AN: Credit to Tracyn for acting as a beta for my story, FractionalSith for helping to find and correct my typos in this story's earlier chapters, and to Scarease for letting me use one of his characters which is introduced in this chapter.
Chapter 49 - Senate Inadequacies (24 BBY)
Senate aide Tyro Caladian winced at the look of frustration on the face of his friend Obi-Wan Kenobi. "I'm sorry," he said for the third time. "There is nothing I can do."
Obi-Wan wanted to groan. He wanted to kick a hole through the rare laroon wood paneling of Meeting Room A3000291 in the Senate. He wanted to react like a privileged, arrogant Senator used to getting his way. He wanted to lash out.
But he was a Jedi. Jedi did not do such things. They accepted even the most nerve-torturing frustrations with calm focus and unswerving direction. He must look for the flaw in the logic, discover the opening in the locked gate. Find the way. Petty emotions would only divert him. Obi-Wan took a deep breath and searched for his calm center.
He looked over at his apprentice. If Obi-Wan merely felt like kicking a wall, it appeared that Anakin would do so at any moment. His gaze was turbulent, boiling. Then, as Obi-Wan watched, a mask slid over Anakin's frustration. He looked composed now, perfectly in control.
An impressive achievement. Obi-Wan had noted Anakin's growth over the past six months while they had been tracking the evil scientist Jenna Zan Arbor from her last known stop in the Vanqor system.
Together they had followed Zan Arbor's trail, tracing rumors and finding clues. They knew the scientist did not have access to her large fortune, which the Senate had confiscated and then dispersed among the many planets she had wronged. They knew what the Vanqors had paid her would soon be depleted. But they also knew that she had a taste for extravagance. She liked to live well. Perhaps she would leave a trail that way.
Obi-Wan and Anakin had found other missions along the way, places where they were needed that couldn't be ignored. Still they continued to search the galaxy for clues to Zan Arbor's whereabouts, occasionally diverted but never deflected from their goal.
The big break came when Anakin discovered she had bought a limited-production cruiser called a Luxe Flightwing. The ship was so rare and beautiful that everyone remembered it—fuelers on obscure spaceports, repair personnel in busy capital cities, customs officials, and especially other pilots. It had been an unwise move, typical of her greed and arrogance. She wanted what she wanted, then she acquired it. But it was a bad mistake. Bit by bit, information trickled in, and at last they had tracked her to Romin, a small planet in the Mid-Rim.
With him and Anakin were Siri and Ferus, both having committed to helping him bring Zan Arbor to justice, and both having participated in the search when possible, and both just as eager to finally end this chase. This was a perfect time, with both teams free from other responsibilities.
Siri wasn't showing her frustration, but he could feel it in her entire being, from the taut lines of her muscled body to the storm brewing through their bond in her mind. Obi-Wan knew all too well how Siri despised having to deal with the bureaucracy of the Senate. She was always geared for action, similar to Anakin. It was one of their many jokes, how each of them had ended up with Padawans so similar to the other in temperament.
"Look," she said to Tyro, "we're not stupid. We know it will be tricky. Romin is ruled by Roy Teda, who by all accounts is an evil dictator. It's not like he's going to invite the Jedi in, but the Senate is committed to arresting Zan Arbor. Why won't they give us permission to go in?"
"It's more complicated than that," Tyro said. Clearly uncomfortable under the scrutiny of Siri's blazing blue eyes, the Svivreni fiddled with the thick metal clasp that held his long black hair in a plume that ran down his back. Then he smoothed the glossy fur on his small, pointed face. "Senate procedure always is. Teda himself is in violation of several galactic laws. He imprisons without trial. We are certain he uses torture to extract information. He has shut down the information bureaus and controls the only communications system on the planet. He has even raided his planet's treasury for his own personal use."
"Exactly," Siri said impatiently. "He is a criminal. So why do we have to listen to him?"
"Because he is a duly elected ruler," Tyro said.
"But he rigged the elections!" Anakin burst out.
"That makes no difference," Tyro answered. "We must still obey the laws of Romin. And there is a law forbidding any bounty hunters to enter."
"We are not bounty hunters," Ferus said. His dignity rang through his words. "We are Jedi."
Tyro swallowed. "Yes," he said, "but the law says that no one can arrest or transport a galactic criminal off Romin. And that's what you mean to do. Teda has made himself wealthy by offering his planet as a refuge to the most-wanted criminals. They're happy to pay him a hefty bribe in order to relocate to his planet. In return, he makes sure that any bounty hunters are forcibly expelled. If his security police find them, they are made to 'disappear.'"
"Then we'll just go to Romin without Senate approval," Anakin said.
Ferus frowned. Obi-Wan noted how Anakin bristled when he saw it. While the two had gotten better over the months of working together, they still didn't fully get along, but Obi-Wan wasn't surprised. Ferus followed the rules. Anakin had no hesitation about bending them to get a job done.
"Ah," Tyro said carefully, "I'm afraid that you do need approval. Without legitimate cause, you will be asked to leave the planet. And if you do not leave, it is likely you will be imprisoned — if you are lucky. Teda has been known to execute without trial."
"But the Senate cannot shield a criminal like Zan Arbor!" Obi-Wan leaped to his feet and began to pace out his frustration. Now he knew why Zan Arbor had risked buying such a showpiece transport. She didn't care, because she knew she would be protected. That infuriated him. No one was above galactic law. "There has to be a way."
Tyro shook his head. "If there is, I can't think of it. The Senate looks the other way when it comes to Romin. The Romin Senator wields great influence. He is a favorite of Sano Sauro — who as you well know is the leader of a large voting bloc."
Obi-Wan groaned. "Not him again."
"If you land on Romin secretly, you will be in violation of Senate laws," Tyro said. "And I assure you, the Senator from Romin will not hesitate to prosecute even a Jedi," Tyro spoke softly. "I'm afraid this is typical of the Senate these days. I am so sorry, my good friend Obi-Wan, that I cannot help you."
"I am grateful for what you've done," Obi-Wan said woodenly. He refused to accept that Zan Arbor was untouchable. As his Master, Qui-Gon Jinn, had said, 'There is always another way.'
Tyro sighed. "I come from a peaceful world. The growing lawlessness in the galaxy troubles me greatly. The prison worlds are not well maintained. Just recently there was yet another escape from a high-security prison, the Greylands Security Complex on Tentator. It was a notorious gang who broke free. Luckily the gang members were tracked and apprehended just hours ago. But such successes are rare, I must admit."
Obi-Wan stopped pacing and fixed Tyro with a keen gaze. "Who are they?"
"They are called the Slams," Tyro said.
"Species?"
"Humanoid. From Mamendin, in the Core. They started there with con jobs, ID thefts, things like that. Then they roamed the galaxy, mostly in the Core, pulling scams. They were the gang who heisted the entire treasury of Vuma. The leaders are fairly young—a man named Slam and a woman named Valadon. Slam is a con man and Valadon is an ID theft expert. They have only two other members—they keep their numbers small to maintain loyalty. The Slams were caught when they tried to break into a security vault of the Commerce Guild. You just don't go after the Commerce Guild without major consequences."
"I remember the Vuma affair," Siri said. "We heard about it at the Temple. It just about bankrupted the planet. The crystalline vertex they stole is still missing." She gave Obi-Wan a curious glance. "What is it? You've got that look on your face."
"What look?"
"That look that says, 'you're going to hate this idea, Siri, but I'm going to do it anyway,'" Siri said dryly.
Obi-Wan grinned. "Relax. You're going to love it."
Obi-Wan felt excitement from his Padawan, who he was closer to than ever since Anakin had broken down on Vanquor and confessed his fears. The honesty and the support had been what he'd needed . . . what they needed, and they were now back to being a true Master and Padawan team.
They had finally reached the classic step in the Master-Padawan relationship. The apprentice invites the Master, and it begins. As learners, everyone wondered what that expression meant, since Masters were the ones to invite a Jedi initiate to be his or her apprentice, but as Padawans, it became clear. A bond would develop over the early parts of a relationship, but it wasn't until the Padawan finally trusted the inner workings of his or her heart and mind to their master that their relationship would effectively start over and begin again, but would become far deeper. It had happened with Qui-Gon as well.
'In the middle of our journey together, we began again.'
While his Padawan was excited, even if he could sense no more understanding of Obi-Wan's thought process than Siri, the partner of his heart and mind was more dubious. He suspected that had more to do with her being quite competent at reading his mind when she tried, and often didn't even need to read his mind to know what he was planning . . . which meant she likely knew he only had a half-baked plan, which was a rarity for him.
Siri raised an eyebrow. "I'm listening."
"We have a way to land on Romin and get to Jenna Zan Arbor, then get her off-planet without violating any Senate regulations or the laws of Romin," Obi-Wan said. "Technically."
"Technically?" Tyro asked.
"We enter legally," Obi-Wan said. "As criminals."
Siri sat down and slung one ankle over her knee. "Well, that's a relief. For a minute there, I thought you actually had a plan that made sense."
"We take on the identities of the Slam gang," Obi-Wan said. "I'll be Slam, you'll be Valadon. Anakin and Ferus can be the other two."
"Waldo and Ukiah," Tyro supplied. "But technically —"
"So, we land on Romin and find Zan Arbor," Siri said, and he could feel her amusement through their bond, and he knew she was humoring him. "What next?"
"Well, I haven't planned it out completely," Obi-Wan said. "We find a way to lure her off-planet. That can't be too hard."
"Sure," Siri said. "One of the shrewdest scientific minds in the galaxy is going for a joyride with us. As Garen would say, piece of sweetcake."
"We'll think of something to tempt her to join us," Obi-Wan said. "The point is to land on Romin and contact her. We can only do that as criminals."
"This is why you aren't allowed to do undercover ops, my dear. Kastor will kill us if we keep tainting his line of work," Siri pointed out dryly and Obi-Wan grimaced, knowing this probably would get a disbelieving stare from their mentor.
"Can I return to 'technically'?" Tyro asked. "Technically, you'd still be in violation of several laws I can easily think of. If you get caught."
"We're not going to be caught. That's where you come in," Obi-Wan said, turning to him.
Suddenly, Tyro looked uneasy. "Oh."
"I love that he believes we won't get caught," Siri muttered, and Anakin chuckled.
"We'll need ID docs and descriptions and background information," Obi-Wan said, ignoring her. "And you said they operated on different planets in the Core. That means they probably have a spaceworthy ship. Do you think you can pull some strings for us and commandeer it?"
"I don't know," Tyro said doubtfully. "That would take some favor trading."
"Your specialty," Obi-Wan pointed out.
"It would all have to be top secret, so I'd have to go to the Senate security committee first," Tyro said slowly. "They'd have to give me a waiver to approach the Overseer of Prison Worlds, who would have to issue an edict to the prison world's Confiscation Authority …"
"I don't need the details, Tyro," Obi-Wan said. "I just need results. We'll also need time. You'll have to get the authorities to agree to keep the capture of the Slam gang a secret until we've completed the mission. They have to still be listed as escaped, in case anyone checks."
Tyro frowned. "That might be difficult. When they catch criminals, they like to boast about it. I'd need an indefinite Stop Comm order from the Central Posting Service —" Tyro caught Obi-Wan's eyes. He shut his datapad briskly and rose. "I'd better get started."
Tyro hurried out of the room.
"We'll have to clear this with Master Windu," Siri said. "And I'd bet it will take some persuasion."
"He'll agree," Obi-Wan said confidently, and he could feel Anakin's excitement surging through their bond. "He knows how important the capture of Zan Arbor is to the safety of the galaxy."
"He's going to want to bring Kastor in on this since Kastor's on planet for once," Siri said.
"Maybe," Obi-Wan admitted, "but he also might trust us to move forward."
"Maybe," Siri said, and they started discussing possible courses of action and how soon they could depart when he felt Siri's attention wane and she glanced over at Ferus, and Obi-Wan noticed the boy's hesitant expression.
"Is there something on your mind, Ferus?" she asked.
"I am just wondering if this plan is appropriate for the Jedi," Ferus said. "It is not for me to question Jedi Masters …"
"Questioning is part of the role of an apprentice," Obi-Wan said kindly. "Go ahead."
"This isn't the kind of thing that a Jedi should do," Ferus said stiffly, obviously uncomfortable at second-guessing his Master. "Impersonating criminals? We are not tricksters. We are ambassadors of peace and justice."
Obi-Wan felt Anakin's annoyance rolling off of him. He could almost hear Anakin's thoughts, complaining about Ferus's need to bring up the rules and his inflexibility with tasks, but he could also feel Siri nodding thoughtfully, and he could sense her weighing how to reply.
"Of course that is true," Siri said, "but the galaxy is complex. The Jedi must operate differently and take different kinds of risks. There are planets that do not welcome our presence, yet circumstances demand that we help for the good of the galaxy. It is why the Shadow Division of the Order exists." She sighed. "I have gone undercover before, Ferus, as you well know. By technicality, I was Knighted into the Shadow Corp on Kastor's recommendation because of the contacts and cover I created during that operation. The Council decided that it was the only way to infiltrate a vast space pirating and slaving operation. I had to pretend to leave the Order, leave all of my friends, Master Adi, and Obi-Wan. Everyone thought that I had left, been corrupted, and many thought I was unredeemable."
"It was a great act of bravery on Siri's part," Obi-Wan said.
"Every second of my deception went against my core," Siri continued. "I don't like lies. To live a lie takes a toll. Yet am I glad I did it? Yes. The Jedi were able to bring down a vicious pirate and liberate hundreds of slaves because of what I did. Kastor and those like him help save people in the criminal underworld everyday, and many of those they save never know that it was a Jedi who saved them. They don't realize that a normal Jedi couldn't save them."
"I tangled with Jenna Zan Arbor before, when I was your age," Obi-Wan told Ferus. "She is a great enemy of the Jedi. She imprisoned Qui-Gon and drained his life in order to study the Force. She almost killed him. She has killed others. She is capable of anything. With the Zone of Self-Containment she could subdue an entire population. We must use any means to stop her."
"Any means?" Ferus asked.
There was silence. Obi-Wan exchanged a quick glance with Siri. Everyone in the room was thinking the same thing. Means equal ends. It was one of the core beliefs of the Jedi. In order to do good, one must act rightly at every step. If the means used were wrong, then the outcome was wrong, too.
"I did not choose my words carefully," Obi-Wan said. "My meaning is this — if we must use a little deception to catch her, then we will. In this case, our only hope is to beat Zan Arbor at her own game. She could consolidate her power on Romin. She could use the planet as a base for operations, thinking she cannot be touched there. She could do vast amounts of damage. Lives are at stake. Perhaps millions of lives." Obi-Wan's keen stare fixed on Ferus. "Don't you think that is worth forsaking your dignity and taking another's identity for a few days?"
Ferus's cheeks colored, and he felt Siri wince internally through their bond, knowing that Obi-Wan had just hit the exact tender spot to Ferus. His dignity. Obi-Wan had done it kindly, but Ferus had felt a sting.
Ferus nodded. "I will, of course, do as you say."
"But you must believe it, too," Siri said.
After a short pause, Ferus said, "I do. I trust that those with more wisdom know the way."
Ferus seemed to be sincere. Obi-Wan was sure he was. He was a good kid with great potential, and frankly, Obi-Wan wasn't sure he was capable of lying. He was clearly still nervous, but he was also a "perfect Padawan" and would do as instructed as long as they weren't asking him to do anything inherently evil.
Obi-Wan turned back to Siri and Anakin. "If all goes well, we can brief Master Windu and leave tonight," he said.
**The Will of the Force**
Kastor stood watching the cheering senators who just made one of the biggest changes to the Republic in nearly a thousand years, and seemed, for the most part, to not have realized that they were taking a step back towards what the Republic was like before the Ruusan Reformations, for good or ill. In this case, Kastor thought they were going back for ill, no matter the circumstances.
Chancellor Palpatine had just been asked and ratified by the Senate to continue his post despite the end of his term . . . despite the term limits. Effectively, they had just repealed the term limits, and yet they hadn't. No, Palpatine had seemingly been begged - begged - by the Senate to remain in his position due to his political prowess, leadership, and the stability he brought in these dark times. His term hadn't ended, so he was not going against the term limits. His term had been extended.
"It's nice seeing you show some interest in politics. Now, if only it was for something good," Adi said, moving next to him in the balcony staring out into the Senate Chamber.
Kastor gave her a wan smile. He was happy to see his old friend, but she was also right. He also wished he was just showing more of an interest in politics because he was bored or just looking to broaden his knowledge.
"This really has you worried," she muttered looking out at Palpatine giving his speech, which made him seem like a humble servant only doing this because they asked.
"It doesn't worry you?" he asked back with a raised eyebrow. "We've finally had a question answered and it only raises new questions. A former member of the Order just denounced the Republic and the Jedi Order and announced the formation of the Confederacy of Independent Systems . . . the CIS, which we know has connections to Omega . . . which has connections to the Sith."
"Of course it worries me," she said mildly. "A Master that many of us respect, one of the best duelists in the Order, left and is forming a Separatist movement, one which is likely to destabilize the galaxy, causing the darkness to rise. This formation coincidentally seems to coincide with when our Chancellor should have gotten out of power, but instead, he now has more power than any Chancellor in the past thousand years, and frankly, we know very little about him, beyond his normal public information, and you, who I respect greatly suspect that he may have ties or even may possibly be a Sith Lord."
"I think we found our traitor," Kastor murmured.
"You suspect Dooku?" Adi asked in surprise. "I find it hard to believe that he would join the Sith. He was Master Yoda's student afterall. He taught Qui-Gon. He was unconventional, sure, but a Sith?"
"His actions would suggest that knowingly or unknowingly, he is serving the Sith," Kastor said. "He was friends with Sifo Dyas. He left around the time of Sifo Dyas's death and when the archives were tampered with. He now has ties to Omega, who we know is gathering the Sith cults and may be in league with at least one Sith Lord. Yan Dooku is no fool. While it is possible his ideals are being used against him and he is nothing but a pawn, I struggle to believe that he, of all people, is an unknowing pawn."
Adi glanced at him before sighing.
"It is hard to deny the facts, but that doesn't mean we aren't jumping to conclusions. He was a Jedi . . . a very decorated and respected Jedi. He deserves to at least be given the benefit of the doubt. He's earned that."
"Perhaps," Kastor said, conceding slightly, but they both knew it was simply to keep the peace. "Dooku and his Confederacy are one problem. Palpatine is another."
"Publicly, he is a great ally of the Jedi, and he has shown much support for us," Adi pointed out.
"Yes, but I wonder what he's done behind closed doors," Kastor said quietly. "I don't have enough contacts in politics, and looking into Palpatine is not easy. He has so many connections on Naboo and in the Senate that any investigation will likely get back to him. You have to use underworld connections that aren't very trustworthy and could still get back to him."
"It doesn't help that even the Senators that we respect and mostly admire also seem to support the man," Adi added grimly. "We can't even afford to talk to our allies in the Senate in confidence, lest they report back to him out of concern or to convince him to assuage our worries."
Kastor nodded in agreement.
"Sheev Palpatine, fifty eight standard years old, eldest born to a wealthy, noble and respected family on Naboo. Two brothers, two sisters. Tragically survived the death of his entire family when he was seventeen, though there is little to no physical information on how or when the family died. All that is known is that he was away on Chandrila at the time, or at least that's what the report says. Politics was his game, though there are some records that say he used to be a professional - or amateur I should say - speeder racer. Well educated, seemingly normal childhood, respectable adulthood with no public scandals. Has diligently dedicated his life in service to his homeworld or the Republic."
"A lot of information that tells you very little, and most of which has major gaps once you dig deeper," Adi agreed.
"And now because of the CIS and Omega, I have less agents to look into him," Kastor said with a shake of his head. "I have Taria looking into his childhood. There are records of him having gone to quite a large number of prestigious schools in his youth."
"Which would imply he was a troublemaker that was kicked out," Adi said. "However, since that's not common knowledge . . ."
"His father must have paid everyone off," Kastor finished.
"Being an entitled spoiled child is not necessarily cause for concern though," Adi said.
"No, but I'd like to know more," Kastor said, his hand on his chin. "Something tells me that his childhood and his late teens/early adulthood is his weak point. That's where we can find our answers."
"Which is why you put Taria on it," Adi said.
"Exactly," Kastor said with a grin. "She knows how to be discreet and can handle herself against anyone but the Sith Lord, and even that she might be able to do."
"Would I be right in assuming that she also has a few Mandalorians who just happen to travel with her?" Adi asked, amused.
"Perhaps," Kastor agreed with a slight smirk.
"So, Taria's looking into Palpatine, as much as she can," Adi said. "Fay is still working on the Banite Sith from the Prophets' records. Rhys is handling the management of your funds and equipment and contingency locations, and Asuna is managing the fleet."
"She's getting out of control too," Kastor said with a slight chuckle. "She wants to buy two corvettes to act as support craft and recruit more people."
"Of course she does, and I bet she'll successfully talk you into it eventually," Adi said with a wry smile, before it faded somewhat. "What have you found out about the Banites?"
"The Prophets really only knew of a few past their own founder, and of those, they only knew the Sith's Sith name, not their alias or real name, which doesn't help," Kastor said with a sigh. "We know when Bane, Zannah, and Cognus died. We don't know who Cognus trained after Millennial fled, though we do know when Millennial escaped, which helps give us a rough timeline, given that Cognus was a Iktokchi. It roughly seemed each apprentice stayed as the apprentice for twenty to thirty years, but there's no guarantee that the same trend stuck, especially if a longer lived species became the apprentice or master, nor does it factor in the time when a master didn't have an apprentice for whatever reason."
"Have you found much about their identities?" Adi asked with a raised brow.
"A little, but records that far back are hard to come by," Kastor said grimly. "We know that Bane's alias was Sepp Omek and that Zannah's was Allia Omek and she also went by Rainah. That's Fay's focus at the moment. We've learned where the Sith were on Ambria and recently learned that they relocated to Ciutric IV, but we haven't made much progress since then. If we can figure out through those records who Cognus hid as, then we can hopefully trace where she went, and then slowly trace through time the various Banite Sith until we get to the modern era."
"How many Sith do you think you will have to trace?" Adi asked.
Kastor shrugged.
"We know Cognus died 846 years ago because Millennial sensed her demise, which means that if we assume each Sith Master took a couple years to find their apprentice and then kept their apprentice for 20-30 years, then we could be looking for nearly 30 or more Sith. At this point I can only hope that some Sith lived longer and that as we get on the trail, some Sith didn't move around making it easier to find their successor."
"We must trust in the Force to help us reveal our enemy," Adi said, and Kastor nodded in agreement. "You are still continuing to look into Omega and other possible Sith? Looking for cultists?"
"Yes, that's my focus," Kastor said with a nod. "I've got Jocasta, Cere, and Jerec looking into the deleted worlds, trying to scour all the holocrons and looking into other star maps for records of what might be missing."
"But it's like looking for a ship in a gas giant," Adi said, and Kastor chuckled wryly.
"Indeed. While they do that, I'm checking into other lesser known Sith worlds, worlds that had brief Sith presences, even if they were never officially Sith worlds, and I'm even looking into old Jedi haunts that might hold answers. I think it could be possible that the enemy is hiding, using our memorial sites for cover."
Adi gazed at him.
"You haven't gone there yet, have you?"
Kastor shifted slightly.
"No," he said quietly. "I will go there soon . . . but Fay doesn't want me going alone."
"She's always been exceedingly wise," Adi said with a smile. "If you need a companion, don't hesitate to call. I agree with her. It may not be the Jedi way, but you should not face those emotions alone."
Kastor returned her smile.
"I will heed your advice, as always, my friend." Kastor sighed. "I must go soon. Something tells me that we're in a race to see whether we discover the Sith or they enact their plans first, and we can't lose."
"For now though, you are wanted back at the Temple. Our former proteges have a mission and Mace wants your opinion on their hairbrained scheme."
"Well, let's get back and hear what the kids have planned then," Kastor said with a chuckle. "I'm sure it can't be too bad."
**The Will of the Force**
"We are in the middle of nowhere, Dallows," Asuna remarked, looking at the star charts for where they had just exited hyperspace.
"Which is kind of the point, Lok," Rhys said wryly.
"How did Kastor find this place?" Asuna asked, looking out of the viewport, and gazing upon the space station that they were approaching.
"At one point in time, the old Sith Empire had a prison here," Rhys said. "This is where Kastor's ancestor, Revan, was imprisoned. I believe it was called the Maelstrom prison."
"And because there's no reason why anyone would come out here, and it would be generally forgotten from that long ago, it's the perfect place to hide," Asuna surmised.
"Exactly," Rhys said.
"How long has Kastor been building this?" Asuna asked with interest.
"It's taken the better part of five years to have this facility built," Rhys said. "Definitely one of the most time intensive and expensive of our temples, bases, or safe houses that we've built."
"Did any of the others rival this?" Asuna asked, knowing just how expensive space stations were.
"One other. An outpost on a frozen tundra world sacred to the Order," Rhys said. "That one had to be built to be comfortable being left alone since it will mainly be an outpost from which to observe and defend that world."
"Will I ever see that one?" Asuna asked.
"We're going there next," Rhys said with a grin. "I'm bringing you along to get your opinion on what we can do to improve our facilities and because we trust you and want to give you knowledge of where you can take some of your people if things do not go in our favor."
"And because you want to build that secret facility on Ordo," Asuna said. "And you want Mandalorian warriors to help you defend these facilities, and you also want to make sure the knowledge doesn't die with you and Kastor."
"That too," Rhys agreed with a chuckle.
"So, do Obi-Wan or Siri know of these locations? Taria? Fay?" Asuna asked.
"None of them have ever been to all of them," Rhys said, "though I believe Kastor intends to take Taria around to all of them sometime soon. Siri and Obi-Wan have just been too occupied with missions and their Padawans. Fay has been to a few, when doing a favor for Kas or myself, but not all of them. Adi has also checked on a few for us. I don't know if any of them know of all the locations, though they know we have been building these various temples and outposts. We haven't really done much to make sure they all know this. We have contingencies in place for the information to make it to them should we fall. That includes their Padawans if Obi-Wan or Siri fall."
"That'll be a long trip for Taria, just as it will for us," Asuna said dryly. "You seem to have picked some very obscure places in the universe for these outposts."
"We have a couple that are in inhabited space," Rhys said with a chuckle, "but yes, as a general trend, many of our locations are in areas that see very little traffic. Half of our outposts are on planets that have generally been forgotten or lost from most modern star charts."
"That certainly explains this place and the last two as well," Asuna said, thinking of Ahch-To and Lehon. "There's two more locations for large bases and then three outposts, correct?"
"Yes, Odessen and H'ratth for bases," Rhys said with a nod. "Kas wants to build another one on Tython. Not really inhabited all that much, but enough life forms to shield from scanners and I guess the planet, like many of the other locations provides natural shielding from using the Force to find others. For outposts, we currently have an outpost on Dxun, using an ancient Mandalorian Cache, and an outpost on Ilum, where we'll be going next and then lastly is an outpost on Had Abbadon, a world in the Deep Core. We have plans to put outposts on Jedha, Melida/Daan, Falang Minor, and then of course Ordo."
"So, Dxun, Jedha, Melida/Daan, and Falang Minor would be your worlds best to observe the galaxy and acquire news from," Asuna murmured. "You should consider looking for places in every region for an outpost. Not only will that better diversify your hiding places, but will allow you to get fresh intel from every corner of the galaxy, rather than getting stale news from the Outer Rim, since it could take forever to hear about it in the Core."
"That's a good idea, love, but easier said than done," Rhys said with a sigh. "We're struggling to get everything built as is, and we have to be very careful on where we try to place outposts since we can't really predict how the galaxy will look in this future we're preparing for. Since the purge seems to come after a galactic war, we can assume that many previously hidden or forgotten places are going to come back into the limelight and even planets that have low importance now might be more viable later."
"Yes, but you might consider taking risks and trying to find some small outposts to place, regardless," Asuna said. "They might be lost during this possible war or in the aftermath, but they might not as well. You might even only get a single use out of them, but if that single use is to save Jedi, Mandalorians, or Antarian Rangers and our other allies in the aftermath of the initial purge, then it will be worth it. The whole preparation is theoretical until this war and this purge occurs, and it might never occur, in which case these bases and outposts can then be either revealed to our respective societies to create Temples or outposts for our own use, or they could be at least revealed to leadership as contingency locations. Regardless, there is risk inherent in the preparation, so I just believe you should accept the possible financial and resource loss by making outposts that may help save lives later."
"Good point," Rhys conceded. "We can bring it up with Kastor, but for now, let's go check out this station and you can bemoan our lack of weapons currently installed."
"Why the hell would you tell me that before I noticed?" Asuna asked, crossing her arms. "Now you know that's all I'll be thinking about!"
"Yep, but you love thinking about weapons packages," Rhys said with a grin.
"Well that's true," Asuna conceded. "What can you expect? I'm Mandalorian! Weapons are my religion."
"No complaints here," Rhys said honestly. "You know I can listen to you debate various systems for hours . . . And when you've tired yourself out, we can watch one of those action rom com holovids that you like to make fun of."
"Hmm, I might have to keep you around if you keep talking smoothly to me like that," Asuna said, smiling.
**The Will of the Force**
"I always dread coming to this planet," Fay remarked, looking out upon Nal Hutta sadly.
"Yes, the Force is so murky and muddled underneath the pollution and corruption that stems from most of the living beings here," Taria agreed with a mournful sigh.
"I don't need the Force to tell me that smelly swamp is polluted, nor do I need the Force to tell me that the Hutts are corrupt," their Mandalorian escort said with a snort.
"Ah, you are truly a perceptive one, Keria Dyre," Fay teased.
"It's why she volunteered to join you both," Jaa Beren, the Antarian Ranger with them said with a grin. "Her perceptions are beyond that of a Jedi."
"It's nice to see you all admitting it," Keria said, crossing her arms. "Clearly you are finally starting to value my skills."
"Make no mistake, Keria," Taria said with a chuckle. "We've always valued your skills. I never have to worry about wasting food when you're at the table with us."
"You know, I'm starting to understand more and more why my people and you Jetii are always at war," Keria said flatly.
"Because very few of you realized just how much we enrich your lives," Taria responded brightly, and Fay laughed lightly, while Keria sighed.
"My ancestors are scowling down on me, Jetii."
Fay and Taria both laughed.
"We've received clearance to land, Master Jedi," Jaa said, breaking the levity.
"Thank you, Jaa," Taria said. "Take us down."
The Ranger guided the Komr'k shuttle down to the landing pad, where there were two security droids and a Twi'lek waiting for them.
"Greetings, Jedi and Mandalorians," the retainer said, and bowed respectfully. "I am Tuara, the head retainer here. My master is eager to meet with you."
"Perfect," Fay said, "Then let us not keep our host waiting any longer."
Tuara guided them through an immaculate manor, much cleaner than most dwellings that were found on Nal Hutta, but then again, their host was also quite different than the average being on Nal Hutta. As they walked, they took note of the expensive and rare art, sculptures, and many bookshelves filled with volumes and volumes of various scrolls, tomes, manuscripts, and holobooks. Finally, Tuara led them into a hall, where their host was waiting for them.
"May I present his excellency, Lord Domru Anjiliac Vitiru the Wise."
Fay, Taria, and their two escorts looked at their host, a dark green-skinned Hutt, who looked rather eager to see them.
"Ah, Lady Fay, Knight Damsin, it is always a pleasure to see you," Domru said pleasantly.
"Indeed, your excellency," Fay said with a respectful bow. "We were overjoyed to receive your communication."
"Yes, the information you requested wasn't easy to find, but my network is the best for this line of work," Domru said, a clear hint of pride in his voice.
His pride was well earned. Domru was a bit of an oddity for a Hutt. Unlike many of his fellow Hutts and even many inside his family, he was not a typical crime lord. No, he had one of the most comprehensive and developed information networks in the galaxy, rivaling that of even the Bothan Spy Network. It was Domru's network that fed nearly every Hutt crime family.
Even more curiously, a large majority of his retainers were not slaves . . . or at least not anymore. Domru had a reputation for buying slaves and then rehabilitating and educating them before setting them free . . . and giving them jobs which would feed into his information network.
No, Domru was a collector. He collected information, art, archeological relics, books, and history. When you were looking for odd information, especially historical information, he was the Hutt to go to, but his services weren't cheap. Depending on what the Hutt was working on, credits might not even be accepted. Instead, one had to make a trade worth the Domru's interest. However, he was honest with his deals and true to his word once made, making him a useful business partner.
"So, where would you like to start?" Domru asked, business-like.
"Ciutric IV, if possible," Fay said with a short bow.
"Of course, of course," Domru said. "Very peculiar information you have had me looking into. I must say, it has been fascinating learning about what that planet was like back then. Even in our modern times, there isn't much in that system of worth, so records are hard to get outside of the planet itself, but my contacts did manage to find what you were looking for."
Fay and Taria exchanged glances.
"That is wonderful news, Lord Domru," Fay said.
"Yes, we found where the home of Sepp and Allia Omek once stood," Domru continued. "It seems they were in that home for roughly ten years before the brother passed away from some disease, though the records are mysteriously uncertain."
Domru's eyes gleamed.
"Around the time that the brother died, Allia Omek gained an Iktotchi servant, named Zasle Ka. They remained in that home for forty more years before Allia also passed away under mysterious circumstances, leaving the home to her servant. She remained in that home for nearly thirty years before she inexplicably packed up and moved off to parts unknown."
Fay and Taria exchanged glances again, both thinking the same thing. That must have been when Millennial escaped. Cognus left when she failed to kill her apprentice and didn't want to risk Bane's Legacy dying with her in an ambush from her disavowed former apprentice.
"Is there anything further?" Taria asked, hopefully.
"Yes and no," Domru said. "We found the name of her ship, and have records of it bouncing around systems for many years. We aren't sure where its main port was yet, but I'm sure we'll find it. I also know that at some time she gained a male servant, but we have yet to determine his name. It is interesting to note that the ship that this woman used was often seen at ports where the Huntress struck."
"The Huntress?" Fay asked.
"A bounty hunter of renown back then," Domru said.
"That is how you have been tracking where she went down," Taria said in admiration. "She was a bounty hunter and clearly kept up the profession for work."
"Indeed," Domru said smugly, inclining his head with a hint of admiration. "I hope to have more information for you at our next visit."
"We appreciate your hard work," Fay said. She also knew that Taria now had more information to try and find more information on her end without Domru. "Now, what about Palpatine?"
"Not much on the Supreme Chancellor," Domru said with a frown, but with a glint in his eyes, and Fay could tell he took it personally, but at the same time appreciated the challenge. "Someone is definitely protecting his information. Other than his amateur racing record, I don't have much yet. I did get information on his family, if that is of worth?"
"We'll take it," Taria confirmed with a nod.
"Very good," Domru said. "Finally, that leaves our last piece of business."
"Of course," Fay said, and she glanced at their escorts and Keria and Jaa both brought forward the two boxes they had pulled off of the shuttle. "Two boxes containing copies of tomes and scrolls written by ancient Jedi outlining some of our beliefs, our culture, and our history or at least some of our history through our eyes."
"One for me to store for you in an undisclosed location, and one for my own private collection," Domru muttered to himself, his eyes alight with eagerness.
"Indeed," Fay said. "Master Jocasta picked a wide variety of subjects and eras to help give you some variety, but she figured you would appreciate one tome in particular. It was written by Master Mical almost 4000 years ago, just after the Great Jedi Purge."
"Continue to provide me with this exquisite material, and I will continue to provide you with information," Domru said with relish. "The only thing better would be a holocron to study."
"Master Shan is still taking that into consideration," Taria said. "That is no easy thing to give up, but it is not off the table. They are tools for education though, and in the hands of a non-Force user, they serve little purpose."
"Perhaps," Domru conceded, "or perhaps you value them as much as you should. Regardless, our business is concluded for now. I have new history to digest and research to do. Tuara will see you out."
"Thank you, Lord Domru," Fay said with a bow. "It is always a pleasure."
"Take care, Jedi. I would hate for this beautiful partnership to fall through."
**The Will of the Force**
Siri stared at the rather foreboding visage of Mace Windu who was frowning at them. Next to him were Kastor and Adi, who were both looking pensive.
"I understand the necessity, but I'm not fond of the rule bending," Mace said finally before he glanced at Kastor. "Kastor, do you have any suggestions?"
Kastor sighed.
"The plan has merit," he said slowly, and Siri held back a snort, "however I'm not sure this is the correct team. If we can hold off, perhaps we could get a few more Shadows here -"
"But we don't have time," Obi-Wan said with a shake of his head. "Tyro is trying to hold off releasing the news about the Slams' recapture, but it's likely he will only be able to do that for a few days at most. We have to go now."
"Perhaps you do," Kastor agreed solemnly, before looking at Siri. "As much as I see the value in bringing Anakin and Ferus along, perhaps you could find two others instead? A couple Mandalorians or Antarian Rangers? Maybe we can find one more Shadow to help?"
"Volunteering yourself?" Adi asked, with a raised brow.
"I'm too old unfortunately," Kastor said with a snort, "and we don't have time to do facial reconstruction."
"Perhaps you and some of your team can shadow them and act as backup?" Mace offered up after a moment. "Use your own criminal cover to get on the planet and work with the Slams."
Kastor thought about it and nodded slowly.
"I think I could make that work. There's a high chance of my cover being blown, but I think the risk is worth the reward. My cover is in danger as is these days anyway. I was always too small a fish to be of worth to Teda, but with "my fleet" I'm a much bigger name. I can reach out to Asuna and see if she can bring the Darasuum to a short jump away from Romin or at least see if she can spare a team or two. We would want to join you separately so as not to cause suspicion."
"Can it be done?" Mace asked.
Kastor nodded.
"I believe so."
Mace mulled it over before looking at Obi-Wan and Siri.
"Just try not to alienate the entire Senate," he said, finally. "In other words, succeed." He drew his robes together in dismissal. "May the Force be with you, and may I not hear from you until it's safely over."
Kastor chuckled softly as Mace walked away, thoughts clearly elsewhere. He turned to Obi-Wan and Siri.
"Go and get your preparations. I will do the same, and then we'll figure out the timeline for when you can arrive compared to when my backup team will join you. We will also hopefully have an answer on how long Tyro can buy us."
"Understood, Master," Obi-Wan said with a short nod. "We'll let you know what we find out."
**The Will of the Force**
Tyro did not tell Obi-Wan the details of the favors he had called in and the promises he had made. He just gave him the results that he'd wanted. It was not the first time that Tyro had proved an invaluable friend.
"I'm still negotiating with the Central Posting Service about the Stop Comm order," Tyro said as Obi-Wan and Anakin greeted him in one of the Temple's small meeting rooms. "The good news is that the order has gone through. The bad news is that I don't know how long I can suppress the announcement of the arrest, but you might as well proceed to the Confiscation Station at the prison. You have a release for Slam's vehicle. It's an Ubrikkian star yacht."
Anakin whistled. "Sweet."
"All the data records, ID text docs, and wardrobes are onboard," Tyro said. A small smile brightened his furry face. "I understand that Slam is a bit of a dandy."
Obi-Wan was more concerned with other matters. "Give us as much time as you can. It will take us a standard day to travel to Romin from the prison."
"You know I will do my best for you, my good friend," Tyro said. "You go into danger, and I wish you safety and success. The Svivreni do not say good-bye. We consider it bad luck. We say, the journey begins, so go."
Tyro raised his hand, fingers spread, in the Svivreni gesture of good-bye. Obi-Wan did the same. Tyro then pressed his palm against Obi-Wan's. It was a gesture used by the Svivreni to those closest to them.
"So go," Tyro said softly, and left.
The four Jedi had packed their gear and were streaking across the galaxy within hours.
At the Greylands Security Complex, they had no trouble with the papers Tyro had supplied them with. They were given access to the Slams' ship.
The Ubrikkian star yacht was a light cruiser, built for quick getaways. Equipped with a hyperdrive, it carried no weapons except for two hidden proton torpedo shafts. It had also been modified to contain more secret compartments than Anakin had ever seen. Every time he thought he had found them all, he discovered another hidden within the various deck platings of the ship. The ship had been scanned by the authorities, in hopes of discovering the cache of crystalline vertex the gang had heisted on the Vuma job. No contraband had been found, and the rest of the gang's possessions had been searched and then left intact.
Ferus went through the computer files. The gang kept meticulous records and multiple ID docs for false identities. Siri found a device to override iris scans and, rolled into a tiny hidden compartment under the cockpit dash, a detailed analysis of the accounting practices of the Senate Relief Fund.
Ferus whistled under his breath. "I could be wrong, but I think they were planning to rob the Senate depository."
"That's a big job, even for the Slams," Obi-Wan said. "Good thing they landed in prison."
Anakin flipped further through the file. "This is just speculation. They didn't have a concrete plan."
"We'll go over the files in depth later," Siri said, her head in the Slams' personal wardrobe closet. "We'll have to be up on the latest criminal tech scams. There's a criminal gossip network. Our reputation will precede us. We have to be the Slams. Speaking of which…"
Siri pulled out a purple cloak made of veda cloth. It was embroidered around the collar with thick braiding in a bright shade of green. "For you, Slam," she said, handing it to Obi-Wan.
Obi-Wan eyed the garment. "Questionable taste, to say the least."
Siri winked at Anakin, but the face she turned to Obi-Wan was serious. "Tyro said that Slam is well known as a dandy. You have to wear it."
Obi-Wan's face was a study in distaste as he slipped on the ornate robe. Siri adjusted the elaborate collar so it framed his face. Anakin bit his lip. It was hard to keep his laughter inside.
Siri nodded thoughtfully. "Now you need some boots to match." She leaned over and pulled out a pair in red polished leather. "Here."
Obi-Wan took a step backward. "No…"
"Oh, for galaxy's sake, don't be such a stick-in-the-swamp." Siri tossed the boots at him. "You're impersonating a criminal. You have to dress like him. Don't you want to catch Zan Arbor?"
Siri turned her head slightly and winked at Anakin again. He turned away to hide his smile. Even Ferus looked as though he was suppressing a laugh.
Obi-Wan kicked off his travel boots and slipped on the soft leather boots. He turned to the large mirror on the inside of the closet door. "I really hate this," he groaned. "I look like a full-feathered idiot."
"I think you look…incredible," Siri said with a lilt to her voice that made her sound fake and breathless, but her mouth was twitching, as she couldn't keep it in any longer. She burst out into a peal of laughter.
It was impossible for Anakin and Ferus not to join in.
Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow at them. "So glad to amuse."
Then he reached into another closet. They heard the soft sound of rustling septsilk. Obi-Wan tossed a garment at Siri. It was made of a soft blue clinging material, and there wasn't much of it. "There you go, Valadon."
Siri looked at the piece of clothing. "Where's the rest of it?"
Obi-Wan grinned. "I'm afraid that's it."
"I'm not going to wear this." Holding it between her thumb and forefinger, Siri tossed the tiny garment away with distaste.
Obi-Wan's expression was bland as he retrieved it. "Don't be such a stick-in-the-swamp. Don't you want to catch Zan Arbor?"
Grimly, Siri pulled the robe over her tunic and leather leggings. Obi-Wan burst out laughing at the sight of the feminine, flowing garment haphazardly flung over Siri's rough clothes. "I don't think that's how you're supposed to wear it."
"We're not on Romin yet," Siri shot back. "You're just looking for a chance to ogle me!"
"Since when do I need special circumstances?" Obi-Wan replied, still chuckling.
"No, no flirting," Anakin said, crossing his arms. "Ferus and I don't need to see that."
"Ah, Obi-Wan, we're properly disgusting the kids!" Siri said with a grin.
Still chuckling, Obi-Wan reached into the closet and tossed out more conventional garments for Anakin and Ferus, dark tunics and trousers.
"Anakin, you'll be Waldo, and Ferus will be Ukiah," Obi-Wan said. "You fit the descriptions, roughly. Waldo is the security expert, and Ukiah is weapons and defense. Anakin, you'll need a headgear disguise, since you've seen Zan Arbor recently. I think that should be enough."
Obi-Wan pulled a half mask from his knapsack. "I got this from the med clinic at the Temple. It's used to knit synth-flesh together after an injury. We can tell people you were wounded in the escape, if they ask. Try it."
Anakin pulled on the mask. It fit over his forehead and covered half his face, leaving his mouth and chin uncovered. There were holes cut for his eyes, with tinted lenses. It was made of a slippery fiber, and it felt cool against his skin.
He was glad to have something to hide behind. He remembered Zan Arbor's penetrating gaze, the sense that she wanted to explore his mind, figure out the essence of him. He didn't want Zan Arbor to know who he was. He didn't want to get close to the person who could create the Zone of Self-Containment. What if she recognized him again?
Obi-Wan was speaking, and Anakin wrenched his attention back to his Master. "I met Zan Arbor very briefly almost eighteen years ago. She won't recognize me."
Siri wrapped her utility belt around the soft blue robe. "Question. What if we meet someone on Romin who's met the Slams before?"
"Not probable," Obi-Wan said. "The Slams operated in a different corner of the galaxy. Their reputation is big, but they didn't travel very far. It's a risk we'll have to take."
Obi-Wan's comlink signaled. It was Tyro, and Obi-Wan put him in holomode so the rest could view the communication.
Tyro flickered before them in miniature form. "I've received my answer from the authorities," he said. "I did my best, Obi-Wan. But I could persuade them to agree to keep the Slams' arrest secret for only three standard days. After that it will be posted on the HoloNet news. I'm sorry. You'll have to complete your mission in that time." Tyro looked worried. "Is three days enough?"
"Most likely not," Obi-Wan said. "But it will have to do."
**The Will of the Force**
"I'll be en route to Romin within the hour," Kastor said, looking at the holoimages of Siri and Obi-Wan. "The Darasuum has its own mission, but Asuna is sending a squad under Vana's leadership to assist our mission. We should all arrive a little over half a day later than you."
"That should work perfectly," Siri said. "We can get a lay of the land and maybe an initial meeting with the good doctor. We can get a feel of whether we have any chance of convincing her to leave the planet willingly."
"If not, we'll see if the addition of my troops and I are enough to sway her," Kastor agreed. "If not, we'll figure out a different way to forcefully extricate her. I just worry -"
Kastor cut himself off as Yoda came into the room in his hover chair, looking exceedingly grim, with Adi by his side.
"What is it, Master?" Kastor asked in concern.
"Meditating with Master Tera Sinube was I. A dark premonition have we had," Yoda said, and then he looked at Kastor. "Go to Chandrila, you must. A team of Jedi, take you must. Insistent the Force is."
"What do you sense?" Kastor asked swiftly. "Can you pinpoint where on Chandrila? When will this occur?"
"The place, know well you do, but yet to visit have you," Yoda said gravely, and Kastor sighed.
"My daughter's memorial," he said softly, and Yoda nodded gravely.
"Sense what will happen, I do not, but feel the urgency from the Force, I do. To Chandrila, you must go. Get there as soon as you can, you must."
Kastor felt out into the Force, searching for what Yoda was mentioning and felt the turmoil. He could feel what Yoda was speaking of, but could see nothing. The Force was growing harder and harder to search as the darkness grew. Visions of the future and premonitions were growing more and more rare.
"Should we divert our current mission?" Obi-Wan asked, and Kastor knew Obi-Wan would divert if he asked it of him, even though he wanted to get Zan Arbor.
"No," Kastor said after a moment. "It is imperative that we recapture Zan Arbor. You'll just have to do it without me for now. Perhaps I can join you later."
"Are you sure, Master?" Siri asked with concern.
"I'm sure," Kastor said.
"Besides. He won't be alone," Adi said, and Siri relaxed slightly. "I'll go with him."
"Gathering other available Jedi and any willing Mandalorians, Master Sinube is," Yoda said.
"Good," Kastor said. "Adi and I will head down to the Ebon Hawk and prep to leave. Please send whoever is joining me on this crusade to meet us there."
"May the Force be with you," Yoda said solemnly.
"And with you all," Kastor said, and he and Adi took their leave, as Siri and Obi-Wan ended the communication.