[JEDI MISSION] Cat Burglar

[Noire]

Tatooine. Outer Rim Territories.

Caden Ansgar had never stepped foot on the desolate landscape of the arid planet and if he had been in control of his assignments - that still would've held true. The small pockets of civilization that could be found on the planet were completely surrounded by the seemingly endless expanse of sand dunes and rocky canyons. Caden felt parched just looking about Mos Eisley as he pushed the access panel to lower the ramp of the Shadowfall and step off of the ship. He had worn all of his Jedi garb for the mission; partly due to his confidence and partly because of his pride. His lightsaber was hidden but the blaster that hung on his belt was on full display. For a moment, the young padawan stood absolutely still; observing and taking in all the prominent and indisputable presence of scum and villainy before him. He would enjoy this mission although he had no desire to remain on the planet any longer than was absolutely necessary.

Caden wasn't the only Jedi tasked with the assignment. Ben Losan, a Jedi Knight, had also been tapped to complete the mission. They were here to investigate and bring the infamous "Cat Burglar" to light. At heart, Caden felt as if the mission was...well, better fit for a youngling. But he had went along with it regardless because he had been anxious to leave the Enclave on Arbra. It bored him immensely being there everyday as he was doing nothing personally to advance the reemergence of good in the galaxy. He also wanted to remind the inhabitants of the integrity of the Jedi Order. Possibly give them hope if they lacked it. But he couldn't help but to note the blatant contrast between both planets and realize he liked it far better on Arbra. He shook himself of his thoughts that weren't related to the mission and turned to his Jedi brother; who was a rank above him. He didn't speak to the other Jedi right away. Instead he merely nodded and returned his gaze back to Mos Eisley.

"I suggest we begin by talking to a few of the shop owners who have been targeted by this scum. I looked over some of the few details we have," Caden said. "It appears we may be dealing with a Cathar. ...Or something like it." He finished. It was time to begin.

 

[Maxx]

The Shadowfall had set down in one of the many docking bays of Mos Eisley. Ben had only been to Tatooine once before and that was ten years ago with the previous owner of the Shadowfall. The planet was just as he remembered it: dusty, sandy, and a sore spot to look at. He didn't mind where his travels and missions took him, but Tatooine would always be one of the places he silently wished to never return to. Yet look at his luck. Letting out a sigh, he followed his fellow Jedi, Padawan Ansgar, down the ramp on to the sandy ground that was Tatooine.

Ben was dressed in light, civilian clothing. These days, wearing Jedi clothing was a dangerous thing to do. The Sith ruled the galaxy, and even if they were on a planet far from their control, it was a planet of criminals, and they would give the Sith any information if they thought there was credits involved. Ben didn't say anything about Caden's choice of attire, but as a precaution he put an Illusion over the padawan. To some it would appear as if he was just another civilian, but if there was anyone strong minded or resistant to the Force, they would easily see the boy's Jedi clothes.

"You make a good suggestion and that is what we'll do. Keep your eyes open for any Cathar." Ben then proceeded to walk towards the docking bay's door, and out into the marketplace beyond.

 

[Paradox]

The three most successful shop owners had convened in one of the smaller local cantinas next to the marketplace. The Dug Erus, the Twi'lekk Calinar, and the Duros Areni were worried that they would be the next targets. They sat at a private table all talking and yelling over the recent thefts. The larger fourth individual just sat quietly as the trio argued and even blamed one another for this mess. The thefts were driving customers away, were bad for publicity, and most importantly; were cutting into sales. Now the three wealthiest were worried they were next.

"You're trying to drive me out! Admit it you schutta!" Yelled Erus pointing with both hands as if declaring everyone but himself.

"Calm down-wait, who are you calling schutta!?!" Areni tried to reason then lost his temper.

"Peace. We are all on edge from these thefts. We just need to relax. Mr. Rahtac here is a professional mercenary. He should, no, will track down the thief and ride us of this problem." Calinar assured everyone. He nodded to the Mandalorian in the corner, who nodded in turn. "I am also looking at other options should it come to that."

 

[Noire]

Caden had wandered around the marketplace, quite aimlessly in fact, for several minutes before he'd even chanced upon someone who could point in the right direction. Even then, just searching for the right Cantina among so many, he'd gotten lost. But as for now, Caden sat inside - of what he was sure was the correct one - observing and listening closely as three shop owners bickered and attempted to assert themselves in the debate of what to do about the burglar that had been plaguing Mos Eisley. Caden found their quarrel slightly amusing if not downright pitiful. He made sure to send his location over commlink to Ben in case he had gotten lost as well.

"I am also looking at other options should it come to that." Caden immediately looked up to find the source of the new voice. He noticed there was another man present, "Mr. Rahtac", that he hadn't paid much attention to as he had been silent the entire time. The man had a much more serious tone and a commanding presence about him. If he was a mercenary he would probably be nothing but trouble for the two Jedi. Caden would have to watch the man closely.

"It won't have to come to that," Caden said calmly. His surprisingly mature tone even shocked him a bit. He didn't announce himself as a Jedi as he figured his attire would answer any such suspicion; not knowing Ben had cast an illusion over him. He walked into full view of the table, looking every shop owner in the eye, and nodding. He only glanced at the mercenary.

"Myself and a friend have been dispatched to handle this problem. I'd be grateful for any information about the burglaries you can offer. The more information we have the better equipped we'll be to solve this problem and bring the robber to light." Caden said.

 

[Maxx]

Ben followed Caden at a distance. He heard whispers throughout the crowd, most had little to do with the recent burglaries, but there was a little bit here and there. Most of it was information that they already knew. Cathar, names of businesses that had been robbed, that kind of thing. "Yeah I heard about the burglaries. Some Cathar named Keiro right?" Ben paused and continued to listen. "Yeah, Keiro. I hear that he likes to visit that cantina just up the road." Noting that information in his mind he turned his attention back to following Caden, and then he realized that he'd lost sight of the boy. If he didn't find him soon, the Illusion would fail. He reached out with the Force in order to try to find the young padawan.

Ben hadn't been around the padawan before their mission and as such wasn't used to his Force signature. It took him a moment, but he finally felt out the general area of where Caden might be. Heading in the direction, he realized that Caden must be in the cantina that the people in the crowd was talking about earlier. He walked into the cantina and took a look around. He spotted Caden near the back and relieve rushed over him, he would be able to maintain the Illusion. Ben watched as Caden walked up to a table and spoke to the men sitting there. Three of the men didn't look like they were any trouble, but the fourth one did. Ben could almost swear the man had the Mandalorian insignia on his shoulder.

Keeping an eye on Caden and the men, he walked up to the bar and sat down on a stool. The barkeep walked up to take his order. "Some caf, that's it." The barkeep walked off to get his drink while Ben continued to keep an eye on Caden.

 

[Paradox]

Before any of the other men could speak, Rahtac rose from his seat and walked over to the young Jedi. His armored visage stared into the man's face. "Who's we? Cause the way I see it, this is my job. I got paid for it and I don't play well with others. The contracts mine and so are the credits. I'm the one that's gonna tag, bag. and skin the cat. I'm a Fett, so don't cross me kid or you may wind up worse for wear."

The Mandalorian turned to the merchants. "Now if you want to pander to this child and whatever half-wit he's working with, go ahead and fill them in but I expect my payment in full; no lowering my fee to hire them."

The armored figure pushed the kid out of his way and left the bar. The merchants looked between one another, then to the Jedi. Calinar bowed, "I am sorry for his brashness but he is correct. We have offered him a great deal of credits to solve the problem for us, so if you do help we will not have much to offer. But if you can I'm sure we can reward you in some way. We're desperate. The Cathar is named Keiro, but that could just be an alias. He's a shadow. He comes and goes without leaving a trace save an empty place where what he took once was. Logul hired five guards to watch a gem he won in an auction, but even under their eyes it vanished. The Cathar came into town seven solar months ago. This is all we know. We just hired the Mandalorian today, so hopefully he will make progress."

"We need this solved now! We're losing too many customers and too much business!" Erus yelled.

"My little friend is loud, but correct." Areni stated calmly. "If you can help I'm sure I can provide something to your reward."

"Little!?! Why you-"

"Enough!" Calinar silenced them and turned back to the Jedi. "Please. We're at our wit's end."

 

[Noire]

Caden's expression had been cordial prior to Rahtac speaking. But now his eyes narrowed and his hands clenched into a fist. Was that a threat? He thought. So many Mandalorians were already dead...what difference would one more make? He shook himself free of such unnatural thoughts and calmed his nerves. He remained silent until the Mandalorian pushed past him and then he returned his gaze to the remaining men at the table. He nodded understandingly. The Mandalorian had acted as one would expect a Mandalorian to act. But his threats were likely empty and Caden wasn't concerned regardless. He stepped forward and placed his hands on the table.

"I understand that. But we are not here for credits. Payment isn't the most important thing in the galaxy. We are here simply to offer our help in solving the problem. As I said before, we are only looking for more information on the Cathar. The more information we have the faster we can catch him and the faster you can resume your typical business." Caden stopped talking for a minute and glanced at a worker that was walking by. He slyly picked up a drink off the tray the woman was carrying and took a small sip before he resumed talking.

"I personally would suggest a trap. Spread word around the spaceport that there is a extremely valuable and very expensive object being kept somewhere. And that it is being bought or transported somewhere at a specific time. We'll watch the faux valuable closely. Perhaps one of us will play the role of the buyer and wait until the Cathar springs the trap. Of course, these are just some of my ideas. We'll have to wait to see what Ben says." Caden said.

"The friend I mentioned earlier," He added.

 

[Maxx]

The barkeep came back with the caf and Ben thanked him, placed a few credits on the bar to pay for the drink. Taking a drink from the cup, he turned back to keep an eye on Caden. He watched as the Mandalorian pushed past the boy and leave the cantina. His attention stayed on Caden for a few more moments before turning around to face the barkeep who was cleaning some dishes. "Excuse me sir, I keep hearing about these burglaries by a Cathar around the marketplace. I was wondering if you could tell me anything about it." The man turned around to look at Ben, appearing to look him over. "I don't make a habit of gossip or rumors." "I can pay for any information you might have." The barkeep stopped cleaning the dishes, setting them down, and walked over to Ben.

"There is a Cathar named Keiro who comes here often." Ben nodded, that confirmed what he'd heard earlier. "He lives somewhere near the edge of the eastern side of the city. No family that I know of. Lately, since the burglaries have started, he seems nervous when he comes in here, as if he's on edge." Ben reached into his pockets and tossed some credit chips up on the bar. "Thanks for the information." He finished off his caf, stood up, and proceeded over to where Caden was talking with the three men.

 

[Noire]

Caden sensed Ben approaching and he turned to greet him. The younger Jedi walked over to his superior of sorts with a wide grin.

"I have new information. New useful information. The Cathar's name is Keiro and he's a pretty cunning bastard. Apparently he can slip in and out places without leaving a trace and can steal valuables right from under you. We're dealing with someone pretty crafty. And that's not at all." He said gesturing towards the three shop owners still sitting at the table.

"Those three are some of the victimized shop owners. They've hired a Mandalorian. So we'll have to be cautious of him as well. Have you heard anything?" Caden asked. As he spoke he began to scan all of the shady looking characters inside of the bar.Something didn't seem quite right to him.

Maybe I'm just on edge because of that Mandalorian, Caden thought. Still, some sensation nagged at him and he couldn't quite figure out what it was. He turned back towards Ben as he awaited his response.

 

[Maxx]

Ben listened as Caden told him the information he had gathered. He glanced over at the men sitting at the table when the boy pointed them out. So, they were shop owners who's shops had been burglarized. "Have you heard anything?" He nodded. "I have gathered some of my own information. I heard that the Cathar's name was Keiro as well. Apparently he frequents this cantina and has a house out on the edge of the eastern side of the city. I was planning on heading over there and making a house call." Ben looked between the shop owners and Caden. "I assume that you have come up with a plan of your own?"

 

[Paradox]

Rahtac Fett made his way out of the small Cantina and into an alley nearby. He looked around to make sure he was alone, then flipped on his comm link. "We have a problem. Looks like someone wants to meddle in affairs that don't concern them. They may be Jedi, in which case we should handle this quickly. I don't need them in my business so get a few of your friends and head over to Keiro's house. No one gets close until I get there, understood? I just have to make one, short stop beforehand. If those two Jedi are worth a damn, they know his name and may know where he lives. Do whatever it takes, but that cat is mine."

 

[Noire]

"Well," Caden began. He coughed and looked around briefly before nodding. "I had a plan but it was a bit more...involved and complicated. I think your idea of just making a house call would be most wise." He said. He didn't want to become overly confident but it didn't appear that this mission was going to be extremely difficult. At least for now. This might just be easier than we thought, Caden thought. He stepped outside of the cantina and squinted through the rays of the two suns and the immense heat.

"We should probably head out soon. We don't want to get caught by a sand storm or any shady characters. Plus, I'm not sure Tatooine is safe past dark. The Tuskens are a stealthy people." Caden said.

 

[Maxx]

Ben followed Caden as they exited the cantina, he then let go of the Illusion being held over the boy, the continued use was beginning to exhaust him. "We should probably head out soon. We don't want to get caught by a sand storm or any shady characters. Plus, I'm not sure Tatooine is safe past dark. The Tuskens are a stealthy people." "We shouldn't have anything to fear from the Tuskens, they only attack small settlements or sand crawlers. They wouldn't come near Mos Eisley. But none the less we should be quick, don't want to miss Keiro." He turned to face the east side of the city and with the sun at their backs, began to walk towards where Keiro's apartment should be.

A few minutes into the walk, Ben looked over to Caden and spoke just loud enough so that only the boy would hear him. "So tell me Caden, what made you want to be a Jedi?"

 

[Noire]

"I agree." Caden said; referring to Ben's notion that they should move quick. He warily eyed several of the people around them as he walked alongside Ben. He didn't trust anyone in Mos Eisley and it showed in his facial expression. A few minutes into the walk, Ben looked over to Caden and spoke just barely loud enough for Caden to hear him.

"So tell me Caden, what made you want to be a Jedi?" Ben asked. Caden's eyes diverted away from the smugglers and bounty hunters that populated Mos Eisley and instead he focused his gaze on the endless expanse of desert as they trudged along. There were so many ways to answer such a simple question. In Caden's eyes at least. It could be his drive to help others. To save them from oppression or from the tyranny of various warlords. A trait he largely got from his mother as she was always so generous, so kind, and compassionate. It could be his father's influence; always commanding him to be strong and powerful. The Jedi were certainly strong and powerful, right? At least some of them, Caden thought. It could be that Caden simply hated the Sith with all that he was. He wanted to end their reign of terror and rid the galaxy of the Sith Imperium. But despite the reason, he was a Jedi none the less, that was for sure.

"I think it began while I was orphaned on Nar Shaddaa. Honestly." Caden replied, finally.

"I saw a lot of bad "stuff", like murders for example, right out in the open, when I was just four or five. It had an effect on me. After seeing so much of it I just wanted to help people. Protect something instead of further destroying it, you know? And then, on Coruscant, when I discovered the existence of Jedi Order I began to...idolize them. They became my heroes. And when their temple was destroyed there and Coruscant became a wasteland I knew I no longer had a choice in the matter. I had to become a Jedi. It was my destiny." Caden finished. He was content with his answer.

"What's your story? Why did you become a Jedi?" Caden asked.

 

[Maxx]

Ben listened as Caden told his story, the story of a boy surrounded by darkness, but strove for the light. Caden finished and he turned the question back at Ben. "What's your story? Why did you become a Jedi?" Ben didn't reply for a few seconds, he could feel his hand falling towards the lightsaber on his belt. Not the one that he had made, not the blade of a Jedi, but his other lightsaber. The blade of a Sith. "The path of the Jedi was laid out before me just over a decade ago, when I was only sixteen. Everything I had, was taken away, destroyed in an explosion. My house gone, mother dead, and nothing left for me on my home planet, I fled. Shortly before my mother died however, she gave me a data chip. As I fled the planet I read what was on it. There were messages from my father on there, he had died eight years earlier. It turned out that he was a Jedi." Ben looked over at the padawan.

"Most stories told by people that became Jedi, are ones of hoping to do the right thing, such as your was. Mine however is about vengeance. I joined the Jedi so that I could find and kill the man that killed my mother, and my father eight years prior." Ben fell silent, his mind wandering off to the apartment he had lived in only weeks before. "I didn't have to search far, for the killer came looking for me. I won't tell you what happened when he found me, but I will tell you this. There were three Force adepts in the same place, they fought. One died, one survived... and one was left changed forever."

 

[Noire]

Caden's curiosity for who it was that was changed and who it was that survived demanded further specifics but he managed to quell his desire. Not only did he not want to disrespect what was probably a very painful history for Ben but he also didn't want to disrespect a Jedi that was ahead of him in rank. Angering him could definitely come back to hurt his progression later so Caden kept his mouth shut on that issue. He became silent and withdrawn as the pair trudged along still; the sun was beating down on Caden and he was continually having to squint and wipe sweat from his face. With his Jedi robes on Tatooine was more or less a scorching, blazing inferno decorated with desert as far as the eye could see. His thoughts ranged from Ben's story and his own; drawing certain parallels. Entirely different backgrounds was common among the Jedi, especially now, but one couldn't deny certain traits that united them all.

"Well..." Caden began before trailing off as he walked. "I became a Jedi in the hopes of doing the right thing but, in a sense, it was for vengeance to. The Sith have destroyed so much, so many lives, that I in turn, wish to destroy them once and for all. I wish to restore the glory of the Jedi Order and bring back the ideals of the Republic back to the galaxy." Caden said. As he spoke he briefly twisted his necklace bearing the emblem of the Old Republic before allowing his arms to fall back to his sides.

"Seeing as how you survived your encounter, I can only assume the Force was with you, Ben. A lot of our Jedi brothers and sisters would have us believe revenge is the swiftest path to destruction. Did you at least find peace in the outcome?" Caden asked; careful not to ask anything about the "encounter" specifically. It could bring back strong emotions to the surface and Jedi could be tempted to the dark side by said emotions. So Caden strayed away from them.

 

[Maxx]

"Did you at least find peace in the outcome?" Ben turned the question over in his head. He had found peace in the end, but with that peace had come a price. "I did find peace in the outcome." He reached down to the lightsaber at his belt, the one that had belonged to his parents' killer. "This is the blade of the killer. I keep it as a memory of what happened at the end of the battle, should I ever wander too far from the path of Light." He clipped the lightsaber back onto his belt. "Something that I always think about when it comes to what happened, is who was there. A darksider. A soldier of light. And a Gray."

They walked for a few moments with no words before Ben spoke up again. "There are two types of vengeance in this universe, there is vengeance for bringing justice, and then there is a personal vengeance. That is what separates our causes for becoming Jedi."

 

[Noire]

A gray? Caden thought. He hadn't really heard the term before and he assumed Ben was referring to the mysterious third individual who had been present. Caden considered the truths that Ben had so plainly stated and wondered which was his own. Personal vengeance or the vengeance that was only meant to bring justice. But Caden couldn't answer that question truthfully. To him, "justice" was vengeance. There'd be no need for justice if people had some level of respect for their fellow beings. It's when they don't that vengeance and justice even enter the equation. Caden's past dictated his future in the form of everything he thought to be right. And right now, what was right was avenging those who'd lost their lives due to the war. He took the effects of the war personally. His home had been destroyed by the Sith, he'd seen friends destroyed by the Sith, and every waking moment of his life was determined by their rule. So would annihilating them be personal vengeance? Or vengeance for the greater good?

"Sometimes we are made to walk a thin line," Caden said; his words barely audible. "But it is always necessary to do what is right. Personally, I like the idea of you keeping the Sith's weapon as a reminder. I'm sure, if it hasn't already, it will play the role it was intended to play. And will keep you a warrior of the light. The less Sith we have the better." Caden said as he began to slow his walk. He knelt down and peered out into the distance; narrowing his eyes to get a better look.

"There," He said while stretching his arm out to point to a dot off in the distance. "I think that's Keiro's house." He said; a growing smile on his face.

 

[Maxx]

He nodded at Caden's words. Yes, everyone was meant to make a thin line. And he himself felt as if he were teetering on the edge of that line. He looked up when the boy pointed out an apartment that he said was Keiro's. "I do believe so, let us see what we can find." Ben began to walk towards the apartment when he began to hear a whirring sound that was getting louder. He looked to his right... and then felt as his body went weightless and the world spun in his field of vision. Pain shot through his body as it connected with one of the sandstone walls that made up the buildings of Mos Eisley.

 

[Paradox]

"Woo-oo!" A thug yelled triumphantly as his speeder clipped the Jedi. In a few seconds the empty street in front of Keiro's house was full of activity; yelling, sand, and threats roared around the Jedi as three speeders circled them. The three drivers kept circling as passengers hopped off to surround the two men. Six thugs, assorted men and aliens, leveled weapons as they circled them. Besides the bikers and the thugs on the ground, there was also a marksmen on a nearby rooftop making ten thugs in total. This simple burglary mission just got a lot more complicated for them.

"Well, well, well!" A man yelled and then chuckled a bit as nearby civilians fled in doors. He was obviously leading the group but he didn't have the appearance of the one who was really pulling the strings. A disheveled man with long greasy dreads and a rebreather was holding a slugthrower pistol at his side. His other hand swept over the scene dramatically. "This is certainly a surprise! We seem to have guests boys! Uninvited ones at that! How rude. You see gentlemen this is an invite only party open only to friends of Rahtac Fett and friends of the soon to be deceased Keiro. Now I'm not one to pry, but you two don't seem to fit either category. And I think it would be bad if the Imperium came nosing around; for both our sake's. Now, you may just be lost so I'm going to offer one chance, just the one, to leave now. Your friend seems to have been in an accident there. Go get him some help far away from here."