"Pardon me, padawan, do you have a moment?"
Ehlial didn't need to look up, he'd seen the entourage entering the shuttle and after a moment of discussion, make a beeline for him. But he did, simply because it was habit by now. "I am. Can I help you, Master Jedi?"
The Jedi in question drew back his hood. He was an older human, perhaps around forty or so, with a long, jagged scar down his right cheek and a steely look in his eyes that penetrated the youth sitting before him. "Padawn Ehlial Sahnin, correct?"
At this point, Ehlial put his datapad down and rose from his seat, bowing shallowly within the shuttle's confines. "That is me."
The Jedi sank into the seat across from him, though the two armored troopers who had flanked him remained on their feet. He gestured for Ehlial to sit back down again. He did so, but slowly. Already something about this felt wrong, his instincts kicking into overdrive.
The Jedi looked up at the troopers, "He's a padawan, not a convict. I'm relatively certain there will be no violence."
One of them shrugged, "Ok, we get the hint." And both of them marched away. Ehlial could see them lingering at the back of the shuttle, near the open hatch. No one unsavory would be getting past them. And perhaps, no one who might aid the padawan.
"Ehlial, I had a disturbing report run across my desk today." The Jedi tried to get a lock on Ehlial's face, but he had no eyes to stare into and hold. This apparently frustrated him, he shook his head. "I'm getting ahead of myself. I am Jedi Master Areliun. I work with SIS agents stationed here on Nar Shaddaa. One of them related that they saw you in the company of a known, wanted criminal."
"You saw me in the company of my master, and a man who asked to speak to me."
"Interesting," Areliun said, "And what, exactly, did he have to say to you?"
"He wanted to know how I was doing," Ehlial replied. He kept his hands folded in front of him. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he recited the Jedi code for focus. "I met him on the Huttnet, I used to talk to him there. I am forbidden to, now."
Areliun lifted a brow, "So, you are telling me a man wanted for the deaths of several Jedi, amongst other crimes against the Republic, contacted you just to ask how you were doing?"
Ehlial nodded. It occurred to him that he had no idea what Areliun was talking about. Onekel was a bounty hunter, however, or had been before training to become Sith with his latent Force sensitivity. It was naive of him not to realize what that entailed.
The Jedi peered at him for a long moment, and Ehlial knew he would sense his doubt, but also his honesty. Eventually he nodded, satisfied. "Very well, I believe you. However, you'll have to understand that for the time being we must detain you until SIS has had a chance to question you."
"I would request that my master be alerted to this," Ehlial said.
"Of course," Areliun replied dismissively.
Getting up, he left to speak to the two troopers. Ehlial couldn't hear them, but he could see them looking back at him. The hatched door was closed and locked, and a moment later the shuttle's engines roared to life.
Ehlial couldn't pinpoint how he knew, but he felt certain they were about to transport him anywhere but legal Republic space.
**********************
Areliun knew the boy would probably be able to see exactly where he was. Miraluka were able to do that through the Force. But he doubted the youth could hear him click his comm on and murmur, "The bait has been secured. Set up the meet. My master's murderer will be brought to justice."
