Emergence: Pirates!

[Serena Laran]

[con't from <a href=http://www.swforums.net/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=39257>here</a>]

"Please, Morgan, can you make sure Rhianna is strapped in?" Serena steered through the floating graveyard of abandoned ships that was in high orbit of Nar Shaddaa. She didn't look up from the control console as the yacht powered towards the jump point. She'd decided on Ithor as their destination. Morgan Evanar, her passenger, hadn't seemed to mind the where so much as the when. The sooner the better.

Ithor was located in a suitably neutral star system. From there, she would be able to put out feelers and allow the so-called Rebel Alliance to locate her. After the Separatists threatened the Republic, throwing the galaxy into civil war, she'd hoped that at the very least Supreme Chancellor Palpatine would have imposed peace. Even if the cost for it was too high, peace was preferable to coming back to an Empire that was at war with itself again.

She'd waited too long in exile. Finding out from her passenger about Emperor Palpatine and his pet, so-called Dark Lord of the Sith Darth Vader. Serena sought inner calm again as she considered how badly the Jedi Order had miscalculated. What could one do about a hidden threat, though? It is hard to root out a rumor, or to pinpoint a feeling of unease.

The Empire was not facing a hidden enemy, however. After the battle over the forest moon of Endor (she'd been studying recent events over the last two weeks while waiting for the ship to be repaired), the Rebel Alliance was a crippled, but serious threat. The Empire would find the remnants, and destroy them. The Moffs had all the resources they needed to keep the Rebels on the run for the rest of their short lives. If the Empire could pull itself back together after having it's head cut off, of course.

If there were other Jedi involved with the Alliance, but there probably wasn't. Endor had been more of a fiasco than a victory, with both sides taking losses and limping away. A faint smile touched her lips as she remembered Master C'baoth extolling the virtues of Jedi Battle Meditation in a hallway of the Jedi Temple. Such meditation was not something she had ever studied, and even Jedi Masters seldom attempted such a dangerous meld. Also, it could not be accomplished without two or more willing and trained Jedi, something that was in drastically short supply since Palpatine had unleashed Darth Vader. A few Jedi engaging in battle meditation would certainly be able to turn the tide of any battle.

And they had. Until Order 66.

Serena pulled the hyperdrive controls, and was rewarded with starlines and a tug against her body as the inertial dampers played catch up as the ship entered hyperspace. They were making a stop over in a non-consequential system for more supplies before making the full jump to Ithor. The first jump was only a few hours long. As the starlines swirled into the multi-colored hues of hyperspace, she spoke to her faint reflection in the transparisteel window. "I will not take part in a war again, however just the cause."

[Morgan Evanar]

Morgan strapped Rhianna into one of the seats in the quarters that she shared with Laran. Over the last few days the girl’s health had turned sour. She had probably never been exposed to some of the strange stuff that floated through Nar Shadda’s atmosphere. Rhianna looked up at him with glassy eyes and said something that sounded mournful, but he had no idea what it meant. Then she sneezed, which the girl had been doing for the past day.

He started back for the cockpit when he heard the hyperdrive wind up, so he braced himself in the doorway to combat the brief disorientation that would follow. One moment, according to his sense of balance, someone had just shaken the sno-globe, and the next, everything was right in the world again. Once he had been running while a ship jumped. That had ended with a bad spill.

“So far so good. I’m not about to paint a target on my back yet.” Sarena should have looked a little surprised. She had probably expected him to sit for the jump. This woman seemed unshakeable with everything but the most dire news.

"Not that I’m particular, but where are we headed?”

[Serena Laran]

She raised an eyebrow at the transparisteel, and then swiveled in her chair to look back at Morgan, her face calm. "We are making a short jump to Toydaria, where I will need to take on some more supplies. Then we head toward Ithor in the Gricho Sector. You may stay as long as you wish."

Serena hoped he would want to stay on at least until Ithor - having a man on board was helpful, especially if they came across any intensely patriarchal societies. If all went as planned, there would be no problem, but with Rhianna falling ill... She flexed her hands, and then folded them in her lap. She could heal her, but the girl needed to be immunized. Caridan Influenza, which it appeared she'd contracted, was something most beings had within their first decade. When a human fell ill with the Caridan virus after adolesence, the affects were fatal if not treated.

"Toydaria is not the best place to find a good deal on anything," a wry smile touched her lips, "But we should be able to find what I'm looking for."

[Jaime Tomahawk]

"Captain?"

"Yes?"

"Do you want any stimcaf? I'm heading to the dining for some"

The man at the controls of the mid sized freighter yawned. "Oh frell yes. It's been too long since I've run a double shift"

His fellow in the control room nodded. "Maybe we're getting soft or something. We aint done this in far too long"

"Going corewards?"

"Yeah"

The second man was silent for a moment. "You think it's a good idea?"

"Dont see why not" replied the captain. "I agree with the General actually, it's a damn good time to do some good paying work while the rest of the Galaxy is distracted and the militaries are pretty much disorganised. Get in, make enough to buy a planet, get out. And with the latest little toy we picked up on Tattooine, we can pounce a hell of a lot easier on some unsuspecting convoys"

"Well.... that's what concerns me, Sir. We've been out in the Outer Rim and basically away from real news for so long. How do we really know? What if this Endor thing aint all it's cracked up to be?"

The Captain sighed. "I've been thinking the same thing Jaspers. If it were anyone else, I'd have said so too"

Silence.

"You trust her to be right Captain?"

"Since when has she been wrong in all of these years?"

"Yeah... true. We might be in the middle of cold space right now, but we do allright. Be back shortly"

--

Jansen moved down the quiet corridors of the frieghter, the lights dim as the ship was in it's self imposed 'night'. Most of the crew woud be in their bunks, taking the opportunity of rest before they made their final jump Corewards. Most of the old hands tho were pulling extra duty, the ones she trusted most of all. The ones she knew would do things right. The ones whom the core of this band were made up of, usually old soldiers that for some reason had sought the Outer Rim many years ago. Jansen himself had been in the crew for nearly ten cycles, a long time for a merc but frankly the crew was good, the pay was good and the action was plentiful.

Whistling quietly, he entered the dining mess, went to the caf dispenser. He saluted as he passed the dark haired woman sitting in there already, datapads strewn about, concentrating her attention on one in particular.

"Caf, General?" he offered.

"Yes, thank you Janson" she growled, her voice distinctly not matching her looks. "Are we on track?"

"Yes Madam, we're even a bit early"

"Good". The growling snarl made it sound anything but. "In one time click, give code clearence to all commands and have them acknowledge. We'll do the jump corewards to Toydaria as planned in 12 time steps"

"Sir, noted"

She went back to her datapads, making notes of somethign he didnt bother to try to over look as he handed the caf to her.

[Morgan Evanar]

Toydaria? Most Toydarians on Nar Shadda were only a sneeze away from dishonest when it came to business dealings. He was somewhat baffled, but Laran was somewhat baffling. What was she looking for?

“Oh.” At least they wouldn’t be able to talk behind his back by speaking Huttesse, and he knew a smattering of the native tongue, too. Then again, it was possible he wasn’t giving them a fair shake. The Smuggler’s Moon seemed to attract the seediest of each species.

At least Ithor would be beautiful, and maybe quiet.

"Rhianna isn't doing so well." Morgan sounded concerned. While he could do great bandage work and even minor surgery, he never got sick beyond mild alergic reactions, so he had no idea what to do, or what it was.

[Serena Laran]

Serena finished checking the onboard systems, and nodded. "I know." She brushed a few strands of thick red hair out of her eyes, and pulled her long braid over her shoulder. "She's got all the symptoms of early stage Caridan Influenza. You don't usually see it in someone at her age." Satisfied that the ship was going to stay in hyperspace with no problem (thank the Force that Jerrad's work was as good as he said it would be), she got to her feet, adjusting her ivory tunic.

"I cannot get the imunizations she requires until we reach civilized space. And it is too late for an inoculation against what she has now." Serena fiddled momentarily with her silver and turquoise belt, rubbing her index finger over the small hole in the side where her lightsaber's D-ring would have been clipped.

"Then what?" Morgan was genuinely concerned, which indicated that she had been right to trust him when he'd approached them on Nar Shadda. Still, there was so much she did not know about him.

The Jedi started walking down the passage towards the cabins. "We will do what we can for her. Make her comfortable. Prayer and meditation have cured many ills."

[Jaime Tomahawk]

She had her spot picked out for this test - half a light year from Toydaria, unlikely to pick out anything for now.

"All systems checked as green, Soth's Gold, Nightace, Redwing, Tattooine 145a, Spotforth in place for phase one, Flitter reports initial power tests green. We have 7 other ships standing off at a microjump in case of anything we cant handle. All ready General"

She looked at her tactical screen. "Have Soth's Gold move 1 across, that should strengthen the ensnarement" She waited while her order was communicated, waited until the ship was in place where she wanted it, then doubled checked the readouts and reports. Everything was pretty much what she wanted.... "All crews, you are now on Code Ready Amber. You have your orders, I expect them executed as well as I know you can. Flitter.... Activate"

The sensors began to flash, then there was the blinking warnings of the nav computer, now making the crew of her ship aware that there was now a gravitational field in effect - their latest accqusition, a grav field that could interfere with hyperdrives and drop a ship out right into their waiting clasp. This was only a training drill, something to get all the ships of her motley band of privateers used to the tactics they would need to quell a snare. And also for her to think of the best ways to use it.

"Excellent" she growled, noting the ship positions, the area of the field, mentally taking notes, "Phase II commence"

"Looking pretty good" commented Jansen.

"Quite good. 85% of original output, much better than we could have resonably expected. Flitter's readouts still green?"

"Yes, it's reactor is coping well with the power output"

"Continue as planned" she growled.

[Morgan Evanar]

Rhianna was asleep, her head slumped over to the left while the jump harness held her in place. He unclipped the harness and scooped her into the bed.

“She’s burning up.” Her skin was hot to the touch. Morgan went into his room and reappeared with a shredded shirt that he had run under the faucet, and wrapped it around the girl’s head, hands and feet.

“All I have are some light painkillers. I don’t think they’ll bring down the fever at all.”

[Serena Laran]

Serena nodded approvingly as Morgan brought the cool wet cloths, but sat on the end of the bed and removed the ones he'd placed on her feet. "A good idea, but not on her feet. Feel, here." She pulled his larger hand over and put Rhianna's small foot against his palm. It was icy to the touch. "The fever is in her head and chest. We'll have to draw it out."

She took the gyspy girl's foot between her hands, and began rubbing it. As she worked on warming the girl's feet, she spoke reassuring words in Rhianna's language. "If you would like to help?" Serena stood, relinquishing her spot at the foot of the narrow bed. "I... I must pray over her."

He might think her a religious nutcase, but she dared not reveal her Force abilities. Calmly, whether he took her place rubbing the girl's feet or not, the Jedi knelt on the deck at the head of the bed, placing her slim hands just so on Rhianna's body. Right hand over the wet cloth on her forehead, left hand just under the rib cage on the abdomen.

Serena closed her eyes, and began to delve with the Force.

[Morgan Evanar]

"Uh huh." he focused on getting the blood circulating through Rhianna's lower legs and feet. Wait. What? Pray?

"If it makes you feel better." he said. After all, the more he learned about the galaxy, the weirder it got. So hey, if Laran felt better by praying, why not? He gave the girl's calf muscles a good rub-down before going back to her feet. And gradually, something felt different. Not with Rhianna, per se, but a very nebulous something. It was a good thing, whatever it was.

[Serena Laran]

The jump to Toydaria was not long, and it was barely an hour later that they were scheduled to revert to real space. Deep in a Jedi healing trance, Serena was aware of the time. But Rhianna's condition was worse than Morgan had thought, and Serena was carefuly soothing the girl's immune system, encouraging it to produce the needed antibodies.

Too much too fast and Rhianna could go into shock. Not enough, and the girl would continue to sicken. She was aware of Morgan checking the chrono fastened to the wall. When it appeared that Serena was not going to get up to babysit the ship as it came out of hyperspace, he got to his feet, ready to make his way to the cockpit.

Little beads of sweat were appearing on Rhianna's forehead as her fever broke, and the girl sighed heavily. The Jedi remained motionless, hands resting on the girl's body. Morgan said something, and turned to leave the room.

With alarming suddenness, Serena received the warning from the Force. Her head snapped up, and she stretched to touch Morgan's arm as Serenity shuddered violently. She held Rhianna to the bed with the Force, keeping the sick girl from flopping around or hitting the ceiling as the yacht was forcibly ripped out of hyperspace two minutes early. Using her touch as a cover, Serena steadied Morgan with the Force as well, allowing them both to keep their feet as the inertial dampers failed for the half second of reversion to real space.

An alarm wailed.

[Morgan Evanar]

He had fully expected to bounce off the bulkhead and then deal with things as best he could, but it didn’t happen. There was no time to wonder about such things.

“Oh frack.” The slicer scrambled to the cockpit. A quick glance outside and at the sensor readout told him that they were screwed. While he had never flown a ship, he’d fixed enough navicomps, sensor proccessors and astromechs to know what everything meant. Besides, the view out of the transparisteel told the entire story.

“Laran, we’re in trouble!” He called over the alarm as he scanned quickly over the various readouts and then started coaxing the navicomp to give him more data. They were just out of the Toydaria system, maybe a half parsec or so. Morgan glanced at the sensor screen. They weren’t Hutt, or BlackSun, or any of the other large organized crime groups: they all would have fielded more fighters and dedicated military hardware. Nor were they Rebel or Imperial. The Imperials would be sitting with an Interdictor and a Victory Star Destroyer, maybe even an old Venator. The Rebels would probably field some Corellian Corvettes and a Nebulon-B or two.

[Jaime Tomahawk]

"Moving into.... KRYST!! General!"

She looked up as the proximity alarms went off. Almost right where a real trapped ship would be.... was a trapped ship, dropped out of hyperspace. Got out of her seat with a nod to the Captain - while it was undesired while they were training for this trap, it had been discussed with the command of her group what to do. With most of the crews of the 'fleet' ex military, the crew broke from the relaxed attitude of a drill to the intensity of their past and training. Now anyway it was like what they had done so many times before.

"General, get off my Bridge and to your station" snapped Jansen. She acknowledged for as much as this was her group, she was not the Captain of this ship, the crew knew their jobs and she knew they would do them. Besides, it was a command distinction - when the chase on, her part was to get off the bridge and get ready for what she loved doing - boarding. She knew exactly what was goign to happen anyway - two shots across the surprised quarry and Whiqst would jamming long range signals and Soth's Gold would be demanding reactor shutdown.

--

Two of the bulk frieghters had dropped pretence, revealigntheir armaments, had turbo lasers pointed at the newcomer, two shots across it's nose. Making it clear it was to stop or else.

You are directed to power off your engines. Any move to power up shields or to run will earn your destruction. You will ready yourself for boarding. Any resistance will be met with severe retalitation. Co-operate and we let you live

--

Tomahawk's ship drove forward, even as the General herself accepted a headset off another of the boarding party. She grabbed her rifle and pistols off the gun rack, belting them on as the rest of the boarders powered up and loaded weapons.

"What we got?"

"Old junk General. Havent seen one like this in years, not since the the War."

Interesting "Life signs?"

"Minor"

"Probable smuggler or personal transport then. We do this as normal then. Any word from the Bridge if they will resist boarding?"

"Not yet"

She hoped they would.

[Serena Laran]

In the cockpit of Serenity, Serena silenced the alarms and stopped trying to get the engines back up. Looking at the ships facing them, she turned to Morgan. "Any chance this might be the Rebellion you spoke of?"

He shook his head silently.

The Jedi pursed her lips, and nodded. "Then we cooperate." She flicked her hands over the console, making sure the hyperdrive hadn't fried when they'd come out of hyperspace. "The sensors say we are in the gravity field of a planetary mass, but Toydaria is almost a parsec away. Curious."

One of the larger pirate ships flew forward, getting itself into position to open an airlock between the two crafts. Serena's lightsaber was tucked away in a hidden compartment, one that had been constructed by the Temple's engineers. Pirates would not find it. She got to her feet and gestured to Morgan as the other ship docked with Serenity. "Let us meet our guests. If there is information you think I need while they are here, I will be able to hear you even if you speak as quietly as possible."

They walked towards the door where a loud hiss indicated the pressure on the other side was equalizing.

[Byl Laprovik]

Byl was up from his nap at the sound of the klaxons, and naturally went for his piece, dropping it into his inner waistband holster as he threw a shirt on. The door to his quarters creaked open, and he stepped out into the corridor. A few crewers jogged past him in the opposite direction, and he decided to follow. His new 'partner' was a lady of some interesting qualities, and he'd taken the opportunity to use her convoy as a well-protected but anonymous means of transit between his various safe houses.

This, however, seemed unexpected. Byl tapped a wrist-comm.

"General, sounds like you're having a party. Got enough invitations for one more?"

[Jaime Tomahawk]

'Feel free to join in" she growled into her headset "But if your not ready when we board, we're not waiting for you"

She wasnt surprised when he was waiting at the airlock with the rest of the boarding party, a mix of mercs and what she called 'old hands', ones whom had been with her since the War itself. The one thing that was common was that none of them were younger than 40... but she would take experience and steady hands over youth anyday. Plus, every single one had real military training and experience on their resume - even damn good service records. Special forces, black ops, name it, they had done it.

And yet every single one was now earning their living as a pirate.

One day she would try to work that one out, how such a group of warriors ended up doing this. But not now, now was the job on hand.

"Got a lock on?"

"Yes, establishing pressure..... right. Airlock open"

She pointed, one of the group running forward, working the lock controls on the other craft. She worked the rifle's safety, hearing others doing the same on their weapons. "Looks like they surrendered, General. We wont need to blow this one out"

"Pity. Lets go introduce ourselves...." Door opened, she as her want stepped in first. The rest of her team pushed forward, moving to secure it as fast as possible. Professional, quick. And also she saw what she presumed were the occupants, two beings. One male and one female. Locking her attention on them, raising the gun barrel to eye level. Finger on the trigger. Letting the weapon do the talking. The rest of the boarding party knew their jobs - secure the ship, find other beings, begin to look for anything worthwhile.

[Morgan Evanar]

He could hear them combing for valuables. Morgan's heart sank. He had a suitcase full of slicing gear, some of it heavily customized. He didn't keep records of jobs, just useful scripts for defeating certain common systems quickly. Very slowly, he lifted his hands and put them on his head, with his fingers laced together.

"I wonder where they dug up a gravity well projector." He whispered, barely above a breath.

For pirates, they were incredibly organized. The weapons they carried were weilded with discipline. They moved efficiently, and chatter was kept to a minimum. The word he heard most was "clear." Further, no one leered at Laran, nor, apparently, Rhianna, who was out cold.

Morgan sighed. With the retrofit of Laran's ship gone as smoothly as it had, something had been bound to happen.

[Serena Laran]

Serena kept her hands at her sides. She watched the men who stormed into the yacht calmly. Gravity well projector? She had never heard of such a thing. It certainly seemed to work, however.

The woman who'd walked in first was holding a blaster rifle at Morgan's face, while a blond man had her covered with another weapon. He wasn't quite pointing it at her head, but somewhere in the vicinity of her chest. Morgan slowly raised his hands to his head, and Serena found herself doing a double take at the female. General Tomahawk? But it couldn't be - the woman would have to be in her mid fifties by now.

She looked like she hadn't aged a day, although her features were a little different. Perhaps.. surgery? Whoever had done her work was very gifted, if that was indeed the case. Serena calmly laced her fingers together over her stomach. "There is an unconscious girl in one of the cabins. She is very sick."

[Byl Laprovik]

Byl followed up the assault, filing into the room that Tohmahawk's main force had secured. From the looks of the General's men, the situation was covered a few times over. They may not be young, but they had probably decades of experience at this sort of thing.

The Rebel let his pistol's business end rest at the secondary threat. A lanky male with a perturbed expression on his face held his hands behind his head. If things went sideways, it would be with him. The woman beside him looked back at Byl with doe eyes. Probably had a heater tucked somewhere she'd rather not have searched. She didn't look like a spacer, but there was enough experience on her face. Next to her friend, she seemed unassuming though.

Byl could handle this. He glanced over to Tohmahawk to be sure. This was her show.

[Jaime Tomahawk]

Confirmed General, one human female, lifesigns show fever

Good. Looks like they had someone who didnt want trouble, but as she glanced over what she presumed was the male pilot, somethign just didnt seem right. Somethign was giving her an itch and she didnt know how to scratch it - and when she felt like this, she had long ago learned to stop, find out what was makign her uneasy and then act.

Was it the male? No, seemed the shady type who would have this ship. All in order there.

The ease of the catch? Could be a trap. Didnt feel that way.

The ship? Creepy it was pure Republic. That was soemthign she hadnt seen in years but still... it was just a ship.

The woman.... older looking, maybe something close to Tomahawk's age. Unusually calm and relaxed for having a bunch of pirates come barging in. Much, much too calm and she had the odd feeling she had seen that type of calm before. She scanned her memory...

No way. No krysting way, this wasnt possible... yet right here in front of her. She could feel her anger suddenly boil just at the thought of what they had uncovered.

"Mr Laprovik, escort these two to a private room. Make sure they are not armed. Begin introductions"

She pushed past, then into the captured ship's control room, where she immediatly slamemd the rifle down, exploding in a stream of well chosen verbal abuse. One of her troops gave her a questioning look. "General?"

She continued her tirade for a few more words, before regaining control of her temper. "We're getting the hell out of here"

"Trouble?"

"Jedi"

"WHAT?!?!"

She looked at the trooper, named Entre, a hardbitten warrior they had come across 15 years ago. "Jedi, at least the old one is. I've seen her before. Get Jacques to jump us out of here"

"Acknowledged. And the Jedi?"

"I'll deal with those betraying krysters myself" she snarled. But no straight away. She would calm down, get her temper under control. She wanted to have a chat and find out something she wanted to know for the last twenty years - why had the Jedi betrayed the Republic.

[Byl Laprovik]

"Alright you two. Keep grabbing your ears and walk slow down this hallway."

Byl led them back through the 'lock, heading to more familiar ground. He moved the two prisoners through a few corridors before stopping at a door marked with a staff, entwined with two coiling serpents.

"Okay, stop."

He keyed the door open by its touchpad, and the sliding durasteel hissed into the wall. Byl stepped back, and gestured toward the open doorway with the muzzle of his pistol.

"Ladies first. Slow."

[Morgan Evanar]

They had just lost the metaphorical paddle, and now were swiftly floating along in a stinky creek to a bad place. Morgan had decided they were on the wrong side of the air lock the moment they were escorted onto the pirate vessel. Not that they could go anywhere without severely damaging both ships with the airlock coupling engaged, especially with that gravity well projector. He took a deep breath to keep his head together. Laran was so calm it was almost as if she were drugged. But her movements and focus absolutely said otherwise. Morgan figured he might possibly be able to take the lone pirate pointing a pistol at him, but he had little doubt they’d waste Rhianna in retaliation.

This train of thought wasn’t getting him anywhere but frustrated. Dammit.

He went into the room without any fuss beyond an irritated look, which was polite considering the situation.

[Serena Laran]

Serena meekly put her hands on her head and stepped through the airlock and into the attackers' ship. It was dark, utilitarian, and above all, functional. Her sandals made little sound on the deck plating, and she and Morgan were shown into what must have been the medical ward.

A surgeon droid of a model she wasn't quite familiar with was standing against the wall. "I was not aware that General Tomahawk had fallen so low as to become a pirate. She had a distinguished career during the Clone Wars." Her hands were still on her head, and the Jedi raised an eyebrow. "My ship is not worth enough to sell."

[Byl Laprovik]

"You know the General?"

Byl paused in the doorway, making a face as he lowered the pistol down to his hip, the muzzle still parallel to the deck. Whoever this lady was, her stock had just jumped a bit. It had taken Byl the better part of six months to get acquainted, and he had money and connections to his credit.

"Guess that puts us at a disadvantage. Who are you two, and what's the sick girl's story?"

Byl pulled a wheeled examination stool to the wall nearest the door, and straddled it as he sat, opposite Morgan and Serena who stood near three examination cots, flush against the other wall.

[Morgan Evanar]

Morgan relaxed a little now that the gun wasn't pointed at his face.

"I'm Morgan Evanar. Been in a little of this, a little of that. From Nar Shadda. I'm trying to see more of the Galaxy and get away from that pit." He tilted his head at Laran. "And this is..."

[Serena Laran]

"I am Serena, and the girl is Rhianna. She contracted Caridan Influenza while we were on Nar Shadda getting our ship repaired." Serena looked to the side, and then back to the man.

"I need to tend to her. Caridan Flu in adults can be fatal, but your people should be in no danger. Most of them probably had it when they were children."

[Byl Laprovik]

"General's got a med staff, and knows the girl's sick. She'll take care of that. What I need right now is a good reason to feed to the General so that she won't toss every cubic of your ship in the meantime."

Byl scratched at the back of his neck as he looked Serena over.

"You two don't seem like the sort of people I deal with, but if you've got beef with her, then I don't have any reason to back you up if she gets greedy."

[Morgan Evanar]

"Serena just had the ship refit and I'm along for the ride, so long as it's away from Nar Shadda. We were just stopping by Toydaria for some supplies. She could pull every panel on the deck and she'd find some new shiny parts and a whole lot of nothin'." Which, as far as Morgan knew, was the truth.

[Serena Laran]

The Jedi nodded as Morgan spoke. "Indeed, there is nothing of value on the ship. Just some clothing and food supplies for the journey.

"I have no quarrel with the General. In fact, I have not seen her in twenty years. She struck me then as a determined woman - if she wishes to ...'toss' the ship, nothing you could say will deter her." Serena pulled her long braid over her shoulder. "Pardon me if I do not put my full faith in her good graces and her medstaff for the girl. My mind would be put at ease if I could be with her."

[Jaime Tomahawk]

She came out of the control cabin of the ship they had caught when her temper had ebbed back enough - and into at least half the boarding party, most of whom had either looks of concern or surprise.

"A Jedi? General, how the hell...?"

"Who is she?"

"Are you certain?"

"Yes she's a Jedi. No, I have got no kryfting idea where she came from" she snapped, pushing through the gathering. She felt her arm being grabbed.

"General - dont do it."

She glared at the soldier - Major Tam, one of the Old Hands. "Do what?"

"Kill her. I know that look General - dont do it"

"Why?" she asked, her growl as cold as space.

"Because we dont know. You gonna trust the word of a Emperor what happened - who was going to kill us too until we hightailed it too? I bet he would have said we were traitors"

She glared at him.... "What are you, my concious?"

He stared straight back. "Yes"

Silence for a few seconds that seemed to drag on.

"That girl - give her medical attention. Treat her like our own until further notice". As ever, her face was unreadable, no emotion other than the constrianed fury she seemed to always live with. She turned on her heel and stormed off the captured craft.

"Not having a good day anymore, is she?" smirked Entre

"Mate, if you had a Jedi land in your lap, will you be having a good day either? Allright, you heard her. The girl's one of ours so lets treat her that way. I want a medic in here on the double" replied Tam.

But even tho Tam was a voice of reason, he too couldnt help wondering what the frell was going on. Weren't all the Jedi dead? How in the Galaxy had they just simply had one appear as if by majic? Tam certainly had seen and fought alongside Jedi as had many of the Old Hands, he personally didnt believe they had betrayed anyone. He personally thought they were Good Beings.

But... still. Hadnt they been hunted out of existance? And if she had escaped, could have others? Well... this wasnt making the girl less sick standing here musing. Where was the damn medic?

[Byl Laprovik]

The Rebel considered the pleas for the girl, but didn't care to be sidetracked.

"That's fine. I'll keep this short so you can get back to her.

You the skipper? You got a nice ship. Long in the tooth, but its no scow."

Byl sized the lady up, who was beginning to seem the one to talk to.

"What's your trade? People who sail Toydarian space lanes don't keep their holds empty for too long."

[Morgan Evanar]

Morgan was as in the dark as Byl was. Like everything else about the woman, he was sure her answer would be interesting.

[Serena Laran]

"I am a healer. I collect herbs to use in remedies, and Toydaria is home to a potent swamp agae, polypoida toydarius, which can be used to treat many ailments." Her expression was nothing but quiet sincerity.

"The girl is from a world in the Outer Rim, and she is apprenticed to me to learn my trade. My ship is old, as there is not much profitability in herbalism." She spread her hands wide. "I live comfortably and have no aspirations beyond passing on my knowledge to the girl. We had hyperdrive problems and I used my savings to retrofit the ship."

Serena looked down at her feet as befitted a humble dealer in herbs and remedies. Her herb collection from RX-279 would probably already have been located in her cabin.

[Jaime Tomahawk]

Thinking fast on her feet was what made her such a good General in the War, it made her even more suited in the Outer Rim when they had to scramble to survive. And right now as she stepped foot on her own ship again, her mind was now kicking into high gear.

Aint this a pretty situation. The logical thing would be to throw her out the airlock but my own crew - I saw their faces. They dont think the same, they think Jedi were the good guys, I'll be facing a mutiny. Krysting Botist, what did I do to get into this mess?

Werent the Jedi with us? You saw how they fought and died. They believed int he Republic.

Why did they turn on it? Why did they get slaughtered?!?

No answers there. But she did know a cornered Jedi might choose to fight and she knew what the Jedi in the War could do. She'd be facing a lot of damage.

Well... she had a real dud sabaac hand this time. But even a terrible hand could take the pot if played well. That was another thing she was good at, turning a bad situation into her advantage.

First of the two medical wards. Voices. Laprovik must have them here.

Wait... idea. Hmmm. Possibly could work.

"We have some interesting items this time" she snarled, opeing the medic room door and stalking in. "A slicer by the looks of what we found, that's useful to us. A girl, sick, we'll find a use for her, maybe sold to the highest bidder...." not that she woud do that. She deplored slavers and had no problem killing every last one of them. But let them worry she was serious, Laprovik hopefully could play along, be good cop to her bad cop, "A ship, worth for a good sale price, odds and ends... but that's not the real prize" she said, dropping her voice down, "We got ourselves a Jedi"

[Byl Laprovik]

"Maybe."

Byl crossed his arms as the General entered, and he regarded her casually.

"The skipper's a healer, or claims to be. Says she's got remedies and medicinal sundries on her ship. She says she uses the ship to collect them. Honestly, it seems like a bit too much ship for such a small thing."

He looked back to Serena and walked toward her.

"Toydaria's also an Imperial territory, with Imperial tarriffs, import, and narcotics regulations. Not a bad patch for a buyers market, if you're willing to deal on the side while you're busy scooping out a bit of pond scum."

He squared off at her up close, eyeing every inch of her face for a sign that might betray her somehow.

"So why the slicer? I'm serious about getting your apprentice girl the help she needs, but you've either been dealt a bad hand of circumstances or you're not nearly enough on the level with me."

[Morgan Evanar]

"I set up the transponder in exchange for the ride. I'm tired of Nar Shadda. I'm happy as long as the destination is not the Corporate Sector." Which was the truth. He was tired of Nar Shadda, but it was also a dangerous place for him now. He had used Serena as a stealthy escape.

[Serena Laran]

Serena had turned her attention on the General as soon as the woman had joined them in the medbay. "General Tomahawk. I did not think that I would ever see you again."

There seemed to be little else to say, considering the situation. The woman had drawn conclusions, and Serena waited to hear what she would say next.

[Jaime Tomahawk]

She decided to keep standing, one hand on the butt of one of the guns she had on her hips. She had the slicer in the line of her sight to begin with - seemed to be unthreatening, maybe even telling the truth.

So maybe he didnt know?

"No, Mr Laprovik" (quite pleased he had picked up what she had in mind), "There is no maybe. Our slicer here picked a very interesting person to get passage with, an actual Jedi of the Republic. Met her before I have, when I thought the Jedi were there to protect the Republic, not be an instrument of it's destruction. A Jedi Knight if I remember correctly, I am correct, Laran? You havent promoted yourself in self congratulation to Master since then, have you?" she ended, her snarling voice making it plain just how much fury she was feeling.

Steady Jaime... steady. You might hate them for the betrayal that lead to the Emperor leaving you and the Old Hands to run for your lives when the purges came, but you cant let it get to your head. Not yet. Not until you know why

[Byl Laprovik]

A Jedi? Her?

Byl looked back at Jaime, and back at Serena.

"Is this true?"

He was now getting to the point where he had to be careful. Tomahawk's history was as a former Republican soldier, not as a member of the Alliance. Byl couldn't fully get on board with her plans, because there was a point where he and the General would likely have a fundamental disagreement.

Byl himself didn't really trust the Jedi, but the Alliance had made it policy to consider them key persons of interest. More than a few Jedi had been working as agents of the Rebellion, including the late Commander Skywalker. Byl didn't know how much, if any, the General knew about that situation, and he didn't want to show his hand.

If Serena was a Jedi, its possible that they might have stumbled upon an Alliance operation. Then again, it was equally possible that Serena and her companion had no connection to the Rebellion, and were independents. Either way, if the allegation was true, both would be fugitives from the Empire. That alone made them useful to him.

[Morgan Evanar]

Considering how far Serena had been out of the loop, it was possible that she had simply been in the outer rim before the Clone Wars ended. And possible that she was a Jedi. Considering COMPNOR's vicious anti-Jedi propaganda, it was likely that they were not the slayers of the Republic. Morgan had seen enough through little glimpses at the underbelly of the New Order to know that first and foremost, it advanced it's own agenda, truth be damned.

Morgan looked at the Jedi Knight with suspicion.

[Serena Laran]

Serena spread her hands open. "It is true. I am a Jedi Knight, as the General says. I am a healer, as I said before. I was raised to Knight during the Clone Wars, and my only participation in the war was a benevolence mission to the Outer Rim.

"I was attacked by my clone troopers and left for dead. When I managed to leave the planet I received an automated message from the Jedi Temple, warning all Jedi that the Republic had turned on us and that we were not to return to Coruscant. I made my way to RX-279 where I have lived in exile for the past twenty-odd years." She looked at Tomahawk as she spoke. "The General was one of the few non-clone commanders in the Republic fleet. She was part of my task force on my last mission, although she never came down to the planet surface."

[Jaime Tomahawk]

"YOUR tak force? I think not. While you were kissing botha, we did our duty two systems away making sure no droid army was coming there next. Wsting time with benevolence when there was a war..."

Bit of lie couldnt hurt. Tomahawk had skipped out as soon as the Jedi went planetside and went looking for a fight as what she felt her duty was, stuff holding snotty hands when her troops were about to fight and die...

Wait a sec. What had she said? Turned on the Jedi?!?! Her hand whitened with the pressure on the grip, her self control winning out against the fury..... but only just. Something kept her in check.

We didnt turn on you, traitor she wanted to say. It didnt come out.

[Byl Laprovik]

Byl stepped back from Serena and moved to the General, whispering in her ear.

"We need to talk, elsewhere."

[Morgan Evanar]

Morgan looked at Serena, and for a little while, his brain wasn’t working. They were supposedly extinct, but damned if it didn’t make all the sense in the world now. He was used to dealing exclusively with shady characters, but he had never really gotten that impression from her. Serena had been too… direct, if secretive. With everyone else, there was a catch.

Well, here was a Jedi. Aside from the unusual directness, she seemed like another person. Morgan wondered what the big deal was.

[Serena Laran]

"If a society has been devastated by a war they took no part in the Jedi Council did not consider a humanitarian mission to be a waste of time." Did not. The past tense of her words brought the old sadness back.

She had touched the General with the Force, carefully calming her before she did anything they would regret later. Now she gently released her, satisfied that for the moment a crisis had been averted. However, the woman spoke untruths. The planetary system they had been visiting had seen little Separatist activity after the main skirmish with the Republic that had brought Serena there to assist the people who lived there.

It did fit with her memories - the General had taken her ship and left while Serena was on the planet, but at the time it had seemed good fortune. It had allowed the Jedi to make her escape from the clones without being shot dead in space.

She turned to Morgan, sensing no animosity from him. "I apologize for my secrecy, but you can understand my reluctance to reveal my identity."

[Jaime Tomahawk]

"No Mr Laprovik, we dont need to talk"

She felt a lot calmer now, even her growling voice seemed more relaxed. Tohmahwk may not be suspectible to mind tricks, but she had an odd susceptibility to being calmed.

"For twenty years I and my crews have been out in the botha pit of the Outer Rim, scraping a living. We've been running from the Empire, ever since the day of Order 66. Up to then, I had thought the Jedi were warriors for the Republic. But they were all killed and all we ever heard was they tried to kill the Chancellor and take over the Rebuplic. I personally buried two Jedi who were with us in that day - I personally gave them the respect I thought they deserved but all I have heard since that day is that the Jedi failed us all and because of their failure we had the Empire. I want to know how the Jedi could have possibly fought with me and then suddenly turn on us and then be slaughtered - I finally want answers. She's going to give them to me"

[Byl Laprovik]

"Dammit."

Byl cursed under his breath, turning away from the General. He was losing control of the situation, and needed his bearings. He hoped that the Jedi and her friend could give him an opportunity.

[Morgan Evanar]

Morgan kept his mouth shut. If they weren't shoved out an airlock, he could tell Serena that he understood why she had kept her being a Jedi secret.

[Serena Laran]

Serena bowed her head under the weight of the confirmation of the deaths of Jedi Knight To'ii and his padawan learner. When she lifted her head her green eyes seemed sharper, though her face was as smooth as glass.

"General, I will be more than compliant with your request. However, I do not know that I have all the answers you seek. I was newly raised to the rank of Jedi Knight, and not privvy to the full knowledge. actions, or reasoning of the Jedi Council." Serena paused, eyes downcast for a moment. "I do know that my trusted clone commander shot me in the shoulder, and then once in the back as I was crawling away."

She slipped her tunic off her shoulder, revealing the scar high on her chest on the right side. "My only answer is this, General. The Jedi did not turn on the Republic. From what I have figured out since returning from exile, Palpatine was a Sith Lord. His second-in-command called himself Darth Vader - a Sith honorific.

"While I was on that planet's surface being hunted by Commander Kata, all of the younglings and padawans were being murdered in the Jedi Temple on Coruscant." Her voice broke, but she brought herself under control again. "Babes in their cribs, who's only crime was that they were Force sensitive."

Serena looked Jaime Tomahawk in the eye and asked, "Tell me General, what did they do to deserve a traitor's execution?"

[Jaime Tomahawk]

"They had children murdered?!? No one would do that, not ones of the Republic, no matter what the Jedi did. No one would be that evil"

She inwardly had to admit it - she knew Jedi didnt lie, the carpet was out from under her. She glanced at Laprovik with a look that read her surprise and sudden beginning switch in the direction of her disgust. And what happened to her was something of a confirmation. She glanced about, found a chair pulled it to her, sat down.

"Lets say that's true however, which I find hard to believe as I never heard anything of that before my crews and I... decided it was wise to be scarse - lets start from the beginning of what you do know, help me understand. And could someone tell me what the kryst a Sith is supposed to be? Anyone else here know anything of this supposed slaugher that can back the Jedi's words?"

[Byl Laprovik]

"I don't know about the Jedi extermination directly, but I've witnessed enough Imperial atrocities to write a novel on."

Byl glanced at Serena and the slicer. He risked compromising himself by getting into personal history, but with enough half-truths, he could probably smokescreen the sensitive details out.

"I was stationed with the Alliance at their temporary command headquarters on Hoth, a little over two years ago. The initial evacuation barely got off the ground, and the support staff and non-essentials got cut off in the fight and were left to find their own way out. I was stuck in the ice caverns a week before I could steal an Imperial transport and escape, but that was enough to see the Imperials deal with the rebels they captured. To save tibanna stock, they removed their winter clothing and sent them topside to let exposure do their work for them. Thats negative forty-two degrees celsius."

Byl's facial expression had turned into something utterly uncomfortable to look at.

"Best example I can think of."

[Morgan Evanar]

Morgan snorted.
"I've been in Star's End. Let's just say parts of it were nicer than what the New Order has let the Corporate Sector do. It gives a damn about itself and will do anything to gain power. I mean, cmon. A Death Star? Rule By Fear? There are no frelling fluffy kittens here. There is a reason my grandparents quit the Diplomatic Corps a year after Palpatine rose to power, and it wasn't because he cut health benefits."

[Serena Laran]

Serena listened to the two men, but her eyes were on the General. "I do not see how you, or anyone, believed Palpatine when he set up the Jedi as enemies of the Republic. We were only a stumbling block to his plan to set up his New Order, and an enemy to all who use the Dark Side of the Force, as Sith lords do. And you have obviously been at odds with the New Order that Supreme Chancellor Palpatine set in place of the Republic.

"Why else are you pirating in Hutt space, General?"

[Jaime Tomahawk]

"We weren't" she had to admit, "We were testing a grav trap. You just had the dumb luck to be in the wrong place at the wrong time"

Frankly she was struggling to keep up. Time to start from the beginning, clearly she was missing a lot here - she put her boots up on a cot, closed her eyes as she did when listening carefully.

"Presume I know little after Palpatine is declared Emperor, until this attack at Endor that caused us to come in closer. And no one's told me what a Sith is yet and why Palpatine was one is important. Start from the beginning"

[Byl Laprovik]

"I don't have time for the history lesson."

Byl stepped toward the door, paused, and turned back to point at Morgan.

"Help me get this sick girl off your boat. Time's wasting."

[Morgan Evanar]

Relief colored Morgan's face. He followed Byl's brisk pace out of the medbay and back into Serenity. Once back into Serena's quarters, he picked Rhianna up.

"It's ok, she's light. I've got her." He told Byl.

"You're gonna be ok, we've got a decent medical facility around." But Rhianna didn't respond as he carried her back to the airlock. He gave her a gentle jostle as he walked quickly.

"Rhianna?" Morgan's concern deepend. "C'mon girl, wake up." He whispered as they crossed through the doors to the medbay.

[Serena Laran]

Serena looked at the General blandly after the men left the room. "Let us not play around, Tomahawk. Are you trying to tell me you have been as out of the loop as I have for the last twenty years?"

[Jaime Tomahawk]

"Yes" she snapped, more than just a touch irritated Laprovik had left without a by your leave. This was her boat and she'll be damned if anyone treated it otherwise. But that was for later.

"Do you really think a General who's got a list of commendations a yard long along with a decorated crew chose to survive like this? We've been on the edge of Unknown Space for 20 years, news of the Core doesnt reach that far except vague rumours if we're lucky. We heard of the Empire in disarray and decided to take a chance and come closer for a bit. Since then we've been trying to catch up but it's all confusion, rumours. Like the one I overheard on Coruscant a few weeks ago... the Empire destroyed a whole planet with a battlestation. It's proving a headache to find fact from fiction"

[Byl Laprovik]

"Down, over here."

Byl supported the girl's ankles as he and Morgan eased her onto one of the exam tables. The rebel could feel the General's harsh eyes on him, but he let it slide. They might both be military, but their relationship to each other was a bit more entrepeneurial than anything else.

Byl looked to Serena, and stepped back from the table.

[Serena Laran]

Serena crossed to Rhianna's side, and placed her hands on her. For a few moments it was blissfully quiet in the medbay, until the General cleared her throat noisily.

She found herself wishing she could have stayed on Rhianna's homeworld. Life alone in the forest had offered her no distractions, and it was hard to sleep with so much noise all around her now. Even on the ship the constant sound of the hyperdrive had kept her awake. And the Smuggler's Moon...!

The Jedi delved with the Force, checking Rhianna as quickly as she dared. Serena closed her eyes, concentrating on finding out if any brain damage had been done when she had so suddenly withdrawn from the girl. The shock seemed to have placed Rhianna into a coma. Her immune system was slowly recovering, but for now she was immobile and still in danger of other infections.

Jaime cleared her throat again, and there was a loud thump as her boots landed on the deck plating. Serena lifted her hands from Rhianna, and turned to face the General. "I had planned to go to Alderaan as my first stop after getting Serenity retrofitted. However, Morgan informed me that there is nothing left of the planet but a large asteroid field."

[Jaime Tomahawk]

A pause as she processed this.

"Alderaan is just an asteroid field? I find that hard to believe. But I was told there were no more Jedi and your here so.... I will be back after I check this story. I hope for your sake it is correct. Continue My Laprovik"

She turned on her heel and marched out the door.

--

She turned up the hall, back up to the bridge. enterign, she noted it was more crowded than usual, with the air of conversations stopped abruptly before she had arrived. There was a great deal of tension in the air.

"Why arent we in hyperspace?" she snapped.

A fair few stares at shoes greeted this. Evidently, the arrival of a Jedi had caused some sloppiness.

"Sir?"

"Yes WHAT?"

"Sir.... what the Jedi said. We looked it up" Listening in obviously.

"And?"

Tam handed over a data card. "Sir, do we have a choice anymore?"

She glanced it over, then stopped, reread it properly. For once her expression changed from anger. "Kryst Atln hatr aewing, I thought that was some sort of nonsense! The Empire actually destroyed Alderaan?!?!? Why??"

"Havent we been asking that question for too long General?"

She didnt answer, deep in thought, still staring at the data pad. At least, not until she had processed some options in her head.

"Set course for the location Iblis gave us. Either load the Jedi's ship on board if it'll fit or get a crew on to fly it. Invite the Jedi and her friend to dinner with us"

Tam was right, Why? had been asked far too many times lately.

[Byl Laprovik]

Byl's eyes moved from Jedi to girl and back.

"Is that it?"

He wanted to believe, but old suspicions died hard and he was still one foot back in the notion that this 'healer' dabbled in krayt dragon oil and nothing more.

[Morgan Evanar]

"Laran, what's wrong with Rhianna? She didn't get shot or hit or cut or drugged. Why's she out?" He said. His expression was somewhat childlike, genuinely sad and confused, and seeming hurt because a friend couldn't play. Morgan was very rarely sick for more than a day, and even then, it was a brief fever before returning to stable and maybe a little tired. In his mind, Rhianna met none of the prerequisites for unconciousness.

[Serena Laran]

"She is in a coma." Serena folded her hands in front of her, and regarded Morgan carefully. "Before the interruption when the ship reverted into real space unexpectedly, I was in a Jedi healing trance. When I withdrew from Rhianna's body so suddenly it shocked her system and left her in this state."

The Jedi turned her attention to Byl as she continued. "Her body is continuing what I began, and healing her of the influenza she contracted on Nar Shadda. However, she is still in danger of picking up other foreign diseases, and I need to get her innoculated as soon as possible.

"I also do not need this interruption of my plans." The last was almost an aside, though she spoke it directly at Byl.

[Jaime Tomahawk]

We'll have the Jedi's ship secure in a moment

"Good, co-ordinates?"

"Coming through now... loaded"

Docking bay closed

The bridge was now a hive of activity, the crew had their orders. The fleet had turned, data and voice traffic flying as all commands were updated to the situation. There was goign to be a hell of a lot of questions to be answered when this jump was over, hopefully she would have the answers by then.

Dock green

"Fleet all green" stated Jacques.

She nodded to continue. "All stations, jump on my mark... now" announced Jacques. The pilot pulled back the hyperdrive levers, the ship shuddered as it's sublights cut out, the hyperdrive whining as it powered up, the lights flickered with the power drain then with a flicker the first ship jumped, all of the others jumping a fraction of a second later. Tomahawk saw the stars begin to streak then a burst as they too jumped. A moment later they had the swirl of whatever hyperspace was, the ship vibrating lightly as it always did.

"I'll be in the workout room" she stated. "Mr Lam, invite our guests to dinner in one hour. I expect all officers to attend as well"

Lam and Jacques exchanged a look as the General left.

[Byl Laprovik]

Byl looked at Serena with a serious expression that seemed to fit like a glove on his face. He didn't know what Tomahawk was up to, but he couldn't trust her to get in line with him, so this had to be done.

"Well like it or not, Jedi, but people like you have reputations. You're lucky the people you've run in with aren't the type to kill you over them, or at least I'm not.

The problem is that its getting crowded here, and there's only room for one plan."

The door opened, and Byl stepped away from Serena.

[Morgan Evanar]

Morgan had heard the sublights wind down for a moment, and the hyperdrive hummed to life. He grabbed hold of one of the examination tables, and then the world inverted for that millisecond of weird. He regarded Rhianna sadly.

“Again will she wake? He asked in Rhianna’s language. He had already figured out many of the words, but was still iffy on much of grammar.

[Serena Laran]

"Roimh i bhfad," Serena replied. "In her own time." She smiled at Morgan, but her expression faded as she looked at the door that led out of the medbay.

"Do you think we are prisoners, or guests?" she asked Byl, as the doors opened and an officer walked in. He cleared his throat before Byl could say anything, and nodded politely at Serena.

"The General wished for me to invite you both," he included Morgan, "to dinner in one hour."

"Where is my ship?" Serena asked mildly.

"We took the liberty of bringing it aboard, ma'am." He made as though to leave, but paused with a look at Byl that Serena couldn't quite figure out. But then, it was obvious that Byl did not normally take orders from the General, if ever. He was not a regular part of this crew, and as such, an outsider and not totally trusted.

"Well," she murmured to Morgan, "That did not really answer my question."

[Jaime Tomahawk]

"Your question, Madam Jedi?" Major Lam asked, who clearly overheard. Very much unlike his General, Lam was well spoken with a accent that spoke of a former upper class life a long time ago and some knowledge in politeness and respect. "If your question is about your ship, then allow me to assure you it is in good hands and you may inspect it yourself if you so wish. If your question as about your welfare, again let me assure you that most of us have a much better memory of our former comrades. I personally regret we meet in this circumstance Madam Jedi. I regard you as guests and so would the crews, honoured ones at that"

He paused.

"If your question is about where we are going, I believe General Tomahawk will make that clear to all of us at dinner. It appears we're heading in the direction of an Alliance base if you wish for my opinion"

[Byl Laprovik]

"What?"

Byl turned to face the General's messenger, a look of suprise on his face. If that were true, the General technically was on the same idea that Byl was, but was severely lacking the kind of subtlety he needed.

"Dropping an unknown fleet on the doorstep of a Rebel base? Thats like sticking your hand down a gordak hole. We're just asking to get bitten."

Which wasn't really the truth. The Rebels would ask questions before they shot nine times out of ten. But what he didn't need was to have Tomahawk and the Rebel brass on a first name basis. It complicated his business.

[Morgan Evanar]

"Aw crud." Morgan didn't want anything to do with galatic politics or movements or anything of the sort. He didn't really know what he wanted, but he knew he didn't want that.

"Cad é seo amaidí?"

[Serena Laran]

"Cinnte." Serena shook her head. The situation was progressing rapidly beyond what she could hope to control. A forced solution was not even a possibility, whatever these people had been told about Jedi Knights.

"I needed to go to Toydaria." Her tone was icy, but not angry. "I trust the General has thought of what my friend and I will be doing in the hour before she requires us to attend a meal?"

[Jaime Tomahawk]

"Whatever the General has in mind Mr Laprovik, I'm sure as per usual it will greatly annoy everyone. Madam Jedi, as much as I am sure your business on Toydaria was important to you, for the short term it's not going to happen and I would request you dont attempt to change matters. And if you want somethign to do, I believe you have a sick passenger..? Our medical bay my be old but it's serviceable. The droid in the cabinet is in need of repair but we are well stocked with what you may need. You may either stay here or if you wish we may escort you to your ship if you are in need of anything"

[Byl Laprovik]

Byl brushed past Lam without so much as a second word, and left the medbay, heading toward the bridge without any sense of subtlety.

He wasn't about to leave the matter with Tomahawk's understudy.

[Serena Laran]

Serena looked down at Rhianna, who was still unconsious. "Unless you have the inoculations given to infants on board, there is little else I can do for Rhianna."

She brushed the girl's curly auburn hair away from her face, and pulled a thin medical blanket up to her chin as she spoke. "We will remain here. You are probably going to get more trouble from the man who just left than you will from us."

[Jaime Tomahawk]

He chose to ignore the leaving Laprovik.

"We may indeed have what you wish for, Madam Jedi. Our trade may indeed be piracy..." He glanced over to the youth, "But there's times when being... shall we say compassionate pays remarkably well"

[Serena Laran]

She hid her disgust at the idea of being compassionate for money, and smiled. "One of your medical droids will probably be able to locate what she needs for me. Unless you were planning on staying and being our guard?"

[Morgan Evanar]

Morgan was already moving Rhianna to one of the droid beds. He didn't know what was going on, or what was going to happen, so he took care of what he did know. While Rhianna was likely to stay unconcious, he would feel more comfortable if she was being monitored.

"So what is the deal? Are we stuck here?" He said.

[Serena Laran]

Serena followed Morgan, laying her hands on the girl's body again and slipping into a Force healing trance once more. She had no more interest in what the mercanaries had to say. In an hour they would meet again with the former General, and things would get interesting.

[Rhianna]

Gach chuir sé cor i mo chinniúint..

Everything has changed. Her small, safe, rustic life had been
supplanted with another. A life full of strange sights and sounds.
Even simple things such as food were alien to her now. Everywhere she looked she saw coimhthíochs. She trusted none of them. Sámh had advised her not to speak around them. Which left her silent most of the time. She understood it was for their own protection, they were being hunted after all.

Now they were even travelling with one of the many coimhthíochs. Rhianna had no idea how Sámh knew that this one could be trusted. She would not give into doubt. The Banfáith had not led her astray, not once, since she had saved Rhianna's life. Morgan.. That was what Sámh had called him. He seemed nice enough. He had even smiled at her upon occasion, which caused her to either smile back or become flustered and look away since she really had no idea what to make of him. Rhianna wasn't sure if she would ever be brave enough to speak to another coimhthíoch, but in any event, she did not have his words.

Along the way, Rhianna had declined into poor health. Embarrassed by her own continual sniffling and sneezing, she had taken to the cabin she was sharing with Sámh and rolled herself in a blanket to go to sleep. Her dreams had been nothing short of bizzare from that point onward. It was as if she couldn't wake, but was somehow aware of things around her. She knew that her illness had worsened and that both Sámh and Morgan were doing everything they could for her. She knew that Sámh was speaking to her through the Abhairt Saoil, urging her to be strong and awaken. She did not understand the words, but she also was aware of Morgan's voice, instinct told her that he too was telling her to wake up. She was aware of the tension in the air, and of the presence of more coimhthíochs. Not knowing if they were safe or not, she struggled from behind layers of dreams to awaken.

At length she gave a sigh, felt her fingers twitch in reaction to the strange surroundings. "Tá sé fuar.." "I'm so cold.." This was the first real sensation she had felt in some time, but it was a welcome one. Dragging her eyes open she spoke the first thing that came to mind.

"Uisce.. inólta..?" "Water.. please?"

[Serena Laran]

Serena's eyes snapped open as Rhianna came awake, and she snapped her fingers to get Morgan's attention away from whatever he was doing. She had lost track of time while in the trance. "Uisce! Water - she is awake."

Gently she pulled the thermal blanket up to her neck and whispered, "Cad é mar atá tú?" How do you feel?

[Jaime Tomahawk]

One hour later.

"Would you care to follow me to the Dining Hall? The General will join you shorty"

[Morgan Evanar]

Morgan's head jerked up from Rhianna. They had been teaching each other the different languages. Morgan had a knack for it, and he wasn't fluent, but was becomming conversational quickly. Her learning Basic was as important as keeping her concious.

He looked at the solider/guard/pirate with a hidden irritation. The words were polite, but the fact was that they had best head for the dining hall.

"I fill, tar ar ais." He said to Rhianna, but looked at Serena. He wanted to get off this ship soon.

[Serena Laran]

"Cinnte, sé tar ar ais." Serena brushed the hair from Rhianna's face. They would be back - she was too weak to leave the infirmary. She looked at the man in the doorway, "Please do not leave her to be attended by droids. She is not comfortable with them."

She and Morgan took their leave of the girl, walking the corridors of the ship until they reached the room they were to dine in. She looked sideways at Morgan, not sure how much of Rhianna's language the man had managed to pick up, but if they wished to speak without being overheard it was their only option. "We will leave as soon as we can. Hopefully this Alliance does not feel the same of Jedi as the General does. Please take care of Rhianna should they decide the bounty on a Jedi is too much to resist."

Their escort stopped them and opened a door. Serena entered first, filled with the Force to keep her spirit calm and her logic steady.

[Byl Laprovik]

(OOC: Let me know if this is kosher, Mark)

IC:

Byl paced about in Tohmahawk's private office, turning back to look at his associate.

"You know, I really could've used a heads up on this. The Alliance has taken a few to the jaw from Imperial reprisals in the past month. What do you think an unannounced fleet is going to do, showing up on their doorstep?"

Byl stepped toward the door to get a last word in before the two left for the dining area.

"We've got to trust each other. We've got too many of the same interests at mind."