CHAPTER FOUR
The two moons of Ossus shone brightly over the Jedi Temple's grounds as night began to fall. Standing at the balcony that oversaw the magnificent, vibrantly colored garden, Corran Horn felt a conflict of emotions as he sensed Master Kro Sadoon approach him from behind.
"What is it," he asked the Kel Dor, turning to face him.
"It's Master Baran," Sadoon said solemnly. "I have lost contact with him."
Corran breathed in sharply. "Where was he the last time you called him?"
"I never got the chance to," Sadoon said. "All I know was that he was going to Dromund Kaas."
Corran gritted his teeth. "I knew we couldn't trust these Dark Jedi. They've probably taken him captive... or worse."
The Corellian Jedi slapped the balcony's railing. "Blast it, why did he have to go alone?"
"Calm yourself, Master Horn," Sadoon said. "Blind accusations will get us nowhere. We have no idea if it is indeed the Dark Jedi behind Baran's disappearance."
"Then who else could it be? The Glorians?"
"There nothing to suggest otherwise."
Corran sighed as he turned back to the two moons. "So what do we do now? With our own Grand Master gone, hoe can we ensure anyone's safety?"
"We can't," Sadoon said sadly. "All we can do is do what we can. I will try to contact one of the Dark Jedi on Dromund Kaas to see what they know."
The Kel Dor placed a wrinkled orange hand on Corran's shoulder. "Do not lose faith. We haven't lost this war yet."
Corran grunted. "Nor have we won."
* * *
What had led him here?
Jaden Korr had asked himself that question several times as soon as he had arrived at his destination. For his previous one, Deralia, his reason had been a strange dream or vision. But for this... he had nothing but a gut feeling. What that feeling was, however, he could not tell.
Pakuuni. A remote world that served as a haven to pirates and outlaws.
Why had he come here? He wasn't sure. However, when he had landed his Z-95 Headhunter, the Far Wanderer, a faint voice had echoed in his head, speaking a name he did not recognize.
Crseih.
He did not know what had prompted that name to appear in his mind, but it had been accompanied by the vision of a strange space station. It also convinced him to travel into the haven of villainy that was Pakuuni's capital: Outlaw City.
* * *
Dax Goldam slammed his empty bottle of ebla beer onto the counter separating him and the bored-looking Jillsarian bartender. The human bounty hunter tightened his grip so hard around the bottle that it might have well shattered in his hand.
"He got away," he muttered under his breath. "All that time trying to find him... and he gets away."
"Yes, I do believe you've made that point," the four-armed bartender said with a grunt. "Now are you going to pay for your tab or do you plan on living here?"
Dax did not answer, instead swiveling in his chair to face the small audience he had gathered.
"He got away!" he hollered. "He's right where I want him and what does he do? He shape-shifts into a mynock and flies away! Just my rotten luck!"
"Serves you," said a scarred Nikto in the crowd. "You must've scared it away with your rotten breath."
This evoked harsh laughter from the others in the cantina, as well as a scowl from Dax. The bounty hunter turned back to the bartender and slapped a handful of credits onto the counter.
"Give me another beer."
The Jillsarian shook his bald head. "You've had your fill. Get out of here before I drop the Anvil on you."
He nodded towards the burly Houk bouncer near the cantina's entrance. Dax took the hint and, not in the mood for stirring trouble, grudgingly got off his seat and strode out the door. Out on the streets of Outlaw City, shrouded by the darkness of night, Dax slowly began heading for his ship, which he had landed far on the city's outskirts.
Ever since he had failed to catch Salvan Tai on Lianna, his life had begun going down on a spiral. First, his crew lost faith in him and abandoned him on Desevro. There, he hitched a ride on a freighter destined for Mullan, where he was instantly mugged by a trio of Togorians.
Luckily for him, however, an old human trader was generous enough to lend him a junker HWK-290 and enough credits to make his way though the galaxy. His first stop after that was Pakuuni, where he thought he could mingle with fellow outlaws and blow off some steam.
So much for that, he thought bitterly.
As he made his way out of the dump they called a city, Dax passed by several beggars, quite a few black market sellers, a man in Jedi attire, a number of crooks-
He paused. A Jedi?
The man had walked right past him, so he had to turn around to see him. While the man wasn't exactly wearing the long flowing robes that Jedi Masters traditionally wore, his attire was not unlike the casual clothes worn by Jedi Knights these days. Plus, he carried the ambiance of wisdom and power which Jedi usually had.
"Hey," Dax called out to the man. "What's a Jedi like you doing on a planet like this."
The man turned around to face him, staring at him with cautious gray eyes. "What makes you say I'm a Jedi?"
"I've met enough in my life to recognize one," Dax said. "Now answer my question."
The Jedi stared at him for a while longer before saying, "My business should be none of your concern. Now, if you don't mind, I will be going."
Dax knew better than to pester a Jedi and thus decided to move on. However, he had barely went a few feet when the Jedi suddenly called after him.
"Wait," he said. "Have you happened to heard of the name Crseih?"
Dax thought for a moment. "It might be a system in this sector, but that's as far as I know. Why?"
"I need to get there. When I landed here, I had this... vision. It was very vague and brief. I think I saw a space station in it...."
Something joggled in Dax's memory. Crseih. Space station....
"Actually," he said aloud. "I have heard rumors of a station near or in the Crseih system. They speak of a cult and religious worshipers migrating to this station and never returning. But I'm pretty sure they're just tall tales."
The Jedi scratched his chin, his curiosity clearly piqued. "There's always some sort of truth buried under those tales. Do you happen to know the coordinates to the system?"
"Not exactly, but I do know it's supposed to be directly across from the Pakuuni system." Dax smiled uneasily. "And, uh... if you're going there, do you mind if I go with you?"
The Jedi stared at him with that skeptical reading look that Dax often saw Jedi with. Finally, the man said, "Not at all. I could use someone to watch my back."
"Great." Dax offered his hand. "Name's Dax Goldam, by the way."
"Jaden," the Jedi said, shaking the hand. "Jaden Korr."
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