The Search Begins (Dani, Khar (once approved)}

[Iota]

The Dark Descent finally landed just outside of Mos Espa, a small town, out of the way near the palace of the hutts, Xavier was never one to really make use of spaceports, too much paper work and not that efficient if a clean, quick get away was in order.

Mos espa, a small place, the town practically circles the one Cantina in the middle of the square, the typical buildings for tatooine surround the place. A bank that isn't well kept, a bounty hunter office which is over kept and usually consists of the latest technology in the ways of killing people and keeping others out. Then there was the sporadic dashings of small market stalls and a small shuttle port just south of the Cantina.

The landing ramp came to a halt as it touch the barren wasteland of sand. Xavier adjust his armour before descending, he looked to Dani and stated "Mos Espa, informants there tend to be more reliable there than eisley..." Xavier turned with out haste and continued towards the Cantina entrance.

[Regnier]

"Not that that is saying much..."

Dani stepped into the twin Tatoo suns' light, a faint glint reflecting off of the small slit-visor of her helmet. Not once during the trip had she taken off a piece of her armor, not even her helm. Not even to meditate. Fortunately, the suit, being sealed, kept the heat out for awhile. However, being black, it did absorb quite a bit of it over time, so that benefit only lasted a short time. Not even an hour on Tatooine, she'd discovered quite some time ago. Dani did not like heat in any shape, way, or form. Especially when it caused perspiration. Wet fur inside a body-suit was not a particularly pleasant experience. At all.

She gripped the small, metallic case in her hand a little tighter.

At least the trip here hadn't been all that bad. It was rare that she had any semblance of leg-room during interplanetary travel. There were advantages to freighters. Namely, you didn't have to spend a few minutes working stiffness and cramps out after landing because you had been boxed into a very small space for several hours. Meditation came a little easier. The Cutlass was fast, too fast for most who couldn't feel the Force, but Void knew it wasn't built for comfort. Apparently the designer had been particularly small.

"A word of forewarning, Xavier: I do not interact well with Hutts. I strongly suggest you do the talking if we must deal with one."

Before stepping far from the ship, Dani set the small case she was carrying, roughly the size of an average briefcase, on the sand, pressing a button on the top. It clicked audibly. "I almost hope some Jawa attempts to strip your ship. It would be most amusing seeing the results on something so small..."

Standing straight again, she continued on after Xavier, quickly catching up to him. "I know a few who may still be here, but not many who would be useful in tracing the one we seek. I have not spent much time cultivating contacts with information on darksiders. I don't often bother looking for them, after all. But, I can let a few feelers out, see what happens. I am also very good at...alternate forms of garnering cooperation, useful for those few types with minds unsuitable for manipulation. Just...call if you require me. Otherwise, I will be making 'friends' with the bartender. It's almost surprising the things they hear."

[Iota]

Xavier had heeded the words of his newest companion, but decided to not reply, he wasn't much one for small talk unless it some how effected his ego at any point, he was quite narcissistic, naturally. After a quick brisk walk to the centre of the town, Xavier adjusted his cape to cover his right shoulder and arm resembling something from the renaissance.

It wasn't long before Xavier started to walk with a thud in his step towards the cantina door. The door itself had been fairly "worn", a few blaster scuff marks in sporadic positions, a sign of fine dining in these parts of the galaxy, no doubt. Xavier looked back to Dani for a mere moment, before reaching out using the force to talk to her.

"make yourself comfortable" he stated in a rather dull, none emotional tone before entering to be confronted with a wave of smugglers, grunts and various riff raff of different denominations. Xavier scanned the room over with his eyes for a moment, before spotting a histy character in the corner, He moved to intercept, lightly pushing people out of the way, no point in making a big scene, waste of time. Xavier would use the force to reach out to the shady character, but as he attempted, the man started to react, some people's minds just cannot fathom and tolerate telepathy.

"Argghhhh... my head.. it burns....pain...." The man almost screaming, falling to the floor in a fetal posture. Xavier looked down slowly before sighing softly "i do not need to talk to you to gain the information i require" He said using the force, even though the man wouldn't of been able to comprehend. Xavier raised his right hand, opening his palm slowly before placing it upon the man's forhead, Xavier closed his eyes before purple sparks flew from his hand, directed at the shady man's head, Xavier utilising his Drain Knowledge ability. He wasn't that patient. Unfortunately, after searching the man's mind, nothing of any decent use came to hand. Xavier let out a slight grunt before clasping the man's head in his hands and swiftly twisting it, breaking his neck and killing the man instantly. The occupants of the cantina looked for a moment before going about their business as if nothing occured.

Back to square one for Xavier initially, although there was no distinct time limit, he didn't like to hang about doing mere grunt work, it was quite frankly beneath him, but with his entourage of minions now gone, he had no choice. It wasn't long till he noticed a droid, who seemed quite out of place, not a service droid, yet not a high calibre assasin droid that often plague the cesspit of outer rim hutt infested planets. Xavier approached the droid, who seemed to be in a world of his own, he waved his hand slightly to gain it's attention, the droid responds.

"Depression: oh dear, yet another meat bag who wishes me to blow my behavioural core out with my pistol?" HK-32 looked Xavier up and down "Observation: clearly not from around these parts" HK-32 pondered for a moment "Conclusion: Worth my time, you may proceed meatbag." Xavier raised his right eyebrow for a moment before responding via sign language, as droids couldn't directly recieve telepathic messages.

"Continue to talk to me like that, and you will quickly find yourself in the possession of a woman with attachment issues.... with a passificism core installed over your less legal protocols" HK-32 stood perfectly still for a moment, letting out a small gulp "Retraction: I'm sorry kind sir! i did not mean it!" HK-32 quivered in fear slightly "Question: is there no end to your cruelty?!" HK bowed his head slightly "Submission: Your will is thy command" Xavier raised his eyerow again, this bizzarre droid, so willingly to give in, perhaps the droid just wanted a new master.

Xavier signed to the droid "enough of your incessant babbling, fool... i just need some information regarding a certain jedi master.. tell me what you know of Vreem Took, or to any one who can potentially aid me more.. " Xavier lowered his hands, looking the droid upon and down trying to figure out it's origin.

"Informative Recitation: Of course oh cruel one.. you set the bar so high, it puts the other meat bags to shame, my liege! I have not encountered this jedi you speak of as such, but i believe the local Hutt can assist you greatly than anyone else on this back water planet." HK-32 nodded slightly before looking away towards the bar. Xavier nodded his head slightly and made for the door, waiting just outside for Dani to depart.

[Regnier]

Xavier had told to her make herself comfortable, so...

That's exactly what she did. All the while keeping tabs on him from he corner of her eye, Dani wandered over to the bar casually. Once there, she ordered a drink, sat back, and watched one of the dancers. Every so often, she subtly probed the man beside her and the bartender, keeping most of her questions seemingly conversational, with random useful ones interspersed throughout. Honestly, however, she wasn't really getting anything beyond 'ask a Hutt for anything like that'.

It was somewhat annoying, really. One couldn't get anywhere in their space without having to deal with them eventually, it seemed. Honestly, she'd known they would have to, but...she had hoped that, by some miracle, they wouldn't. She'd never been that lucky, however.

Oh well, she supposed. At least she'd be able to relieve a little stress this way. Maybe she'd even be able to hold off until after the over sized slug had outlived it's usefulness. Maybe. If not, too bad. There were other ways of finding people. Nar Shaddaa, for instance. She knew people there. Some of them useful for finding Jedi. Not so many useful for finding people like this Cassandra woman, though.

She wasn't really getting anything particularly useful from this cantina, however. Not even a good drink; she hadn't even taken off her helmet to sample it, honestly. More of her concentration was on the dancer, and-

Her eye caught Xavier's movement towards the door. Time to leave. Sighing softly, Dani stood up and headed for the exit. Stepping through the door, she turned to the Dark Jedi.

"Find anything useful? Or are we going to have to find a Hutt after all?"

[Iota]

Xavier made his way out of the building, the sand from the oncoming sand storm lightly brushing up against his armour and helmet. After a few feet from the entrance of the cantina, he closed his eyes to dive ito the depths of the force to gather some kind of insight, he didn't want to waste his time with petty crime lords as they were more hassle than they are worth.

As he searched deep inside of himself and the force, he felt a tug, as if some one was pulling him on a piece of string, the words "Korriban" cropped up time and time again. Unsure of what to make of this message, he re-opened his eyes and thought upon this occurance. After a moment or so he looked over his shoulder slightly towards dani, using the force to talk to her telepathically "My incarceration was longer than i initially suspected.. is there anything of value occuring on Korriban?" he asked as the last time he was there it was a barren wasteland full of sith tombs with no type of settlements.

He continued walking expecting Dani to reply as they made their way to Xavier's ship "we'll make our way to Nar Shadaa, the hutt's there will have a better indication of a whereabouts for those who we seek than they do in this...place.". Xavier looked over towards his ship, thankfully, not scavenged by any jawas or sand people.

[Regnier]

"Korriban? Yes, actually. I've been avoiding that place as of late, but I've been hearing a great deal of whisperings of Sith returning, and I know that there has, more recently, been quite a lot of activity there. Were I to guess, I would say that they have made some kind of temple there, or at least re-occupied one."

Honestly, if what she knew was true, and she had reason to believe it was, these Sith would probably be more than happy to see her. Assassins of her skill were not in abundant supply, last she checked. But she had decided to bide her time instead, gather more information before making any sort of decision regarding the Sith. Perhaps she would come to them some day, perhaps not. They could certainly be a useful means to her end.

Dani remained silent for awhile, partially lost in thought, as they made their way back to the freighter. So, it was to the Hutts after all. Even better, those on Nar Shaddaa. Fortunately, most Hutts didn't much care if you killed one of them, as long as you didn't interfere with their own business. Usually, it was advantageous for them and allowed them to expand their operations. Crimelords were an insidious group, of that there was little doubt, and they only tended to remain loyal as long as it was beneficial for them. Give them a chance, they'll cut your throat and take over. Better still, let someone else cut your throat as you stand by and watch.

"Nar Shaddaa it is, then. More scum, more villainy, more information. Very well, let us be rid of this sandy furnace."

Retrieving the small case she'd left earlier, Dani made her way to the ship, glad to be off Tatooine. Nar Shaddaa was warm and humid, sure, but this place was hot.