'Is this really the best idea you have?' Clarke muttered quietly, eyeing the bounty hunter walking in front of them with suspicion. 

They had descended in a lift to the level on which the Galactic Market was located. Before the Galactic War it had been a bustling commercial district but now, with the Republic's attention focused on more imposing threats, it was slowly falling into the hands of the various crime syndicates that now resided in it's heart. 

One such organisation was the Migrants Merchant guild, and it was their base of operations that the unlikely trio were destined for. 

'What's the alternative,' Lexa responded, not holding as much apprehension as the blonde did regarding their destination. 'You run from this Janos for the rest of your life, evading bounty hunters and assassins until one of you dies?'

Clarke grimaced at the truth in the Jedi's words. Put like that it didn't sound very enticing. 

The bounty hunter walking a few paces ahead of them chuckled. 

'It wouldn't be Janos dying first, not with his 250 year lifespan,' he threw over his shoulder, his smile fading when the blonde shot him a dark glare. 

'Shut it you, and keep moving.'

The Jedi appeared almost amused at the interaction, looking sideways at Clarke. 

'He has a point though. It would be your death sentence, not his.'

Clarke sighed at the statement, staring at the back of the Weequay's head where a single braid ran down to his back, picturing the smug grin on his face at the Jedi's supporting comment. 

'Rather than walking ourselves straight into his lair to be killed on the spot? You're right, it's the obvious choice,' Clarke sniped, not angry at the Jedi but at herself for getting into this mess. 

They passed the central display of trees and shrubs that were a far cry from the beauty of those that grew bountifully on the surface of more environmentally centred planets. This was a cheap replica that only served to give the illusion of nature in this cold, metallic world. 

This was the lounge area of the Market, lined with seats on either side for those connecting from the taxi station or shipping docks. It was also where Dealer's Den cantina was located, and Clarke had a sinking feeling that was where the Weequay was leading them. 

A crime leader was going to be arrogant full stop. On his own turf it would be almost unbearable. In a cantina filled with his underlings and fuelled by the finest alcohol available, she could just imagine how insufferable this interaction was going to be. 

'This is where he will be,' the bounty hunter said, bringing them to a stop in front of the cantina. 'He has a private room in the back.'

Clarke looked up at the flashing neon sign above the entrance, the red arrows lighting up in succession to attract the attention of any potential customers passing by. To her it was just an eye sore. 

The Weequay looked like he was struggling to hide his glee, the source of which was unfathomable to the blonde. 

'I don't know why you're looking so pleased with yourself,' she muttered, growing tired of being in the creatures presence even after such a short time. 'Janos won't be promoting you any time soon when he learns that you and your friend were unable to capture an unarmed bounty and failed in your mission.'

The Weequay's face dropped as he realised that the only reason the two women were at the Cantina was because they chose to be, not because they had been captured. The thought of Janos' wrath was enough to make him want to run into the depths of Coruscant and never find out what the consequences for such actions would be, but the Jedi's presence meant that it was nothing more than a pleasant fantasy. 

'After you,' Clarke added, throwing out her arm in an exaggerated movement to spur the reluctant creature into moving. Lexa was watching her with an unreadable expression but said nothing, following them silently into the cantina. 

The neon lights seemed to be favoured by the owner of the establishment as their garish light continued to illuminate the corridors that led inside. Cheerful music echoed around the sharp corners, accompanied by the clinking of glasses and booming laughter resonating from within. 

Lexa had been to a handful of cantinas over the years, but this was unlike any she had set foot in before. It gave a disillusioned sense that time stood still for the customers, with no concept of day or night to propel them back to vacant homes. 

The three of stepped through the narrow entrance into a large, open space and Clarke couldn't help but cast her eyes around in wonder. It was far bigger than she had been expecting. 

A large holoprojector of a dancing Twi'lek dominated the room, captivating the eye of many half drunk individuals slumped over their tables. Smaller projections were dotted around the sides of the room for more personal gatherings, the secluded booths allowing some privacy for large groups. 

The second floor acted as a balcony above, with customers leaning over the waist high barriers to look down upon those gathered below. Private rooms split off from every wall, a guard at some to prevent any unwanted intrusions. 

For a moment the blonde was unable to locate the source of the music, but as they moved further into the establishment she saw the mass of people gathered in front of the dancers stage where a number of Twi'leks were moving gracefully to the flowing music produced by the band seated behind them. 

Despite the adverse company of smugglers, spice dealers, and crime lords, Clarke had certainly seen worse places. 

'Where now?' the Jedi asked, encouraging the reluctant bounty hunter to take them to his employer. He led them across the open area, carving a path through the intoxicated crowd to a guarded entrance to one of the private rooms. 

'I return with a bounty,' the Weequay directed at the Gamorrean guard who regarded the bounty hunter with squinted eyes. Small horns protruded from the top of his head, dwarfed by the impressive tusks protruding from his lower jaw.  

'Janos will be pleased ,' the guard growled, stepping aside to let them pass. He observed the two women suspiciously when he saw they were not bound, but made no move to stop them, they were the ones walking into the lions den. 

Once inside, and away from the more crowded area of the main cantina, Clarke was surprised to find a gathering of different species around the Sabacc table in the centre of the room, all watching an ongoing game with fierce intensity. 

A Falleen was seated at the head of the oval table, his eyes fixed on the cards in hand as his opponent squirmed uncomfortable in the opposite seat. He exuded power and confidence, and it wasn't necessary to have the Jedi's powers of perception to know that this was Janos Karr. 

The Falleen were an exotic species, with bright green skin and dark hair often tied back away from their face. Small scales covered his body and he grasped the cards in clawed hands. Subtle ridges carved a prominent pattern on his face, which was at that moment formed into an unreadable mask. 

No excitement or anticipation showed which could give away his hand and demolish any chances of winning. His opponent, a purple Rhodian, however, had not seemingly learnt to master his poker face as he sweated and squirmed under the pressure. 

Sabacc was a game of chance and skill. In short you were dealt a hand of cards with the intention of getting a value of as close to 23 as possible by the end of the round. The highest value marked the winner. 

The players could choose whether to trade cards with the deck, stand, or place any in an interference field which would prevent that card from being shifted if a Sabacc shift occurred. This was when all the cards that were not locked in the interference field randomly changed suits and value.

Clarke knew from experience how difficult a game it was to master but clearly the crime lord had been getting plenty of practise as he spent his days taking money from those he bested. 

The trio came to a stop near the table, making no sound as the crowd waited for the two players to reveal their hands. This must have been the final round judging by the state the Rhodian was in and, upon seeing the unusually large size of the Sabacc pot, it soon became apparent that there was a lot of money at stake. 

Janos raised his eyes to those of his opponent. A cold and calculating stare that was intended to strike fear into the recipient as he presented his cards to the room. 

'22,' he stated confidently, his minions letting out hoots of congratulations at their leaders performance. There were very few ways in which that score could be beaten. Only a perfect hand of 23, or an incredibly rare combination such as the Pure Sabacc could secure a victory. 

Judging by the Rhodians expression of utter despair, everyone knew that he would not be emerging from this game victorious. 

'24' the Rhodian gurgled in defeat, dropping the cards to the table as the room filled with screeches of laughter from the onlooking crowd. 

That translated as a bomb out and an embarrassing defeat for the Rhodian who hung his head in shame. 

'I would say that you fought a good game little one, but unfortunately it was all far too easy,' Janos chuckled, bathing in the howl of laughter that resulted from the comment. 

The Rhodian appeared to snap, shooting up out of his chair with so much force that it almost fell over, wobbling unsteadily before remaining upright. Janos had not been expecting such a reaction but merely arched a brow calmly in the face of his opponents fury. 

'You cheated! My credits will not be lining the pockets of a cheater,' he screeched, his anger only seeming to fuel the hilarity of those that surrounded him. 

'The Rhodian has a voice,' Janos boomed over the noise, reaching out a clawed finger towards the defeated opponent. 'Lets find him a cage to retire in for the night to teach him to use it respectfully.'

The Rhodian had no time to even call out a response as he was swarmed by a handful of the Falleen's followers who snapped manacles around his wrists and proceeded to drag him out of the room, past the three newcomers who watched in a stunned silence. 

It was only then, as the Rhodians cries faded down the corridor, that Janos seemed to register the presence of the returned bounty hunter. 

'Ah, my friend, you have returned!' he called out, the Weequay wincing as his employer noticed the lack of restraints on the two outsiders. 'Though not victorious I see.'

The room had fallen quiet as attention shifted to the trio, and the sharp clap of Janos' hands cracked like a gunshot. 

'Anyone who doesn't need to be here should leave now,' he instructed. 

Around three quarters of occupants hurried out of the room, leaving only Janos' minions behind. 

Lexa didn't have to look at the Weequay to know how terrified he was, it seeped from him in waves. She reached out with the force, silently assessing the situation. 

Clarke stood with a resolute determination with the knowledge that there was no going back now, but the Jedi felt her unease. The gang members oozed self confidence and arrogance in the presence of their leader. Janos himself was harder to read, and all that Lexa could attain was the wash of calm that he emitted. 

That wasn't unexpected. As a species, the Falleen respected and honoured self discipline and control. It was a hallmark of their kind. They were the last ones to be riled up in an argument or make a rash, emotion driven decision. Perfect qualities for a leader. 

The Weequat stumbled forwards in the silence, all but falling on his knees before his employer. 

'Janos, sir, I have the bounty here as required,' he sputtered, keeping his head low even as he stood higher than the seated Falleen. 

'Yes, I can see that, but are you bringing them to me or the other way around?'

Karr's voice was strong and steady, seemingly calm but it still sent the Weequay down on one knee all the same. 

After seeing how the Rhodian had been treated, Clarke could understand the Weequay's fear of the crime lord. 

'They overwhelmed me in a back alley, I was ready for the bounty my lord, but not a Jedi' the spineless creature hurried to continue, not explaining that he had been taken down by the unarmed blonde before the Jedi had even appeared. 'Have mercy on me.'

Janos stared down in disgust at the trembling creature, closing his eyes briefly in discontent before flicking his wrist dismissively. 

'Get out of here. I'll decide what to do with you once this buisness has been attended to.'

The Weequay murmmered it's thanks, backing away from the Falleen hastily before turning tail and fleeing the rest of the way. 

'You  must be the Jedi in question,' he continued, turning his attention to Lexa as she stood silently at the blondes side, arms relaxed and ready for anything. 'I hope you wont be trying any mind tricks on me, that would be especially foolish when I am immune to them.'

Lexa already knew as much. There were very few creatures in the galaxy immune to a Jedi's mind trick and it would be ignorant not to study them in preparation for a future encounter. 

'I had no intention of doing so,' she replied, her tone as calm and controlled as the crime lord's. 

'Interesting that a Jedi would choose to keep company with someone of such...insignificance,' Janos went on, lounging in the high backed chair as he gave Clarke the once over. 'Not that I care for the details.'

Clarke was already bored of this pointless back and forth, there was no point delaying the inevitable. 

'Good,' she said sharply, stepping forwards to focus Janos' attention solely on her. 'Because that's not what we're here to discuss.' 

Janos nodded slowly. It was time to get down to buisness. 

'The topic for discussion would be the one where you allowed one of my treacharous men to escape with an invaluable shipment of goods. If I remember correctly that is?'

Clarke could've argued the point as to how that had not necessarily been her fault but it would do her no good. 

'Something like that,' she agreed tentatively, wondering if he would just kill her on the spot and save himself any further trouble. She had seen him do it before and felt a mild pang of sympathy for whatever fate the Weequay would suffer for his failure. 

'So the question now, is what exactly should I do with you?' Janos mused, pushing his fingers into a triangular shape upon which he rested his chin thoughtfully. 

'We could always call it quits and go our seperate ways. Call a truce if you like,' Clarke tested, 'no more useless bounty hunters to hire on your end, and no more bounty hunters to evade on mine.'

The room was silent for a moment and Clarke almost managed to convince herself that he was actually considering it. 

A deep boom of laughter from the Falleen crushed any such hope as the rest of the room erupted into laughter around them. 

'You have spirit, I can admire that,' the Falleen chuckled, his gang falling quiet once more. 'But that will not be happening. I've had an empty cage waiting with your name on it for quite some time.'

Despair filled Clarke at his words. Those that went to the cages rarely came back out again, and those that did were never the same. 

Some of Janos' men began to inch forward eagerly, awaiting the word of their leader to take the bounty into their custody. Clarke saw the Jedi began to tense at her side, anticipating conflict, but this was not how it was meant to go. 

'No, wait, no!' Clarke burst out, relieved to see the advances come to a halt when Janos flicked his finger in a subtle signal. 'There must be something that I can do to redeem myself, rather than rot away in a cage.'

Janos seemed to consider this and clicked his tongue thoughtfully against the roof of his mouth, a wide smile soon forming as an idea came to mind. 

'You may have a point,' he agreed, giving a sense of hope to the blonde once more. 'You will be rehired for the same task. Recover the slimeball traitor and the goods, then return them to me.'

Clarke was taken aback at the ease of the task which had been assigned to her, it was far from the suicide mission she had been expecting. 

'Really? I mean yes, I can do that,' she said, recovering from the surprise and fought the urge to smile at the good news. Imminent death had been averted. 

Lexa did not want to say anything in front of the crime lord, but she doubted that this came without a catch. His kind were never that simple and it was unheard of for them to be so lenient. 

'Perfect. Once it has been completed, your records will remain permanently wiped and you will hear no more from me.'

Clarke nodded in agreement, eager to seal the deal and get as far away from this cantina as possible. 

'He stole our starship in the outerrim, he could be anywhere by now,' she explained, considering how she was going to locate him after all this time. 'Would you have me search the entire galaxy for him?'

Janos held out an outstretched hand and waited patiently as one of his minions hurried over and placed a datapad in his palm. 

'Fortunatey for you, he was on my list of potential traitors and I had him chipped.'

His fingers flicked over the screen, locating the data that he was in search of. 

'Chipped?' Lexa cut in, wondering what the nature of the implantation had been. 

Janos grinned at the question and looked up from the glowing screen. 

'Yes, a locator chip like those used in prisons. I had it inserted into his spine on a tedious night.'

It was in that moment Lexa understood what exactly made this man so terrifying. His lack of conscience would lead him to do anything to anyone, regardless of who they were. There was no mercy on pity to be dragged from him, so putting a foot wrong could be devastating. 

'Ah, here we are,' he continued, his focus turning back to the datapad. 'This reading indicates that he is currently on Nar Shaddaa. I'll send the tracking location to your ship.'

Clarke groaned inwardly at the news. If Coruscant was a planet prone to the workings of criminals then Nar Shaddaa was ten times worse. It was also known as smugglers moon and, like Coruscant, was covered with the sprawl of a city. 

However, where Coruscant was only infested on it's lower levels with crime and danger, the entirety of Nar Shaddaa was home to such goings on. It was without question a popular place for smugglers and it was likely that the traitor was there to sell the invaluable goods to the highest buyer. 

Why he had not yet left the pit of a planet was anyone's guess. 

'We'd best get on with it then, thank you for the assignment,' Clarke added reluctantly, having to force the words out. It was always a good idea to be polite if you wanted to keep your tongue around Janos. 

'Don't let me down again,' he warned, having a far more unpleasant fate on hand if he was disappointed by the result. 'Besides, I had a feeling this Jedi of yours would not have let us lay a finger on you, so the assignment it is.'

Lexa remained impassive until the crime lord flicked his wrist, dismissing them from his company, now bored by the visitors. 

'Then get on with it, and go with haste. You have a month in which to fulfil your end of the deal. After which time your records are back online and, more