Lists, Leads, And Information

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~~~(POV: Adren Saydra)~~~

~~~(Location: Desik's Hideout, Red Light District, Nar Shaddaa)~~~

~~~(Current Age: 16 Years)~~~

~~~(Date: 569 BBY)~~~

Thump

Desiks body falls to the ground when I let him go. I walk over to the broken wall, looking at Nar Shaddaa on the other side. Desik was wise to keep his list in a secondary location. But regardless, I know where it's at now.

GUUUUAAAAA

The building will soon fall, and it's time I got out of this place. The Force flows through my body, and I leap from the opening in the wall. Crossing the massive gap between the next building and this one.

The metal roof proves an easy place to land. As I'm standing, the large cracks and breaks from where I once was grab my attention. I look over my shoulder, and the building is falling through the gap between buildings.

Screams below are heard as it crashes through level after level. I pull out my holomap and mark the coordinates where he's keeping the list I'm after.

Shame I don't have a ride...

BUUUUZZZ

ZOOOOOM

VRROOOOM

Then again, it's not like I'm walking there with so many options to pick from to take me. I throw out my hand and capture a speedcraft midair.

"AAAAAAHHHHH!!!"

"HEEEEELLLPPPP!!!"

"NOOOOOOO!!!"

The people inside fly out and scream into the darkness of Nar Shaddaa as they fall.

Should've worn seatbelts.

I pull the speedcraft to me and hop in. Taking control and following the directions to the location.

It'll take some time. It's five city sectors away, and all this traffic in all directions makes it hard to go fast. Instead of doing it manually, after a few clicks of some buttons, the autopilot turns on with my destination.

It'll plot out the most efficient route and give me time to think about what I sensed during my search inside Desik's mind.

Two Force signatures landed nearby. Not incredibly outstanding, but one was relatively strong. From the feel of them, they're Jedi. My disturbance in the auction house yesterday made some noise.

First time I've made an attack so open in the public. The falling building was probably seen by them, too. The Jedi don't like Force users they don't know or support roaming around freely.

Well, not one that uses the Darkside.

But despite them coming here, I sense they're not planning to confront me. The Darkside isn't vibrating in excitement. If a battle were coming, it'd be buzzing.

I should prepare for a quick escape if they change their minds and fight me. If I could, I'd avoid a battle with them. Obvious reasons apply. Republic has no authority in Hutt space, and neither do the Jedi.

Breaking laws here is different when breaking laws near the Core. My holocom connects to my ship, and my droid picks it up.

"D4, bring the ship to the coordinates I've just sent you. Don't be late."

A few beeps from my astromech, and the holocom is shut off. Killing Jedi will bring far more attention and heat than I want. I've been playing off the conflict in the Rim. Hoping all the action out there has distracted them.

My growing power is a beacon to them. I've felt someone searching for me these last few years. Recently, that single person has turned into two people.

I'm strong enough to end the life of any run-of-the-mill Knight or Master. Even old council members if they come looking for me.

My abilities have developed to the point of killing powerful Jedi. There will come a day I have to fight a Jedi. Not knowing when makes me move cautiously. Until now, that is. The less the Jedi are involved with me, the better. After all, they're servants of the Republic first.

And the Republic doesn't care about someone like me. If anything, I'm doing them a favor. One they don't have the power or authority to do themselves.

~~~(POV: Jedi Master Dysare Izok)~~~

~~~(Location: Area Where Building Fell, Red Light District, Nar Shaddaa)~~~

~~~(Current Age: 65 Years)~~~

~~~(Date: 569 BBY)~~~

We rush to the edge of the metal walkway and look off the edge. Rescue workers and local authorities are helping down below. Tayda leans her hands on the railing and closes her eyes. A lot of people have died...

The building falling was inevitable, and it's indeed interrupting our search for a copy of the list from Desik's competitors. However, we can't just stand idly by.

"What are the odds that anyone in the building survived..."

The implication of her words is clear. She's asking if we should help anyone that's down there.

The soft voice of Tayda takes me from my thoughts about helping these people. It's a Jedi's duty to help those that need it, but in certain situations, it's not wise to intervene. We're on a planet that's unwelcoming to our kind.

No one knows who we are and that we're here. I don't want to lose that cover. If the criminals in the area find out we are Jedi, things will get much harder to find.

I reach my hand out and place it on her shoulder.

"Come, we must go. Our cover shouldn't be risked. The odds are good if we offered help; they'd use one hand to help us and keep the other on their weapons."

She stands still for a second before turning around and walking away with me. She lifts her right wrist and presses a button on her wrist gauntlet. Showing us a holomap. After a couple seconds, a few different locations appear.

All of them are possible locations for the copy of the list we're looking for from competitors of Desik.

"The two closest locations are in this sector. After that, we'll have to spread out. Hopefully, we'll get a copy before he leaves. We can send the list to the Order and have the people on the list arrested, detained, or protected."

She's thinking along the same lines I am. We'll need more than just two Jedi for this person. So many of us are deployed in the Rim; it shouldn't be hard for them to jump into our mission.

~~~(POV: Grandmaster Aleya Zana)~~~

~~~(Location: Communications Room, Jedi Temple, Coruscant)~~~

~~~(Current Age: 64 Years)~~~

~~~(Date: 569 BBY)~~~

I'm silently listening as Dysare and Tezor speak about sending Jedi help since they've got a copy of the list. Yoda is standing next to me, and his eyes are closed. The Darksider we're after won't be easy to capture.

He's broken laws that deem him a criminal. It'd be a different story if he were a Darksider that didn't kill anyone. However, over the years, the bodies have only piled up.

"Masters, it's imperative we send Jedi and Republic troops to all these people on the list. There are 22 total, and I know it's a big ask."

Tezor takes another look at the list after Knight Darsana's words. It's certainly a big ask, but it's not without reason. If he continues to grow, no one will be able to stop him.

"Turns out Desik was one of the biggest dealers for some of the most powerful crimelords in the galaxy. While the list is smaller than I thought it'd be, none of these people would willingly accept Republic and Jedi protection."

Tezor is excluding the ones we can arrest and detain. Haden is silent as he stands next to Tezor. I sense a doubt in him. One that I hardly ever feel.

"Something to say, you do, Master Larkor?"

Yoda asks him before I can. Our fellow council member folds his arms and closes his eyes. Taking time to choose his words.

"Why are we trying to stop him? From the names on this list, the galaxy will be better off without these people. He'd be doing us a favor. Whether it's one of them or all of them."

All of them... I hadn't even considered that. Judging from the reaction I'm seeing from Dysare on the other side of the screen, he didn't think about it either.

This Darksider could use the list as a one-stop shop to remove all the major players in the Slave trade. His revenge isn't extending to a single individual; it could be as big as every name on that list.

"Haden, I know your opinions regarding the criminals on this list and their ilk. However, we hold a higher duty. This man will eventually turn his eyes to the Order and the Republic. As all who've used the Darkside before him."

It's almost as if Tezors words fall on deaf ears... Haden turns around and leaves the room. I don't blame him. He believes the Slave trade is despicable. I share that position, but many of us see this differently from him.

In his eyes, it's a perfect opportunity for serious and terrible crimelords to be removed from the galaxy. At zero risk and expense to the Jedi and the Republic. But it's more fuel to the fire of the person doing this.

It'll only make him stronger. What if he uses what he's done to rally support? To gain followers and create a true opposition to us? It's not something we can risk.

The Sith have been gone for almost 450 years, and it's our responsibility to keep the galaxy free and safe from them.

"Well, I don't blame him for walking away. It doesn't set well helping or saving these people, but the big picture is more important."

Dysare and I both sympathize with Haden. His words come from a place that understands. As do my own thoughts.

In the end, a council majority is needed to commit resources and Jedi to Dysare's request. Not to mention coordination with the Senate. They have no idea we're investigating a Darksider. We'll have to bring them in on it.

Which is dangerous in itself. Few outside the Order understand The Force. Light and Dark. Explaining it to arrogant Senators is always something we try to avoid.

"Master Yoda and I will head to the Senate to speak with Chancellor Regalm. Republic troopers mean we'll need to get the Senate to help."

With that, Master Yoda and I leave the room and begin walking down the hall. It's becoming more serious as the days pass.

This could be the beginning of a galaxy-wide crisis.

"Not help us, the Senate might. Care little, they do for our ways. Understand us, they do not. Sith and their wars, gone they are. Numb to this, the Senate and Republic have become."

We enter a transport shuttle as Yoda finishes speaking. We lift off the ground and begin our approach to the Senate building.

"Chancellor Regalm has been known to ignore us and our advice. Only becoming interested when he needs the help of the Jedi. Now that he's started a new term, we'll have to deal with him."

Yoda takes on a solemn expression as we fly. Even after all this time, I don't know why he hasn't accepted the role of Grandmaster. When he refused, I was offered.

When Master Garness died, Yoda changed a little. He became less concerned with the council and has focused on other things. Peacetime is all I've known and all he's known. We're both out of our element here.

I'm glad he's here to help me. When my time comes, and I step down. I'm sure he'll be the new Grandmaster. If he accepts, that is.

~~~(POV: Jedi Knight Tayda Darsana)~~~

~~~(Location: Jedi Transport Ship Lightrider, Hyperspace, Corellian Hyperroute)~~~

~~~(Current Age: 26 Years)~~~

~~~(Date: 569 BBY)~~~

The meeting with the council comes to an end, and the holocall ends. I slump back in my seat and take a deep breath. Releasing a long sigh as I do. Dysare is reading the list in the chair across from me.

I sense he's trying to gain some insight using The Force. Seeing if any name on the list holds any significance.

"Out of the names on this list, twelve of them are Hutts. Some of the most powerful Hutts in the galaxy. The strange thing is, according to the locations they're said to be at, none are on Hutt-controlled planets or space."

I also found that odd when reading the names and the attached information to the people's profiles. Most Hutts don't leave the comfort of their palaces or their planets.

"I know; it was something I noticed too. I planned to bring it up soon, but it seems you caught on. What do you think it means?"

A thoughtful expression takes form on his features at my question. He's far more experienced than me and better understands how the Rim works.

"I think the Hutts know they're in danger... They've been hiding from this person for some time..."

Then that means...

"Tayda, pull up any suspicious reports of Hutt deaths or murders. I have a feeling the Hutts and this man are adversaries."

He's thinking the same thing I am. If Hutts were being hunted before this point, it'd explain why he needs the list in the first place.

They went into hiding.

I do as he asked and come across one interesting report after a few minutes. Two Hutts. Brothers.

"It says highly intense electrical shocks killed them. So bad the skin was cooked and burned. By the time it was over, only husks remained."

Force Lightning...

"Is that all?"

As soon as he says that...

Another report comes through...

And another...

And another...

"Master... This man has been exclusively hunting Hutts... All members of the Hutts criminal empire."

Wow.

This is incredible. More and more leads are appearing. We've gotten more information in the last 48 hours than in the previous eight years of searching for this man.

"How far do the deaths date back?"

I look at the report's dates, and that's when I see it.

"It's happened in the last six months..."

It's only happened recently... This is fantastic for us.

~~~(POV: Jedi Padawan Taylor Azure)~~~

~~~(Location: Jedi Freighter Spacejumper, Hyperspace, Hydian Hyperroute)~~~

~~~(Current Age: 16 Years)~~~

~~~(Date: 569 BBY)~~~

VROOOM

DRAAASK

BRAAASS

ZRRROOO

Thump

"Haa... Haa... Haa... You're amazing, Mom... I don't think I'll ever be able to best you at lightsaber combat..."

I'm lying flat on my back as Mom twirls her blade and shuts it off. Another clean and concise victory for her. She's teaching me so much about saber forms and how to fight. Even after three years, she's kicking my butt.

She sits next to me on the ground with perfect tranquility. No sweat. Not a single hair is out of place. A smile on her features.

"You're already powerful for your age, Taylor. Don't rush progress. In time, you'll be a duelist on my level. Perhaps even higher."

Her voice has a teasing edge at the end of her response to my breathless compliment. She stands up and holds out her hand to me. Helping me to my feet, we walk out of the training room.

"We'll be reaching Onderon soon, within the hour. Did you finish your reading of the local government?"

That's something I'm good at. We sit in the kitchen, and she presses some buttons on the holoterminal. Turning on a report about the things happening in the Rim.

"Yes, I know all about Onderons government. It's the pirate presence that's disrupting things. Many officials are being bribed to the point the pirates control the planet. The capital city, Iziz, is the only place the pirates don't control."

I honestly don't know where they get the funds to do all this, and it's something Mom and I will be finding out in our investigation here.

"You're correct. Things will get tight for us once we meet our contact in Iziz. It'll be impossible to move undetected outside the capital city in public spaces."

We'll have our hands full.