Shots Fired/Part 1

1,389 BBY

"If we can undermine them at Gizer, our people can take control," So So Hokan insisted in a hushed tone. "That clears the route to Taanab, and then we'll control the Perlemian."

"If our information is good," Taree Hyde pointed out. "If it isn't, the Council of Five will—"

"Shh!" Hokan whispered, glancing around in agitation. "Not here, fool!"

Chastised, Hyde fell silent, and then hurried on through the rain. Ciutric IV was within control of a Sith faction, it was true, but even the Five had not extended their reach this far. Diplomacy was never the way of the Sith; the holdout warlords would cave to the obvious strength of the Five, or be crushed by it. But that time was not yet here.

Hyde was eager to return to their ship, but Hokan's edginess distracted him. "What?" he demanded. "Let's go, now! We have what we came for."

"What if that Republic agent wasn't alone?" Hokan asked.

"Why, do you sense something?"

"Don't you?!" Hokan hissed.

"You don't think…" Hyde started, then forced himself to continue. "You don't think Lord Aresh knows we're here?"

"No, no," Hokan said; he sounded as if he was trying to convince himself. They passed through a handful of Sith troopers—unallied Sith troopers, Hyde noted, containing his contempt—and they had crossed into another street as the rain picked up before Hokan spoke again. "If he knew the agent was crossing through his territory, he would've picked him up long before we got here."

"What, then?" Hyde demanded. Hokan's disquiet was starting to become infectious, and he longed for their nondescript ship half a kilometer away. Once they were safely away from Ciutric and back in the Council's territory, there would be no need to fear. Or at least less. One could never be too careful with the Council's army of Sith Lords, especially for those like Hyde and Hokan, who hadn't yet attained that distinction.

Hokan said nothing, and eventually Hyde felt anger bubbling up. The dark side needed to be exercised like any muscle, and the Republic agent had not been up to the task of challenging him. "What is it?"

Hokan hesitated, looking behind them again, then said, "I think…a Jedi."

Hyde laughed scornfully, more at ease. "A Jedi here? Lord Aresh may be too blind to see us, but he isn't incompetent."

"They say the ranks of his Sith warriors have thinned," Hokan argued. "Turned to our masters."

"Or killed off in battle," Hyde conceded. He had heard the rumors too. "Yes, yes, but not battle here. Not with his Dark Vanguard still loyal."

Hyde pushed through a passel of merchants hawking trinkets and secondhand comlinks, clutching his black cloak tighter around his body. Citizens were stepping under overhangs or into stores as the rain became a downpour.

"We should still hurry," Hokan said, and Hyde could not disagree. Intelligence was time-sensitive, and the Council was not patient.

As they turned between main streets to head toward the docking bay, Hyde saw Hokan look behind them yet again. "Get a hold of yourself, you're too suspicious!" he snapped. "No Jedi would dare come here."

"Well, not many of us," a cool voice said.

Both men spun in a whirl of black cloaks and a splash of rainwater to find a robed man facing them, having snuck up on them after all. His face was shadowed by his hood as well and his robe soaked through with water.

"Who are you?!" Hyde demanded as Hokan reached beneath his cloak, pulling out his lightsaber hilt.

"I'm a Jedi Knight," the man said, his voice still cool. Then it chilled further as he said, "And I want what you stole from that Republic agent."

"Should've protected him better, shouldn't you?" Hyde taunted, reaching for his own lightsaber.

"Yes," the man said flatly, "I should have. I should have gotten here earlier.  I didn't, but I can make sure his sacrifice wasn't in vain."

"The datacard," he said, voice hardening. "Give it to me."

"Come and take it, Jedi!" Hokan snarled, igniting his ruby blade, and Hyde followed an instant later.

"You're no match for two Sith, Jedi!" Hyde taunted; they would surely become Sith when they returned successful. "One little Jedi, all alone!"

The man produced a curved lightsaber hilt and ignited the green blade. "I work best alone."

Raindrops evaporated against their blades for two heartbeats…three…and then Hyde and Hokan charged.

It was no contest at all.

As they rushed their lone opponent, his blade flashed in and out, so quick the movement was almost invisible. Hyde recoiled as the blade passed within centimeters of decapitating him; it was only as he staggered in shock that the pain hit and he realized he'd been cut on the cheek. Hokan staggered too, but recovered first with a downward slash. Skipping nimbly sideways, the Jedi casually ran him through, in one armpit and out the other.

A Force push sent Hokan's body into Hyde's arm, and he cried out in disgust as the dead flesh pressed to his, Hokan's lifeless eyes glazing over as they stared into Hyde's. From behind, the Jedi lunged, and Hyde felt his limbs turn to water as a searing pain scorched his heart.