Eye of the Shadow - Pt. 2 - Too Many Questions

While he sat atop his perch high above the corridor below, his mind wandered back over the last few days. Strange activities abounded.

Too many why's? Why did the Republic and Sith skirmish above this planet? Why is the Sith so intense in their search for the Jedi? Does Brejik know what he has? Why is Thek so passive on this one? What does the Exchange want with a Jedi? Too much watching, not enough asking.

The sound of several sets of boots on the metal planking of the corridor below roused the watcher out of his mental questioning. He peered into the darkness and grinned as he saw three Sith troopers rush through the passage. They ran as men fleeing for their lives as indeed they were. Shortly after they passed, the snarling leathery rakghouls loped by in hot pursuit. A momentary analysis gave the witness to the flight an idea of just how far the troopers would get before they were overtaken. After a few minutes, he hopped down and began strolling down the corridor in the same direction as the previous beings.

I wonder what the story is on those two 'Publics in the Upper City last night? How did they get past the checkpoints. What were they doing in the cantina with Ajuur? Hmm... might have to check out the fights tonight.

He came upon the remains of the three troopers. The raks had been quick and efficient in dispatching their prey then moving on. He rummaged through their gear to find a few pieces of information that might help him in his tasks. The looter paused a moment as he caught the scent of something familiar.

'Ordo', he said in whispered tones. In the blink of an eye he climbed into another elevated position much like many of the perches along these dank tunnels. Few could reach such positions, even trained assassins would struggle. But some are bred or 'manufactured' to do such things.

The nefarious Mandalorian crept into sight with three of Davik's boys trailing along behind with looks of stark terror on their face. No doubt they had heard the shattering cries as the Sith troopers had been cut down and consumed. Sound carried quite a long distance down here.

As Canderous Ordo, famed Neo-Crusader and leader of Clan Ordo, skulked beneath him looking for prey, the watcher spoke from his perch, 'That stuff you smoke would make a Gamorrean puke, Ordo.'

Canderous spun around with his massive repeating blaster aimed at the source of the sound. 'Yagr?' He spoke to the shadows above his head.

'Yeah' He grinned as he watched the Mandalorian warrior try to get a bead on him. 'What are you out hunting today?'

'Looking for something.'

'You just gonna tease me or tell me what is going on?' Yagr chose to light up his own cigara allowing Ordo to catch a glimpse of his location from the brief flame. 'You need to smoke something with a little more class. I could probably smell your garbage stick from Mid City. Try something smooth....rashollo or something like it'

'Why do I always find you watching the world go by instead down in it making things happen?' The mandalorians spent little time in small talk. Every word had a purpose, they were just that efficient.

'Who says I'm not making things happen?'

After a few moments pause, Ordo came to a realization'Your the one been dropping Sith into the morgue? If that is you, you sure are making things happen. Making everything tense and making it uncomfortable to all the other operators. They are wizzin' in everyone's bath water around here because of you. What business do you have dropping Sith officers?'

'Cause it's fun...' Yagr looked down at Ordo's extras. 'You might need to change your thugs, I think they wet themselves.' The grin nearly split his face as he said it then disappeared just as fast. The unpleasantness of life never let a smile stay long.

'Funny, good help is getting harder to find. I figure if any of them survive my little excursions, then they might be worth the time to train them.'

'So, you're not going to tell me what you are out here after?'

'Nothing in it for me. Information is valuable.' Ordo easily understood that information was just as valuable a commodity for trade or sale as any spice from Kessel.

'Check out the fights tonight. I think there are a couple of 'Publics in town that are poking around up there. Don't know what they are up to, but I know you like a good fight. Not many of those lately. Is that worth anything?'

Canderous ran his hand over his grizzled face for a moment, then said, 'We are looking for the same thing everyone else is, but I guess you probably know what that is. And...." Canderous paused as if he needed to get a bad taste out of his mouth. "I am keeping an eye on Brejik and his dimwits. Kang needs more leverage, he is feeling a little overexposed right now.'

Yagr jumped down to the floor with alacrity and grace prompting the three associates of Ordo to point their weapons at him.

'Why you telling this guy our business?' Sniveled one. "Yeah, this guy ain't one of us, so why are you telling him anything?" chimed in another.

'Put the blasters down. This guy could shove his index finger into your brain in the same amount of time your pitiful nervous system could tell your finger to squeeze the trigger. Probably faster. We don't pick unprofitable or dishonorable fights. Besides, there are so few people around here with any value that we don't drop them without a really good reason.' Glancing over the lean human, Ordo noticed, "You're not wearing an implant today?"

Yagr's hand reflexively reached toward the beautifully crafted eyeball in his left eye socket. "No, exercising my other senses this morning. Sound and scent travel so much farther than sight, but you knew that."

Canderous nodded. He knew so little about the man in front of him, but he felt a measure of respect for him.

What a great spar that would be, I'll bet he would be an amazing opponent. Ordo was pretty good at spotting talent, but his limited perspective left him thinking that Yagr was nothing more than a skilled assassin or bounty hunter. After all, aren't all the skilled killers in those lines of business?

Yagr nodded sensing the Mandalorian's thoughts and feeling equally respectful of a contest with the famed warrior. Pity such a specimen was reduced to nothing more than an errand boy for a piece of worm-ridden filth like Kang. Turning, he quickly darted off into the shadows.

The mandalorian eyed the darkness for a few moments before murmuring to himself, 'He's Nord's problem now, anyways...'