Part 3

He had just stretched out when there was a knock on his door. The boarding house currently had three occupants, not counting the owners, and he had specifically asked not to be disturbed.

"Yes?" he called out.

"I'm sorry, Jedi Jinn," said the landlady's voice, "but there's a package here for you. I thought it might be important."

Qui-Gon frowned and padded to the door. He opened it, took the package and thanked the woman kindly. She smiled in return and went back downstairs.

He looked at the package warily. There was no indication it came from the Council and he'd ordered nothing from the local bazarr to be delivered.

Si'Haad.

He carefully inspected it for booby-traps and found none. Nothing in the Force warned him of danger so he carefully opened it. It was a box, secured with a digital lock. He searched through the paper to find a code, but found nothing. He frowned.

A secured box with a lock and no way to open it. Why? What was inside? His fingers gently ran all over the box, looking for indentions or something that could give an indication of what he needed to open it.

"It is a gift, Jedi." The voice came from behind and he whirled. Si'Haad was laying on his bed, his lightsaber that had been next to him when he laid down now in her black gloved hands. "An elegant weapon. I've been hesitant in learning to use one. It seemed...sacriligeous. After all, only Jedi are supposed to have these and I am no Jedi." Amusement filtered through the distorter. White eyeslits narrowed imperceptibly but Qui-Gon saw the change. "You know more about me than anyone alive. I should dispose of you to keep it that way. You intrigue me though, so I will wait and see what price you are willing to pay for what I can get."

"Any price, and I'd like to stay alive too, if you don't mind." Qui-Gon set the box down on the bed and walked to the window. It was still securely shut. "How did you get in here?"

He could see the outline of a smile on Si'Haad's face. "I was here before you. It is my business and in my best interests to know things before everyone else. It keeps me alive."

Qui-Gon nodded. "You live a very dangerous life. Surely you tire of it."

Si'Haad shrugged but did not answer. "Tell me about this Siren's Song. I know many things, Jedi, but I have never heard of this."

Qui-Gon paced as he explained everything. The thief did not interrupt until he finished and then the interrogation began. He answered all that he could and handed her files that could explain better than he could. She perused them and long after the sun had set she finally rose from his bed.

"I will consider. Tomorrow morning you will have your answer. Time is of essence now. Get some rest. You may not get much the next few days." Si'Haad nodded to him in farewell and flicked a switch on her belt. Her slight form shimmered away, but Qui-Gon still felt her presence because of the Force.

He felt more than saw or heard her walk to the door. It opened slightly and then shut. He felt strangely alone, as if Si'Haad had charged the air with her very presence. He stood there a moment longer and then stretched out on the bed.

A faint scent lingered there, the natural scent of the woman who had been sitting there. He smiled. Even she couldn't totally make herself invisible. Something always stayed behind. The smell probably was strong only because of her prolonged time on the bed.

Somehow that comforted the Jedi knight and he fell asleep. He never saw the door open and again and shut. He never knew that he was missing the one thing he needed most.

Qui-Gon's face was a mask of angry terror. It was missing! Gods, it was the only weapon he had with him. He was sure Si'Haad had it and that angered him as he had never been before. It also terrified him. She had admitted to having no knowledge of the weapon. He sensed the truth in those words. If she messed with it, or gave to someone else, it could cause harm.

He collapsed on the bed, morning light streaming through the shutters that still covered the windows. The lightsaber was the only one he had ever had, the first he had made as a student at the Temple. That he had managed to keep it this long was a testiment to his skill. Though some Jedi were known to rarely use their blades, Qui-Gon was a reknown saber wielder, something he took pride in. That his saber was missing was a blow.

"Relax, Jedi, I only borrowed it to look at it's construction. I wished to see if it could be improved upon. It cannot." The lightsaber was in his hands and he whirled to the thief in his presence.

"Do that again and it will be the weapon that ends your life," he snarled.

"I won't provoke you enough to do that, Jedi, and you won't kill me without it being self-defense, so why make the threat? We both know that it is empty." The thief was amused again.

Qui-Gon took a deep breath and placed the weapon in its place on his belt. "Don't count on that," he warned anyway. The thief shrugged. "Your decision is made, then?" he asked turning the conversation to the point of their meeting.

"I will help but the price is steep. I want a new life." Qui-Gon took a step back in surprise. "I tire of running, being hunted, having to hide all the time. Give me a new name, a new life, a full pardon for my crimes, and a new physical self that is untracable. If you can do that, you will have all the information on Siren's Song that I can find in three months time."

"Why three months?" Qui-Gon demanded.

"Because that is when the first shipment enters Republic space." The thief looked up. "I did some checking with sources last night. It is developed far beyond the Republic's borders and takes some time to get here. Speculation holds that there will be the drug already processed and seeds of the plant it derives from for growing in drug hothouses within the shipment."

Qui-Gon blew out his breath and turned away, staggered at what she had found out so quickly. "How much did you pay for this information?"

"Consider it a gift of good faith, Jedi." Si'haad walked around to stand in front of him. "For what I want, I will pay any price. Did I mention I want my funds transferred to my new identity without trace?"

"Ill-gotten gains?" he asked derisively.

She shrugged. "It is all I have."

He sighed. "Done. Let's get started. We need to get everything we need and get organized to beat those shipments. I need everything."

She nodded again. "I figured as much. We must leave here now though. I have worn out my welcome."

Qui-Gon gave her a sharp look. "Thin?"

"Very thin. Come. Get your things. Keeping you a secret will be difficult but it can be managed. Take this." She removed her belt and unsnapped the invisibility device. "This button conceals you and this one reveals you. It wipes out body heat and smell. You will seem normal to yourself, but no one will no of your existence."

"This was expensive," he noted grimly.

"So was the chip," she gave a laugh, the vocal disruptor sputtering. "It will come in useful I'm sure."

"You stole it for yourself!" He was surprised.

"I'm a thief and that is a very useful item to have. I saved a bundle that I would have spent at the auction. Either way I was going to have it. If I didn't succeed getting past you that morning, I would have simply won the bids." She looked up at him, the white slits narrowed. "Easily."

He understood the message. Her resources were obviously extensive. Obviously he'd gotten more than a mere thief of great skill. He'd gotten a one woman undercover unit.

Good. So much the better.

Si'Haad arranged for him to meet her aboard her private shuttle in hangar bay 11, port 3. She informed him that the password to get past her bodyguard was 'pilaway', a word Qui-Gon knew was Jawa for hunted. She was impressing him more and more.

The shuttle was small, yet elegant. A hulking Wookie stood guard at the open shuttle door. "Pilaway," Qui-Gon said to the Wookie quietly. The Wookie growled at him and motioned him inside. He went in, the Wookie close on his heels.

"Thanks, Shinoba." Qui-Gon looked around for the husky voice and saw a petite form draw away from the shadows in the entryway of the shuttle. "Let's get this baby moving. I want to go home." Shinoba yowled in agreement and headed forward. The woman gave him a soft smile. "A drink, Jedi? It's a long trip."

He shook his head. "No, thank you. Si'Haad?" He was unsure.

She was amused by his uncertainty. "Tell me, what do those sharp Jedi senses tell you?"

"That you aren't Si'Haad."

She gave him a thoughtful look. "You would be correct. When I'm 'in mode', as I call my thieving persona, I'm a different person. This persona is Shania. That's all you need to know and keep in mind, you know more than anyone, barring Shinoba."

"I know that you call yourself Shania when not stealing and that you are very wealthy and clever." It was the truth.

"You know my scent. I stayed too long I suppose," she laughed, "but I could not resist. It's not often I'm in the company of a man who isn't making passes at me or trying to harm me."

"You didn't leave last night, did you." It wasn't a question.

"I did," she admitted, "but only after you fell asleep. I had to be sure you weren't working for someone else. I had to be sure you were legit. I did some checking. You are."

He bowed graciously with no little mockery in the movement. "Thank you, kind lady." She continued to smile. "I'm Qui-Gon Jinn, a knight. You are Shania, a thief. An unlikely pair, aren't we?"

"I've paired with worse, but my partner didn't survive. Be sure that you are more careful, Jedi." She turned away, unimpressed.

"If we are working together, Qui-Gon is my name."

"When I have on the suit," she raised an eyebrow to see if he followed her thinking, "I'm Si'Haad. Out of it, I'm Shania. Mess that up and it will be the last mistake you will ever make. We won't mention your ability to not draw breath."

"You make a lot of threats."

"No, I'm laying the ground rules. Jedi die just as well as anyone else, and if you aren't careful with your tongue, I may say to hell with this whole business, take my chances and leave you in the gutter. You follow me?" She advanced on him. He backed away, senses on alert to the danger suddenly in the air.

"Yes."

"Good. Have a seat."

The trip passed uneventfully. They spoke of many subjects and Qui-Gon found her well-read and cultured. They good-naturedly debated topics, each playing devil's advocate. Shania attracted him, but he squashed the feeling. Not only was it totally inappropriate for a Jedi but he shouldn't get involved with a woman like this in the first place.

"Clean your thoughts, please," she said pleasantly, handing him a handful of exotic nuts. "They are plastered all over your face."

Qui-Gon looked at her startled. "I apologize," he said.

She raised an eyebrow. "Qui-Gon, as I said in your rooms, you are not the first, and while I don't intend you to be added to the list, things happen. You are a healthy, attractive male. I am a healthy, attractive female, a variety of female, I might add, you aren't used to socializing with on any long term basis. I suggest you meditate or whatever it is that Jedi do get a hold on themselves. If it occurs, take it in stride. However, don't seduce me. I have a feeling you don't play that game very well."

"Do you?" he countered harshly.

"I have lived a life that you can only speculate on, and I'll leave you to do just that while I check our ETA. I'm afraid I've lost track of time with our talks." She rose and walked forward to the pilot's hold.

Qui-Gon pondered her words. She was right, to a degree. He was attracted to her, discomfiting an idea though that was. Would something happen? He'd do his damnedest to make sure it didn't. He was on a mission, a crucial one.

Shania was having the same thoughts, but along a different approach. That she wanted the Jedi in her bed was freakin' obvious, but she knew he'd struggle with the idea. It had been a while since she had shared herself with anyone and a Jedi was more trustworthy than most. He already knew more than anyone else and was getting ready to learn even more. A little bit more would only strengthen the knot around her neck. That would guarantee a good snap when the trap fell beneath her feet to leave her dangling.

Shania had no illusions, she'd lost those years ago as a street rat hopping from space port to space port. A long stint in a couple of brothels ended whatever girlhood innocence she'd physically had. Time had finished the job, making Shania a prime thief and cynic. She didn't pretend to be something she wasn't, because there was nothing she really was that you didn't already see. If you looked hard enough.

She hated enigmas, she hated mystery and she hated the little games that people played with each other's hearts. It was silly and beneath her. She had other things to do. Only when the physical desire to be near something else breathing and sentient was strong did she give in; otherwise it was just Shania, as it always had been. The only exception to mystery was when she in mode. Then mystery was tantamount to survival.

Shinoba didn't even have a good foot in the door, and she was as close to a friend as Shania had. She had contacts and informants. Nothing more.

The Jedi could be more, and with thoughts turning to getting out of the thieving business and into a real life, Shania wondered if the Jedi could do more than give her the new life legally. Could he start her out right by making her feel again? And did she want that?

"Raaah, ranh, urn uh." The Wookie pilot pointed to the left screen of her console. Three blips were heading their way.

"A little late, aren't they?" Shania asked dirisively. "My home could have been laid to waste by now and they'd be just moving. Go past. I'll deal with it later. They should have been airborne and contacting us the second we dropped from hyperspace."

"Who?" Shania tensed at the Jedi's voice. Shinoba merely glared at him. He wasn't intimidated as many would be by a Wookie's glare. Wookies were known for their fierceness. But then, she reasoned to herself, so were Jedi.

"My security. They're shit and getting new jobs soon. I'll keep them until this fiasco is over. They may be useful. Shinoba, dock. And hurry." Shinoba howled her response, still glaring at the Jedi, who ignored her as he followed the thief back to the back.

"Shania, no one has ever been here before?" Qui-Gon had been putting puzzle piece by puzzle piece together and thought he had a rough sketch of the picture.

"No one who knows I am Si'Haad, well, except Shinoba." Shania took a sip of warm wine and grimaced.

"And Shinoba is so different why?" Qui-Gon pressed.

"Because if I'm caught she's caught and her hands are just as dirty as mine. She's my contact when I can't talk to clients myself. Call her my secretary, if you want." Qui-Gon nodded thoughtfully. "Got it all figured out, huh?" She grinned at his expression of pensiveness. "Let me throw a kink in the works, just to make your day."

"Okay," Qui-Gon said.

"We're going to be partners on this, so keep in mind that you aren't going to like my methods and the odds in this job of no bodies littering the ground behind me is nil. This is my world you're walking in, Jedi, and you follow my rules or you're one of the bodies I step over. Got it?"

"You have no compunction killing a Jedi?" he asked incredulous.

"None," she told him as the ship bounced as it landed. "Welcome to my home. My castle is your castle for now. Wander around but stay out of the areas I show you to stay out of. It's dangerous to your health." The door opened and servants came charging in, grabbing crates and trunks. She led him down the ramp and into bright orange sunshine.

"A red sun," he breathed. "This is dangerous."

"Artificial, actually. You're sitting on an asteroid, but we have a little holo gimick here designed to throw you off balance by thinking you're on a planet of a red sun." Shania continued to keep her quick pace. "Remember, in this world I live in, even home can house enemies. Don't stay out where someone can pick you off easily."

Qui-Gon followed her, marveling at the extensive grounds that she wound her way through. "This is new," she murmured, brushing a finger by a plant. "I don't remember this last time I was home. Let me see your lightsaber."

Qui-Gon shook his head. "Tell me what to do."

"Give me the lightsaber and stand back, that's what I want you to do." The lightsaber was off his belt before the Force had time to warn him of her intentions. The green blade shot forth into the air, crackling and humming. "Impressive." She sliced the blade sideways, lopping off the plant's flower. A gas fizzled out and another swipe uprooted the herb. "That's what I thought."

Qui-Gon stared in shock. "You mean your own servants.."

"Can't be trusted," she told him without letting him finish. "Now you're starting to get the picture."

"Then why have them at all?"

"Because no man is an island, and neither is a woman. Everyone needs company, Qui-Gon Jinn, even if they aren't trustworthy company. Besides it keeps me on my toes and letting down my guard is the worst thing I can do in this business. Come."