Part 1

The mission started with a dead body and a rumor. The rumor spread into a small sample of a drug called Siren's Song; a drug that had traces in the dead body. When scientists and chemists discovered the nature of the drug's specific modus operundi, they contacted the Supreme Chancellor himself.

The Supreme Chancellor, after a conference with his advisor and cabinet, immediately contacted the Jedi Council, who in turn dragged Qui-Gon Jinn into it. A knight for five years, Qui-Gon was infamous for being practical, level-headed yet unorthodox. His methods weren't exactly what was recommended but he got the job done, usually in record time and without too many complaints.

He was strong, resilient and not easily swayed by the Dark Side. Qui-Gon was strong with the light side of the Force and would not be distracted by the dark underworld in which he would have to travel.

Siren's Song, he was told, affected the sexual drive of any race. So far, the labs had not detected any species that the drug did not affect. It enhanced the senses, increased the sex drive and need for procreation, turning the user totally mindless to anything but the need for physical fullfillment, or at the least someone who could be considered a nymphomaniac.

That this could rewrite the workings of the underworld was not in question. The drug could make sexual slaves more plentiful and lucrative. The drug administered in a drink could bring about coups in the highest stations of control within the underworld. It would, of course, work it's way from the underworld into normal society. A drug with this control over a person's system was dangerous. Countering it would be very difficult.

Qui-Gon understood the implications. There would be nothing he could do if he was given the drug forcefully. His reaction could be anything, but the Council hoped that someone with the Force might have a better chance in controlling their reaction.

Qui-Gon took every scrap of information relevant to the situation and pored over it night and day for a week. He developed a plan, risky and unpredictable though it was.

The underworld worked within a different mindset and system than anything else, Qui-Gon knew from experience: cadres, gangsters, smuggling operations made to look like a legit business, and anything goes. It was like walking through a swamp; eventually you were going to step in something you didn't want to step in.

He needed informants and he needed a way to get the information on shipping, specifics on the drug's origins and intended uses. They also needed more samples. The drug was entirely organic and not replicable. Since it's origins were unknown, it could have come from anywhere in the Republic or beyond.

While speaking with a Jedi underworld contact, Qui-Gon learned of the thief Si'Haad. There the idea had formed.

"Si'Haad. Isn't that Hutteese?" he had asked Dorman Dray.

"Yeah. It means 'the shadow stealer'. Si'Haad is good, the best they say. You don't know the thief is there until he's gone with your stuff." Dorman shook his head. "I'm assuming you want me to contact him?"

"Can you?" Qui-Gon looked thoughtful.

Dorman considered a moment. "Yeah, but it'll cost us both big. Jedi Jinn, the thief isn't like me. I'm small time. Si'Haad takes great pains to make sure no one knows who he is, where he lives and if he sleeps. There isn't a scrap of anything except rumor and speculation on the guy. I know someone who may be able get word to him, but that's it. Si'Haad works on a whim. He might not respond."

"Do it. We'll pay whatever price you ask for and the thief asks for. One stipulation." Dorman looked at Qui-Gon warily. "Face to face meeting. Si'Haad and I are partners in this or my personal achievement in life is bringing him down, as well as bringing in the drug."

Dorman had no doubt the Jedi would die trying, but he didn't think Qui-Gon would succeed. "Okay, I'll pass that along. Give me three days."

"Three days."

Three days turned into a week but Dorman came through. "Si'Haad will meet with you in a month's time on Tattoine at Mos Isley space port."

"I need the meeting sooner, Dorman," Qui-Gon growled.

Dorman shrugged. "Hey, it took a lot to get my friend to set it up. You're lucky Si'Haad even responded. You being a Jedi complicated matters considerably."

"You told Si'Haad that a Jedi was looking for him?" Qui-Gon was incredulous.

Dorman gave him a shrewd look. "I know how important getting this stuff out is, Jinn, but you deal straight with Si'Haad or you don't deal at all. He has methods in finding out lies or misinformation. Si'Haad trusts no one, not even Jedi. A month is what you got."

"Set up communications with Si'Haad, even if it's vocal only. I don't care." Qui-Gon's eyes were determined and Dorman shook his head.

"Fine, I'll try."

He succeeded. For some reason, Si'Haad found that a Jedi needing his help was a new, entertaining twist. Qui-Gon noted that. Obviously, anything new or unusual caught the thief's attention. The communications transceiver that he, Dorman and Dorman's 'friend' Chino were using was wired, Qui-Gon made sure of that. He was expecting tricks and backdoors to the transmission, but he was determined to trace the origin. It was how he was going to find the thief.

"Hey, Si'Haad, Chino. That Jedi, he here to talk wit' you." Chino was a dumpy reptilian being, small in stature, smaller than Yoda, and his teeth gleamed white whenever he smiled.

"Speak, Jedi." The voice was distorted purposefully. Clever.

"I'm Qui-Gon Jinn, a knight within the Jedi Order. I've been assigned to locate the origins and any shipping information on the new drug, Siren's Song." He paused, waiting for this information to sink in.

"Heavy stuff, Si'Haad. Get us in trouble." Chino put in his two credits worth.

"True." Si'Haad agreed with the sentiment and nothing more. More silence and Qui-Gon watched the blinking lights as they traced the signal, loop by loop, byte by byte.

"We'd like to hire your services, Si'Haad," Qui-Gon continued finally. "Any price you want we are willing to pay." More silence. "The only stipulation is we work together as partners on this mission. You'll have anonymity during this and your whereabouts will be conveniently forgotten afterward. Any information about you that I discover while we're partnered will be strictly between you and me. Nothing will be revealed to local law enforcement or Republic security forces."

"The Jedi will be just another client?" The voice laughed, an eerie mechanical laugh that gave Chino and Dorman shivers. Qui-Gon held his own shivers back. "This intrigues me, but I regret I'm on the payroll of someone else currently. I will have to decline. Perhaps you may contact me for another job, though. Working for the Jedi will be an interesting prospect."

The transmission ended and Qui-Gon slammed his hand down on the array. "Damn." He turned to Dorman, who was already checking the tracer. "Well? Did we find him?"

Dorman whistled. "Look at this!" He pulled up the tracer information on the screen. "Backtracks, piggy backs, reroutes and Hoth alone knows what. This guy is good."

"Can you trace him?" Qui-Gon asked patiently. He too was impressed.

Dorman looked at Chino, who shrugged. He smiled. "Yeah, I can trace him. Get your transport ready, Qui-Gon. I can have your destination in about three hours."