"Nar Shaddaa again," Kaliyo said. "Casinos, death sticks and head games with Watcher X. Think selling out to the Republic will be more fun?"

The agent said, "We get to lie to a whole new group of people."

Kaliyo said, "Don't forget to squeeze them for all they're worth."

Vector said, "You are the conscience of our team, as always, Kaliyo."

"Got that right, bugboy," she replied.

The agent said, "It almost sounds like you enjoyed your days alone with Kaliyo."

"We found the experience enlightening," he said. "Your time on Tatooine seems to have benefitted you."

"He's right," Kaliyo said. "You're almost perky."

The agent said, "I got the right kind of help."

They went to a cantina on the Promenade and sat at the bar. After a few minutes, a man approached with an obvious smile and said to the agent, "Can I interest you in a Cassandra Sunrise?"

"Buy us a bottle, and we can talk," the agent replied.

"A woman like you deserves to see the city from above," he said.

"I own my own starship," the agent said. "But I might let you on board."

The man nodded and motioned them toward an isolated table. "Code name Hunter, Strategic Information Service. I hear you want to switch sides."

"You aren't going to confirm my identity?" the agent asked.

"I did that as soon as you stepped onto this moon," he told her. "This is how it works. Trust is earned over time, not with a few palmed files. I was told you'd be bringing a gift."

The agent nodded. "Security clearance codes to a droid factory here on Nar Shaddaa."

"Not bad," Hunter said. He looked over the data. "I know the location. Fully automated. No Imperials to kill. Are you still feeling patriotic?"

The agent said, "For that, you would need to understand why I'm here."

Hunter said, "Save your sob story for the man in charge. Who are they?"

"My team," the agent said. "We're a package deal, but you should know that already."

Hunter smiled. "Kaliyo Djannis. One of many aliases. Mercenary, anarchist, no loyalties to anyone but herself. Not much of an asset, but not much of a threat. Vector Hyllus, diplomat. Loyal to the Empire. Suffered a personal tragedy on Alderaan, but not a lot of details. And you, the primary asset. Recipient of the Imperial Intelligence Commendation Medal for the capture of Darth Jadus. You might understand why we're suspicious."

The agent said, "I also understand why a Cipher Agent is worth the risk."

"You're a pro," he said. "I'll say that much." He activated his comm. "Heading in."

"Our lovely Imperial heroine," Hunter said as they entered the safehouse. A human male, a Twi'lek female, and a droid looked up. "Let me introduce you to your team. This is Saber."

The Twi'lek nodded. "Four years sniper training. We should swap stories."

"This is Chance," Hunter said.

The other human nodded. "Slicing and mission control."

"Wheel," Hunter said. "Our technology specialist."

"Charmed," the droid said.

"And the man in charge," Hunter said looking behind the agent. She turned to find another human male.

"Ardun Kothe, head of division," he said. "I never thought I'd see a Cipher agent turn. I got a copy of your personnel file. Says you were 'traumatized' on Eradication Day. Ten thousand people dead, so you could finish a mission. That what made you want to flip?"

"Your numbers are off," the agent said. "Eighty-two thousand, six hundred and five. Fifty-eight percent civilian casualties, including ten-thousand and fifty-one children. And I gave him the codes to begin firing. He had to believe he'd won, or we would never have had a chance to capture him. We found his contingency plan afterward. A thousand more Eradicators with targets in the Empire and the Republic. The casualties would have been in the billions. What did they do with this madman, this psychotic, this mass murderer, this traitor to the Empire? They locked him away. No execution. No real punishment, because, as the second most powerful Sith Lord alive, he had value, and they might need him later. And I received a commendation for exceptional service for my contribution to the deaths of ten-thousand and fifty-one children. That is why I wanted to flip."

"Saber," Ardun Kothe said. "Tell the deck another card is in play. Code name: 'Legate.'"

"'Legate'?" the agent said.

"You don't know Centran sabacc?" Kothe said. "We should play sometime. Hunter, show her friends around. Legate, we have things to discuss." Once they were alone in his office, he said, "I'm prepping operations on the planet Taris, couple other places. Join up with your forces there, I'll give you your first job. You're on my team now, Legate. A double agent inside the Empire... someone to help me win this war."

"It's nice to work with someone who looks at the big picture," she said.

"I know the feeling," Kothe said. "One more thing before you go, and I'm sorry to say this, keyword: onomatophobia. Thesh protocol, phase one."

"Thesh protocol engaged," the agent said. "Shutting down." He won't be told. No shit.

"Don't know if you can hear me anymore...," Kothe said.

Mind control. Brain damage. Inevitable.

Chance: "This is everything we have."

Kothe: "Discuss this with no one."

You mean, like headquarters?

"Half an hour," Kothe said. "Wake up."

"I'm awake." You asshole. "Awaiting orders."

"Let's walk through some exercises," Kothe said. "Sit down. Now jump, please. Aim your rifle. That was your pistol, but close enough. Revert to phase zero. You can talk now."

"You can't brainwash someone that fast," she said.

"It's unfair," he said. "I won't argue."

"That wasn't my question," she said.

"There's a switch in your head," he said. "I just flipped it. You won't be able to tell anyone about us or your programming." Like my handler. "You also won't be able to hurt members of my team. It's all a precaution, in case your real loyalty is still to the Empire." I'm starting to debate that.

"The technology shouldn't exist," she said.

Kothe said, "But it does, and I have it. Don't ask how." The fuck I won't. "You're still part of the team, Legate. I still need you on Taris. We'll beat the Empire together. With the lives we save... maybe we'll both find redemption. Dismissed."

You are the reason headquarters has oversight. "Understood, sir."

In the other room, she found Vector in a philosophical discussion with the droid and Kaliyo on a couch kissing Saber.

"I've never been with a woman," Saber said.

"I can fix that," Kaliyo told her.

The agent said, "Time to go."

Kaliyo sighed. "We'll talk more," she told Saber and kissed her again.

"I look forward to it," the Twi'lek replied.

Vector looked at the agent and said, "The discussion did not go well?"

"Everything is fine," she told him. He noticed when he shouldn't. Was that good or bad?

"Beginning encrypted message. This is Keeper. We have one minute until Republic intercept. Report, Cipher Nine. Did you make contact with the SIS?"

That asshole brainwashed me. "The situation is under control."

"Understood," Keeper said. "Do not break cover until you are certain of Ardun Kothe's intentions. You're our only chance of learning his plans. I believe in you, Cipher. Keeper out."

She doesn't know he has control. You'll never be able to tell her.

What the hell?

Watch. Wait for your opportunity. It will come.

Phantom voices. Great. What else could happen?

"Agent," Vector said. "We are pleased the mission was successful. So far."

The agent sighed. "In this job, success is often tainted."

"True," he said. "That is why we celebrate any success."

"Let's get naked and drunk," Kaliyo said.

"With Vector here?" the agent said.

"He doesn't care," Kaliyo told her. "Found that out while you were on Tatooine."

"For us-" Vector began.

"I understand why," the agent said. "Just, not today."

"Too bad," Kaliyo said. "We could have given the ground crew a show."

"Set course for Taris," the agent said.

"Nar Shaddaa to Taris," Kaliyo said. "One toxic waste dump to another."

Vector said, "You speak like a poet, as always, Kaliyo."

They were quite the duo, the agent thought. "Code name Legate calling base command. Come in, base command."

Ardun Kothe appeared on holo. "Base command here. Patching secondary stream."

Chance appeared next to Kothe. "Code name Chance here. Ready for mission briefing."

"Welcome to Taris, Legate," Kothe said. "A thousand years of civilization reduced to toxic muck."

"What's the mission?" the agent said.

Kothe said, "A long time ago, Taris was a Republic world-"

"I don't need a history lesson," the agent said.

"There's a corrupt Jedi down there," Kothe told her. "You're going to stop her."

"What does she want?" the agent said.

"Ki Sazen," Kothe said. "Jedi Knight and hero of Tas-La. Rising star in the Jedi Order, but she's rotten to the core." This sounds personal. "Half her missions end with someone dying. Technology and artifacts disappear from under her protection." That could mean reckless, not corrupt.

Chance said, "Her last report said she'd come to Taris because 'the Force' called her here."

Kothe scowled at Chance and said to the agent, "I believe Ki Sazen is building a power base. I need you to find out how and why, and bring me hard evidence."

The agent said, "You sound like you're taking this personally."

"I'm disappointed, is all," Kothe replied. "But you're right, no good fretting." Fretting? "Chance will be your contact. He'll take it from here."

"Yes, sir," Chance said. "Surveilling Ki Sazen has been difficult, but we believe she recently mounted a raid on an Empire-controlled laboratory. We'll begin our investigation there. You need to obtain access to the laboratory from Imperial Command."

"Let's get to it," the agent said.

Kothe said, "That's my girl." I'm not your girl, asshole. "Base command out."

Chance said, "I'll monitor your holocalls to track the investigation. Chance out."

Kaliyo said, "Does this seem like overkill for one Jedi?"

"Yes," the agent said. "Stay alert." Not, keep your eyes open. Kothe obviously wants something else. She had to find the right phrases to make it around the brainwashing. She needed the assassin but couldn't contact her. SIS knew and allowed this. Why?

"Lieutenant Needa, liaison officer," the Imperial said. "Apologies, ma'am. We didn't know you were coming."

"You weren't supposed to know," the agent said. "I need immediate access to the research laboratory in this sector."

"You're talking about the Godera laboratory...?" an ensign said.

"Yes," the agent said.

"Just a few klicks from base, ma'am," the ensign said. "I'll contact it for you."

Needa said, "Your associate should be at the lab already. He took a security team about a week ago. You'll find it in good hands."

"I'm sure I will," she replied.

The ensign said, "I can't pick up anything from the laboratory comm. But there's something on a secondary channel."

"Doctor Lokin is safe, but the rakghouls are everywhere. Orange-level infestation. Will attempt to-"

"Get it back," Needa said.

"I can't," the ensign said.

Needa said, "Our team must've been overrun by the rakghouls. We'll have to burn the whole lab."

"I need that lab," the agent said.

The ensign said, "Standing orders are to cluster bomb nest sites to contain the infestation."

"Find another way," the agent said. "I need the lab intact."

"You're a sniper?" Needa asked. She nodded. "Are you authorized to use a phase-pulse rifle?"

"I am."

"Let me introduce you to Lieutenant Pierce," Needa said.

"Right, ma'am," the massive lieutenant said. "Everything checks out. You are authorized for use of a phase-pulse rifle. I'm afraid your friends will have to make do with regular blasters."

"I thought these were illegal," Kaliyo said.

"Yes, ma'am," Pierce said. "Anywhere but Taris, and only against rakghouls." He gave the agent the rifle. "Fifty cartridges, ma'am. Can't give you any more. Regulations. Return it within three days, or we are authorized to hunt you down and kill you."

"Good to know," the agent said. She checked the rifle scope, the cartridge mechanism, made sure the weapon was unloaded, and dry fired it. Smooth as silk. Pierce knew how to maintain a weapon. Satisfied, she looped it over her shoulder.

Pierce said, "The big ones sometimes take two shots, ma'am."

"Not if you hit the head," she replied.

"True enough, ma'am. For one of your companions, I can also part with an autocannon. You can keep it for a week before we come after you."

"Kaliyo," the agent said. "You were made for that."

Kaliyo took the autocannon with a smile. "A girl could get used to something this big. What about you, Lieutenant, does the meat match the muscle?"

"Only one way to find out, ma'am," Pierce said. "If you're bit or scratched, pour this on the wound." He handed the agent a pack of vials.

"This is?" the agent said.

"Acid, ma'am," he told her. "You'll lose the limb, but it's better than turning. And you, sir? You might need more than a lumpy stick."

Vector said, "We will accept the VL-18 repeating blaster and five power packs."

"We, sir?" Pierce said.

"It's how his people talk," the agent replied.

"Yes, ma'am. The VL-18 can be returned upon departure. Anything else?"

Vector said, "Twenty concussion grenades, if you can spare them."

Pierce grabbed two bandoliers. "You've fought rakghouls before, sir."

"Some of us have," Vector said.

"Yes, sir," Pierce replied.

"Concussion grenades?" Kaliyo said.

"Stuns them, ma'am," Pierce said. "Incendiaries just slow them down a bit. The concussives will stun them long enough for your allies to finish them off. Can't think of rakghouls like regular targets. The only thing that kills them in one hit is the pulse-phase rifle or a lightsaber, and I don't have any of those."

"You know a lot about combat for a quartermaster," the agent said.

"Spec ops, ma'am," Pierce said. "Temporarily side-lined."

"Their loss, our gain, Lieutenant," the agent said. "Thank you."

"Three packs," the agent said. She watched the rakghouls near the lab entrance with her macrobinoculars. "Twenty-six total. No other predators in the area. They rely on hearing and smell. If we fire a concussion grenade there, we will draw them off long enough to enter the structure."

"And save your cartridges for the ghouls inside," Kaliyo said. "Then what?"

"The building is what's left of a tower," the agent said. "Most of the lower floors will be destroyed. If we can get up there, we'll have a clear view of the ground floor."

"The basement?" Vector asked.

"We might be able to fire from the lift," the agent said.

"We can hope," Vector said, looking toward the rakghouls. "There's a chance our body can resist the rakghoul plague. But we'd rather not find out."

The grenade pulled the twenty-six from the entrance and another half dozen from inside the structure. They ran to the building, used grapples to get to the upper floors, and made their way to a stable corner.

"I doubt the rakghouls outside will hear us," the agent said. "But I'm not completely sure. Once I've killed the leader, it will be a free for all." She located the leader, half again as big as the others and a different color. Then, she saw another one. "Vector, after the first leader is dead, stun the second so I have time to kill it."

"We are ready," he said.

The agent loaded the rifle, aimed, and disintegrated the head of the first leader. She reloaded and found the second leader in her sights. The rakghouls were already swarming their location. Vector fired, hitting the second leader in the chest. The impact of the grenade and its detonation scattered nearby rakghouls and knocked the leader to one knee. Shit. Pierce wasn't kidding. She fired on the second leader, destroying one shoulder and more than half its neck, and it didn't die. The rakghoul was paralyzed from the neck down, but still tried to howl in rage. She focused on any rakghouls climbing the walls while Vector's rifle and Kaliyo's autocannon sprayed the pack. Vector had to reload twice and Kaliyo once before the area was clear. Just to be sure, Kaliyo finished off the paralyzed leader.

"Fire from the lift?" Kaliyo said.

"Let's hope," the agent replied. Twelve cartridges to clear the first floor. Better than she'd hoped.

The lift didn't give them as much height, but it did bottleneck the rakghouls. Vector and Kaliyo both emptied another power pack, and Vector used six grenades. The agent needed fifteen cartridges, but they cleared the area.

"Lieutenant Needa," the agent said over her holocomm. "The structure is clear, but you should be able to use troops to clear the entrance."

"Understood, ma'am," Needa said. "If we're lucky, they'll wander off when they realize the rest of the pack is dead. Did you kill all of the leaders?"

"I did," the agent said.

"Then our chances are good, ma'am," he replied. "I'll send in a team just in case. Needa out."

Farther into the lower level, they found the torn remains of the Imperial troops.

"Is this a lab or a mass grave?" Vector asked.

"I know," Kaliyo said. "I've seen spice dens cleaner than this."

"Did you find something, agent?" Vector asked.

"Lightsaber damage," she said, pointing out a long scar on the wall. "Not recent. This is a few months old."

"Popular place," Kaliyo said.

They reached a massive blast door, and a voice cracked over the comm, "You can lower your weapons. There are no rakghouls in here." The door opened to reveal a middle-aged human male in a lab coat. "Doctor Lokin. Official designation 'Fixer Fifteen.' Good to meet you."

"Cipher Nine, Imperial Intelligence. Are there any other survivors?"

"Unfortunately, no," Lokin said. "The rakghouls took us by surprise; there weren't supposed to be colonies in this area. Watcher Four assigned me here for a cleanup operation. I assume you're here for a similar reason?"

"I can't give out details," the agent said. "Keeper's orders."

Lokin said, "Of course. But I'm sure we can work together. Follow me, and mind the bodies. This laboratory belonged to a man named Nasan Godera. Utterly brilliant, invented everything from durable plastifoam to the Death Mark laser, but his relationship with the Republic is... rocky. By the time we captured this sector, he was already gone. I came to catalog the contents of his lab, and I wasn't the first."

"What happened to Godera?" the agent asked.

"Back in Republic space," Lokin said. "But the laboratory hasn't been empty. Watch." He activated a holo recording. A female Zabrak Jedi and a male Nikto appeared.

"Is that the last of the defenses?" the Jedi said.

"Yes, Mistress, so far as we are aware," the Nikto replied.

"Good," the Jedi said. "Stay on your guard and destroy the monitors. Then find the device."

Lokin said, "They stole research, equipment, and something Nasan Godera called an Ultrawave Transmitter. I haven't a clue what it does. I suggest we pool resources. A Fixer and a Cipher, investigating a thieving Jedi for Imperial Intelligence." Great, he's hiding something too.

"If we can't trust each other, who can we trust?" the agent said with a smile.

"My thoughts exactly," Lokin said.

"Tell me what you know," the agent said.

Lokin said, "This wasn't the only recent raid on a science facility. Someone has been purloining databanks across the ruins. Based on the pattern, I suspect the Jedi's next target is an abandoned bio-research facility near a red-level rakghoul colony."

"What do you know about this lab?" the agent asked.

"Nothing pertinent," Lokin said. "I understand the lab itself was built by one Doctor Dorant, departed. Something about rakghoul research. I don't know whether the Jedi and her people have found the lab yet, so do be cautious. I look forward to hearing what you find."

Kaliyo said, "So you're hanging out here? With the corpses and the rakghouls?"

"It is my burden," Lokin said.

"We'll contact you once we're there," the agent said and wondered why the bit marks on the corpses looked fresh.

"This is Chance to Legate. Come in, Legate."

"Legate here," she said. At least he waited until they were away from Lokin.

"Any progress finding Ki Sazen?" Chance asked.

"I met a 'Doctor Lokin' at Nasan Godera's lab," she told him. "He thinks Sazen is raiding facilities across Taris. I'm en route to one now."

"That name rings a bell," Chance said. "Doctor Eckard Lokin, Imperial Intelligence. Twelve confirmed kills over thirty years. Not a lot in the file. Be careful with that man, okay?"

No shit. "Understood."

"Contact me if you find anything. Chance out."

"This is Legate to Chance," the agent said. "We have a situation with Ki Sazen."

"Chance here. What did you find at the lab?"

"A crater," the agent said. "Someone used a thermal detonator to destroy the lab. From the residual radiation, I'd say about eight months ago. But I found a group of Ki Sazen's followers. I was able to convince them to talk. She wants to use an Ultrawave Transmitter to control rakghouls."

"Why is she building a rakghoul army?" Chance said.

"Why does anyone build an army?" the agent replied. "She has two more targets. She needs rakghoul migration data, and she needs a Republic scientist, Ianna Cel, to finish the transmitter."

"We'll have to split up to stop them both," Chance said.

"We don't need to stop them both," the agent replied. "Without the transmitter, the migration data is worthless to her."

Chance said, "I'll try to find the scientist. If this 'Ianna Cel' works for the colonists, I should have a shot."

"Contact me when you've located her," the agent said. "Legate out."

Kaliyo said, "Do we just wait?"

"Not at all," Vector said. "We ask Doctor Lokin why he sent us to a destroyed lab."

Exactly right, the agent thought. She needed to watch Vector more carefully.

Lokin said, "Cipher, back with hardly a scratch! And here I am, practically electrocuting myself on Nasan Godera's equipment. How embarrassing."

"What have you been doing?" the agent asked.

"Still piecing together this and that," Lokin said. "Nasan Godera may have been brilliant, but he was not a studious record keeper. So, any luck finding our Jedi?"

The agent aimed her pistol at him. "Why did you send us to a destroyed lab?"

Lokin said, "Cipher, what's the meaning of-?"

She fired. The bolt passed a few centimeters from his face. "I repeat, doctor, what exactly have you been doing? And, why aren't you dead?"

"I have a medical condition," Lokin replied. "I thought Doctor Godera might have discovered something to help me."

"Help you what?" the agent said.

"It isn't contagious," Lokin said. "But it is painful at times."

"Why haven't you told anyone?" she asked.

"Well," Lokin said. "Imperial Intelligence might look at it as an opportunity for... research. I'd rather not have the... competition."

"That doesn't explain why you're not dead," she said.

"I would be happy to explain," he said. "In due time. Any leads?"

She holstered her pistol. "She's looking for a scientist, Ianna Cel, to finish the transmitter."

"I'm familiar with her," Lokin said. "You might benefit from having another scientist with you. To talk to her."

"You want to steal her work too," the agent said.

"Steal? No. Peruse," Lokin said.

"Do you know how to use a blaster?" she asked.

"Of course," he said.

The agent said, "Try to-"

Her comm buzzed.

"This is Chance to Legate," he said with a groan. "Can you hear me?"

Idiot. "Legate here. You don't sound good."

"Yeah," he said. "Blaster burns, but the shrapnel's worse."

"What are you doing in the field?" the agent asked.

"I tracked down that scientist Ki Sazen is after," he said. "She agreed to meet me in the ruins. I was on my way when Imperial scouts spotted me."

Because, you're an analyst, not a field agent. "Tell me where you are, and I'll be there soon."

Chance said, "I'm- look, I have to be sure. Keyword: onomatophobia. I'm ordering you to my location at Dynamet General. Sending coordinates now."

You complete, fucking imbicil. "I am on my way to Dynamet General."

"I'm sorry, Cipher. It's just... I don't want to die like this. Chance out."

They can't resist using it. But you still have your mind. You can still think. That's your escape.

Comforting, she thought. "Doctor, try to cross us, and Kaliyo will kill you."

"Got that right," Kaliyo said.

"Wonderful," Lokin said. "Shall we go?"

They found three small packs of rakghouls near the lab, but none of them approached.

"Curious," Vector said.

"A pheromone derivative I've been working on," Lokin said. "Quite harmless."

No, the agent thought, if he had that, he'd have given it to us already.

They found Chance inside the entrance, pale and struggling to stay conscious.

"Chance," the agent said. "You're an idiot."

"Thank you," he said. "Please listen."

"Doctor Lokin," the agent said. "Do what you can."

"Of course," Lokin said and got to work.

"Ianna Cel is in here somewhere," Chance said and winced. "She will only meet with SIS."

Lokin paused.

"Work, doctor," the agent told him.

Chance said, "Tell her the password. Gemstone."

"Understood," the agent said.

"If he patches me up, I can get to an evac point. Keyword on-onomat-ah!"

The agent said, "Shut up, you idiot. Doctor, will he make it?"

"If the evac point isn't too far," Lokin said.

She told Chance, "Be glad I'm feeling merciful."

After Chance limped away, they headed into the lab. And fought droids. Lots and lots of droids. Doctor Cel was a bit paranoid, but she did have a Jedi after her. Lokin managed to hit often enough to justify his presence.

They cleared the droids from the innermost room, and the agent said, "Doctor Ianna Cel? I'm with the SIS." Damn, that felt good right now. "You agreed to meet with us."

"Don't move," Ianna said from behind a desk. "Just... hell, I barely know how to fire one of these things. Where's the guy I talked to?"

"Injured and being evacuated," the agent said.

"Password?" Cel said.

"Gemstone."

Doctor Cel stood up. "You have no idea how glad I am to see you. I've been hiding from that Jedi for weeks."

"Tell me about her," the agent said.

"She's not a Jedi," Cel said. "Not any more. She already killed Doctor Vernon and Professor Vraal when they couldn't fix some transmitter. I'm the last rakghoul expert on Taris."

"Last Republic expert," Lokin said. "I'm an independent researcher. Doctor Eckard Lokin. I saw your lecture on xenometamorphic epidemiology."

"Great," Cel said. "How does that help?"

"I'm going to be captured in your place," he told her.

"You've got to be kidding," Doctor Cel said.

"I know rakghoul science well enough to convince Ki Sazen that I'm an adequate substitute," Lokin said.

The agent said, "That's a considerable risk, Doctor Lokin. Are you sure it would work?"

Cel said, "What's the difference between a Hirano strain of the rakghoul virus and the Bozan variant?"

"Mutation of the Clawdite-derived gene sequence," Lokin replied.

"I'm convinced," Cel said.

"Very well," the agent said. Lokin was in Cel's lab but hadn't perused a single thing. He wanted Ki Sazen to capture him. She had more secrets than she could handle.

Lokin said, "Doctor, please contact the authorities on an unsecured channel. Tell them your assistant is at Dynamet General, and must be found."

"It's your life on the line," Cel said. "Just be careful."

Vector said, "If I may ask a question, Doctor Cel, do you know the effect of the rakghoul virus on Killik Joiners?"

"Yes," she said. "I think you call them 'severed'."

"I understand," he said. "They threaten the stability of the hive. How do the rakghouls respond?"

"They see the Joiners as an enemy and tear them apart," she said. "I'm sorry."

"Did you ever use us against them?" he asked, as if he were discussing where to eat lunch.

"The infection only works one way," she said.

"Most enlightening, doctor. Thank you. Agent?"

"We have a plan," the agent said. "We might even survive it. Doctor Cel, you're up."

"This is base command to Legate," Ardun Kothe said from the holocomm.

"Legate here," the agent said. "Proceed."

"I just heard from Agent Chance," Kothe said. "His injuries are extensive. You are now primary on this mission."

"Understood. How is Chance doing?"

Kothe said, "He'll live. Whether he'll come back on duty, I don't know."

"He was careless," the agent said. "In a lot of ways."

"I'm glad to have had your assessment," Kothe said. "Keyword: onomatophobia. Your new objective is to retrieve the Ultrawave Transmitter from Ki Sazen."

"With respect-"

"Your companions can't use the word," Kothe said. "They don't know what I'm saying. To them, it sounds like mundane traffic."

Of course. "Why the change of objective?"

"That's not your concern," he said. "Just get it back to me."

The agent said, "Ki Sazen's hideout is behind Republic lines." They'd tracked Lokin's signal to the Republic base.

"I understand," Kothe said. "No other way to make this work. May the Force be with you. Base command out."

Oh. That explains a lot.

"We stealth our way in," the agent said. "Hopefully, the two of you have been practicing."

The agent set up her rifle at the end of a long corridor. Unconscious Nikto lay around her. She'd been forced to return the phase-pulse rifle. Rakghoul targets only. It wouldn't work against a Jedi anyway. Neither would her regular rifle, but the Nikto guards weren't so lucky.

Kaliyo said, "If we kill her, can I have a lightsaber?"

"That's a bad idea for several reasons," the agent said.

Vector said, "The Song of the Universe becomes cacophonous." They looked at him. "Be wary," he translated.

Three Nikto guards, Ki Sazen, and Doctor Lokin, hard at work on the transmitter. Or trying to look that way. The agent took aim on the most dangerous looking Nikto and fired. Ki Sazen's lightsaber flashed and deflected the bolt wide. They'd been expected.

"Funny," Sazen called out. "When the Nikto said a girl was coming after me, I thought she'd be a challenge."

The agent said, "And when I heard a Jedi was leading a Nikto cult, I thought she'd be older than twelve."

"It is her," a Nikto said. "She who killed my brothers!"

"I didn't kill him," the agent said. "His face had a conversation with my fist."

"Easy, Fhentar," Sazen said. "I'm not turning over the Godera device. I'm going to use it to control the rakghoul colonies and then take over Taris. And then, when I own this place, I'll take my cult and my rakghouls and make a nasty little paradise for anyone who swears loyalty."

"Every part of that is stupid," the agent said.

Sazen said, "We can call each other names, but I'm about to become ruler of all Taris."

"Agent," Vector said.

"What?" she asked.

"Doctor Lokin," he said.

Doctor Lokin? Then she saw him. Oh. Shit.

"Mistress Sazen!" a different Nikto said.

Sazen turned in time to see a massive rakghoul throw the Nikto over a balcony. Sazen and the third Nikto attacked the rakghoul, and the agent took the opportunity to shoot Fhentar. The rakghoul grabbed a container to shield himself from Sazen's lightsaber.

"Vector," the agent said. "Grenade. Try not to hit Lokin."

The grenade hit near Ki Sazen's feet, stunning all three. The agent took out the last Nikto, and she, Vector, and Kaliyo moved in.

"Surrender, Sazen!" the agent said.

"Oh, you cheating little-ah!" Sazen struggled to her feet. "What the hell is that?!" She pointed at the rakghoul.

"Doctor," the agent said. "I hope you're still in there."

The rakghoul nodded politely.

"I'm still their savior," Sazen said. "When I'm gone, they'll sing the Death Song of Thre'shalu. What do you say to that?"

"I have no idea what that is," the agent said. Sazen laughed. "It doesn't have to be this way. You can still go back to the Republic."

"If they knew what I'd done," she said. "They'd lock me up forever."

"Then join the SIS," the agent said. "Their standards are more questionable."

"You're serious?" Sazen said. "Would SIS work with a Jedi?"

"It's been known to happen," the agent said.

"All right," Sazen said. "But I'm still the hero of Tas-La."

The agent said, "I don't know what that is either." Sazen nodded. "Ask for Ardun Kothe. He'll get you where you need to go." Sazen opened her lightsaber, gave the agent the secondary power supply, and limped away.

"Doctor," the agent said, aiming her rifle at him. "Medical condition?"

The rakghoul fell to his hands and knees. After a few minutes of growling and the sound of popping tendons, Doctor Lokin, sweaty and naked, stood up.

"I assure you," Lokin said. "I am no threat." She didn't lower the rifle. "Everything I've done has been to your benefit. I recovered the Ultrawave Transmitter." He held it out to her. "You're understandably suspicious. As soon as I get something to wear and we distance ourselves from the Republic army, I promise to answer all your questions."

"No more delays, doctor," the agent said.

"The short version, then," he said. "I used you to gather data on the rakghouls. Ki Sazen was collecting research, you were after Ki Sazen. And, as you've seen, I'm using this data for a side project. I find the rakghoul virus... bracing." The rifle didn't lower. "I'm not offending anyone, am I? Like this, I mean."

"Not this group," Kaliyo said, clearly enjoying the show.

"Cipher, I'd like to make a proposal." He looked down. "Poor choice of words. As I told you before, I came to Taris to further my studies of the rakghouls. Ki Sazen stole research I desired. My goal was to perfect a custom strain of the rakghoul virus. Keyed to my own genetic structure, it currently allows free reversion between human and rakghoul forms."

"You told me you were sent by Imperial Intelligence to catalog Nasan Godera's lab," the agent said.

"I admit, that was a lie," he said. "I do officially work for Intelligence, but this was a personal project. Then again, you weren't sent here by Imperial Intelligence either."

"My presence here is complicated," the agent said.

"Of course," he said. "Despite your... unusual choice of contacts, and your search for the Ultrawave Transmitter. I understand, Cipher, that working without official sanction can be a necessary evil. But, given what we know about one another, I think I ought to stay close to you. An alliance rather than mutual destruction."

"Interesting," the agent said.

Lokin said, "We could both go to our superiors and expose one another's secrets. But who does that help? You let me take my research onto your ship, and I'll contribute my share. Besides, with Ki Sazen dealt with, I need something to keep myself occupied."

The agent said, "You mean, you need protection."

"You're not my ideal company either," Lokin said. "But trust and friendship aren't necessary for a beneficial partnership."

"You're in luck," the agent said, lowering her rifle. "I happen to need a good doctor. But one misstep and you're floating through space."

"That's fair," he said. "Spare pants?"

"Dead Nikto."

"Of course," he said. "I'll gather my belongings and meet you at your ship." He began undressing Fhentar.

Kaliyo said, "By the way, doc." He looked up, and she checked him over. "I might need a physical or two."

"Welcome aboard, doctor," the agent said. "Medical bay there, empty cabin next to it."

"Thank you," he said. "The Cipher agents certainly travel in style."

"Are you contagious, doc?" Kaliyo asked.

"I am not," he said. "I believe I mentioned that. The virus is coded to my genetic structure."

"What if it mutates?" the agent asked.

"It would die before it got the chance," Lokin said.

Kaliyo said, "So you know, doc, we like to keep the ship clothing optional."

"Indeed?" he said.

"Actually," the agent said. "It's just Kaliyo."

"I'll try not to look," Lokin said.

"You can look, touch, or join me," Kaliyo said. "I'm fine with it."

The agent said, "You'll grow tired of him within a week. Then where will we be?"

"It'd be a good week," she said.

"One last thing," Lokin said. "About the Ultrawave Transmitter. Nasan Godera was notorious for hiding secrets in his devices. Encrypted codes, maps to lost projects. Just something I heard."

"Thank you, doctor," the agent said. "That answers a few questions."

Lokin went to his cabin to unpack.

"He's an odd man," Vector said. "And there's something in his eyes... we'll watch him."

He is the odd one, the agent thought. Hell of a crew.

It's in your head. You can't keep it there.

That voice. She recognized it.

The agent activated the holoemitter. "This is Legate to base command. I have retrieved the Ultrawave Transmitter."

"Base command here," Ardun Kothe said. "Connect the Godera device to your linkup. I'll download what I need." She plugged the transmitter into the emitter. "I got word from the sector station chief. Said he got a call from Ki Sazen. She wants to join us."

"She wants redemption," the agent told him.

"The Force guides us to strange places," Kothe said. You really don't hide it very well. "I've put in touch with the right people. She'll do well with them."

"How am I doing?" she asked.

"You're making progress," Kothe said. "Download's complete. Let's hope the genius in that thing helps us win this war."

It's breaking your skull. Can you hear it crack?

"You don't look so good, Legate," Kothe said. "Take a few days, check in with your bosses; we'll have another job soon."

Then Kothe was replaced with Jadus. A figure appeared for a moment. Kothe again, attacking her with insects. Watcher Two in bed with Jordel Tlan. A jurgoran watched them from a corner of the room. A child. A ring of light. Death.

Can you see?

Her eyes opened.

Cipher Nine. Legate. Disposable operative. It's been a while since Shadow Town.

Watcher X.

Yes. Formerly Watcher Five. Formerly Minder Eight. I performed surgery on you, before your cousin murdered me.

The implant.

Maybe that chip is how we're talking now. Or maybe it's the stress- double agent, triple agent... the brainwashing damages your mind.

That's why it's called "brainwashing".

I was in your position, once. Trapped by my conditioning, forced to subvert it. I warned you they'd do the same to you.

You warned me about a lot of things.

You should have listened. The SIS isn't to blame.

I know. Brainwashing is an Imperial science.

Slave serums, genetic engineering, Killik pheromones. But this, I don't recognize.

How did the Republic gain access?

I don't know. Being dead limits my resources. If you want freedom, if you want revenge, we need more information. Imperial Intelligence will have records on Dromund Kaas.

We?

It's not like I have anything better to do. Your cousin saw to that.

I'll tear you out the first chance I get.

One last mission before I'm done. Take your personnel files from the Citadel archives. Ensure no one sees you. You have no allies now. Not in Imperial Intelligence, anyway.

"Readings are stable," Lokin said. "Ah! Our patient is awake."

Vector said, "We found you in the plague-sleep. We watched but could not mend you."

"You look like hell," Kaliyo said.

"You always know how to make me feel better." She sat up and a wave of dizziness got her. "Prep the ship for flight. We're going to Dromund Kaas."

"Of course," Vector said. "We'll be ready presently."

"Yeah, sure," Kaliyo said. "We can spend time with Keeper."

"All of us?" the agent asked.

"Me and Hexid," Kaliyo said. "I'll fire up the engines."

"I wondered why you accepted my offer so easily," Lokin said. "You'll be happy to know, I found no signs of direct neurological damage. It significantly improves your chances of recovery."

"Understand," Vector said. "We are here to help." Was that all of them or just him?

Someone's changed my brain. "I'm fine. Thank you."

"No. You're not. But this isn't the hive, and we can't hear your thoughts."

Right now, you wouldn't want to.