Part 11

The Céad were an organization of various guilds. It's membership numbered only one hundred or so and it was exlcusive. No one bucked the Céad and lived to tell of it, at least lived long. Si'Haad, in her many years in the criminal underworld, couldn't even be sure she'd ever met a member. The fact that now not only was she going to be meeting some of the members, she'd would also be kidnapping a prisoner of theirs, wrecking a huge profit scheme, and going directly into the lion's den with the idea that she was going to make it out alive and intact.

Si'Haad was arrogant but she wasn't stupid. What little optimism she had about the whole thing went flushing down the nearest rain drain. She continued to follow Qui-Gon and his "companions", but her senses were even more alert than before.

Through two large double doors they passed and Si'Haad got more and more skittish as they walked. "Is this him?" The voice came from above and all of them looked up.

"Yessir," said one of the bounty hunters. "Pretending to be Pax Di'reh but he's really a Jedi. This would be the one."

The room was like a library with huge shelves lining the walls from floor to ceiling, but instead of books, the shelves were full of screens, images, holoprojectors, equipment, weapons and other objects that weren't immediately identifiable. Two levels above them was a human male with greyed temples and eyes black as space. He was looking down at the Jedi knight with an amused expression on his sharp, bird-of-prey features.

"Welcome, Jedi, to the Céad headquarters here at Hell's Watering Hole. I do apologize for the manner in which you were brought here, but there are certain operations here that could be disrupted by your presence, and we can't allow that." The man gave Qui-Gon a considering look. "I understand you are looking for Si'Haad?"

"She was looking for me," Qui-Gon answered, sensing he was on thin ice.

"She?" The man looked surprised and Si'Haad mentally cursed to herself. So much for that secret. "How interesting. And all this time we've been looking for a male. Is she human?"

"I'm sorry. I'm not going to give you any more information. I don't have much to give anyway," Qui-Gon countered calmly. Si'Haad admired his cool exterior. Inside, the Jedi's heart had to be beating quick enough to give him a heart attack.

A thought occured to her. Maybe he had no idea what the Céad was and therefore, had no clue how deep they were in. The Céad was pretty low-key and well-hidden. The only reason she knew of their existence was the length she'd been underground.

The man gave a laugh, a hearty rich sound with no malice. "I appreciate your need to protect her, Jedi, but there's no need. In fact, we've been hunting her for some number of years. We have special position for her should she want it. That is neither here nor there, however, for you are here for a different purpose."

Qui-Gon was released from his bonds by the bounty hunters. He flexed his fingers to get feeling back in them. He never broke eye contact with the Céad man above him. "If this going to be civilized, perhaps we should introduce each other. I understand I'm a captive and have no intention of trying to escape. I have the distinct feeling that I wouldn't get far."

The Céad man bowed. "Agreed. Let us keep this civilized, at least until Si'Haad comes after you. The two of you are obviously up to something together and that intrigues us. I am Vidar Shaiman and I head the Assassin Guild's membership within the Céad."

"I am Qui-Gon Jinn, a knight of the Jedi Order," Qui-Gon stated as he returned the bow.

"A knight, not a master?" Vidar frowned at this revelation.

"I have not yet taken an apprentice. I will not be a master until an apprentice of mine achieves knighthood," Qui-Gon explained as he surveyed the room more closely. He was sure Si'Haad was in the room but he wasn't sure that the Céad knew that. Something within the Force told him that they were unaware of her presence.

Vidar nodded. "I see. Well, Jedi Jinn, I suppose I should arrange for you some quarters but I'm not sure whether you will be totally trustworthy in any accomodations other than a cell with a guard or two. Si'Haad is very resourceful and she may find a way in to help you escape. Every obstacle in her path is an obstacle in our favor, you understand." Qui-Gon made no motion of agreement or denial.

Vidar's eyes narrowed at the first signs of uncooperation. "Very well. Take him to the cells and make sure he stays there. Bind him again if you have to, but make sure he goes nowhere."

Si'Haad tensed, torn between following Qui-Gon and staying to see what Vidar was going to do next. He reported to someone, surely. In the end, she compromised. She attached one of her invisible dots to a small transceiver device that she lightly attached to Vidar using her wrist air projector. With any luck it would stay there and not be detected somehow. She then followed Qui-Gon and the two bounty hunters.

"She was here."

Vidar brushed away a nonexistant fluff of lint off his sleeve. "I am aware of that."

"Are you aware of the fact that she is currently listening in on our conversation?" Vidar's head sprang straight at this wry observation. "She bugged you before following the bounty hunters and Jedi out the door. I would suggest that we rig things to look for an invisible person. There must be some flaw in her concealment. We must find it."

Vidar began inspecting his clothing, finding nothing. "Then what? If Si'Haad is looking to steal from us she's either stupid or has something up her sleeve."

"What operations are currently in progress?"

Vidar considered a moment. "Nothing that would interest a thief."

"That is not what I asked!" thundered the mysterious voice.

"We are preparing the shipment codes for Siren's Song, currently engaged in blackmailing a Republic senator for the death of his rival and I believe the space pirates over by Thinigar Two are petitioning to join our ranks, to no avail, naturally." Vidar wrinkled his nose in snobbish distaste at mere idea of pirates joining their hallowed ranks.

"Very well, keep an eye on our trophies. It may be some thieves challenge or something she's living up to, though that is normally not her style. The fact that she is associating with a Jedi prompts me to suspect that Siren's Song is the target."

"But why would a thief of her calibre care about a sex drug?" Vidar mused.

"Indeed?" The mysterious voice seemed amused. "Now that she has listened to our speculation, she can worry about our true intentions. You are dismissed." Vidar almost protested but thought better of it. "I wouldn't worry about what she knows. She can't do much about it in any case, Vidar, so concentrate on the Jedi. He may be of use to us somehow."

Vidar bowed low to floor, forehead touching his hands in a reverant gesture. "Yes, my lord."

Si'Haad listened as the lock to Qui-Gon's cell was connected. Digital. How old-fashioned. The conversation she was listening to was more engrossing than the archaic method of imprisoning captives. The fact the two participants in the conversation were aware that she was listening in was equally fascinating. It concerned her that they were aware of her existance in the building, but the fact that they had no way to track her gave her some peace of mind.

It wouldn't take them long to figure out how to find her, she knew. The talk about Siren's Song caught her immediate attention though, and the last talk about her as well. "She can't do much about it in any case, Vidar, so concentrate on the Jedi. He may be of use to us somehow."

"Don't bet on how much I can't do and what you get out of that Jedi," she murmured over Vidar's "Yes, my lord." She smirked to herself as the bounty hunters walked away, congratulating themselves on actually catching a Jedi knight. "You might be surprised at what this thief can do."