Star Wars: Traits Of Descent

by Madman007

  Chapter Three

  Aboard the freighter Wild Karrde

  The shuttle moved upward into the small docking bay of the Wild Karrde with ease. Luke and Corran finished up landing procedures and each headed down the shuttle's ramp. At the bottom of the ramp Aves was there to greet them. He stared at the two of them as they descended the ramp individually.

  "Well, if it isn't the Hero of the Rebellion and a former CorSec bum," he announced wryly.

  Corran was the first down the ramp and he replied, "Bite your tongue, Aves. We paid your docking fee handsomely. Or can't you count that high?"

  "I do believe that fee just went up a thousand credits for insulting me."

  "Is that all it costs to insult you? Luke, better have those New Republic credits handy. I'm in an insulting mood."

  Luke came down behind Corran and warned, "Let's not get carried away."

  Aves looked at Luke with his hard-chiseled face scowling at the Jedi Master. "Skywalker, you must be here on business."

  "Why do you say that?"

  "Mara's not here."

  Luke turned to Corran, exasperated. "Why does everyone think I need to speak with Mara?"

  Corran shrugged. "Beats me. And Aves, you should already know we're here on business."

  "Yes, but that's as much as Karrde told us."

  "Is that odd?" Luke asked.

  "Not really. Karrde does leave even us out of the loop sometimes. Though, I suspect it's about those murders on Nal Hutta. And if the Jedi Master is here, then there must be a Jedi connection that the Hutts managed to hide from the HoloNet."

  Corran sneered. "We could be here to discuss the impending implosion of the Smuggler's Alliance."

  "And that would be something that Karrde would share with us. Come on, Karrde's waiting. You remember how to walk and talk. Or was that not in your Jedi training?"

  The two men ignored his remark and followed Aves through the decks and up onto the bridge. Luke had been on the Wild Karrde so many times that he didn't need guide. They reached the bridge and Karrde's crew were busy at their respective positions. Karrde himself was standing before the main viewscreen scratching his black goatee and wearing his vest that mimicked the same color as his beard. Upon seeing Aves come in with Luke and Corran following him, Karrde's face brightened.

  "Ah, Luke Skywalker and Corran Horn. Welcome back to the Wild Karrde. I trust Aves was courteous."

  "No more than usual," answered Corran.

  Aves pointed at Corran and spoke as if they were on a schoolyard. "He insulted me."

  Before Karrde could respond, Corran said, "It was said in fun, Aves."

  Karrde smiled and looked at Aves to repeat, "It was all in fun, Aves."

  Aves grumbled something undetectable and went to the navcom station. Karrde then greeted his guests. "First order of business, how is your beautiful wife, Mirax, Corran?"

  "She's taking it easy these days."

  "No doubt. She has been through much in the past year."

  "And I haven't?"

  "I'm sorry, Corran. I didn't mean to imply anything. And how is Booster?"

  "Effectively avoiding you."

  Karrde grimaced. "As he should. Good man. And Luke, is your sister ready to take over New Republic Central?"

  "She'll do fine."

  "I'm sure she will. Now, gentlemen, let us go into my ready room and discuss what you came for. Aves, you have the helm."

  Aves questioned back, "Are we still on for Sluis-Van?"

  "Of course."

  Corran asked, "Going out for more ships, Karrde?"

  Karrde said back, "Ah, that is on a need to know, Corran. But, well done in trying to get it free. Come, this way."

  They followed Karrde to a small room offset from the bridge with a desk and chairs inside. Karrde followed the men inside, shut the door, and offered them to sit in the seats before the desk as he took the seat behind it.

  Before Karrde could speak, Corran noted, "You always keep your crew in the dark about your matters?"

  "Matters involving certain legends, yes."

  "Legends?" Luke exclaimed. "I thought we were here to discuss the history of Black Sun."

  "Ah, motives are wide and varied, but legends live on. Even the notorious ones."

  "Karrde, what are you talking about?" Corran asked.

  Karrde breathed and spoke, ignoring Corran's question. "The history of Black Sun won't help you with your case. Their history is too vast and speculative for even me to comprehend all of it. However, there is an instance in its history that may give you a connection."

  Corran demanded, "Stop with the games, Karrde. What do you have?"

  "Not much, really."

  "Then why are Luke and I here?"

  Karrde smiled in his devious manner. The one that said that he knew more than he let on. The difference with Karrde was that it was usually true. He answered by saying, "To give you a piece of the puzzle."

  Corran looked to Luke, who could only give a shrug in doubt. Corran then prodded. "Ok, Karrde, I'll bite. What do you know?"

  "I know that a Jedi is involved."

  "A Jedi weapon," Luke corrected. "We haven't yet confirmed that a Jedi is involved."

  "But, a lightsaber was used, correct? And it wasn't used in a traditional fashion. Am I warm?"

  "Maybe," Luke said.

  "I am. I also know that the lightsaber may have been used for torture on the main target. A current Black Nebula Vigo named Rousch, perhaps? Those who were in the way of the target were dispatched rather quickly, right?"

  Corran remarked, "You're a little too informed, Karrde."

  Karrde smiled confidently. "I still have a few Hutts in my pocket."

  Luke quipped, "Those would have to be pretty big pockets to fit in even one Hutt."

  Karrde chuckled. "Indeed. Now, is there anything I'm missing from your crime scene?"

  Corran asked, "Why should we tell you? Do we have any guarantees that what you tell us will help our case?"

  "When have I ever let you down?"

  "Oh, ho...Luke, do you want to take that question, or should I indulge him with an answer?"

  "I'm not touching it."

  Karrde sighed. "Ok, the business with the Katana Fleet wasn't handled in the best way, I admit. Though, I would remind you that I did have the Empire's greatest strategist after me."

  Luke added, "And I would also remind you that you essentially had me prisoner in your complex while you decided who would bid the highest for me."

  "Water under the bridge. I was only searching for the best profit."

  Luke leaned forward to fold his arms on the desk. "I guess the question becomes, Karrde, what is the best profit for this piece of the puzzle we need."

  "You've been reading ahead, Jedi Master."

  "Can't go through life in this galaxy if you don't."

  Corran admitted, "Now, for once, Luke I agree with you. So, Karrde, spill. What do you want?"

  "Let's just say I'm in need of protection."

  "Protection from what?" Corran asked.

  "Or who?" Luke added.

  "Just protection for a project I'm working on. One that is highly sensitive. It has to do with a certain prototype."

  "Ah," Corran cried out. "Hence, the trip to Sluis-Van. This wouldn't have anything to do with plans for a star fighter the New Republic is developing?"

  "It might."

  Luke squinted his eyes at Corran. "You mean the X Wing that will be invisible to scanners and radar?"

  "That's the one," Corran confirmed.

  Luke looked at Karrde. "You think the blueprints are at Sluis-Van. You're heading there for an information raid."

  "The thought had occurred to me. That is, unless we can come to an arrangement."

  Corran informed, "We can. I can try to convince Mon Mothma to include you in on the profits. We can call it part of the Smuggler's Alliance compensation. Or a consolation prize."

  "Oh, I wouldn't bother Mon Mothma on this yet. My pro
ject won't be in effect for another few months."

  Luke started chuckling and shook his head. "You were never going to Sluis-Van today. That remark was for show to us You were going to wait until my sister was in power before you went information gathering."

  Corran said, "Yes, I see. The shipping contract the New Republic has with Incom would be expired by then. Any information leak would be blamed on the transition."

  Karrde explained. "I did intend to make it a joint effort."

  "Don't worry," Corran said. "You help us with this case and you'll get your profit share. Though, I can't promise a high percentage."

  "If the ships perform as well as projected, even a small percentage would be a fortune." Karrde then addressed Luke. "Congratulations, Jedi Master. You saw right through me. Not many can say that."

  "Mara can," Luke shot back.

  "Which is why she is still my second."

  Corran spoke up. "All right, now that we've got your payment out of the way, let's hear what our missing puzzle piece is."

  Karrde took a pause before he began. "How much do you know about the Vigo suicide pact?"

  Corran shrugged. "As I understood it, the Black Sun Vigos figured they'd have no future with Xizor gone and the Empire no longer on their side. Or, at least, Vader side. They all met together and drank a healthy portion of enital poison. Though, it was probably mixed in with a vintage Vistulo brandal."

  Karrde smiled. "Rumor says it was a classic '34. But, that was the public version. Tell me, at your crime scene, was there evidence of a small metallic insignia?"

  Luke nodded. "The remaining survivor mentioned an old chit that was found."

  "As I expected. Was there a name on the chit?"

  Luke searched his memory. "Yes. Caieco. The survivor said it was the name of one of the Vigos in the suicide pact."

  Karrde gave a smirk and said, "Let's just call this survivor, Meeko, shall we? Don't worry, I surmised the name myself. My source would only say it was a Rodian. Meeko would be the only Rodian smart enough to be at the head of any deal like that. Though, it's interesting that my source wouldn't give a name. Anyway, Caieco was the name of a Vigo involved in the pact." Karrde stared twitching his goatee. "Very interesting."

  Luke supplied his own sarcasm. "You have the name of our killer, yet?"

  "No," Karrde said seriously, ignoring the sarcastic jest. "But, I have a clue to a possible connection. Ever heard of Skarce Voxan?"

  Corran erupted in full laughter and exclaimed, "Karrde, that name is a long dead myth."

  Karrde answered calmly, "What are myths but a series of truths put together?"

  Luke asked in confusion, "Who is Skarce Voxan?"

  Corran answered, "Myth. Legend. Horror story. Depends on who you ask. His clients or his victims."

  Seeing that Luke was still confused, Karrde supplied with a background. "Skarce Voxan was a notorious hit man for Black Sun in the pre-Clone War days. He was used for special targets. Traitors. Informers. Embezzlers within the organization. People who Black Sun wanted to hurt the most. If you crossed Black Sun and won, you would get a visit from Skarce Voxan."

  Luke suggested, "So, he was an assassin."

  Karrde corrected. "He was a glorified serial killer who got paid for his kills. The legend goes that Voxan was fascinated with dealing death and pain. Not in that order. He would torture his marks with a passion and he would have fun doing it. See, to Voxan, there was no such thing as a quick death."

  Corran seemed to reminisce when he recalled, "I remember my father would tell me stories of how officers would joke on an unsolved murder case and they would blame it on Voxan. 'Must have been Voxan who did this one.' They would threaten criminals they interrogated by saying if they didn't talk that they would hire Voxan. And it usually worked with those too young to know. Even criminals had heard of Voxan and were scared of the name. Nobody ever saw Voxan face to face. Or, if you did, you wouldn't be alive long enough to tell about it."

  Karrde put in, "I think I know someone who has seen his face. Or, at least, holovids of it."

  Corran asked, "How could that be possible?"

  Karrde shrugged. "From rumors I gathered over the years, Skarce Voxan was totally private. The only way to hire him was through a series of extensive comms that never directly led to him. Though, he had been picked up a few times by various officials. They questioned him but never had enough to convict him. He always got away. He was smooth, meticulous, and very precise at what he did."

  Luke brought them back into the present. "So, what does this assassin have to do with the Vigo pact and our crime scene?"

  Karrde explained, "There was always the rumor that the suicide pact did not involve any suicides. There was the fact that all of the Vigos' honorary chits were missing. The officials chalked it up to them disintegrating them in an act to dissolve their identities. There was no evidence of that, though. Meeko proved that just by mentioning the chit."

  Corran noted, "I noticed the Hutts left that out of the HoloNet, too. I do remember my father telling me of an unofficial rumor that Voxan himself killed the Vigos and made it look like suicide. And he collected all of their chits."

  Luke said, "That sounds a little far-fetched. If that happened, who would have hired him to do that?"

  Karrde replied, "Who, indeed? Prince Xizor was already dead by then. Unless it was a pre-existing order for Voxan to carry out in the event of Xizor's death. Though, I can't see the advantage why Xizor would want all the Vigos dead."

  Corran offered, "Maybe he thought that if he went, so too would Black Sun."

  Luke commented, "The Falleen did have quite the ego. Leia can attest to that."

  Corran wondered aloud, "Could it have been the Empire?"

  Karrde shook his head. "No. The Empire needed Black Sun in place. Despite Vader's hatred of Xizor, Palpatine thought the organization was too resourceful to obliterate. And Vader was too filled with blind vengeance to see things clearly."

  Luke shifted in his seat at the mention of his father's alter ego. Karrde noticed.

  "I'm sorry, Luke. That was insensitive of me."

  "It's all right. I made peace with my father on the last Death Star. If I remember Leia's account of her time with Xizor, he formed a plan to have me killed."

  Karrde finished the thought. "And knowing what we know now of Anakin Skywalker, that would have made Vader terribly angry. I always wondered what set him off at Xizor."

  Luke changed the subject quickly. "So, we have a possible connection with the Vigos' suicide pact and the murders on Nal Hutta. The question is if this was a one-time act or will this continue?"

  Corran asked, "Are there any Vigo's still alive today?"

  Karrde answered, "There are a few left. None of them were truly Vigos when it was Black Sun. There was Black Nebula. And that was dissipated shortly after the Battle of Endor. As I understand unofficially, Mara herself had a hand in dissolving that version of Black Sun. Now, Y'ull Aab is trying to restart Nebula again. I'm sure there are still those who were in line to be Vigos in Xizor's time will now get their chance today. Aab's even gone so far as to establish the chit system again for the new Vigos. The one who was tortured and killed the other night, Rousch, had no business becoming a Vigo. It's more about ego than honor now."

  Luke asked, "So, why start the revenge after fifteen years or so after the pact?"

  Karrde retorted, "You will find that revenge has no statute of limitations."

  Luke shot back, "Jedi don't go out for revenge."

  "And it can't be another Sith, or you two would have detected it."

  Corran replied, "Maybe. It can't be Voxan himself. If I calculate right, he would be near a hundred years old . He was almost certainly human."

  "Yes, that we know. And it was never known if he had any family. Then again, it's not hard to simply copy his work. And that leads to just about anyone."

  Luke figured, "It would have to be someone well trained. Especially lightsaber training."
r />   Karrde said, "Lightsabers have been known to be used by non-Jedi, Luke. Mara has even admitted to using one during her time as an assassin."

  Luke countered with, "Mara had also been trained by Palpatine."

  "Is there a difference in being taught the Sith method and being taught to kill?"

  Luke emphasized, "Mara wasn't trained to be Sith."

  "Can you prove that?" Karrde sneered.

  "Yes," Luke simply stated. "If she had been taught Sith philosophy, then the clone of Master C'Boath would have an apprentice by now and we would have a whole set of different problems. The fact is, Mara requested that I not allow her to cross into the Dark Side, even if it meant killing her. Sith don't follow that doctrine."

  Corran interrupted, "Ok, we're getting too far off the subject. Karrde, is there anything else you can give us besides a history lesson and a myth to follow up on?"

  Karrde stated, "I know of someone who has archives of Black Sun. I contacted him as soon as I made the connection between the murders on Nal Hutta and Black Sun. He is merely an historian now, but he was a former employee in their service at one time. He will never tell me what he actually did, not that I want to know. He has quite a collection of various Black Sun archives from the many eras of their history. I'm sure he could provide more information that you need. His name is T'ryas Dane. He's on the Vesper system."

  Corran noted, "That's pretty out there."

  "All the better to hide from society. What stories he can tell."

  Luke quipped, "Stories that could get him convicted."

  "Oh, he's in his nineties. I doubt he would be the focus of any investigations now. Apart from him, I have only speculation." Karrde stood to suggest the end of their meeting.

  Luke and Corran stood as well and Luke replied, "At least you pointed us in a direction."

  "I'll be sure to include that in my proposal to your sister in a few months."

  "I'm sure you won't forget."

  "I'll forward the coordinates to T'ryas's home on Vesper to your shuttle. And, if you will, keep me updated. You never know when I can help."

  Corran replied, "As long as that works in reverse. If you have anymore information that will be useful to us, please contact us. If the price is right, of course."

  "We could always revise that percentage on the new ships. Other than that I say good luck to you gentlemen."

  The planetary system of Lianna

  Lohl Ch'la was almost ready for bed. He took all of his meds, which were too many according to him, but just enough from his doctor. He was just past seventy. Death was around the corner, though no less frightening. He had a good life.

  That is, after he worked for Black Sun. He had been alive for only a quarter of a standard century at that time. It was decade or so before the Clone Wars. Before anyone had heard of Geonosis and Kamino. He had been foolish enough at twenty-five to be lured into an accounting position in an organization that was well hidden from it's primary purpose. He started noticing which hands the profits were going to. High officials in the Senate. Aides in the Chancellor's office. Even a few Jedi, though none on the Council itself.

  After quickly seeing the nefarious actions of what was unofficially known as Black Sun at that time, Lohl decided to quit.

  He found out that quitting Black Sun was not the easiest of tasks. He went to the only people who could be trusted. The Jedi Council. They gave him sanctuary as he disclosed classified accounting data. There were convictions, but none were at the level of Black Sun that the Jedi Council needed to make an impact with. After Lohl gave his information, the Jedi knew Black Sun would retaliate against him. They helped him disappear from the galaxy.

  Lohl had changed his name and identity so he could live. That was the price for his freedom from Black Sun. His constant fear and guilt were soon added to the cost. Over the next thirty years of living as another person, he had always asked the same questions. Would they still find him? Would they know who he was, regardless of his name change and his move to Lianna? Would the next client he met with as an accountant be an actual hit man from Black Sun? What was that man's name who they used in special circumstances?

  Voxan.

  Lohl remembered the name on the books. Ironically, Lohl himself had signed for the petty credits that had paid Voxan.

  For thirty years, Lohl forced himself to be alone. The fear and guilt that ate at him everyday was not worth sharing with a loved one or a family. Occasionally, Lohl would go to the Yadaria City market. He kept his eye on a beautiful lady selling citra fruit. He never let it become more than coveting. She did not deserve to share his pain. He could not make himself constantly lie to her everyday about his name and his situation. He kept everyone at a distance. His choice to live outside the borders of Yadaria City in the country was his own.

  Then, fortune favored him in the death of Prince Xizor, followed by a suicide pact of the highest Vigos. There suddenly was no Black Sun. And with it's demise went his fear. Surely, the remnants of the organization would not be bothered to look for him now. He gained back his identity. He was Lohl Ch'la once again. The fear was gone, but the guilt still remained, though not as prominent as before the pact. It would always be there as a reminder. His first order of business in order to forget was to visit the market once again.

  Ciranna was the name of the woman who owned the citra fruit stand. He discovered that she had been married once, but was widowed not long before Lohl set himself free. They spent time together and he revealed his secret that became his redemption through her. They had married soon after and they enjoyed each others company through the turmoil of the Empire and the celebration of the New Republic.

  Their joy lasted another fourteen years. Ciranna then contracted Pariak's Disease and it took her quickly. In the previous year, she had died. Lohl found comfort in the fact that Ciranna knew him as himself and not as a false identity. They were each lonely for different reasons, but they were together for only one.

  His guilt from working for Black Sun was nearly forgotten. Until a few days ago when he read about the murders on Nal Hutta. He knew the name, Rousch, from a list he saw as possible Vigo candidates. Though he believed Rousch got what he deserved, Lohl wondered if he was next. He had kept tabs of the newly formed Black Nebula, and considered them half as organized as the original version. Yet, there still was a chance they could find his records and then find him. Over the past few days, his fear had returned. Even at his age, Lohl still feared death.

  He laid in his bed now with the medications flowing through his blood. He savored the sounds of nothing. Would this be what death was like? Endless silence?

  Unless that silence included a scratching noise.

  In the country, Lohl was subject to visitors in the form of rodents who were cousins of whomp rats. They would scrounge his yard for scraps of food. Usually, they would go away after finding no evidence of scraps.

  The scratching continued. It became more prominent as the sound progressed into a scraping noise. Maybe one of them was trying to get in. It was enough to keep him awake.

  Lohl grumbled and sat up with his creaking body to put on his slippers and robe. He headed into the semi-darkness through the main room to the front door. He punched in the security code to open the door.

  Nothing.

  He stuck his head out to look around to the left and right. No rodents. He shrugged and shut the door, entering the lock code to the door. He decided that since he was up, and thirsty, he would get himself a drink. He stumbled into the kitchen and found the same glass he used earlier at dinner. He refilled it with water.

  Before he put his lips to the glass, he felt the cold.

  The blade at his neck was cold against his ancient skin. Upon feeling it, his whole body went rigid. This is it.

  There was silence before he heard the voice. It was a soft whisper with a hard edge. And it spoke volumes. "I want you to do as I say. Try to escape, and I will end you."

  Lohl was frozen with fear. He
tried to plead. "P...please, don't kill me. You're the one who took out Rousch the other night, aren't you?"

  "Nice of you to remember his name. Now, turn around." The killer removed the vibroblade so Lohl could obey his command.

  The killer's features were still in the shadows. In the limited light emitting through the window, Lohl could see a figure wearing a dark hooded tunic with red lining. He could not see a face. He had to ask, "Who are you?"

  "I am as you were once. Someone with an alternate identity."

  "Please don't kill me."

  "I will not kill you. But, you will help me send a message."

  Lohl crinkled his brow. He wasn't expecting this from a murderer. "What kind of message?"

  "Not your concern. All I need for you to do is to read." A motion to reach into a pocket occurred and out came a small piece of flimsi. It was placed on the kitchen counter.

  Lohl picked up the flimsi and read it. "Are you crazy? Bringing them into..."

  "As I said, that is not your concern. I need for you to repeat the words as written. Anything more will result in your last stand."

  "No! Please! All right. I'll do it." He gulped and felt the dryness of his throat. "Just let me take a drink first."

  He heard from the killer what sounded like an impatient sigh, and then, "Fine."

  Lohl lifted the glass to his lips and he gulped down the water sloppily. After he was finished, Lohl breathed quickly to catch his breath. "All right...I'm ready."

  The killer produced another gadget that was placed on the counter and aimed it at Lohl. It was turned on and a thin blue vertical light scanned Lohl to capture his image. Lohl was given his cue with a nod.

  Lohl gulped and began reading the words on the flimsi verbatim. In the middle of his reading, Lohl stopped to wipe his brow. He was sweating. He continued reading until there were no more words. The holocam was put away.

  "Well done."

  "What is that going to accomplish? You've brought them into this now. What chance do you have at succeeding?"

  "I make my own fate, Ch'la. Much like you did. You have done well in hiding your true nature as a Black Sun employee."

  "But, that wasn't me. I was a pawn."

  "You were still a part of the organization. No matter how many years have past. Money changed hands with those who kill for it. Your hands. How many lives had you exchanged for credits?"

  "It was not my money to give. I only signed the checks."

  "And without your signature, there may have been no bloodshed."

  "Someone else would have taken my place."

  "Perhaps. And you traded your place for an alternate identity. An act that showed courage. Yet, your guilt was too much."

  Lohl started crying. "I know. I know. It's been eating at me even after all these years. I simply couldn't do it anymore. I quit. I helped the Jedi catch a few members of Black Sun."

  "None of which were significant. Though, it was more than any had done before or since. That was still not enough, was it, Ch'la? You may have left Black Sun...but it didn't leave you. Yet, you managed to live out a good life. You can never know how much I admire that."

  Lohl's heart began pounding faster. His nerves must have been on the edge. He knew he was facing a killer. "Black Sun didn't just take my dignity. It took my soul."

  "But you gained it back, did you not? Through her? A life of romance. A life fulfilled. That is why you are only a messenger. That is why you deserve an honorable death."

  Lohl's eyes popped. "What? No! You s..s..said you weren't going...to kill me."

  "And I didn't. You did that yourself."

  Lohl looked confused. The killer merely glanced down at the counter. To the glass. Lohl then realized. "What was it?" he asked as calmly as he could. His sweating and heartbeat continued faster.

  "Enital. The same used in the pact."

  "How...fitting. How...long?"

  "Not very."

  Lohl cried as he grabbed the edge of the counter, "I...didn't want to...die...yet."

  The killer spoke an undeniable truth. "Why not? You've been living for the dead in the past year. I would think you would cherish death. You will finally be with her again."

  Lohl's vision become blurred. He started losing control of his gravity and began to fall to the floor.

  The killer stood over him and continued. "You are lucky, Lohl Ch'la. You can die with your name intact."

  He struggled to speak. "What....is....your....name? I...deserve...that."

  "I suppose you do. I have many names. The one that you would recognize the most is...Voxan."

  "I...remember." He started to lose feeling in his entire body. Numbness surrounded him.

  So this is what death was like. Endless silence.

  Unless that silence included a voice. A voice that bridged the gap between realms. The voice that told him that death was endless time. Her voice. The angelic voice he fell in love with. The one that would now be with him forever.

  Lohl formed a smile on his face.

  My Ciranna...

  New Republic shuttle Space Run en route to the Vesper system

  "You've been silent, Corran. What are you thinking?"

  Corran looked over at Luke in the pilot's chair and chuckled. "And here I thought a Master Jedi wouldn't need to ask that question."

  Luke frowned. "I'm no Master yet, Corran. I'm not omniscient."

  "So I've been told." Corran paused and asked Luke, "Do you remember having any nightmares as a kid growing up on Tatooine?"

  Taken back by the question a bit, Luke searched his memory. "I guess I did. The one that I can remember was being stranded in the middle of the desert. No food. No water. Just me, the two suns, and the sand. Of course, on Tatooine, a nightmare was considered having an adventure."

  "Except in your case, you woke up and had your adventure for real."

  "You could say that. Where are you going with this?"

  "Nowhere. I was just remembering how my father would tell me all of his horror stories from his work. Murderers, thieves, spice dealers. I always had the urge to defeat them all when I grew up. I wasn't scared of them. On Corellia, the murders were the garden variety political kind. Simple blaster shots to the head or poison. Nothing too elaborate. But, when my father would tell me stories of Skarce Voxan, those kept with me. I would have nightmares that Voxan would come after me. He would tear me from limb to limb with his bare hands when he caught me. And he would be smiling the entire time. I never pictured Voxan as a hideous monster. To me he was a normal looking everyday human. A person who you wouldn't think of when they passed you by. Sometimes, those monsters are the scariest."

  Luke reflected. "I imagine that's how Palpatine looked to the galaxy when he was just the Chancellor. Until he showed his true face, nobody was the wiser. Including my father." Luke paused as he watched Corran dive into deep thought. "Are you going to be all right with this case now?"

  Corran shook himself out of his thoughts and eyed Luke with a skeptical glare. "Yes, Master, I'll be fine. I'm a big boy now. I know that nightmares can't hurt you."

  "Unless you allow them to. I've lived out a few nightmares of my own for real."

  Corran sighed. "I'm sorry, Luke. I didn't mean to belittle your..."

  "I know you didn't. And I'm all right with it."

  "I can tell. You did squirm when Karrde talked about Vader."

  "Ok, Corran, do you need me to tell you a Voxan story so we can both regress at the same time?" They both laughed.

  Luke then asked seriously, "Do you really think Voxan is involved?"

  "If he is, he has one hell of a secret to a long life."

  "Maybe it's a relative. A son, perhaps?"

  "I can't even imagine Voxan reproducing."

  Luke shrugged. "It happens to the best of us. And the worst. Look at Han now."

  Corran laughed. "Oh, yes. Who would have thought that a smuggler like him could ever be a family man."

  "Could be worse. For instance, it could be
you someday."

  Corran shook his head. "Funny you should mention that. Mirax has started talking about it."

  Luke gave his attempt at a devious smile. "Oh, really."

  "I guess the kidnaping ordeal gave her a sense of family preservation. Me? I'm worried about my sanity preservation if I'm to bring my own offspring into the galaxy."

  "I think you'll do fine with your children, Corran."

  "You're too kind, Master."

  "I said you'd be fine with your children. With anyone else's they'd be lucky to survive a few hours with you."

  "Thanks. And what about you? When are you going to continue the Skywalker line?"

  "I think Leia has that covered."

  "No, those twins are going to have the Solo name."

  "And having the Skywalker name would be even more pressure to live up to. Besides, you have to have a wife first before you have kids."

  "You must be holding out for someone, then."

  "What? You're crazy. When would I ever have time for that? Who in this galaxy could put up with me?"

  Corran raised one brow at Luke and smiled.

  Luke cried, "No, it's not Mara, Corran. That woman has more problems than she knows what to do with. She ignores all of them and keeps to herself. That was how she was taught by Palpatine."

  "Oh, don't give me that again, Luke. Mara's made amends with her past. She stopped trying to kill you, didn't she?"

  "The jury's still out on that."

  "She cares about you, Luke," Corran stated seriously.

  "How can you tell? Her emotions are so well blocked that even I can't read them."

  "Don't use the Force to look for them. Listen to her words. Watch her actions. You know, she asked me to look after you when she left your Academy."

  "Because there was nothing new I could teach her."

  "You better make sure that was the true reason."

  Luke sighed heavily and finally said, "I'm not ready, Corran. And neither is she."

  An alert sounded on the console and before Corran could attend to it, he said, "Fair enough." He checked the alert. "Ah, we have a message coming in."

  "Odds are it's either a wife, a sister, or a Chief of State."

  "Uh...none of the above. Luke, this message has no source data."

  Luke sat up straight in his seat. "Anonymous?"

  "Pretty much."

  "Can't you boost the recept signal?"

  "Not with this equipment. The Rouges might have had been able to."

  "Record the data anyway. Maybe Ghent can look over it later."

  Corran said, "Will do. All right, who are you and what do you want?" He pressed the receive button.

  The holoprojector showed an image of an elder man, at least in his seventies or eighties. He was standing near a kitchen counter in his bed robes. He looked like he was holding a piece of flimsi. He breathed once and started reading off the flimsi..

  "My name is Lohl Ch'la. I am with the person you are seeking in reference to the murders on Nal Hutta. He wishes to give you a message. What was done on Nal Hutta was only the beginning. Black Sun is an organization that has not fully paid it's price for the countless crimes it has committed. I intend to rectify this. I will not stop until the last remaining member of Black Sun and it's lesser form, Black Nebula, is eliminated. No one can stop me. This includes the Jedi." The old man stopped to wipe his brow. He continued reading. "Do not interfere with my goal, or I will add the Jedi to my list. Even they have been known to go back on their promises. Heed my warning." The old man stopped reading and the image disappeared.

  Luke and Corran looked at each other with curious interest.

  Corran finally said, "Well...that was different."

  "There was no source data on this?"

  "None. But, we may not need it."

  "Why's that?"

  "He gave us a name."

  "A name that could easily be found on the HoloNet."

  Corran turned to log on to the HoloNet and started typing in variants of the name, Lohl Ch'la and found several entries.

  "Could we narrow that down a bit?"

  Corran cross referenced the name with Black Sun. They found one.

  "Good thinking, Corran."

  "I do my best. Hmm...looks like he was an ex accountant. We can rule out another Vigo. This was before the Clone Wars by almost a decade. He literally was in charge of the money. He wrote the checks and paid the credits. All under false distribution. Quite an elaborate system, actually."

  "What does it say after that?"

  "Oh boy. He turned on them. He went to the Jedi Council and turned over evidence. They put some away, too. Of course, only minor players. They could never get enough to smear a Vigo."

  "Naturally. Sounds like a mission for Skarce Voxan."

  "He never got to him. Says here that Ch'la went into a Jedi program. The Deponent Security Program? Ever heard of it?"

  "No. But, I'm guessing that's the last entry. Ch'la must have disappeared after that."

  Corran checked. "Yes. For thirty years. Then he reappeared on Lianna. Right about the same time when a group of Vigo killed themselves."

  "And with Black Sun's data destroyed and their leaders gone, Ch'la was free. And for all intents and purposes, I'm willing to bet he didn't just reappear on Lianna. He was already there."

  "Under an alias."

  "Pretty much defines deponent. Is there anymore?"

  "Pretty normal after that. He gained his name back. Aw..he married not long after the pact. No kids. Smart man. Lived pretty quietly as an account in Yadaria City. Oh, great Tarkin's Ghost. His wife died last year of Pariak's Disease." Corran took a moment. "Well, he's with her now."

  Luke questioned, "What makes you think he's dead?"

  "Didn't you see him sweating?"

  "Yes, but I chalked that up to old age."

  "Not even age can make you sweat that progressively. It was getting worse by the end of the message. My guess is the killer poisoned him. And if I had to guess the type of poison..."

  "Enital," Luke followed Corran's thought. "That's pretty tame considering his last batch of kills."

  "The killer saw revenge in Rousch. He may have seen redemption in Ch'la. Admiring him for escaping Black Sun and creating a life afterwards."

  "Why send this directly to us?"

  "I'm afraid we've been found, Luke. This guys now knows where we are and where we're going. I'd like to know how in a Hoth's winter that happened."

  Luke considered. "Would Meeko have leaked it?"

  "Not possibly. He didn't know we were going to Vesper. And the Hutts would have him highly protected and watched. Especially since he was planning on excluding the Hutts in the deal of the decade." Corran shifted gears for a moment to say, "By the way, I must commend you on keeping the data that we found a special spice away from Karrde."

  "We don't know much about that yet, or even if it has anything to do with this. How is Ch'la connected to this? He was just someone who succeeded in getting out of a bad situation."

  Corran offered. "Ch'la wrote up the checks for Black Sun. He was in charge of the petty credits. The kind that can't be traced. He could have personally handed credits to Voxan himself."

  "Savor the irony. If Ch'la could identify Voxan..."

  "He would be a liability."

  "But why after so many years?"

  Corran's face darkened. "There is a possibility that we haven't considered. I hate to say it with your recent brush with the Emperor Part Two, but what if Voxan had been cloned?"

  "That's a depressing thought. That question leads to who would have a set of Spaarti cylinders lying around. And the only lead to that may be already dead on Lianna."

  "I can alert Yadaria City security to look into that." After he sent his contact information, Corran sat back and breathed out heavily. "I can't believe we are actually tracking the most notorious hit man in this galaxy's history."

  "We've fought and defeated worse than him." Luke then felt a s
trong sense of doubt in Corran. "What is it, Corran?"

  "Nothing, Master. And don't try prying again."

  "I wouldn't dream of it." After a beat, Luke asked seriously, "If you want to be reassigned..."

  "No, Luke, I don't," Corran snapped.

  "This doesn't have anything to do with your nightmares, does it?"

  "No, Luke. And stop analyzing me. I'm fine. I just want to know more. Black Sun's connection to this. Motive for wanting to kill every member of Black Sun. What does the enhanced spice have to do with this? I have to know, Luke. I inherited that urge from Valin Horn."

  "I know, Corran." Luke stared ahead at the molted starlines through the viewscreen. They were headed to Vesper to speak to an historian of Black Sun history. "Something tells me you will have your answers."

  * * * * *