded her hands on her stomach. "My own foresight is of the more traditional kind, you could say. Yet it seems I can not rely on it now because of Sidious's meddling."

"The further you stay away from Coruscant, the more reliable it is. Even my unique expression of foresight is limited to a day when I'm physically there."

"Well, that nicely rules out me emerging from my obscurity. Can you see what would happen if I walked openly into the Jedi Temple?"

I winced as the future probability line crashed into me with the force of a star destroyer.

"A steady stream of assassination attempts, eventually a bomb causes a mass casualty event at the Temple. You leave and are continually hounded by bounty hunters, whom you kill. Dooku eventually approaches the chief dathomirian witch, who the Banite Sith have a tentative cooperative alliance with. The Nightsisters empower a male with their rituals, granting him overwhelming strength in the Force. This nightbrother, in combination with other orchestrated attacks and deceptions, result in you sacrificing your life to save an entire colony of settlers and a number of Jedi."

It was so frustrating. In the end, that even a Jedi as powerful as Kina Ha, would be just a blip against Palpatine's plans, if that path was taken.

"Well, that sounds about right and exactly how I would choose to die. Jedi are guardians at the gate, who defend life no matter the cost," she said with zealous conviction that rang with truth. "How long do you have before you must return?"

"The Resolute will be combat ready in four days."

"I need to think about all this, meditate, do some of my own travels into the Force. It's clear to me that we can't rely entirely on its guidance alone anymore. If this Sith Lord has done what I think he has done, then there are aspects to this that go over your head, padawan. I doubt even Yoda has the knowledge to understand. Much has been lost. Return to your master. Whatever happens I will find you in two days aboard your ship."

I stood and formally bowed to her, "Thank you, Master Ha."

She laughed, "Don't thank me yet, Padawan Tano. Thank me, when this Sidious is destroyed down to his very essence."

"Hmmm, opportunity, great this is," Holo-Yoda declared on his holocron perch.

"I don't know, Master. As old and powerful as she seems, it doesn't seem as if she can make much real difference against the enemy," Anakin pointed out.

"Don't put too much stock in my prescience, master. It's but one path that can happen."

"Yes, the future is in motion, but since we can't fight him conventionally at the moment, it doesn't matter if she could physically defeat him."

"Knowledge she brings, Skywalker. That which was lost, can be found. Opens new paths and possibilities."

"There is that, I suppose," he admitted.

"Whatever she decides, she won't be staying on Kamino, that at least we can be mostly certain of," I said, almost all of the probability lines pointed in that direction.

Anakin chirping comlink interrupted any further discussion.

Holo-Yoda vanished and I grabbed the holocron to put it in its dedicated hiding place, a small smuggling style compartment Anakin had built directly into the side of the screen of my desk terminal.

That done, he tapped his vambrace. A small holo of a clone naval officer appeared on his forearm. "General Skywalker, incoming holo from the Council for you."

"Put them through."

Mace Windu's holo replaced the clone.

"Skywalker," he greeted with a shallow bow of the head. "There's been a development. The Trade Federation has blockaded Pantora."

"This song and dance again?" he asked in exasperation.

"Indeed. They claim that the level of unpaid debt that the Pantorans have, has reached unacceptable levels."

"Which it naturally has not, they just unilaterally decided to change the limit especially for the Pantorans," I sighed in exasperation.

"Dooku has publicly offered the CIS's assistance in breaking the blockade, should the Pantorans join them."

"You know, one day, I'd actually like to see this tactic play out, the supposedly neutral Trade Federation fighting against the CIS over a world." I could help but giggle at the ridiculous scenario.

Windu gave me a steely eyed look. "I don't have to remind you of the balancing act the Republic has to play with the Trade Federation, padawan. A significant portion of the Republic economy depends on them and their thinly veiled neutrality."

"Master, do you have an assignment for us?" Anakin said quickly, not so smoothly keeping the conversation to the point.

"The entire situation has taken on another dynamic," Mace continued neutrally. "The new pantoran leader, Chairman Papanoida, accompanied their senator to Coruscant to help prevent the blockade from being legitimized. That debate is currently ongoing. However, two days ago, bounty hunters kidnapped the chairman's daughters. The local CPF are investigating as it is technically their jurisdiction." Only a Jedi could really perceive the de-facto deputy grandmaster's opinion on the matter. "Senator Chuchi was unsatisfied with their progress and doubted the competence of the CPF investigator assigned to the case."

"She went on her own hunt for the criminals then, even though she knew they were undoubtedly backed by the Separatists," Anakin deduced.

"Correct, she took a diplomatic frigate yesterday and is on her way to the blockade. We have also learned that Papanoida is also unofficially pursuing the case. Just a few hours ago, he and his son left Coruscant, bound for Tatooine. Jedi Slicers monitored a DNA sample request from the chairman, which identified a bounty hunter called Greedo, who is known to be a common sight among Jabba's retinue.

"This assignment is going to be unofficial and undercover. Padawan Tano, we are sending you an encrypted flight plan, this should allow you to intercept Senator Chuchi's transport. You are to escort and protect her, posing as an aide. Knight Skywalker, you need to cover for your padawan's absence. Create an alibi that will withstand any investigative scrutiny."

"Understood, Master," Anakin nodded.

"Force be with you both."

The holo faded.

"Ten credits says that I need to leave immediately," I openly scowled.

"Not taking that bet," he retorted, tapping on his comlink, which brought up a 3D hyper map, which traced a course all the way from Coruscant to Pantora. He ran a few projections. "Yes, based on this if you leave within the hour, you can meet the senator at New Cov on the Correlian Run, then a three day trip to Pantora."

"Which ship am I using, master?"

"The Twilight, it's fast and I've since installed a variable transponder. As long as you keep your intercept in deep space and away from any commonly used hyper points, there should be no problems."

"Should I also ask just how you're going to create the illusion of me remaining on board, not only to the entire crew, but to the ship's computer system?" I arched my left brow at him.

"You could ask, but you'd be wasting precious time, Snips."

I threw my hands up, "Fine, I get the hint. I'll get packing. Just what are you going to tell Master Ha though? Not to mention the Blades?"

"The truth, now go, shoo. You have your first senatorial bodyguard duty to get to."

Despite his evasion of telling me how he was going to create my alibi, it was pretty easy to guess. I had left the ship without informing him, so a ready excuse to 'punish' me was there. This would involve confinement to quarters and being assigned hours of meditation practice. The next clue came when he grabbed my full set of Aegis armor, then had me walk around and move under the eye of a handheld scanner. Then of course, to sell it completely, I had to leave behind all three of my lightsabers. Thankfully the 'ownership' of the Darksaber couldn't be so easily broken and I wasn't 'giving' it to Anakin for him to use in a martial sense.

There was also no choice but to inform Ursa Wren of the undercover assignment and she was naturally not happy at all. I did not have to pull rank as her Manda'lor to get her cooperation, but at the very least she insisted that I carry a pair of spare WESTAR-34s if I was going to leave my blades behind.

Then there was the question of my outfit. I would have to initially use my hapan clothes on the outward journey and make a quick stop along the way to find clothes that would fit my coming role. Mon Gazza seemed a promising place to conduct a few trades and as it was a shadowport run by the Pyke Syndicate there would be no records kept of a G9 Rigger small freighter coming in for a landing.

Then there was the issue of simply getting to the Twilight unseen. This was accomplished using the simplest method possible. Anakin turned off the surveillance sensors in a manner that seemed like it was malfunctioning. Then it was just a matter of using my own infiltration abilities. I could also use minor Alter Mind tricks on the clones to divert attention or give them 'Oh I forgot to do something important' feelings.

The excuse for the Twilight being launched on autopilot in the direction of the Corellian Run was that Anakin wanted a few upgrades that had to be installed by dry docking the ship on Corellia.

So it was that after about one hour and ten minutes of frantic prep, I was seated in the pilot seat on the Twilight and it dove into hyper, bound for Rishi, which linked to the Manda Merchant Hyper Route.

I couldn't help but feel a little naked without my sabers, despite the weight of the blasters on my hips.

There was also the looming chore that I was going to have to accomplish during the two day trip to Mon Gazza. I was going to have to come up with a new facial and lekku pattern and apply it. My togruta cosmetic kit had all the tools and supplies, it was just a pain in the ass to use. Adjusting the natural pattern you were born with was something that a lot of affluent city togruta did on the daily, as they came up with all manner of weird designs, hoping it would catch on as trends. Such frivolity and attention to looks was of vanity, of the flesh, so I didn't bother beyond keeping my skin moisturized and healthy.

"Stop procrastinating, Ahsoka," I said to myself as I stared into the infinitely long hyperspace tunnel.

I pulled myself out of the pilot chair and headed into the small captain's cabin just aft of the cockpit. Then walked out with a small case into the Twilight's WC.

My reflection in the mirror regarded me and I pondered the various options. I definitely didn't want to go overboard. I could just change the color of the rings around my lekku to a different shade of purple. Maybe add a few thinner rings in between. Use a bit of makeup to just hide the marks on my cheeks to form a diamond. Then create extra white diamonds on my forehead. Those changes would at least let me skip using the cosmetic laser and only needed the ink hypo.

That took about twenty minutes of fiddling with the various applicators until I was happy enough with the results. The final look was nothing to write home about and I'm sure the Shili cityfolk would laugh at my lack of originality.

I returned to the captain's cabin and pondered my clothing situation. It was such a stupid thing to be caught short on. Even my non-hapan clothing didn't really fit with the conservative pantoran mindset. How I wish things could've been so simple as to just wear a hooded cloak or poncho. Going incognito just didn't work that way. I had to appear to be a pantoran senatorial aide that was traveling with the senator. It was not guaranteed that Senator Chuchi had any clothing in my size, even though we were roughly the same height. Resolute's stores only had materials that were useful in making naval uniforms and there had been no time to even steal an outfit or modify it.

So for the moment, I had to be content with a black tech crew overall that I used when either Anakin or I were tinkering with our fighters. It had quite a bit of visible wear, tear and persistent stains so I wouldn't come off as 'dressing up'. Combined with my gun belt and utility harness, I looked a bit ridiculous, but at least I didn't look like Ahsoka Tano anymore.

Now I was Abehla Mizal, pilot of the light freighter Shili Siren, just plying my trade along the Manda Route heading back towards the Corellian Run.

I headed back into the cockpit and blinked at what my senses were telling me. Then did a thorough internal check via the Force.

Yes, I was seeing what I was seeing and there was no external illusion being woven by some dathomirian witch.

I released a fortifying breath, headed for the co-pilot seat, dumped myself in it and turned to my unexpected passenger.

"Greetings Master Ha," I said with a bow of my head.

The tall kaminoan merely smiled and acknowledged me with a nod. "Greetings padawan, don't mind me, just familiarizing myself with the controls, it's been a while. Good emotional control by the way, I've managed to get full blown screams of terror from knights back in my day."

I didn't do the impolite thing, such as throw my senses and mental probes her way, but passively, everything reported that Kina Ha was actually sitting in the pilot seat. She was also neatly hiding her prodigious strength in the Force as well.

Her outfit was also interesting. Blue pants and boots, with a brown tunic, over which was a hardened leather outfit that framed her upper chest. The tunic also included a flexing collar which completely covered her thin neck all the way to her chin. It was distinctly at odds with every modern kaminoan fashion I'd seen, which always left their long, thin necks uncovered. The final touch was a leather helmet/hat combo which had goggles for her large eyes.

"Would it be pointless to ask just how you got here, master?"

"Certainly, as you already know the answer, you're just looking for confirmation."

Yes, a Jedi veteran of the Sith Cold War and the War of Liberation against the Eternal Empire would clearly know a thing or two about the Jedi Shadow's arts of stealth.

"I take it your decision was reached faster than you had anticipated?"

"Yes, as you can imagine, I am not someone accustomed to reaching a decision quickly. Time is something I've always had in abundant supply. Yet to my surprise, after barely hours of meditation, I realized that I couldn't stand the thought of spending another day in my hermitage. The Force sent you to deliver the kick in the neck I sorely needed."

"So what are you aiming to do, master? I realize I'm just a padawan playing at being a spymaster-"

She raised her hand gracefully to interrupt me. "I am not going to take the reins of your efforts, padawan. You began it, it's your network, your leadership is what it answers to. I will merely add myself to it, advise you and train you as needed. The Banite Sith requires not the blade of the past. It is up to the Jedi of this era to stand and defeat them."

I hated that weight, that burden, yet I had chosen to take it up. "Master, from a certain point of view, we have already been defeated."

"Just because that selfish maniac sits in the chancellor's seat does not equal defeat," Kina said firmly. "There have been many occasions where the Jedi have been at odds with the person occupying that position."

"Yes master, but they were not outright Sith."

"That is a new twist, I agree. Yet, for the moment, Palpatine is forced to act in the bounds of his fair persona. The wheels of democracy are still turning and they can be made to turn against him with the correct application of politics and the occasional dagger in the night. The challenge is simply to find the correct tool at the correct time. We must strain his foresight to the limit. Narrow his choices until they are as a giant wave suddenly bearing down upon him, that no amount of maneuvering will let him avoid."

"It sounds so easy when you say it like that, master."

"Nothing about this fight in the shadows will be easy, padawan. Now, tell me, what can this old master teach you?"

That was a no-brainer and I answered instantly.

As with most things that seem extraordinarily complicated at first glance, the principles of Force Stealth and remaining unseen from all eyes, organic and technological, was deceptively simple yet the actual execution was the biggest hurdle.

It was the realization and internalization that light itself was electromagnetic radiation. Just as a Force user could go through the process using the skills of Alter on the environment, to throw massed electrons in the form of lightning, so could you exert your will on the radiation bouncing off you. Sight was that narrow frequency strip of radiation hitting your eyes and being interpreted by the brain.

Force Stealth, was learning to influence the various bands of EM radiation by applying telekinesis to bend it around you. This naturally made you blind, but loss of the sense of sight was no impediment to any Jedi from a very young age.

Learning to apply telekinesis on such a small scale was a process that was going to require a long period of 'letting go' of what I thought I knew on a deep subconscious level. It was equivalent to reaching a new step on the journey to nirvana, so to speak. As such, there was no timetable I could reach for and say, 'Yes, I'll have it done in a year.' It could happen tomorrow or might not happen at all in my entire life. I could be toiling away at it until I made the final journey.

Prescience was of no help either as all I found was a wild slew of probabilities in a dizzying fractal collage that told me I'd be spending one day to fifty years trying to master this.

"It's the reason that Jedi Shadows were so relatively rare, even at the height of the Old Republic," Master Ha explained. "From what you've explained, it seems like the few Shadows remaining today may have lost the art."

In this way, two days of tutelage and instruction passed and the Twilight emerged from hyper at the primary Mon Gazza emergence point.

From space it didn't look pleasant at all. A world of rusty orange and stippled with banks of swirling white clouds. A world of stark contrast between towering mountain ranges and endless flat plains, desserts that looked like some celestial had found inspiration by studying Tatooine and lush bounds of forest.

The world was known for two things; spice mining that was just below Kessel in terms of annual production and pod racing.

Just from sensing the planet in orbit, I was questioning my decision to come here. The population down there was not a happy one. Not surprising when the Pyke Syndicate was running things behind the scenes. Yet there was, according to the Holonet, a tailor that made good enough business down there to not only remain open for more than fifty years, but even advertised to potential customers up and down the Corellian Run. The Pykes were also a fan of luxury goods, being dressed to impress was something they'd want as well.

Mon Gazza itself benefited by sitting on a hyperspace crossroads, with the Corellian Run going straight through it, whilst north-eastern and south-western routes gave access to major sectors of the Outer Rim.

All things being equal, the system should've been a flourishing waypoint and port of call for refueling and a final stop for those bound to the Outer Rim in this part of the galaxy. The discovery of spice ruined it and the drug lords of the galaxy, eager to access spice in mass quantities that didn't require enduring the perilous Kessel Run, practically invaded the planet.

Now the urban centers bore only the stench of decay and poor maintenance. No space traffic control challenged me on the radio as I deorbited and headed directly for the space port.

It was clear, as I gave a brief look at the Twilight's sensors, that the ships coming and going were either smugglers for spice or those unlucky enough to require a refuel before heading onward. You could almost see the reluctance to land in the way these ships flew.

It was only as I neared the de facto capital city of Mon Gazza and the spaceport itself that radio finally came alive.

"Shili Siren, you have been designated to land in Bay 93," said the robotic monotone of a droid. "Remain in holding pattern 31 Tau for five minutes before attempting to approach."

"Understood, Mon Gazza," I replied.

"That was rather quick service considering the level of traffic," Master Ha commented.

"We can thank the model of ship we're flying. The G9 Rigger class is an ideal spice smuggler. Master Skywalker made sure his modifications wouldn't impact the Twilight's appearance. Even to cursory scans we looked like an overengined speed monster, at least until we power up our guns and military grade ECM."

The reason for our minor delay became apparent on our final approach. The ship that had been occupying 93 was being evicted forcefully, with a combination of groundside based tractor beams and two nasty looking Firespray patrol craft.

The hapless ship in question, a blocky light freighter that didn't even appear in the Twilight's shipbook; meaning it was an 'ugly' or unconventional model someone had built out of the parts of other ships, was steadily carried off into the distance.

I could sense a single occupant, who was radiating despair and anger.

Then the freighter was let go.

Its engines flared to keep its altitude.

The Firesprays opened fire.

There was a brief scream in the Force and I felt the death of the freighter pilot moments before the plains outside the city were lit by an exploding fireball and pelted with falling debris.

I had to let go of the anger I was experiencing from watching that, then triggered the landing struts, before settling the Twilight down in the bay. We hadn't even landed and Mon Gazza was already showing its harsh, unforgiving colors.

"Padawan, remember, you are not a Jedi here," Kina Ha captured my eyes with her own. "It will be difficult. You'll be challenged, a witness to injustice and unable to act. Keep in mind the reason you are here and move on. I will remain with the ship and guard it."

"Yes, master."

I double checked I had everything I needed and exited the cockpit and the ship.

I was met at the bay exit by a pair of rough looking goons that acted as what passed for spaceport security, only minus the fancy uniforms and any notion of 'law' and formalized training; a twi'lek and a human. Their outfits looked like they'd just come off the set of Mad Max, except cleaner and they were armed with blaster pistols riding on their hips.

"What's this, Jor? We let a Rigger land and out comes a togruta runt," said the human in an accent that grated on my montrals.

"I don't know, Jay. Let's ask. Where's your captain, runt?" The twi'lek sneered at me.

Both widened their eyes, when suddenly between one blink and the next, my WESTARs were aimed right at their faces.

"You're looking at the captain of that ship," I said evenly, meeting their eyes and pushing my intent into their minds via the Force. Both knew immediately that I'd pull the trigger with no hesitation and walk over their smoking corpses with contempt.

They raised their hands slowly and fear spiked from both. "Hey now, easy there little-"

"Captain Mizal, if you please," I interrupted him with a deadly sweet smile on my face.

"Yes Captain, apologies. We just saw you and assumed-"

"Whatever." My guns were holstered in the next moment and I flicked a cred chip into the human goon's chest. Astonishment at my sheer hand speed meant he didn't even catch it, letting it bounce to the floor. "That's your tip. Now scram. I assume I pay the docking fee to what passes for a dockmaster here?"

"Yes, Captain," the twi'lek said, as his fellow goon slowly knelt down to pick up the chip. "Just follow the signs."

I pointedly waited for them to leave first before I walked out of the bay and into the mild bustle of the spaceport's corridors, following the rusted and weathered signs that led to the dockmaster's office.

He was a rotund, unhealthy looking man, but at least he didn't give me any lip.

In fact, his whole bearing was outright weary as he looked at me. The large bank of surveillance feeds behind him accounted for his attitude. He handed over a datapad with the schedule of docking fees. It was really overpriced and ridiculous. I handed over the amount with an extra fifty percent.

His immediate satisfaction told me I had guessed correctly and I had at least bought him enough so that he'd do his job properly. Places like this were all the same, especially this close to Outer Rim.

Finally I emerged onto the streets of Mon Gazza city. The buildings around the spaceport were tall, grand and in the best shape; the locals making a token attempt to at least look 'civilized'. The ancient original colonists really had preferred rectangular shapes in everything, not a single dome or arch was evident around me. The streets were an eclectic mix of species, with a clear bias to humans. The Pyke Syndicate, being human centric, did not want a species based uprising. Slavery was also evident by the explosive collars around necks - on both human and others. The Pykes were equal opportunity spreaders of misery it seemed. They were also so stingy and cheap that they didn't even invest in the more effective and insidious slave implants.

I had memorized the streets via a map the tailor had uploaded, so I didn't bother with any of the graffitied public data terminals. It was almost certain they were spiked with viruses and false info, meant to catch any new and naive traveler in a web to either scam or rob them. Therefore I could walk with an assured outward bearing of a person who knew the place well. My openly carried weapons also spoke volumes but was at odds with my size and apparent age.

It was inevitable that I'd be targeted at some point because of it.

My right hand struck out to my side, catching the thieving fingers of a pickpocket.

"Ow, ow, ow!" A boy no older than eight, winced and sank to his knees in pain as the result of my grip on his fingers. His green skin and lighter tone hair, including other signs, indicated the kid was actually a human-twi'lek hybrid. Such hybrids were another common feature on worlds like Mon Gazza. A legacy of a human client with a twi'lek slave prostitute. "Let go!" He moaned.

"My money and blasters are not for the hands of a thief," I said forbiddingly, leaning a bit into a traditional Mando persona.

Prescience triggered not of my own volition. Showing me distinct paths as I held onto the boy's hand. If I gave him charity, a mere ten credits, two hours later he'd be injured badly as he fought to keep possession of the money from an older pickpocket. Hurt and unable to properly be a pickpocket, unable to afford even basic medicine or a doctor to treat him, he grows desperate and tries anyway. He gets caught by his next mark and killed.

The path of indifference. I just let him go. He finds another target and at the end of the day, manages a good haul. Again the same elder pickpocket beats him blue, takes the good stuff. It leaves the boy injured and the sale of the remaining loot hardly raises three credits. He dies again while trying to pickpocket someone while injured.

What nerfshit was this? Showing me nothing but bad outcomes no matter what I chose. Just various flavors of unhappy endings.

"Hey kid," I eased on the pressure, but kept hold of his hand so he wouldn't bolt. "Listen well and listen closely." I leaned close and glared into his eyes, perceiving the young mind behind them. "You see red, you duck."

He blinked in honest confusion. "W- what?"

"You see red, duck," my voice, infused with the Force, hammered the idea home. "Oh and when you hit someone, use your palms, open your hand." I demonstrated with my left hand. "Aim between the legs. Got it?"

The boy was still baffled, but nodded. If only to agree with the scary togruta. I let go and the kid scampered off, vanishing into the crowd.

I just barely caught a glimpse of the future as he vanished into a sea of probability. He'd survive, successfully fighting off his bully with only bruises and keeping his loot. Beyond that I couldn't see, but if he built on this, he'd live and grow. Perhaps I'd just saved the life of a future Pyke Syndicate kingpin, someone who'd go on to murder, kill and destroy thousands of lives. Maybe he'd make it off this rock on another path and invent a new form of hyperdrive. There was just no way to pick up the boy's thread amongst the sea of possibility now. I could've latched a brief bond on him and explored further, but I just didn't see the point. I had a mission and couldn't be distracted.

My destination wasn't far from the spaceport.

The building was a two storey affair located on a street corner, that served as a large thoroughfare with lots of foot traffic, including the occasional passing speeder. A large sign proudly proclaimed; Sarg's Fine Clothiers.

I pushed open the doors and an electronic chime crackled into life to announce my arrival.

Inside I was faced with a store that seemed like it was on a different planet. The walls were tastefully painted in various blues and reds. Electronic pictures on the walls shifted from one image to the next, showing off clothes from all manner of cultures, styles, planets and so on.

The number of clientele inside was a mere handful and they all seemed to be offworlders.

"Hello dear customer, welcome to Sarg's. My name is Ulvy. How can I help you?"

My interlocutor was a human woman in her 30s. Her outfit of an elegant red dress with a long slit on her left side, showed off a body that caught the eye. Just from the way she walked I could tell she was a dancer or performer of some kind. Her voice also made a pleasant 'dance' on my montrals, so maybe she was both during the night. Her red hair was in a partial bun and hung otherwise loose to her shoulders.

"Yes, I did a bit of research and found you on the Holonet. I need three formal outfits in pantoran style."

"Unfortunately, we have no ready-made outfits in that style for your size. Are you willing to wait for a measurement and custom outfit to be produced?"

"How long?"

"It's not a terribly busy day, so approximately 40 minutes for the droid to finish."

"That's fine."

"What name do you want to put on the order?"

Figures that a place that had to operate in Pyke territory wouldn't be big on bookkeeping and leaving records beyond the absolute minimum necessary to be functional in satisfying their customers.

"Captain Mizal."

"Very well, captain. How will you be paying?"

"Physical cred."

Ulvy nodded, "Follow me, please."

She led me into an adjoining room that only had a curtain over the threshold for privacy. Inside was a short padded stool in the center of the space. She patted it, "Please undress and stand here for the full body scan."

I hesitated briefly before complying with the instruction. I unlatched my steel toed shoes, and pulled them off. The gun/utility belt was unlatched and I dropped it next to the stool, then undid my overall's clips and zips, pulled it down and climbed out of it. A hop and I was on the stool and ready for my scan. It required a bit of internal control to override an instinctual embarrassment at this point, outwardly betraying no hint of my discomfort.

Ulvy looked me up and down, before asking in a slightly breathless voice, "Captain, what style of undergarments are these?"

"Hapan," I said shortly. Given the cluster was practically on the other side of the galaxy, it was no surprise that she didn't know of them. It was a style of underwear that went with most of my hapan wardrobe.

Minimalist was an understatement in describing them.

"Never seen a material like this," she commented, picking up a scanner wand and datapad.

"Smart memory material," I muttered as she began the scan procedure from my feet, steadily circling around me.

"You are clearly well traveled, captain, excuse me for saying so, for being one so young."

"I get that a lot. That's just how things worked out," I deflected, playing up the mysterious angle. The best stories and lies sometimes, were the ones people invented in their own head to rationalize what they were seeing.

She smiled in response and continued her steady circuit around me.

Her scan was at my hips when the door chime to the store sounded.

"Excuse me, Captain," she huffed in annoyance, put her tools down and breezed through the fitting room curtains. It seemed they were rather short staffed today.

"Hello Ulvy," said a man with what seemed to be the local accent of Basic. I could just hear the strong ego and satisfaction.

"Han, what are you doing here?" she asked waspishly.

"Payment is due for this sweet little property."

"Oh please, I did pay, you oaf."

"That was the old payment. This is new. Rates went up. It's a dangerous galaxy out there these days."

There was a brief silence. "When someone higher on the chain than a street thug like you tells me, I'll consider it. Send Djan next time."

The next thing I heard was the crack-whine of multiple blaster shots. In the Force, I felt the deaths of the four other customers in the store.

From Ulvy, there was no screaming or fear, just a grim acceptance, hate and anger directed at Han and the two goons behind him who had pulled the triggers.

"There's another in the fitting room, take care of it."

How he knew I was back here didn't matter at the moment, nor why this was happening. I heard booted footsteps, the curtains parted and in walked a blaster pistol armed trandoshan. He froze at the sight of my WESTARs pointed straight at his chest. I grabbed him in a Force stasis before he could even think to scream a warning.

The danger screaming through the Force and my own prescience meant I barely had moments to make a decision.

My fingers squeezed the triggers.

One bolt reduced the head of the trandoshan to a smoky mess of meat, whilst his internal organs flash boiled from the second bolt.

I jumped off the stool and kicked the body before it collapsed, aiding its velocity with a Push out of my foot.

It sent the body flying back into the shop to draw attention away from my own exit.

I rushed forward, falling to the floor and slid through curtains feet first.

My guns tracked a human goon standing behind Han, both their eyes were still following the amazing flying trandoshan. I fired and both men flinched from the center mass hits before simply crumpling to the floor like puppets whose strings had been cut.

Ulvy had also used the opportunity and now had a small holdout blaster in hand. She had clearly been aiming to shoot Han, but now simply kept aiming at his body.

She let out a brief sigh of relief, shaking her head from the adrenaline rush. "Thank you, captain. However, this is not over."

I pushed myself to my feet. "What do you mean?"

Before she could answer I heard the shattering of a nearby window.

Through both my echosense and the Force I felt something heavy and small land just ten feet to my right.

There was no time for thought, only action.

I dove left and tackled Ulvy.

I had just enough time to wrap us both in a TK shield before the world disappeared in a flash of white light, extreme pressure and smoke.

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