New Beginning, Two Paths

[Dante Marzullo]

Coruscant's orbit doesn't exhibit anything out of the ordinary. Civilian and military vessels perform their usual business around the capital planet, once former emperor Palpatine's pride. No sentient creature in the planet or anywhere else could predict the troubling turn of events that a simple mistake in flight coordinates could unleash.

A thunderous noise in the vastness of space is followed by a star destroyer leaping out of hyperspace, bringing flames and flying metal along with it. The sad remnants of what used to be a mighty fleet, hidden from any imperial or rebel eyes, so deep in space that an expedition would be laughable to merely ponder about.

An ear-piercing alarm continues to bother Dante Marzullo who had enough to deal with by dragging his aunt, Lucilla. In the short span of two years, the forgotten Marzullo clan had destroyed itself thanks to his efforts. Some unmentionable and shrewd figures had made great contributions behind the scenes, but the traitorous heir was no manipulated child anymore. Like his father, he stepped over everyone else to achieve his aims.

"Stop it, I'm nothing like you, I'm Jen Katrina's son, you were merely a donor!"

Dante grips his hold on Lucilla's thin arm. The intrusion of Itala's mind inside his own essence of the force is purely unwelcome.

"I must admit, your mother is absolutely cunning, I could have never predicted this." replies Itala, silently and tauntingly.

"Mother is pure of heart, dark as it may be, just witness my era, a new beginning for us."

Dante was only in his early twenties, but already showed to be more formidable than his parents, more cunning, more ruthless.

"Your tampering with genes may have kept your body young, father, but your soul now rots away as it deserves..."

Not much time was left to evacuate the collapsing vessel, his next task would have him dealing with imperials.

How he despises them.

[Lucilla Marzullo]

Two years it really didn't seem like a long time but for Lucilla, it was an eternity. Despite all her losses in such a short time, she never lost her passion for the old ways of the Marzullo bloodline, she'd hoped and fought many battles that one day soon it would be the end, she was wrong, sadly it was only the beginning.

And now, here she was, being dragged away, weaponless and feeling rather weak, but not so weak that her temper wouldn't flare every now and again, agitated that she should be in this predicament. Grimacing at the tight hold that her nephew had put upon her arm, she wanted to pull away, to regain some of the feeling back into her arm.

Her mind raced as she thought about what to do next, and suddenly it halted as her ears picked up Dante's voice, though he was well into the conversation with himself already...it was just himself right? Listening in further, Lucilla's eyes widened slightly, she knew exactly whom Dante was speaking with, but was Itala really speaking back?

Nearly stumbling over herself, she regained her balance lest Dante yank her back up. She wanted so badly to speak to Itala as well, and felt a twinge of jealousy that she could not do so as Dante could.

"Tampering with...genes? What does that...?"

[Erik Centter]

A small explosion within the doomed star destroyer wrecks portions of the ceiling above jedi Erik Centter and his loyal wookie friend; Chitbatuuk. The sudden mess causes him to quickly ignite his blue-bladed lightsaber, making easy work out of the collapsing metal.

Frightened and annoyed, the wookie releases a loud "Aaaarrr!" that startles the Jedi, looking back to make sure they aren't being followed by any surviving crew.

"Chit, it's the right thing to do, I'm not going through this again!"

More falling metal is cut apart by the elegant weapon, showing the Jedi's skills were up to par, even after the disastrous battles he had endured barely days before. Another roar is released from the wookie, this time angrier in tone.

"I don't care that one of them shaved you back then, they need our help. I'm rogue for a reason, people who disagree with the Jedi ideals are not exempt from help!"

This seems to calm the wookie momentarily, both keep their tireless escape to the hangar bay and if things went as planned, they would meet the dastardly Dante when most vulnerable.

"The force is with us, Chit."

[Karl Valten]

It is a rare thing that anything dazzling happens above Imperial Center. Certainly every now and then some imbecile of a pilot crashes into another ship and the chaos of backed-up traffic causes a nightmare for those traveling from surface to space. In rare cases a felon or someone will try to run the gauntlet of the planetary shields or a malfunctioning weather satellite causes a dazzling storm, but those are taken care of rather quickly

But for the most part, life goes on as normal; hundreds of vessels pass each check-point and continue on like clockwork. It’s all highly efficient really in proper Imperial fashion. Not that anyone doesn’t feel like doing something different, it’s just that the sight of Golan Defense Stations bristling with guns and a fleet of warships the size of small cities kind of keeps you in your place.

No one really wants to be turned into space dust, even the unstable criminals and terrorists know better than to try to pull something funny in the heart of the Empire.

Today, however, is not one of those days. It had started as one, but the appearance of a kilometer and a half battlecruiser wreathed in flame materializing in system throws a wrench in the routine.

Red alert klaxons blared on the bridge of the Imperator II Star Destroyer Decisive and Captain Mathew Kale scrambled to deal with the unprecedented situation. A dozen voices rose in chaos.

“Quiet…QUIET.” Eyes cast up at the captain as silence covered the bridge. By the gods he hoped that Admiral Desaria was already on the way. “I want all ships at full battle-ready” Captain Kale tugged nervously at his sleeves. “Comms contact ground control, all traffic in or out is hereby suspended.”

In space the burning craft was steadily drawing nearer in-system. Civillian and trader craft were already scrambling every which way and the guns of the outer defense stations were already locking into position. Utility ships scrambled in the case that the ship be an ally needing assistance.

The Captain moved against the knot in his stomach behind the sensors operator. “Do we have identification her transponders.”

Fingers flew over the console as the tech worked his nervous magic. The results were less than pleasing. “Unknown, Captain, she’s not broadcasting current Imperial codes.”

And the day just got worse, all Imperial vessels constantly had their transponders updated and changed to avoid illegal duplication. Which of course meant that this wasn’t an Imperial ship, not anymore at least.

Kale glanced up at the forward viewport to see other warships moving for an intercept position as the utility vessels suddenly broke off, apparently they’d made the same conclusions as well.

“Tell the fleet to hold fire.” A diagnostics display gave way that the ship was still flying under her own power, but that wouldn’t be lasting too long. The ship even looked as if she were about to fall apart. “I want her tractored to a standstill and a company of Fleet Marines ready for deployment ten minutes ago.”

The day was already fraked to pieces, there’s no way he’d let this slip any farther, not on his watch. Kale stepped up to the command platform, approaching the holonet display. “Open up a channel”

Crossing his hands behind his back and straightening to perfect Imperial precision, the Captain spoke.

“Attention unidentified Star Destroyer, you are in violation of Imperial protocol. You will power down and lower you shields immediately.” Whether or not they could did not matter, the ship would be dead in space anyway. If they didn’t comply, it wouldn’t be difficult to land the marines.

[Dante Marzullo]

Not far from the hangar bay, in the one corridor that wasn't blocked by collapsed metal and burning bodies, Dante continues his escape. He stops when his communication device goes off, receiving what would turn out to be very pleasant news.

"Dante, it looks like the imperials won't fire, they are trying to establish contact, what shall I do?"

Dante already knows the answer, grinning to himself while he makes the best effort to ignore his taunting father's voice.

"Let's pretend to be lucky prisoners who escaped a pirate attack, I don't know, make something up." he responds, turning his attention back to the bridge.

"Alright, Dante, but I'm not sure this is going to work." says the shady figure piloting what is left of the star destroyer, a few other voices can be heard in the background, the remnants of Dante's wretched and treacherous revolution.

"We should split then, and do not use the force. In the past, my spies have told me that force users are not highly regarded in these parts."

For some reason, that causes Dante to grin yet more. More cunning scheming and deceiving were turning the gears that kept his near-insanity in place.

"Power through the force, Dante, we will find you."

Dante yanks his aunt's weakened and fragile arm harder, taunting her with every vile breath. The pieces of his life's climatic turning point were coming together, to start anew through his strength and sour determination.

"Hear that, Lucilla? Power. You will embrace it or perish like the rest."

All said and done, he begins to back track to the bridge, but that wasn't his destination, he had other things in mind, the new choice that the imperials represented would allow him to tie a few loose ends.

[Lucilla Marzullo]

Stealing a glance at Dante, she couldn't help but feel responsible for all of this. She'd regarded all of Itala's children as her own after he perished, she had every intention on looking after them, even if they were of age.

Lucilla growled slightly, her fingertips were growing cold from lack of bloodflow. How badly she wanted to use her free hand to slap the hell out of him, but she kept these thoughts heavily guarded, inaccessable to her nephew.

"Hear that, Lucilla? Power. You will embrace it or perish like the rest."

Suddenly she was being steered back the other way. Fed up, she tries to wrench her arm away from Dante's grip, like she was going to be dragged around like cattle.

"It is 'Aunt Lucilla'. Furthermore, I can walk on my own, Dante." She attempted to straighten herself fully on her own, now noticing that Dante had outgrown her by at least 7 inches, she had almost forgotten that Itala's children were going to be bigger than she would in the future.

Her thoughts then dwelled to Ares and Lucius, were they well? Her own children were missing as well, possibly dead...no...she would know if they were dead, wouldn't she? Yes...yes she would.

"Power will not help you, nephew. Sol's law will bring your downfall, you'll see." It wasn't a threat, far from it, but a reminder to where his teachings first came from, why he'd been taught to follow and respect them.

Reverting back to silence again, she went with Dante back towards the bridge, keeping her emotions and thoughts in check.

[Chitbatuuk]

There wasn't a day when Chitbatuuk wouldn't remember how Erik Centter saved his life, rescuing him after he had failed to protect and save his own family. Pirates of some sort had layed seige on the wookie's remote town, far from the protection that the larger cities offered. His wife and five children had succumbed to the vicious fires that rained from the sky. By the time he had returned from a hunting expedition, they were all dead and he had lost it all.

His spirit shattered and his will to live lacking a reason, the wookie sought to die with his family, waiting for the fires to consume him, but a stubborn Jedi had presented himself at the right place, at the right time.

He had been given a new opportunity, a fresh start to make ammends with his own inner demons, to start a new and to serve a life debt, a sacred law in his native planet of Kashyyk.

A lser blast that hits the wall inches from his face awakens him from the day dream, triggering his reflexes as he turns around and aims his crossbow, nailing the sneaky soldier in the middle of the forehead.

"Aaaarrr!" he roars, pointing to the direction of their destination, the hangar bay was completely sealed off by enormous chunks of metal, they would have to go all around with barely enough time.

He would be with the human until the very end.

[Erik Centter]

"You're right, it would take me hours to burn my way through all that metal." says the rogue force weilder, scratching his bearded chin in thought. The wookie was right indeed, but if they went around to the other exit to the hangar, they would have to meet with Dante and his minions once again, for a bloody encore. He had managed to take the lives of two Marzullos loyal to Dante and lived to tell the tale, but surely would perish if they were to cross paths again.

"This could be dangerous, Chit, are you sure you want to come with me?" he asks, patting the tall wooki on his shoulder, for which he has to tip toe, giving the hairy oaf the gift of a rare smile. His duties always demanded that he stay focused, serious, aware of his surroundings.

The wookie seems to release what could be considered a laugh, moving his head side to side, like he considers the very thought of leaving his human counterpart to be a joke.

"Thank you, Chit."

The moment he had shared with his good friend seems to fill his heart and spirit with renewed energy and vast amounts of motivation. Suddenly, the thought of finishing off the ruthless splinter clan didn't seem all that impossible.

"Just watch my back."

They begin to run back, fully expecting a confrontation, but keeping minimal hope that the next day they would be alive to laugh about such messy situations.

[Hartus Kenobi]

* * *


It was getting worse. The pain.

Hartus sat silently in his customized Y-Fighter, The Catch-22, as he studied the bustling city below his landing platform intently. He tried telling himself that the precaution was necessary to avoid any "unwanted attention," although anyone else would have been satisfied long before that he had neither been noticed nor followed. The truth was, Hartus knew, that he simply dreaded leaving his fighter because it meant he would have to once again imprison himself in his armor.

Not too long ago, the discomfort was almost unnoticeable. Now, it was barely tolerable even within the medical armor he had designed to slow the deterioration of his body. The armor itself was a magnificent technologial achievement, one that would not have been possible merely 20 years before. Indeed, the spread of the disease plaguing the former Jedi's body ever since he was released from the corrupted carbonite had all but stopped.

But it did nothing for the pain.

"Tee-Three. Wake up. I need you to watch the ship." Although the short white-and-green unit didn't respond, Hartus knew that it had heard him perfectly. "Just do it, okay?" So far, he was not getting along with his droid at all.

He didn't wait this time for a reply (indeed nor did he get one) before his hands gripped the dreary, gray helmet that hung on the roof before him. He brought it to eye level and looked at it for a few moments before he placed it on top of his head. Secured, he opened the latch and began to climb down.

He grimaced underneath his helmet as his legs extended down towards each rung of the ladder, already dangerously short of breath. Hartus knew that there was only one way to effectively ease the pain: by surrendering himself to the Force and allow the Jedi meditative techniques to help block it from his mind. But he had given up the Force a long, long time ago. Or, as Hart believed, when the Force had given up on him.

Releasing his hold on the ladder he had just descended from, the armored figure attempted a single step before his legs collapsed from underneath him, the his body crashing to the platform floor.

And so he gave in. Hesitantly, for only the second time since the young Kenobi was reanimated, the former Jedi reached out to the Force, allowing it to wash over his body until he noticed......

In an instant, his eyes flew open and his mind reeled as he snapped out from his meditative state, quickly cutting himself off the connection.

He should not have come to Coruscant.


* * *

[Karl Valten]

Half a dozen heavy cruisers closed in around the writing destroyer, the large ship seemed to lurch in space as multiple tractor beams grabbed hold of the behemoth cruiser. Yet the flaming ship yet drifted on, ever more slowly as the anchors tugged with all their might.

On the bridge of the Decisive Captain Kale’s intense gaze focused on the rogue vessel. “Still no reply?” A shake of the head was all the comms officer needed to give. Gears ground and churned in Mattew Kale’s head. By the time the destroyer came to a complete stop, it’d be within the first ring of defense platforms. The captain’s fists clenched, he’d given the wretches more than enough time.

“Ion cannons are free to fire.” Kale moved to the front of the viewport as azure beams of energy already began lancing out at the rogue. “I want that ship dead in space. Marines stand by for boarding.”

Streaks of electricity laced the destroyer’s hull as consoles and power conduits overloaded. On board, computer consoles and vital systems began erupting into flame.




Lieutenant Higgens looked on in annoyance from the safety of a Golan defense station. The damn naval officers had some nerve shutting down all traffic; they were almost as jumpy as those Inquisitorial bastards. This was the fraking capitol of the galaxy, even an hours delay would set everything back a week.

“You heard the man.” Higgens turned away from the scene in digust, might as well continue the all the duties short of landing ships. His crew was in for a nightmare with all the ships that would be flooding in.

“Attention all in bound craft, Imperial Center is currently under lockdown. All ships will be assigned a docking platform for customs and inspection.”




Marine CG-4778 stood at his place at the boarding ramp, waiting in anticipation for the assault shuttle’s lasers to cut through the destroyer’s hull. Around him other marines fitted held their E-11 blasters at the ready.

“Alright ladies and gentlemen, the captain wants us to do this by the books.” CG-4778 motioned to the three squads aboard. “Alpha squad will head for the bride and Beta squad for engineering. I’ll take the rest on round up.”

A dull thunk reverberated through the shuttle as a heavy piece of bulk head fell loose in the corridor below. “Detain and arrest unless fired upon. Move out.”

An hiss escaped the airlock as the boarding tube pressurized. Above the hatch, a light flashed from red to green and the marines dropped into the ship. About the ship, other shuttles began disgorging their troops as well.

[Hartus Kenobi]

* * *


Two illuminated figures (one of which, Hartus felt, strong in the Force) ran desperately from what appeared to be... a dark mist? Wait... there is a third. Another Force-user. A darker figure that fled... with them? But from who? From what? There was little time to wonder, as the dark mist quickly surrounded the three figures, and descended upon them. All that remained was the darkness. The light had been snuffed out.


"You must help them Hartus. Do not be afraid."


* * *


Kenobi awoke with a start, drenched in sweat. He was still in his armor, lying flat on his back atop his landing platform. He winced, wondering to himself whether he will ever forget just how much in pain being awake was... wondering if he would ever get used to it.


The eerily familiar voice from his dream. His vision. Who did it belong to? Since Hartus' reanimation, he had heard rumors of a few Jedi Masters learning how to communicate through the Force even after death. Whether this was true or not, the ex-Jedi knew not, but so many things had changed since his days as a Jedi Knight, that he learned to be extremely gullible in matters such as these.


Perhaps it was his old master, Ku Hwai-Ting. No, he shook his head. Master Ku never called him "Hartus." It was definitely not Master Yoda (famous for his wisdom even back when Hartus was a youngling), whose voice was all too easily distinguishable. The voice... why could he not remember? No.... It must've just been a dream, Hartus told himself. It meant nothing.


But then why was the hair on the back of his neck sticking up?


Another burst of pain brought him back to the present. Alone. At first Kenobi considered calling out for help, but knew better than to waste his breath. No one was around. Not even maintenence droids. He had made sure of it by paying off the dock workers substantially to guarantee his "privacy." He was likely to be laying here for days unless someone came to help. And calling to the Force was, in Hart's opinion, no longer an option.


"Hey. Tee-three?" His astromech droid, again, didn't answer. "Little help here?"


Silence.


"Wow, you are so getting your memory wiped, it's not even funny."


* * *

[Dante Marzullo]

"Whoa."

Dante is slightly rocked against the metal corridor wall, nearly losing his grip on Lucilla in the process. He squeezes a lot harder, purposedly to inflict some pain upon the already humiliated Marzullo woman. Another sinister smile to add to the collection, Dante looks up and about as he hears the clunks and hums that the uninvited guests were causing.

"They are boarding the ship faster than I anticipated."

He looks on, for the moment not spotting any imperial soldiers and begins to wonder if revealing his true person would be a wise idea or not. The lights flicker quickly and then go off, but a new set of emergency lights come on from what may be an alternate power source. They had been hit by ion blasts.

"You better keep your mouth shut, or else we may be killed, our family hasn't been hiding all these thousands of years for nothing."

His lightsaber safely tucked in his belt, Dante releases a chuckle as he finds himself feeling the presence of a miserable intruder, a bug that managed to escape when he was about to be all but squashed.

"We're not going to the bridge, my dear aunt, we're going to the trash release chutes, good old uncle Lars had designed this in case of situations like these."

Dante begins to violently yank the older relative with a total lack of respect, nearly running as he knows time is a huge luxury, something he would have to control with upmost efficiency for his plans to come to become a reality.

[Erik Centter]

The sudden clash of metal catches the human and wookie by complete surprise, throwing them forward like diving champions. The Jedi finds himself immediately using his force powers to slow down as he rolls forward when making contact against the shaking floor, extending his right arm as his palm opens, controlling Chitbatuuk's drop rate for a very pleasant landing.

Erik shakes the dust off his robes, groaning in frustration as various clunks echo accross the corridors and the lights begin to die, one by one. A great disturbance in the force suddenly engulfs him, growing slightly agitated while contemplating his very few options.

"Chit, just try and get a clear shot in the head, save me the bloody duel."

Erik slowly steps out of the way as the wookie takes aim to the direction of darkness, the end of the corridor had turned pitch black and the Jedi would not ignite his saber just yet. He wouldn't want to alarm or warn his enemy.

"NOW! SHOOT!!"

[Krishna Marzullo]

Krishna was running down the corridor, trying her best to catch up with Erik and Chitbatuuk who got a head start on her by just a little bit. The pack she was carring was starting to annoy her with the bouncing on her back with every step she took, she did her best to ignore it and continue making her way towards her goal.

She didn't allow herself time to think about why she was even in the current situation at hand. Thinking caused too much mental pain, that she didn't have the where with all to deal with. Thinking also reminded her just as to why she was even trying to catch up with Erik. Even if it was a short time or not, she didn't necessarly have to like or really agree to the whole alliance with Erik. But she was willing to set aside what she thought as long as she could get her cousin back safely. The whole thing was created just to get Lucillia back in the first place, and even though it was a rather uneasy alliance between Ares' side and Erik, it was still better than nothing. But she still didn't have to like it.

After a while she felt something, or rather someone, in the Force, just up ahead of her. She unclipped her lightsaber, but didn't ignite it, in hopes that it was Erik. She slowed down her run to a light jog, hoping that she wasn't about to run right in to disaster.

Hearing someone yell "NOW! SHOOT!" didn't make things look like they where going to go in her favor. Cursing silently she quickly moves out of the way of the incoming blasts.

It took her a few seconds afterwards for her to realize just who yelled. Taking a deep breath to calm her already fried temper she yelled back.

"If any one of your shots hits me, I can just about asure you that the alliance is over!"

[Lucilla Marzullo]

Lucilla closed her eyes, biting back a small cry of pain as both she and Dante were rocked. She almost tried to pull away at that second, but she felt her shoulder becoming dangerously taught in it's socket and thought better of it. A dislocated shoulder was only going to make matters harder, not to mention more painful, for her.

Again she thought about it as the lights went out, wanting to pull away as hard as she could and running for it, this was not the situation she wanted to be in much longer. She could feel her fingertips were frozen now, due to her circulation being cut off for so long, it was uncomfortable, and she did not like to feel loss of limb.

"You better keep your mouth shut, or else we may be killed, our family hasn't been hiding all these thousands of years for nothing."

Lucilla growled slightly at this, she was very close to losing her temper, her body shaking slightly in anger, "Don't be stupid, nephew. I know not to reveal our family to anyone. Unlike you, I do not wish to endanger others in the family." Indeed, to her, she was being stupid, and cowardly, to take someone hostage and run. It just proved to her that he could not fight his own battles with honor.

Her eyes flickered around for just a moment, she felt it, as Dante had. They were not alone, though she wasn't sure herself whether it was a friend of hers, or a foe. Her eyes looked at Dante's face, seeing the smirk held there, and for her, that may have meant that it was going badly.

"We're not going to the bridge, my dear aunt, we're going to the trash release chutes, good old uncle Lars had designed this in case of situations like these."

Trash release chutes. Oh wonderful! Could this day get any better? Biting back another gasp of pain as Dante began to pull her, she moved faster with him to help ease the pain from the bruises he was leaving. They were off and running again...he was running away...when had Dante become such a coward? Keeping her thoughts heavily guarded, she followed, wishing that she was still at home with her family during their more peaceful times.

[Hartus Kenobi]

* * *


By now, a half dozen birds had congregated and perched themselves atop Hartus' motionless body, their chirping and pecking drowned out only by Tee-Three's melodic boops and tweeps of laughter.

This is what I get for asking for my platform to not be disturbed, he thought to himself. Not even any repellant droids to chase these things out of here.

He strained his neck inside his helmet to peer at one of the creatures climbing on his chest, his beak attempting to burrow into the chestplate. "Armor, pull up file. I want to know what this thing is..."

The eye lens of his helmet darkened slightly into a screen, which read:

Tsarnak (pronounced Sar-Nok)
Avian species native to Coruscant
Habitat: Densely populated areas
Size: Grows to as large as .5 standard meters tall
General Information: The tsarnak is drawn to large cities on Coruscant
due to it's diet, which consists primarily of machinery and the wiring
within. The....

Please voice command for the rest of the description:

Machinery and wiring? "Armor, what's my battery status?"

Twenty-four percent. In was at 100% just an hour ago.

Hartus took a deep breath. So that's what these tsarnaks are doing. They taking my armor apart. Thankfully they haven't grown to full size, or else they might've already killed me. "Armor, divert in some of my back-up power. I just want to give them a light electric shock to scare them off. Shock.... now."

He smiled in relief as the electric current that ran throughout his armor caused the birds to jump up in surprise and sqawk loudly. Things weren't going to be so bad after all. Now he just had to.....

His smiled slowly dissolved from his face when he realized that the tsarnaks were not sqawking in pain. They were excited. And were they... bigger? "Uh, Armor? Let me see the rest of that file.


tsarnak feed off of the electrical currents, which will help them to
grow in size and strength. They must periodically "recharge" or
else they will return to their adolescent size.

End.

Smart move, Hartus. The ruckus the birds were making must've been a homing beacon of sorts, because the number of birds had suddenly tripled. Unless I figure something out, I'm dead.

The battery was at five percent.

Now more than two dozen tsarnaks - joined now as well by about a dozen of another bird species that appeared just as menacing - circled above, eyeing him. As if on cue, they all began to swoop down, diving towards Hartus' body.

SMACK! A loud thud. And then another. And another. Soon, it was a chorus as each of the birds hit up against what seemed to be... an invisible wall.

Hartus' right hand was raised, his eyes furiously dedicated to the concentration involved in creating such a tall and wide Force wall between himself and the birds. Tee-Three had stopped laughing. "Today isn't the day that I die," he whispered to himself.

The voice he had heard before echoed in his head. Do not be afraid.

Hart rose, using the Force to help control the pain and his muscles. With another sweeping gesture with his right hand the Force wall was drawn back, and all the birds suspended in the sky began to fall down onto the platform in a daze.

Do not be afraid. Fear is of the dark side.
But what else had the voice said? You must help them, Hartus.

"Help who?!" Hartus bellowed aloud. "Hello?! Who are you?"

Once again, he heard nothing other than silence, but by now, the flood gates had opened, and Hartus, once again, was an instrument of the Force. He closed his eyes and allowed the Force to show him the way. Dark Jedi. Over a dozen of them. Were they Sith? He erased the many questions from his head when he felt, faintly among all the dark energy, a fellow light user. And things were not going well.

His eyes opened. From the cockpit of the Catch, his lightsaber flew out from a hidden compartment into his awaiting left gauntlet, after which he clipped it onto his armor. He spoke to the Force. This doesn't mean things are all right between you and me. Not by a long shot. He would have to recharge first, but he would be quick. He knew he will be needed somewhere soon.


* * *

[Zoe Marzullo]

Azure eyes narrowed as dainty hands wiped away the pooling swirls of crimson, flesh twitching and burning beneath the touch. Saltwater threatened to expose the maternal, inner workings of the young Marzullo. Zoe's world was being torn apart. Her brith was stained by the death of her father and now her mother's life weighed in the balance. Fiera had been a crucial role model for her and now with the elder Marzullo's life slipping away, the young woman was deathly lost. If it had not been for the selfish dealings of Itala and that reject of a clone, Ithella, then her mother would be fighting be her side.

"I will have my bloody revenge!"

Coddling Fiera close against her chest, Zoe's eyes drew closed as she silently damned any traces of fallen tears. She was becoming vulnerable, a sign of weakness she had long loathed in anyone. She could hear her mother's voice within her head, soothing her pain and in the same token tearing her apart for showing weakness. Though her views and belifs wavered than that of many of her relatives, Zoe had admired them and held their presence dear to her though it silently showed. It hadn't been enough that the powers-that-be had denied her the resurrection of her deceased father, but to divide she and her brother, to destroy the family and the life she had grown to hold so dear, but to now take the one person away that loved her unconditionally.

A growl forged deep within her throat as the tears began to flow, the blood staining her clothing. Blue eyes flickered between movements of closing and halfway opening, Fiera gasping as her breaths become faint, barely audible. Zoe's heart became full of dread and fear as she felt her mother's life force slipping from this world. She hated them all - the ones who doubted Fiera and mocked her, the ones that never saw her more than how she appeared.

"Mother, don't leave me. I need you..."

[Radda Manthys]

A massive, imposing figure stands seven feet tall in the middle of the star destroyer's bridge, not much time had passed after the last orders were given. The Coruscant orbit's busy dealings had come to a halt after the doings of the alarmed imperial fleet.

Arms crossed and deep in scheming thought, momentarily hidden by a passing ship's shade, Radda Manthys turns around and takes a few steps to be near the wounded Fiera and her daughter.

"Hmph."

The imposing figure of the mysterious Sith presence had done a great job of earning his reputation, helping with the deaths of nearly a dozen of Zoe's own family, making the entire situation even more akward. The shadow was gone now, revealing his thick yet light violet crimson armor. He could easily pass as some type of demon in most cultures around the galaxy. That's just how he liked it.

Dealing udnerground for the better part of his life, Radda had plenty to do with Itala's turn to the dark side, only to be betrayed by his young prospect, nearly losing his life in the process.

"She's a burden, leave her."

Such cold words made no difference to the dark warrior, very aware that the young woman's response would not be friendly, or polite. His sight takes focus on the rest of the group, waiting for a signal from their new leader, the one who would refresh and revolutionize the family ideas.

"We must go now, Dante expects us to find him."

[Erik Centter]

Erik regains his composure, getting back to his feet while fighting the sudden urge to laugh, but the hairy oaf a couple of feet from him made no such effort, scoffing in amusement as most wookies do.

"You have my apologies, lady Marzullo, but you must understand that paranoia can be highly useful when trapped inside an enemy destroyer."

Merely excuses, he knew she would be following and was trying to lose her, he didn't think he would need a clumsy medic, what he needed were fighters. Now those are far better allies, he thought.

Chitbatuuk releases a loud roar, activating the Jedi's reflexes instantly, spotting a door with spitting sparkles around its frame. There was no doubt, imperial storm troopers were only moments from breaking through and a sudden change of plan had come to life within his focused mind.

The wookie points to a waste chute, nodding his head in approval. Due to the unfortunate turn of events, Erik had now begun to ponder the possibility that he may not be able to help Lucilla within the ship, but hope was not lost.

The only problem was...a waste disposal chute. The one true defect of the jedi, beard or not, is an intense loathing of germs to make contact with anything close to filthy, which didn't make the lfie of his wookie friend any easier. Centter forced the marginalized walking carpet to bathe every single day.

"It's not an option, Chitbatuuk, I am NOT going there."

Another loud roar from the wookie returns the attention to the door that is about to be broken through. Suddenly, an overwhelming push from behind catches Erik by complete surprise, finding himself sliding down the waste chute.

"Chiiiiiiiiiiiit!!"

[Tidus Marzullo]

Tidus' eyes had been staring out at the blur of hyperspace for the whole journey on the bridge, and even now, they still observed the ongoings outside the battered Star Destroyer. A blood red trench coat hung on the youth, covering simple black clothing, lightsaber clipped to his hip. He watched the bustle of civilian transports, the defense systems coming online. In his head, he could imagine them all being shot down as they tried to flee the planet. How he'd love to see that.

But still, he couldn't bring himself to look at the dying Fiera Marzullo. It must have been the whole family thing. His cold stare could look undistracted upon the deaths of unknowns and enemies. Although Dante had convinced him that family shouldn't necessarily be as Sol had instructed, family was still family.

"We must go now, Dante expects us to find him."

For the first time since he'd boarded, Tidus turned away from the scenes outside, turning his attentions to the towering mass that was Radda Manthys. Tidus said nothing. He was a youth of little words...usually. People could usually tell what he was thinking by the flash of his eyes or the action he took. He tore himself away from the spot he'd been glued to until now, making his way across the bridge towards Radda. Still, he couldn't cast a glance towards Fiera. Stopping about 10 feet from Radda, he waited for the armoured man to lead them off. Tidus had no idea where Dante would be.

[Lucius Marzullo]

As Radda Manthys marshaled those remaining on the bridge, Lucius Marzullo afforded the dead and dying one last glance. The sight of Zoe, cradling her mother in trembling arms, struck a note of compassion and empathy within him – however fleeting. Life had hardened his heart against such sentimentality, and yet still it would manage to creep up on him now and then, reminding him of the humanity that he and so many of his brethren had forsaken.

While the last vestiges of Fiera's life-force trickled away, Lucius looked on with a furrowed brow.

If a new era was to begin, it was only fitting that it should begin in blood and fire; a baptism fitting of what was to come.

“We have already tarried too long... End it now, cousin. You only prolong her suffering by delaying the inevitable,” he said, moving with martial stalk towards Manthys.

[Ares Marzullo]

All the way in the opposite side of the universe, a tired, hurt and morally devastated man lays on a medical bed, attended by a nurse droid within the confines of his personal star destroyer, the "Purifier". A terrible battle had just ensued before being confined within the depressing realm of incapability and resignation.

"We had him."

Ares Marzullo, twin brother of Dante, younger by a few minutes and the less regarded by his own father laments the colossal failure that he had to live with for the rest of his life.

"We had him and we let him go."

To think that only two years before the family was vast and powerful, a meaningless power given that nobody knew about it, but he liked it that way, by themselves, without foreign influences or inferior creatures soiling their traditions.

Very few of Itala's generation lived, many were missing and the new flower of their bloodline had been divided by the work of his treacherous brother, one he could never forgive.

"I let him go, I couldn't kill him."

The nurse droid is finished and orders Ares to rest for a few hours, he would have plenty to think about during that time, a few of those still loyal to Sol's ways remain outside the room, a couple remain inside after supervising the operation.

"Now he has aunt Lucilla and will surely regain his strength."

The battle for the remnants of the Marzullo fleet had done nothing but destroy it all, something that enemies could never do. Now only left with a destroyer of his own, a foolish decision to capture his brother instead of finishing off the enemy vessel may have ended up costing those few loyal to Sol and Itala everything.

"Those who boarded Dante's ship to go after him might never return."

The unknown regions planet of Albion had been rendered lifeless by the exploits of his brother and his own, now they drifted around what used to be an orbit that showcased the might of his family.

"Has the trace been completed yet?"

[Selene Marzullo]

Blood. The scent of it almost overpowered her. It reminded her of the old rusty ships in the hangar bay back at home, or worse, a dungeon which echoed with the tortured screams of a man who she was told was her Father. There had been blood then too. But that had been right. Her Grandfather, Itala, who was her real Father, had told her so. The man had hurt her family and had paid the price. But this…this wasn’t right. There was no Father here to say so this time but she was sure of it.

Aunt Fiera… Father…

Her thoughts had led her to exactly the place she didn’t want to go.

Gone….gone gone gone. He’s gone.

Suddenly she couldn’t breath, her head swam and her surroundings started to fade to black. She hadn’t believed it. Even when she’d felt His force presence disappear. It just wasn’t possible that He could die. Yet here she was, on board a ship that was falling apart around them, quickly learning how much she could hate someone. The flash of sudden rage jolted her enough that she drew in a sharp breath. Any faintness she had been fealing disappeared and she was left with her anger and her sense of loss. She almost wished she had blacked out.

No. Don’t think that. Father would be sure to see that as weak. I must not be weak.

Weakness wasn’t as option. She had to be brave. She had to get back to Ares. But, first she had to hurt Dante like he had hurt her and Father. She wanted him to really hurt. Hurt like Father had hurt the other man.

“We must go now, Dante expects us to find him.”

The voice broke into her thoughts disturbing her evolving sadistic fantasies. Leave? But Aunt Fiera. They couldn’t leave her. Family above all else. That had been drilled into her since birth.

Radda made a curt gesture in her direction.

"Tidus, take this insurance brat with you”

As Tidus took her hand she looked back at the dying Fiera surrounded by the fast expanding puddle of blood and a feeling of desperation filled her. Is that how her Father had looked when Dante killed him? How she hated the sight of her family’s blood.

[Alexander Marzullo]

Alexander Marzullo considered himself the apex of his generation. He exceeded in his studies of nearly all his subjects and kept himself in a state of constant physical fitness. When the chance came to board the Traitor's ship, he literally jumped at it. So eager and so confident was he that he didn't once think that the Traitor's minions could possibly be stronger than he.

Sitting in the middle of a dark room, a shallow gash on his right arm. He had lost a battle but still ended up the victor when the ship lurched into hyperspace and a loose pole impaled his attacker. Unfortunately, the sector's power regulator had given at that point, dropping the whole part of the deck into spasms of light and darkness. He would have to stretch out with his combat senses aided a little by what of the Force he could stably control to be able to make his way to the bridge. The Traitor had to be found and the Traitor had to be killed. Alexander just wished his master was with him...just in case. Unfortunately, the two had been in seperate places when they boarded and had not had the good fortune to run into each other yet.

[Dante Marzullo]

Dante comes to an immediate halt the minute he begins sensing a force presence near, a force he was familiar with but not the same one he had felt earlier. A lot of overconfidence is what he feels, something he may be able to use to his advantage, he takes the first few steps into the dark room between the corridor he's presently in and the next.

Click, he cuffs Lucilla's hand to a pipe to check the presence before jumping into a situation that may cost him his hostage, but the latest step finds his foot on top of a body. The room suddenly becomes much lighter as he turns on his crimson lightsaber, scanning around the body to see if it was someone he knew.

"Argos?!" he yells to himself, his mouth opens wide in shock as he sees the thick pole that had impaled him.

"How did you let yourself be killed by a blasted pole, uncle?" he thinks, almost smiling in amusement as he searches the dead man's utility belt, finding a few items of use such as a thermal detonator and assorted blades. Scarce in weapons, these would surely be useful he thinks.

"I bid you farewell, Argos." he mockingly speaks, as if someone was listening.

Suddenly, his lightsaber is spun for half a revolution as he backflips towards the middle of the room, looking to end what would have been yet another battle with a quick strike.

[Alexia Marzullo]

Waiting was never one of Alexia's strong points. Growing up with Alexander never allowed for it. He was always on the move, whether in study or training and if Alexia wanted to keep up, there would be no waiting. But, this was a wait worth while. Alexia was pacing out side of Ares' room. She wanted to know how her cousin was doing, she desperately wanted to be in the room with him.
Ares was everything to the family now, now that Itala was gone. Alexia sighed, Itala was gone. It was still something that was hard for her to believe. And by the hand of his own son, Dante, she thought with growing hatred. Alexia stopped herself before she allowed her emotions to run away from her. She must remain in control of them, if she didn't then all her teachings and trainings would be for nothing. She would never let that happen.
Her thoughts quickly went to her brother, she knew that he was alive, she felt it. Being twins allowed for a stronger link in the force than she assumed most people her age had. She urgently wished she could have gone with him after Dante, but by the wish of Ares, she stayed behind. There would be no fighting for her, not in the near future at least. She was to remain safe and fertile. She was supposed to carry on the family name. But, she knew that she could be a great deal of help to the family. She was a skilled fighter, thanks to her built in training partner. Alexander and Alexia were great as a team, they knew how each other fought and used it to their advantage, they were undefeated as a team within the family. Alexia smiled for a moment, but it soon faded. She was sure that there would be no more family sparring tournaments. She did not even know when her next lesson with her Master would be. Alexia sighed, everything was changing. She hated it, she was young, selfish and wanted everything to remain that same. But, she could not do a thing about it.

[Alexander Marzullo]

Waiting was never one of Alexander's strong points. So when it came time to take on the Traitor who had just happen to walk into the section of ship he was in, it was very hard to wait a few moments in the shadows. Of course, as the Traitor turned on his blade, there was no more chance of hiding. As the Traitor backflipped, turned and slashed towards him, Alexander just barely missed being disembowled. He countered with a downward slash of his own.

[Dante Marzullo]

Dante lands on one knee as he barely misses a quick kill, nearly cracking his teeth in anger. Quickly, he raises his lightsaber to stop the counter attack, causing a bright flash in the dark room as he gets back on both feet. The lightsabers still clashing, testing the physical strength of the two; illuminate their faces to a grim crimson tone.

"So it is you Alexander."

Dante is already about to execute his next move before his enemy replies, causing numerous sharp objects around the room to begin dancing to his tune.

"It's not too late to join my revolution, free drinks all night."

The objects rattle violently, just a mere force thought away from turning into deadly projectiles.

[Alexander Marzullo]

"Anyone who betrays the family deserves nothing less than death a thousand times over."

For a moment, Alexander was afraid. He could feel the Force emmanating from the Traitor and resonating within several objects around the room. But then Alexander's over-developed sense of duty to the family kicked in and he forgot all about his fear as it turned to white-hot anger. With a burst of speed born from his own trained muscles, Alexander attempted a fencing technique designed to drive the opponent to the defensive, thus giving himself the upper hand.

"I humbly decline you more than gracious offer. However, if you'd like to offer your head in surrender now, I'll gladly accept."

[Dante Marzullo]

Dante curls the side of his lip, almost as if feeling proud that someone with far less training than himself could push him to the defensive this easily. Dante is not one to be invulnerable to overconfidence, but within his generation he knows few can match him.

Merely within a few seconds, Dante grunts in fury by the power of the dark side, using a quick surge of strength to lower both entangled lightsabers, the metal floor quickly turns red hot as he frees his left arm. The palm opens, releasing a brutal force push while the sharp objects behind Alexander fly to find a home within his flesh.

"Refuse me and die!"

[Alexander Marzullo]

Alexander screamed as his body was pierced with several sharp objects. The force of their impact threw him back, his lightsaber falling out of his hand and switching itself off without the pressure of his hand. It clattered to the floor a moment after Alexander himself hit the floor. Prone, the anger caused by the pain burned even hotter.

I cannot lose to this Traitor! I am a loyal member of the family and he...he's just trash!

Alexander lifted himself off the floor causing more pain and more blood. He pulled the two largest and most obstructing pieces of metal out and called upon the Force to draw his lightsaber back into his grip, it's silver blade igniting as soon as it was in his hand.

"I'm not done yet you bastard."

[Krishna Marzullo]

"Apologies my foot," Krishna muttered under her breath. She knew better than to even attempt to start a fight at this moment. Some things where best left for another time.

She stood off to the side silently watching Erik and his companion argue about going down the garbage chut, and then just about laughed outloud as she watch Chit push the other down.

"That just about made my day," said Krish as she follows Erik down the chut, landing in some rather foul smelling water.

[Dante Marzullo]

More pieces of sharp metal and glass from the destroyed lights fly about around the room. Dante's eyes turn an inhumane yellow as he takes slow steps towards the stubborn and defiant Alexander.

"Is it fate that you lose."

Dante holds his crimson lightsaber in front of him, narrowing his eyes in deep focus and pleasure. He had killed before, he had tasted victory through the blood of family and strangers alike, this would make him feel better about his failure to defeat his twin brother just hours before.

"It is fate that I rule the galaxy!"

Dante uses another rush of the force to shoot the sharp objects towards the top of Alexander's head, while also rushing to stab his heart with the burning laser sword.

"Say hello to my father for me!"

[Marcus Marzullo]

The flying, deadly projectiles shot by Dante's powers are frozen in midair, dropping like flies the moment Dante's body finds itself suspended a few inches off the floor. The last surviving elder of the old Marzullo clan grips the neck of the usurper, causing Dante to drop his lightsaber as he looks into his eyes with all the hate of the fallen brothers and sister.

"I was thinking that you could tell your father in person, you miserable, decandent, traitorous slime!"

Not a second passes when Marcus releases the cracking neck of the rightful Marzullo heir, unleashing a powerful force push with both hands wide open, sending his body crashing through a few layers of thin metal, denting the wall all the way to the other side of the room with Dante's back.

Marcus turns his attention to young Alexander, patting his shoulder in pride and lament. Pride that he had the heart to fight someone superior, lament because he clearly was not ready and far too cocky, even for his age.

"Oh, would Hannibal and Atlas have loved to see this parasite crawl on his hands and knees."

Marcus felt enough confidence with his own power to take slow steps towards the devastated Dante, igniting his own lightsaber in the process with the obvious intent to finish the job.

"It's time we end this, once and for all."

[Radda Manthys]

A disturbance in the force begins to make the imposing Radda uncomfortable, looking around the room's ceiling as if ghosts were flying about. Clearly, he feels something is going wrong, he returns his attention to Fiera and Zoe, also issuing his next orders:

"Stay with her if you want Zoe, but we must go."

He turns to the awaiting Lucius.

"Lucius, I will need you to stay and answer the imperials, even if they are already boarding. Make something up that would make them drop their guard."

Radda's cape flies behind him as he begins making his way out of the bridge and to the secret escape chutes within the trash deposits, but not before providing the endangered Dante some much needed help.

"Everyone else, let's go!"

[Fieron Marzullo]

Fancy that my own sibling is a disgusting, worthless....

In general, Fieron Marzullo had a unnerving calm about him. The kind that, if he were smiling, you would wonder what he was up to. This one never stopped thinking, his mind a torrent, a whirlwind of constant considerations and fierce loyalties to the family ways. In nearly the spitting image of his predecessors, the young man had virtually zero tolerance for anything that sat outside the precedents set by those very elders. That included his own sister, and the traitorous band she had put herself in step with.

They will all meet an excrutiating end soon enough. He thought.

As for Fieron, he followed Ares, who was determined to retain the old ways of the Marzullo clan. The boy knew there were many bloody battles to come, as there had been many that had already passed, and he would be there for it all. He knew all too well that he would taste his share.

"Has the trace been completed yet?"

This was the voice of Ares. Just as Fieron entered the room that contained the man [whom he considered to be an older brother] to deliver that very news, it was being requested. What perfect timing. The younger approached the bed upon which Ares was laid, placing one strong hand on the man's shoulder closest to him.

"Ares...yes. They have been located in the vicinity of Coruscant."

Fieron gave Ares a good once-over. Most certainly a mess, inside and out.

"Is there anything further that I might do?"

[Tidus Marzullo]

Tidus didn't even cast a glance down at young Selene as he curled his fingers firmly around her hand.

"Don't struggle" was all he said to the girl.

Something wasn't right. Tidus' prowess with the Force was shallow, but even he could sense that something was happening. Something...but he couldn't make out what.

"Everyone else, let's go!"

Tidus looked over to Lucius, giving his cousin a nod of the head, as if to say "see you soon". It was a relief to know he family of the same age following Dante too. But still, he missed Genesis.

With that, he gave a light tug on Selene's hand and set off behind Radda.

[Alexia Marzullo]

As Alexia waited she felt a sting within the force, Alexander. He was in some sort of danger. She bit her lip, soon they should know the location of Dante and the others. Just then Fieron passed and entered Ares room.
"Fieron, thank Sol..." Alexia breathed as she followed him. She said nothing, just listened to what Fieron had to report. They were close to Corusant. Her thoughts turned back to Alexander, he wasn't dead - yet.
"Yes, Ares, what can we do?" She asked, desperate to help out in some way. The waiting was killing her.

[Selene Marzullo]

A younger Selene ran through the covered walkway leading up to most impressive of the Marzullo temples, the one named for their forbearer, Sol. Her bare feet slapped against the bright colored mosaics that made up the floor, and she paid no attention to the great marble pillars that towered above her. She bypassed the main entrance to the temple in favor of one of the smaller doorways; the huge inlaid double doors always intimidated her, and stepped from the midday heat into the cool dimly lit temple. She slowed her pace once inside, she’d been told off the last time she’d ran inside the temple and she had no desire to sit through another lecture. Especially not now when she was already upset and impatient to find Him. He had told her to Him whenever she was distressed and now was one of those times.


Then there He was striding purposefully down the elaborately decorated side corridor towards her. Relief flooded through her, it was almost as if He had known she wanted to see Him. Forgetting for a moment about the “not running in sacred temples rule” she flew into His open arms, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck as He lifted her from the floor. He carried her away from the main chamber into a brighter room that He was currently using. Clearing off a combination of old parchment and holopads from His desk He sat her on top and with a slight frown brushed His fingers across her cheek.

“What troubles you little one?”

The warmth in His voice was obvious, a tone used only for close family, and she immediately felt herself more at ease. Looking up at Him she gave Him the smile that she reserved solely for him before pursing her lips together as she recalled why she had fled to Him in the first place.

“They were teasing me!”

The childish indignation was obvious in her voice and she frowned as she saw what she thought might have been a smile flitter across His face.


“Teasing you! The nerve! I shall have to strict words with them…and who might ‘they’ be?”

“Them!” she answered as if it should be obvious who she was talking about, “They said my father was worthless and a subhuman and comtenbatal…”


“Contemptible”


“Contemptible and…other words, and I don’t want a Father like that.”
The words came out in a rush and she looked at Him anxiously wanting to be assured that the man that she’d seen in the underground dungeons was not really related to her, in fact, had nothing to do with her at all. The memories of torture and the resulting screaming, begging and bloody body parts she had witnessed had been repressed, or she chose deliberately not to remember so she remained undisturbed by the conversation, only wanting to distance herself from someone seen with such disgust by the rest of her true family. There was a pause as He considered how to reply to the small girl.


“The man they refer to as your father is nothing…he was very bad and we punished him. Think no more about him, as if he never existed. I will ensure everyone does the same and no one will trouble you about him any further.”


“Then I shan’t have a father and everyone else does…”


He smiled down at her tucking a wayward strand of hair behind her ear.


“You have me.”


“You’re Grandfather,” she pointed out to Him, “you can’t be both can you?”


He chuckled softly, amused.


“I, I can be anything I like. You may call me Father when we are alone together and Grandfather around anyone else. They might be confused otherwise no?”


A grin broke across her formally anxious face, delighted by the fact she now had a proper father. A strong father. She nodded quickly in agreement, before a thoughtful look crossed her face.


“Uncle Argos was bad, Dante and Ares said so. Will you punish him as well?”


She was scared briefly by the hard look that crossed his face. It was the face He showed the rest of the world, never her, and for a moment she wondered if she had made him angry with her questions.


“Not in the same way. Uncle Argos is still family and we never hurt family. We will never kill or turn on each other, it is forbidden by Sol’s laws.”


*****

For a moment she was in two places at once, at home with the man that had become her whole world and on the bridge of the star destroyer surrounded by people who treated her with a disregard she was entirely unused to. She closed her eyes tightly trying to keep image of home in her head, but her eyes flew open as she felt the death of yet another family member.


"Everyone else, let's go!"


The curt order cut through her shock at losing her Uncle, however much she disliked him, and she glanced around the room trying to determine if the others had felt it. Radda was looking about uneasily but she was unsure if he realized what had happened. Zoe was fully distracted with her mother, and the only other person who would have picked up on it was Lucius. As Itala’s youngest son he would more than likely be as sensitive as her when it came to the force signatures of their family members. Why wouldn’t he do something about it, why was everyone killing and hurting each other and they were all just letting it happen.


It’s supposed to be forbidden! Enough of our family has been hurt! Why do they all let it continue? Father wouldn’t let it…


He was gone though. She bit her lip as she was yet again reminded of her loss.


“Don’t struggle.”


She looked up at Tidus who had already begun moving after Radda and allowed herself to be pulled along after him.


This shouldn’t be happening. I hate Dante. I hate him. This is all his fault. ...Please come back Father…


She fought back a sob of rage and frustration as she half-walked half-ran in order to keep up with the faster pace of Tidus and hoped that someone would come and take her home.

[Lucius Marzullo]

Lucius listened to the sound of footsteps fading into the distance, as his family departed the command bridge. Without them to fill it, the deck seemed vast and empty. There were a million and one consoles and controls, all of them flashing and beeping their own sequence. Central to them all was a map of the star destroyer itself, with damaged areas highlighted in red and bio-signatures marked with a single dot. The internal sensors had not escaped the damage the outer-hull had received, so that once the party of Marzullo's had moved beyond a certain point they would be no longer visible to him.

Stay and answers the Imperials, Radda had said. Lucius moved to the communications panel and keyed in an open frequency, a channel which would broadcast to the Imperial ships.

“If anyone can hear me, this is a distress signal. We are being held hostage aboard a pirate vessel. Our captors were fired upon and have taken heavy damages. After they fled battle, some of the containment chambers were opened due to malfunctioning systems.”

Lucius paused. The plea was impassioned and he had toned his voice with the right amount of breathless anxiety to give the impression that he truly was a newly escaped prisoner. He continued:

“Most of my party have managed to escape confinement, but there may be others still trapped elsewhere... the pirates themselves may even still be here, conscious or otherwise - we don't know.”

With this said, Lucius hit the loop button and stepped away from the console. It was time to catch up with the others.

[Lana Marzullo]

At the age of twenty-four standard years, Lana Marzullo is the eldest child of Itala Marzullo and Jen Katrina. Lana was the apple of her father's eye, his pride and joy. There was almost nothing the offspring could do that would have garnered disappointment from the man. Almost.

Her parents marriage had ended and her mother had taken to bedding a man named Lord Gue. Unfortunately, Lana had no choice in the matter concerning which parent would be responsible for her upbringing. She ended up with her mother. Gue had taken it upon himself to train the young lady in the arts of wielding a weapon and using the Force. The fact that Lana had accepted Gue's generous offer lost the young Lana favor in her father's eyes. This created a large rift betwixt father and daughter.

Things began to go wrong for Lana, emotionally, that is. Jen and Gue couldn't handle the child's strong-willed determined ways, or her rebellious nature to do what she felt was right or necessary according to the ways instilled by her father since her birth. She also had this uncanny knack for throwing it into Gue's face that he was not her father any time he tried to scold or punish her.

At the age of elven, Lana ran away and tried to return to her father's home. Of course, like most typical children of that age, she thought she knew what was best. She had begun to think that she was so close to knowing everything that she needed to know about life and survival. Little did Lana know at the time, she was nothing more than a spoiled, bratty child fast approaching puberty who really knew nothing at all.

She learned quickly just what it meant to lose favor with her father when she showed up on his doorstep asking ... no, expecting ... to be warmly embraced by his loving arms and welcomed back into his home. The events that unfolded shattered those expectations and woke the child up to the harsh realities of what it meant to be disowned.

Angry, scared, and now alone, Lana set off on her own; bound and determined to make of her life what she could. She'd prove them wrong, all of them. Her mother, her father, Lord Gue. She'd return one day to show them all that she just didn't need them to survive or to be happy.

But she needed to get far away from them, from the entire family. She would have to go some place they'd never think to look for her. So Lana went straight to the spaceport. It was so easy to get lost in the crowd, to blend in with some random person or couple and make herself look like she belonged with them as their child. This was how she managed to sneak her way into the hangars where she found an awaiting ship and tip-toed aboard.

The young child tucked herself away in the cargo hold and simply waited. Her plan was to stay there until the ship landed again, then sneak off and start life anew in some city that was foreign to her. Tired from her adventure, she fell asleep. Lana was wakened twelve hours later by the sound of crates being shuffled around and the grumblings of a strange man. He was startled at first to find a toe-headed child stowed away aboard his ship, but he coaxed her out of hiding and patted her on the head.

When asked where she came from and how she got aboard, the wee lass lied and fed him a load of crap. She was smart to do this, as she knew that if she ever gave her real name or any information about her family at all, she'd be killed if the Marzullo's ever caught wind of it. He introduced himself as Andre Mentiro and took her under his wing.

Just as there are sick people all over the galaxy, Andre included, he used trickery and played on the child's emotions, tugging at her heart strings, to weasel his way in. Lana was an exceptionally pretty child. Porcelain skin, large and beautiful innocent eyes, a small pretty pink mouth, and hair of spun gold. She was budding into womanhood, earlier than many girls her age, but not unheard of.

Andre spoke to her the way a man would speak to a woman he fancied. He always told her how pretty she was, how special she was, and how much he liked having her around. He did and said everything to make her feel like a queen. He worked his charm so that he could work his way into her head. And it worked.

The first three months of their travels together were the best that the girl could have imagined. He fed her good food, bought her nice clothes, spoiled her rotten. Of course he behaved himself when it was time to sleep since his ship only had one small cabin on it. He gave her the bed and he slept in the cockpit or on the floor somewhere.

Then he introduced her to the pleasures of alcohol. He told her how good it made people feel. He let her try all varieties. She showed distaste by wrinkling her nose or shaking her head while spitting the liquid out. She showed favor towards the ones she liked by eagerly asking for more while nodding her head and smiling.

One night he'd given her too much. Her cheeks flushed a gentle pink, her eyes looked glassy and she was acting a bit ... frisky. He pulled her close and cupped her face within his large palms and gazed into her eyes. He said he loved her, then he kissed her. At first she pulled back, but he wouldn't let her go. His grip upon her face tightened and he held her there, pressing his lips harder against hers, hungry for the lust to be returned.

He told her it was their special little secret as he silenced her cries with a hand over her mouth. He told her how much he loved her, how she'd get use to him and would love him one day, too. The first few times were painful, but eventually she succumbed and thought she had fallen in love with him.

She had come to trust him, so she told him of her heritage. She appeared to be exuberently happy with Andre, a man who was twenty seven years of age. Lana wanted him to meet her father, to get her father's blessing over their union and to marry Andre. To appease the young girl, Andre agreed to meet her father and kissed her on the forehead.

Lana had only told him her secrets after Andre figured out that he'd impregnated the girl. He only wanted a plaything, someone he could take advantage of to sate his needs and twisted desires. Her pregnancy screwed up the plans he had for her. He had many rich clients who would have enjoyed her immensely but now ...

So it was that Andre slipped a sleep agent into Lana's drink and tucked her into bed. She wouldn't wake for at least twelve hours, which gave him enough time to do what he had to do. A part of him did care for the child, as became evident when he landed near the borders of Itala's estate and laid her out comfortably, then took off. When she woke, she was alone and didn't recognize at first where she was.

Lana had sat beneath the shade of a tree for many hours weeping. She was scared, pregnant, and now abandoned. But what frightened her most was having to face her father. Night fell before she approached the door, just as she had a little over a year ago.


*****

Lana stood near Ares bedside and waited for the medical staff to leave the room, then listened as Ares droned on and on about letting Dante slip from his grasp.

"Whining about it isn't going to change anything, Ares. Nor will it get my Selene back."

Selene was the product of the twisted relationship Lana had with Andre. Itala had hunted the man down and violently killed him for what he had done to his daughter. Lana was far too young to be a mother and far too young to be a good mother. Her own mother wasn't exactly the best role model in her life after all. Lana did her best, received help from some of the older females of the family, but she just wasn't a very good mother.

And though she wasn't the best mother that Selene could have or deserved, Lana did love and miss the girl ,and didn't want anything bad to happen to her.

Fieron approached and informed Ares that the trace was complete. It appeared that Dante's ship had been located near Coruscant; Imperial occupied Coruscant.

Their family had kept themselves hidden for many millennia. Dante's foolishness was about to cost them all. But how much would his actions further cost them?

[Lucilla Marzullo]

Fuming, Lucilla yanked her arm angrily, trying to release herself. What the heck was going on?! Argos dead, Alexander fighting Dante, objects flying everywhere, cutting into her flesh, it was all Lucilla could do now to remain still, sheltering her face from the assault.

Feeling another presence draw near, Lucilla dared to peer out from behind the arm shielding her face, it was Marcus! Things were moving way too fast, Lucilla was tired and she had barely any strength left as it was. She gasped softly as Dante's body flew through the walls, Marcus advancing on him.

It was against her better judgement, but Lucilla just couldn't let this happen. Enemy or not, Dante was Itala's child and for all she knew, it was the only way she'd ever be able to communicate with her cousin ever again.

"Stop! Marcus, you can't! He is Itala's son, even if he is our enemy! You've done enough, we can take him back with us!"

[Erik Centter]

The worst nightmare scenario in the deepest regions of Erik's mind had now become a reality, he is neck deep in waste water, scrap metal and assorted garbage that not even scum would touch. His long beard drips slime, his clean clothes now had become a disgrace.

He turns to pay attention to the arriving Krishna, who also finds herself in the nasty water, followed by the soon to be killed wookie who makes a splash big enough to cover his head in more of the wretched slimey water.

"Great, just great!!"

Erik squirms about in the water, climbing up on a pile of garbage as he begins to look around for a way out, half his body still sunk in the putrid liquid.

"I see a few hatches up by the top of that heap of garbage, Chit, check it out for me."

Suddenly, Erik feels some type of movement between his knees, raising both eyebrows in surprise and disgust.

"What was that?!"

He quickly finishes to climb out of the water, retrieving his blaster as he looks around.

[Chitbatuuk]

Before the Jedi had felt the creepy creature below water, Chitbatuuk was already on top of the tallest heap of trash, inspecting the mysterious hatches. Steam engulfs the head of the wookie, letting out a hearty roar in surprise and warning. Just one look is enough to determine the situation.

"Aaaaaaaaarrr!" he yells down, nodding his head back and forth in some type of approval. Erik understood his words, but he would always motion his head accordingly as most wookies do when they communicate with aliens.

"What do you meean "escape pods"?" We're in the trash section of the ship, you lousy oaf!"

The wookie insists with another loud roar, motioning for Erik to come up and see himself. He isn't one to lie, specially in such situations.

[Ares Marzullo]

Ares widens his eyes in obvious alarm, the news of his twin brother's location didn't do anything to ease his pain and suffering, now he was about to expose the entire clan to the imperials and the rest of the universe.

"Fieron, order the captain to take us to Coruscant, we're going to destroy that ship."

Ares groans as he slowly sits up, his attention upon his lightsaber, sitting on a desk near, still hot from the recent violence, from the recent fraticide.

"Family, be ready for anything, we have no reason to stay here anymore."

Ares always hoped to be a good leader for the loyal remnants of the family, but deep inside he continues to feel devastated and humiliated. He had been utterly beat and when fate gave him a unique chance to emerge the victor, he allowed his brother to live.

"I know a few people in Coruscant that can give us shelter."

Ares is given the blueprints of the ship along with the numbers of fighters and shuttles left in the hangar bay, just enough to escape. At this point, he knows what he has to do, wether the family approves or not.

"Fieron, have the family board the shuttles and head to Corellia to hide, I will stay in the destroyer and do my duty as leader."

A rare and kind glance is given to his older sister and Alexia, shaking his fist in optimism, perhaps to indicate that things will be better in the future, or perhaps to fool them into a false sense of security.

"Now do as I say and go."

[Tiranna Marzullo]

So concentrated deep within the memories of the past two years, staring into the dried blood on her plams, Tiranna remains seated against a wall in the bridge, wondering if the sacrifice by her children was worth the revolution.

"Not at all." she whispers.

The flower of her children was gone and now her reasons to join and manipulate Dante were gone. Why reap the fruits of such hard fought labor when there wouldn't be anyone to share them with?

A quick shake of the head brings her back to reality, catching Radda's orders just in time. Elegant and deadly, Tiranna belongs to Marcus' generation but she was never chosen as an elder. Her temper and bias made her much of a danger to be given such a responsibility.

The deformity of her oldest son also led to deep resentment within the woman, deep enough to choose the betraying side in the long family conflict.

It seems like only a matter of seconds before her seductive fingers are placed on Radda's shoulders, bringing him to a complete stop. At least, she wasn't menopausic yet, she could continue to have at least two more children the way things are going, not bad for a woman in her early 40's.

"Radda, I know this is a bad time, but..."

Her imagination made a mess of her, she finds herself following the traitorous group to the designated escape area, not having touched the imposing figure at all. A terrible time to be day dreaming she thought.

She would make sure the deaths of her children would not go unpunished.

"If I may."

The group continues to walk, she knows Radda would be listening.

No, her request would be seen as idiotic and naive, not for a woman her age and experience. The entire dilema had made her weak and vulnerable, nothing like the mighty woman that took the lives of many in the civil war.

Insecure, bitter and starved for new children to follow her legacy, she continues to walk the path, giving disgusted looks to her kin when gazed upon.

"Radda, stop right now."

[Dante Marzullo]

Dante lies face first on the floor in agony and complete shock. By any means, Marcus' attack would have shattered any common man. He slowly turns over and stops kissing the filthy floor, only to see the shape of the furious elder edging closer and closer.

"M-Marcus..."

Dante looks around for anything of use to defend himself, his lightsaber had been grabbed by Alexander and his force powers had been nearly drained after the arrogant displays earlier.

But then, Lucilla's pleas creep into his ears, amusing him to no limit. Therein lies a woman who had been disrespected, humiliated and betrayed and she was trying to save him. It was precisely such weakness that drove him to a swift change in politics, and what a change it was.

Lady luck had smiled upon the usurper yet again, as a trash chute was located only feet from Dante, but any sudden move would find him impaled by Marcus' lightsaber, which was already edging an inch from his face.

"You can't kill me, I'm family!"

His gaze is fixed upon Lucilla now, having the skill and shamelessness to make an innocent, pleading face.

"Help me, aunt Lucilla!"

[Marcus Marzullo]

"You are the heir, the direct descendant of Sol and the only male. Itala, you are the ruler of The Marzullo Clan now, rule wisely, fairly and impose the sacred laws with an iron fist."

Marcus congratulates Itala with genuine glee, glad that a bloodline thought to be lost had resurfaced. Thought to be broken, now remade.

"I'm not sure about this one" whispers Atlas.

"I don't trust him" responds Hannibal.

"Quiet! These are the ways and we must abide by them." says Marcus, angry at such obscenities being spewed upon a sacred ceremony.

During every Marzullo generation, there had to be the three most poweful and wise members of the family to rule in case of the absence or inability of Sol's heir, the oldest and most admired of the entire family legacy.

Years later, a mistake by Itala and foul play amongst the family started the wretched civil war, many joined Dante's side, the rest stuck with Ares. The elders were wise and loyal enough not to betray the family.

Even with their strength, one after the other fell to the swords of the traitors, family flesh burnt because of ridiculous ideologies and outright greed.


*******



"Stop! Marcus, you can't! He is Itala's son, even if he is our enemy! You've done enough, we can take him back with us!"

Marcus is about to finish off Dante without any hesitance, too much experience and wisdom filled his heart to forgive him but Lucilla's word had taken him aback completely. He lowers his lightsaber for a moment, looking deep into Lucilla's eyes.

"Fool! I am going to end this right now! The line is safe with Ares and Lana, fear not for an heir."

His attention returns to the pleading Dante, smiling in delight as he would finally avenge the fallen elders.

"You can't kill me, I'm family!"

Marcus nearly chokes, laughing to himself at the thought of changing his mind because of such a stupid plea, something rare for the man in such a decisive moment.

"Yet you didn't hesitate to kill and help kill dozens upon dozens of your own family, Dante, your death will only be the beginning of your pain. I will destroy your very spirit!

Somehow with the aid of the force, his lightsaber seems to make a harrowing sound, edging closer to the fallen traitor's face, right between the eyes.

"You will never be reborn."

[Alexia Marzullo]

The words rang in Alexia's ear. They burned like acid upon her skin.
"Family, be ready for anything, we have no reason to stay here anymore."

<?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = O /><O:p< p O:p<>"No.." She breathed. Her home, their home - gone. Alexia knew that she had no choice or say in the matter and she was going to do what Ares said, no matter what. But, she just couldn't believe it.

<O:p< p O:p<>
"I know a few people in Coruscant that can give us shelter.<O:p< p O:p<> Fieron, have the family board the shuttles and head to Corellia to hide, I will stay in the destroyer and do my duty as leader."

<O:p< p O:p<>
"Ares, anything you say I will do, but I offer myself as a warrior. I can help, I want to fight for the family."<O:p< p O:p<> Alexia appreciated Ares' kind look and knew it was not given lightly, but she felt that she would be much more beneficial to the family as a warrior. She had no mothering skills and Alexander could use her. She gave Ares one last pleading look, but she knew that she was defeated. He would not change his mind. But, she waited for an answer anyway.
</O:p<></O:p<></O:p<></O:p<></O:p<>

[Fieron Marzullo]

Fieron hung on every word Ares had to give him, nodding slowly as his relative gave instructions as to what was now to happen. The young man had only just emerged from his teenage years, but had long before this time left behind any blatantly disobedient and rebellious ideals...though any such behaviour was shortlived. He had been told he was rather mature for his age for many years previous that he often tired of it. Praise was praise, but one has to draw the line when it becomes suffocating in nature. Word was sent to the captain to make way to Coruscant, and then the young man was quickly back to Ares' side.

"Ares, anything you say I will do, but I offer myself as a warrior. I can help, I want to fight for the family."

Alexia's words held no hope that her request would be fulfilled, that much Fieron could tell. It was her nature to worry and want for the safety of her twin, but the ever so slightly older relative of his knew her place, and any Marzullo man respecting of the family law would be hard-pressed to allow her to go against it. She knew this. Fieron turned his head briefly to look into the eyes of the shorter woman.

"Alexia...Alexander will be fine. You know this is the way things are done. You too will have much time to make use of your undeniable skills where and when it is right." His short and pointed sentences may have stung further, but they were nothing short of the truth. He looked back to Ares, with a most solemn visage for any man to wear.

"Your requests will be fulfilled." If Ares were to request it, Fieron would stay behind with him. The safety of the women and younger family members was the most important, but Fieron no longer fit the latter category, and would never have any place in the former.

"I would be at your side and assist, if you have no qualms...But if you truly insist that I lie in wait as well..." As he said these words, he began to usher the others out of the room, sending them through the corridors to the hangar bay. Fieron reiterated the instructions to each family member as they headed off, but remained behind in the doorway to the room, just in case Ares would have anything further to say. Alexia was reluctantly backing slowly towards the door, as if she were expecting something. Fieron gently touched her arm, hoping that it would grab her attention.

"It is ok. Please go, Alexia."
<o></o>

[Lucilla Marzullo]

Lucilla looked at Dante, her own blue eyes staring into his, she wasn't stupid, she knew what he was up to, making that face. It may have worked when he was younger, but not now.

"Do not think for an instant that I believe you as innocent as you look, nephew. I have seen you make that face before when you were in trouble, it may have worked then, but it will not work on me now. I will not let you humilate me further."

"Fool! I am going to end this right now! The line is safe with Ares and Lana, fear not for an heir."

Moving her gaze now to meet Marcus', she scowls slightly, "A fool, am I? Heir or no, you do not have the right to kill Dante, if it is anyone's right, it is Ares or Lana's! We will take him back with us!"

She knew she could argue with Marcus all day on this, but she had to take action, or else he would not be stopped, he was also an idiot to think that the three of them, should Dante be killed, would be able to take on the rest of his supporters if they were to board the ship, much less invading Imperials, should they also show.

"You will never be reborn."

And never again would her chance of talking to Itala happen. His death took it's toll on her, she nearly went insane with grief. Blaming herself for a long time for his death, she'd locked herself away in her room only to emerge when it was time for Isabeau to be delivered. She would not lose this chance.

Closing her eyes, Lucilla began to broaden her mind, her breath filling her lungs deeply, and then exhaling slowly, she was calling the Force...as much of it as she could in her weakened state. Slowly, the pole that impaled Argos twitched, coming to life at her summon, it sliding itself from the corpse.

Opening her eyes, she nearly lost concentration, but with her will, and all the anger she was feeling at the moment, she held it, bringing it into her view, behind Marcus. She would have to hope that Alexander wouldn't be quick enough on the uptake, since he was injured. She hurled the pole towards Marcus quickly, intending only to do him injury, not kill him, she would not stab him, only knock him out cold.

Weakened further her knees gave way, and her upper body jerked violently as she felt the Force leave her. Biting back a gasp of pain, she tried to upright herself, but found it was hard to stand again, so instead, she let herself hang there while she regained her bearings.

[Alexia Marzullo]

Stepping away slower than the others, Alexia lingered hoping for a chance to go with Ares. Though, she knew her hopes were foolish and she was not about to disrespect Ares.

"Alexia...Alexander will be fine. You know this is the way things are done. You too will have much time to make use of your undeniable skills where and when it is right."

"I know, but..." She stopped herself short, there was no use. Ares would never allow it, Alexander could take care of himself and Fieron was right. The times for selfish and childish ways were past her. Pleading for a chance might have worked several years ago when was pleading for a chance to spar against the boys, but this was much different. It was time for Alexia to grow up and accept that she was a Marzullo woman and her place in the family was not a warrior.

"It is ok. Please go, Alexia."

She nodded and followed Fieron out of the door. At the last minute she paused and turned to look at her older cousin.

"We will be waiting for your word, cousin. We have faith in you, you will not let us down."

With that Alexia nodded to Ares and was off with the others to the shuttles.

[Nadia Surrvelen]

As Nadia sat in wait for her daughter to return with news, Nadia could help but think how she got where she was. It was a long time ago, just about twenty years. She heard about the Marzullos from a stranger named Jay and with nothing to lose she took her chance. Nadia had nothing, her mother died in child birth and her father left soon after. She was raised an orphan, alone and desperate. It wasn’t until Matthias choose her to be part of the Marzullo family that she actually felt at home. Nadia took Sol’s rules as her own. She studied in the ways of the family and vowed to be the best mother she could. She helped raise her twins in the ways of Sol and taught them the value of family.
Suddenly, Nadia was interrupted as she felt Alexia approaching. Nadia stood and waited. In a manner of minutes, she burst into the room.
"Gather only what you need, we are going. Meet me by the shuttles." With that Alexia was gone, going to gather her own stuff she assumed
Nadia did not need much time, she pulled on her cloak and grabbed her side pouch. She grabbed only a few essentials and made her way down to the shuttles. Alexia was already there talking to some of the other family members. Nadia joined her daughter and stood in silence. She had other things on her mind at the moment - Matthias and Alexander.

[Radda Manthys]

In a hidden moon, accompanied by his apprentice, Radda supervises his illegal operations, proud of the fact that his group had also managed to keep secrecy for thousands of years. The heads of the outfit were not chosen by blood, but by strength, the ever so old law of the strongest.

During a trip to the planet of Corellia, Radda had met a force adept struggling with his heart after uncovering some disturbing secrets about his biological parents. There couldn't be a better suitor to be his apprentice than this "Itala" and thus he took his chance.

He trained him to be lethal for months, the harshest of exercises and missions had turned him into a figure of hate, a true Sith warrior in the essence. However, the one thing he didn't foresee was the rebellion of his new apprentice, being set up in a gas chamber and left for dead.

Luckily, he was rescued on the verge of death by some lucky workers who hadn't been slaughtered by Itala, he had sworn revenge since that point, promising to do everything possible to find him and kill him.

During an operation involving a trade, Radda had made contact with Dante himself, turning the tables purely by accident. If only the teenager hadn't spoken so much about his father, nothing would have happened.

***********


"Radda, stop right now."

Radda does stop, slowly turning his head as the corridor lights continue to argue with themselves about remaining on or off. Radda's demonic profile shows only his right eye paying attention to the daring Tiranna.

"What is the meaning of this? I said we must go and now!"

But he knew what was going on, he wasn't about to play a fool when he could teach the rest of Dante's followers a lesson in humility.

"Remember, your leader put me in charge."

[Tiranna Marzullo]

In an unknown, hidden planet, Branch C of the near defunct Marzullo clan had only contributed with a few members for Itala's clan, the flow had suddenly stopped when Itala had learnt of Cyrus. Crushing and painful, Tiranna had to keep her oldest son a secret, only known to a few merciful who didn't want to kill the deformed yet massive man over the old rules.

She had grown resentful but like a proper member of the family, she followed the rules and allowed things to take their course. Until she met Radda Manthys.

Through a meeting organized by Dantes himself, Tiranna had been introduced to the idea that her hideous son did not have to remain a secret, that he deserved his rightful place in the clan, but this would go against Itala's idea of a perfect race, Cyrus was living proof that he was wrong.

Her biased affection towards her son made the woman vulnerable, thus she spread the venom within Branch C. So efficient in her brain washing she was that the elders never found out until it was too late.

The war had gone the way she hoped, but after she lost her dear son, things seemed to take on a new perspective.


********

"What is the meaning of this? I said we must go and now!"


Tiranna disregards the many family members in the group heading to escape, ever edging closer to the far taller Sith who didn't respect her enough to look at her directly.

"It was you all along wasn't it?" she boldly asks, tapping her lightsaber as sweat runs down the side of her face.

"I despised Itala but never hated him enough for this."

Had Tiranna changed her mind completely? Had she come to regret joining Dante's rebellion? She continues to struggle within, but now it's the time for answers, for the gaps to be filled.

"Now my son is dead and you could not care less, you got your revenge."

[Zoe Marzullo]

Saltwater made it's treacherous path down porcelain cheeks as hands clutched onto the quickening cold body; Zoe could not release her grip she held upon her mother. Hoisting Fire's body from the ground, grunts and growls roared from the young woman as she lifted the body onto her back, forcing herself to stand. For an eternity Zoe would damn herself for leaving her mother behind for she very well knew that Fiera would never leave any of her children behind. "I will not leave you behind, mom."

Grinding down her back molars, Zoe trudged off in the direction of Radda and her cousins; she couldn't have been too far behind them. She hadn't realized how heavy her mother was until this point, but regardless she would do what she must to save her. Beads of sweat topped the outer strands of blonde, Zoe's hair looking wet and limp. The further she trekked on, the more audible the footsteps and murmurs of the others. No matter the strain on her physically and mentally, Zoe would move on.

[Karl Valten]

“… my party have managed to escape confinement, but there may be others still trapped elsewhere... the pirates themselves may even still be here, conscious or otherwise - we don't know.”

Sergeant Joval of alpha squad came to a halt as the open transmission poured over his headset. So far the stormtroopers had made their way towards the bridge without incident, but this put a twist on the situation. The sergeant and his men were held up at a sealed blastdoor, the squad’s slicer busy hacking what was left of the electrical system.

No reports from the other squads either, if there were pirates here; they weren’t wise about handling the vessel. But at least it was good to know that there were people on this gods’ forsaken wreck. Joval traced a gloved hand along a strange gash that sliced right through the durasteel bulkhead; there were signs of struggle as well.

“Captain, what are our orders?”

On the bridge of the Decisive Captain Kale folded his hands in thought. A pirate vessel? Every vessel that the Imperium had lost to piracy was on record and very few Star Destroyers were on that list.

Kale opened a direct channel to the bridge. “State your identification code.” If the escapees were Imperial prisoners then there might still be a chance of getting them off the vessel, but it could be any number of things. If they weren’t Imperial, they weren’t worth saving.

*****

Grand Inquisitor Karl Valten stood silently within the Cathedral, a monitor in front showed the peculiar happenings in orbit. It wasn’t often that the Inquisitoriate cared about naval operations, even in an emergency. Such things were below an Inquisitor’s priorities, the planetary defenses could take care of an assault on their own.

“You are certain?”

But once in a while the watchful eyes and ear where drawn from their seclusion. A second figure stepped into view behind Valten, clad in ornately crafted power armor. Ze’eva Kiel, Captain of the Crimson Guard, was well versed in the ways of adepts and had trained a sharp mind for sensing them.

“The force is almost boiling in the space around that vessel.” She closed her eyes, focusing…searching…feeling. “I can feel anger, fear, despair, and hate. It’s too strong to be an individual.”

Valten powered down the screen with his neural implant and gazed up at the massive obsidian statue dominating the center of the Cathedral. So more adepts had come to Imperial Center, they seemed to be getting more and more foolish.

“Assemble a strike group and make sure the mages are informed. I will be counting on you and the Nightmares to deal with any adepts you encounter.

*****

In orbit, the Imperial captain grew impatient, no reply meant that either the prisoner had been killed or had no codes, either way it meant only one thing.

“Your are to kill on sight, Sergeant.”

A hiss sounded as the slicer forced the blastdoor open. Jovial and his squad checked the charges on their rifles before heading out through the door. “You heard him, Frer, your on point, everyone else keep your eyes and ears open.

“…be advised, Sergeant, there are Black Ships inbound.”

Krasst, the Inquisitor’s were on the way. A shiver ran up Jovial’s spine, he didn’t know which he was more afraid of; the Inquisitor’s themselves, or whatever reason it was that they’d poke their heads out from their citadel.

[Selene Marzullo]

The stone bench was hard beneath her and a thin layer of sand and grit from the main sparring ground, which seemed to cover everything in the arena, was making her impromptu bed rather uncomfortable. Still, she was feeling too lethargic to bother moving. The bright sun forced her to cover her eyes as she squinted up at the sky, lazily following the flight path of a flock of birds. She wondered absently what species they were; they looked sort of green…or maybe yellow…greenish yellow? She couldn’t decide. Perhaps she would describe them to Dante when he arrived, he would know what kind they were, he knew just about everything. Her eyes fluttered closed again, the heat of the day making her drowsy and unable to think about much more than when Dante would come to play with her. She must have drifted off to sleep for a little while because when she next opened her eyes it was to the hissing sound of clashing lightsabers.

She rolled onto her side to see who had entered the training grounds without her noticing and promptly fell off the bench onto the hard ground.
“Ow!”

Laughter echoed around the circular arena and she bristled as she felt large hands pick her up and set her on her feet again. Turning sharply around she glared up into the sun and the face of her ‘rescue,’ ready to sharply rebuke anybody that had dared to laugh at her.

“It’s not funny! Don’t laugh at me you…Uncle Haken!”

A grin spread across the face of the large Marzullo male towering above her. His eyes filled with laughter, but not at her expense, Haken was always ready to laugh, that’s what she liked about him. He raised an eyebrow at her inquiringly.

“’You’ what?”

She blushed in response to the question, her unspoken insult had not been a particularly nice one, or at least she didn’t think it was. She’d heard it from one of the praetorians and wasn’t entirely sure what it meant. However, normally insults she picked up from that particular source earned her a sharp punishment and an injunction to never repeat the word again as well as a quick death for any praetorian suspected of swearing around her. She glanced down at the floor and mumbled in response to Haken’s question whose grin only grew in reaction to her obvious reluctance to reply.

“Shall we continue?”

A slightly amused voice distracted Haken from pressing the matter any further and she peered around him to smile at Uncle Marcus who had apparently been acting as Haken’s sparring partner while she dozed. Haken nodded briefly and they faced off against each other again. She watched the practice bout with interest but kept one eye on the entrance to arena still expecting Dante to appear.

All three were focused intently on the match when it all began; Marcus was the first to notice it and he held a hand up, pausing the fight while it began to dawn on Haken and then herself that although the sounds of their own battle had stopped elsewhere they still continued. Then they all felt the first Marzullo fall, the family member’s force signature abruptly gone and sending a jarring wave of loss through the force to all those sensitive enough to feel it. It hadn’t stopped there. Other Marzullo lives were quickly disappearing from her ability to sense, and she couldn’t understand why. There was yelling, she could make out screams and shouted orders from the direction of the temples and then felt herself being picked up bodily and thrown across Haken’s shoulder. She opened her mouth to protest the rough treatment and looked up to see Marcus sprinting towards the sounds of battle. Haken began to run in the opposite direction as she pounded her fists against his back and ordered him to put her down. Then she felt him tense and then halt in his tracks. He placed her back on the ground but a finger pressed against her lips instructed her to stay silent as he reached for the lightsaber at his belt.

“She was supposed to be alone…but no matter”

The cold voice sent a chill up her spine and she looked around to locate its source only to find herself pushed back against a wall with Haken standing in front of her blocking her line of vision, his lightsaber hissing to life. It was over quickly. She was too shocked to do more than stare at Haken’s now lifeless body as yet again she was hoisted off her feet, but this time by a man she did not recognize. Confused, disorientated and afraid she felt herself become suddenly tired. She fought to stay awake but sleep pressed in on her and finally she succumbed as she felt herself being passed off to another person.

“Get her to the ship and don’t let anything happen to her, she’s our insurance.”

“Yes Radda…”

*********

The party halted abruptly as Tiranna and Radda began to argue. She half listened to the conversation but didn’t take it in. She’d felt more disturbances in the force and had immediately recognized one person who gave her hope for being rescued. In her excitement she didn’t stop to think.

“Uncle Marcus! I’m here!”

Screaming as loud as she could she tried to break away from Tidus’ grip. If she freed herself then it would only make it easier for Uncle Marcus when he came for her. She didn’t know how far away he was but surely he was looking for her. He would hear her and then he would come and kill the outsider who had dared to touch her, to take her away from her home. The thought of the man’s death filled her with fierce delight and she almost smiled in her triumph. Any moment now and Uncle Marcus would appear from around the corner she just had to keep fighting until he arrived. But Marcus never arrived.

[Erik Centter]

One eye on the scummy water and the other high up where the wookie kept inviting him, Erik puts away his blaster as he begins to carefully climb on the rotten metal and assorted filth.

"Lady Marzullo, can you take a look and see what is in the water?" he asks politely, knowing that the female would most likely decline the kind offer. He returns his attention to the mysterious hatches, finally reaching the top of the tallest heap of junk, shoving his head where the wookie had just looked moments ago.

"I'll be damned, escape pods! What are they doing here?"

The Jedi doesn't ask for permission to search for a light in the wookie's utility belt, tossing a flare deep inside the emergency transport.

"These are big enough for four people."

Erik is given a quick boost by the wookie, entering the first escape pod as the lights all come to life. The navigation panel begins to load information as he walks to it, gripping the pilot's seat.

"This is amazing, a genius must have invented these. Look at the blueprints, it's shaped like your average heap of junk! Perfect to escape undetected."

Erik peeks out from the pod, noticing five of the hatches, just enough for the amount of enemies he expected to encounter within the ship. Hope and glee had invaded the Jedi, but a sense of failure engulfs him. He had set out to rescue Lucilla and he was already thinking of fleeing.

"Chit, I will need you to disable three of the pods and prepare the one I just entered. I have some unfinished matters to deal with."

[Tidus Marzullo]

Tidus stopped walked as Selene pulled on his arm. Marcus was here? If that was so, and he found Dante, things were going to take a turn for the worse. The group needed to get moving now.

Moving his hand and gripping Selene's forearm, Tidus allowed her to pull him forward a few meters, catching up to Radda and Tiranna, before stopping and holfding Selene back from going any further.

"Marcus is here" he said to the pair, looking briefly down to Selene before returning his gaze to Radda and Tiranna, a look in his eyes that said trouble. He didn't know if they knew already, nor did he know where they were headed. But the news Selene had revealed seemed of importance to Tidus, and now he intended to use it.

[Marcus Marzullo]

"We must act quickly, no questions, no answers, only battle!" Marcus yells to the other elders, having being called upon to help Itala and a few stranded Marzullos who had been cornered by the bulk of Branch C.

An epic battle ensues, with the aggresors falling one after the other until their task had been done, fraticide with a purpose, which the elders would not regret.

"It's rather unfortunate things had to go this way, Itala, but it is done, now let's get out of here."

He had spoken too soon, the doors he had just used to enter the battle open from behind him, revealing a small girl with a dead stare in her eyes.

"It's the clone!"

The entire room begins to shake as the multiple lightsabers from the dead traitors ignite in the air, launching upon the experienced yet stunned elders.

"Noooo!!!"


****************


Just seconds from finishing the traitor mastermind off, Marcus performs a quick side flip, barely avoiding the heavy pole as he cuts it in half with a single stroke of his lightsaber. The elegant blade hums as he glares into Lucilla's eyes. The look in his eyes shows more idignation than anger, someone well regarded in the family such as Lucilla had just aided the biggest slime in family history.

"You disappoint me, Lucilla."

[Dante Marzullo]

"Now!"

Dante takes his chance immediately, taking a couple of steps and quickly force pulling his lost lightsaber from the hands of the distraught Alexander, using what little remained of the force to dive jump into the trash chute.

"Thank you, Lucilla!"

He may have lost a valuable hostage in Lucilla, but he had gotten away from the dangerous elder and that's all that mattered to him now, to survive and go on. Much had happened to go back now, nearly everything had gone according to plan.

He continues to slide down the chute, finding a bearded man trying to climb up and clashing head first in the process, being knocked out instantly.

It was not part of the plan.

[Lucilla Marzullo]

"You disappoint me, Lucilla."

Lucilla glared right back at him, not allowing her gaze to falter, this was her decision and she was not going to go back on it now, nor would she regret it. Yes, Dante was a traitor, yes, he was their enemy, but he was still her nephew, and she his aunt, whether anyone liked it or not.

She couldn't help herself, a fleeting, mischevious grin spread across her face, "Disappoint you, do I? Do you think I honestly care what you think of me? I don't, Marcus."

"Now!"

Tearing her eyes away from Marcus, she watched as Dante recalled his lightsaber to himself and leapt down the trash chute, a grin reaching her lips again, she looks back to Marcus, "He's getting away..."

"Now, get me out of these stupid things, will you?" Indicating the cuffs with her head, she leaned casually against the wall in an effort to hide how weak she was feeling at the moment. She was so tired, and wishing to be somewhere to rest, but that would come after they secured Dante, and if they didn't hurry, he would escape.

[Krishna Marzullo]

After falling into the disgusting water Krishna had to all but swim over to a place where she could climb up and get out of water what was at her neck or higher, bringing back clips of memories of when her cousin tried to teach her how. Though she still isn't very good at it, she is no longer petrified to go in.

Shaking her head to clear her mind of the memories, she starts to look around to find what ever it was that Erik thinks is in the trashy water.

"Erik, I don't know what you thought you saw or felt or what ever, but I think you dreamed it up," she said with a obviously fake smile, "But if it's all the same to you, I'll just continue looking for your imaginary creature as you do what ever it is your doing."

Laughing softly at the whole situation, she goes back to scanning the waters that where sloshing up against her upper legs. A piece of old twine floated her way and she bent over to pick it up intending to use it to tie her wet hair out of her face, but as she reached to get it, something reached up and wraped it's self around her arm dragging her back into the greenish black water before she had time to even let out a startled scream.

[Chitbatuuk]

Totally shaven and humiliated, Chitbatuuk looks down as Lucilla taunts him in a torture chamber, next to a nude Erik Centter who is being whipped by Helen Marzullo. How he wanted to rip the woman apart for that, but there's nothing he could do. The pair had been caught during an accidental incursion into the unknown regions and snatched by Helen's destroyer.

"Speak! Who sent you?!" yells the obnoxious woman, but without an answer to give, the wookie remains silent, he is sure that the punishment for being considered a liar is worse.

Imprisoned for weeks, the human and the wookie had lost all hope to be rescued or freed, until one fateful day Lucilla came back, bloody and in desperate need of help, that is when she and the Jedi made a pact. His blade for his freedom.

****************

Just before starting work on the first escape pod, Chitbatuuk looks down because of a loud splashing noise. Initially thought to be the Marzullo female's jump into the water, it had turned out to be a vicious sewage serpent that had pulled her under water.

"Aaaaarrr!" he yells, telling her to wait for him, that is he coming down, but at the same time, he sees that Erik Centter is headbutted by Dante himself as he slides down the trash chute. Both men go underwater as such an impact makes them unconscious, lining up to the be the prey of the serpent.

"Rooooooar!!" roars the wookie yet again, squeezing his head between his paws. He quickly resumes his climb down the trash heap, readying his laser bow. Krishna desperately struggles with the predator, and one turn exposes what seems to be the head, quickly landing a powerful blast without bringing the female any harm.

[Radda Manthys]

The woman had figured it all out a little too late for any of it to matter, they had all become treacherous murderers, a band of pirates working for their own end. Radda is surprised by the sudden mood of aggression that Tiranna displays and does nothing but to prove her right as he remains silent.

All of a sudden...Tidus catches up.

"Marcus is here."

Very close to the point of no return, Radda wanted nothing more than to break the woman in half with his very hands, but the news ditstracted him greatly, his stare still fixed upon the defiant woman.

"So that's who I've been feeling this whole time, I thought it would be far too powerful to be merely a youngster."

Radda continues to head to the designated area, this time running much faster. He knew little time was left and much less to deal with Tiranna's issues.

"We must hurry now and more than ever, Marzullos, unless you wish this ship to be your final resting place!"

[Genesis Marzullo]

We were supposed to leave, I didn’t want to leave. We were supposed to hide, I didn’t want to hide. But, this was my duty to my family and I dare not go against what had been ordered of me. I had been born a Marzullo an heir to my family and with that came responsibility.
<o></o>
I knew my place. I was to marry and bear children for the family...that was my given path and I would do it with honor...one day.
<o></o>
It just seemed so far beyond reach for me ever since my twin brother, Tidus whom I had adored declared himself to Dante. This did not just strike a nerve, I had been devastated the moment I had heard and ever since...my days felt dark and endless. I felt utterly empty and alone and I felt I had no one to really turn to. My parents were both gone and now my brother had taken his side against me.
<o></o>
In the past two years, I’d given up my healer training and became the ‘invisible girl’ so to say. I kept a distance from many of the others, and kept to myself. I hated my brother for what he had done for this was a deep disgrace and I could never forgive him for it. I felt the scar deep within me with his choice. I quickly and quietly made my way to the shuttles and stepped to the side so not to be noticed. The only comfort I felt was the lightsabre at my side, something that I rarely used.
<o></o>
I sighed deeply as Alexia approached keeping my words at a minimum as usual. I grew silent as Nadia joined us and I stuffed my hands into my pockets. I felt ice in the pit of my stomach...what was my brother doing now?

[Tiranna Marzullo]

Tiranna exhales a sigh of relief, barely avoiding a confrontation with Radda. That's what her vengeful heart wants, but now that the blood has cooled down, she begins to examine other options. His quiet response had told her everything that she needed to know, or anything that was in doubt at the moment.

Radda had resumed his running, slowly turning her head to the young man that had just caught up, falling to both knees as she gently grabs little Selene by the chin.

"Tell us, little one, who else do you feel in this ship?"

Tiranna looks up to Tidus, then back down to Selene's eyes as she waits for an answer.

"I feel something else."

Quickly, she turns to a door that begins spitting fire around its frame, getting back to standing tall as her lightsaber ignites.

"Imperials! Tidus, grab that child and run!"

Now her thoughts lie on Lucius, the one that Radda had conveniently stay behind. What would he do if he couldn't catch up to her? Being another one of Itala's sons made the entire situation even worse. Her eyes close for a moment, trying to make contact with Dante's younger brother.

"Run the fastest that you have ever ran, my boy!"

The door slides up, releasing a small platoon of imperial troopers who quickly form up, searching and aiming their rifles about as they fill up the corridor. Numbering about twelve and slightly inexperienced, they seem to perform with equal efficiency.

"Hmph."

Before the troops even notice Tidus and Selene, Tiranna falls from her hiding position by the ceiling just above the hacked door, decapitating two troops with a single swing of her lightsaber.

"Welcome.."

The storm troopers' reflexes have them quickly turning around, but before their revolution is even half way done, Tiranna force jumps to them, stabbing another trooper in the throat and landing gracefully behind.

The remaining troopers release a shower of blaster fire that the Marzullo elder manages to deflect back, nailing three more with their own laser fire as she is hit in the shoulder, throwing her back as she hangs on to her lightsaber.

"Aaah!"

She holds the ignited blade in front of her as the pain corrupts her concentration, using the energy left in her to remove a thick sheet of metal off the ceiling above the troopers, continuing to deflect back the blaster fire as the last troops are crushed underneath the weight of the heavy metal.

Tiranna turns off the lightsaber, her back facing the cold floor as she stares into the ceiling. The huge burn in her shoulder hurt just as it hurt last time someone landed a hit on her. Now she awaits for Lucius before it's too late.

"Blasted imperials."

[Ares Marzullo]

Hearing Alexia's and Fieron's words, besides some of what he thought were shrewed comments by his own sister, Ares feels proud and relieved that the basic spirit of the family had survived.

"I would gladly take the offer, Alexia, but we can't afford to risk any more of our precious women."

The relatives had turned their sights away for a brief moment while Ares dressed himself, still slightly limping from the brutal beating sustained a few hours before.

"I'll admit that I'll need a volunteer to come with me, I'm not the most technical when it comes to operating these ships and we are operating on a skeleton crew, the last of our clone officers. "

Ares steps out of the medical room, staring deep into the path that leads to the bridge.

"It will be dangerous."

[Fieron Marzullo]

Still standing by the doorway of the medical room, Fieron watched with a furrowed brow as the some of the last of the loyalists headed to the hangar bay to board shuttles and be whisked off to safety. Just then, Ares emerged, dressed and ready to carry out the tasks at hand. The slightly older man stood there for a moment before he began to speak once again.

"I'll admit that I'll need a volunteer to come with me, I'm not the most technical when it comes to operating these ships and we are operating on a skeleton crew, the last of our clone officers. "

He turned to look at his relative. That is true. Technological pursuits have never really been Ares' strong suit, he thought.

"It will be dangerous."

Fieron, the younger of Ares, interjected with a response, turning again to watch over the remainder that was now heading off to escape.

"Ares, I would go to the ends of the universe and beyond in aid of any of my loyal bretheren. I would gladly go with you."

[Alexia Marzullo]

War was detrimental. The toll that it took on a person was nearly palpable. The way it hung in the air was offensive. It even had a putrid smell. So many lives ended, so many people wounded. So many lairs, betrayers and backstabbers. The cries of pain still stung Alexia’s ears, even if all was silent. War amongst family was the worst sort. There were no victories, every battle was a lost battle. The strong crumbled and the weak sometimes survived.

Alexia sighed as she looked at her cousin and mother. The effects of war were standing right next to her. Genesis was an outgoing, smart, and ambitious girl. She strove to be the best at everything she did, but two years ago that all changed. When her brother announced his allegiance to Dante, her world came crashing down around her. She no longer had plans of becoming a healer. She had become an introvert, she never spoke unless spoken to and even then the words still had to be drawn out of her. She was a completely different person.

Nadia was a great mother. She made sure her children had everything they needed. Between her and Matthias, nothing was left out. Nadia made sure they knew ever law of Sol, while Matthias made sure they had the best training possible. They were raised to be loyal to the family, no matter what. Nadia often said how this family saved her life. Without them she was nothing and had nothing. But, ever since the war began Alexia knew that something shifted within her mother. She knew Nadia had no disloyal thoughts to the family, but she was not as strong as she wanted to be. The worries of war were weighting down upon her. Her father was not around much, nor Alexander and Alexia was only around because she had to be. Nadia could very possibly lose everything.

It was not fair for anyone in the family, but Alexia knew that she was probably one of the luckiest remaining Marzullos. She had suffered losses, her mentor and beloved aunt Juliette was killed, but she still had her twin and both of her parents. This was a rare situation and Alexia did not like to dwell on it. She knew that no one else wanted to hear how lucky she was that her immediate family had survived thus far, it was a mere coincidence that the three people that meant the most to her in the world were still with her. It could have very easily been Matthias who was killed, as apposed to Helen. Or Nadia instead of Mara.

She shook her head in frustration, she hated Dante for what he did to her family. She hated the traitors for following Dante. She never understood why, to her the thought of turning her back on the family was implausible. She could not even conceive that notation.

Wishing to not think about this anymore, Alexia pushed Genesis for some conversation. “So cousin, Corellia. I here it’s nice this time of year.” She gave her cousin a half smile. “We might even meet a worthy pirate to allow into the family.”
She knew that her attempts were probably futile, but she had to try.

[Lana Marzullo]

As Ares told Fieron to inform the Captain that they were to be taken to Coruscant, Lana couldn't help but to shake her head. Dante was about to expose the entire family - or at least a portion of it. His portion of it. Sure, Dante would have the opportunity to expose those who had chosen to side with Ares in the power struggle between the two brothers, but would he be taken seriously or seen as a madman?

Where Ares thought it best to follow Dante and his brood to Coruscant, Lana thought it to be a rather stupid move. Ares was reacting now instead of acting after planning and plotting. Yes, Dante had her daughter Selene and yes, Lana wanted nothing more than to see her daughter returned safe and sound. But one must go about accomplishing such with extreme caution and with a plan, not knee-jerk reaction.

But did Lana have a better plan? Not really. She wasn't a tactician or any expert in the planning of wars, defenses, offenses, and such. But she did have ideas that could be brought to the table where they could be stripped down, picked apart, modified, and solidified into something cohesive and smarter. One of those ideas would take a year or more to see it to completion, but of all her ideas, it was one of the more logical, one of the more doable. It was also, perhaps, one of the more dangerous.

Lana's beautiful blue eyes narrowed dangerously when Ares instructed Fieron to board the family on shuttles and flee to Corellia to hide. She was so sick of hiding. She was so sick of running. She was just so sick of everything. Disgusted with the way the family had divided all because two brothers couldn't agree or allow one to rule. Men, she thought disdainfully. Women should rule this family. Atleast when it comes to manipulation, we have the upper hand; along with cunning, ruthless deception and subtlety.

Eyes that saw much averted to Alexia whom was practically begging Ares to let her join him on his endeavor in hunting Dante. Of course she wouldn't be allowed to go. She was female and female's were to be protected and kept alive for the purposes of survival and continuation of the family's bloodline.

She then looked to Fieron as he practically bent over and kissed Ares' butt. The corner of her lip curled ever so slightly. Just dying to prove thyself. Or just anxious to die. Fieron was barely out of his teens and though Lana understood that he was just proving where his loyalties were, she couldn't help but to feel a moment of utter disgust for the display he'd just put on. Then he tried to usher everyone out of the medical room and on toward the hangar bay.

But Lana remained. She shifted her glance away from Ares just to allow enough privacy for the man to get dressed, but she stayed within the room with her arms folded defiantly across her chest. The ever faithful Fieron offered himself for the sacrifice just as Lana shifted her attention to Ares fully.

"Are you mad, Ares?" she questioned her younger brother. "What good can possibly come from the two of you giving Dante chase planetside? Tis suicide for either of you, let alone for both of you, to follow him." Lana looked from Ares to Fieron then back again. "You haven't put any thought at all into what actions you'll take next. So the two of you find Dante on Coruscant, then what, hm? I suppose just the two of you will be able to get rid of Dante, rescue Selene, and defend yourself against the others who follow his lead? Tis folly! He's luring you in and you're taking the bait."

The blonde had probably already overstepped her bounds with speaking to her brother that way, but she feared for his safety, and for the safety of Fieron as well as her captive daughter, Selene. "There has to be another way; a better way."

But Ares would hear none of it. He gave her a threatening scowl and flicked his eyes to the corridor, silently ordering his older sister to do as he said and leave with the others. "But Ares! Listen to me, please!" Lana begged of him as he slowly approached and grasped her by the biceps. He turned her around and helped 'guide' her to the door that would place her in the corridor and on to the hangar.

When Ares released his grasp, Lana spun around on her heels and faced him angrily. "Take Dante from the inside! Yes, it would take longer to bring him down and restore Sol's law and order to the family, but it could work and could work effectively. I know it's not the most perfect of plans, but it could be if we could just gather everyone still loyal to Sol and planned it all out down the very last detail."

There was a moment when Lana thought she just might have managed to get through to her younger brother, but it could have been her imagination working overtime. Now all she could do was wait and see how he'd react or to hear what he'd have to say.

[Ares Marzullo]

A loud sigh stops Ares from saying something that could hurt his sister's feelings, looking the other way to Fieron. Ares' face had switched from depressed and submissive to determined and serious, pulling his robe's hood over his head, covering his eyes so that he wouldn't have to see his sister's eyes anymore.

"Then come with me Fieron, let's hurry up."

Sidestepping Lana, Ares finally returns the courtesy shown by her a few seconds before.

"A woman like you could never understand, Lana. Let the men do the dirty work."

He wanted to see her face, her reaction, but he wanted to keep his credibility by not seeking silly amusement and glory and thus starts walking away, his back facing her in what could be seen as a blatant attempt to disrespect her.

"...but you got your wish, you are the oldest in the remaining group, lead them all to Corellia."

[Karl Valten]

“Alpha Squad?” A stormtrooper sergeant frantically called into the comms. The blaster fire had been heard on several decks, there had been a brief engage message but now only silence graced the headsets.

“Dammit, sergeant Joval come in.” He reached a hand up to fiddle with transmitter frequency as his squad hurried towards the sound of the conflict. What the hell was going on here, there was no way some fracking pirates could have mowed taken out an entire squad, maybe something was messing with the transmitter. Yeah, that was, it, damaged electrical systems where interfering with the transmitters.

“Gamma Squad, get up here now. Probably a false alarm, but I want to be sure.” The sergeant gave up with the radio frequencies, checked the charge on his rifle and pulled a grenade from his belt.

[I]“Can’t do it, Sarge, turbolift is on the fritz, our tech’s trying to get the thing running.”[I]

“…copy, that.” Figures. Well whatever, his squad of marines new what they were doing. If a group of pirates had an E-web or something set up, there wasn’t something a load of flying shrapnel wouldn’t take care of.

*****

Meanwhile the stormtroopers of Beta Squad picked there way through half-collapse bulkheads and exposed wiring. Engineering and the med-labs where their destination, but with all the crap laying around, they’d have to take a roundabout way.

The squad itself was jumpy as well, the leader noted. It was like something out of a cheap B-rate holo-vid, you know, those ones where the groups of soldiers walked around a maze doing gods-knows-what while the others slowly get picked off by monsters in the dark.

But those were holo-vids, over-exaggerated pieces of bantha dren that demeaned the true ability of soldiers. The squad leader lifted a fist as sudden voice burst down the hall.
…ou wish this ship to be your final resting place!

The squad froze along the wall listening to the conversation in the connecting chamber. A motion of the hand by the squad leader signaled the rest to quietly take up positions at edges. There were only a few by the sound of it.

Heartbeats raced beneath the white shells of the soldiers and their breaths quickened. Adrenaline flooded their veins and the leader counted down on his hand to three. On the final count he motion the squad and the troopers moved with Imperial precision, one squad member covering another

The scream of blaster fire started as energy raced at the adept group lead by Radda.
*****

Karl Valten’s feet rung heavily on the cold durasteel deckplating, the black and red Inquisitorial robes swirled around his feet. He paused for a moment, breathing in the sickeningly stale atmosphere; beneath the robes he ran an armored gauntlet over the sheath of his powersword.

Behind him Inquisitorial soldiers in black stormtrooper armor bearing the blood-red sigil of the Emperor’s Holy Inquisition prepared for battle, but dwarfing them were the hulking forms of the Crimson Guard. His hand chosen soldiers, taken from the potentials for Project Nightmare. Each of them wore a suit of crimson power armor traditional to their status. A single one of them could decimate a full platoon of enemies with the enhanced strength and speed granted by their suits. Disruptor rifles and electrostaves were gripped in their fanatical hands.

Valten’s eyes flashed open and a cruel smile graced his lips. “Send the seekers. Go; purge the taint from this vessel.”

In a flash of inhuman speed a group of soldiers in form fitting bodysuits flashed down the corridor. Seekers, men and women that had served the Inquisitoriate to death and now served as bloodhounds and shocktroopers. Cyborg warriors of flesh and metal.

Behind them followed the troopers and Guardsmen.

Ze’eva Kiel lingered with the Grand Inquisitor. “What of the stormtroopers? The ones that will survive this?”

Karl merely threw his head back and laughed. A hollow sound bordering on insanity, the strange bloodlust of an Inquisitor just was beginning to set in.

“What of the stormtroopers?”

Even after serving for years in the Inquisition, Captain Ze’eva Kiel shivered.

[Matthias Marzullo]

It was a beautiful day out, not a cloud in the sky. What better way to celebrate it then to have a nice family outing. Matthias made his way out of the a small ship followed by his wife; Nadia, and his two children; Alexander and Alexia. Most of the day was spent filled with laughter, dinning, and recreation but that soon changed. A strong disturbance in the force made Matthias fall to his knees gripping at his chest. Alexia rushed over to her father’s side, a worried expression was present on the young girls face.
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“Father, what is wrong? What is this strange feeling that is present?”<o:p></o:p>

“Gretchen…” Matthias gasped for air in between each word, “she’s… gone.”
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Death has an interesting effect on different individuals. Some people’s lives get hindered while others are able to still live on as if nothing has happened. Many dwell in the past while a few look forward to what is about to come. Being surround by death for almost two years would lead anyone to believe that Matthias would be one of the many. On the contrary, he only had his sights set on the future. Time for remorse and remembrance would have to wait: the history and future of a family was at stake. Opening up a secure COM link, Matthias sent out a message to Ares’ ship.
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<o:p></o:p>
“This is Matthias Marzullo. I need to speak with Ares.”<o:p></o:p>

[Genesis Marzullo]

I looked up at my cousin and tried to smile, but my heart just was not in it. I missed my parents dearly and the day of their deaths were coming up far to quickly. That was why I didn't want to leave, I wanted to stay where I could remember my parents memories. But, I knew I could not do that and it hurt like hell to have to leave.

All this time, I was told things would get better now. The pain would subside and life would go on, but it hadn't for me...my immediate family was gone. I loved secondary family and they took good care of me, but I missed my mother dearly.

I had to speak, there was no getting around it. "Yeah, it should be an interesting move." The words sounded lame and I knew it as I pulled my hands from my pockets and played with a frayed string on my tunic.

I sighed as I looked at Alexia. "Ares knows I will do whatever he asks?" I had not spoken with him in a long while. "Even if it meant giving my life..." The words seemed to echo in my mind, it was not the words of a healer but I was no longer in that realm. I had turned back to working with my hands on ships and such, anything I could get my hands on it was my first trade. I had learned the trade at an early age, working on ships alongside my father and I was good at it. But, my mother didn't think it was the right work for a growing girl and I began my road in the ranks of healing. I had enjoyed it, but I liked working as a mechanic far better.

My spirit perked up a bit as I thought of my days as a mechanic. "I'm hoping maybe to get back into the mechanics trade." I would be able to get lost in a machine and forget everything else around me. "My mother would have a nerf...don't you think?" I thought of this and grinned for the first time in a long time.

[Alexia Marzullo]

Alexia smiled gently at her cousin, this is what she wanted. Genesis was finally opening up a bit. "Ares knows I will do whatever he asks?" The younger cousin questioned.

"Yes, Genesis. Ares knows you are faithful to him and his wishes. But, there will be no giving of your own life involved. There is only giving of other life in our future." Their future was children, they were to raise the next generation of Marzullos.

"There will be plenty of ship work on Corellia for you, they are known for that trade." For Genesis' sake, Alexia hoped that it would be open to her. They were going into hiding on Corellia. Maybe, just maybe she could get her hands on some tools. If nothing else, Genesis could tinker with the shuttles. They always had emergency repair kits on board. Using the force, Alexia silenced these thoughts from her cousin.

"I'm hoping maybe to get back into the mechanics trade. My mother would have a nerf...don't you think?"

"Yes, your mother always preferred the healing arts for you. But, I think that she would have wanted you to be happy in your career." The smile was enough to make Alexia smile in return. "Maybe I'll even get my hands a little dirty with you." Alexia hated have her hands dirty, she might have been a Marzullo, but she was still a girl. Her hands covered in her opponents blood was one thing, but dirt and grease were not her forte. She would if she had to, but it was not something she was willing to do on her own leisure time.

[Fieron Marzullo]

Dismissing the exchange between Ares and Lana, Fieron went on ahead to the bridge room, and assisted the captain in making preparations for their departure to Coruscant. They had to be ready to vamoose as soon as the shuttles had left them, for there was no time to waste. Not ever, and certainly not in the matter of such traitors as the ones they were to encounter. Fieron wondered if he would have a run-in with his older sibling any time soon, as he had a few choice words for her. It was at that time that a transmission announced itself, dispelling all such thoughts - at least for now. Fieron opened the line of communcation, a secure link. A familiar voice came through.

"This is Matthias Marzullo. I need to speak with Ares."

Fieron grinned momentarily at the sound of that voice, but quickly became serious once again when it was his turn to reply. The young man wondered how Matthias was doing. His thoughts also turned briefly to Alexia. She would be happy to know that they had heard from her father, but that would be one piece of information she would not receive.

"Matthias. This is Fieron...Ares is on his way to the bridge and should be here any mo..."

Just then, the doors to the bridge swooshed open, and through them came the required invidual. Fieron looked up from the com to see Ares arrive, still looking somewhat battered, but alive. And that was what mattered.

"Ah, Ares." He motioned for the man to join him. "Matthias is on the COM. He wants a word with you."

[Ares Marzullo]

The hooded Ares makes his unceremonious entrance, nodding to his last few soldiers as they continue to operate the countless nobs and buttons spread all over the lower center of the bridge.

"Matthias? They made it back after all!"

Ares stands next to Fieron, looking into the console where the communication signal comes from, but also using a speck of the force to connect with his battle-hardened uncle.

"It's great to hear that you are alive, Matthias, but I must ask, is the job done?"

The crew begins to set a new destination for the ship, its new destiny being the planet farthest from the sun in Coruscan't solar system.

"Is Cyrus dead?"

The hideous and giant deformity of a man had somehow, someway survived after being defeated by the missing Kannon Marzullo, but not before rampaging his way through the Marzullo ranks, taking many lives with him in the process.

After that, furious with frustration, Ares dispatched Kannon along with Matthias and Viktor to hunt down and finish the creature once and for all.

[Marcus Marzullo]

"Now, get me out of these stupid things, will you?"

Marcus releases a sigh, very well aware of the fact that females could not be endangered anymore, times were dire and crucial, she had to live. He takes only a couple of steps, using but a flick of his lightsaber to destroy the cuffs with one sharp swing.

"Since you like to take the initiative, you will go down that chute first."

He wanted nothing more than to punish her with force lightning and make her reconsider her approach towards the war, but once again, the breeding needs of the family stand tall above any opinion he may harbor.

"Alexander and I will be right behind you. This ship is going to be filled with imperials very soon."

Steps can be heard from the distance, signaling the elder to turn the gears faster.

[Tidus Marzullo]

"Run the fastest that you have ever ran, my boy!"

Tidus gave a curt nod of the head, scooping up Selene in his arms. With a quick browse of the area, he looked towards the group of Marzullo's before darting off down the nearest side corridor, the read leather of his coat flailing out behind him. There was no time to spare, no time to wait for Radda to lead them. Soon enough, the ship would be swarming with Imperials. As far as Tidus was concerned, the priority now lay in finding the escape pods, rather than meeting up with Dante.

This wasn't exactly what had been planned.

Tidus ran with little sense of direction for a few minutes, speeding smoothly through the corridors of the dying Destroyer. He slowed to a stop, setting Selene down, but still keeping a hold of her hand. He leant forward, catching his breath as he looked up to Radda. Having realised he had no clue where the pods were, he waited. They had a few moments.

[Radda Manthys]

Dante's group continues its run to the waste section of the ship and without any warning, Radda stops dead in his tracks, the other Marzullo younglings hadn't made their presence known in the last few exchanges, but that did not mean they wouldn't come forward if needed.

"Alucard, take the rest of them to the pods, but wait for me in the last pod. Don't fear, I will be there."

The son of Athena had turned around only briefly, nodding and continuing his run with the rest.

"Tidus!"

Radda dives to push Tidus and Selene out of the way as blaster fire rains accross the hallway. The numerous troopers that were behind had cleverly and quietly begun a strike that would have incinerated any normal sentients in the galaxy.

The force rattles as Radda rips a thick door off one of the rest rooms adjacent to the corridor, using it as shielding and returning their own fire as well.

Suddenly, a rolling, oval-shaped object rolls down his way, blinking a yellow light faster every second. Radda continues to hold the door in front of him, this time dragging a big metal table to cover a portion of the path before them.

"Tidus, keep running with Selene, but aid me with the force as much as you can until you make the turn right at the end of the path. Feel the force of your brethren and follow them, you will see a chute with obvious marks to our family."

By this time, the thermal detonator was already flying back to its owner, blasting a big portion of the unfortunate storm troopers, delaying their efforts long enough for Radda to come up with more tricks.

"Hurry up, forget about Zoe and her mother!!"

The table and the door continue to protect the beast of a man, now using the force to pull a few of his own gadgets off his utility belt. First, about a dozen small metal spheres fly off, sticking to the ceiling right above another group of storm troopers.

"Say hello to my thermites."

The stuck spheres explode, releasing hundreds of tiny and poisoned needles that easily go through the armor of the troopers, only giving them a few minutes to live.

[Lucilla Marzullo]

Lucilla did not flinch even for a secon as the burning blade of Marcus' lightsaber cut through the cuffs. Feeling herself freed a little, she smiled just barely, it almost couldn't be seen. Stepping away from the pipe, she stretched just a little to get the stiffness out of her muscles.

"Since you like to take the initiative, you will go down that chute first."

Blinking for a moment, it was almost as if Lucilla hadn't heard him right. Go first? She had no weapon for defense, and he was going to make her go down that tube first? Was he nuts? For a moment, she opened her mouth to say something, but thought better of it.

"Alexander and I will be right behind you. This ship is going to be filled with imperials very soon."

Imperials...yes, that was a problem for them, they would have to move quickly. Without further thought, or any objection on her part, she ran forward and jumped down the chute.

"You better be right behind me!"

As she slid down, she opened her tired mind once again to the Force, feeling for Dante's presence, instead she got a suprise. Intending to land on her feet like a cat, instead she ended up in a pile of waste...at least it was a semi-soft landing, abeit smelly, blinking she looked around, "Erik?"

There were more people there as well, Krishna, and Chit....and most suprisingly of all, Dante, laying there knocked out cold.

[Chitbatuuk]

Chitbatuuk watches the sudden intrusion of the Marzullo female, finishing his climb down the heap of trash and junk to pick the woman up by a big wookie hug, squeezing her like a lost love.

"Roooooooowr!"

The wookie suddenly remembers Erik and Dante, who were floating face down on the slimey water, next to the dead water serpent, and proceeds to pick each one with each arm as he drags them up onto a different pile of trash.

"Grrrrrr..." the wookie growls, narrowing his eyes as he sees Dante. He had him all to himself, he could end the war or at least give Ares' side a great victory by choking the life out of the young rogue.

A more friendly growl emerges, this time for the sake of his human best friend, slapping him around to bring him back to life.

"Aaaaaaarrr!"

[Marcus Marzullo]

Marcus watches Lucilla slide down with what seemed to be a lack of fear, but her soul and the essence of the force could not lie.

"Go on, Alex."

The young man dares not question Marcus' decision, immediately jumping after the command. Marcus makes a fist and coughs against it, groaning in pain at this new illness that had been haunting him for the past few days.
He removes a thermal detonator from his belt, activating it and tossing it to the corridor where the foreign steps originate.

The following explosion reduces what was a great pice of engineering and architecture into nothing more than twisted metal and ripped cables, leaking what little energy remains in the ship.

Only a few seconds after the wookie was done giving Lucilla a hug, Alexander and Marcus slide down the chut, landing on the same heap of junk. Marcus ignites his lightsaber immediately, thinking that now it was the chance to kill Dante. Krishna and the wookie seem completely surprised, but not displeased by the elder's presence, much less the young man's.

"Stand aside everyone, I will finish him off now."

Marcus uses a Force jump to get to the top of the earest junk heap fast, driving down his blade to stab Dante in the heart, where death is all but guaranteed for such a seed of corruption and hatred. This was his chance, while Lucilla could only watch.

[Kannon Marzullo]

A battle it was, indeed. The epic struggle between Kannon Marzullo, one of only three remaining within his immediate family, versus Cyrus, a renegade who took it upon himself to sweep through the Marzullo ranks, freeing the universe of all who met his blade. After the deaths of his siblings Neo, Sorsha, and Orion, Kannon had willingly accepted the task set before him: the elimination of this rogue family member, before any other Marzullos fell to him, namely his two remaining sisters.

Tracking Cyrus throughout the galaxy was not a hard task, as the carnage he laid behind him was easy to see. Sharing the same lack of stealth, as Kannon was not looking to hide from Cyrus, the aging Marzullo began his quest for the renegade. Without much delay, the awaited encounter took place, as Kannon found Cyrus awaiting him on the world of Talus within the Corellian system....

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

With a startling alarm, Kannon awoke from a rest to the sound of his ship fixing to return from hyperspace. Beginning the silent countdown from five, he watched as the the starlines transformed around him, and where they had once been, light specks of near and distant stars now lay.

And before him, lying in wait a relatively short distance out from his viewport, was the world of Talus.....

[Erik Centter]

Erik's lightsaber also comes to life, striking Marcus' own blade and causing him to drop it into the water, causing a quick hiss from sudden contact between immense heat and water.

"You will do nothing of the sort, old man. "

The Jedi now stands, having been awaken by the wookie just in time, apparently. The tall Chitbatuuk stands next to him with the bow charged and aimed at Marcus.

"Dante shall stand trial the way your laws dictate, if captured while unconscious."

The Jedi keeps his saber ignited, sidestepping around the body of the traitor, positioning himself between Marcus and Dante to provide for better cover, he knew his rear was in danger for such defiance, but the ways of justice and peace would not allow him to witness a crime while he stood there and did nothing.

"Step away and into your escape pod, elder."

Erik raises his left arm, signaling Chitbatuuk to calm down as he hears low growls, typical signal of his wookie friend that he is ready to fire.

"Calm down now, Chit, I got this under control."

[Lars Marzullo]

The extravagant, mysterious and calculating Lars is the first one to arrive to the designed chutes, tracing his skinny fingers around the frame of the marked chute. A big, wicked smile decorates his goggled face, he had found it and now the time to escape was near. By his calculations, the pods would be self-activating within two minutes.

"Spectacular!"

Known as the insane genius of the family, Lars held no real loyalty to Dante or Ares, but the former always treated his inventions with admiration and respect. With Dante, he feels more needed and appreciated, as opposed to Ares and Itala who would always remind him he was just another part of the equation, merely doing his family duties.

"Duties!? Am I but a peon? My beauties are works of art, but he would never understand."

He is the one who designed the escape pods shaped like average junk, with enough room and supplies to survive adrift space for days. He was also the one who at much peril designed the ysalimir bracelets made from their essence to contain force users for a few days, but his design was lost and destroyed early in the war, never to be used again.

Just as he is about to be the first to jump down the chute, the very slim man raises an eyebrow, pinning his ear against the wall.

"Someone is down there, damn it."

He turns his head as more words echo, some type of arguement, the buzz of lightsabers.

"This is an outrage!!! How dare they!"

He chuckles in a rather macabre tone, looking at what seems to be a thermite grenade. Radda loved to use them, he would always consider him as another admirer of his work, just like Dante and the rest.

"This little guy is going to do its work."

The venom within the needles would quickly eliminate the average person in five minutes, more than enough time to barter a better deal. Lars kisses the grenade, tossing it down the chute.

[Selene Marzullo]

The fight had gone out of her very quickly once she realized that no one was coming for her. She trembled slightly and her grip convulsively tightened on Tidus’ hand. Holding onto something solid made her feel safer. Less likely to completely lose control, which she was very close to doing. Her eyes shut tightly as she tried to focus entirely on the physical contact, no longer willing or able to cope with anything but that one sensation, perhaps if she ignored everything that wasn’t supposed to be happening it would all just stop. The adults were talking above her but she didn’t hear any of it, she did however feel Tiranna gently cup her chin, the first even remotely kind touch or gesture towards her since she’d been dragged away from her home.

"Tell us, little one, who else do you feel in this ship?"

Her eyes opened to stare vacantly at Tiranna, trying to follow the gist of the question directed at her, feeling that she ought to respond to the person who was addressing her with the more tender tone she was used to.

"Imperials! Tidus, grab that child and run!"

Everything suddenly went into overdrive. Imperials stood several feet away and Tiranna was standing ready to face off with the new intruders. Tidus scooped her up and began a headlong dash down the nearest corridor before she could even think to make a sound in protest. Radda and the rest were off as well, speeding in the opposite direction of the new threat and only coming to a halt after many confusing twists and turns in the ships passageways. She began to relax a little as she was set on her feet again only to find herself pushed out of the line of blaster fire and a strange roundish object rolling toward them. She decided that it probably wasn’t a good thing and was scrambling out of the way even before Radda gave his order for Tidus to take her and keep going.

"Tidus, keep running with Selene, but aid me with the force as much as you can until you make the turn right at the end of the path. Feel the force of your brethren and follow them, you will see a chute with obvious marks to our family."

Her survival instinct kicked in, all thoughts of kidnapping and family feuds gone for the moment, her family was being attacked by outsiders and none of them would stand for that no matter their hostile feelings toward each other. Pointing down the corridor she frantically tugged on Tidus’ hand pulling him in the right direction. She didn’t care what happened to Radda as long as he kept the troopers away from her and Tidus long enough for them to escape. There were others aboard the ship now too, she hadn’t noticed before but now fear made her more attuned to her surroundings and other possible threats. She didn’t know who, but other outsiders were approaching, other outsiders that scared her far more than the men Radda was fighting off.

“This way Tidus, I can find everyone…but we have to go now there are more very bad people coming and we can’t be here when the catch up.”

[Genesis Marzullo]

I had to smile at Alexia's comment. I knew she was not the mechanic type. "Well, perhaps you can keep me company." I offered. Deep down, I knew my mother would not have liked this. She disliked Alexia's mother with a passion, but I never questioned it. Perhaps one day we could talk about it.

"Life is going to change for us again, always changing." I sighed.

[Matthias Marzullo]

"Matthias. This is Fieron...Ares is on his way to the bridge and should be here any mo..."

A worried expression made it’s way a crossed Matthias’ face. Had someone interfered with his transmission? He was about the try and resend a new transmission on a different COM-link when Ares came over the current link.

"It's great to hear that you are alive, Matthias, but I must ask, is the job done?"
"Is Cyrus dead?"

Relieved that the tranmission had not been interrupted, Matthias quickly replied.

“That last time I saw Cyrus, he was falling down a vent. A non-stop trip to the core.”

Matthias knew that this news would bring a smile to Ares’ face. However, there was other news that had to be convey before Ares’ could reply.

“We lost contact with Viktor. There was a trap set for us by Radda when we arrived. Viktor went after him while Kannon and I went after Cyrus. Since then, we have not been able to verify if Viktor is alive and where he is.”

[Ares Marzullo]

“That last time I saw Cyrus, he was falling down a vent. A non-stop trip to the core.”

Ares releases a sigh, it seemed that the hideous secret had finally run out of luck, a great partner of his throughout the whole war. He looks at Fieron, smiling slightly at the apparent good news.

“We lost contact with Viktor. There was a trap set for us by Radda when we arrived. Viktor went after him while Kannon and I went after Cyrus. Since then, we have not been able to verify if Viktor is alive and where he is.”

Ares doesn't receive this news as well, punching the console hard enough to shatter some of the glass, cutting himself in the process without as much as a whimper. The news of Viktor were the worst he had heard today, perhaps the strongest warrior left in the family, Marcus aside.

"Matthias, I don't have much time, but a small group of shuttles will emerge from the "Purifier" containing the family, protect them on their way to Corellia and protect them with your life."

All said and done, Ares takes his rightful seat between the control pits in the bridge, beginning a trance in the force to try and make contact with the missing Viktor, hoping to find a trace of life, a trace of hope.

"Remember, Fieron, set the coordinates to the farthest planet from the sun in Coruscant's system and have the men prepare a shuttle for us."

Ares himself considers his plan to be insane, but he and the family had run out of options, only such a plan could ensure that the new saga would start with a mighty bang.

[Krishna Marzullo]

Krishna pops out of the water coughing violently as she slowly makes her way to a pile of trash then falls hard on her knees. Trying to regain her breath, she looks up and sees that others have come to join them in the rather vile smelling place. She turns to face Chit and nods her head in thanks to him, still not quite trusting herself to talk with out hacking some more water out of her lungs.

As soon as she thought that she could even attempt to talk she looked over at Erik and with as much of her usual sarcasm as she could muster said, "I think I'll start believeing you when you say there is something in the water."

She then stood up, albeit a bit unsteadily, and saw Erik draw his lightsaber, in what look liked defense of Dante. But she really didn't have time to even make a comment on the situation when she heard the clinking sound of something small and most likely metal coming down the chute. "Hate to break up this little spat, but does anyone else hear something coming down the chute?"

[Marcus Marzullo]

While the lightsabers clash, Marcus is genuinely surprised by the Jedi, but not the luck that Dante had shown to have throughout the war, escaping near death countless times.

"I will be damned if I'm going to let a Jedi give me orders!"


Now the Jedi actually steps in front of the passed-out Dante, using himself as shield for the tyrant. What else could be left unexpected at this point? First Lucilla, now Erik, was there something he was missing?

He isn't given much more time to react, hearing the clanking of metal in the opposite chute used by Krishna, the jedi and the wookie

"Hate to break up this little spat, but does anyone else hear something coming down the chute?"

A single thermite grenade, one of Lars' insane inventions is spat out by the chute, getting lost within the water.

"Take cover!"

Suddenly, another one of the predatory serpents emerges from the water, swallowing the grenade as a loud gulp is followed by a splattery, bloody explosion of flesh and bone.

A few of the poison needles make it out of the destroyed animal, penetrating Marcus' arm as his reflexes make him cover the spot immediately, falling back against the wall in pain.

"I'm hit! I only have five minutes to live!"

Marcus sees no other choice but to accept his impending doom, climbing back down to the water as he walks over to the chute and holds his ignited lightsaber in front, hoping to cover the rest from more of the deadly grenades. "Hopefully nobody else is hit", he thinks.

[Erik Centter]

Erik feels a pinch in his stomach, falling on his rear as he cringes in pain, removing the poison needle. He runs his palm against his face, removing the flesh and slime that the explosion had so kindly provided for everyone.

"I have been hit too."

Erik examines the sinister-looking needle, which looked like a spider's leg, with countless little spines to inject the venom faster and more accurately. Erik watches the wookie remove about five different needles from his shoulder also, meaning that most likely everyone should have been hit.

"I have failed, it's over."

[Lars Marzullo]

Almost with a warped sense of style, Lars slides out of the chute, barely missing Marcus' blade as he holds more of the thermite grenades in his hand and landing on a heap of garbage small enough for a slim man to be supported.

"It's not quite over, my Jedi intruder."

Lars is then surprised to see a fallen Dante on top of the second tallest heap of garbage, avoiding sheer panic as he sees movement from the leader, proving that he as alive. Ironically, Dante had been hit by many needles as well, decorating most of his right leg.

"Within me I have a bottle with the antidote, with enough to save you all, but you must all leave and leave Dante here before you get it from me."

The thermite grenades bounce on his hand as he plays with them, chuckling tauntingly as he had given the rebellious group little choice in the matter.

"Three minutes, make a decision, Jedi."

[Lucilla Marzullo]

For a moment, Lucilla had lost track of nearly everything that was going on, she was picked up and hugged by a wookie, one whom she had tortured years ago, it was strange, almost comical to her, and she was also lucky that they now were allies, or else she could have had her bones crushed.

"Ch-chitbatuuk...put me down..."

She was released, and breathing again, raising a brow as Chit moved down into the water. She gasped as her eyes beheld both bodies of Erik and Dante, face down in the nasty water. As Chit slapped Erik around a little, Marcus and Alex landed behind her, both unharmed from their trip down, as it would seem.

Suddenly movement behind her made her gaze fly over to Marcus as he leapt, he landed and again was hovering over Dante's body. For a brief moment she thought that she was going to have a heart attack, a gasp releasing from her lips, closing her eyes tightly, she wouldn't watch...she couldn't.

The clash of sabers made her eyes open again, Erik had woken up just in time to stop Marcus from landing the final blow. Obviously Marcus was not having a very good day, having been thwarted twice in his attempt to finish off Dante. Letting out a soft sigh, Lucilla placed her hand over her heart, feeling it beating hard below her palm.

"Hate to break up this little spat, but does anyone else hear something coming down the chute?"Blinking, Lucilla listened her ears picking up a tinkling noise, raising an eyebrow as it grew louder. What the heck...was that?

"Take cover!"

Doing as was ordered, without making any objections, she grabbed ahold of Krishna and dove behind a pile of junk, sheltering Krishna with her body. What the hell was going on?! She was so tired and everything was so muddled, especially her emotions.

An explosion startled her, only slightly, but her expression did not change. Whatever blew up, it certainly sounded messy. She heard a sound, multiple objects that sounded possibly like needles hit the walls, bouncing off into the garbage below.

"I'm hit! I only have five minutes to live!"
"I have been hit too."

Running a shaking, dirty hand through her hair, Lucilla stood slowly from her hiding place, ducking as Lars came out of the chute. From what she could see, Marcus, Chit, and Erik were hit. It appeared that Dante was hit as well, sending her temper flaring once again. So it was Lars that sent that death trap down here. She eyed the rest of them in his hand, watching it's movement.

"Within me I have a bottle with the antidote, with enough to save you all, but you must all leave and leave Dante here before you get it from me."


'Within me'? What the hell did that mean? Was the antidote inside his body? No..surely...he must have meant on his person...right? Placing a hand on Krishna's shoulder as an indication to stay hidden, Lucilla righted herself and walked from her hiding spot.

"Well well...Lars, the genius of the family graces us with his presence at last. I should have known that you'd still be alive and mulling around somewhere, though I admit that this was the last place I expected to see you again."

Moving slightly, she was shifting towards Dante, who was stirring at last, unfortunately for him, he was going to be feeling extreme pain as his life dwindled away.

"You serve Dante now? Didn't know that he was down here with us, did you? My...what a mistake you've made...I didn't know that smart people could be so rash..."

Lucilla couldn't hide her grin as she kept her eyes on Lars, Dante was going to be pissed when he woke up, if he was administered the antidote in time.

"Hand over the antidote, Lars. I wont allow you to take a step closer to Dante. Besides, how am I, and the rest of the company, going to be assured that our lives will be spared? That you will truly give us the antidote? Can you offer us proof? Quickly now. Dante's life is dwindling fast..."

[Erik Centter]

Erik reignites his lightsaber, force-jumping down to where Lars stands, catching his next grenade with one hand while quickly holding the burning blade close to his neck, whispering with the frustrated anger caused by his life quickly slipping away.

"How about you give us that antidote and you keep your life, worm?"

Erik is no fool, a few meters from him lies a dying Dante, regardless of what happens the antidote would be given, but he isn't about to lose the best catch they could escape with.

"You idiot. We die, Dante dies!"

[Lars Marzullo]

"Well well...Lars, the genius of the family graces us with his presence at last. I should have known that you'd still be alive and mulling around somewhere, though I admit that this was the last place I expected to see you again."

Lars widens his eyes as the heat of the lightsaber burnt close enough to blister his neck, cringing his teeth as he looks at Lucilla. With a wide smile, he answers her question first, being the gentleman that he is.

"Of course I am present, I am a celebrity, my presence is a must." he chuckles, while groaning from the painful heat.

"Hand over the antidote, Lars. I wont allow you to take a step closer to Dante. Besides, how am I, and the rest of the company, going to be assured that our lives will be spared? That you will truly give us the antidote? Can you offer us proof? Quickly now. Dante's life is dwindling fast..."

Lars chuckles once again, keeping his face as far from Erik's blade as possible.

"This is how I do business, I trade."

He takes a small pause before he speaks again, knowing full well that if a bluff is called, he'd be dead.

"Dante may very well die, we still have an heir in Lucius, while your deaths would be the final blow to Ares' efforts."

Now he could focus on the angry Jedi, impressed that there were indeed a few left who would put anger to good use, rather than allowing it to control them.

"Master Centter, I am sure that by now you must feel a rather bothersome tingling sensation behind your heart. Remember, you have two minutes now."

He widens his emile even more, covering his dirty soul with the lifeless goggles he wears.

"In about thirty seconds, your nervous system will be a shambles, so how about we do as I say?"

[Lucilla Marzullo]

"Of course I am present, I am a celebrity, my presence is a must."

Celebrity? More like crazy...he has a lightsaber blade close to his neck, and he has time to make jokes? Shaking her head, Lucilla tried to hide how irritated she already was. Humoring Lars seemed to be the best thing for the moment, so she smiled back at him.

"Dante may very well die, we still have an heir in Lucius, while your deaths would be the final blow to Ares' efforts."

Lucilla's fake smile nearly fell at this...Lucius was with Dante? Was he aboard right now? Did that mean that Selene was here also? Clenching her fists slightly, she felt angered at herself, for not noticing either of their presence if they were indeed aboard the same ship as she was.

"You lie, Lars. You're trying to get us to hand over Dante. Well we wont! I will not allow it! You would not leave your leader to just die, you know there would be some punishment in that. Are you prepared for it?"

Reaching out with the Force, Lucilla pulled Marcus' lightsaber from him, catching it quickly and pointing the end down over Dante's chest, her resolve was set. She did not want to kill Dante with her own hands, but she could not single-handedly risk everyone elses lives any longer.

"The antidote, now, or I'll end his life right here!"

[Marcus Marzullo]

It's a very challenging day for the elder's patience. First, Lucilla had saved Dante, second she takes his lightsaber, he wonders what the third will be, perhaps another wasted chance versus the enemy leader.

"Lucilla!"

A storm of lightning travels from one end of the room to the other, engulfing Lucilla with enough electricity to power the whole ship, while using the very same skill to retrive his lightsaber from her shocked hand.

"Stand down, woman! This is why we never should have allowed the females to do battle!"

Marcus walks over to the body of Dante, gently elevating himself in their air with aid of the Force, then grabs the young usurper by the neck and brings him down to the threatened Lars.

"I can barely move now, Dante isn't worth all of our lives."

Marcus drops the body next to Lars, half the body sunk in the water as it twitches from the poison.

"The antidote, Lars."

[Lucilla Marzullo]

"Lucilla!"

Her eyes left Lars' face and moved to Marcus', before she even had any time to react, she felt it, the pain as electricity rocketed through her body, every sensation in her body turned to agony.

Letting out a cry of pain, her body slumped to the ground and writhed with the pain before her eyes closed, her body involuntarily twitching for a few seconds before going limp.

[Lars Marzullo]

Lars stops the chuckling as some of his blsters pop, causing enough pain to take his sense of humor away. He got what he wanted, Dante by his feet, but the threat wasn't over yet.

"If Centter here would be kind enough to remove the lightsaber, I will be glad to give it to you, Marcus."

The Jedi has no choice but to comply, slowly backing away as Lars coughs. He removes a part of his trenc coat and begins fiddling with some buttons installed in his ribcage, strangely opening up a tiny hatch with a small bottle.

"A souvenir from sister Iris, she wasn't happy that I took Dante's side."

Lars continues fiddling with the buttons closing the flesh compartment and buttoning his jacket back on, but then, uses his limited skills of the force to toss the bottle deep inside the first escape pod.

"There you go, you have twenty seconds before it takes off."

Lars starts fiddling with buttons on an arm pad, activating the auto pilot in the pod, starting a countdown.

"I would advice that the poisoned hurry up and get into the pod."

Lars falls to his knees and shoves his hand deep inside his throat, causing him to vomit violently, spitting out another antidote bottle in the process. While the panic ensues, he quickly removes the cap off the bottle and pours some of it in Dante's ear.

[Krishna Marzullo]

"A souvenir from sister Iris, she wasn't happy that I took Dante's side."

Krishna raises her head just in time to see Lars toss the bottle in to one of the escape pods, causing her eyes to go wide and her doctors insticts to go into effect.

"There you go, you have twenty seconds before it takes off."

Knowing that there was little time left she gets up and runs towards the pod, hoping that the others had the good sense to follow her.

Grabbing the bottle she rips open her pack quickly finding a few little cups and starts to fill them with the antidote.

"If you want to live I would suggest getting yourselves in here NOW!" said Krishna, ready to hand off the cups to the poisoned.

[Chitbatuuk]

Krishna did not have to say a thing, the wookie already climbing inside the escape pod, grabbing one of the antidotes and swallowing it fast. His instincts drive him to the pilot's seat, fiddling around with some nobds and buttons that quickly turn on all of the lights.

"Raaaaaaaar!" yells the wookie, alerting the rest to buckle up and prepare for a rough ride.

The pod begins to shake, metal begins to clang, they were but a few seconds from taking off. The wookie continues to deperately figure out a way to delay the innovative vessel, finally finding the wire he was looking for.

The pod is shut off immediately, the lights die and the metal sounds of the release stop. The wookie sighs deeply, removing the rest of the nasty needles from his body.

[Erik Centter]

The moral code entrenched within the heart of the Jedi stops him from slicing Lars and Dante in many pieces, something most ruthless fiends would have no trouble doing. When he saw that the wookie had climbed up, he knew that he would put his great technical skills to good use, climbing up to the pod in a hurry as he reaches for another one of Krishna's cups, swallowing the anditide immediately.

"Aaah, good job Chit."

Erik climbs aboard and buckles up as the wookie continues to rearrange many of the wires, reprogramming the countdown. Erik wonders wether the insane genius of Lars hasn't noticed that the escape pod hasn't taken off yet.

"Strange."

His body twitches from the effects of the poison still, but gradually stops as the antidote kicks in, relaxing the Jedi's muscles to the near point of falling asleep, what a bad time to lose consciousness it would be, not knowing what would happen once the pod is released.

"Three onboard so far, with space for one more to enter."

[Marcus Marzullo]

By the time the wookie and the Jedi take their antidotes, Marcus is already receiving his from Krishna, swallowing it as he closes his eyes to concentrate on the Force. After all the ruckus, he had lost much focus and concentration, attributes that he always boasts to the youngsters about. The antidote quickly runs through his system, taking away the sharp pains.

"Here, Lucilla should be the fourth, Alexander and I will take the next pod."

The young Alexander gently picks the fried Lucilla up and lifts her to the pod hatch, aided by elder as Krishna pulls her in, quickly buckling her up.

"Krishna, as the only capable member of the family in this pod, take charge, don't let the Jedi tell you what to do."

Before she can even say anything in return, Marcus closes the hatch. He tired of the drama very easily. He returns his attention to Lars and Dante, noticing more movement from the treacherous libertine.

"If we attack Dante before he's awaken, there's no way he could be saved again."

[Tiranna Marzullo]

Tiranna continues to lay on the floor, attempting to recover her locomotives slowly, time had just about run out for her and this gravely delay would bring nothing but pain and suffering to her very near future.

"I can't die here."

She slowly sits up, nesrly drooling from the pain that the laser blast had inflicted upon her. She wound wasn't serious enough, thanking her magnificnet epidermis for that, but it had made her half the warrior. The Force plays a lot of tricks for her mind, feeling tension, hate and confusion, all of it happening only a short distance away.

Her cunning instincts allow her to begin feeling the presence of more imperial troopers, but these felt different, not like the cattle that had been thrown at her just a moment ago. She looks behind her slightly, the corner of her eye detecting troopers in a different black armor, something she hadn't seen before, thanks to the secretive nature of the clan.

This new presence forces her to finish getting up, stumbling against the wall of the long, dark corridor. Her lightsaber is ready for action, but there isn't much more she has to ffer in her condition. The only chance she has is to let them make the first move, or set some type of trap, but she had a minute or two at the most.

She quickly scans the area with her eyes the way a cold, calculating machine would, finding a pool of shattered glass along with twisted, sharp metal within a destroyed room. She feels around her utility belt as well, finding a few thermite grenades and thermal detonators, as well as assorted objects of an ill nature.

She resumes her fleeing, her Force powers focused on the objects she found as she limps her way to the rest of the group, but now she begins to hear blaster fire coming from the front.

"Radda."

She realizes that imperials now swarm the ship, hoping that Lucius and Zoe could somehow make it to the escape pods in time. However, any hope of escape she has is dashed away, or at least complicated by the arrival of more stormtroopers from the front, effectively cut off from the rest.

She only stares as the soldiers take positions, they would not ask questions, they would not be interested.

"The Force."

She never thought of using something as trivial as mind tricks to save her own skin, only the power of her lightsaber skills would save her frequently.

A simple wave of her hand is performed on the leading stormtrooper.

"I am not of importance."

[Karl Valten]

Damn it, they’d had them. Every one of those damn pirates should have been killed. The stormtroopers sergeant had been caught off guard when his own grenade had picked itself off the floor and flew back at him. The shockwave had picked him off his feet and hurled him back down the corridor.

Even with the helmets sound dampeners, his ears were still ringing. The muffled squeaks of blaster fire told him that some of his squad were still fighting back. Though the fact that there were far fewer shots than before caused a knot to form in his stomach.

The officer rolled to his feet and looked down the blackened hallway. Several charred corpses lay scattered about, but the scariest thing was the hundreds of needles lining the walls, several stormtroopers bodies had been impaled by dozens. And the shouts coming over the headset told him several others had been hit.

He staggered to his feet shaking the cobwebs out of his head. From the sound of things the troopers were starting to panic, some having trouble breathing, muscles beginning to spasms. The sergeant stumbled back, checking himself over for any needles sticking out of the armor. There were always horror stories running through the ranks about poisoned weapons.

Nothing, he breathed a sigh of relief, only to have fear claw at him. The stormtrooper stumbled back, turning to flee away from the carnage. Doors flying off of their hinges and floating in the air, his own explosives flying back at him…it was like the clone wars and those Jedi.

Breaking into an all out sprint, the sergeant’s mind whirled. But they’d all been killed, right? Darth Vader and the Inquisitoriate had wiped all of those sorcerer freaks out hadn’t they? All of a sudden something clicked. The Inquisitoriate! That’s why they were here; somehow they knew.

Even as the revelation hit, he turned a corner and found himself tossed through the air into a bulkhead. It took the man a second to realize he was starring at a completely blank facemask. A lithe figure in a form fitting suit pressed him against the wall, the tip of a vibroblade pressed against his throat. A blade the came right out of the creature’s wrist.

Under the helmet, his eyes widened. He’d seen these before, searchers or seekers or something they were called. Always the same faceless suits completely covered black. They were like the Inquisitoriate’s bloodhounds.

“Where?”

A shudder ran through the sergeant at the voice, like the grating of gears. Rumors were often shared between soldiers off duty about the seekers; that they were not human, they dead brought back to life. For second he wondered what the face under the mask looked like.

“Ba…back that w..wway.” He gestured with his head as well he could in the correct direction. “The ju…junction in secti..tion 36c. Entire squad d…de..ddead.”

A second seeker faded into view, moving with an unearthly grace. It drew close to the stormtroopers face mask.

“How?”

The man gulped at the emotionless beings holding him against the wall. After this was over he was done. He’d resign and retire on Borealis or Thyferra or someplace with decent weather.

“Don’t kn…know. Grenades came back at mm..mme..door hovered i…in air. I think they where Jedi. I had to run”

At the mention of the force-users both seekers let out a feral hiss at the same time. In fact over the entire ship, every seeker stopped dead in its tracks with the same angry sound. It was a side effect that the Inquisition scientist could not explain. Somewhere in the augmentation and neural wiring process, a seeker bound itself with the others, forming a hivemind of sorts. What one saw and heard, they all saw and heard.

The two seekers in front of the stormtrooper sergeant drew back slightly, glancing at each other; waiting for orders from the Grand Inquisitor.

With the blade away from his throat, the sergeant relaxed. But before the man could take a breath of relief, this first seeker snapped its wrist forward faster than the eye could see, skewering the stormtroopers throat to the wall.

The blank mask drew close to the man as the life drained out of him. A single low whisper escaped from the seeker’s mouth.

“Coward.”

In a flash it tore the blade from his throat. Before the body could hit the floor, both seekers had disappeared down the corridors towards Radda faster than any human could hope to run.

[Fieron Marzullo]

Hearing the news about Viktor brought a deep frown to Fieron’s youthful features. He always had somewhat of an admiration for the older man, as a warrior, but when it came to his own skills they surely lacked in comparison, which caused him to work fervently on improving himself at every turn he could take advantage of. It meant he had acquired more than his share of bruises (if ever there were such a thing as a predetermined allotment for discomfort), scrapes, broken bones and healing time, but he had subscribed to a small bit of the ideal of ‘no pain, no gain’. However, for this son of the Marzullo clan, it became increasingly apparent that his strength in the physical would never chance at passing his personal dominance over the field of mentalics. One could do rather dangerous things when one knows just how to manipulate the Force down to the most infinitesimally small molecule.
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In time, He mused within his thoughts, In time. But now…but now, I must focus on the task at hand.<o></o>
<o></o>
Following the given instructions, Fieron had the coordinates set to the planet farthest from the Coruscant system’s star, Coruscant Prime. This planet’s name was Ulabos, the twelfth orbit and eleventh planet in the Coruscant system. Being furthest away from the star, Ulabos was a frozen, rocky place, surrounded by large rings of ice and rock. He had to take care not to put the Purifier too close to that. Just minor lessons in navigation that he had learned long ago. After finishing up with those adjustments integral to this mission, he went off for a few minutes to have a couple of their men ready a shuttle for Ares and himself, and gave a detailed listing of the things required, instilling the importance that his every instruction be followed – every ‘i’ dotted and every ‘t’ crossed. There was never really the room for mistakes anymore.
<o></o>
Shortly thereafter, Fieron returned to the post he had temporarily assumed for himself, and glanced occasionally at Ares, whom appeared to be deep in a trance, and wondered if perhaps Viktor might still be alive. Only time would tell, and for now, one could only hope. He looked on as everything dictated in the plan was set into motion, and at one point, closed his eyes for a sliver of time to calm his mind.

[Ares Marzullo]

"Ulabos it is, then."

Embarassed by his terrible geography knowledge, largely due to the fact the clan was very isolated from the rest of the galaxy. He continues to meditate as the the Purifer begins its jump into hyperspace. He had allowed his brother to live twice, at great cost, this time he would make it up to the family, he'd come through as the strong leader promised by Itala's legacy.

"Sol guide us."

The visible stars seen through the bridge become rays of light, filling up the entire field of vision as the massive destroyer jumps into hyperspace, leaving behind the shuttles with the rest of Ares' followers who would go on and make their own journey. Ares only hopes that the brave Marzullos who volunteered to attack Dante's ships had left the vessel, for the next attack would kill everything in its sight, most of the family would classify it as "outright insane".

[Erik Centter]

Erik is buckled up and ready to go, trusting Chitbatuuk with the piloting since he was the clear expert. The Jedi liked to do the dirty work, while the wookie would take care of the technical side, not that he wasn't any good at piloting, but he would stay away from it as long as it was affordable to. He does find it strange that the wookie sits there, tapping its fingers without doing much else.

"Chit! What are you waiting for?! Put that wire back together and let's go!"

His words are met by a loud, protesting roar, quickly changing the man's perspective.

"You're right. The imperials will blast us if we don't depart with the rest of the trash, we'd be an obvious target."

The wookies goes on, starting to fix the wire without the final touch that would power up the small vessel.

"So all we can do here is wait for someone to release the junk. Great."

[Radda Manthys]

A twitching body had shown that it had some life left in him, the poor soldier finds himself being grabbed by the neck as Radda stares into the lifeless black eyes of the helmet. Radda tosses the unfortunate trooper against the ceiling, quickly igniting his lightsaber as he slashes the falling body in half, sending both pieces of what used to be a man tumbling all over the floor.

Radda quickly turns his attention to what seemed as running animals, but they were anything except clueless beasts, these were some type of special troopers.

"They fit the profile of the seekers..." he thinks, backing away as they run towards him. He first tries to use mind tricks, trying to convince the fast enemies that he isn't there as he performs a quick side flip that takes him inside a destroyed cafeteria with enough sharp pieces of rubble to cause one bloody mess.

Radda turns off his laser blade, landing behind a drinks machine as he watches closely, but the seekers continue to run towards him, but now blades were coming out of their arms, their intent is clear and wouldn't be deterred by simple games of the Force.

Radda closes his eyes and his teeth cringe, using the Force to pick up the ton-heavy drinks machine, tossing it towards the agile foes as his lightsaber ignites once again.

In mid air, the seekers easily dodge the lifeless and massive projectile, even managing to create a huge cut in Radda's elbow, cutting right through one of the weak points of his armor. However, this comes at a heavy price as one of the seekers lands before its head spins in the air, finally landing on top of the dead body.

Radda lands on one knee, grunting at the pain inflicted by such a big cut, quickly performing another side flip that barely escapes the stabbing seeker as he Force pushes him against the wall.

This isn't enough however, the seeker somehow touches the wall with his feet, bouncing off and landing on both feet as if such situations were easily trainable.

"As efficient as the stories say."

Radda uses his free left arm to quickly throw a thin blade that would pierce through most imperial armor, but the vicious fiend easily moves out of the way. This latest move by the seeker would prove to be fatal, dodging into the Sith's lightsaber which runs right through the throat, slashing its way out through the middle of its head, from chin to forehead, dropping like a test dummy and landing in an akward position.

Radda grunts once again, removing his arm armor and examining the massive gash.

"This will take time to heal."

If he remembers the book correctly, the whole lot of them would be closing in on him soon.

[Tidus Marzullo]

Everything was moving so fast now. Tidus sped off after the others, clutching Selene in his arms again. Reaching out with his mind, he tried to empower Radda as much as he could, until he reached the corner and redirected his focus on following the other Marzullo's.

Soon he was catching up, seeing the last of them disappearing into a trash shute. Within a few moments, he was staring down it, into the darkness. Glancing into Selene's eyes for a second, he hopped inside, and began to slide down the pipe, and into the unknown.

[Dante Marzullo]

Dante's eyes flutter as they open, for just one brief moment believing himself to be on his bed back home, that this was all one amazing dream. When he comes to, he finds himself nearly submerged in slimy water, making one of those faces women would do when seeing small rodents.

"What?! How?!" he yells, figuring out that he is inside the designed escape
area under the disguise of a bunch of junk and garbage. He looks behind him quickly, looking into the lifeless goggles of Lars as he contiues to fiddle with buttons on his arm control pad.

Looking further up where the hatches are, he widens his eyes in fear as he sees Marcus and Alexander stepping inside one of the escape pods, almost as if Lars and himself weren't even there.

"Lars, what happened here? Why are we not dead?"

[Matthias Marzullo]

"Matthias, I don't have much time, but a small group of shuttles will emerge from the "Purifier" containing the family, protect them on their way to Corellia and protect them with your life."
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With those last words, the conversation was over. Matthias knew that Ares hadn’t taken the news about Viktor well. When it came down to it, Viktor was like a second father to him. Viktor was Itala’s right hand man and when Itala didn’t have the time to train the twins because of family business; it was Viktor who picked up the slack.
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Matthias took a quick glance at the coordinates for intercepting the shuttles and punched them into the main computer. With a heavy sigh, he stood up and moved to one of the portholes looking out into the blackness of space lined with white stripes. They had made the jump to hyperspace once again and would be intercepting the shuttles within moments. Matthias ran his fingers through his hair and allowed his hands to come to rest on the back of his neck. Ares last command kept running through his head… “Protect them with your life.”
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“Who’s going to protect you, Ares?” Matthias questioned rhetorically.
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Matthias couldn’t dwell on that right now, he had to protect the rest of the family. He turned around from the porthole just as Kannon was entering the main deck. His cousin had not spoken since their battle with Cyrus. Kannon seemed to be in his own world, trying to figure out his current situation. Matthias had done his best to leave him be and not bother him. However, the time had come for him to tell his cousin the new mission.
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“I made contact with Ares. He wishes for us to meet up with a few shuttles carrying some of our family members and escort them safely to Correllia. We should be intercepting them any moment now.”
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Kannon nodded his head in acknowledgement and took a seat at one of the computer consoles. Matthias turned his attention back to the porthole. The stars were becoming specks instead of streaks which meant they had reached their destination. Now all they had to do was sit back and wait.

[Alexia Marzullo]

Alexia nodded to Genesis. Things were definitely about to change. Though the Marzullo’s had been relatively hidden for most of their existence, they were about to enter a whole other realm of hiding. Hiding on Corellia would be much different than being hidden on their own planet in the universe.

“Yes, cousin. And I’m afraid we have so much more change to come.”

Alexia gave Genesis a half smile, keeping up appearances for the sake of the younger ones. As it was, she was one of the older family loyalists.

It seemed as though everyone left had gathered around the shuttles, they were ready to go.

“Everyone, board the shuttles. We are to make for Corellia and then we will go into hiding.”

There was some buzz in the air as they all loaded the shuttles, Alexia entered into a shuttle with Nadia, Genesis and a few other family members. Once everyone was inside and settled, the young woman set the coordinates for Corellia.

As they entered into space, Alexia felt a very familiar presence close by. It was someone who she had not felt in a long time. A smile spread across the girl’s face and she passed a glance to her mother. By the expression that Nadia wore, she could tell that her mother felt it too. Matthias was close by. It took all the control the Alexia could muster to remain calm. All Alexia knew was that Matthias was sent on a mission and he had not been around for some time. She did not know whether he was alive or dead, but know she knew. Her father had survived!

Alexia glanced over to her mother again and gave her a small smile. Nadia wore the same determined look of control, though she was having a worse time at it. Alexia stood and made her way out of the main deck, once the coordinates were set, there was nothing more for her to do. She stepped into a smaller room and took a seat on the floor. She closed her eyes and reached out with the Force.

”Father...?” She questioned. Communication through the Force was still something that Alexia had some trouble at, though she was not half bad. “Father, please tell me you can hear me?”

By this time Nadia joined her daughter and they were both waiting for the same reply.

[Lars Marzullo]

Lars finishes with the button-pushing in the arm pad, perking up as Dante seems to have awaken.

"We're alive because of my amazing bargaining skills, nephew." he answers simply, turning to the splashing noises of the other traitorous Marzullos sliding out of the chutes. One after the other, the sons and daughters of rebels arrive destined to escape, but a few are missing, and not those who would be easily expendable.

"Tidus, where are Radda and Tiranna? The garbage will be released in fifteen minutes regardless of who has arrived."

He turns his attention back to Marcus and Alexander, poised to forget about their uneasy truce.

"I don't feel comfortable with our strongest warriors missing."

[Marcus Marzullo]

"Forget it then." he whispers to himself, already tired from the fighting that had ensued the whole day. Wether he likes to admit it or not, he is getting old and is now a shadow of his former self. The deaths of the other two elders had left a mark too deep within his heart to heal, too sudden and fierce to get over.

He gives but a nod to Alexander, taking the young man's arm as he is lifted inside the second escape pod. He quickly closes the hatch, so that he isn't tempted to jump down there and massacre the lot of them.

"They have nowhere else but to go to Coruscant, Alex, we will search there when the right time is upon us."

A deal is a deal after all, killing all of the traitors isn't something that he'd have issues with, but Lars had made a pact, as desperate as it was, the last thing that the elder would lose was his honor, something not to be toyed with.

The lights come to life inside the pod, as Alexander is sent a message through a holocron, in the shape of a sitting wookie, one he was all too familiar with.

"Raaaaar!"

The young Marzullo turns around with a confused look, waiting for some type of help from the elder.

"He's telling you to rip the yellow wire off its socket, the one just below the red markings."

Alexander doesn't hesitate, pulling the right wire and stopping the countdown process, waiting for the right time to detach.

[Tidus Marzullo]

Quite a gathering. Tidus was sure he'd never seen quite so many people in...well, trash. Pulling himself and Selene to their feet, Tidus caught a glimpse of Marcus as the hatch to one of the escape pods closed. At least this place wasn't about to become even more of a battleground.

"Tidus, where are Radda and Tiranna? The garbage will be released in fifteen minutes regardless of who has arrived. I don't feel comfortable with our strongest warriors missing."

"They're coming" was all the youth replied, before glancing down at Selene. So much drama for such a young girl. Tidus almost felt sympathy for her.

"The girl" he continued, looking back to Lars and tightening his grip on Selene's hand slightly. "I need to get her out."

[Karl Valten]

Seekers were tied together in a collective in an intimate bond, very few outside of the collective could even begin to understand what it felt like. Not that seekers even had perceptions that humans could possible comprehend.

But when seekers 4-Delta-6 and 3-Mu-3 were killed it was as if someone had ripped a set of eyes out of the collective. Technically it was painless, but was still as if a member of the family had been torn away. Mother would not be pleased.

“The adept has killed two seekers.” The seeker designated 7-Tyrant-2 walked behind the Grand Inquisitor and his captain, serving to relay information to the leader. It was an arrangement that he absolutely hated, Tyrant’s skills were being wasted being a mere informant. Mother would be appalled at the treatment of her children. But he had no choice, Mother had expressly told him that he was to assist the Inquisitor and follow his orders to the letter; if she trusted, then so would Tryant.

“They are getting to be quite and annoyance aren’t they?.” Inquistor Valten’s voice didn’t betray any sense of emotion at the loss of Imperial troops or seekers. To him the stormtroopers were inferior scum and the seekers were shells of the loyal soldiers they once were. “Lead me to them, tell the others to try and contain any that are left.”

Tyrant made a slight bow before taking off at a mild jog, enough so that the Inquisitor and his retinue could keep up. Captain Kiel followed at Karl’s side, with all the confusion and emotion pouring off of terrified stormtroopers it was almost impossible for her to pick out any individual, adept or not.

“How are we to proceed, Grand Inquisior?” Her fingers caressed the activation stub on her electrostaff. The woman was itching to confront a skilled force-user, she was tired of hearing about the repeated successes of Project Nightmare in the field. Not that she’d wish to give up her current command, it was only that she had been so close to being accepted into the Nightmares.

“Follow doctrine, from there it is up to them.”

*****

A second pair of seekers steadily drew closer to where their brothers had fallen, the final location of the fallen firmly set in their minds. Even with most of their emotions inhibited, the nagging cry for revenge faintly sparked in a distant corner of their minds, but neither of them would defy orders.

Both had been playing back the final feed from the short lived fight, evaluating and developing possible methods for defeating their foe. These two were only the next stage, others were quickly approaching, forming larger groups, approaching from multiple directions. Perfect hunters in their element.

The first seeker slowed to a light trot while the other scrambled ahead, crawling along the exposed frame works of the ceiling like a spider. The shoulder padding of the first bulged then tore as a repeater carbine clicked into position. Caution was the method decided between the pair and concurred by the rest. The adept had been wounded, but it did not seem to impair him much.

Without any noise, the second seeker made its way to the doorway to the scene of the battle. Razor sharp claws extended from its finger tips. At the same moment, the spider-seeker grabbed the door frame and spun sticking to the ceiling as best it could while the second effortlessly picked up the corpse of a stormtrooper and surged into the room using the body is a shield.

Only to find that the room was devoid of any living being.

[Ares Marzullo]

Ares feels constant tapping on his left shoulder, flipping his eyelids quickly as he awakens and finds himself on his throne chais in the bridge, he looks to his left as a ship soldier hands him a holocron from Coruscant. Ares doesn't waste time to watch, his sad eeys covered by the intimacy of the dark hooded robe.

The shape of a most unlikely Jedi ally appears, followed by the obnoxious walking carpet that would always stand or run behind him.

"Ares, I'm in pursuit of Dante, we should be able to catch him within the hour and bring him back, but I'll focus on rescuing Lucilla!"

Ares nods to himself, receiving the message obviously late. Due to some weird interference in the space surrounding Albion, holocrons would take hours to arrive.

"Fieron!" he calls out, starting to lose his patience as the situations grows in seriousness and danger.

"It's a good thing the modified engines of the "Purifier" will take us to Coruscant quickly, but I've been asleep for a few hours, how much longer before we reach Ulabos?" he asks, but the officer who had delivered the holocron takes the liberty to answer.

"Only twenty minutes, your excellence."

Ares seems to recover some of his life, standing once again as he caresses his lightsaber, which he probably won't need anytime soon.

"Hopefully our brethren are safely away, it would be a shame to lose mroe of us in the explosion."

The crew begins to mumble in gossip, not aware of this explosion at all and growing nervous every passing second.

[Lucilla Marzullo]

As the rest of her family waits inside the escape pod for the cue to move, Lucilla slowly begins to stir, a low groan sounding from between parted lips. Her head moves just a little, before it stops again, the groan becoming a bit louder.

"Uhn..." is all she's able to get out as her eyes flutter open slowly, every sense seems to be numbed, as well as her brain...and then, yet another feeling sweeps over her form: panic. Everyone can see it evident in her face as she brings her head up to rest back against her seat.

Breathing rapidly, Lucilla's eyes dart around quickly, resting on everyone's faces for a moment. Who the heck were these people? Where was she again? Closing her eyes, she tried to jump start her brain, to make it remember what in the world was going on.

Slowly, things began to click into her head, faces, memories, what she was doing in this place. Blinking, she looked around again at the people sitting around her, just to make sure she was indeed the right person with the right memories. And she was. There was one person she didn't see though.

"Where's Dante?"

She could have cared less about Marcus...that jerk is who did this to her anyway. As she thought about him, her anger built, her hands shaking with rage. If she were a bomb, the entire ship would have blown up by now. Taking in a deep breath, she repeated herself again, but she did not really need an answer. Someone had given Dante up, and she would have words with them later.

[Krishna Marzullo]

Hearing Lucilla groan caused Krish to look over at her cousin. Worry showed on her face as she poured another small cup of the antidote then carefully set it to the side.

"Where's Dante?"

"Don't worry about that now. What matters now is that you and the rest of us are safe. We'll get Dante, just not now."

Krishna then helped Lucilla sit up slightly, helping her drink the antidote.

[Tiranna Marzullo]

The stormtroopers are no challenge to mind tricks, stepping away from the weakened Marzullo female like she isn't even there. Such vulnerability is all she needs, slashing her lightsaber from left to right, upn and down for a few times, leaving a sad pile of charred bodies where a proud platoon used to stand.

The troopers behind her had seen everything, but before they can blast the woman to pieces, are blown to bits themselves, engulfed by a thermal detonator thrown from behind by Lucius, who had just caught up with her. When the dust settles and the smoke clears, Tiranna smiles and rest herself against the body of the young man.

"Great timing, now let's get out of here."

The sad sight of Zoe carrying her badly wounded mother Fiera made the two stop immediately, wanting to wait, but finding themselves very tempted to leave them behind. The powerful Tiranna was already wounded, two burdens could never make it to the pods together.

"Lucius, help Zoe carry her mother to the pods, I'll deal."

Lucius raises an eyebrow, closing in to her as he whispers in her ears:

"You are insane! You are far more valuable to the cause!"

Knowing that Fiera and Zoe probably heard that, Lucius stands there proudly with his arms crossed, as had become a custom stance in the family lately.

"Go with them or I'll fry you myself, right here!" screams the woman, as if she had been greatly offended. Lucius widens his eyes in total surprise, slowly backing away as he grabs Fiera's free arm and rests it on his shoulder. Soon after, the two young members of the clan run off with the battered mother.

Suddenly, the two seekers searching the cafeteria turn around, spotting the small group and looking at each other in what could be a mix of fear, surprise and delight. The two immediately set to stab the exposed Fiera, earning a double force push from Zoe and Lucius as the two attackes are thrown back into the destroyed room. Their bodies break a table and even manage to dent the floor, shaking their heads as they flip back on their feet, only to be blocked in the doorway by a menacing Tiranna.

"I am your target now!"

The two seekers hunch and look at each other, almost amused as they launch another attack. Tiranna holds her lightsaber in front of her, pushing a second button that ignites the second blade, now her yellow double-bladed saber had come to life.

Even injured and badly burnt, Tiranna amputates the first seeker's left arm, kicking it in the crotch as it bends over in pain, she follows that move with another slash that cuts half the blade of the second seeker, sending it flying to the ceiling and sticking itself there. The seeker uses his other blade and attempts to stab the woman in the heart, but is met by the spinning blades as the arm from the elbow below flies off and spins in the air, landing on top of one of the few tables still standing.

The first seeker continues to suffer the pain of a missing limb, Tiranna frees an arm as she calls upon the Force to remove the stuck blade in the ceiling, plunging it atop the head of her hideous foe and sending it tumbling to the floor. Tiranna then screams in pain as a huge cut on her chest takes her by surprise, nearly severing her right breast as a pice of her armor surprisingly falls off.

"What is this?" she thinks to herself, quickly using her remaining powers of the Force to elevate the sneaky seeker in the air, her rage continues to build up a brutal attack that splits all of the creature's limbs apart, spraying blood all over the room and some on the Marzullo woman's face.

As the pieces splatter all over the floor, Tiranna falls to her knees and begins weeping, finding out such pain for the first time in her life. Such a vital part for a woman's integrity had been greatly maimed, biting a piece of cloth as she uses bandages from her utility belt to tape her breast against her chest, so that it wouldn't fall off her body.

"Radda, you miserable bastard." she sneers, her eyes now yellow from the dark side's pure rage. It was obvious to her now that the armor provided by Radda Manthys had been weakened purposedly, failing to live up to the promised strength and level of protection it was supposed to offer.

She slowly steps out of the room, looking right and narrowing her eyes as the three other Marzullos make the right turn, closing in to the designed escape area.

She then looks left, back to the bridge, where all had begun two years ago.

"Forgive me, Itala."

Tiranna begins making her way back to the bridge, removing the cloth from her mouth as she spreads some type of special healing gyst that Lars had manufactured for severe cuts. It would take most of the pain away for a few hours, but she knew that her handicap would turn her into a burden.

"The state I'm in will guarantee that the next group of seekers would catch me and the rest of the family along." she thinks, feeling the presence of more danger ahead. She continues to make her way back to the bridge, remembering the birth of her beloved and monstrous son.

[Matthias Marzullo]

A few familiar force presences slowly came into range as a fleet of shuttles emerged out of hyperspace. “Interesting,” Matthias thought to himself. A soft chuckle escaped his lips as his thoughts went back to what Ares had said.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
“Ares, with this new turn of events, you don’t have to worry about me slacking off on your request.”<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Matthias leisurely turned around to face some of his crew members and ordered them to be prepared for the encounter. And with that, Matthias left the bridge and began his long walk down the corridor.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
“Father...?”<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
“Father, please tell me you can hear me?”<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
“Ah, my daughter has gotten better in her force training I see.” Matthias said out loud to himself with a proud expression on his face. He reached out with the force to make the connection with Alexia.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
“Yes… I can hear you my dear.”

[Fieron Marzullo]

Fieron looked on as the nervous mumble amongst the bridge crew grew to a dull roar. It was honest of Ares to mention what was to come, but it definetly didn't do any good for the crew's mentality or morale. Not to mention that it exposed some of the widespread cowardice that was apparent in most of the 'hired help'. Cowardice was something that was clearly lacking in the Marzullo genepool, for the most part. And this was a good thing. There was no way that Fieron could abide laying down and giving in to the atrocious betrayals of a good percentage of the remaining family members. Quite simply, it infuriated him, but he didn't show it. Such rage at the blasphemies of his only surviving immediate relatives would be saved for the appropriate moments. He would disown his immediate family, and do much worse than that if given the chance. It was in this aspect that he could be blinded in his reasoning. The boy had zero tolerance for the things of betrayal and other such dishonesties.

To say, Fieron is an honest man.

The shaken chatter of the crew was starting to grate on his nerves. He had to say something, because if he didn't, the crew would be utterly useless at the critical time. Fieron glanced back and forth between Ares and the crew, watching for a good five minutes. His facial expression grew increasingly more agitated by the air of unease, and by this point, it was sure that Ares had noticed. Fieron spoke with a low growl to his leader.

"Ares...this cannot continue. These men will be useless unless they are put at ease. This gnashing of teeth and unease in their conversation will affect their ability to perform at the critical time."

Fieron was almost glaring at Ares. The young man was concerned. He would say something himself, but his own agitation would only drive them further into being useless as newborn babes. At the age of 18, Fieron was clearly not leadership material yet, but the potential had always been there, on some level. When Ares gave him a moderately stern look, the younger man blinked and realized his foolish mood that also was beginning to make him ineffective, and started to calm.

"I...apologize. I should have better control of myself."

[Ares Marzullo]

"I...apologize. I should have better control of myself."

Ares uses his closed fist to rub his chin for a few seconds. If the need for men and women weren't so dire, Ares may have punished Fieron for such an outburst, and would have loved to remind him that he is but a volunteer in the dangerous mission to Coruscant.

"I suppose that if you can't trust my judgement I shall reveal my plan."

Ares takes another pause, trying to come up with a better set of words to ease the nervous wreck that his crew had become. They would follow him to the end, as they were programmed to do in their cloning tanks.

"We will escape by our destination and set the automatic pilot to jump into hypersace to Dante's ship, then jump out of hypersace into his ship, obliterating it with a massive impact."

The crew chatter reaches its noise peak, relieved to know that they wouldn't be inside the ship when this happened, or at least hoped they wouldn't be.

"In fact, set the coordinates to the latest trace of Dante's ship, have the Purifier jump out of hyperspace in the exact same spot. The ship should be dead and slow."

The crew inside the control pits end the chatter and go to work on it immediately, as Ares begins to walk to the bridge for the planned escape.

"Hurry up Fieron, and those of you who want to live!"

[Dante Marzullo]

Back in the garbage section, Dante watches the last two enemies board their escape pod as he pays attention to the other three. Four people capacity per pod, but there are fourteen of them. A skinny hand is placed on his right shoulder as he turns around slightly.

"I know what you're thinking, Dante, the five pods were meant for us." says Lars, almost as he were psychic. Like magic, the three hatches open simultaneously, releasing steam as they come to life inside.

"We should be able to squeeze in Selene, but that still leaves one of us out." thinks Dante, turning his attention to the chute as Lucius splashes down with the badly injured Fiera and zoe.

"Now that leaves two out. What to do?" he thinks aloud, with lars formulating a plan.

"Dante, the point of the pod limit is weight and days of survival, adding extra baggage will lower our navigation and survival limits." whispers the lanky man, it wasn't much of a complex dilema, but it would give the group a headache for the next few minutes.

"Lars, Selene, Zoe, Fiera and Neve in pod one, you are skinny enough to not make a difference, uncle." says Dante, almost chuckling as the lanky relative makes a hostile hand gesture offensive to any species in the galaxy.

"I will go with Lucius, Tidus, Julius and Gaven. The first three are the youngest and lightest men in the group." he adds, feeling life within his aunt, refusing to give her up just yet.

"Athenus, Carlisle, Alucard, Tiranna and Radda will even out the weight problems in the last pod."

[Lars Marzullo]

Lars removes his goggles for a minute, using a cloth to wipe them clean as he squints to the general direction of the pods.

"You heard the man, family, now move it!" he yells, cocky and arrogant, as if he were the leader and not Dante. Lars fantasized on such thoughts frequently, perhaps when the time is right, for he harbor no true loyalty to either side of the spectrum.

Lars fiddles with his armpad buttons once again and flip closes the console, then he walks up the junk heap and places both hands on the edge of the first pod, climbing inside to the pilot seat as he checks on the time yet again.

"Dante, we have only five minutes left before the trash and junk is released. Radda and Tiranna better hurry up!"

[Radda Manthys]

Radda is spat out of the garbage chute, miscalculating his drop as he dives inside the disgusting water, by now filled with blood and pieces of flesh, not the best combination for the squeamish. Radda emerges from the water, screaming in utter disgust as he removes his helmet and tosses it up to Dante, who catches it easily.

"Disgusting!"

Radda shakes his blonde mane, almost imitating a furry dog as the water comes off and flies in all directions. He finishes to climb out of the water as he looks at the Marzullos boarding their escape pods. Lars looks on from within his pod as the women get in, with his head turned in a curious manner.

"Where is Tiranna?"

Radda finishes shaking his head, using the force to catch his helmet and puts it back on as he closes his eyes. A serious look is seen in the man's face as he looks at the ceiling of the chamber.

"Tiranna didn't make it."

[Alexia Marzullo]

“Yes… I can hear you my dear.”

"Dad..." Alexia sighed with relief. He completed his mission, he was alive. A sense of happiness filled the young girl, a happiness that she had not felt since the war began.

Her whole body relaxed as she leaned against the wall that she was sitting next to. She looked at her mother with a smile.[/i]

"You have no idea how happy I am to hear from you. We have been worried sick, and with Alexander gone...."

She faded off, not wanting to think about that fact that her twin was out there, somewhere in the universe very possibly fighting his last fight.

[Tidus Marzullo]

Tidus had always been good at blocking out the outside world, and stopping everyone else see his emotion. The hard faced young man tried his best to ignore the fact that there was minimal chance of Tiranna making it to the pods. She had been of great help, and if it were for her, many of the Marzullo's would probably not have made it this far.

"You go with Uncle Lars now, Selene" he said to the girl, before placing her hand in the grasp of the older Marzullo.

This escape would mark the end of a battle, but the start of a war. The war between the Marzullos. Emotionally, the sadistic youth was almost ready to take up arms against Ares and those that stood with him. There was still one, one that he couldn't fight against yet. Genesis. No doubt, the time would come. But not now.

In silence, Tidus stalked away, towards one of the pods. He had nothing left to do. He wanted nothing more to do with this ship. Ducking inside, he headed to the far end and took a seat, waiting.

[Genesis Marzullo]

I walked into the shuttle and found a place near the back and threw my bag down. The things in it were all that I could claim as my own. I tried to push away the pain and agony of losing my immediate family. I felt close to crying, but I was not going to cry...not again, I'd done too much of that already. I needed to somehow get passed my passion of ever having my immediate family anymore, that part of my life was over. But, how was I ever to get passed this loneliness?

I sighed deeply through the ache in my heart, as my hand brushed against my lightsabre. I shifted my body in the seat and unclipped it. My fingers slowly ran over the hilt and the power button. I pressed the business end to my forehead as a tear rolled down my cheek. I began reminesing through memories of my family...until I got to the deep thoughts of my twin, betraying us. I felt my own anger flow and threw my sabre across the room, one day I knew I would have to face him....one day.

[Karl Valten]

As Tiranna limps her way from the now blood soaked chamber there is a shimmer of movement in the shadows. A third seeker steps visibly into the room with its stealth field generator deactivated. Its eyes scanned over the torn remains, transmitting data to 7-Tyrant-2. The woman was the only lead it had, the other adepts had already disappeared from sight. Orders came back almost instantly: follow the target. Without a second look at its fallen brothers, the seeker once again vanished into thin air.

*****

“She is on the bridge.” Tyrant had been leading the Inquisitor and his retinue at top speed through the corridors of the ship, following the track being broadcast by the cloaked scout. It seemed that the wounded woman had finally stopped. And not far away either, her injuries had greatly slowed her down.

A smile crept across Valten’s face. “How noble…” The bridge was a logically pointless place to retreat to, there were very few exits. “...she’s luring us away from the rest.” These adepts always seemed to feel the need to become martyrs with their overdeveloped sense of honor. Honor….such a worthless notion.

Captain Kiel kept stride as they group rushed closer to the bridge. “Shall I take a squad to track the rest?”

Karl merely shook his head “No, it would be rude to turn down an invitation.”

*****

With the seeker leading the Inquisitorial soldiers towards her, Tiranna had precious little time to prepare. In less than a minute the blastdoors hissed open and a dozen troopers in obsidian stormtrooper armor filed into the bride, carefully fanning out in an arc around the adept. Several seekers held positions behind the soldiers, slowly fingering their blades.

“Hold fire.”

Their weapons remained level at her and fingers rested on the triggers, but not one made a move to fire. Each one knew their duty, no man or woman would act unless ordered by the Grand Inquisitor.

The group parted at the middle, allowing Grand Inquisitor Valten to approach while Ze’eva hung back. The man looked regal in his ceremonial robes of black and crimson. Valten came to a halt well outside of saber range of Tiranna and bowed.

“I am impressed milady.” Karl stood up straight and parted his hands “I believe we have a misunderstanding. Please turn over your weapon and we can sort this mess out planetside.”

[Tiranna Marzullo]

"Damn right we have a misunderstanding..." yells Tiranna, resting the bulk of her weight on the wall glass as she turns her head slightly, giving the group a glimpse of her fine profile. "I merely defended myself, there is no reason for my capture, whatever your laws may be."

Tiranna likes to gamble in difficult situations, for she knows nothing of the Empire's laws. Her eyes close as she continues to focus the pain away from her violated chest, nearly in a high from the pain-relieving drugs. The earlier adrenaline shot is a moment away from taking full effect, but overusing it would be fatal for her heavily-drained body.

Her lightsaber remains steady in her belt, ready to be called upon, but Tiranna would try to buy as much time as possible while the rest flee and her powers return little by little. Her eyes don't move much, almost as if she were navigating through her life's memories

"Interesting soldiers, these seekers. It has been a long time since flaws have been exposed in me."

The clock keeps ticking, her focus returns to the vastness of space, like she does not care wether she dies or not. The view of Coruscant, the planet that gave birth to her, would prove to be a suitable place to witness the end of an era, and the start of a new one.

[Erik Centter]

Within the pod, Erik moves to the front where the wookie is ready to pilot the disguised escape vessel, pushing a button that releases the front shields that reveals the infinite space of the galaxy, and its glorious view of Coruscant.

"I don't know how we're going to maneuver around those star destroyers, Chit, but the release of the garbage will give us enough cover, if our luck holds."

The wookie scoffs in agreement as he nods his head rapidly.

The hollow echoes of the release alert the passengers, the vessel is released a level down, preparing for an imminent launch that had nothing to do with the escape pod itself.

"Chit, prepare for release!"

Erik turns his attention to the two Marzullo females behind them, wondering if he had lived out his usefulness just yet, a dark thought that made him paranoid every single day since the start of the insurrection. However, he feels a particular presence in the planet that feels a part of the lightside, someone who may be able to aid him in his quest.

[Lucilla Marzullo]

"Don't worry about that now. What matters now is that you and the rest of us are safe. We'll get Dante, just not now."

Lucilla frowned as Krishna fussed over her, something she didnt like, even if Krishna was the family doctor. Lifting a hand, Lucilla signaled for her cousin to stop, like that would even work, there was no stopping Krishna when her doctor instincts took over.

Frowning, she closed her eyes again, did she miss her chance? Would she ever get to talk to Itala again? Even if it were her last chance, she would never give up trying, she still felt the guilt, the pain of her cousins death. She knew it was her fault, it should have been her that died, not Itala.

Feeling eyes on her, she opened her own to meet Erik's. Almost as if she could read his thoughts, she gave him an enigmatic stare, he would never know when they were finished with him, but she never intended to go back on her word.

Moving her gaze elsewhere again, she lay her head back, she wanted to go home, she wanted to search for Isabeau and Lucian, she wanted to see Ares and the rest of her family again. Closing her eyes, she felt herself starting to drift, though she knew she shouldn't until they were safely away, she was just so tired...

[Chitbatuuk]

Chitbatuuk turns on a few switches right above him, putting on his lucky goggles as the pod is completely released, firing up its engines and leaving behind the wreck that used to be a mighty star destroyer.

"Chit! What have you done!? Why didn't you wait! We're sitting ducks now if they barely suspect anything!" The alarming words of his Jedi best friend frustrate him, having being told just a few seconds before to get ready.

"Aaaaaar!" responds the wookiee, almost furious by the constant whining of the bearded human. "I said "Get Ready!" not "Go!!"" insists Erik, but the wookie continues to navigates straight towards the planet's atmosphere, hoping now that a miracle would spare them from imperial action. The escape pod looks like assorted junk, but that may not be enough to fool the weary imperials.

[Dante Marzullo]

Without as much as a goodbye, Dante slams shut the hatch, sealing himself and the rest within. The news of Tiranna didn't make much sense, he could continue to feel her very life essence after all. Being stared at by his younger counterparts, Dante makes the short walk to the pilot's seat, activating the nav system.

"I'll pilot this, since I'm the only one with real experience."

He meets no resistance, taking the seat as he switches on various buttons and nobs. He had been trained about the design by Lars himself, so configuring the nearly countless switches wasn't an obstacle. He quickly activates his holocron pad, sending a live video to the other pods.

"Don't fly too close to each other, we don't want to give the imperials a lucky shot in case they figure out the garbage dump is a ruse."

After the message is sent, he rubs his chin in concern, feeling that Radda isn't telling him everything, and even more worried that Tiranna is so weakened that she can't make the simple effort of sending him a message through the Force.

"Perhaps your usefulness has indeed run out, Radda."

[Krishna Marzullo]

Krishna looks up from Lucilla and glares at Erik and the carpet monster. Her temper still shot from being shot at eariler, and it's starting to show. Her eyes narrowed, her breathing slowed to deep breaths, causing her face to redden.

"BE QUIET ALREADY! I don't even want to hear you two idiots yelling at eachother or better yet unneccessarly speaking at all! Just get us to the planet safely."

She then turns her attention back on Lucilla, watching her fall asleep. 'Sleep is most likely the best thing for her at this point.' she thought to herself. She then puts down the now mostly empty cup, placing it between her feet, before making sure her cousin and herself where strapped in tight.

[Karl Valten]

Karl Valten smiled and clasped his hands together before him. He had been polite, more-so than he usually would have been. And here this woman thought she was in a position to bargain, wasting more and more time.

Still it brought a feeling of perverse warmth to the Inquisitors chest to see the adept in such pain. She hid her feelings well behind a mask, but Valten had spent a lifetime training and perfecting the art of reading posture and expression. He did not have the adept curse that many Inquisitors had and could not use his mind to pry into others. Perception, faith, and skill had gotten him to his current position, not some airy design or living Force.

“I don’t think you comprehend your situation.”

Valten was far willing to play along with the game. The tall man dared a few steps closer toward Tiranna, his robes rustling behind him.

“You are charged under the Purification and Imperial Force Doctrines of the Inquisitoriate for use of threat level force abilities and the murder of Imperial servants. You are guilty until proven innocent by an Inquisitor of the Empire. By cooperating to the fullest extent, you may help facilitate this process and it will be noted in your favor. You will be held accountable for any other actions taken.”

Behind Karl the Ze’eva and the troopers looked on in anticipation. Only in rare cases where people stupid enough to resist the commands of an Inquisitor. But in those cases decisive action and speed where always needed.

“Turn over your weapon and order your people to turn themselves in.”

[Tiranna Marzullo]

“Turn over your weapon and order your people to turn themselves in.”

Tiranna gifts the intruding man with a view of her profile for the second time, her eye nearly closed from a weird combination of fatigue and concentration. Fatigue from all the nasty struggle she has endured for the day, and concentration for the minds she will shortly attempt to manipulate through the Force. The weaklings in white armor would be easy subjects of her mental manipulation.

"Blast your boss into oblivion, don't leave but a handful of ashes!" is the command that penetrates into the minds of the stormtroopers. Deadly and to the point. After the very hostile order is given, Tiranna performs a sudden and long side jump as her body twists in midair, bringing forth terrible pain to her nearly severed breast as she ignites her lightsaber and lands on her feet elegantly enough given her condition.

Her eyes open to the cold and lifeless yellow instigated by the powers of the dark side. It had consumed her will years ago, having her lose control of family honor and causing a devastating war that she would go on to regret for all eternity. The loose metal poles and ripped wall plates come to life as well, tearing out to be launched as projectiles as Tiranna's body struggles to maintain its integrity. The woman is pushing herself to the limit, careless of her well being and in hope that such sacrifice may redeem her from a harsh fate in the next life.

[Karl Valten]

“INQUISITOR!”

Ze’eva caught the movement of stormtroopers swinging their weapons to bear on Inquisitor Valten. Even her suit responded to her mental commands and drove a fist into the nearest trooper she dreaded that her hasty warning wasn’t enough.

Valten was already rolling to the side the instant his Captain opened her mouth. To him the stormtroopers moved like molasses, pathetic and slow. Energy bolts burned brightly around his for, several shot burning through the cloak.

By the time the corrupted troopers twisted to alter their aim the black-armored Inquisitorial soldiers were leaping into action. Some fell back, open fire full-auto on the adept woman while others smashed into the tainted Imperials with bayonets and vibroblades.

Valten finished his roll, coming to his knees in time to see a stabilizer pole flying at his head. A snarl crossed the man’s face as he drew a disruptor from the folds of his robes an pulled the trigger. The weapon’s scream drew the attention of everyone in the room and the durasteel post vanished into dust.

Karl climbed to his feet, tossing the his burnt robe aside. Beneath, matte-black battle plates covered the Inquisitor’s body. From a belt at his waist hung a myriad of daggers; at his side a sheathed powersword.

“So be it.”

Valten raised the disruptor pistol at Tiranna and fired again.

[Tiranna Marzullo]

Just when the fireworks begin, Tiranna barely reaches for safety behind a navigation console, closing her eyes as sparkles and laser fire hits the wall behind her. Her concentration isn't disrupted in the least, using more pieces of torn, sharp metal against the inquisitorial soldiers, cleanly slizing one's head right off as she goes back to hiding behind what quickly is becoming reduced to a pile of burnt metal.

When Karl fires the disruptor round, she brings two pieces of metal in front of herself, effectively using it as a shield, but is penetrated anyway and barely misses the left side of her head as she returns to her cover position.
Running out of cover fast, she waves her hand quickly, shattering the emergency lights and leaving the bridge deprived of any illumination, save for the bright glow of the capital planet seen through the front glass of the control tower.

"You will come to remember me, no matter the outcome, imperial."

The space behind one of the inquisitorial soldiers is illuminated by the glow of Tiranna's lightsaber, impaling the unfortunate trooper through the heart as fire rains upon her again, this time she holds her deadly blade in front of her, deflecting back much of the fire as she steps back slowly to gain more space for herself.

"What?"

As the effects of the administered drug begin to wear off, the pain that she was able to ignore in the left side of her face comes to life, noticing a deep gash that releases steam as the chest pain also makes its unwanted return. It seems that Karl had fired a much better shot with his disruptor rifle than previously anticipated.

She continues to hold her lightsaber in front of her, defiant and ready for anything.

"Beware of a caged animal, imperial!" she speaks as her face glows a macabre red, deeply contrasting her yellow eyes.

[Lars Marzullo]

With all of the ladies bucked up within the pod, Lars checks the countdown pad in his ar, signaling only two minutes to go before the garbage is released. He finshes fiddling with the navigation pad and the many switches above him, wiping his goggles clean with a cloth. He puts them back on as he smiles in utter overconfidence.

"According to the ghastly Radda, he knows someone in Coruscant who should be able to provide with fitting accomodations for ones as great as us."

Getting no reaction from the ladies, given the poor state of Fiera and the worried Zoe, he then focuses his attention to little Selene, chuckling as some drool runs off his crooked teeth.

"It will be difficult to avoid the imperials though, maybe we can sell you to a perverted fiend in their ranks."

[Karl Valten]

“Cease fire”

Valten lowers the disruptor arm and approaches the woman bathed in sickly light. The corruption of this heretic’s ran so deep that it had manifested itself physically. Darkness may have driven a stake of fear into the hearts of some, but for the Inquisitoriate it was home. Inquisitorial soldier melted back into the shadows as Valten advanced.

“Ah, but it depends on which animal is in the cage…”

The deadly sing of metal rang hollow in the chamber next to the sparking energy sword as Karl drew his sword. His gloved hand disappeared in the ornate hilt of the weapon masterfully crafted into the shape of Krayt Dragon skull, the blade emerging from the creature’s tooth-filled maw.

Behind the Inquisitor came the vicious red glow from the orbs of the Inquisitorial soldiers activating their dark-vision. To the Inquisitors right came the soulless blue eyes of Captain Kiel’s powersuit.

“…the predator…”

With a flick of the Inquisitor’s sword a new glow flooded to life. Like flames spewing from the dragon’s throat, a weaving pattern of orange light hummed to life on the blade of the powersword. The slight shimmer of the energy field produced around the weapon cast and eerie light on the man. Beside him Ze’eva’s own electrostaff hissed to life, its violet arcs of energy dancing angrily between the phrik alloy conductors.

“…or the prey…”

In a flash, Valten closed the distance.

[Tiranna Marzullo]

Tiranna's vision begins to blur slowly, blinking rapidly to sharpen her sights as she takes a few steps back, her lightsaber returning to its belt as another one flies right back to the woman's left hand. This one ignites from both sides, revealing its yellow blades that change the tone of the room's glow.

Without words to follow the threatening reply from the imperial inquisitor, Tiranna spins her saber just for show for a few seconds, backing away again as she scans her parameter, she is definitely cornered without escape, all she could do is be harsh and devastating with a slim hope for survival.

Suddenly, her three and only thermite grenades fly off her belt, one sticking itself a foot in front of Karl, the second right above him to the ceiling, and the third on the head of one of the dark-armored troopers.

Tiranna takes a quick dive down one of the control pits, making an attempt of shielding herself from the imminent mess that is to come, while her helment drops off her head in two pieces, more proof of Radda Manthy's treachery. The lightsaber is even disignited to deprive the imperials from having a good look, nightvision and all.

[Radda Manthys]

Radda begins to gently bite his fist in frustration. He knows Tiranna has no chance, but Dante has ordered him to wait for her until the last minute, which is getting close enough to ignore. The whole process may ruin the pod launch.

"Buckle up, young ones, we're leaving without your precious Tiranna."

Without much of a choice, the other Marzullos in the pod take their seats and buckle up, looking at each other in obvious worry, but deep inside feel treachery afoot. Something that they just may have to tell their rebellious leader later.

Radda takes the pilot's seat, and activates the nav console and switches accordingly, also having been trained by Lars himself. The pod's computer manages to catch up to the launch process, which has already started as there's only half a minute left at this point. The plan to escape seems weak, but hope remains that the pods would never be detected in the sea of garbage.

[Karl Valten]

Under the helmet a look of horror washes over Ze’eva’s face as Valten grinds to a halt at the orbs eclipsing him in front and above; easily recognized as the type that had afflicted the stormtroopers earlier. Instinct kicks in and the Crimson Guard opens her mind and lets the cursed force flow through her body. She rarely ever stooped so low as to actively use the tainted energy.

Even as the first of the grenades begins detonate she lashes out with the most concentrated hatred she had ever mustered. A wave of concussive force flies from her outstretched hand, flinging troopers and debris aside but ultimately blasting the first wave of needles away from the Inquisitor.

At the same time Valten’s hand flies to his belt, his eyes burning with rage. Whether or not the Inquisitor reached his goal is unknown. The other two grenades explode and Karl’s form disappears in a hail of flame, needles, and metal plating.

A scream of pure hatred burns Ze’eva’s throat as she pushes her suit the it’s absolute limit. She draws every ounce of augmented speed and strength and vaults into the crew pit with her electrostaff whirling.

[Tiranna Marzullo]

Just as Ze'eva dives inside the pit, a slender, feminine hand catches her by the neck, and her whole face glows the deadly yellow of her double bladed rod of death. Tiranna's rageful eyes seem glad enough to have such an opportunity, while needles fly all over the place, even striking most of Tiranna's back. At this point, the sharp pains had become meaningless.

"Before I die, I will have the pleasure of ripping the flesh from your face."

The sharp pains quickly spread all around Tiranna's body, at this point the effects of the pain-supressing drug had completely gone away. The amount of Force wielding had become lethal to her, but she continues to hold on to the enemy female's neck, trying to enjoy her last kill.

"I'm sure you won't miss your eyes."

Ze'eva's electrostaff lies a few feet from the female couple, almost as if staying close in case it is needed, but it wouldn't be there to help its owner. Suddenly, Tiranna's lightsaber disignites, dropping to the floor as she loses the remainder of her strength, letting go of Ze'eva's neck. Her eyes roll upwards as blood is spewed, returning to the beautiful blue that had enchanted her husband the day she met him. If she could say goodbye fittingly, perhaps all of it would have been much sweeter, much more satisfying.

[Fieron Marzullo]

Fieron picked up pace in order to catch up to Ares after overcoming his most recent bout of utter irrationality (and seeing that the man who was no more than five years his elder - not to mention somewhat physically wrecked - was off with importance, with the intent of bringing to completion his personally mandated plan). That was his problem: His mind had a habit of running away with itself, manifesting anxious thoughts. For the most part he could control it, but in situations where there were other components at work - lack of sleep, the intense air of unease in the persons around him, his anger at his only surviving (if he could assume that) immediate family members - it was without a doubt not a situation in his favour. This situation currently favoured no one, but despite it all, Fieron had no doubt that his choice ...

No. There was no choice. There was an undisputed belief that this was the right way...the way in which I had been raised. This is sown into every inch of my being. I do not understand how anyone could swim against a current so strong.

...that his choice was the right one. A way followed for what was eons and confirmed by countless lives lived out could not possibly be wrong. And that was what he decided. Within scant moments, the younger had caught up with the older, and was watching him with a careful eye. Ares was strong - there was no doubt in that - but a good comrade kept an eye out for his fellow man. It was then that Ares asked him if he was ready for what was to come. Fieron looked at the man, slightly puzzled, almost taking the question as if it was his loyalties being brought into question. Smartly, the younger banished the notion. He knew very well what was meant by that.

"I am ready, Ares." He knew there was a time for everything. A time to live, a time to die, a time to right what was wrong, a time to make critical decisions. That was just it...he knew his stance if there ever came a point that he would have to face his sibling, as well as his mother. He could not understand what had caused such betrayal when the two had seemed so happy to him.

No. Enough of that pattern of thoughts. Save that anger for when it is appropriate.

Fieron took a deep, unwavering breath and moved forward with purpose, Ares beside him.

[Karl Valten]

“That was a foolish move….”

Tiranna’s grip weakens and Ze’eva tumbles to the floor. She can still feel where the adept’s force-enhanced grip had began crushing the heavy armor. Under the mask her eyes are wide in shock as she backs up.

The Imperial focuses in a fascinated horror on Tiranna’s chest. A blood soaked blade protudes from her front. Crimson drips to the floor.

“…and now your friends will pay.”

From behind, Grand Inquisitor Karl Valten’s dark form overshadows the broken woman. Several small sparks give light to his dark features, sparks from an overloaded personal shield generator.

A brief visage of the Grim Reaper plays across Ze’eva’s mind. Valten rips the sword from Tiranna’s back and she crumples to the deck with a shower of blood from the exit wound. The Inquisitor’s eyes fall on Ze’eva and she slightly gulps. She is just beginning to understand the fear the Jedi must have gone through facing the empty souls of Inquisitors.

“Set the ship to self destruct in five minutes.”

As Ze’eva scrambles to her feet to carry out the order, Valten kick the fading Tiranna onto her back. He stabs his blade into her leg and crouches next to the woman, leaning on the weapon. A stray hand picks her lightsaber up where it had fallen. The weapon twirls once in Valten’s hands before his cold eyes turn to Tiranna’s face.

“Only in death is your kind redeemed.” Karl tucked slipped the lightsaber into an empty spot on his belt. “Tell me what name goes on this, heretic. It is the only solace you will get from us.”

[Tiranna Marzullo]

The fatally wounded Tiranna could not go on. Not only had the overuse of the force drained her greatly, but the fatal wounds inflicted by the imperials had made sure there would be no possibility. While the matriarch runs her aged mind through her life experiences, the pain from the latest stab brings her back to reality for a few precious seconds. Her bright blue eyes make their last move, connecting with Karl's in a macabre, fixed stare that would intimidate most.

"I lie here defeated. Well done."

She takes a deep breath, a pool of blood expanding rapidly below her as her lightsaber is taken away. Her left arm raises and points a finger towards the arrogant and cold imperial.

"But with my death comes a heavy price."

The pointed finger joins the rest of her fingers to form a fist, her stare becomes a near look of death.

"The anger of a shadow be upon you for the rest of your days."

The fist collapses to the floor as Tiranna's eyes continue to stare into Karl's. Dead as a pale moon, yet as angry as the cruelest fates of the most miserable souls in the universe. A legacy had come to an end with her death, a generation had told its last chapter of Dante's tale.

[Cyrus Marzullo]

Back in the moist caves of a forgotten asteroid, a giant shape lays on a pool of blood. Bloody footsteps trail for miles, as if the massive man had been fleeing from something, or someone. A small flying insect buzzes about what would be a great source of blood, landing on the neck of Cyrus Marzullo, and quickly proceeding to inject him and suck on his blood supply.

"Mother!!!!!!!" thunders throughout the cave as Cyrus comes to his feet like some type of strange ritual dance. Blood drips from the top of his head as the creature continues his walk, arriving to the exit of the cave as he fixes his stare upon a nearby moon.

"Mother!!!" thunders once again, but this time not from Cyrus, but from a distant edge of the same network of caves, catching the attention of the deformity briefly. Tiranna wasn't supposed to know that he lived, he had managed to hide his presence in order to give her a great surprise later on, but during the last moments of the Marzullo female, the brute son had to connect.

"This can only mean...." he whispers, counting his food rations carefully. He only had enough to survive in banishment for a week. "Let's go to the fool's fighter!" echoes from the same location that had screamed just moments before, regaining Cyrus' attention.

"Good idea, the fighter it is." he grunts, now his sole objective is to tear his mother's killer pore by bloody pore, whatever the prize. Before setting out on his next trek, the giant drops to his knees and closes his eyes. HIs rage and determination focus upon Tiranna's last moments.

His eyes suddenly open.

"Wherever you roam in this wretched galaxy, hear me! Not even the entire imperial military will keep you safe from my vengeance! Run, hide, your skin will be my trophy"!

Some dust and rocks drop randomly around the caves. Boulders and animals drop with every heavy thud from the freak's foot steps, heading off to begin writing a new chapter in blood.

[Ares Marzullo]

A bright light is born in the orbit of Ulabos, releasing the seasoned Purifier star destroyer from hyperspace. At this point, the autopilot had been set, and a single lambda shuttle made its way out of it with impressive precision, following the plan to perfection. Inside the shuttle, Ares continues to make calculations, nearly giving up on the survivors from the last battle.

"The Purifier will make its next and final jump to hyperspace in two minutes, and hopefully the last act of fraticide in the clan."

With a good view of the destroyer, Ares takes the copilot's seat as the shuttle slows down. There exists remorse and regret, but not enough to hinder his resolve.

"There she goes."

The massive vessel follows its automated instructions without the common resistance living beings would offer, doing what it was built to do, to follow the orders of its master. Its last job would be a sheer act of ruthlessness and desperation.

[Dante Marzullo]

Loud metal banging spreads all over the rear section of Dante's last star destroyer, signaling the escape maneuver that would set them free. Like clockwork, the nearly countless metal pieces are released, floating about lifelessly. Perfectly blended within the space mess, the escape pods wait for the right time.

Dante is perfectly aware that any imperial with half a brain would have a slight suspicious and paranoid reaction to the convenient garbage release, and thus powers off the engine as the ship continues to be dead in space. The other pods are not far from his own, turning off their engines as well.

"If the Imps detect anything, they will scan the junk for life forms, we need to create some type of distraction."

There are no options however, as attempting to do anything would cause the opposite effect on the surrounding star destroyers. Suddenly, a holocron of Lars appears on Dante's console, reminding him of a forgotten option.

"We can use the Particles and gain a few minutes at the most, but we are done for if they trace their point of origin."

Dante shuts off the holocron without gifting the lanky Lars with any replies, getting up as he rubs his chin in concern. Was it all over? Would his great legacy conclude inside a rotten escape pod?

[Erik Centter]

"BE QUIET ALREADY! I don't even want to hear you two idiots yelling at eachother or better yet unneccessarly speaking at all! Just get us to the planet safely."

Erik quickly turns around, one second away from cursing out the shrieking female, but closes his mouth before the first nasty word is uttered. He isn't about to make himself more unwelcome than he already is.

"As you wish, your amazing grace." he spews sarcastically. He just couldn't help it, he had to say something. The raving caveman within had to defend his territory. He turns his attention back to Chitbatuuk, placing his hand on the wookiee's shoulder as he looks out into space.

"Shut the engine off, they'll be looking for us, and tell Marcus about it."

Serious business indeed, and the wookiee pushes a button as Erik begins recording the message.

[Marcus Marzullo]

While he listens to Erik's message, Marcus' mind wonders off to make sense of Tiranna's death. It wasn't in her crude nature to stay behind for anyone. Her death was no shock, but her farewell was felt deep within, and the creature's rage pierced through his heart.

"Cyrus is alive. I must inform Ares of this immediately. Lucilla may throw a fit, but the minute the war is over, the Jedi and the wookiee are dead. We can't have them running around with what they know."

A random piece of metal bangs on their pod, startling them for a moment. It seems like an unforeseen force disagrees with the two.

"Just give me a minute with those two inside a room."

[Fieron Marzullo]

He flopped into the pilot seat and adjusted to suit his comfort, releasing a long, decompressing breath. He then steeled his resolve and began setting the controls.

"There she goes." Indeed, there she went. And no where else she would ever go again.

Fieron observed as the Purifier vanished from the vicinity, only to soon reappear closer to inner system, where it would play its final work. Fieron’s hands were working at the controls, setting the course, simply awaiting the 'go' word. He was unclear whether Ares wanted to make sure the work went through or...No, it would come out of hyperspace so close that there would be no room for doubt.

Fieron placed his hands on his knees and looked at Ares. “Shall we get out of here? The others will be waiting for us.”

[Erik Centter]

The grim mood within the pod made it clear that Tiranna's death had been felt, even by those she would kill in a heartbeat. Erik continues to look in wait for the right time to land in the planet, and chuckles as a completely inappropriate thought invades his mind.

"Too bad about Tiranna, Chit, I never even had time to charm her."

Like a knife through his spine, the joking mood is killed as Erik feels a presence within the city planet. there were countless sentients he would be able to feel, but this one in particular felt like someone he could trust, someone that could help him.

Erik's eyes close as he attempts to make a connection with this apparent lightsider, but fails when the pod is hit by a small piece of metal, distorting his focus heavily.

"If you can hear me, lightsider, help us. If we make it to the ground, help us. I fear my usefulness has reached its end."

Of course he hadn't spoekn those words, or else the two female Marzullos inside would have not taken it as an honest gesture, but his pleas are all he has left. If they had been paying any type of attention within the force however, he would need to explain his actions very soon.

[Hartus Kenobi]

* * * *


It had become night. Hartus' eyes opened lazily as he arose from his Jedi recuperative trance beside the Catch, turning to check the progress of his armor's recharge. Eighty percent. Hopefully he would have time to...

BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP...

Trouble already? The Last Kenobi's face hardened as he pulled away from the wiring that connected him to his Y-Wing's emergency power battery and computer. The rest of the upload would have to wait.

"Tee-three. Are our scanners picking up anything unusual?"

There was unauthorized activity in the northwest sky.

"Hack into the Coruscant port authority. What do they know about it?"

Hartus turned in the direction of the anomoly. "I don't see anything we should be worried about. Probably just another privateering raid attempt... Wait.." He could see a small spark. Something was entering the atmosphere. "I think I see it." He fed the coordinates into his armor.

"MAGNIFY."


http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y201/TheWinterSoldier/New%20Beginnings%202007-06-09/EscapePod1.jpg


Gotcha, he smiled to himself. But what in the world was that thing? A broken satellite perhaps? And what did this have to do with why the Force was calling to him...

"ARMOR: RAISE SCREEN AND IDENTIFY."


http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/6798/untitled1pf9.gif

Most likely a... modified escape pod? No. MULTIPLE escape pods. And the Lightsider in his dreams was in one of them. But escaping from wha...?

BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP...

He sighed. "What is it this time?" Tee-three gave a dejected whistle. The scanners picked up an... Imperial Star Destroyer?!! The last of the Kenobis shook his head. What a day to decide to be a good guy again.

"ARMOR, CALCULATE THE TRAJECTORY OF THOSE PODS AND UPLOAD DATA ABOUT THE MOST PROBABLE LANDING SITES IN THAT AREA."

He turned to Tee-three. "Keep the Catch running. You know the signal." With that, he began a full sprint towards the edge of the landing platform and leapt off, two hundred stories above the Coruscant City floor, in freefall



http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y201/TheWinterSoldier/New%20Beginnings%202007-06-09/EscapePod3.jpg


He grinned to himself as a blast of his jetpack propelled him forward.

He would feel no fear.

Until now, he had hidden his return from the universe. But it was time to dazzle them. He knew he was no longer meant to be the last of the old Kenobis. He would be the first of the new.




* * * *

[Lucilla Marzullo]

Lucilla frowned and opened her eyes. The shouting was one thing, but she could feel the thoughts flowing around her they were mainly centered around Erik, her eyes staring into the back of his head. Her temper rose slightly as he got mouthy with Krishna.

"Do not forget, Centter, that I can, and will dispose of you at any time. I will not have you using that tongue against my kin. It is by my grace that you live right now."

Yes, she was angry, things were not going her way today. She was also worried about her children. Isabeau was nowhere to be found after Lucilla had been taken away. She hoped that someone had grabbed her child and taken her back to Ares.

The worry in the pod was tangible, she could feel a slight headache coming on as well. Running her hands through her hair, she sat up straighter in her seat and gently slapped her cheeks in an attempt to wake herself up.

"All right. What is our next best course of action?"

[Chimera Marzullo]

Chimera stared at the message she had just received from Ares. So, the time had come. Two years of waiting.

She had been sent to Corellia shortly after the Ithella incident. She had been badly, badly hurt and no good to her family on Albion. The death of Gretchen and the others had taken a toll on all the Marzullo's. She herself had been near death. Itala had sent her to this planet with a few servants and bodyguards. Her force abilities had been greatly drained and she had been affraid she would not regain her original strengh. Bless Sol she had, but it had been a long, hard road. Now she was ready, ready to fight, to avenge her family, especially Itala, their beloved leader, struck down by his own son's hand.

Fury engulfed Chimera like a red tide. She had to take a few calming breaths before glancing once more at the message she had received from Ares.

Ares had sent Alexia and the few surviving family members to Corellia. She knew they would not be expecting her. Ares said he had only told them he knew "people" who could hide and help them. He had given her the command to lead the family to the hideout. He said KM and Lucian had been there and that KM was preparing for their arrival. All she had to do was wait.

She had secured a large landing bay and set up every security measure she could think of. She was taking no chances. She glanced at the cooridinates she had been given. It would not be an easy trip, but that meant it would be safer once they reached the place. There the Marzullo's could rebuild, and avenge Itala and all the other Marzullo's who had died to secure Sol's Law.

Chimera resumed her pacing. The shuttle should be here by now...she was begining to feel unsettled. She hoped they were alright and had not run into problems.

[Karl Valten]

……1:42………1:41……1:40….

The armored feet of Inquisitorial soldiers and stormtroopers rang hollow inside of the dead ship as the ominous timer all too quickly counted down the time until the Destroyer’s reactors overloaded.

Inquisitor Valten passed by uplifted deck plating and exposed power transfer lines all sparking in the death throes of the great vessel. With his burned robe once again over his shoulders and the lightsaber of the dead adept on his belt, he was more than prepared to leave the vessel.

The time it would take to track down the rest would nearly guarantee that they find a way to escape the ship.

…..1:01…..1:00……:59

Karl rounded a corner, following his surviving retinue through the boarding tunnel into his personal corvette, the Necropolis. Ze’eva brought up the rear, slamming her hand over the airlock seal.

“Pilot, get us out of here!”

As his remaining seekers and soldiers quickly filed ahead, Valten turned to address his Captain. Through the deck to subtle vibrations of the spectre-class corvette’s unique engines hummed to life.

….:33….:32….:31…..

“Now what was it that you felt?”

Captain Kiel unfastened the bands sealing her helmet into the collar lock and pulled the piece of armor off revealing vibrant blue eyes and raven hair. A nervous expression had been painted on her face ever since she felt a faint emotional outburst.

“I don’t know, just after the adept’s death it was like a distant tremor in the force….seething waves of hatred and pain.”

A slight lurch shook the Necropolis as the command flooded the reactors past their limit and streaked away from the ensuing explosion.

….:08…..:07…..:06

Karl spun towards the turbolift leading to the command chamber where the bridge crew was hard-wired themselves to the controls.

“You need to calm down and clear your mind. I want a report from you and the squad leaders when we reach the sur……..”

SSSCCCCCCRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE E

In the blink of an eye an earsplitting scream of collision sirens screamed through every Imperial vessel near the doomed destroyer. On some the sensor operators may have seen the tell-tale energy fluctuations of a hyperspace revision. But none had the time to react, not even a warning.

For a moment, the massive frame of the Purifier blinked into sight mere thousands of kilometers from its target. Though the decelerating ship meant that it was no where near light speed, her prow punched deep through the crippled Star Destroyer’s hull, cleanly ripping straight to the other side.

Durasteel twisted and turned, flamed and fused. Massive chunks of debris flew from both vessels and for an instant the two ships became one.

…..:02….:01…..:00

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMM

A Star Destroyers rarely ever exploded, even while self destructing. When destroyed, vessels of that size simple drifted and broke apart in ghostly silence as the remaining oxygen burned into nothingness.

But both ships now unstable and suffering from the residual traces of the incomprehensible energy needed to move a ship into hyperspace brewed a different result.

A shockwave pulsed outward from the collision, buffeting and rocking every ship nearby as if they where toys. Ionized traces sparked over the surfaces of half a dozen warships.

And in the chaos, very few saw the faint traces of the adept escape pods, and fewer would even think to remember and even mention them.

[Erik Centter]

Erik hears and simply ignores the irritated Lucilla, but before he can say any type of comeback, a massive explosion shoots and shakes the pod, causing Chitbatuuk to lose control as it spins around with the rest of the junk and pods. Erik's head hits the side of the pod, causing him to yell in anger and pain as everyone inside are violently shaken and thrown around like rag dolls.

"Chit!!"

The wookiee struggles to regain control, roaring in fear as the pod continues its violent descent into the Coruscant atmosphere, engulfed by fire as the other pods follow behind closely. Suddenly, the wookiee is thrown to the back of the pod, slamming into Lucilla as Erik nearly finds time to burst in laughter. Regardless, he pulls himself to the pilot's seat as he grabs hold and stirs it back in control.

"That was the star destroyer exploding, but what could have caused that?" he yells to the rest, spotting the tallest buildings of the capital city. Even the senate building becomes visible as their rapid descent announces them to the world.

"It won't slow down!"

Like it was programmed to do, the sensors of the pod are activated and release a few parachutes, slowing down the ingenious vessel as it harmlessly descends right in the middle of a busy market street, with its citizens hardly caring as long as they do not intefere in their business. The hatch is shot out, hitting a bystander on the head as Chitbatuuk rolls out of the pod.

"We made it."

Erik closes his eyes and takes a few breaths, grateful that he could add another great story to his repertoir of storytelling, something he enjoys greatly during his vacations, and now it surely is time for another long one.

[Lucilla Marzullo]

Lucilla gasped as she was shaken by the explosion, her restraint coming loose enough to jostle her around. Looking up, she blinked as something big and hairy came flying towards her....great...she had nowhere to go and it was unsafe if she were to unbuckle herself completely.

The mass of fur landed on top of her, knocking the wind out of her momentarily. Someone get the darn thing off of her! Feeling with the Force, she checked to make sure everyone else was alright.

"That was the star destroyer exploding, but what could have caused that?"

Reaching up, she tried pushing Chit off of her, "Exploded?!" She bit her lip, what if her daughter was still aboard? Oh Sol, please let that not be...

"It won't slow down!"

Slightly alarmed, Lucilla prepared herself for a crash landing, maybe it would be best for her if she left the wookie on her as a sort of cushion, it's what Erik deserved after all. No respect for her at all.

The pod moved around a little more as they landed safely. It could have been a lot worse. Releasing her restraints as Chit rolls out of the pod, Lucilla first checks on Krishna before glancing at Erik, and without a word to him, exits the pod.

[Dante Marzullo]

A few blocks from Erik's pod, Dante lands smoothly on the roof of a bar building, kicking the hatch out of the way as the sunlight blinds him momentarily. He smells the air of sweet freedom as the win blows his long hair, causing him to smile in sheer arrogance and joy. With his arms wide open, his robes fly off as his dark blue clothes are revealed, Jedi weapons and all.

He looks back and sees the other Marzullos calmly exiting the pod, surrounding him from behind as he spots Tidus, nodding for him to step closer.

"If the Imperials were looking for us up there, there is no reason why they wouldn't look for us down here, Conceal anything that would give you away as a force adept."

The other Marzullos don't hesitate for a moment, removing their robes quickly and hiding their lightsabers, scattering about the roof to look out for the other pods.

"See if you can spot Radda, we are supposed to meet him first."

Dante can't help but wonder what caused such a horrific explosion, it appears that death almost had snatched his entire faction, which would have cheaply ended his legacy.

[Radda Manthys]

Radda's pod cuts through the clouds as the parachutes are released, but they are release late enough to give the vessel momentum to crash right trhough an apartment building, slamming against a thick wall as the hatch explodes out of the way. Smoke emerges as the three Marzullos cough on their way out. A crushed alien female had left a blue pool of blood below the pod, causing Atheneus to slip and fall on his rear.

Radda is the last one to leave the pod, walking over to the hole that the pod had left as thousands of transports fly through the cities of Coruscant in lines, for as far as his eyes would allow him to see. Buildings towering over the very skies and the magnificent dome of the senate looming over the horizon.

Radda retrives a scanner and begins looking for Dante, who turns out to only be a block away, he nods to the rest of the Marzullos as they all jump out through the wall hole, gracefully landing as they look about the area for any police forces.

[Lars Marzullo]

Lars' pod lands smoothly on a landing ramp high above the rest of the group. Neve and Zoe are the first ones to exit, carrying Fiera over their shoulders. Before the brat even attempts to escape, Lars catches her arm and rags her out of the pod as he looks around, smelling the fresh air of the city planet.

"Let's take the transport ride down quickly, we can't be seen here. Dante and the rest are not far from here."

By a stroke of luck, a transport is just arriving, lowering its boarding ramp to welcome its latest customers, and fortunately, the medical crew quickly proceeds to care for the nearly dead Fiera. Their inquiries over the nature of the wounds are ignored by a motionless Lars, watching over the medics with his arms crossed and ready for anything.

"Hurry up medics, we don't have much time."

[Marcus Marzullo]

Not far from the rest, Marcus uses his lightsaber to melt the hatch that got stuck, collapsing upon its own flame and molten metal as he make shis way out with Alexander. Without being adviced, the two toss their robes aside and hide their respective lightsabers, visibly disgusted by the many types of aliens walking around the city streets.

'You know what to do when we see Centter."

Marcus only receives a nod, but that's more than enough for him. The two start making their way to the rest of the followers of Ares, hoping that perhaps they'd be lucky enough to bump into Dante and finish him off.

[Chitbatuuk]

Lacking manners and with his bowcaster armed, Chitbatuuk grabs Krishna's arm from inside the pod and pulls her out as he drags her to a multitude of people. The local authorities do not waste time to close in the strangely-shaped vessel, examining it as a transport arrives to take it away.

"Aaaar..." he goes, telling Krishna to move on with Erik and Lucilla as he shoves her, keeping an eye for any surprises. Just because they had landed did not mean that they were safe, and the mess that he had gone through earlier had rattled his brain enough to make him paranoid.

Chitbatuuk suddenly finds himself a dot within a majestic city of mighty proportions, he had never seen anything even closely resembling the mighty structures, except for the trees that he and his family inhabited in Kashyyyk. A slap behind the head from Erik brings him back to reality, scoffing to himself as he continues to follow his best friend.

[Radda Manthys]

As Dante continues to look around the city from the rooftop, a cold hand covers his mouth and lifts him a foot from the ground. The muffled scream of shock and terror coming from the Marzullo boss amuse the dark Sith, dropping him like a feisty female during an unauthorized breeding session.

"Don't worry, the others knew about me, they are not that useless."

Dante breathes heavily as he catches his breath, uselessly punching Radda's legs as he looks around the city's buildings, looking out for intruders.

"My contact will be here anytime, she will have the new location of an old business partner who will provide accomodations for the right price."

Radda's long cape flies with grim elegance, almost making a wraith-like sound as the wind blows through him.

"After I take you to him, you and your kin are on your own. I have my own business to attend to."

[Alexia Marzullo]

Turbulence began to rumble the shuttle as they neared their destination. Corellia was in sight. Still running off her excitement from communicating with her father, Alexia jumped up and ran to the control panels. She glanced over the screen and pushed a few buttons. They were cleared for landing. The coordinates that Ares gave Alexia and the other shuttles, lead them right to where they needed to go. As they got even closer to the planet, a landing bay came into view and Alexia could feel someone waiting for them. A smile spread over her face. “By Sol, they must have everything planned out.” She mused to herself. She had not felt her Aunt Chimera’s presences in a long time. For all she knew Chimera died during the attack by Ithella. The death toll was too many to count, but now was not the time to be focused on that.

Alexia typed in the final landing sequence and waited. Within minutes the shuttle was landing. Alexia and the rest of her family exited the shuttles to meet their welcoming party.

“Aunt Chimera.” Alexia called as they emerged from the shuttle. “Thank you for coming to meet us.” She added with a smile.

[Krishna Marzullo]

"What the..." Started Krishna as she was grabbed by the walking carpet, barely managing to grab her pack before being dragged out of the pod.

"Hey, I can walk on my own you know."

"Aaaar..."

Pushed towards the rest, Krishna stumbles trying to retain her ballance.

"What was that for!? What gives you the right to be pushing me around?" She yelled as she turned and faced Chit.

'This is not worth my time,' she thought to herself as she turned back around and started walking farther away from the pod, slinging the pack on her back mid-turn.

[Chimera Marzullo]

Chimera sighed with relief at the sight of Alexia's shuttles. She should have known the child...she stopped herself at that. Alexia was no longer a child, hadn't been for quite some time now. None of them were children anymore. War did that to a person, and betrayal. She would have to watch herself, it was only habit that had her thinking of her cousins children as..well..children, but they weren't. They were the ruling Marzullo's now, the future, her generation was dying fast.

Chimera opened a comm to the lead shuttle. "Alexia! Welcome to Corellia. It has been a long time. We have much to discuss."

Reaching out with the force, Chimera was saddened to sense so few Marzullo's, but she would not let this distract her from her mission. By Sol, she would safely deliver the remaining Marzullo's to their new santuary.

"How was your trip?"

[Radda Manthys]

A hooded female enters the roof with the greatest of ease and elegance, the other Marzullos doing nothing since Radda isn't moving, the obvious clue that let them know they knew each other. The female takes a quick bow and hands Radda a holocron map, running off just as quickly as she had arrived, jumping over the edge of the roof and disappearing into the busy Coruscant crowds.

"Dante, I've got the map, let's move."

Without waiting for anyone, Radda jumps over the edge of the roof as well, followed by the rest of the Marzullos as Dante narrows his eyes in resentment. It just seems that every time Radda joins his attacks, he takes command easily, but he does not have much choice, being weaker and less experienced.

"Try to spread out, we can't be seen as a group."

Radda shoves a Rodian aside without a bit of respect, slamming him against another pedestrian as people gasp in surprise. Two tough guys attempt to salvage the alien's honor, but before anything happens, Radda slams his open plams against their chests, sending them crahsing against the wall.
Dante catches up, taking a moment to breathe out of sheer fatigue from all the previous fighting.

"Just take any elevators and head to the lowest level, here's the map. Send the coordinates to Lars,"

Radda's contact had quickly left for a reason, having gone to retrieve Radda's personal shuttle as it lands on the same roof where Dante and company had been waiting.

"Remember, Hutts like money."

[Dante Marzullo]

"Be ready when I need you again, old man."

Dante looks up as Radda's shuttle disappears from view, shielded by his strange technology. The strongest warrior in his group had become himself suddenly, feeling a little more defenseless. The other Marzullos wait for Dante's next move, looking a bit agitated from the company they did not enjoy. None of them are used to being in such large crowds, becoming outright nervous by the very sight of strangers bumping into them and exchanging glances.

"Don't worry, this will be over soon."

Dante then spots Lars and company by the elevators they were heading to, nearly a full block away. The Force always has its uses.

"Hurry up then, ladies and gentlemen, before anybody finds out where we are going."

[Erik Centter]

Erik had stopped by a food shop to plant some type of homing device that would lead Marcus and Alexander to Lucilla and Krishna's location, and thus his contract with Itala's followers had come to an end, he had aided in bringing about the end of Dante's fleet and aided in the rescue of Lucilla. With a strange expression of pleasure, a smiling Erik takes a light bow to bid goodbye to Lucilla.

"I shall be on my way then, milady. I will sure miss the nude whipping."

An angry and low growl from Chitbatuuk can be heard from behind Erik, the goodbye had made him remember of the time when Helen had shaved him completely and beaten to a bloody pulp. The wookiee had never gotten his revenge for that, but the apprent death of the ruthless Helen had made things even.

"If we ever see each other again, let's hope it's under different circumstances eh?"

[Ares Marzullo]

While Fieron had spoken to him, Ares was already concentrating on the location of the Purifier, and feels the death of a powerful member of the family all the same as he holds his chest from the Force tremor that had stabbed through his calm state of mind.

"It looks like we have succeeded."

Ares' eyes open as he turns to Fieron, pulling back on his hood as he ruffles his hair from the shaky experience he had just gone through.

"But I only felt one dead, and it wasn't one of ours. "

Coruscant is a perfect place to hide, with a gigantic city where even the most attrocious and fierce gangsters could disappear within a second. If Ares is ever to organize a hunting party to catch his treacherous brother, the first place to go to would be the mighty capital planet.

"Let's go to Corellia then, Fieron, hurry it up."

[Marcus Marzullo]

Just before Erik is able to walk away from the danger, Marcus stands in front of him, catching his breath with a powerful Force choke that nearly bursts the Jedi's veins from the intense pressure.

"You are not going anywhere, Jedi."

Alexander walks over to Lucilla and Krishna and stands in front of them, guarding them from any interference they may offer. The young man really has no choice without Ares around, which made Marcus the default leader and Elder. Marcus had specifically singled out Lucilla from interfering as Alex keeps an eye on her.

Chitbatuuk attempts to rip some arms off, but before he can take the second step, Marcus uses the Force to toss him inside the same food store, burying him within an assortment of fruit as bystanders back away terrified.

"I will not have you or anyone else expose our family, Jedi, so prepare to die."

[Erik Centter]

That horrible feeling of bursting from within, that dreaded sensations of having your eyes explode, that severe lack of oxygen and tortured breathing, nothing came even close to the hold that Marcus haad on the Jedi, not even allowing him to move his arms to grab his neck from desperation.

He can't even utter a word to beg for mercy, or even act defiantly. All those battles and duels he endured as part of his deal make Erik feel like a complete fool, but unfortunately, there is no way for him to guarantee complete silence over the Marzullos, he is a Jedi after all, honor has nothing to do with it.

His sight begins to go as his body goes numb, every bit of strength in his body and soul is trying to resist for as long as he can, but without help, he's a goner, and not even his strong wookiee friend can help him this time.

"Pl...a-a-rrrgh"

Not even a single word, the murderous intent is clear, and he has no choice but to die.

[Fieron Marzullo]

The further damage to lives was done. There would always be more to come. As long as there was life, there would be death and the many options of how to attain it. The explosion had been quite fantastical, and was stil burning away. Now would be the perfect time to vanish before someone noticed they were hanging around.

".......hurry it up."

And he would. Fieron had all the necessary controls prepared, and within a scant moment, they were firing off into hyperspace toward Corellia. It would be good to set foot on land again. Whether there would be resting to be had for any amount of time was debatable, but Fieron had decided somewhere between the betrayals and this very second that he would be ready for any instance, any circumstance.

Any opportunity.

The stream of hyperspace had become something of a comfort to him. It felt purposeful, like it was always bringing him closer to where he needed to be to do whatever needed to be done. His thoughts turned to the women, not really knowing yet if they had safely reached their destination. He knew such was not the case for any of his immediate family, for he knew where they stood. His mind went on like this, centered greatly on the circumstances of the clan as a whole, while he guided the shuttle through to Corellia. It was a quiet flight, Fieron taken by his swirling thoughts, and Ares likely resting...not that the young man noticed. Between the shuttle and his thoughts, he was completely preoccupied.

After a time, their flow through hyperspace came to a close. Corellia was in their proximity, and a faint bulge of familiar presence began to announce itself in increasing morsels the closer they got to the planet. Fieron freed a sigh of relief as it came time to touch down on the surface.

"Thank Sol. They're here, Ares. They made it." Fieron breathed, as he gently landed, and began to power down the flight systems. A somewhat weary smile came to his youthful features as he was pulling himself up from his seat.

Sweet relief.

[Hartus Kenobi]

The ground shook and a cloud of concrete and dust arose from a small crater a few meters beside Erik and Marcus, causing everyone to struggle to regain their balance.

"FLAMETHROWER."

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A barrier of fire arose Marcus and Erik, causing the Marzullo to momentarily loosen his grip on the Jedi rogue.

The two sides spun in the direction of the interventionist, but their eyes were met only by a blinding, disorienting floodlight.

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"Sorry. You were earlier than I expected."

* * * *

Mental note: Have to practice soft landings... This armor is still going to take some getting used to.

With to an old smuggler's database (ripped from an older version Imperial database) that he had hacked and uploaded weeks before, a face scan would eventually identify the light Force-user as Erik Centter, and his large companion was apparently something called a "wookie" (Imperial files tended to be less thorough for alien species). But, he noted, it appeared that the Imperials weren't keeping their files updated. The intelligence reports indicated that Centter's location had not been reported in a number of years and that he was last believed to be among the Jedi. But it was clear to Hartus - as he used the Force to examine the man he was meant to help - that the man's path, much like his own, had already diverged from that of the Jedi. There was far less information available on the wookie, not surprisingly. The deceased Emperor had famously underestimated their value and the threat they posed.
But it was the scan of the others, the dark-siders, that greatly concerned him. Whereas the file on the wookie was incomplete, no files existed at all for the darksiders.

He had a bad feeling about this.

He quickly switched off his chest floodlight and walked up to the staggering Erik and Chit. Placing an armored hand on each of their shoulders, he would serve as a conduit. Pooling their strength in the Force, the spots immediately cleared from Erik's and Chit's eyes. "I think we're going to need each other's help with this one."

Without waiting for a reply, he turned to face Marcus and triggered the magnetic field in his right gauntlet, causing his lightsaber to leap from his waist into in as its bright baby blue revealed itself.

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This would be only the second time Hartus has face a darksider. Long ago, when he was a youngling, he was taught that the Sith had been extinct for centuries, if not millennia. Corrupted Jedi did pop up occasionally, but only very rarely, and they were quickly caught by alert groups of knights before they could cause significant damage. Still, they were so rare that he had never had to encounter one until Vader.

Normally, he had learned, the Sith had learned to only travel individually or in twos - a master and an apprentice - since it was understood rival dark-siders were incapable of any extended period of peaceful coexistence. This, traditionally, had been the one undeniable advantage the Light had over the Dark. But somehow, these dark Jedi that Hartus had spotted here had been able to form some sort of.... family? Who were these people?

Get yourself together, Kenobi.

* * * *

The myterious armored figure's appearance was distorted by the intense heat from the still blazing ground between Marcus and Erik, but he appeared almost as tall as the wookie, but twice as wide.
Facing Marcus, the towering figure spoke over his shoulder to Erik and Chit, once again in the same creepy, robotic voice.

"Ready?"

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* * * *

[Marcus Marzullo]

Waving away the smoke, Marcus sneers in anger as he sees his prey being stolen just before he could taste it. The crowd around them gasps as a lightsaber comes to life, probably not used to seeing one since the Jedi purge, and the shock value is duplicated when Marcus' own crimson lightsaber comes to life.

"Whoever you are, you won't live long enough to even regret it."

A quick dive forward aided by the Force launches Marcus straight towards the intruder, swinging his blade upwards in a vicious attempt to slice through his armor and ribcage in one blow. Just behind him, Alexander looks back to the two Marzullo women, debating wether to stop guarding him to aid Marcus or just keep doing as ordered.

[Erik Centter]

Erik drops to the floor like a rag doll as he gasps for air, reaching up as if trying to catch his fleeing soul. Chitbatuuk is already up and helps bring the battered Jedi to his feet as Hart makes his presence known and touches their shoulders. Struggling to even utter a word, with his neck badly bruised and slightly bleeding, the Jedi drops to the floor once again, but the wookiee catches him just in time.

"I-I'm not sure I can b-be of a-a-assistance, kind stranger."

Erik is fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of the deadly Marcus as he launches his diving attack, and his eyes widen in horror as he tackles Hartus ' legs, attempting to push him out of the way.

[Hartus Kenobi]

Hartus turned his head quizzically at the weary Jedi as the young man attempted to move all 2,000 pounds of armor. "What are you..."

Then he saw it. His eyes widened in alarm as he deactivated his lightsaber and quickly grabbed one of Erik's outstretched hands with his right gauntlet. "TAKE MY HAND AND HOLD ON!"

Sparks flew as Marcus' blade began to tear into the exterior of Hartus' armor as the Last Kenobi launched himself off the ground with his jetpack, Centter in tow. He flew back, raising his left gauntlet's wrist blasters and delivering a rapid barrage of blasts at the old Marzullo in order to prevent him from following them.

Landing a dozen meters behind where he was, he gently placed the Jedi back down. "Piece of cake," he lied, forcing himself to control his panicked breathing. "But thanks for the warning."

The old man was fast.

Now with both hands free, Hartus raised his twin wrist blasters and began an assault on Marcus. Let's see just how fast you are.

[Marcus Marzullo]

The sparks off Hartus' armor shower the Elder briefly before a rain of laser fire attempts to end his life, deflecting and dodging as many rounds as he can before jumping aside to get some cover behind a parked vehicle as part of the ground is burnt and cracked from the intense fire. Genuinely impressed by the intruder's arsenal, Marcus allows himself to smile briefly.

"Keep hiding behind your blasters, boy!" he yells as he blows his cover, ducking quickly as the new round of fire turns the expensive vehicle into a pile of burnt metal, exploding and throwing the Elder a few meters away, causing him to land roughly and roll, tripping many bystanders as most run away from the scene, it would not be long before some type of Imperial task force showed up to spoil the party.

[Chitbatuuk]

Chitbatuuk looks up in awe as Hartus takes off the ground with his best Jedi friend, moving along the ground as blaster fire causes him to instinctively look for some type of cover. The wookiee looks on as the car Marcus uses for cover blows up and throws him a fair distance away, readying his bowcaster to get a clean shot.

Just before he is able to end the threat, a group of people form a circle around the Marzullo, wondering who he was and kneeling over to try and help him, but they have no idea what they're getting into.

The wookie slaps his forehead in frustration, glancing high up where the Jedi enjoy the higher ground.

[Lars Marzullo]

"According to the coordinates, this is the elevator nearest, but I don't..."

Lars is interrupted by the arrival of Dante and company, putting his blaster away as he extends his hand in greeting. Fiera is put inside the elevator with the help of Zoe and Neve as Selene sneaks in, taking the first ride down as the elevator shuts its doors and makes its long descent.

"I thought something may have happened to you."

Lars gives a slight nod to the Marzullos following Dante. It's a miracle that they had all escaped alive, except for the terrible loss of Tiranna, the most powerful reltive in the group. With her missing, he does not feel as secure, and makes him consider his politics a little more carefully.

"I'm also surprised to see that none of Ares' slaves followed us, something must be happening to them."

The elevator returns faster than anticipated, opening its doors for the rest of the fanatical rebels. Dante nods his head in command, causing a quick and obedient reaction from the group as Dante remains outside with Lars while the elevator makes its second trip down.

"I'll have the sample now, Dante."

[Dante Marzullo]

Dante looks around as people walk about minding their business, with a public transport vehicle hovering past him close enough to make his hair fly in all directions to the man's great annoyance. It is obvious that Dante hates the crowds and the busy city, having been used to the remoteness of his old home in Albion, but such times are but a memory and he must move on.

"I risked my neck to get you this Lars, it better work."

Dante retrieves a small bottle with what looks like blood and hands it to the lanky genius. Just as Lars is about to continue on with the topic, the elevator returns and slides open its doors.

"We'll talk abou this later, just get to work on it as soon as we are settled."

Dante and Lars enter the elevator, quickly plunging them into a wretched world of scum and villany, a world they both could call home.

[Tidus Marzullo]

So much had happened, and so fast.

As normal, the youth had spent the whole time in silence. Even as the escape pod shook due to the great explosion, and the feeling of Tiranna's death flooded his mind, Tidus hadn't as much as battered an eyelid. Most of the time, he had a talent for removing emotion and feeling from his mind. Add to that a strangely sadistic nature; inherited from his mother, and Tidus could be seen as one sick individual, almost inhuman. On the other hand, what he could bring himself to do against others could make him a handy ally to have.

He squinted in the light as he emerged from the pod, his eyes adjusting. Pulling his coat tighter around him to conceal his saber, Tidus followed Dante and Lars closely. He took the elevator on its second descent, wasting no time once he arrived at the bottom. Having glanced at the map earlier, he remembered it like a photograph and set off, not looking back to see if any of the others were following him.

The underground of Coruscant was...interesting, to say the least. Only the lowest of the low spent permanent time here. A winding maze of twisted, rusty metal and rotting material. And the stink was even worse. It would take a good ten minutes to find the Hutt. Avoiding eye contact with the locals, Tidus moved on briskly.

[Lars Marzullo]

Lars and Dante exit the elevator as they could see the rest of the group heading off without waiting for their leader, just the fitting thing to do for a group of anarchists. The one farthest is Tidus, whose confident walk shows that he knows exactly where he's going. The last is Lucius, purposely slowing down to guard the read of the group from any thieves or strange alien creatures.

Lars makes a disgusted face as he almost steps on some type of feces, walking around it as he sees deformed humans and the most of uncivilized huts, with very undesirable inhabitants.

"This place is disgusting, Dante, I would rather die than live here!"

Lars can't help but stare as a fat Toydarian licks on its armpit, scratching its beard as it sits rotting and depressed by a corner. Lars quickly turns his attention to the other end of the street, spotting a pack of animals tearing a human child apart for dinner. This place is a nightmare for him, turning to face Dante in protest.

"Disgusting I tell you!"

[Dante Marzullo]

Dante looks around the hideous streets of Coruscant's worst level and slummiest of worlds, not pleased at all by the circumstances. Strange that a man with Radda's taste would lead him to such a place, but he has no choice at the moment, and there is nothing to lose by trying. Lars' whining can't come at a worse time.

"Then go back up there and die, you vulture. I have things to do and can do without your stupid whining."

A hungry creature begins to gnaw on Dante's boot, getting a violent kick for its efforts, sending the creature flying to the rest of the pack who had finished devouring the small child. Lars looks to the pack and then back to Dante as the animals growl in anger and all start running to them.

"You go on ahead."

Lars needs to hear no more words as he takes off quickly while Dante needs only to open his palm, bringing the animals to a halt, then they are elevated off the ground by a few feet, now at the mercy of the Force adept.

"Hmph."

His other palm opens, releasing a burst of lightning that makes the animals explode in a messy and bloody way, splattering them all over their own feeding grounds. Soon after, smaller predators fill the premises, eating away as they never did before, for food is plenty!

Before Dante can catch up to the rest of the Marzullos, he notices that around a dozen or so people had noticed his antics. He approaches them as sparkles fly off his fingertips. Most of the people cower and return to their huts, as if something like that could stop the ruthless darksider.

Dante retrieves some type of cologne he uses when he goes out on search of a female, spraying the liquid all over the three huts as he uses small bolts of lightning to ignite the small living places.

"That should silence you."

Making sure nobody else has seen him, Dante runs off to catch up to the group as groups of men, women and children emerge from the huts on fire, screaming in terrible agony as they roll all over the ground. It's a lucky day for the scavengers.

[Alexia Marzullo]

Alexia gave her aunt a hug before answering anymore questions. It was so good to see some of Itala’s generation alive and well. She was also relieved to see that the “people” Ares spoke of to help hide them on Corellia was family. Aunt Chimera was a nice surprise.

"Alexia! Welcome to Corellia. It has been a long time. We have much to discuss. How was your trip?”

“Our trip was fair, long. But, enough about our trip. What about you? Here?”

Alexia meant no disrespect in her questions, she was normally pretty forward and information was usually passed along to her, if allowed. Especially by her father, Matthias always treated his children as young adults, allowing them to be privy to information that most other cousins might not know. It also helped that Alexia was one of the older cousins in Ares’ generation, making her more mature than most.

As the other shuttles landed, Alexia glanced around to see where her father might be. But, she quickly turned her attention back to Chimera. “Have you been here all this time?”

[Lucilla Marzullo]

"I shall be on my way then, milady. I will sure miss the nude whipping."

Lucilla smirked a little as he said this, her eyes following his bow. It wasn't her that was doing the whipping, it was Helen, but, all the same. She didn't flinch as Chit growled, instead her smile widened a little bit, those were good times for her.

"If we ever see each other again, let's hope it's under different circumstances eh?"

"I never said that I was done with you yet, Jedi. You may have helped me get away, but I am still not reunited with Ares..."

Lucilla rolled her eyes and growled slightly in frustration as Marcus showed up, yet again. He seemed to enjoy meddling...or making her angry, she couldn't tell. Folding her arms over her chest, she sighed and bit her lip, staring at Marcus first, as he attempts to choke the Jedi to death.

Her eyes flickered to Alex, they were burning with anger, why the heck was he specifically watching her? Like she could do anything with hardly any strength and no lightsaber. It'd be an entirely different story if she had a blaster or some type of blunt weapon.

Something tingled in her brain suddenly, the Force alerting her that something was coming. Instinctively, she spread her legs apart to steady herself, because whatever it was, was heavy, and coming in fast!

As Hartus landed, the ground shook, and even though she was prepared, she was still almost knocked off balance by the tremors. Seeing his armor, she blinked, and then blinked again. Out of all things in the galaxy for her to experience, she had to have this one...why? Biting her lip, she tried to quell her laughter, and just barely managed to, forcing the upturning corners of her mouth back into a emotionless line once more.

Sudden heat made her instinctively sheild herself, though shielding with her arm wasn't going to not make her body ignite if she got too close to the flames coming from Hartus. Reaching over, she gently took ahold of Krishna's wrist, and stood ready to take cover if really needed.

Sparing a glance at Marcus, she wondered first if he was alright, and second what his next move would be. She really didn't have to guess, she knew there was going to be a full out fight right here in the street. So much for not exposing the family...

Ooh...a lightsaber, so it WAS a duel, finally. Prepared to move at anytime, Lucilla could not help but feel excited, out in the open there was a much better chance as casualties. If Marcus was as skilled as ever, he would have no problem getting rid of this problem so they could get back to Ares.

Short duel, as it would seem, she could already feel and smell the scent of Marcus' blade making its way through the armor. Her small smile turned into a frown, as Hartus and Erik started to make their getaway, a...jetpack on his back? A flame thrower...and a spot light...is there ANYTHING this guy hasn't thought of?

Growling as Hartus fires his blaster at Marcus, she steps forward a little, yelling up at him, "Coward! Put down your toy and finish your fight like a grown man!"

Using the Force to dodge the deflected blaster fire as she had no saber, she made sure to move herself in front of Krishna, but abandoned her place as the car exploded, sending shrapnel her way, and Marcus quite a few meters from them.

Pushing Alex aside and leaving Krishna in his care, she runs as fast as she can to Marcus' side. He wasn't dead, that much she could feel, but they couldn't deal with another injured person at this point. Stopping near him, she kneeled down and checked him over, she didn't touch him though, she didn't think he'd exactly want her attention at all at this point.

"Are you alright, Marcus?"

[Hartus Kenobi]

Hartus stopped shooting as he instinctively turned and stood over the barely conscious Erik Centter, bracing himself as he allowed pieces of shrapnel and debris from the exploded car to shower down on his armored back.

As soon as the the explosion settled, he turned back to his adversary and straightened himself out, raising his arms to find and re-lock his sights on Marcus just as the old man became surrounded by a crowd of civilians.

What in the Force are they doing?!

He gripped his lightsaber handle tightly as he pushed his way towards the center of the growing crowd. Worried about potential civilian casualties, he stopped. He closed his eyes and inhaled slowly, allowing the Force to flow through his body. His brows furrowed with intensity as he extended his energies outward, invading the minds of the many people around him...

YOU'RE ALL IN DANGER! YOU HAVE TO LEAVE!

He opened his eyes and held his breath with anticipation. Nothing. I never did have the talent to influence minds. He sighed in disappointment as he resumed his search for the darksiders through the narrow eyeslits of his helmet.

[Marcus Marzullo]

The group closest to Marcus is thrown away in all directions. Humans and aliens alike fly and slam against the floor as Marcus returns to his feet with Lucilla standing next to him. The anger in the old man is evident, with the dark side of the Force becoming more dominant as the duel progresses. Marcus knows that he can't risk using more powerful attacks for the sake of the mission's secrecy.

Suddenly, Marcus turns to his right as a group of stormtroopers cut through the crowd with shoves and elbows, prompting him to postpone the fight for later. At this point, the whole scene is packed with nosy civilians, making it easier for the Elder and the rest of the group to disappear and escape from the ruthless Imperial forces.

"Why is it that someone or something always interrupts?" he yells, shattering the street lights to make it tougher on the stormtroopers as he continues to run to safety. One after the other pop as he runs by them.

[Dante Marzullo]

Down in the lowest level of the Coruscant underground, Dante stops by the gathering of his followers, standing in front of two Gamorreans who cross their weapons to block the entrance. Fiera and Neve continue to bicker with the Falleen in charge of security as Dante puts a hand on Lucius' shoulder.

"What's going on now?" Dante asks, bored of having to deal with what he considers subspecies.

"They won't let us in, something about an authorization code." whispers Lucius in return.

Dante cuts through the group, standing right in front of the three guards as he raises his right arm slightly, making a waving motion that knocks the three out cold, collapsing on the dirty floor as the door sliders open, revealing a long passage way that runs deeper into the ground.

"There's your code."

Dante is the first to enter, having assumed the responsibility he shared with Tirannna during the entire war.

[Muuta The Hutt]

A small rodent squirms about as it hangs from its tail, snatched by a tiny arm that drops it within the huge mouth of the one known as Muuta, a Hutt who has great enough connections with the Coruscant Imperials to run his operations unchallenged. The obese creature has a hard time cracking the bones of the rodent, causing him to make a loud gulp as he rubs his belly with delight. The flavor of the endangered species makes the struggle all the sweeter, but that's not how he likes to enjoy a decent meal.

Muuta narrows his huge eyes as one of his bodyguards walks by close enough to be grabbed by the neck. A guttering noise emerges from his mouth as he begins to speak in Huttese:

"I told you to sedate them before I eat them, you useless scum!"

The soft music that brings the everyday happenings of the cantina dies with the Hutt's attitude, earning the attention of the whole room as a cage lowers from the ceiling, trapping the Twi'lek. He looks around and receives a strong shock of electricity from the cage's walls, dropping to his knees to beg for mercy.

"No mercy, Yuudo, I told you this was your last chance."

Muuta pulls a lever that drops the unfortunate servant a long way down into what seems to be a round pool, splashing with impact as the electrical cage makes its way back up. Yuudo struggles to grab ahold of the cage, but another shock makes him lose his grip, returning him to the grim waters below.

"Never mess with my meal."

Holes within the walls begin to release gallons of blood, quickly turning the clean water into a red and gooey mess.

"I have served you for ten years, master, don't do this to me!" screams Yuudo out of desperation. The hutt looks down without any type of remorse or pity, this is the greatest show on Coruscant to him, and some fool's pleading isn't about to change his mind.

Suddenly, a massive dragon-like creature emerges from the water, throwing Yuudo in the air as it shuts its massive jaw through the Twi'lek's waist, snapping him in half as his two pieces drop back down to the water, causing a thunderous cheering noise from the rest of the cantina.

[Dante Marzullo]

The loud cheering caused by the gruesome death of Yuudo comes to a halt as Dante and his followers enter the room, boldly walking up to Muuta as more Gamorrean guards get in the way, one knocked out after the other with mere Force tricks from the Marzullo leader. The Hutt does not seem to be intimidated at all, curiously eyeing the group as Dante bows lightly in respect.

"We have been sent by lord Radda Manthys here in hope that you provide accomodations for us, you come highly recomended."

A scruffy-looking human with an eyepatch covers his mouth as he whispers into the ear of the Hutt. After he is done, Muuta calls his protocol droid, standing next to the massive gastropod as it begins to translate.

"The great Muuta the Hutt welcomes any friends of lord Manthys, but politely asks what he will receive in exchange for his hospitality."

The crowd noise heightens as Dante receives a few valuable objects from Lars, and the lanky man extends his palm in hope that the rest of the Marzullos would pitch in. Ares would pay for stealing the password to Dante's account, filled with millions of credits, virtually leaving Dante and company completely broke.

[Hartus Kenobi]

Stormtroopers.

Fantastic.

"RADIO TRANSCEIVER"
He would need to be careful. Knowing rudimentary Imperial standard operating procedure, the lines were not secure. Hopefully Tee-three would understand. "Honey, I'm coming home. Keep my seat warm." He turned to at Erik Centter and then to Chitbatuuk. "And see if you can make some more room at the table for two guests. Actually," eyeing Chit, "make that two and a half."

"Twooop?"

He gritted his teeth. "Yes. Get. The. Table. Ready. Honey."

"Reee Ploooop?"

"BY THE FORCE, PREP THE CATCH YOU INSUFFERABLE DROID! I'M GETTING SURROUNDED BY IMPERIALS AND I WANT TO GET OUT OF HERE!" He cut the transmission.

Turning to both Erik and Chit, he began to shout. "Plans are in motion to get us out! Hopefully. My name is Ha... I'm a friend, and I'm here to help you! We just need to..."

What are you going to do Hart? Your jetpack wouldn't be able to handle the weight of both the Jedi and the wookie. Your battery is at 36% - not enough to even think about fighting your way back towards the Catch.

He began to look around for anything... ANY clue to show him what to do. And he found it.

"RADIO TRANSCEIVER"
"Hey Tee-three." He smiled. "I need help hotwiring a vintage Narglatch AirTech airspeeder."

[Erik Centter]

Erik's hand grabs ahold of Hartus' well-armored arm, shaking his head in clear disapproval. He keeps his head down as the troopers fire at a robed civilian by mistake, causing loud screams and traffic accidents by distracted drivers.

"We must follow the dark siders, for the good of the galaxy. If we don't take care of this now, we'll regret it later."

Feeling around his belt to double check that he still has his lightsaber, Erik pulls his hood over, heading down the stairs of the building to reunite with Chitbatuuk, regardless of what Hartus may have planned.

"Come with me if you like, stranger, but this will be very dangerous."

[Hartus Kenobi]

"Come with you? To follow them? I'm not sure if you noticed, my friend, but we're vastly outnumbered! The best way to deal with them is to escape now and ask the Council to launch a mission with at least a dozen of us to..." He cut himself off. He had forgotten where he was. WHEN he was. The Jedi Council he knew as a teenager was gone. The Jedi Order that he knew as a teenager was gone. Centter was right. They would have to do this now, even if it cost them their lives. Because there would be no one else.

"Yes." Even his robotic voice managed to sound more dejected than usual. "You're right." He saw the Imperials quickly coming closer and closer. "We should move now before they see us." He followed Erik down the stairs.

[Muuta The Hutt]

The protocol droid reaches for the small valuables and then turns to show them to the Hutt, but in return is shoved aside by the strength and blobbery of the massive sentient, sending him crashing down like a trash can. Apparently, small trinkets do not interest the Muuta. The droid returns to its feet, continuing with the translation.

"I want hazzard pay, cash money, not your worthless trinkets."

After the rude exchange, Muuta can't help but eye the slender frame of Neve Marzullo, running his tongue all over his slimey lips as he points to her.

"Muuta requests that the young brunette approach him."

[Erik Centter]

Erik exits the building after a long climb down, and is caught in the arms of his wookiee friend as he's hugged tight, almost suffocating him. Not far behind, Hartus makes his way out as well.

"Alright Chit, that's enough, it's good to see you too, but we must chase after Lucilla's family."

The wookiee growls when they are mentioned again, even if he was aiming for Marcus' head a short while before. He hangs his bowcaster on his shoulder as they begin to head off around the block, where more lights were being shattered in a pattern that any fool would be able to follow.

"It's like they wants us to follow them, Chit."

Far enough yet close behind to not be seen, Erik turns to Hartus as Chitbatuuk continues on with the stealthy chase.

"May I ask what a Jedi like you is doing in the Imperial planet? Haven't you heard? They are hunting us down like animals."

[Dante Marzullo]

Dante raises an eyebrow out of sheer curiosity. He had never met a Hutt before and knew very little about them, but he never guessed them to be so daring and cocky. Neve looks at the rest of the group for a moment, and then builds up the courage to stand in front of the ghastly creature. The protocol continues to translate.

"If I'm allowed to do as I please with this little ribbon of pleasure, I shall grant your wish."

Neve's eyes widen in horror as she slaps away Muuta's hand, taking a few steps back as Dante cuts in front of her.

"We will do nothing of the sort, you hideous creature!" he yells, outright offended and furious by the request.

"I can offer you plenty of security, my group is very skilled in the ways of the Force and could easily kill any unplesant visitors."

[Muuta The Hutt]

Apparently, even such a good bodyguarding offer is not enough to satisfy Muuta's lust for Neve, shoving his droid aside once again as he throws a temper tantrum. He would always get what he wanted, no matter what the price was. Yet again, the abused droid stands, continuing with the translation.

"The girl or nothing, you weak-minded humans. What you offer is simply not good enough."

Muuta's bodyguards watch closely, not too alert about the situation, having witnessed countless confrontations that always end up in some type of bargain. His gorgeous slave dancer girls sit to his left, resting on his disgusting yet comfortable belly rolls. Nearly nude and humiliated but already used to the ir fate.

"I thought so. My guards will show you the way out."

Muuta's latest words cause a roaring laughter all over the cantina.

[Hartus Kenobi]

Hart was silent for a good minute as he continued the chase with his two new companions, choosing his words carefully. "Believe it or not, I'm not a Jedi. Not anymore." He chuckled to himself. "At least I wasn't until an hour ago. To tell you the truth, even now I still don't really know who or what I am."

He nodded understandingly as a strange look crossed Erik's face. "Yeah, it doesn't make much sense to me either." It felt good to run again. This was the first time he ran for... he didn't know how long. "All I know is that I... woke up last month after... after what felt like a long sleep. A small battle on Naboo temporarily blacked out the power generators inside an abandoned underground Imperial trophyroom." He met Eric's eyes. "I was one of those 'trophies.' But the bombardments and power surges cracked the carbonite I was frozen in, and though only barely alive, I was finally able to free myself from it after a few days of struggling."

"I had no memory. At first, the only clue I had was the nameplate next to the carbonite. It said..." He stopped, but decided to trust the Jedi to whom he would trust his life. "It said 'Hartus Kenobi: Jedi Knight.' Other than that..." he allowed the horrific mask of Darth Vader to enter his mind, "I've only regained some fragments from my past. Most of them I wish I didn't."

"Anyway," he managed a shrug mid-jog, "That's why I'm here on Coruscant. I know it's a long shot, but I know that if I was a Jedi, I would have trained and lived here, in this city. I thought something might jog my memory. And I hadn't planned on using my Force abilities until I did." He smiled. "So much for that plan, huh?"

"So," he cocked his head towards the wookie ahead of him. "How did you two come to across such wonderful people like the ones we're chasing after?"

[Erik Centter]

Losing Marcus and the others for a few seconds, Erik leans over a civilian to spot the darksider since the lights had suddenly stopped breaking. He manages to catch a similar hooded man taking an elevator down a block away.

"Hart Kenobi, will you look at that, Chit?!" he almost yells, covering his mouth as he looks around. The wookiee briefly turns around, nodding in respect.

"Sorry, but I have heard about you back when the Order existed, I had a feeling others had survived."

The wookiee continues to slowly run as he arrives to the elevator and stands in front of it, waiting for the next ride, looking all around in case more Imperials decide to spoil the party.

"You must have heard of my old master, Aiph Haider, he and I were fortunate enough to intercept a signal from Master Yoda."

Erik arrives to the elevator and stands on the other side of the entrance, tying his hair up in a pony tail, having grown long enough to become a nuisance.

"He and I hid far, far away, just waiting for the right time to begin seeking others like us, but my master's heart quit on him. "

Memories of his noble master fill his mind, taking him off focus for a brief moment. The elevator door opens as Chitbatuuk quickly steps in, followed by the daring rogue Jedi. Erik makes an inviting motion with his hand, trying to make Hartus step it up a notch.

"If we make it through this, I will tell you about them. It's a long story."

[Dante Marzullo]

Like a raging storm in the darkness, Dante ignites his lightsaber and does a Force jump, landing right on the belly of the Hutt as he holds his lightsaber inches from one of his eyeballs. The other Marzullos were already holding their own sabers by the necks of the bodyguards and bounty hunters, shutting up the laughter quicker than a terrible joke.

"I have a new deal for you, Muuta."

Terrified, the protocol droid is ready to translate.

"We move in and in exchange, I will not drive this lightsaber through your eyeball."

Nervous and frightened, the rest of Muuta's crew remains still, none had been bold enough to threaten Muuta in his own base of operations, not even the most fierce of bounty hunters and assassins.

"What do you say?"

[Muuta The Hutt]

Shocked and humbled, Muuta's thick skin begins to sweat and burn slightly from the terrible heat produced by the lightsaber. His anger is obvious as his fists are closed, wanting nothing more than to pull that lever and feed the defiant intruder to Olga.

"This is an outrage, I will never yield to threats, much less from humans!"

His skin sizzles as the lightsaber accidentally burns right under his eye, making a small hole on his lower eyelid as he releases a deep, nauseating noise of pain.

"Alright, alright. You drive a hard bargain. "

[Dante Marzullo]

Dante smiles, raising his free arm as the rest of the Marzullos shut off their lightsabers. He climbs off the belly of the Hutt, stepping aside as soon as he feels a strange growling sound, more of an underwater growling sound. Muuta rubs his burnt skin, feeling completely humiliated.

"I still want protection all around the clock, Force adept, and what would your name be?"

The weird growling noise stops as Dante returns his gaze upon the Hutt, stretching his arms as soon as he feels he can finally relax.

"Done."

Dante whistles to Tidus, inviting him over with a hand motion.

"Tidus, you get the first shift."

Fully expecting to be obeyed, Dante looks around as he sees many different doors, perhaps the place would be just big enough to accomodate his large family.

[Muuta The Hutt]

Muuta bursts another rodent within his fist as blood drips, angry that he had been basically taken hostage to do someone else's bidding, but thinks that perhaps he brought it on himself. It seems he hasn't learnt enough bargaining skills just yet, even after decades of experience.

He notices the beautiful Neve walking by, drooling by sick fantasies with her as he follows her with his wide and bulging eyes.

"Now you will never get any of this."

The narcisist gastropod runs his little hand around his belly rolls, bringing it up to lick on his finger. The gesture is met by a face of horror from the young Marzullo woman, quickening her pace as she walks to the other side of the room.

"Just wait until you have a taste of Muuta."

The droid almost becomes sick from having to translate such babble, even without any human organs to become sick. Muuta only needs to look to the eyes of his architect, who quickly proceeds to catch up to Dante to show him where they could move in.

[Dante Marzullo]

Muuta's architect enters a code, sliding open a door that leads to another passage way that leads deeper into the ground. At this rate, they wouldn't take long to reach the core, he thinks jokingly as he follows the old human. With the rest of his followers right behind him, a circular room is revealed, with six doors all around the walls.

"The door directly in front of us connects Muuta's base to the sewer system, it runs throughout the entire planet, so getting lost here is terribly easy."

Music to Dante's ears, who knows if his pesky little brother would ever find them. The door spoken of slides open as well, with the use of another combination.

"I'll seal all connections to the sewers but one, in case we need to escape, but this is perfect, I'll take it from here."

The architect rubs on his chin, grunting as he makes his way back up. Dante whistles and Lars walks up to him, retrieving a note pad.

"Alright Lars, design me a suitable living quarters."

Dante walks around the leaky sewers, a disgusting place not fitting for someone such as him, he thinks, but one thing the Marzullos know how to do is how to improve.

"Cover the whole place with marble walls and floors, I want a lower level ampitheather built over there." he orders, pointing to a spacy area past the next passage.

"I don't care where you get the materials from, but I want a cloning laboratory for you to continue with your work, and the most lavish living quarters we have ever built, I want every single Marzullo here to be shocked from awe."

Lars releases a loud sigh, crouching a little as a little bit of slime leaks on his goggles.

"You're mad, what you ask is impossible, it would take too much work."

Dante turns around, grabbing the lanky genius by the neck as he slams him against the wall.

"Say that word again and I'll turn you into a toilet."

Lars gags as he struggles, and grabs his neck after he's released from the violent choke hold, struggling to breathe for air.

"Cloning lab, ampitheather, lavish palace, you got it."

[Marcus Marzullo]

Concealed by another dense crowd of people Marcus keeps his palm on Lucilla's mouth as Alexander does the same to Krishna. The trick had worked, the old man only needed to use the Force to follow Dante and the rest, and would go back to the rightful leader Ares to prepare a better strike.

He watches as Erik and the meddler get into the elevator, following the shape of a controlled and unfortunate citizen whom was possessed by the Elder's ancient Sith craft.

"While we go back home, Dante will find that he can't hide for long from the family, Nobody can. The Jedi will pay him a very unpleasant visit."

He cringes as the wound beneath his armpit bleeds a little, pulling out the piece of metal that penetrated him during the explosion.

"The meddler's arsenal will not protect him next time."

[Radda Manthys]

Radda's ship cuts through traffic with little consideration for the law, bumping and grinding against civilian vehicles as his small vessel takes a dive, the piloting skills of his apprentice very obvious as he sits back and rests after a long journey.

"Message from Muuta's, master." speaks the young woman, Radda snaps his finger in approval and the small blue shape of a one-eyed man's holocron appears on the navigation console.

"They are settled in."

Radda allows himself a smile, removing his helmet and revealing his wild blonde mane as an R2 unit serves him a drink. He takes a sip.

"They didn't even question why I had Vonika searching for anyone in Coruscant, since our appearance in the planet's orbit was supposed to be an accident."

The small ship would continue to hide within the vast traffic of the city planet, waiting until the situation calms itself down up in the orbit before leaving the planet.

[Dante Marzullo]

After the architect finshes recording his message, his arms are raised as Dante's blaster touches the back of his head.

"I bet that Radda is speaking about us, bragging of how naive we must be."

The architect remains quiet, sweat running down his cheeks as the cold metal of the blaster raises the hair on the back of his neck. Within one of the countless chambers in the planet's sewer system, the two stand alone as sewage runs its course, releasing all types of foul odors.

"Make a last wish." he whispers in the old man's ear, squeezing on his shoulder.

"Please don't, I'll give you the location of Radda's new base of operations." pleads the old man, knowing full well that there is no way he could get such information. Muuta would never betray such a good business partner for the life of a sneaky old fool.

Itala's son does not even bother to utte ranother word, pulling on the trigger as sparks and blood explode from the man's forehead, plunging his body into the deep of the filthy river of sewage. Countless pests immediately dive in the water, rushing to collect a good day's meal.

[Lucilla Marzullo]

Standing beside Marcus, Lucilla sighed with relief, the woman showing no emotion at all as the Elder showed his power in the Force. It wasn't suprising at all to see his reaction, she probably would have reacted the same way he did.

Turning as he did, every alarm went off in her body, eyeing the crowd, she caught a glimpse of what was coming at them; Stormtroopers...great. Not leaving a moment to spare, she sped off after Marcus as fast as she could, shielding herself from the falling glass of the street lamps.

As they got into a crowd once again, Lucilla slowed herself a little, deeply annoyed by Marcus' hand on her mouth. She was not so stupid as to give them away now. Erik had left them, like the coward he was, still Lucilla felt slightly betrayed. Maybe she was being a fool, but the Jedi and his wookie companion had grown on her just a little bit. Well, maybe the Wookie moreso than the Jedi. She watched them get into the elevator in silence, wondering whether or not Erik was going to give away who they were to the Tin Can who had helped him to escape. If he did, Lucilla would make sure to deal with him herself.

"While we go back home, Dante will find that he can't hide for long from the family, Nobody can. The Jedi will pay him a very unpleasant visit."

Home...but where was home now? She frowned a little beneath Marcus' palm. Wherever it was, she hoped that they could live a better life there, she was looking forward to it after the agony of the last couple of years. So the Jedi were going to go unknowingly into Dante's hideout...oh well for them...it was a death they deserve, only Lucilla wished that she could do it herself.

Sniffing the air, Lucilla looked around momentairly before she realized that the blood she smelled was right behind her, and probably getting on her at the moment. Pulling the Elder's hand away, she leaned down to inspect the wound, "Once we get on a ship and get out of here, you're going to have that treated by Krishna." She left no room for arguement, but before they left, she had another nagging question for him that she dreaded asking for fear of the answer:

"Uncle Marcus, there's something I need to ask you before we set out. On.." she took a deep breath and steadied herself, "On the ship...did...you happen to see my daughter, Isabeau?" She asked him softly, making sure she didn't draw attention to themselves, if she'd made him angry again, he probably would not answer her question.

[Krishna Marzullo]

Krishna felt the ground shakening before she would do anything to about not having to stumble around once more. Once she got back her balance, she sees a metal looking man, taking the Lightsider and the carpet monster away.

'Fine by me,'she thought, 'two less things to anger me more at this moment.'

The next thing she knew she was running, why she wasn't sure, but something told her she didn't want to stick around to find out. Running through people who are heading the other way, wasn't really what she thought of as fun, but she followed her cousin.

Once they slowed down, she felt Alex put his hand around her mouth. Her eyes narrow in anger briefly, before she calmed herself down some what.

'I'm really tired of being manhandled today.'

"Once we get on a ship and get out of here, you're going to have that treated by Krishna."

Krishna turned to face her cousin, causing Alex's hand to be removed from her mouth. Her eyes, moving up and down Marcus' body trying to see any signs of injury. Upon sight of blood running down the side of his clothing, she jerks herself out of Alex's grasp.

"At least wrap the injury to stop the blood flow. I can do a full examination later," she said, opening her pack so that she could pull some gauze from it.

[Marcus Marzullo]

The Jedi had taken the bait, and Marcus knows where to look for the traitors next time they organize a far deadlier strike. The second that the women are allowed to speak though, they begin running their mouths, eating the Elder's patience away.

"Don't worry about me, I'm not a child that allows himself to be kidnapped and needs rescuing..." he whispers hatefully. A blatant blow to the loyal Lucilla, followed by the old man's spit, landing right between her feet.

"You and I still have lots of talk about, Lucilla, and Ares will hear of your interference, Dante would be dead if it wasn't for you."

He takes a deep breath, not sure how to tell Lucilla about her lost baby.

"As far as your daughter goes, I didn't feel her presence in that ship."

Expecting to be followed, the elder disappears into the crowd, trying to figure out a way to purchase a vessel without any trouble. It has a nack for following them wherever they go.

[Lucilla Marzullo]

"Don't worry about me, I'm not a child that allows himself to be kidnapped and needs rescuing..."

Immediately Lucilla's temper flared up once again, the spit narrowly avoiding her boots. Gritting her teeth she took a deep breath through her nose, trying to keep herself patient. He was baiting her again, she knew that, but she couldn't help herself. "I did not allow myself to be kidnapped, Marcus! I was rescuing my daughter and those cowards ganged up on me!" She was seething, her body trembling from anger and frustration. How badly had she wanted to knee him in his face when he bowed to her in such a mocking manner...


"You and I still have lots of talk about, Lucilla, and Ares will hear of your interference, Dante would be dead if it wasn't for you."

Maybe he was right. When did she get like this? After Itala died? After her husband died? She couldn't remember. She didn't care though, she didn't feel threatened by Marcus, nor anyone else anymore. Did Marcus honestly think that he would have been able to kill Dante and get away safely? They all would have been killed if any of his followers had caught wind of it, and they were vastly out numbered. Marcus may not have had anything to live for, but she did. She wanted to see Ares in power, and she also had her children to think of, no matter if one was nearly an adult.

"Then we will talk about it, Marcus, when we arrive at our final destination." She spoke calmly and softly, obviously trying to calm herself some more. She was still waiting for the answer to her last question.

"As far as your daughter goes, I didn't feel her presence in that ship."

No presence on the ship? But that's...how could that be? Isabeau was there. Raising a hand to her forehead, she massaged it with her fingers. That could mean that either she was rescued, or that they had killed her.

So she was a horrible mother after all, wasn't she? If she had been any smarter, she would never have allowed Isabeau to even get near any sort of danger at all. Running her hand up, she raked it through her mess of hair, staring down at the floor, her breathing begging to come more rapidly as the feeling of panic began to finally sink it's way in.

Her eyes shot towards the elevator again, her body compelling her to follow Marcus, but her mind screamed to go down and follow the Jedi instead. She wanted answers about her daughter but walking into a death trap like that was not a good idea. Silently, she stayed rooted to her spot at a loss for what to do.

[Erik Centter]

The elevator doors open as it reaches the lowest level of Coruscan't underworld. The stench of the burnt dead infiltrates the Jedi's delicate nassal cavities, prompting him to cover the bottom half of his face with his hand as he looks around with difficulty. Smoke and silence make an eerie combination as Erik spots what appears to be the same man he saw entering the elevator, dead and flat on his face in the middle of the street.

"What is going on...?" he asks to himself, kneeling over to check the body for any clues. He doesn't look like any of Dante's followers, but wears one of their robes. The miserable expression in the corpse's face gives away a painful death, the man had suffocated to death.

"This smells like a trap to me." he thinks to himself, and raises an eyebrow when he sees a group of small creatures carrying the body of an uncoscious Gamorrean guard back to their lair for a great feast. The little carnivores hiss in anger as the Jedi gets in their way.

"What do you little fiends think you are doing?" Erik asks, crossing his arms like he is some type of authority figure. At least, he used to be, back in the glorious days of the Jedi Council. The little creatures snicker as the leader of the pack, sporting a mohawk, steps closer to the Jedi.

"We found two of these fatties laying on the floor and took our chance, now kindly remove yourself from the way."

Erik snaps his head back in surprise, the courage and guile displayed by the runts is amusing to no end, specially for one with such a great sense of humor as himself. He steps aside, and the creatures resume their sneaky business. He doesn't even need to ask the creatures where they had stolen their bounty from, their tiny foot prints would offer enough guidance to the place.

[Erik Centter]

A few minutes later, the foot prints lead the Jedi duo to a strange-looking door, which by its looks alone reveals to be the home of some very unpleasant individuals. It's obvious to him that the miserable traitor to his own family has entered through this door with relative ease, himself being able to take out teo Gamorreans with a mere hiss.

"My fellow Jedi, I don't ask of you to come any farther, but if you wish to do so, it would help."

Either the sensors in the door are broken or he is simply not welcome. either way, it can't hurt to knock. Only a couple of knocks are given, echoing within the dark halls of the unknown sanctuary of the underworld. Erik turns around slightly as he looks through the thick armor of Hartus.

"It would help a lot."

[Genesis Marzullo]

I exited the ships with everyone else, hoping not to be noticed. It was better this way to remain in the background. I pulled the hood of my green cloak up and followed the group to another clearing in the forests we were in. I saw Alexa talking with other family and took a seat with some others on the ground, awaiting orders.

I looked around a bit and was handed a sandwich of cheese and meat. I nibbled a bit here and there and remained quiet. I didn't say a word to anyone.

Speeders were getting ready to take us to wherever it was we were going. Soon, I would have a new place to call 'home'. But, I had to wonder if it would ever 'really' be home.