CHAPTER FOUR
"I really don't know what you want from me," Karada said as Wallen and Xemer sat down across from him in the questioning room. "I'm just a podracing legend. I don't know anything!"
"Calm down," Wallen said. "We're just going to ask a few simple questions."
"I want a lawyer."
Wallen glanced at Xemer, who gave a shrug in response. Turning back to the Dug, he said, "Would you mind just answering one question?"
"Why should I?"
"Please. It's a simple 'yes-or-no' question. Once you answer it, we'll leave you alone and get you a lawyer."
After a pause, Karada slowly nodded. "Go ahead."
"Have you heard of the crime syndicate called Black Sun?"
Another pause. "...Yes."
"All right." Wallen got up from him seat. "Thank you."
As he and Xemer were about to leave, they stopped when the Dug suddenly spoke again.
"Why?"
Wallen turned to look at him. "Pardon?"
"Why do you want to know about Black Sun?"
"How about you answer our questions first?" Xemer said bitterly. Wallen waved a hand to silence him.
"Why do you ask?" he said to the Dug.
"There's a war going on. People are dying, planets are vanishing...why are you concerned with a relatively non-threatening criminal organization?"
Wallen let a small smile cross his face. "Let's just say that there are numerous factors playing in this war. Black Sun being one of them."
With that, the two detectives moved out of the room, leaving Karada to ponder on his words.
* * *
"Did they get him to talk?"
Commissioner Orsalan of the Coruscant Security Force shook his head as he poured himself a mug of caf. "He demanded to see a lawyer. The only thing they managed to get from him was that he knew about Black Sun."
"I see," Director Belindi Kalenda murmured as she took a sip from her own mug. "Not very helpful."
The commissioner snorted. "That's an understatement."
"So what now?"
He shrugged. "You're the director of Intelligence. Give me some intel."
"If only it were that easy. The Black Sun is doing its best to keep quiet. I think we were just lucky that Karada happened to have a big mouth."
Orsalan sighed as he stared out the window of his apartment's living room. "Was it luck or- what was it?- the 'Will of the Force?'"
Kalenda shrugged. "Whichever works."
"Are you sure you don't have anymore intel?"
The Intelligence director reached into her pocket and brought out a small datapad. Bringing up a list of names, she began to look through it.
"What is that a list of?" Orsalan asked.
"People who were affiliated with Black Sun before its disbandment. Most of them have been assassinated by rivals. Ah, except this one."
She pressed the datapad's screen, deploying the holographic visage of a male, black-colored Sakiyan.
"Salvan Tai was a former bounty hunter who served Black Sun before its original disbandment," she informed Orsalan.
"Is he not still a bounty hunter?"
Kalenda shook her head. "He was somehow able to 'inherit' some wealth from one of Czethros' Vigos, whom Tai served under."
"So where is he now?"
"Last we've heard, he owns an estate on Lianna."
Orsalan nodded. "Then I suppose that will be out next stop. Any precautionary measures we should take?"
"Just one," Kalenda said, smiling slightly. "Beware the Snatchers."
* * *
"So, how did your mission to Ord Mantell go?"
Jacen Solo looked up from his datapad, one which he had downloaded a copy of Master Zallow and the Great Houses, to see his young brother Anakin standing in front of him.
"All right," Jacen said. "We found and caught the Dug and gave him over to Captain Nix."
"Cool." Anakin then smirked. "It's nice to get out every once in a while instead of hanging out in the library all the time. Like right now."
"Very funny," Jacen said as he turned off his datapad and set it aside. Indeed the two of them were in the Ossus Jedi Temple's library, which mixed the more modern design of the Jedi Archives before the Empire's purge and the ancient style which the original Jedi library on Ossus was said to have.
"What were you reading about?" Anakin asked, gesturing to the datapad.
"The Great House of Serenno. I'm thinking about visiting there."
"Why?"
"Have you ever heard about the Lost Twenty?"
"I've heard Lexa Varr mention them a few time. Who are they?"
"Twenty Jedi Masters who voluntarily left the Jedi Order due to philosophical reasons. Jedi Master Dooku of Serenno was the last."
Anakin raised an eyebrow. "Dooku? Didn't I hear that he led the Separatists during the Clone Wars?"
"Yes," Jacen said. "However, I'm curious to find out what his views were."
The younger Solo glanced around as if to make sure no one was within earshot and then said quietly, "I hope you're not thinking about visiting Dromund Kaas."
"How come?" Jacen replied. "Isn't that where the Dark Jedi Order is located?"
Anakin nodded. "Master Baran told me about them when I returned from Rhen Var. I know they're supposed to be our allies, but..."
"You don't trust them."
"They use the dark side, Jacen. I've always been taught that the dark side is...bad."
"Then you're too narrow-minded."
"I don't want to lose you, brother. I don't want you to become like our grandfather."
"You worry too much," Jacen said as he got up from the bench he was sitting on. "Tell Mom, Dad, and Jaina that I'll be leaving for Serenno tomorrow morning."
Anakin opened his mouth, most likely to protest, but probably thought better of it. "All right," he said instead. "Have a safe trip and...may the Force be with you."
"And with you, brother," Jacen murmured as he headed out of the Jedi library.
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