Strange Dealings (Shen/Mo's Past)

Shensenn · Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2006 7:02 am Post subject: Strange Dealings (Shen/Mo's Past)

Shensen had been very excited about the message he had received on his private channel. It seemed someone was in need of some decrypting. A job he had enjoyed, what seemed like eons ago now. So much had happened since his seedier days. He looked forward to the break in his training to pursue an old pastime even if just for a moment.

He arrived at the Cantina a little early so he ordered himself a drink and stood at the bar keeping to himself. He felt almost giddy inside at the secrecy of it all. He knew these to be foolish thoughts and feelings, but he couldn't help himself. It was like returning to a childhood home after years of being away.

A few moments later a young Bothan female entered the Cantina along with a Bounty Hunter judging by the armor and weapons he carried. He had that cat-like grace to his walk that spoke of a readiness to pounce if need be. He was probably hired help...a bodyguard or something.

They eventually made their way into one of the more private alcoves. The introductions were skipped and in my eagerness to be accomodating, I almost blew the whole secrecy of the Order. If I could have kicked myself I would have, but luckily I had always been quick on my feet. I rambled on a suitably believable explanation before changing the subject and cutting to the chase.

The datadisks were disappointingly simple - a crude encryption code typically used by the various crime syndicates. Bloodrazors, Nyms, Black Sun - could have been any of them really. He had tried to put her at ease, but her body language spoke volumes. She was definitely not one to do this sort of thing by trade. He thought perhaps his friendly demeanor the cause. Most of his kind were quite rude and violent by reputation. She would get used to him eventually. The exchange was relatively quick and they left as quietly as they came.

Shensen followed them as far as the bar. He returned his empty glass and ordered himself another, lost in thought. He glanced over toward the exit to watch their figures vanish behind a corner.

"I hope they know what they're getting into" He thought to himself. "I'd better look up some old contacts and see what I can find out about all of this." He didn't need the force to know that she was going to need more than a bodyguard.

He headed for the Starport and launched into space. After punching in the nava coordinates for the jump to lightspeed, he set the ship on autopilot and closed his eyes. He needed to center himself again. Perhaps through meditation the force would show him more of what was to come.

***

Wind and sand blew Shensen's duster wildly around his legs and the suns beat down on him mercilessly as his saber twirled. He had been saber training for a couple of hours courtesy of the hostile indigenous life on Tattooine. He sped among the dunes on his swoop, half scanning with his eyes and half with the force looking for another practice session when his commlink chirped from his wrist. He glanced at it long enough to see it wasn't any of his usual contacts before ignoring it. He slowed the swoop to a stop a few meters from another grouping of Dewbacks and slowly made his way toward them. Whoever it was could call back later.

After igniting his saber he carefully used the force to guide in into the first creature, which cause the remainder of them to charge him. The hilt slapped back into his palm just in time to start the dance. The dance was what he called his methodical movements from stance to stance, form to form, each flowing from one to the other while surrounded by the protective power of the force. The Jedi Masters looked down upon harming any lifeform, but how else was he to hone his skills? What they didn't know wouldn't hurt them.

His thoughts drifted to the encounter in the Cantina the day before. He felt there was something deeper behind what was going on on Lok. He knew next to nothing about it really "“ just what he was able to surmise based the brief look he had at the decoded disks before returning them. His footing slipped on the loose sand of the dune and barely regained his footing in time to dodge a tooth-filled maw snapping where his ribs had been a second ago.

He silently cursed at his mistake. "Keep your mind on the task at hand." he reminded himself. Master Hashum had always said he was easily distracted and it pained Shensen to prove the man right even if he wasn't here. Safia was a much better student in Shensen's eyes. She must be or wouldn't he have his own teacher by now? He knew that to be only half truth. There simply weren't enough Masters for everyone. Some already had to break long standing traditions of old and take more than one Padawan "“ rare as that was. His commlink chirped again as his saber turned off with a hiss.

Again the same unknown number. Curiosity got the better of him now as he accepted the transmission.

A voice crackled over the comm. "Stop looking into the situation on Lok. It may be harmful to your health."

"That's a risk I'm willing to take. What I don't take are threats. Good day to you." Shensen said back calmly. The gall of some people.

"You life is now in peril friend. Just a warning..." the voice countered.

"I appreciate the warning then."

"Someone is after you now. I would like to meet with you to give you the person's name and data."

Shensen paused in thought looking out over the dunes. It was likely a trap by some low life paid a few credits to scare him. He would stall him. Most of the gutter trash doing that type of work would lose interest if it wouldn't turn an immediate profit.

"You can send me the information via holomail. I am indisposed at the moment and am afraid a meeting won't be possible at this time." He grinned in spite of himself picturing this fellow stomping his feet in frustration.

"The holomail isn't exactly the safest means for this type of information." The voice said unruffled.

Hmm, this fellow may be serious. Let's see if he's willing to wait.

"How about the Cantina on Lok? I can be there in roughly an hour." Shensen said.

There was a short pause before the voice returned. "Alright. I'll be atop the small hill behind the Starport when you arrive."

An hour later Shensen landed his ship at Nyms Starport. He sensed danger and hostility, but that wasn't anything unusual this close to Nym's Stronghold. He briefly thought about contacting the Academy for some backup, but thought better of it. He was more than capable of handling this sort of back-alley rabble. He climbed the small hill behind the Starport to a man in nondescript clothing wearing a sunguard. The man was nervous, but excited at the same time. Shensen towered above the man, which is probably why the nervousness was there. Some were easily intimidated by size. They nodded to eachother as Shensen approached.

"Anyone with you?" He asked, looking past me toward the Starport.

"No."

"Good. Come with me please, someone wishes to speak with you."

He followed the man farther up the hill and found two more men. Shensen's tongue flickered out testing the air. The man in charge, judging by his demeanor was of large build for a human, hairless, and smelled calm and confident. The other man with him must be another cronie judging by the way he and the caller moved up to either side of him as the hairless one approached. He walked at a measured pace with his hands clasped behind his back. He had a slight grin on his face as if he knew something no one else did and it amused him. His eyes shone with a fanatical light. This was a dangerous man. He smiled at Shensen with a smile that did not reach his eyes.

"You are looking into a disturbance in Lok." The man said calmly.
"I was not aware of any disturbance until now." Shensen replied just as calmly.

"You have met with a local doctor. A Bothan. Our spies saw you meeting with her in a Cantina on this planet." The man said with an expectant look in his eye.

"So what if I have? Plenty of people meet doctors these days. It isn't very uncommon." Shensen said, trying to keep the sarcasm out of his voice and maintain the calm he was taught. Something about the man just grated on his nerves.

"What did this doctor tell you, hmm?"

"Nothing important." Shensen replied in an off-hand matter as if it was of no consequence.

"I do not believe that."

"I cannot control what you choose to believe." Shensen smirked on the inside. This little word duel was amusing. He could see the other man was enjoying it as well.

"You would be wise to forget about this doctor and whatever it is she told you."

"I've been called many things, wise was never one of them." Shensen said with a grin.

The man chuckled. The henchman on the left grinned while the one that made the call cracked his back quite loudly while stretching.

"I was hoping you would say that....truly I was." The man said.

Shensen flashed him his most insolent grin.

"You see, it has been some time since I have been able to test certain...abilities. Some involving nothing more than my bare hands...which I can do here if you understand." The man said, flashing quite an evil grin.

"I'm afraid I'm a bad teacher for administering tests." Shensen said alertly.

The man that called me spoke up then. "Uh friend..he means he can snap your back in two without trying."

"A bit blunt Snado." The leader said with a grin.

"Well you done that before." Snado said sheepishly.

The leader again turned his attention back to Shensen. "One last chance. What did the doctor tell you?"

"Nothing. She said very little in fact. I did not even get a name; it's better for both of us that way."

"She said very little, but she still said something...tell me."

"I learned a long time ago the less one knows about their dealings the better. This was no exception." Shensen replied.

"Sounds like an assassin." Snado said a bit nervously.

Shensen turned to Snado and chuckled. Assassin indeed! The very thought was ludicrous, but amusing for some reason. As he turned his attention back towards the leader he felt the air leave his lungs as he dropped to a knee.

"Now then scum, I asked you a question." The leader said.

Now the man was really starting to make Shensen angry. Who does this guy think he is? I could cleave this sorry human in two in the blink of an eye. Diplomacy, he reminded himself. Jedi were supposed to be the best mediators in the galaxy back during their golden years.

"Is that all you've got?" So much for diplomacy.

"Merely a taste."

His other henchman started cracking his knuckles in what Shensen assumed was supposed to be an intimidating gesture.

"Lucky for I'm hungry then." Shensen replied with a grin.

"Please allow me to introduce myself. I am Inquisitor Nurmaens." He said with a smile and a look that said I should recognize the name.

"Inquisitor eh? I've dealt with others from your...profession." Shensen said with distaste.

"I'm sure."

"Can't say I was very impressed." Shensen sniffed at the man in distaste.

Shensen was suddenly kneed in the groin by the Inquisitor. The man moved quickly for a human. Shensen remained on one knee recomposing himself. He was more tired than he thought from all the training he had done that day and wasn't looking forward to a battle against these three. Well... maybe just the Inquisitor.

"Well you have some evidence against you friend..." Snado said. "Our little conversation was recorded."

"Insulting an Inquisitor...quite an offense." Nurmaens said.

"I've got more where that came from." Shensen said defiantly, regaining his feet. "Your inquiry is quite pointless. You won't get anything from me."

"Well well well..." Snado said behind him.

"Very well." Nurmaens said. "It is a simple matter to have these two fine gentlemen here kill you. I'm not going to waste the effort on you."

Snado slammed a spin kick into Shensen's kidney, but Shensen retaliated with a strong back kick that send the man sailing down the hill. Shensen turned in time to catch a blow from the other man and flip him. He landed with a grunt near the edge of the hill where Snado had gone over.

"Perhaps there is game in you yet." Nurmaens said as he removed his coat and drew a wicked looking blade. "Let us see if you are a truly worthy fighter."

He lunged in like a whip with the blade. Instantly Shensen's saber ignited in his hand as he barely dodged the strike and swept the man's feet from under him. Surprise registered on the man's face for an instant replaced by a steely resolve. It was all Shensen could do to maintain his defense.

In the meantime, his man had helped Snado back up the ravine. "I knew it!" Snado said. "A Jedi."

"Jedi scum." The other said hungrily.

Nurmaens was fast as a sand viper and that odd blade was the fang. A well timed feint followed by a kick sent Shensen reeling to his back and his saber turned off. Shensen's muscles felt like water and he breathed heavily. The Inquisitor stood calmly with a genuine look of disgust on his face.

"Leave him alive or kill him?" Snado asked hopefully.

"Such a pity. I was hoping for a true warrior." Nurmaens said, replacing his blade in the sheath.

"Can I skin him?" His other man asked.

Nurmaens ignored them. "Now we have another problem...where'd you get that lightsaber scum?"

"More questions you won't get answers for." Shensen said between deep breaths. He slowly stood again.

"You ask for death then traitor?"

"You'll find keeping me around a more difficult task." Shensen said. He started to run and reached for the force to aid his speed, but nothing happened. He was too drained. He made it as far as the Starport before they caught him and he felt sharp stabs of pain as the Inquisitor's blade rent his clothing and flesh with equal ease. He fell to the ground and blacked out.

He awoke surrounded by frightened travelers who were doing their best to avoid his body and the blood that surrounded it. Shensen focused and gathered the force to him as much as he could. He felt horrible, but supposed he should consider himself lucky that they left him for dead.

Barely able to stand, he knew he would not be able to pilot his ship so instead he hopped a local shuttle to Nocturnus. He would find a doctor there...yes a doctor. Something about a doctor brushed his memory, but flittered away in a wave of nausea. The shuttle touched down in Nocturnus sending a jolt through his body that send silver flecks into his vision. He staggered out into the town heading toward the medical center. What was left of his clothing was saturated with his blood, covered in sand and clung to his body. The town looked empty. He got halfway up the ramp to the med center before he collapsed and crawled to the door. The door slid open with a faint rush. It was as he had feared...no one there.

He punched in a number on his wrist comm. He hated to do it, but he had little choice.

"Yes?" Came the voice on the other end.

"Master...I've been badly injured...I need help..." Shensen forced out in what seemed a barely audible whisper."

"Where are you? What happened?"

"I managed to get to the med center in Nocturnus, but no one is here. I'll explain everything later....please hurry."

"We're on our way."That was the last thing he heard before darkness engulfed him.

***

The fait chirp of my comm. sounded

"Yes?" I inquired.

"Master...I've been badly injured...I need help..." I recognized the voice immediately as one my students Shensen.

"Where are you? What happened?" I asked

"I managed to get to the med center in Nocturnus, but no one is here. I'll explain everything later....please hurry."

"We're on our way."

Safia and I had been training on Tattooine. One of my favorite places to train the sand and heat tended to keep strangers away, allowing us to train in peace. I had been observing Safia's Lightsaber techniques and helping with her stances.

"Saf that is enough, we have a more important matter to attend now." I motioned for her to join me at the top of the hill where our speeders were parked.

As she made her way up I sent a transmission to several other members of the Academy notifying them of the situation and to see if they could meet me at Nym's.

"Yes Master?"

"Shensen just contacted me, apparently he's been wounded badly, and I'm now unable to get a response, we'll have to go after him."

Safia nodded her agreement and we headed back to our ships in Mos Espa. Luckily the trip to the small moon was not far...or long.

We sped to the star port where I was happy to notice several replies from my earlier message. Luckily Yala and Shu were both also in the area and were on their way to Nym's already.

"Yala and Shu will be joining us at Nym's." I informed Safia"

"Good, I'll finally have the chance to meet them." She replied with a smile.

She boarder her ship and I waited for her to lift off before heading to my X-Wing and taking off myself.

As we exited our ships at Nym's I found Yala already there waiting.

I greeted her and as Shu arrived moments later I introduced everyone.

"Shensen another of our students contacting me not long ago, apparently he been wounded quite badly and I've been unable to get a response from him since then. Unfortunately I don't know what to expect but I think it best we leave now."

Everyone agreed and we boarded the next shuttle to Nocturnus.

We stepped off and the town was quite empty. I'd spent a great deal of time in Nocturnus and knew the town well. We headed down the main street towards the medical center before stopping.

"Shu, take Safia, and Jordyn down this street" gesturing to my right

"The three of you take this road to the edge of town, the Medical center will be just to your left, come in from behind just in case. Yala and I will approach from the front."

Shu proceeded without a word and after the started Yala bolted for the medical center. I started after her trying to catch up.

When I finally caught up to her she was already kneeling down beside Shensen just outside the Medical Center.

She tended to his wounds, using the Force to help stop his bleeding. As the others arrived we helped Shensen inside.

"I'm sorry Master... I know we're suppose to leave our old lives behind...but I thought a little decryption wouldn't hurt..."

"Now is not the time to worry about that now."

Yala instructed her handmaiden to watch the door as we helped Shensen with his wounds.

Safia searched out the Medical Center getting some supplies and clothes to replace his tattered clothing. She helped treat his wounds as he continued to explain.

"I decrypted some disks for a Bothan doctor, a day or so ago. I got a transmission today from someone who supposedly had some information for me."

"Incoming" Jordyn yelled into us.

Shu and I rushed out to see a bounty hunter I recognized. I knew he worked for Novall, he'd joined shortly before I'd left. I waved for him to come up.

"Cyril please come inside."

We entered the Medical Center again as Safia finished applying ointments to Shensen's wounds.

Shensen then began to explain how an inquisitor had lured him to Nym's and he and a couple of thugs had basically ambushed him, wanting to know about Bothan doctor I knew must be Dwilah. Cyril then filled us in on the inquisitor and his methods. It was all very disturbing...

***

The force must still have plans for me Shensen thought to himself. Several members of the Order had come to his aid and with rest he would be whole again.

They ended up running into Cyril that night and he filled us in on what was going on in Nocturnus. While some questions were answered, there were plenty more that were lacking in the answer department. The Inquisitor had made himself known although no one had any idea as to what his goals were. After much debate the only thing they all agreed on was secrecy and investigation.

Master Hashum planned to send a couple people to the Roba to investigate, but he seriously doubted they would accomplish much in that place other than drawing attention to themselves. Shensen would be out of action for at least a week, but even if he had been fit to travel he would not have gone to the Roba. The place was always filled with high ranking Imperials along with others of questionable repute.

This would require a special person to investigate...one that would fit in.

***

"Who is this?" Mosuger answered gruffly. His recent operations had gone better than he had expected and this was the first night he had had any decent amount of time to sleep.

"Hey Mo, it's Shensen."

"You're still alive eh?" Mosuger said grumpily.

"A close call, but yes. I appreciate your interest in my health." Shensen said sardonically.

"Don't flatter yourself. I have a vested interest in my regular paying customers. War isn't cheap you know." Mo said with a grin. "So what do you need this time?"

"Should be easy enough for a man of your talents. I need you to go to the Roba and see what you can dig up about an ex-Inquisitor Nurmaens. I want to know everything you can get on him, his birth place, parents, residences, investments and banking activity -- "

"Hey. I know how to do my job thanks. I've heard the name, but don't know much about him other than that he was one of the best...and worst. I have a few contacts that have been around long enough to know him inside and out."

"Excellent."

"Now let's talk price."

"I was afraid you were going to say that." Shensen said in a voice of mock pain.

"I'll need 100k up front for expenses. I have a good reputation with most of the high ranking officials there, but I may need to pay some hefty sums for information like this."

"Understood. I'll wire the money to you in an hour. What about your fee?"

"We can discuss that another time. I'd rather leave my options open at this point." Mo said with a genuine smile.

"I was afraid you were going to say that." Shensen said with a laugh before cutting the call off.

Mosuger rolled over putting his hands behind his head and stared up at the ceiling. Judging from the light at his window it was late afternoon. Deciding to stay up, he made his way over to his holovid screen and checked for new messages. He hadn't heard from his fiancee in a few days and wondered what was keeping her. She could certainly handle herself, but it wasn't like her not to check in. Putting her out of his mind for the time being he began gathering his gear and making arrangements.

***

The Roba was bustling with activity as is usual for a Friday night. Mosuger walked into the place without being checked for ID finally. He had wondered if they would ever rank let alone one of the most famous Imperial commanders of their time. Recruits just weren't trained the way they used to. To Mosuger that explained a lot about the current state of affairs with the Empire, but he held his tongue on most of his opinions in that regard lest the Emperor take it as a personal insult. Mosuger knew all too well just how hard it was to organize people let alone one man trying to pull the strings in the whole galaxy. A lot of trust had to be placed in other people. He would never betray that trust, but he knew others were or there wouldn't be the rebel plague there was.

Scanning the room quickly from the bar, he saw the person he wanted. The hooded figure had accompanied him on many campaigns to rid the Empire of rebels. He could be trusted...as much as anyone could be trusted. They sat in a corner booth out of the way from everyone else. The music was loud enough that anyone wanting to eavesdrop would have to practically be sitting with them.

"We've known eachother for a long time so I'll cut right to the chase."

The hooded figure nodded.

"I need information on an Inquisitor I know to be affiliated with the TTF."

"Nyvvek?"

Mo nodded.

"What kind of information do you need?" The figure asked.

"Everything. His past, his present, his living kin, residences...anything you can get." Mosuger replied.

"Why should I get this information on a friend of mine?" He asked.

"Because he attacked a client of mine." Mosuger started.

"Ah I see."

"A Trandoshan with certain...special..abilities much like yours. I believe you know him."

The figure nodded again. He seemed a little apprehensive. which was not too surprising. He's being asked to spy on a friend of his for two other friends of his...quite a predicament, but Mo was confident he would accept the request.

"He's headstong and needs guidance - certainly not a job for the likes of me." Mosuger chuckled.

His companion smiled briefly.

"Due to the high risk in getting this information I wouldn't blame you if you got other people to the dirty work on this one. Getting openly involved could put your life in jeopardy." Mo warned.

"I'll see what I can do."

"Excellent. Send anything you come up with to me on my private holomail. It will be secure there."

"Ok. I have to return to the party before I'm missed."

He walked back into the crowd. Mo sat a few moments before heading to the bar for a milk. He casually leaned on the bar and surveyed the room. There were definitely more irreputable people here tonight. The air almost crackled with tension.

A table of mercenaries sat up toward the stage seeming to enjoy themselves, but all with the look of being ready to spring in an instant. The local Priestess sat at a table with a robed figure. Something about the figure tugged at his awareness, but he couldn't figure out what it was. He did not like puzzles, but tonight was not the night to figure that one out.

He walked out of the Roba into another crowd that had gathered around a fallen man. The man appeared to be one of the merc crew that had been inside. Their leader was verbally sparring with a bald man and his cronie. Mo heard the word Inquisitor as he brushed past of of the onlookers. He glanced over as he mounted his speeder to get a good look at the man. Memorizing the mans face for recall later took a few seconds, then he was heading to the shuttleport.

Settling himself in his TIE back at the Starport, Mo punched in Shensen's private contact information. The comm chirped it's calling rythym, but no answer. Mo send a holomail and a vid projection from his cockpit. Shensen would see one of the two sooner or later. He was probably resting after his ordeal and didn't feel like getting up.

The excuse sounded good rationally, but Mo knew enough about Shensen to know he'd be sitting by his damn comm waiting for a call. Shen wasn't very patient once he had an idea in his head and he wasn't the type to go out drinking while he was waiting for important information.

It wasn't a habit to go chasing after employers, but Shensen had been a friend for a long time now. Besides, Mo had a bad feeling. Not one of those superstitious bad feelings - his bad feelings seemed to always have immediate truth to them. He didn't know how to explain that either, but as long as it kept saving his hide like it had in the past then he was willing to not worry much about explaining it.

Strange things like that seemed to happen to him a lot more often since his visit from an odd old man that rambled on about Sith and some village out in the middle of nowhere. The man had obviously been off his rocker and doing some serious spice, but nonetheless, these strange feelings came almost daily since then.

"You're clear Colonel." Came the launch bay operator's voice over his commlink.

Powering up the Ion engines, Mo made the smooth lift-off and headed out. Once he reached orbit he started work on the Navicomputer.

"Destination?" Came the female computer voice from his new AI system. It was a new imperial prototype he was testing. So far the thing was doing marvelously. Anything that kept his hands and mind free to work on other things while in flight was a plus in his book, although he would never trust a machine in combat. Any mention of possible hostie targets got the ship sent into manual mode.

"Dantooine." Mosuger replied.

"Destination acquired. Preparing for jump to lightspeed. Please fasten your seatbelt Colonel. Coordinates set in T minus 1 minute."

Mo ignored the voice. He was already buckled in and couldn't get rid of this feeling that something bad had or was going to happen...soon.

Mosuger touched down at the Mining Outpost on Dantooine and stepped out into the bustle of activity that was typical for one of the only government sponsored hubs of civilization on the planet. He made his way through the throng of people to the cantina and quietly made some inquiries, but didn't have much luck.

Just then his commlink chirped and after looking at the number he enabled the receiver with a relieved grin.

"Where have you been? I've been trying to contact you all night?" Mo said testily.

"Missed me?" Shensen asked with a chuckle. "I've been busy sneaking out of the Academy. I had to maintain radio silence for awhile until I got in the clear."

"I don't know if that was smart or not."

"Probably not the smartest thing I've done, but I had little choice. I have personal matters I have to attend to. Besides, staying there only jeopardizes everyone else. Enough about me, I just sent you the waypoint to my home here. Meet me there."

"Got it." Mo replied, switching off his commlink. He made his way to the garage to get his speeder from storage and a few minutes later he sped along the colorful flora of Dantooine. Shensen's house appeared to be a few thousand meters from the outpost in a fairly remote location.

Fifteen minutes later the house loomed on the horizon. He slowed his speeder to a halt and hid it in some of the trees a few meters away and began walking towards the front. His built in helmet modifications scanned the surroundings along with him. Switching to infrared he made another sweep of the area as he continued his advance and picked up a man-sized thermal reading several meters out behind some bushes. He casually eased his pistol out of its holster, but the hidden form must have known he'd been made.

Blaster shots fired from the bushes, one missing completely and the other being absorbed by his PSG. He lifted his hand to return fire, but then heard a deafening roar followed by the feeling of weightlessness and then pain.

It took a few moments for the specks in his vision to clear and he realized he'd been thrown into a tree. Scanning his surroundings again, his assailant appeared to be gone. Turning back the other way revealed Shensen's home a mass of stone rubble and flames pitching black smoke into the air forcing him to turn off the infrared scanner. Removing his helmet and tucking it under an arm he looked around for his Scatter pistol and found it several yards away. After giving it a once over he returned it to its holster and surveyed the damages. The destruction was quite thorough. Not even a single room of the house stood intact. Definitely the work of a remote detonated XG5 mine. A thermal detonator would do the same damage more or less but it would have to have been thrown in and he did not see anything thrown at the house.

"Sithspit." He cursed. He silently mourned the loss of a good paying customer and a good friend. He didn't claim many friends, but he had always enjoyed their unique relationship.

"This just gets better and better." Mo grumbled to himself while fitting his helmet back on. Nothing had changed back at the Mining Outpost. A few people stood around the fences pointing at the large plumes of smoke, but other than that it was business as usual.

Mosuger stored his speeder back in the garage and cautiously made his way back to his ship. Pulling a small device from a cargo pocket, he switched it on and waited as his ship was scanned for any foreign devices.
The device chirped as it finished and reported nothing found. A short time later he sat in his TIE adrift in the orbit of Dantooine drumming his fingers on his console.

His commlink bleeped breaking him out of his dreamlike trance. It was a private channel few people had access to.

"Yes?"

"Hey it's me. Is this line secure?"

"Yes it is you lucky son of a bantha. What the hell? Your house was pretty well demolished."

"Yes it was. Luckily I heard the beep of the detonator activate and it gave me just enough time. I pulled a falling wall over me as a shield and then held it until everything blew over." Shensen explained. "Did you see anyone out there?"

"Yeah he took a couple pot shots at me until your house blew up. I'm guessing it was a merc or a Bounty Hunter. You've been quite the celebrity in the wrong circles lately so neither would surprise me. In any case, they should think you're dead. I did until you called me."

"Good. I'm going to disappear for awhile. I've got a few safe houses scattered about." Shensen said seriously.

"Good idea. I made some contacts about the Inquisitor, but nothing solid to go on just yet other than that the guy is a rabid womprat that needs to be put down."

The commlink crackled a little but remained silent.

"You there?"

"Yes. I need you to contact Hashum and let him know what happened here. He is wiser than I, but I think he would agree me going into hiding is best even if he would prefer it be hiding in the Academy. Don't let on that you know anything about the Academy. He doesn't need to know how well we knew eachother...besides it's safer for you that way as well."

"Alright, I'll let him know. Perhaps he can think of a way of getting this Inquisitor to show himself. I can't get too directly involved with the man. He may be insane but ...he has guards, I have guards, we're both high ranking officials in the military although by assignment I outrank him. It would cause too much political mess for me to dirty my hands on him directly."

"Understood, but speak with Hashum about it and see what he thinks. He may be able to think of a way to use that particular connection to get what we want without you having to lift a blaster. I've got to get going. Be well my friend and may the force be with you."

"Something has to be." Mo replied shutting off the comm.

***

The first class at the Academy had not gone as I'd expected. Unfortunately there was only a very small turn out, of course I was aware of the dangers the students faced on a daily basis and understood why many of them had not been able to make it. It was however still disappointing.

My thoughts were with one student in particular, Shensen. Shu had spent several days looking for him, or any lead on him but nothing had turned up.

He returned to the Academy for our first class but had nothing to report. I'd been holding out hope that Shen would have shown up for class, but his absence brought the dark reality of the situation home.

I had been meditating on the situation for sometime when I heard my com-link buzz from the other room. With the Academy empty again for the moment every sound seemed to echo.

I stood up and quickly ran to the next room digging for my com-link, hoping that it was Shu or even Revis with an update. As I pulled it out of my robes the transmission signal was not one I was familiar with. And I knew it was not Shu or Revis.

"Hello?" I answered half hoping to hear the voice of Shensen on the other line.

"Hashum I presume?" the voice was unfamiliar to me

"Yes...Who is this?"

"Names aren't important. Too many people scan these channels. I just want to let you know that your associate is safe for the moment..."

"I swear if anything happened to him..."

"Don't worry he's tougher than he seems. I know what's been going on and I'm following some leads of my own."

"You seem to know quite a bit, exactly how much do you know?"

"I'd prefer to discuss this in person so I'll have an informant pass along the meeting location later. Don't worry he'll find you."

Before I had a chance to respond the signal was cut...

(Hashum)

***

The whine of the ion engines settled to a low rumble as Mosuger's TIE landed at the Imperial Outpost on Talus. He decided to head home to make contact with some of his couriers.

The Outpost was busy as usual with Stormtroopers training and new recruits being shown around. The mechanical voice amplifiers in their helmets made the noise in the place a chorus of buzzes and clicks as the voices blended into eachother. Several saluted as he passed, which he returned crisply, others did not. Normally he would have stopped to rectify their apparent lack of training, but he had more important matters to attend to.

Besides, the local commander had a watchful eye and was especially careful when Mo was around. He was a proper officer and as the Outpost representative he wanted to make sure only good reports were made of his outpost and his troops. He had a reputation of running a tight ship and it was a reputation well earned.

Sure enough a glance back revealed the Commander sending the troopers running towards the perimeter of the post. No doubt he had sent the men to run laps. An hour of running in that armor would surely make them think next time.

The sun was setting as Mo pulled his old BARC out of the garage. It was an antique by current standards, but he enjoyed taking it out from time to time. A warm wind blew in his face, sending his long hair splaying behind him. He loved the earthy smell of Talus and the sunsets were always spectacular. They always reminded him of his fiancee and brought a pang of loss. He had not heard from her in weeks and although he tried to remain hopeful, the rational officer side of him knew he probably would not hear from her again.

He slowed to a stop in front of his modest home. As he approached the front door his finger froze just before hitting the first number on his entrypad. Below him were dirty footprints. He would never leave dirty footprints on his front steps. He took a moment to examine the entrypad before he finally convinced himself that it hadn't been tampered with. Must have been someone coming to sell something or beg for credits no doubt.

The door slid open with a soft hiss upon entering his code. He cautiously walked through his home to be on the safe side. After a time he paranoia was sated and he moved toward his bedroom. A change of clothes and a shower would be the perfect end of the day. Then he would contact someone to meet this Hashum fellow.

His room was neat and orderly as was anything he owned. His time in the Imperial service made him set in his ways when it came to order and cleanliness. After turning the shower on, he returned to his dresser and began unbuttoning his uniform. Then it hit him. An intense feeling of cold. Anger. Hate. He shook his head hoping to shake it off, but the feeling grew stronger. He noticed the picture of his fiancee was on his bed. It should be on his night table. It was always on the night table. Slowly he moved toward the bed to put the picture where it belonged. As he replaced it, the shower turned off. He spun around toward the washroom.

"By the Emperor." He said stunned.

The snap-hiss of a lightsaber igniting sizzled through the air.

Lips curling in a rictus snarl, Mo pulled a prototype blade from under his bed. Now was as good a time to test as any. The shadowed intruder stood silently awaiting his move. Probably some rabble that scavenged a lightsaber from somewhere.

No. This was real. The feelings of hate and anger that radiated from this person could only mean this was the real deal. No matter. It must die.

"You have intruded my home." Mo growled. "and you have touched my belongings. Normally this would bring you a painful beating followed by a long time in a cell. However, you also bear a weapon forbidden by the Emperor himself on pain of death. I'm afraid it is death for you eventhough it pains me to have you stain my carpets."

The intruder lifted his weapon to a ready position, "Come then." a voice whispered.

Mo carefully moved toward the man, blade ready, his stance defensive. His opponent merely waited for his advance. Once he reached striking distance he unleashed a fury of attacks. His opponent met his attacks and parried them all, but made no offensive move. After a few barrages Mo backed off. Sweat drenched his clothing and matted his hair to his face. His opponent was good...and obviously toying with him.

Snarling, he attacked again, this time throwing kicks and sweeps into his attack. His assailant avoided them with ease and did not even seem out of breath. So many emotions welled inside Mosuger. He had never faced an opponent like this before and fear mingled with anger while he tried to rethink his strategy. No it was definitely anger, boiling now to a rage at the thought of this person breaking the sanctity of his home.

He again launched another assault, his anger giving his watery muscles new strength. Sparks flew at his blade met the glowing red of the lightsaber. Somewhere in the back of his mind he thought about how wonderfully the prototype performed.

Sweat stung his eyes as he traded blows with his intruder. He pressed his attack hoping to overcome him, but his opponent did not yield any ground and seemed to know what he was going to do before he did it. He growled and made a massive overhead swipe, but his opponent moved aside and his momentum carried him forward. He saw a red blur in front of his face and screamed as a brief moment of searing pain numbed his right arm. He felt another heavy blow to the back of his head and then darkness consumed him.

***

It had been almost 2 weeks to the day that he had had his brief conversation with Mo and requested he contact Hashum. Not hearing from Mo for a week was normal. The man had his hands in many pies. Besides being an Imperial Grand Colonel personally funded by the Emperor himself for some spec-op, he was also a Bounty Hunter and a Smuggler. Certainly plenty of room for bad encounters there.

Shensen had made suggestions to him in the past about his choices of work, but Mo merely shrugged them off as worth it. There was something he used to say about risk vs reward. Shensen had never paid the comment any mind, but now that he thought of it, considering the credits he offered for Mo’s services there was no way the man would just drop it. Shensen feared something bad had befallen his friend, but he had his own concerns to worry about. One misstep and he could be in the hands of the Inquisitor again. It was too soon for that.

In any case, this was too long even for Mo. Flipping through messages in his datapad, Shensen came across the last message he received. From Master Shu, asking that he return to the Academy.

Shensen closed his eyes a moment to calm himself, then began his own message...

A week on Coruscant and a day on Tattooine and still no word from Shu. It seemed he had been abandoned, but he gave it little thought. His time on Tattooine had been productive. He managed to get a young Aar'aa some work and clear some old debts.

"She will be one of the great ones given the right opportunity." He thought to himself as the Molten Scale entered hyperspace. "I wonder if she suspects she has other gifts? They will manifest in time with or without her knowledge. We will meet again I'm sure. A lot of anger in that one." He thought with a smile.

That nagging feeling drew him onward now as he headed for Talus. He would hopefully find the answers there.

Several hours later Shensen found himself stepping off the shuttle in the City of Dohrian. This was the stronghold of some of the empires most elite as well as the Talusian Trade Federation. Shensen had caught wind some time ago that the Inquisitor was known to frequent the Cantina here, but he hoped this would be the day the man was off torturing someone somewhere. As much as Shensen would have loved to kill the man slowly he knew he was not up to the task yet.

Following the guidance of the force he made his way to the Roba - the Cantina there. The place was almost empty and smelled of drink and sweat. It was obvious he had arrived at the tail end of some grand celebration of some sort. Humans were disappointingly predictable. There at the other end of the bar was the source and it was a...human. Of all things to be pulled by his ridges by the force all the way out here for a filthy human. He ordered a drink and decided he would leave soon.

He noticed the man eyeing him from the otherside of the bar. His gaze never faltered and burned with an intensity similar to Shensens. This was a dangerous human. Most humans were dangerous - to themselves and therefore to those around them, but this one was dangerous in a different way. The man approached him and before he knew it they had a short discussion which eventually led them to a cozy office in the TTF-S headquarters.

The man talked and the more he talked the more Shensen realized he agreed with the man. He realized he had been fighting to hold on to the foolish ideals of the Jedi Code that Master Hashum clung to and in doing so was only fighting himself. He was a hunter; a warrior by rite, by species. One of a long line of killers from one of the toughest planets in the galaxy, now trying to be a tamed housepet of the Jedi.

This human had plans. Big plans. The more he talked the more Shensen knew he no longer belonged at the Academy. By the end of the night Shensen was officially an apprentice to a darker, stronger power. He listened to the well concieved plans of his Master and knew beyond all doubt he had found the path to his destiny. It seemed his Master knew the Inquisitor quite well and would call the man off. Shensen was to return to the Academy and continue his training as if nothing ever happened...for now.

His return to the Academy went smoothly with feigned happiness at his safe return. His scaled skin crawled and he was thankful humans were even worse at reading T'Doshok faces than they were reading eachother.

The training went well as his Master discussed proper diet as well as technique. On the one hand it seemed odd to be training your enemies to be better adversaries, but as a hunter he approved. They would all be much more challenging and make it all the more worthwhile when he finally got to feel his saber slide out from their ribs. By the time he reached that point he would be ready to seek out the shaved human and put his arrogance in its place. All in good time.

It was amusing to watch how his Master so expertly toyed with Master Hashum during their sparring session. He was so subtle in holding back Shensen doubted any not looking for it would even notice. He greatly admired his Master's level of self control since he knew it must be ever so tempting to just hack them all down where they stood. All in good time.

Yes, there would be good time coming. He hoped his master set him upon some task worthy of his skills soon. He could always pay the sandpeople a visit - they were always up for a fight as futile as it was.

He chuckled at the thought, but fighting them was much like fighting human children....or worse yet wookiees. He snarled at the thought of all the beasts of burden still roaming untamed. They would all be tamed and collared sooner or later....again time being the factor. He was glad he had seemingly limitless time, there was much to do.

Much time had passed and a lot had changed. It was amazing how much could change in a single month. Shensen's power had grown tremendously in just a months time, his Master was no more, and the Academy would soon be rubble. The chaos that would follow would undoubtedly scatter its members making them that much easier to pick off. He smiled thinly at the thought of the looks on their faces when his saber struck true...soon.

He had made contacts with various members of the spynet he used to use back in his Bounty Hunting days. Plans were also vaguely outlined and sent to the Emperor's retreat. Not enought to trace back to him, but enough to pique curiosity. One day Shensen would enter that place and drop a pile of lightsabers at the Emperor's feet. Vader's being among them. The man was a relic who had far outlived his usefulness in Shensen's opinion. Supposedly he was more machine than man. Shensen had reasoned that if that was the case then his power would be diminished greatly since the force only infuses living tissue - not machinery.

The Emperor would be a different story. Subterfuge would be needed as a frontal assault would likely lead to his own death. Shensen wasn't afraid of death, but he wasn't ready to meet him yet. No his strike for the ultimate place of power would be swift, strong, without mercy...and made when least expected.

Shensen started to whistle a tune of the hunt as he stared out the window of the cantina at the rain.

Here ends Strange Dealings, but the plot continues in The Search For An Apprentice...coming soon.
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