The Black Hand

A/N: Just for clarification, Daimon is a Gen'Dai, but his appearence isn't like the shrek looking ones we see on wookiepedia, instead he he looks more like Thanos and their race of titans from the Marvel universe.

So when you think of Daimon just think if Thanos.

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Sitting down in Lt. Kaan's office, Daimon and Sera was briefed on what they had so far. "As of now, we are investigating various financial discrepancies tied to the Senator's office," the Lieutenant started, presenting holo-projections of numerous bank accounts, investment portfolios, and property records. "There seems to be a significant amount of money going into off-world accounts that can't be accounted for or justified by his salary. It points towards potential bribery and under-the-table dealings."

As he talked, Daimon listened attentively while also using the Force to subtly probe for any hidden intentions or deception within Lt. Kaan. The Force didn't indicate anything out of the ordinary except for a general concern for the Republic's well-being.

Looking at the transactions, he wasn't that knowledgeable when it came to financial affairs and intricacies, but even to him, the numbers and patterns looked suspiciously irregular. The money flows lacked the usual consistency of a government-operated system and instead had the haphazard appeal of personal transactions or unofficial deals.

"Who could the Senator be dealing with?" Sera asked, leaning forward to better examine the holo-images.

"That's where you come in," Lt. Kaan replied, his eyes on Daimon. "We've detected several encrypted communications from the Senator's office to unknown contacts. The encryption is advanced, far beyond our codebreakers' abilities."

Daimon raised an eyebrow at that. Even the Republic code breakers couldn't get anything which meant that now they were turning to the Jedi to use the Force to try and solve this case. In his opinion, this was smart considering how the Jedi who practice technical fields are probably better than even the Republic code breakers because of their connection with the Force.

Daimon himself, who was a Sentinel had spent almost a hundred hours learning code-breaking in his spare time. Given his enhanced intelligence and abilities, breaking into the Senator's encrypted messages was possible.

Nodding thoughtfully, Daimon leaned back in his chair, folding his hands on his lap. "I'll take a look at these encrypted messages. It might shed some light on who the Senator is in ties with."

Lt. Kaan presented a data disk containing the encrypted files. "Here you go Knight Daimon. We've been trying to crack these for weeks now."

Daimon took the disk and slid it into the data port on the console beside him, the encrypted files immediately appearing on the screen in front of him. The layers of encryption seemed daunting at first glance, each line of code was a carefully constructed barrier, designed to thwart even the most experienced hacker. But for Daimon, these barriers were just another puzzle, one he was more than capable of solving.

His fingers hovered over the keys, tapping into the Force to augment his focus. The world around him seemed to fade as he concentrated, his mind sharpening, moving with a speed and clarity that far surpassed ordinary human capability. He felt the code, the pattern of it, the rhythm of the encryption. It was as though the code itself whispered to him, revealing its secrets.

Sera and Lt. Kaan watched in silence, both knowing that Daimon's skills were more than just a product of training, they were enhanced by his connection to the Force. The seconds stretched into minutes as Daimon worked, his hands moving with fluid precision.

"Done," he said quietly. The encrypted messages had been cracked open, the strings of code unraveling like a tapestry. The screen flickered, revealing the contents of the decrypted files, communications between the Senator and a series of contacts, some of them from known criminal organizations in the core worlds. There were encrypted references to illegal arms deals, smuggling operations, and even hints of more unsavory dealings, including a few coded references to a mysterious "Black Hand."

Sera leaned in, "The Black Hand? That's not a name I've heard in a long time."

Meanwhile Lt. Kaan's expression darkened at the mention of the Black Hand. "The Black Hand is a shadow organization with ties to multiple criminal syndicates. They've been linked to everything from weapons trafficking to assassination contracts. If the Senator is involved with them..." He trailed off, unable to finish the thought.

Daimon's looked further at the information. "We'll need to dig deeper into these contacts. The Senator is clearly playing a dangerous game."

Sera nodded. "But if we're going after these people, we'll need to be careful. The Black Hand is notorious for its secrecy and ruthlessness. If they sense we're onto them, they'll vanish without a trace, or worse."

The Black Hand wasn't a name to be taken lightly. But this case was bigger than just a simple investigation into a corrupt politician, it was about protecting the Republic from unseen threats that were lurking in the shadows.

"I agree," Daimon said, "We'll need a plan. But first, we should investigate the Senator's immediate circle. If he's being manipulated or controlled by these criminal factions, we need to find out how deep it goes."

"Wait a minute," interrupted Lt. Kaan. "The RIA will take lead on this and we will provide whatever resources needed to investigate the Black Hand, while also conducting our own investigations."

Daimon had no problem with this, in fact it was better to have them involved so he could have a lot of support to lean on. But there was also the possibility that somebody within the RIA was also working with the Black Hand. Considering their infamous reputation, the possibility was highly likely, and this investigation would certainly make those individuals become a target.

"We'll keep in close contact than Lt." Daimon stated as he and Sera left Lt. Kaan's office. This was no longer just about uncovering corruption; it was about stopping some secret organization from seeking it's fangs into the Republic.

Walking through the halls of the agency, there was a brief silence as Daimon through about what they should go after first. Sera was the first to speak and break that silence, "You think the Senator's really involved with the Black Hand, or is it just a smokescreen to throw us off track?"

"I don't know, but I don't like the fact that his communications are tied to criminal organizations that deal in high-stakes operations. The Black Hand doesn't do small-time work." Daimon replied.

"You've got a point," Sera agreed, her voice filled with concern. "They're notorious for keeping their operations under the radar, but the Senator's name being linked to them? That could mean we're looking at a much larger web than we thought."

With his connection to the Force, Daimon felt that there might be something darker pulling the strings behind the scenes. "We need to find out who the Senator's working with. The sooner we do that, the better we can figure out how to dismantle this operation."

Sera nodded, "I'll start by tracking down his personal contacts. If there's anyone we can interrogate or who might know more, it's them. We'll see what we can learn from the people closest to him."

"Good," Daimon said, "I'll head to the lower levels of Coruscant. If the Black Hand is involved, we may need to trace some of the more illegal movements, smuggling routes, hidden transactions. I'll see if the Force can guide me to where they're operating from."

The two exchanged a brief nod before parting ways. Daimon made his way toward the nearest turbolift, his mind already thinking of their next steps. Coruscant, the beating heart of the Republic, was teeming with information, but finding the right thread to pull in such a vast cityscape was always a challenge. And now, with an intricate conspiracy on his hands, the pressure was on.

The turbolift doors slid open, and Daimon stepped into the bustling depths of Coruscant's underbelly. The lower levels were a stark contrast to the gleaming spires of the upper city, dimly lit alleyways, shadowed figures lurking in the corners, and the smell of industrial waste clinging to the air. It was here that the Republic's underworld thrived, far from the eyes of the Senate and its oversight.

Daimon's senses were heightened, his mind already attuned with the Force. He walked through the crowded streets, feeling the weight of the darkness around him. The criminal elements of the lower levels were a matter that the Republic generally avoided until something major happened that prompted them to get involved.

He reached a cantina, its flashing neon sign barely visible through the haze of smog and pollution that clung to the area. Inside, the chatter of patrons was drowned out by the music and the clinking of glasses. The cantina was filled with shady figures, smugglers, mercenaries, and low-level criminals all looking to avoid the Republic's watchful eye. Daimon approached the bar, his gaze scanning the room as he ordered a drink.

Moments later, a man slid into the seat next to him. He was wearing a long, weathered cloak, and his face was hidden by the shadows, but Daimon could feel something peculiar about him. The man wasn't there by coincidence.

"You're looking for answers," the man said, his voice low, as if he had been speaking in hushed tones for his whole life.

Daimon didn't turn to face him, but his eyes narrowed. "Who are you?"

"Doesn't matter," the man replied, his smile unseen but evident in his voice. "What matters is what you're willing to pay for what you need."

Daimon paused for a moment, weighing the man's words. He reached out with the Force to probe for deception. There was no malice, no ulterior motive, but the man was well-versed in hiding his true intentions. He could be connected to the underworld somehow.

"I'm looking for information on a Senator," Daimon said slowly. "The one from Corellia. He's tied to a group called the Black Hand. You know anything about that?"

"The Black Hand?" He repeated, more to himself than to Daimon. "Dangerous people. You don't just ask about them unless you've got a death wish."

Daimon's expression remained unchanged, though inside he was prepared for whatever came next. "I'm not asking. I'm investigating."

The man slid a small datachip across the counter to Daimon. "This'll get you started. But be warned, Jedi. You dig too deep into the Black Hand, and you might not get out of the hole you're digging."

Daimon didn't take the datachip immediately. Instead, he stared at the man for a long moment, considering his words. Finally, he slid the chip into his pocket and stood up. "I don't intend to go quietly."

He walked out of the cantina and back into the murky streets. The man he was talking to had a mischievous smile on his face as he disappeared out of existence while muttering, 'This should be exciting'.