No Such Thing As Coincidence

Mar wanted to scold Serenity for running off to pet a strange animal but opted not to. She was young and the girl the strange bird belonged to didn't give off any dark feelings, so he went to he bartender and asked for a drink. When the bartender returned Mar took the drink and looked him in the eye.

"You get a lot of foot traffic here I take it?" Mar asked.

"Sure." The bartender said. She was a green twi'leck woman with world weary eyes. "Been on Jakku for several seasons now and I've seen my fair share of strangers. Why do you ask?"

"Looking for a friend, we were supposed to meet up here. Probably would've noticed them. Very intimidating, dark cloak."

"You a bounty hunter?" The bartender asked.

"Do I look like a bounty hunter?" Mar asked.

The bartender smiled. "Nah, bounty hunters aren't as cute. But I know when someone's tip-toeing around the word 'Sith.'" She leaned in close whispering. "Which means you're either a Jedi or part of the New Republic... Look, friend, whatever you are I don't want trouble in my bar..."

"Not looking to cause trouble. Just want to know where my friend is..." Mar was tempted to use a mind trick on her, but he could tell she was smarter than the average person. He opted to instead work on the charm, he placed some more credit chits on the bar. "How about another drink?"

The bartender saw the amount he'd put down, she slid the chits back to him. "Next one's on me, cutie. Since you ain't gonna be livin' for much longer..."

Mar smirked.

"It's no secret that an Imperial Remnant has put down stakes near an old star destroyer wreck out on the dunes. They come in, barter n' intimidate the people from time to time for supplies. But now this new group came in, and they've been quiet. Real tough guys. Apparently they're led by a dark jedi... A woman with this black dome on her head..."

Mar's gaze narrowed. His heart filled with black. Then he took the drink and nursed it. "Thanks."

"Anything else, handsome?"

Mar shook his head. "No, thanks."

The bartender leaned in again. "Hey, if you live through it come and see me for another drink..."

Mar smirked. "Sure..." However he wasn't in the mood as his mind filled with dark memories. When the bartender left him with his drink he muttered under his breath. "Liden..." His hand went to his shoulder where his cybernetic prosthesis met his actual shoulder... a bitter memory flooded his mind

________

A small contingent of stormtroopers hopped off of the hovercraft and stopped to turn to the two Sith Assassins who stood and seemed to stare at their new squad through their opaque helmets.

"Find the Jedi... and terminate them..." The Male Sith Assassin said.

"The young ones... You will capture if you can..." The Female Sith Assassin added.

"Understood." The lead stormtrooper said. "You heard them, men. We have Jedi to hunt."

__________

Mar returned to Serenity who was conversing with a strange, barely dressed, girl with an odd bird who seemed to be friendly to Serenity yet regarded Mar with wary eyes. "Got a lead, we should try and find..." He paused when he saw the strange girl had a pair of lightsabers strapped to her hips. His eyes narrowed, searching for the girl's intentions. She seemed benevolent. "Hey, I couldn't help but notice you got a couple of those laser swords the jedi used to use back in the Old Republic... Where'd you get em?" He was playing dumb seeing what she'd do.