Carry the World

[Rima Xavier]

Stand, Climb, Fall
by Lifehouse

quiet
seems like an honest world
you're begging for the beggars' bread when the money's out
stand, climb, and fall
you carry the world
can't carry your own


when the world is falling down
and another breaks
and another falls
for losers always make the winners' day


stand, climb, and fall
you carry the weight
can't carry it all


are you falling
are you faking
are you healing
are you breaking
am I burning
am I only melting
these diamonds in the making


and I'm at the end of myself
anything you want
and nothing seems to satisfy me
take anything you want


quiet
a sound you know so well
you're living just to make it through another day
stand, climb, and fall
you carry the world
can't carry your own


are you falling
are you faking
are you healing
are you breaking
am I burning
am I only melting
these diamonds in the making


and I'm at the end of myself
anything you want
and nothing seems to satisfy me
take anything you want
take anything you want
take anything you want
Quiet



"C'mon Radish, let's get going. You'll be late to school." Rima Xavier helped the energetic youngster into the back seat of the rust colored speeder. It had a covered top, and was at least ten years old. But it got them from point A to point B, and after all, that's what was important in life.

The girl she'd called Radish was her adopted daughter, flaming red hair and a temper to match. Five years old, and new to the area, she was finding settling into the preschool easier than expected. All in all, Rima was pleased with how their move to Kalarba City had gone so smoothly. The living expenses weren't high, and it had been easy enough to garner a job as a taxi driver, and Radish was settling in with the children at school.

Rima fired the engines, and pulled out of her parking spot, into a flow lane heading towards the Huba Nak school for gifted youngsters. It wasn't any different from any other school, but the board had found that with the Klararbian tendency towards self inflation, that enrollment was higher when they catered to their pride. Of course my child is gifted! He's mine isn't he? Rima had been afraid that the tution would have been too costly, but the money her uncle had left her in his untimely death had been more than sufficient to cover the cost of Radish's preschooling.

"Rima, I don't want to go today." Radish looked up at her from the passenger seat, strapped in carefully as always. Not that Rima had remembered to check, but the girl had a self preservation instinct that wouldn't quit.

Rima smiled, a little sharply. "Nonsense. You're fr- you're going. I have to be at work, and I can't have you along with me, you know that, Radish."

Radish pouted, her little bottom lip poking out from under the top one. "I'll be quiet, Rima, but... don't take me to class." Rima swerved around an ungainly transport truck, and looked down into green eyes that were welling with tears.

"Oh...kid, don't start that." Rima tore her eyes back towards the flow lane, and merged off and into the main causeway, accelerating to match those around her. "Please? No crying." She peeked down at Radish again, who had buried her little face in her hands. Rima muttered soemthing under her breath, and cut off another speeder, who laid on the warning horn. She tossed a rude gesture back to the driver, and then put her free hand on Radish's shoulders. "Okay, you can stay with me today. But you have to be quiet! Read...or, look at your books."

The little redheaded girl brightened almost immediately, and reached down into her tiny backpack. "I brought food, and some clothes today, not my books. Let's go to the spaceport!"

Rima looked down at her incredulously, but a blaring horn brought her back to the flow lanes, and she awkwardly dove the speeder underneath a 'bus. Radish giggled, and then pulled on her sleeve as Rima manuevered to a line of taxis along the side of the civic center. Kalarba was not very civic, but very centered...on itself. She reached towards the dash and pointed. "Flip that on, will ya?"

Radish leaned forward, but couldn't reach, so Rima unbuckled her. The little girl flipped on the On Duty sign above the rust colored speeder, and peeked through the transplexisteel window towards the backseat. "Its dirty."

"That's ok, Radish-pie." Rima winked.

"Don't call me Radish-pie, I'm not a pie!" Radish clutched at her backpack, and shrugged into her restraints again, buckling in tightly. Two men were walking along the breezeway, and pulled the back door open, both piling into the taxi. Non-descript clothing, average height, brown hair and eyes, but Rima noted the bulges in their jackets in the rear view mirror. Blasters, probably, perhaps even a disruptor. "Take us to the convienience store across from the Huba Nak school"

Radish's mouth made a little 'o' but she kept perfectly silent and still. "Sure thing. Standard fare, two and a half creds a kilometer." Rima switched on the counter, and then darkened the glass between the front and back seats. Radish's head was well underneath the top of her seat, but never was bad to be cautious. As she pulled into a flow lane, gunning the motor and careening into traffic, the two men didn't say a word. Rima peered at them through the smoked glass, but they didn't appear to be moving.

Minutes passed in silence, Radish still clutching her backpack, a growing look of fear crawling across her little face. Rima only looked at her through the corner of her eye, but she was beginning to feel the same way. What the frell is going on here? "Almost there. Need me to stick around?"

There was a grunt from the backseat, and then the metallic shnict of a disruptor rifle being pieced together. "Yeah."

Rima shrugged, remaining calm. "Right-o, you got it boss. I'll have to leave the meter running." Radish slumped down in her seat, her long hair almost covering her completely. The doors opened, and the two men got out, the taxi rocking gently as they unbalanced it slightly. They walked by the passenger side, and suddenly Rima found the reason for her feelings. Radish looked up, and caught the eye of the man closest to her. He looked away, and then looked back, surprise etched on his face.

"It's the kid!" Goon number two swiveled, trying to bring the disruptor rifle to bear on the taxi, even as Rima threw it into reverse and skidded out of the parking spot. The rifle fired, catching the back door on the passenger side, obliterating it completely. Radish screeched, and then clapped her hand over her mouth, eyes wide. Rima threw her short black hair out of her eyes, and white-knuckled the steering yoke as the slow recharge rate of the disruptor rifle played into their favor. The speeder shuddered as she threw it into overdrive, absently remembering she hadn't fastened her own restraints.

"Hold on Red!" Rima yanked back on the yoke, sending them over a garbage scow, and out of the path of a barrage of blaster bolts. In a minute the disruptor would be ready for another round of particle annhilation. Rima tried not to think about that, and instead concentrated on getting to the spaceport in one piece. The Dusted Maiden, her ship, was berthed there. She'd hoped to have been able to leave it there a bit longer, but apparently Fate conspired against her, once again.

ooc: This Roleplay is open, with the condition that you contact LD, DT or Helenias before posting. There is a specific story line in this RP, and it must not be caught in a tangent. We are more than willing to let you in, just have a specific reason to be in the RP, and let us know what your plans are. /ic:

[Sanis Prent]

(A sudden jolt hit me like an earthquake, sending a morning's worth of hot coffee all over my lap, followed by a conjoined string of expletives that would make a Tourette's patient blush. The speeder was a rental, but it was still a matter of principle. I'd gotten rear-ended in grand form. Looking back, the back seat was imploded into a pitiful shape, and I had to wonder how I was still afloat on my rear repulsors. Shifting into neutral hover, I rolled down the window)

Hey, what the hell are you doin lady?

(A buzz of commotion caught the corner of my eye, as I saw a pair of guys at a convenience store...one packing a very familiar piece of hardware)

Oh krasst.

(I gunned the now-lethargic engine, hoping to get some kind of distance between myself and the maniac firing a disruptor in urban areas.)

[Diego Van Derveld]

Crossing the street, Diego suddenly spun about...staring down a smashed up speeder that was going full-tilt. There wasn't any time to react. The speeder's 160 kph overtook the Lupine quicker than his own reflexes could deliver him from danger. The speeder plowed into him, sending Diego rolling across the hood, crashing into the windshield, and tumbling over the roof. He spiraled through the air, cut and bleeding, until he plowed into another speeder, smashing through the roof, and falling into the back seat. He moaned, with about 2 dozen broken bones and twice as many lacerations. It was no picnic at all.

[Rima Xavier]

Radish screamed as they slammed into the back of a speeder that cut in front of them, and Rima smacked her forehead into the windshield. She cursed, and the speeder shuddered, but stayed afloat on its repulsor engines. The driver she'd plowed into was rolling down his window, but she was already trying to manuever around him.

The little girl pointed out the windshield, and Rima's eyes caught sight of a body launched into the air as all the nine Hells of Corellia seemed to be cut loose at once. "Krasst!" Behind them the two men were leveling their rifle for another shot. Rima slammed her feet down on the pedals, even as the being crashed through the roof of the speeder, and tumbled into the backseat.

"He'll fall out!" Radish was scrambling against her restraints, trying to see into the backseat.

Rima shoved the girl's head down, and ducked herself as the disruptor rifle took out a chunk of the roof of the speeder. She tasted iron, and absently noticed that her head was bleeding and the blood was getting into her mouth. "Frelling Hells!" Radish kept her head down by her knees as Rima yanked the taxi around the speeder in front of her. The man inside it was also trying desperately to coax a little life from his engines, apparently aware of the dangerous weapon behind him.

Rima's On Duty sign flopped crazily against the left side of the taxi, hanging on by a few insulated wires. Rima felt her eyes going dark, and quickly shut them, driving with her eyes closed. A picture of the causeway came to her mind, showing her where to go. The speeder was coughing and stuttering, but had a few more kilometers of life left in it still. She managed to get in front of a cargo transport, and breathed a little sigh of relief.

...only to find that the guy she'd rear-ended was following her. And the goons were in a stolen speeder, following him. Rima's eyes snapped open in a mental shower of painful sparks, and she gritted her teeth. "Red, when we get to the spaceport, you need to grab your backpack, and run straight to docking berth 29e. Don't stop for anything. Dusty Maiden will let you in. If I'm not there, activate the self-preservation matrix in the cockpit. Do you remember where it is?"

Red nodded, her eyes wide with fright. Rima wondered briefly how the little girl had known to pack clothes and food today, but her attention was needed on the flow lane in front of her. She coaxed the last bit of hover from the repulsors, and shot over a group of teenagers playing hooky from school. Their open cockpit speeder was hit by the disruptor blast, disintegrating their engine completely, and sending them directly to the ground, meters below them.

In the backseat their passenger was moving. Rima couldn't spare a glance over her shoulder, but gunned the engines, pointing the increasingly sluggish speeder's nose towards the spaceport, which was looming in the distance. Red peeked over the seat, through the cracked and bent transplexisteel. "What about him? He isn't dead yet." She sounded concerned.

"Red! Just be ready to run!" Rima jinked to the right, noticing that the goons were almost beside her, their disruptor almost ready for another discharge. She yelled at the top of her lungs, as the speeder simply gave out, sending them out of control directly at the entrance to the spaceport. Her black hair caked to the cut on her forehead, Rima finally buckled her restraints, and tried her hardest to control their crash.

The disruptor blast missed the taxi, by some miracle, and they skidded and bumped along with walkway in front of the spaceport, scattering beings, and starting a fire underneath the speeder. Red was whitelipped, and silent, her head nearly in her own lap, and covered with her arms. Rima felt like she needed a vacation.

[Sanis Prent]

(The last disruptor shot missed Lady Speed Racer, but ate my rear repulsors, dropping my speeder into a back-ended stall, which came to a jarring halt at the spaceport. The force of impact sent me tumbling out of the speeder, and across the pavement. By some stroke of luck, it was cuts and bruises the whole way, and not a thing worse. Wish the speeder could say the same. By the time I was up on my feet again, it was a heap of smoldering tin.)

Hell...I just paid for that!

(I looked for somebody to kick...some good scapegoat, to pin all the day's maladies on. All I could find was a pebble. I kicked the hell out of that pebble.)

DAMMIT!

(Fortunately, I'd packed lightly, and was carrying everything on my person that I'd come with. I took about 5 seconds to reflect on my situation, before I heard the distant whine of another repulsordrive...from the psychopath with a disruptor. Suddenly, I'd taken a very partisan stance on the day's events. I didn't care if the guy was trying to kill a beautiful princess or trying to fight for the rights of endangered fur seals. He'd pissed in my cornflakes, and in my narrow worldview...he'd screwed up something fierce.

My hands moved to my dog-leg holsters on instinct...)

[Rima Xavier]

The speeder ground to a halt, and Rima reached over to unbuckle Radish's restraints. "Are you okay kid?" The girl nodded, and Rima tried to smile reassuringly through the blood and smoke as she undid her own seatbelts. With a quick heave, Rima helped the girl through the broken window and to the pavement, their movements hidden from the followers by the speeder. A sandy haired male was rolling out of a second spectacular speeder crash, and staggered to his feet. Rima caught his eyes for a splict second, and then they both heard the whine of the disruptor packing maniacs' speeder.

He grabbed his blasters, and she pressed a vibroswitchblade into Radish's hand. "Don't open that until..."

"I know. You taught me how to use it Rima." Her green eyes were almost luminescent as the girl looked at her guardian, her whitened face smudged with smoky dirt from the crash. Rima's heart caught in ther throat, and then she crawled out of the window herself, the speeder rocking from blasterfire on the other side. She looked at her watch. Disruptor is ready again.

Red was safe, they couldn't risk shooting her. Rima and the man caught in the wrong place at the wrong time was another story. "Run!" Red squeaked, turned around, and dashed into the scattering crowd by the entrance to the spaceport. Rima grimaced as a shard of glass from the passenger window (not the strong transplexisteel for the barrier inside the taxi, but the regular, fragile stuff) scraped across her thigh. She hit the sidewalk with a thump, and looked up to see the demolished back door. The metal itself was disintegrated from the blast of the disruptor, and she was afforded a great view of the unwitting passenger that had dropped in on her.

His head lolled to the side, and he affixed her with a painful glance, blue eyes bloodshot, before he passed out. Her mouth hung open, even as the sandy haired man dashed for cover, the disruptor rifle creating a crater in the duracrete where he had been standing. Diego? The Lupine was badly injured...but could she just leave him here?

Red was still safe, Rima could feel her, running through the spaceport, looking at the signs inside, switchblade clutched in one small hand as her other hand adjusted her backpack. Rima coughed, her head splitting with pain as she reached back into the front seat, grabbing a rail gun from under the dash. She checked it, and then sighted through the broken windows, sending an arm flying off of an assailant in a puff of red smoke.

A skycab was rocked by a near miss from the disruptor rifle as two more speeders filled with mercs screeched into the melee. Rima emptied her clip into one of the open cockpit speeders, and then dashed to the skycab, throwing out the spaceport employee and getting behind the wheel. She gritted her teeth, and slammed her feet on the pedals, directing the wheeled luggage caddy towards her obliterated taxi under a hail of blasterfire.

Kalarbian police units were responding, but were setting up a wide perimeter in the front of the spaceport. So..behind the mercs was the police, and in front of them was Rima, Diego, and a group of unlucky bystanders. Sandyhair was shouting something at her, but she didn't spare him a look as she leaped out and grabbed the unconscious Lupine from the badly damaged backseat.

Diego moaned as she tumbled his heavy body onto the pile of suitcases and duffel bags, and she lurched for the cart's driver's seat, the world beginning to spin around her. Rima white-knuckled the steering wheel and floored it, hoping Diego didn't slide off the back as she spun the cart towards the front doors of the spaceport. They were locked, for security, but the cart bravely plowed through the enormous decorative glass windows on the sides of the blast proof doors.

[General Tohmahawk]

In the paths that has often been ascribed to Life, there has been described three basic actions - Stand, Climb and Fall. Stand for what you believe in and what you know, Climb higher than you thought possible... or to Fall to depths that you can never come out of.

Most beings stay between the three, but every now and then, one will be called to Stand, Climb or Fall. And if they fall, it will be to the ruin of all

--

The starlight came through the viewport, creating shadows and brighter point in the room, a fairly bare 10 by 10, standard New Republic war ship in construction and decoration. The light dimly shone in on a bed, shone on a collection of bottles that occasionally clinked as the ship moved, shone a bare kitchen, shone on a bed. The blanket on that bed was black and non-descript, the pillow was a bare white. The head on the pillow was covered in neat short black hair. A arm dangled from under the blanket. Snores could be heard coming from the depths of the blanket. There was a black cat curled up on the end of the bed, also asleep. Nothing else.

The room itself was far darker than it could be possible for a normal being to see in. Not that it mattered to the room's occupant, he was deeply sleeping.

Time went past with no further movement.

Conscious came creeping back like a think gooey sludge being poured, came back slowly and it seemed it came from a long distance. The arm moved to a place next to the head and a soft moan was expelled.

Another few minutes with only vague stirrings.

The cat yawned and stretched as a muffled fart sounded out and the blanket stirred. A low groan could be heard, then a moment later by another fart. There was some more movement, slow at first as the person under the blanket began to stir and slowly wake up. Eyes opened and blinked, pupils dilated, the eyelids were scrunched together as the pain receptors came active.

" FRELL! Who left the damn window open?!?" came a grumbly voice, from under the blanket the face had ducked under.

A muted click and the even that tiny muted light was blocked out, photo-cells blocking all light coing through the window.

The cat got up and stretched again, aching it’s back as it stretched what seemed like every bone and every muscle of it’s body. It yawned again, began to work muscles and sinews before stepping off the bed lightly. The person didn’t move for a few more minutes, then the arm was drawn up and with seeming huge effort, what appeared to be a male human slowly curled himself up and then drew himself into a seating position. The blanket fell off his well muscled body, revealing a fairly fit man, naked. His body, as well as being muscular also evidenced the scars of either accidents or of fights the man may have had. A truly spectacular scar was etched into his back, some others crisscrossed his arms and there was the remains of what looked like a spearing through his right shoulder. The face was rough and lined, getting toward middle aged, unshaven for a few days. The hands were longish and fingers thin, not the hands of a fighting man at all, but more of an artist like a musician. The legs dropped to the floor, the feet more of a dancer. Long legs draped themselves over the bed as the man came upright, cupping his hands in his hands. Pain washed through his head and he just willed it to be gone, not with any particular success however. Eventually the throbbing in his temples drifted away enough for him to raise his head without feeling sick and his eyes were able to open enough to view the room.

Which, considering the cat was having a problem seeing the table it had just bounded into, meant something was not quite normal about this man. His night vision was clearly extraordinary, for he stepped over his crumpled clothes on the floor, heading to the refresher without pause, while the cat mewed in puzzlement and decided it wasnt going to move until the sore head it now had was settled. And there was more light in this place.

Major General James T. Tohmahawk, recently returned from forced absence and Envoy to the Jedi Order came to the sink, looked himself in the mirror. In this impossibly dim light, he looked at his reflection (Which again, would have been impossible for a regular human), before turning to the old fashioned Water Shower. In this day of sonics, water was such ... a waste. Well, he didn't care. Hot water with needle sprays were so damn good to wake up with.The water came on, hot enough that he yelped,getting used to the spray. Relaxing, he scrubbed off and even hummed a song, of which the words were in some language not identified to the Galaxy - but to him it was a comfort. It was the language of the First Born, the graceful and tall beings of Arda, his home. For even if he looekd it, he was not human - he was Numenorian, a race of hardy beings that lived on ultra hot surface of Arnor, in gravity twice that of normal beigns. He was 111 years old, but still only young for his race. He was not really handsome, but rough and ready, a being of no nonsense and piercing eyes that seemed to be able to go through the soul and find wht was there, in the secret places one might try to hold back. A reputation for an evil temper, it had been on display last night when he had come back to the behemoth known as Defender.... no, that wasnt worth thinking about right now. What was worth thinking about was breakfast.

Still humming, he turned off the shower, grabbed a towel and quickly dried himself off, wrapping the linen around his waist, he walked back out into the still very dark room.

Click.

The light suddenly exploded in his eyes, a torrent of pain explodingin his face as the normal overheads were switched on. He dropped the towel, putting his hands up to his now searingly pained eyes.

"Oooh, Naked Ranger. Heeelllloooo there" snickered a female voice.

"Xazor... GET THE GODDAMN LIGHTS OFF BEFORE I STRANGE YOU!!!" he screamed out.

"Awww... your no fun" she pouted, turning to the doorway she had just come through, makign sure the door was sealed before turning thelights back off. "Better now?"

The searing pain ebbed away, Tohmahawk choosing to sit on the bed until he could re-open his eyes. It took a few minutes, but he eventually could blink once again. The woman menawhile had managed to get to a chair, groping her way in the darkness. "How you can possibly see in this, I have no idea" She said, stting on one unsuspecting cat. The cat yowled, then took off, crashinginto a mop, that flicked a set ofplates as it struck the bench, sending a rain of crockery to the ground, peppering the cat with fallingmissiles. The animal took ff again and hit the fridge, where it decided to crouch and snarl, not very happy with it lot in life right now.

"You have Stig on-board as well? asked Xazor Dawnstrider, Jedi Knight

"Well it sure as hell aint your puppy"

"Puppy? It's a wolf!"

"Same difference. Now turn away while I get dressed"

"But it's daaaarrrrk!" she replied

"Yeah well, I still feel like your staring at me"

"Hmph. Not liek I haven't seen on e before"

"Lady, your pregnant. I should bloody well hope you're seen one! Now, you mind.....?"

She laughed, turning away, but still putting a rude image in her mind that made Tohmahawk groan and shake his head. "I worry about you sometimes, Xaz"

"I'M a worry???? Your the one who thinks a frying pan is a viable hand to hand combat weapon"

"Hmmph... point. One .. moment.... pkay, you can turn the lights on"

The lights clicked on, revealing a blonde woman in a white flowing dress and Tohmahawk, now finishing putting on his black uniform, a set of blaster grade eye shades on his face. The cat, Stig, looked about and suddenly became rather happy with it's lot in life as the General went to the fridge and took out a juicy piece of steak. Stig became highly animated, mewing and circling until the meat was dropped into a bowl. The cat immediatly prceeded to stuff it's face, while Tohmahawk went to the kettle.

"Tea, Xaz?"

"Yep. If you dont mind, I took the liberty of ordering breakfast be bought here. Thought you would rather not be in the same room as that Admiral you crossed swords with last night"

"Hey good thinking" he replied, going to a closest and unlocking a cabinet within "Almost like you read my mind"

"Something like that" Xazor grinned in return.

[Sanis Prent]

(Miss Road Rage was a crack shot. The hissing whine of a mass driver was all I needed to hear, when the disruptor-wielding goon was parted from his trigger hand. I didn't allow him time to reflect on his current state, as I leveled my Westar snubshot and ventilated his forehead. The guy riding shotgun made a reach for the gun, but I had him zeroed. He took five in the chest before he even hit the ground. I smirked, twirling the dual chrome pistols about in a moment of showboating...

...until I saw two more speeders, and five times as many guys inside. Eyes widening, I turned tail, in hot pursuit of Miss Road Rage, who was busy redecorating the spaceport at the moment.)

Lady, you've certainly got a way with people! I don't know who these guys are, but your little love tap is costing me time and money!

[Rima Xavier]

Sandyhair had leapt through the broken windows behind her and was nearly even with her door. Rima looked over at him, did a double take, and then floored the gas pedal. Sandyhair shouted something that was lost in the sound of a grenade being lobbed through the window behind him.

As tiny as the sound was, it was heard as loud as a clarion call. He launched himself at the cart, possibly landing directly on top of the injured Diego. Rima didn't have time to care, breathing a half said prayer to whatever deitys were out there that the cart would accelerate fast enough. The outside world was starting to get a bit dim as the explosion behind them rocked the Kalarba City spaceport. The main entrance had long since cleared, and confused spaceport security teams were assembling on the second deck, where the coffee shops and food courts were. Rima's luggage cart shot underneath them, fueled by desperation, and propelled faster by the shockwave from the grenade.

Sandyhair pulled himself into the passenger seat, grumbling about a stain on his pants, while she ducked, blaster bolts sizzling by their heads. 29e, 29e! The mantra in her head kept her from passing out as she scanned for the passageway towards the docking berths. There.

A hard right took the cart through a newstand, GNN papers flying through the air as it skidded on two wheels. Rima muttered curses and then realized why there was blaster fire behind them. The mercs had driven their speeder into the spaceport, and it was closing in on them, fast. Krasst! But up ahead was Berth 29e, and they would get there in time, if she could keep from tipping the cart over.

The cart streaked by the row of docked luxury ships and personal spacecraft with the high pitched whine of an overheating engine as Rima coaxed every last bit of speed out of it. Behind them the mercs seemed to realize that she was getting close to her destination. Maybe it was the little redheaded girl up at Berth 29e, running up a ramp into a Chevette77 that clued them in. The speeder accelerated, and then seemed to pause as the rear turrets on the Dusty Maiden popped out of their hiding places and searched for targets.

Rima shouted, hoping the vocal regognition upgrade was working better. "Raven, its me!" She slammed on the breaks, nearly tipping the cart on its nose, and scrambled out of the cart, looking back to see if Diego was still there.

[Sanis Prent]

(As soon as the cart skidded to a halt, I rolled out, popping up to spray the incoming speeder. The transparisteel shattered in the windshield, causing the craft to swerve into a baggage conveyor, giving everybody inside the shake-up of a lifetime. It was buying an ounce of time with a pound of gold, but it was better than nothing.)

Hey, Speed Racer...grab Sleeping Ugly and haul it!

(As for me...I was up the gangplank in a flash, nearly bumping into a weird little red-head. I gave her a funny look, then scrambled up to the cockpit, looking for whatever "nasty red buttons" I could press, that would drop everything and the kitchen sink on the merc speeder.)

Hurry up Sweetheart, or we're all going to be a lot lighter!

[Rima Xavier]

The red headed girl sat in the co-pilots seat, something clutched in her hand as she regarded the stranger who had plowed into the cockpit of the Maiden and was now acting like he owned the ship. She tolerated his presence, somehow knowing he was not an enemy. The shiny switchblade disappeared into a pocket as Red stood on the seat and looked out the side of the cockpit transparisteel viewports, trying to see behind the ship at the damage being dealt behind them.

Rima stumbled into the cockpit, pulling Red down from the viewscreens, and depositing her into the gunner's seat. "Strap in, Carrots." Diego was lying on the couch in the mess area, but she hadn't had time to strap him down. If he wasn't dead already he was in for more bumps and bruises. "Move out!" Sanis Prent relocated to the co-pilot's seat, and she collapsed into the pilot chair.

He'd gotten the engines warming up, and she disregarded the warning lights, punching sublights on as something that looked like an anti-tank minigun was being set up behind them. Sanis reached for the console, but Rima stamped on the rudders, and pulled on the yoke, the mercs behind them caught in a backlash of plasmatic energy. Sanis' hand flew away from the console and Rima grunted against the strain as the inertial compensators struggled to keep up with the sudden speed and all the passengers were pressed tightly against their seats.

Rima struggled against the pull, and managed to dial the compensator back to full. Red must have accidentally moved it. Or perhaps Sanis had, before she'd gotten there. The Dusty Maiden shot out into the open air faster than it took the dead mercs to fall to the ground, and Rima tried to breathe a little easier. Unfortunately, the police units were out, and their takeoff was, well, unplanned, and not cleared with the Kalarba City Control Tower.

The computer showed that there was a weapons lock on them, and the comm squawked about them ceasing and desisting or being shot down. Rima switched off the comm, activated the shields, and headed for space.

By some miracle, they cleared the atmosphere. She looked over at Sanis, who was white knuckling the arms of his seat, and opened her mouth to say something. Then she passed out.

[Sanis Prent]

Hang on, I think we're in trouble...

(I watched a phalanx of security fighters dispatch from the planet's surface, knifing through the ether toward the ship. As I turned back, I saw my involuntary accomplice slump over in the seat.)

Damn...we're in trouble!

(I pushed her out, to the floor, taking the number one seat, as I deviated off standard orbital ascent. The ship shuddered, as I skipped it over the planet's atmophere at high speed, a red trail of heated air building up on the forward shields. The fighters wisely stayed back, but nonetheless let their laser cannons do the talking. Ok...decisions...

Sleeping Ugly was still out cold, and now Speed Racer joined the club. Red was in the back, strapped in. I doubted she was much of a space jockey. So I was flying solo in a ship I'd never been in. Time to see how good I was at improv! The Dusty Maiden banked low, and jerked high as atmospheric resistance kicked it out at a high rate of ascent, nearly colliding with a pursuing fighter, and pressing inertial dampeners to the failing point. I could feel the blood running into my feet, as I kept the yoke steady...mind racing.)

Computer...highlight closest available hyperspace trajectory lane. I don't give a damn where, just get us out of here!

(A series of triangular targets illuminated on the HUD, lined up in a row. I quickly adjusted trajectory, and began squeezing power out of weapons and into the rear deflectors.)

C'mon...c'mon....calculate the jump and hit it!

(The fighters were back on my tail, and bringing heat. The ship shook like a jumping bean, as I popped down a shot from my flask. Turning back, I glanced at Red.)

Hope you're lucky, kid. Could use a bit...

(About that time, the stars drew into streaks of white. Not a moment too soon)

[Radish Xavier]

The little girl looked at him distrustfully, and then looked down at Rima, who was a pile of arms and legs on the cockpit floor. As soon as the starlines faded into swirls of hyperspace, she unbuckled her restraints and hopped to the ground, where she brushed Rima's blood soaked dark hair out of her eyes. "You hurt her." Radish sounded sad, and she glared at the blond man.

"Hey, I'd expect a little more gratitude to the man who just saved your skin." He got up and bent over the two females, and Radish skittered away from him, her hand dipping into her pocket again. "Relax, Red." He scooped Rima into his arms, and awkwardly carried her inert body down through the passageway to where he assumed her cabin was. Radish scampered ahead, and opened a door.

"In here." She moved out of the way as he entered, and then sat on the edge of the bed, holding Rima's hand after he laid her down. The man exited quickly, and Radish heard something crash to the floor as he rummaged through the main compartment of the ship. Where the other man was. The pilot man returned with a med pac. Radish brightened, "I know how to use that. I'm four. I mean, five." She giggled at her mistake, her fear of the man receding.

He looked at her, and then opened the pac, handing her a packaged towlette. "Can you clean her forehead off, Red?"

She nodded, and bit the corner of the package before ripping it open. It took her a few minutes to muscle the package apart, but he had already left the room. Radish crawled up beside Rima, and patted her forehead with the bacta treated towlette. "Please wake up." Her voice was small, and worried.

[Sejah Haversh]

A clumsy paw beat mercilessly at where a most annoying buzz was eminating from. Finally it connected with a small travel alarm clock, and Sejah opened his tired eyes.

Sejah Haversh was never much to look at in the morning unless one wanted to have a good laugh. He was nose to tail-tip bed-head, and groggy to boot. A quick trip to the sonic shower aboard Marcus' ship and a splash of water to his face helped to wake him, but as usual it was simply time that brought him around.

The day before had been less than admirable, Sejah somehow making himself look like an idiot at every turn. With each brushstroke to his fur, the brown mongoose was reminded of the Admiral's comment, and his inability to stand up for himself. But, he was a Padawan, and he would do as his master said, even if it did mean losing a bit of face. Taking his time, Sejah got dressed in the same garb he usually wore when trying to look like he actually belonged to the Jedi order. Brown trousers bound from the knee down, a long-sleeved light shirt with a long vest over it, and a long sash-belt wound around his waist as was custom with his people. The only part of him that stood out from a respectable image were the red canvas sneakers he wore. His sandals had finally broken beyond repair, so the Nehantite Padawan was stuck with them as his only footwear.

Tucking his lightsaber into the folds of his belt, Sejah opened the main hatch and thumped down the gangplank to the deck. By the time his clock read, the others should be up. If it weren't for that clock, his sense of tiem would be utterly worthless, for he could never quite tell what time it was on a starship.

"Good morning, Master Q'Dunn, Lady Xazor," he said politely once in speaking range. "I hope your night went better than mine did."

[Sanis Prent]

(Miss Road Rage and Sleeping Ugly were both out cold, and I was only now starting to feel the acute effect of fatigue from the fast and furious action.

I looked to Red, and she was making do...cleaning up the brunette, who I guessed was her mom? It wasn't much concern to me. Not yet at least. I was mad, of course. I'd lost a rental, which I'd have to pay for, and my busy day had been sidetracked by this little mis-adventure. Now...to find out what the hell we were doing. I brought up the navicomputer, coaxing it into cooperation.)

Computer...what course are we on?

Currently en route at hyperspeed to Carshoulis Cluster. ETA, two hours.

(I froze, the blood leaving my face. Quickly, I looked for the control to terminate the jump, but a flashing red indicator told the bad news. The motivator initialization was shot to hell. If I broke hyperspeed, I wasn't getting it back until the motivator was repaired. That could leave us all stranded in dead space for a long time. Decisions, decisions...

...against my better judgment, I held the course.)

Red...you'd better get mommy and daddy on their feet!

[Radish Xavier]

Radish patted Rima's hand, and then heard the man yelling from the cockpit. She screwed her face up, but remembered in time that she wasn't to say anything about her parents. She looked inside the medpac, and stripped a piece of synflesh from its package, and smoothed it over Rima's forehead with her small fingers. The little girl didn't know how to wake her up...usually there was a med droid around in situations that required people being revived from faints.

Radish crawled back over Rima's body, and walked to the refresher. The doors slid open, and then slid shut behind her. There was a sound of running water, and then the doors slid open once more to let her out. In her hand was a small drinking cup. The redheaded girl walked to Rima's bedside, and hesitated, then splashed her with the water. It always works in the holos.

Rima's eyes flew open as the cold water hit her, and she spluttered, curses the girl had never heard before, and thankfully didn't understand, rolling out of her mouth. She sat up, and then winced, her head feeling like an overripe melon that had been stomped on by a Wookiee. "Wha' the frell is going on? Ji- !"

Radish put her index finger on Rima's lips, successfully shushing her outburst. "You got hurt. The man wants to talk to you."

Rima paused, remembering. "Oh."

"What about the other man?" Radish helped Rima to her feet, nearly getting stepped on by the woman's big black boots. The man in the cockpit was yelling again, something about repairs. Radish looked at Rima, and shrugged.

[Diego Van Derveld]

"Uuuuh!"

Diego's eyes flashed open and he gasped, coughing up a small amount of dark, coagulated blood. He went to sit up, and fell back to his prone position, breathing heavily.

[Rima Xavier]

Rima was still dripping with water as she walked from her cabin up towards the cockpit to deal with a now silent Prent. She'd recognized him...from some dealings she'd had with him in the past. He wouldn't recognze her of course, no matter how observant he prided himself on being, there were always people who would slip past your attention.

Her head still felt like a rotten baja fruit, but there was nothing to be done except take some pain medication, and hope her brain wasn't concussed. Rima blinked hard on her way to the cockpit to clear her vision, and managed not to realize that her shirt was soaking wet from Radish's ministrations, loving though they were. "Prent, where exactly are we heading? I hope you haven't frelling broken something while I was unconscious."

Radish skipped into the mess area, and sat at the de'jarik table across from the couch, looking at the Lupine. For some reason she found him fascinating. In her hand was the medpac, but she didn't open it. He was not unconscious, simply resting. He wouldn't need a splash of water then. Radish frowned, and tilted her head to get a better look while Rima tried to find out what was going on in the cockpit.

[Sanis Prent]

I wish I did.

(Leaning back in the pilot seat, I sighed, then suddenly turned around)

Alright...time for a chat. First off, who the hell were those idiots back there. Thanks to all of you, my speeder's trashed, and what I thought would be a productive day is being shot down the toilet faster than hyperdrive. Secondly, how the hell do you know my name?

[Rima Xavier]

She skipped over the second question with a wave of her hand. "GNN...you're quite the photegenic businessman of the year. I'm over come with happiness that I've finally gotten to meet you." Sarcasm dripped from the last sentance, and then Rima continued, holding her shirt out in front of her a little with one hand as she finally realized how wet it really was.

"As for those idiots, my guess is they were mercenaries hired to kidnap my daughter and kill me." She released her shirt to brush him out of the way, and sat in the pilots seat, going over the coordinates. "Carshoulis Cluster? And the motivator is frelled....krasst." Rima leaned back to look at him. "We'll be coming out of hyperspace in an hour or so. Look, I'm not happy you're along for the ride either, and I didn't ask for you to follow me to my ship and get into it. As far as I'm concerned, you get off on Carshoulis Prime and I never have to see you again."

She gave him a hard look, and then tracked his eyes to the transponder mask she had sliced into the main console. Rima didn't bother answering his questions. The Dusty Maiden was now the Habitually Late. Instead she got to her feet, squeezed past him, and grabbed a hydrospanner. "I'm going to see if I can get the motivator fixed before we come out of hyperspace. It's going to be a hell of a ride to the planet if I can't."

[Xazor Elessar]

Xazor's eyes made their way from Marcus's face to Sejah. She smiled gently and nodded.

"Good morning Sejah, and indeed, our night went well. Did you have trouble sleeping or was there something else keeping you from having a good night's rest?"

She questioned with evident concern on her voice for one whom she considered a friend. Her eyes curiously went over to Stig who made another rude sound and then seemed to smile up at the Jedi Knight. The Garou just rolled her eyes slightly and then focused on the door where someone was knocking.

"Coming!"

With a quick reach to the doorknob, the young woman pulled the door open to reveal a well dressed man carrying a tray full of food and drink. Nodding in recognition of his arrival, Xazor stepped to the side to let him in when suddenly a flash of silver and black whipped through the small living area and past the man. He juggled the tray and then the drinks atop it went flying...landing right on Xazor. Her eyes shut tightly and she growled deep within her throat, though the Knight surpressed her anger and smiled as the man apologized.

"It's fine....it's fine, worse has happened to me...honestly."

Sighing and looking down at her soiled clothing, the woman looked over at Marcus and shrugged.

"I didn't promise you that my wolf wasn't coming. Sorry...."

With a look of disapproval toward her companion, the beautiful wolf came and sat down upon his haunches beside Xazor. She looked down at him and signed something to the deaf animal and he obeyed by going and laying down near Stig. Sighing, Xazor took the tray from the man and placed it upon the table.

"I'm sorry for all this....maybe could you get us some more Namana Juice, please?"

The man nodded and went off to fetch what the woman asked for. Turning to face Marcus and Sejah, Xazor sighed with a helpless smile.

"Guess I'll have to dry this off."

And with those words, the Knight closed her eyes and concentrated deeply on the Force, then called upon the atoms surrounding her. She began twisting them and making them rotate around one another, creating a bit of friction that could only be found in the atoms inside of an oven or something of the sort. This went on for several minutes until it was notably quite warm around the young Garou woman....and her clothes were drying before their eyes. It was not a magnificent deed, but it was useful and it was one of the first things she had learned how to do, though it took her longer to do it than most. She opened her eyes and then looked over at Kaukauna who was now busy staring at Stig's plate of food. The cat hissed at the wolf and Xazor rolled her eyes at his antics.

"So what exactly are we doing today?"

She asked with a curious smile and then a yawn that she couldn't help. Xazor noticed that she had been getting more tired lately and had bouts of morning sickness. It was not fun, to say the least, but Marcus had been helping as much as a man could. Still, one could not hold back the Garou...she was bound and determined not to let her pregnancy get in the way of anything.

[Helenias Evenstar]

<font color=green>

Doctrine of Bluebird - Sect 12c1

Bluffing

It is noted that bluffing is not something to do as a first resort - it is a last resort. A bluff must sound resonable and factual, not be over the top. It also helps if you have a reputation of not bluffing, but acting. It is noted several operatives of Bluebird, notably James Tohmahawk and Pierce Tondry, were noted for their actions and hence they got such a reputation that bluffing became a viable alternative. Granted however, these men planned in case of failure, always had fallbacks. On the very rare times they had to resort to a bluff, it worked as their enemies did not expect the bluff and thought they were capable of the actions they supposed. Thence, the bluff works best for a person with a reputation of not bluffing. It is an interesting paradox, but I assure you, an accurate description.

Beings with a perchance to bluff get known quickly.

Thence, to bluff well, you are best to have acted in the past. Keep that in mind and also, as noted, plan for failure and backup plan. If then you have to bluff, it has a higher chance for causing a hesitation, which you may use as time to really act.

From the annals of Project Bluebird, file copy</font>

--

Oh Lord, what a rotten morning. I had gotten up with one of the biggest blazing hangovers I had ever had, far, far too early. It was totally out of character for myself to get so drunk, but it was with good cause - we had been out celebrating the promotion of my Padawan, Oriadin. I failed to remember how many drinks the revellers had in the Bar and Grill, but we were fairly wasted by the time we had gotten to Dexter's. And if the lack of memory served me even a tiny bit, the alcohol flowed even more there.

Now I thought about it, I remembered table top dancing. Not myself thank the Force, although I was blasted enough to do it - I remembered vaguely some Jedi nude with a set of underpants on his head. And outside there was the urination of the balcony contest. And the Padawan dropping his pants and lighting a fart, singing pubic hair. I also seemed to remember Lion El' Jonson showing off som truly eye and mind boggling porn slides...

The clock blinked the second time period past dawn. Quite early still, but far, far, far too early for someone with blood in their alcohol system. Like me. I crashed back, head hitting the pillow as I looked up, the blinds of my Senatorial apartment straining out the light into neat and tiny bands on the far wall. I closed my eyes, fighting the queasy feeling in my stomach, trying not to throw up.

To no avail. I gagged, barely containing bile. Even in my sorry state, I made remarkable time to the refresher, locking myself and quite noisily throwing up. And in the next fifteen minutes, repeating the dose. In between driving the ivory speeder, I sat on the cold tiled floor, the hangover really starting to mke my ears pound and my eyes throb.

What had I drunk? Cheap Wookie home brew? Fosters? A Jedi Toilet Duck? Must be the Toilet Duck, I felt crap enough that I must that tried one of the Galaxies most dangerous and nasty alcoholic concoctions. After emptying the contents of my stomach a few times, I eventually felt well enough to unsteadily get to my feet, clean the mess, strip off and have a hot water shower. I allowed the hot water to seep into my skin, tight as it was over a body that was fit almost to an extreme, rippling muscle and damage from a hundred combats evident. But also fair skin, dark long dark hair and a flawless face that was even for one as self critical as myself, undeniably beautiful, almost to an extreme. A face it had been commented on, should be on fashion holos, not for years ripping opponents to pieces in the heat of battle. And right now a Jedi Knight of growing stature, the Senator of Arcan.

Quite difference in my former life, where I was the main protagonist who wiped out the Jedi Temple, the original one of the GJO. It's remains could be seen from the Senate Apartments, now with construction cranes beginning to be erected, beginning to repair the structures now that the Jedi were back on Coruscant. That bought me some amusement at times, thinking back to my Imperial past and rather... well... how would you put it? I frowned, trying to think of the right word, but it would not come, so instead I turned off the shower and went to dry myself.

10 minutes later, I was at my desk in another room, with a cup of tea at my elbow, a hangover reliever beside it. In the adjoining room, I could hear the snores of Oriadin, newly minted Knight and also my attendant. Thinking about it, maybe he had been the one dancing nude on the table...? Whomever it was, he was rather impressively endowed and had ended up with two females pawing over him.

Wonder what happened after that? I could vaguely remember the air cab....

I blinked, drawing my concentration to the diary holo. No real appointments today thankfully, I was feeling fragile and ready to throw up again.

I bolted for the refresher and barely made it.

Half hour agian, I was back at my desk. Midday I was booked for a spar. I cancelled that. 2 was a talk with the Ambassador for Mogwai. I felt I could cope with that, so I RSVP'ed. 4.... oh no, Trade Federation. Blech. And 7 was the damnable Cizerack and that frelling Calan dispute. Oh great, just great. What I always wanted. Maybe I would can the Trade Federation visit, sleep and meditate...

Behind. One man. Speeder. Rocket launcher pointed at my back....

The image came to mind suddenly, but even then I did not question it. I grabbed the gun that was under my desk, then leapt as only a Jedi could, clear over a bar setting and crashing onto the floor, covering my head and waiting.

Oh hell, what about Oriadin...? I hoped he wouldn't walk into the room just.....

WHAM!!

Th room exploded into a hail of shrapnel that would have cut me to pieces if I wasnt behind cover and even then I was cut as pieces bounced everywhere. The roaring of the explosion made me scream sliently in the pain of the overpressure on my eardrums, the shattering and crashing of glass not stopping for seconds.

I came up as fast as I could after that, to see the speeder was already at the remains of the window, two beings getting out, with weapons trained on me. Reacting as fast as I could, I shot one dead, but the other already had me targeted.... but the attacker instead was the one to lose his head, it popped like an overripe melon from the shot of a man coming through the front door, gun in hand looking to kick some serious butt.

He scanned the destruction, before turning to me.

"You all right?"

"Yes, thank you. Looks like I owe you one Pierce"

The big man nodded, before we both snap-aimed at a bewildered looking Oriadin, blearly coming out of the remains of the room he had been in. I relaxed, but kept my finger on the trigger, bringing the gun upright in a ready position.

Oh great. Assasination attempt number two. I was much glad I had asked Pierce to look after my security for a few days. As well as a few other things. Oriadin was trying to puzzle out whom the other man was, so I decided a quick introduction was in order.

"Pierce, this is my former Padawan, Oriadin. Oriadin, Pierce Tondry"

[Oriadin]

Oriadin was laying in a state of being half asleep. His eyes opened from time to time to check the time on his bedside clock. It was getting late but he simply didnt want to get out of bed. He turned over to face away from the window where the light was shining in on his tired face. As he did so, it felt as if someone had set off a mini nucular explosion inside his head. He winced from the pain.

"What happend", he quizzed himself. He couldnt remember for the life of him what had happend. Had he lost his memory again? He remembered his head hurting the last time it happend then one by one some of the memories came back. That ruled out amnesia again.

--The celebration--

He said out loud with another wince of pain. A slight movement resulted in a wave of pain, from his head and spreading across his whole body. He couldnt remember much at all from the night before. Perhaps that was a good thing. Oriadin wasnt a heavy drinker. Infact, he usually always drank water. Only on two occasions had Oriadin drunk alcohol. Last night and a recent 'night out on the town' with his friend Sejah. "This is the last time" he thought to himself.

He checked the time again, almost an hour had passed. He must have been dosing in and out of sleep while he was thinking to himself.

--I really need to get up.--

He took several deep breaths, almost as if to psyke himself up. Then mustered up the strength to sit up in his bed. His room was a wreck! Clothes scattered about, pictures on the wall at a slant. The bed sheets were littered about the floor. He looked down to see him sitting there naked. Very odd, he thought to himself. A pair of non to flattering pants lay on his pillow. "What the? Probably better not to ask" he thought to himself.

As he looked down he suddenly noticed he had an extra arm. His bleary eyes and mind trying to work out how that was possible. He lifted one hand to his face and rubbed his eyes to make sure he wasnt seeing things. He wasnt. He followed the newly aquired arm and discovered a beautiful looking blond laying face down next to him. Like a shot Oriadin stood up.

--Oh my god!!--

He wasnt even sure if Jedi were allowed to bring women back to their rooms. Who the hell was she? Oriadin began to feel very hot all of a sudden and his heart began to race slightly. What had he done the night before.

He stood and stared at the woman for a few minutes before deciding hed better get dressed incase she woke up. He'd got the trousers of his Jedi robes on and a shirt before a large explosion was heard from next door. Had he been 'with it' we would have rushed next door, lightsaber at the ready but instead he clutched his head in pain as the noise was so loud. The girl in Oriadins bed woke up. Oriadin had to get out of there. He quickly walked round next door and came face to face with Helenias and another man. Bleary eyed he tried to look inside the room to see what had happend before he yawned.

--Everything ok here?--

His voice seemed very deep and rough compared to his usual tone. He tried to focus on Helenias but he couldnt seem to get his eyes to work properly. He then glanced at the man, trying to figure out who he was. Then Helenias introduced them. Oriadin held out his arm in order to shake hands with the man. He was just about to say hello when he quickly withdrew his hand, brought it up to his mouth and made a mad dash to his bathroom.

That was soon followed by a rather unpleasent sound of Oriadin bringing up whatever it was hed drunk and ate the night before.

[Sejah Haversh]

It seemed everyone had a pet but himself. Sejah had heard of Marcus' cat before, but had not perchanced to meet the feline until the day previous, and he didn't know what to think of Xazor's wolf. All he knew was that he was waiting for someone to give him some kind of direction, and that he hated Namana juice.

In response to Xazor's question, he rubbed his back to demonstrate as he said, "Well, that mattress doesn't do much for the back, I'd say, but I still believe it's probably better quarters than whay our loving Admiral would have given me." His voice was nearly dripping with sarcasm. The Admiral had made a grevious blunder the day before, and Sejah still was a bit put off by it.

[Sanis Prent]

(I'd forgotten about my newfound fame. How such things could now be taken for granted. At any rate, I was nosediving into a bitter mood, and it wasn't likely to get any better.)

Look...whatever we do, lets keep this little pit stop as brief as possible. I'm not exactly comfortable in Cizerack space, and noting your nefarious exterior, you shouldn't be either. All I give a damn about is breaking even from this little trip to hell in a handbasket, and keeping alive enough to enjoy another day. So, you'd better hope your digital alibi is airtight...these guys don't screw around with smugglers.

[Rima Xavier]

Rima scowled at him, but decided that denying her smuggler roots was pointless, as he'd certainly gotten a good look at the interior of her cockpit. Non-standard weapons, and upgraded shields, as well as a few other extras spliced into the ship just for kicks. It was tricked out, and worked like a dream...but flying into the middle of the Carshoulis Cluster wasn't her idea of fun.

She pursed her lips, and made a face at the thought of the Cizerack getting their dirty paws on her baby...the (she scanned the transponder) Habitually Late. The name made her smile, but Rima quickly swallowed the grin in favor of another frown.

"We're there in a hour, so unless you want to hide in the deck plating in the passageway for the entire time, you're going to have to think up a good cover story yourself, flyboy." Rima knew of one person...one, in all of Carshoulis Prime, who might turn a blind eye to her ship. Any mechanic with half a brain looking in this bucket would know what was going on. Which was why she usually went to Nar Shaddaa for retrofitting and tuneups. The motivator is going to cost me...and a bribe as well.. Rima pressed her hand to her head to ease her headache, and Sanis could see some faint scars from fist fights criscrossing her knuckles. Bacta would normally heal without a trace, but apparently she either hadn't had the time, or just hadn't taken the time to get her hands cared for.

Rima opened her eyes, and crossed her arms across her chest. "Radish is my daughter. Adopted daughter. There are people who want me dead, and I'd rather not get into it." Better not to mention that Red was the real target. Not for assassination, but kidnapping. Too many questions get raised when a child is the target of a bounty. A smuggler, on the other hand? Old hat. "I know a tech on Carshoulis Prime. Human, raised on the planet, but made his way into the universe before returning and settling in the dirty part of town. As a celebrity, I'm sure you've never been."

From the look on his face, nothing she was saying was making him happy. Rima sighed, "We'll request clearance to land, and limp to Yarshu's shop. He's one of a few males who actually own a business. Because he's human, and because he's just that good. Plus, he's so ugly no female would take him. I met him on Nar Shaddaa a few years back, and his work is top notch. The motivator should take a day to put in. We'll be out of there in no time."

Rima didn't mention that they hadn't gotten along on Nar Shaddaa, and that motivators for Chevette77's were notoriously hard to locate. If he had one in stock, sure, a day. If not, probably five to ten days, depending on what was happening in the trade routes. With the Imperial Sovereignty flexing its muscles and moving troops willy-nilly through the galaxy, there really were no guarantees. Peace was becoming endangered as Grand Admiral Desaria sought to entrench himself firmly in his corner of the galaxy.

She pressed her hand to her head again, sitting down suddenly as a wave of nausea overcame her.

*flash*

A woman with long dark hair leapt up from a desk, barely clearing it as the entire room was shot to frelling hell from a concussion missile. Two men leaped in through a broken window, both dying quickly as the woman shot one, and another man shot the other. The dark haired woman turned, and looked at the man, then at another man who entered the room from a side door, and they seemed to speak for a moment before the second man ran off. The woman looked at the first man who had saved her life, and then seemed to look through him to Rima.

Rima and the woman froze, as if it were really happening. Or was it? How could she think through the vision? Rima frowned in confusion. Never before had she entered a vision that was not about herself.

The other woman reached out towards her, and then the entire scene expanded like a balloon and popped.

Her eyes opened, and she looked over to see Sanis relaxing in the co-pilot's seat. "I..."

"You passed out again." He sounded vaugely concerned. After all, his life was basically in her hands, and she was woozy.

Rima gingerly touched the synflesh. It was itchy. "How long?"

"Half an hour."

That shocked her. It hadn't seemed that long. Maybe four minutes total. There was a headache centered between her eyes, and it wasn't from the hit on the head in the speeder. "Pain...meds?" Her eyes tried to screw up against the pain, and then they shot open again. "Diego!"

Rima sighed, closing her eyes lightly. "Okay, well...you two males need a cover story to match mine. Or I could just dump you out of the cargo bay during entry." She grinned. "Actually, that doesn't sound too bad."

[Diego Van Derveld]

He looked about, blinking as he stretched. Every joint in his body seemed to pop, relieving the tension and trauma of his recent accident. The myriad of lacerations he suffered were now shrunken and pinkish...nearly healed. Tying his hair back, Diego rose to his feet, staring at Rima.

"Fancy running into you again."

Allowing a thin smile, his eyes turned to the man.

"And Mister Prent? Your reputation preceeds you."

He slumped into a seat behind the two, rubbing his temples.

"So, we're headed to Carshoulis. Not my choice of vacation spots, to be sure. Might as well make the best of it, though."

Reclining the seat, Diego closed his blue eyes, taking a nap.

[General Tohmahawk]

Oh great, she did bring the wolf. Stig was right now having a snarling fit, getting more and agitated as he viewed the newcomers as being after his food. Not that Tohmahawk could blame him, mind. So, with the Force he slid the bowl to under his bed. Stig reacted by running after the bowk, skittering along until he was hidden under the hanging bed sheets. In a few seconds, the loud purring of a happy and eating cat sounded.

The reminder of the arrogant Admiral did elict a scowl from the General however.

"What do we do today? Well firstly you two can get to know each other. Secondly, you and Xazor can get our stores and equipment off my ship. We shouldn't need them on there. Third..."

<font color=blue>

Memories of yesterday came back to mind. The two travellers with Tohmahawk looking over his shoulder in gaping astonishment at the sheer size of Defender as the vastly smaller fighter/frieghter made final appraoch for Hangar A, the hangar the General usually used. And Tohamahwk was already in a foul mood with a clearence delay that verged on an insult. Ceetainly, he had not given his newly re-activated identity, but still.... Defender's crew in his time was fast and efficent, even to unwelcome visitors. The new Admiral that had taken charge from Drecker had earned a black mark.

And after landing, earned another one. While he had not explicitly stated his name, the code he used was top classification, which should have caused the Admiral to realise someone important was coming aboard - someone that outranked him. The fact a regular Captain was sent raised an eyebrow to the grizzled General. Luckily for the man coming to greet, it was someone familiar.

"General...?" asked the surprised Captain after Tohmahawk and his motley enterage walekd down Razor's ramp. "I... I mean we thought you were dead!"

"Yeah, well I got better - Who were you expecting, Mary Poppins? Now Captain Simtex, who's running this scrap heap and why the hell aint they here?"

"Admiral Bodyline Sir"

"Well? Get him here now"

The Captain looked worried, but seeing the famed temper of The General clearly written on his face, the Captain chose the lesser doom and saluted, off to get Bodyline. Tohmaahw paced by himself, stewing until the Captain returned, with a man in the grey of a NR Admiral - a surprisingly youngish man too.

"May I ask just who you think you are that you can call me away from running this ship?" Bodyline snapped, not saluting or trying other welcome. "And just what is this.... thing doing on my ship?" he asked, pointing at Haversh like he was a piece of crap. The captain winced, and Haversh obviously came agitated, Xazor snarled at the insult.

"Excuse me, but the Jedi Padawan is with myself and the good Jedi Kinght here" Tohmahawk indicated, somehow keeping his voice polite, although if the signs could be read, he was even more angry.

"A Jedi too? Doubly worthless. Now, get off my ship, I will not have Jedi or .... things messing my halls"

Xazor could have been expected to beat the Admiral into a bloody pulp with Sejah following up, - fact was Xazor restrained the Nehanite, and took a few steps backwards. "Sejah, don't whatever you do get in Jame's way...."

"I'm not intenting to get in his way!" snapped the Padawan. "I.... oh.... oh crap".

Well described, for the fury was now clear on the General's face - the captain, well knowing what was coming next also stepped away, fear clearly written on his face. But somehow, Tohmahawk kept his voice low and peaceful. "Now, now Admiral. I'm sure your words are not meant to insult. Would you reconsider?"

"This is MY ship and I will act as I wish!" snapped Bodyline.

"Your ship?" asked Tohmahawk, still unnaturally calm

"Yes, my ship. And a bloody disgrace it was when I took it over. What moron had command damn well desevered a walking out an airlock and I'm glad he died in that shitheap called Arcan"

Xazor grew wide eyed and both she and Sejah stepped back.

"Glad you say?" said Tohmahawk, the faintest hints of anger growing in his voice. "Glad are you? Badly run you state? Well let me tell you Bodyline, I'm not frelling impressed with you or your xenophobic attitude and I'm not impressed with your insuborinate attitude. Now...."

Here it came. The explosion of anger.

"IF YOU DARE SPEAK LIKE THAT ABOUT MYSELF AND MY COLLEGUES, I WILL STRING YOU BTY THE BALLS FROM THE ROOF! YOU ARE A DISGRACE TO UNIFORM! NOW GET OUT OF MY HANGAR AND CONSIDER YOURSELF STOOD DOWN!"

The Admiral barely flinched. "On whose orders?"

"Errr sir..." stammered the captain. "This is General Tohamahwk"

"Ask me if I care..." began Bodyline, before Tohmahawk leapt, picked the Admiral up by the throat, then slammed the witless man into a wall. Hard.

"You will learn how to care, because I do not tolerate insubordination, or <smallfont color=#FF0000>-Censored-</smallfont>s, or xenophobes. The name is Major General Tohmahawk and as of now, by order of Solo herself, this is once again MY ship and if you dont like, walk out the airlock. Now get out of my hangar. I will speak to MY staff tomorrow. That may or may not include you if you so much as burp wrong in the intervening time. Am I clear Admiral?"

Bodyline was full of fight himself, but he could recognise he wasn't goign to win this argument, not against an inhumanly strong and legendary General. His eyes blazing, he gave a nod, face growing red from the grip on his neck. Tohmahawk kept the Admiral in the air for a few more seconds, before throwing the officer across the deck, Bodyline sliding on his butt to stop a few meters away.

"Right. Xazor, you know where my room is, meeet me for breakfast tomorrow. Sejah, you too. For now you can sleep onbard until I arrange for better accomodation. The General stalked off angrily</font>

".... after breakfast, we go and sort this upstart <smallfont color=#FF0000>-Censored-</smallfont><smallfont color=#FF0000>-Censored-</smallfont><smallfont color=#FF0000>-Censored-</smallfont> of an Admiral out. I'm tempted to bust him to latrine clean duty"

[Sejah Haversh]

"Don't." Sejah almost immediately said, his face resolute. "Let him keep his post, and don't be too harsh on him. But, make sure he feels nervous, like you were going to do somethign to him at any given time. After all, chores last only so long, but constant fear is a much mor suitable punishment for him, I think."

He nearly quoted a historical figure of his race. The Admiral had been a prick, that was for sure, but to overthreaten would only make him worse.

"If he were one of my students, I would call him up for each demonstration. Put on the pressure, you know, make him really sweat. Not only will he lose face in front of his men, but he just might learn something as well. Revenge is often sweetest when played as a seven course meal instead of a quick snack, as my Master once said." He grinned at the memory of his old fencing master, then set into his breakfast, which had arrived while he was talking.

[Xazor Elessar]

Xazor smiled at Marcus's words and she smiled, baring her elongated canines. The Garou seemed ready for a fight, though she was still aware of her pregnant state. Shaking her head, she silently agreed with Sejah but decided to voice her most honest opinion.

"...Let me have him Marcus...no one insults me or my comrades and lives to tell of it. Honestly, he just boils my blood. Sure, making him suffer like the worm he is would be nice, but I'm not one for patience."

She laughed slightly to herself and ran a finger over her dagger sharp canines, slightly drawing blood upon her fingertip. Just as quickly as it had appeared, the small wound healed right before her eyes. Her Garou healing abilties were good on small things like that, but of course, larger wounds took more time...a lot more time. Her eyes went to the floor in a bit of shame that such evil thoughts enveloped her mind, but she was honest. The man was an <smallfont color={hovercolor}>-Censored-</smallfont><smallfont color={hovercolor}>-Censored-</smallfont><smallfont color={hovercolor}>-Censored-</smallfont> and she would remove his head and shove it firmly up there where it belonged.

As her thoughts raged on, a whimper sounded from across the room and the Knight's eyes were drawn to her companion. Sighing, she motioned for him to come to her and he did so, sitting down by her side and rubbing his nose against her hand.

Good boy, Kau...looks like we're going to have some fun today!

She spoke in the deaf wolves mind. He was Force sensitive, little did many others know, and that is what made him special. The Knight smiled to herself and patted his head at his silent reply: the mere sparkle in his deep silver-blue eyes. Her eyes then went to Sejah and came to rest upon his face.

"No matter what goes down with the Admiral, I would like to get to know you more, Sejah. I've heard many a story of you. Sounds to me like you're a fine Padawan. I'm proud to have the opportunity to be on this excursion with one such as yourself."

Bowing her head in respect, she smiled once again and then turned to face Marcus as she had been originally. Perhaps this day would bring more than any of them expected...but nonetheless, she would follow his lead even though her own desires far out-weighed rational thought.

"...Perhaps you should restrain me though...I'm in that kind of mood and I'm afraid that I'll go...well, wolf on him."

She flashed a coy smile with mischief in her eyes. Of course this was of her nature, but she was a Jedi...a Lost Jedi, nonetheless, and she knew that others expected more of her. But this time, he had just done it. He had completely insulted her closest friend and a comrade of hers...not to mention her complete Order: the Jedi. Sighing, her eyes went to the floor once again as the anger circled around her mind. I will remain calm....for now. she thought to herself, and made the resolve that she would until action called.

[Pierce Tondry]

Pierce Tondry closed his eyes, shook his head, and sighed lightly. "A Senator's apartment blown apart and a Jedi Knight puking in the bathroom next door. You'd think this was a bad holonovel."

The Jack-of-all-trades Intelligence officer produced a commlink and tossed it to Helenias. "Go ahead," he said. "Tell the good security officers you're still alive and they need to get a detachment over here. I'd do it myself, but my commission's still inactive. Damn paperwork."

Helenias caught the device, but paused with it up to her mouth. "You still could have done it," she said with a slight smile. "They'd take orders from you anyway, commission or no."

"Pfft," was Pierce's reply. Helenias clicked the commlink on. "This is the Senator from Arcan IV, we need a security detachment at this location now or you're frelling fired."

"Happy?" she asked Pierce, who was kneeling over one of the bodies. She tossed him the commlink.

Without looking behind him, Pierce caught it. "Much," he said. "I'll be even happier when I know who hired these goons."

He finished examining the body and started looking over the other assailant. "These guys were not professionals," he said. "Heavy weapons aside, the equipment's not well kept, and these outfits are too scruffy. I'm thinking subcontractors part of a larger scheme, possibly just low-level flunkies but probably street thugs looking for a quick buck."

Pierce stopped and thought over what he'd said. There'd been no mysterious twinges, no sudden unconnected revelations, and it was all sound logic. That meant it was probably the exact truth. Sucking air inbetween his teeth, Pierce stood up-

- only to see Helenias staring at him in the oddest way. "There's no one behind me with a gun, is there?" he asked.

"No," she shook her head.

"Because if someone had actually snuck up on me, I'd have shot myself," Pierce continued. "So what's up?"

"You- how'd you catch that without looking? Last time we met-"

"I couldn't sense a planet under my own feet?" Pierce finished, mentally cursing. He hadn't even realized he'd caught her intent. "Yeah. About that. I'll have to tell you the story some time."

It was a lame deflection and Helenias would know. But she'd just been the target of an assassination attempt, and that had priority over a long and involved story involving the past five months and an entire life-changing pilgrimige.

And now, it seemed that he was getting thrown back into the saddle. "Looks like we're even," he added, nodding his head at the two bodies behind them. "I'm betting there'll be opportunities for that to change soon enough. Any ideas on who's behind this?"

[Darth Turbogeek]

He watched as the ship blasted out of the chaos of the space port.. and then the recording ended. The young man, sunglasses obsuring his eyes at looked at the now blank space over the holoprojector.

"You failed" he said, calmly

"Yeah but.." began one of the men around his table.

"But what?" replied Glasses coldly. "Your not paid for buts. Your paid to do and no excuses. Am I right?"

Two men were obviously the centre of Glasses attention and others in the room edged away. "But..." started the other man, before with brutal suddeness his head exploded into grey goop, Glasses havign quick drawn a gun and blown the merc's head off.

"Now, let's hear the right answer" Glasses stated, pointing the gun at the now mortified remaining merc. "Or you too will do a Pro Hart. Why did the bitch get away?"

"She had help and was ready for us" gulped the merc.

"Did she now. Like to describe whom it was?"

"Ummm, two men. Looks sponteneous, but they boarded her ship with the girl and took off with her. I can only say they ran interference"

Glasses thought about this. "Fine, that is acceptible. But who's idea was the distruptor?"

"Mine si..." The rest of the sentance hardly got out of the merc's mouth when Darth Turbogeek opened fire again, this time emptying the clip into the hapless merc. "Listen to me" he said to the rest of the cringing beings in the room, as he reloaded. "If I wanted the bitch and the girl dead, I would have said so. Alive! Is that too much to frellking ask for you droobs? Now get the hell out of my sight! Go on, get out! Find where they went and get that girl! I want them both alive!"

Turbogeek waited until they all elft, before going around his desk, and takign a seat in the reclining nerf-hide chair. Anger was clearly on his face as the leaned back, working out where the woman and the girl were going. So much he wanted his rightful duaghter back.

And the woman?

She would learn it was not wise to spun him.

[imported_Terran Starek]

Terran--

Meet me at Kar's Last Corral on Arcan IV. I have some things to discuss with you. The coordinates of the rendevouz and the time of meeting are included here.

Marcus Q'Dunn

Terran thumbed the datapad absent-mindedly in his hand as the starfighter cruised gently through space. His face was contorted into a thoughtful wrinkle. It was just like Master Q'Dunn to give him some kind of message like this. No details, no real sustinence, no clue as to what in the Force he would need to prepare himself for. He had directions and a simple sentence, just as Marcus would give him were he in is presence. It was hard sometimes to get a straight answer from the Jedi Master. Perhaps that's why Terran found him so interesting.

As he neared the Arcan system in in GJO B-Wing, he found himself ready to be off of this starship. He was practiced in the arts of space navigation and dogfiting and starship travel--though not mastering this catergory of skills by any means. However, he still wasn't a fan of space travel. It was necessary, but he preferred the open air and some nice scenery. Not stars and darkness.

He had never been to Arcan IV before, suprisingly. He had been to many a local, but never this. He had heard some tales of it, however. A smuggler's realm, he had heard. A rough place--one you don't think about raising a peaceful family in. He could be wrong--afterall, rumors and heresay were just that.

The coordinates having been set, he found his way to the nearest public spaceport to the meeting place--a port called Ja'ween or something. He couldn't remember. Too many spaceports had come to his knowledge to remember them all. It seemed rather clean, suprisingly, as he landed his ship in one of the many docking bays.

Checking it in, paying for upgraded security, he checked his Coordinates again, finding the spot where he was to meet Master Q'Dunn. It was quite a ways from here, and the meeting time was approaching soon. Nonetheless, he would have enough time to get there. Getting to the edge of the spaceport's docking bays, he called a hovercab to be on his way.

"Good afternoon," he told the pilot droid with a smile. "Could you please take me to..." he checked his datapad "Kar's Last Corral?"

"Of couise, Mista." The droid spoke in a strange, urban dialect. It added spice to his otherwise robotic voice. "It'll come ta a little ouiver 36 creds, Mista." Of course the droid knew the exact amount, but his programming made him a bit more friendly. It was nice.

"That'll be fine, thank you." Terran was in a good mood. A new place, another experience to chalk up to his travels, and what almost felt like a 'mission' for Master Q'Dunn. It felt good to be trusted. Months ago, Marcus would have made him have some type of escort, he was sure. Now, the Jedi Master trusted him enough to give him a little more freedom in his travel. Terran smiled--it felt deserved, and yet at the same time he was glad to be maturing in Marcus' eyes. It made him feel special--the way a son beams with pride when a father says "Good work, my boy."

Relaxing, and letting his mind be clear, he sat back in the taxi, enjoying the ride through the hustled and bustled streets.

[Radish Xavier]

"So, we're headed to Carshoulis. Not my choice of vacation spots, to be sure. Might as well make the best of it, though."

The large man slumped into a chair, and Radish crept into the cockpit behind him, eyes wide. She'd watched him for an entire half an hour, and was competely fascinated by him. As a rule, she didn't trust him. Rima had pounded that into her head, as had her father. But...Diego? She thought that was what Rima had called him. His cuts had healed up before her eyes.

She slipped up past his chair, ignored the blonde man, and crawled into Rima's lap. Rima absently helped her up with one hand, the other hand running over the console as she ran systems checks. Radish put her small arms around the black haired woman, and laid her head on her shoulder, listening for her heart. It was strong and steady. Nothing seemed to overly excite her. It was comforting to know Rima would always be....Rima. In some capacity, at least.

Rima held the back of Radish's head with one hand, and set the droid brain of the Habitually Late to run a hull sensor sweep with the other hand.

[Rima Xavier]

Red crawled into her lap, and Rima absently stroked her hair as Diego made himself comfortable in the third seat in the cockpit. It was getting a bit cramped for space. "Glad to see you survived, but I should have known. After our last...or should I say, our first encounter." She couldn't figure out how to get him to not reveal certain things about her, but before she could, the console beeped, and a red light started flashing.

Radish flinched as Rima's heartrate went up, and clutched at her adopted mother. "Frelling Sithspawn!" She sat up straight, her face a mask of pain as her movements aggravated her headache. Sanis leaned back into his chair, away from her, his eyes following hers to the source of her alarm.

Diego opened an eye, and leaned forward with idle curiosity. Rima cursed soundly, seemingly not caring about the ears of the five year old girl who was latched onto her, and got to her feet, one hand still holding onto Radish. Or Carrot. Or Red.

The little girl held on tightly, legs wrapped around Rima's waist, her light body hardly a burden for the woman to carry as she moved to Diego's seat. "Out." He looked at her, and moved, although a bit slowly. They'd managed to pick up an anomalous reading on the hull..which meant one of two things: There was a mynock attached to them (which in hyperspace was impossible) or that there was a device of some sort attached.

Rima prayed it wasn't a bomb. It didn't appear to be draining power to fuel an explosion, however. She pointed at Sanis without looking at him. "Get in the cargo bay and use the intercomm to tell me if you can see anything on the walls." He stared at her as if she'd lost her mind, and she shouted "Just go, for krassts sake!" Her fingers moved nimbly over the console as she set the ship to destroy the device on the hull. It would take a few minutes.

[Diego Van Derveld]

As Diego exited the cockpit, he canted a sidelong glance at Rima.

"It seems trouble follows your every turn, Arya...and has a habit of taking me along for the ride."

[Sanis Prent]

(I brushed past the big guy as he got into a conversation with the ship's pilot.

Arya?

I paused. Wasn't her name Rima? Ah, who the hell cared. Probably an alias, as both looked like the shady type. I shrugged it off, and ducked into a cramped compartment, sliding down a ladder that led to the cargo bay.)

Alright, I'm down here...what exactly am I looking for?

[Arya Ravenwing]

Arya shot Diego an exasperated look as Sanis left the cockpit, and motioned him back inside with a jerk of her head. Red still clutched at her, and she didn't bother trying to remove her. "I need to talk to you, Diego." The big man squeezed past to the copilot seat, and she made a face as the droid brain reported back to her. "Dammit, a homing beacon."

She pounded her fist on the console, and Red withdrew from her, hopping down and running to her small cabin. She didn't like it when Arya was angry. Ravenwing turned to Diego and pointed a finger at him. "I'm Rima, she is my daughter, and we're being hunted by the 'very bad men' that my mother tried to warn me about." Arya looked back at the console and cursed again.

"Alright, I'm down here...what exactly am I looking for?" Prent's voice came over the intercomm. To be honest, she had just wanted to get him out of the cockpit, but now she would have to make something up.

"Ok, Mr. Prent, I was afraid there was a small explosive on the hull of my ship. In which case, we'd have to try to get it unattatched from the inside. Its on the port bulkhead, but it isn't a sleeper bomb, its a homing beacon." She flipped the comm off, and cursed some more. "Frelling bones of Vader, we can't drop out of hyperspace to take it off. Why didn't I get the electric grid installed!?"

She knew why, it was too damn frelling expensive. Arya's mind raced. Maybe if I get a really big magnet...or could re-polarize the hull... It would take a lot of time, but she might be able to encourage the beacon to leave them alone. Arya focused in on her console, and forgot about her conversation with Diego.

[Threepio]

Thank the Maker! I'm saved! A droid skittered towards the man who had entered the hold of the ship, its optical receptors glowing oddly from the dark corner it had apparently been hiding in. Mistress Arya sent me down here two weeks ago, apparently she has forgotten about me. The droid was dirty, but his metallic 'skin' had a distinct golden sheen to it. To Prent it was obvious that the droid wouldn't be able to climb up the ladder without a great deal of help. Getting down, however...perhaps just a shove through the door?

As Sanis looked closer, he saw that it was a protocol droid. Its personality matrix was making it appear agitated. I am C-3PO, human cyborg relations. I am fluent in over six million forms of communication, as well as the ettiquite rules for over two thousand star systems. I am pleased to be at your service, Master...?

[Diego Van Derveld]

Diego patiently lounged in the copilot's seat. It was less an appearance of laziness, and more a sense of latent, potential energy. Even his calm could cause discomfort.

"Whenever you're not busy, Arya."

He watched the cascade of light as the ship continued through hyperspace.

[Sanis Prent]

...yeah.

(The droid's tinny yap was window dressing, and I had more important things to do at the moment, anyways. Ducking and dodging cargo pallattes, I navigated the narrow walkways to the port bulkhead. Then...I stopped. Even if I knew where the beacon was...what then?

I looked up to the service hatchway.)

You got any way of picking off this hitch-hiker without decompressing the hold?

(I paused. Wait a second....)

Strike that...is there a comm port jack down here?

[Arya Ravenwing]

Arya's head felt like a bantha was sitting on her face. Luckily the smell didn't come with the sensation. Her brain wouldn't tell her fingers what the correct commands were and the droid inside the Wing of the Raven, transponder-masked as the Habitually Late, was being uncooperative.

"Comm jack? Yes, should be one -" Her voice broke off as she heard Threepio in the background of the intercomm. Frell. Forgot about him. "Threepio can show you where it is." She flipped off the intercomm, and looked at Diego. "Sorry for dragging you along. Once we get the motivator fixed, I can drop you back on Kalarba. Is s'Ilancy still with you?" Her mouth made idle conversation while her head screamed in pain and her body felt like crawling into bed.

Arya reached up a hand and scratched at the edges of the synflesh on her forehead. Damn things always itched.

[Diego Van Derveld]

"She is still with me, yes."

He reclined in his seat, thick arms crossing over his chest as he continued looking away...all in total, disarming leisure.

"Now, you've got my curiosity piqued, Rima. What has gotten you in such a hurry as to trample me with your speeder, and have our paths cross again."

He looked back to her, blue eyes twinkling.

"And, in such distinguished company. No doubt Mr. Prent is unaware of your natural talents."

[Helenias Evenstar]

"I'm betting there'll be opportunities for that to change soon enough. Any ideas on who's behind this?"

"I've got my suspcions" I stated, noting that the sound of Oriadin being ill had subsided, "But of course proving it will be the problem"

"Aint it always? Give me somewhere to start from - what's your suspicions?"

"Trade Federation. Commerce Guild. Maybe even the Cizerack, although this isn't quite their style. This is a bit too amateur. Hiring thugs off the street and using rockets isn't quite how I would go about attacking a Jedi."

I paused, and a frown began to crease my forehead. Pierce was right on the ball, sensing my change in mood. "You think something's wrong?"

"Where is security? You would think they would be here by now"

If it were any more possible for Pierce to come alert, he did so. "Suggestion"

"Yes?"

"Did you set up a secret way out of here?"

"Yes"

"Then we use that secret exit and get out of here. Now"

I pointed back towards my bedroom. "Wardrobe with a false floor. It gets us into a service way"

[Oriadin]

Oriadin had finished, finally and he sat on the floor feeling rather sorry for himself for a few moments. He managed to gather enough energy to stand up and reach a nearby sink. He washed his face before placing his head underneath one of the taps and taking a few sips of the lovely cold water.

He stood upright and grabbed a towel hanging over the back of the door just behind him and gently dabbed it on his face. His head feeling a little sensitive still. He then stopped to think for a moment. Realising what had just happend he rushed out to where Helenias and Pierce were talking.

--Helenias!! Are you alright!? Im sorry, im not quite sure whats wrong with me, I just dont feel quite with it. Whats happend?--

He felt like he should make a quick dash to the toilet again as he spoke but he quickly dispersed that feeling with a swallow. He placed his hand on the hallway wall as he tried to concentrate with his thumping headache. Some impression he must have made on this Pierce character, he thought to himself.

[Sejah Haversh]

Sejah was embarassed at how Xazor complimented him. All he could say in return was, "Then I think you might not have heard all of the stories Master Q'Dunn knows about me." He cut himself off with a sip of tea that had come with his breakfast.

"But thank you, Lady Dawnstrider, It will be an honor serving with you as well." He added, trying to be polite. "And as far as the Admiral goes, I will restrian you on one condition. That being that you musn't lose your cool. Sure, he's a jerk, but don't go wasting your energy on him."

[Sanis Prent]

C'mon, Goldilocks...we've got work to do.

(I was relying on a prissy interpretor droid to be my tour guide, which wasn't exactly my idea of how things should be.)

Find the comm jack. Lets make you useful.

[Threepio]

Goldilocks? Why, I never! C-3PO tottered past Sanis and disappeared behind an empty frieght container that was bolted securely to the flooring. I don't even have hair. He stopped momentarily, swiveling orange optical receptors back to see if the human was following. He was.

Master, the comm jack is directly in front of me. Threepio raised a stiff arm and pointed at the bulkhead to a small control panel.

[Radish Xavier]

Red opened and closed her door a few times, but couldn't really slam it shut. No one seemed to notice anyway.

The little girl brushed her hair out of her eyes with her small fingers, and peeked out into the passageway. Rima was still talking in the cockpit, and she could almost hear the intercomm being used. She darted into the mess area to see if the blond man, Prent, was in there. He wasn't.

Red folded her arms in front of her and frowned in concentration. Where was he? She walked to the smallish compartment that led to the cargo hold, and swung the door open. She could hear talking. "Threepio?" Excited, Radish turned to make her way down the ladder.

[Xazor Elessar]

"I suppose you're right Sejah."

Xazor laughed to herself and sat down to eat her breakfast. Marcus took his as well as Sejah and the three began to eat. She ate faster than they, for some reason, but had to if she planned on keeping the food for herself. Kaukauana was known to steal whole meals from tables and she wasn't about to let that happen.

"No, you leave that Admiral to me, Xazor. Sejah's right, he isn't worth your time and remember, you're pregnant. I don't want you to get hurt."

Marcus said in his father-like tone. Xazor rolled her eyes and continued eating. Before too long, she was finished and desposing of the plastic plates and utensils. The others were just finishing up as well and she went to retrive their plates as well.

"I say we go pay this Admiral a visit, nonetheless. You're either with me or I'm going by myself!"

With that the Knight left the room and made her way down the halls. Sejah and Marcus looked at one another and rose from their seats to follow her.

"Xazor! Don't do something stupid!"

Sejah said and she stopped. A smile crossed her lips and she turned around and looked at them.

"I'm a woman, it's not in my nature to be stupid!"

She laughed to herself and then set off with the two men. Her eyes went to Marcus for a moment and could hear his thoughts before he even said anything.

"Let me do the talking..."

Xazor put her hand upon her saber at his words for her form of talking was not diplomatic either and she knew that if the Admiral decided to be annoying or anything remotely close, the three would 'take care' of him. They wandered the halls for a few minutes before coming to the door of his quarters where the group stood still for a moment in the silence....

[General Tohmahawk]

Tohmahawk abruptly turned to the other two.

"You two are to stand guard right here. And no arguments. I have some private business with this Admiral to take care of first - do NOT come inside for any reason" . The tone broked no argument nor discussion, he used an override code to open the Admiral's door efore marching inside and closign the steel bulkhead behind him without further comment. What Xazor and Sejah would think of that, who knew.

What the surprised Admiral thought, he could well sense on the man - surprise, fear, guilt. "What.. who allowed you to come in here?" Bodyline spluttered.

"As I said last night, this is my ship now, Admiral. I'll go where I please. Got a probelm with that?"

"This is not your ship!" yelled back Bodyline.

"It became my ship when I found out you were a traitor to the Republic!" snapped back Tohmahawk., deliberatly turning his back on the other man, pretending to look out the porthlole.

"WHAT! How dare you accuse me of such a perposterous thing!" spluttered Bodyline - but his sense was now filled with fear. Real, palitable fear of a man caught .

"I dare because they are true" stated the General, still with his back to the other. "I saw it on your mind as I was outside. I know why you dont liek aliens and Jedi - Aliens because your an Imperial and you dont like Jedi for they might read your mind. How unfortunante then for you..." he finally turned, his hand on his sabre on hip hip "... I am both. How long have you been selling NR secrets to Balmora, Admiral? How many have you betrayed?"

The Admiral gaped, realising he was caught. Almost predicatably, he tried for the blaster at his side - only to be shot first as Tohmahawk reacted much faster than a normal human could first, rail gun coming out of it's holster and blasting the torso of the traitor to gory bits. The lifeless remains slipped to the floor, blood began to drip as Tohmahawk passively put the gun away, glanicng around the apartment. He spotted a comm unit, wiped some of the blood splatter off it and keyed for the bridge.

"Janson. What can I do for you Admiral?"

Janson.... Communications officer. Tohmahawk remembered a thin young man, not long out of officer's school. "Janson, this is General Tohmahawk. The Admiral is no longer in charge here, I am. I want a cleanup crew to the former Admiral's quarters, I also want an Intel Crew here as well. It appears our good ex-Admiral was a traitor. Get to it"

The voice on the other end paused, no doubt surprised by whom it was speaking and his words. "Right away General! Oh and sir... I'm glad your back!"

"So am I" Tohmahawk replied, ebfore toggling off the unit. Outside the apartment, he could clearly feel the agitation of the Jedi Knight and Padawan.

Xazor, I'm okay. I only want cleanup crew and Intel to get past you. Stay outside while I poke around a bit more - seems our Admiral was a traitor

[imported_Terran Starek]

"--an then, before I could even ask him what went wrong, he fired me just like that! Can you believe it? I couldn't, and what's wouise is..." The droid trailed off as Terran's focus left it's chatter. He had asked the old, tin-looking droid about his job and other things, just for something to listen to on the way. The droid had such friendly dialect-programming, and he was close to sounding perfectly organic.

As they zipped through the skyways, the furious traffic around him whizzed by the hovercab. Different speeders, different beings, different lives and goals--all rolled into one busy skyway of stories untold. Their energies and spirits were pleasant, or mad, or upset. So many stimuli streamed into his brain.

"--remember that, the next time you need a cab. Don't use Ripper Travel!" The droid finished whatever he was saying as the taxi began to descend onto the street. "Here we are, Mista, Kar's Last Corral." The droid spoke as the taxi came to a stop. Terran stepped out from the seat in the back, also dragging his medium-sized suitcase with him. Across his shoulder, he wore is regular leather satchel which held his smaller gear.

"Thank you, for you safe passage and your...interesting conversation." Terran spoke as he handed the droid his payment. He took a quick glance around--it was late morning, and was approaching his meeting time. he was making excellent time.

"Of couise, Mista! Have a great day, and always fly Happy Cab!" He spoke enthusiastically as the cab's engines refired. Pulling away, the hovercab zipped back up to the skyway, heading to his next fare.

"Well...here it is." Terran muttered as he stared at the resteraunt in front of him. It was medium sized, not too much of a standout place. The kind that Marcus would choose, he imagined. It was a bit nicer than the the bottom-feeder pubs in the lower level of Coruscant, but it wasn't nice enough to draw attention. Heading inside, he opened the doors and took a quick look. Regular diner furniture and a seemingly regular group of dinees.

"Find a seat and I'll be right with ya, hun." It was a human waitress, which excited him. He liked interaction with real people, and it seemed everywhere he went, droids were more and more a sight.

"Thanks," he replied, finding a small booth in the corner. Marcus would have little trouble finding him. Sitting back, he examined the menu which was projected into the wall on a vid screen.

[El'rond Perendil]

Arda

The system was so out of the Known Systems, it was hard to imagine any place being further outside the centre of the Galaxy. Hence, traffic and trade between the system and the Known Regions was no existant - to the point where only two had left the system totally - and only one known had even come from the outside. Some of the Second Born were known to travel in the space craft of Arnor to other places, but that was the limit of any communications physically between the Galaxy and Arda. For all the rest of the Galaxy knew, Arda did not exist.

But even if the Galaxy knew not of them, the Ardians knew plenty of the Galaxy. They were beings of lore and of learning, always questing for knowledge and wisdom. The dwellers of Imdralis tended to ignore technology, holding Nature and the Force, which they used for their Arts of Preservation and Completion. Most of the First Born had a degree of connection to The Force, some of them had indeed a powerful connection. While their Arts were not like the Jedi, they were still peaceful and great healers. Imdralis also was a achingly beautiful planet, filled with gardens and structures that looked almost grwon rather than built, the air was sweet and filled with music.

Three other planets were in the system, the one that they watched over the most was the one named Arnor, a fiercely hot planet with a gravity pull twice that of normal inhabited planets. The Numenorians who dwelt undergroud and in tents on the surface were a human like race. They had no connection to The Force, but they also were learned - they had, over the eons been civilised by the First Born and in their own way grown in knowledge and wisdom. But theirs was not the way of nature - they were technocrats. They invented and built, mined and constructed. Hence, they had a spaceworthy group of ships and technology to match, in some cases beyond the Galaxy in general. While few in number, their engineering feats were great and they had no government - living in harmony and peace with their own as well as the Lords of Imdralis.

But they were very much a sad people and they sang their sorrow of their losses while they worked, their mornful songs filling the caverns they lived and worked in. For their planet once had been green and lush too in millenia gone by, until The Black had come and made war. Since then, the Numenorians had lived on their runied home, hoping for the One who would come and restore their planet to right. But he never came and year upon year went, with hope fading Arnor could even be made right.

And on this night in Imdralis, in a tower above the forest, one man also pondered the fate of Arnor, but for different reasons. He was middle aged, dressed in great flwoing robes, reading the handwritten letter that had come from a Numenorian courier , a message from one of the two Ardians whom lived permantly out of the system. The other he knew of was a half-breed, a General of the self styled Republic that ruled most fo the Galaxy, blue skinned with one red eye. The one whom had written to him was his daughter, Helenias Evenstar.

Father,

I bring you greetings in the name of the Most High and I ask for your blessings once again.

For years I have been from hope and more I miss it daily. I hope one day to return so asI may walk barefoot on the grass and to allow the caresthat weigh me down to be lifted. Of those, I will tell you now.

Lately, I have joined the Jedi and I now also give service as a Senator. This has not been easy and some others in the Senate hate the thoguht of a Jedi being able to snoop on their schemes. This is not far from the case, i hear their thoughts and I know their greedy minds. I disgusts me so much evil is allowed and I will do what I can to thwart them. I have come under attack once, but I managed to defeat them. I know you see that I will be attacked again, but you also know I will be safe. Others I fear near me will not be.

Father, however this might sound, it is nothign to what I am to tell you and present to you. I know I married when I should not have, but I should tell you what I have found. He is a Numenorian and he feels the Force with a power like hardly even you can. As I once told you, he was a great evil, but he turned, to become a Jedi Master. Dare I say it, the greastest of all right now.

His daughter's words surprised him greatly. Force sensitivity was unheard of for a Numenorian! And in the power Lady Evenstar suggested? This would need investigation and also asking the Archive fo Arnor what his bloodline was. He returned to the letter, deciding to finish reading before he acted. He read the descriptions untl he nearly reached the end of the missive

[/i] ...... but of all I have said, this is the one I believe you need to know of and know of now. The exstance of this man was foretold by The Black and now I have the proof she did not lie. I stole this from him, so may examine for yourself the truth of this [/i]

Perendil looked at the package which had come with the letter, a frown creasing his forehead. Gntly he unlocked the package, seeing inside the pieces of an object shattered - but sitting on tp of that, an amulet. The sight of the amulet froze Perendil to the spot in sudden fear and it was nearly a minute before he could move or even speak.

"Jeeves! Summon the Elders! Now!"

--

The 22 men and women sat around the table, staring at the amulet that glittered as Perendil finished speaking. The pieces of the shattered object also lay on the table and they had been declared authentic.

"So... The Black spoke truly. This is an evil Perendil. The one whom this amulet came from, something must be done about him" stated an elderly female.

"But what? You heard of Lord Perendil's words and also of the words of the Lady Evenstar. What can we do? He can bring great evil and destroy us all!" snapped a younger male.

The room turned to a motley argument , while Perendil eventually got under control.

"Friends! Friends! This division will ont help us! You know the path we must take, the one appointed. I ask you, are you strong enough to take it?"

The younger male whom spoke earlier suddenly drew a wicked looking curved knife and slammed it into the table, his eyes looking defiantly into Perendil's. "We must"

"So be it. He must die"

[Sejah Haversh]

The moment he heard the railgun fire, Sejah looked away.

"Dang it, Marcus. For being so powerful and supposedly so smart, you sure pick the worst ways to handle some things." he thought to himself, rubbing one temple in disbeleif.

His fears were confirmed as his master stepped out of the room with railgun in hand. He had needlessly killed a person. Whether or not he deserved it Sejah didn't know, but there were better forms of punishment than execution.

For a short while, Sejah stood around, waiting for some kind of instruction or anything to do, but nothing came. The smell of blood was thick on the recycled and air-freshened air around him, and his natural curiosity got the better of him. Stepping past Xazor, his pink eyes went wide momentarily at what he saw, then squeezed shut ans he spun on his heel to get away from it.

What had once been a man was a bloody splotch ont he floor and walls, and his stomach performed somersaults as he beat a path down the hallway, a paw over his mouth until he reached a restroom where he heaved up his breakfast into a toilet. Sejah had seen death before, even had a friend die in his arms, but nothing had ever been that gruesome. Nothing needed to ever be that gruesome.

Spitting out the last of the vile stomach acids in his mouth, the mongoose rinsed his mouth out with water from the sink, and then washed his face to help calm down. He had just lost face in front of Xazor for being unable to take the sight, and would probably lose more in his master's eyes once he heard about it. Leaning on the counter, he took a few deep breaths, then left the restroom to go back to what he presumed was his post. Were he not fearful of his master in such a temperment as his black suit apparently gave him, the Nehantite would have given him a good piece of his mind. But his Tohmahawk persona seemed to warp his sense of right and wrong. What he had just done was the act of a Sith, not a Jedi. To kill so inhumanely was not justice, it was murder.

Especially when Marcus could have simply removed his hand instead.

[Sanis Prent]

Alright, alright, just shut up and link in. See if you can locate the transponder code, and use our comm system to send a counter frequency to muffle it.

(Hearing a sound coming down the cargo bay ladder, I turned around.)

[Pierce Tondry]

In the hallway, there was a loud crash, followed by a scream. "Who else is here?" Pierce asked, looking at his companions.

Both Helenias and Oriadin gave him blank looks. A loud curse filtered through the open doorway with a second scream accompanying it.

Oriadin's face struggled with recognition. "I think I've heard that scream before."

Helenias' eyes flickered between the Jedi Knight and the door. "Oriadin, did you have... company this morning?"

Horror replaced the puzzled familiarity. "Oh, no."

Pierce took a long, slow step over to the door, placing himself out of view from the hallway. "You two get into that secret passage now. No, I said, now." Pierce's rifle lifted as Helenias made a motion towards him. "Let me handle this."

Helenias nodded gravely. "Good luck," she said.

"No luck required." Another scream shrieked through the doorway. "Go!" Pierce mouthed. He leaned against the wall.

The two Jedi headed for the bedroom. They'd made it as far as the door when a roughly dressed human dragged a girl in, a wicked blaster pointed to her head. "Not so fast, Senator," he sneered. "You stay put, or I blow her brains out."

Pierce's face hardened. His rifle swung upwards and he fired a single shot into the assailant's skull, causing him to slump to the floor. "You don't have the right to do that," he told the dead man.

A muffled curse came from behind the doorway. Pierce rammed a shoulder into it, slamming it shut in spite of the presence of someone behind it. One of his hands slapped the lock switch and the mechanism clicked solidly into place just before there was another impact from the other side.

Pierce grabbed the half-dressed blond and shoved her towards the bedroom. Oriadin caught and steadied her with a sheepish look. "What's going on?" she asked.

"No time for that now," Pierce said. He pointed his rifle at the wardrobe, where Helenias was already busy with some controls just inside the door. A panel in the floor slid open, revealing a set of stairs. "I'm betting they have backup somewhere outside the building. Oriadin, you go first. Protect her and the Senator as best you can if it comes to that."

With a burp and a nod, Oriadin guided his female companion into the secret passage. When the two of them had disappeared, Pierce nodded, shifting his feet. "After you, Senator."

Behind him, the door tore off its hinges with a loud crash. The first intruder into the room was met with a solid side-kick to the groin. A cluster of men and aliens outside the room surged forward. Pierce fired a few quick shots into their midst, then dove inside the bedroom.

Helenias was using the doorframe of the wardrobe for partial cover and firing her blaster. "Go!" Pierce shouted from the floor. He rolled over to the wardrobe, lying on his stomach and aiming into the doorway.

The first intruder into the bedroom took a shot in the chest. So did the second. The third attacker into the room dove through the doorway. Pierce took his aim off the doorway and fired again, shooting his target dead. But knew then that the jig was up- there was no way he could turn his attention back to the doorway before someone else could get through it.

That meant the only option left was retreat. Pierce somersaulted through the wardrobe door, caught the upper edge of the wardrobe floor, and swung into the passage, bursting into a sprint as his feet hit the ground.

[Lady Panther]

Evening.

The old crone was looking out the window of the highrise building, looking out over the city of the capital of Debrillion. She leaned on her cane, an apparently crippled old woman, bent and twisted with age, seeming ready to fall over at the slightest breeze. However, her eyes belayed that, brown, deep and powerful, plus highly aware. Her right hand gripped the cane and while she looked frail, she had much hidden power.

Power of the Dark Side. She was a practioner of the Sith Magics in the purest forms she could find them. And she she had found plenty in her years, her library was filled with ancient texts and scrolls telling of the race named The Sith and also of the Fallen Jedi whom had taken the hapless race and perverted it for their own. She had not come from any Master / Apprentice as Darth Bane had taught sso many years ago, she instead had discovered the power of the Dark Side many years before after she had been jilted by a Jedi of all people. She discovered the power she had destroying a room in a rage, seeing a vase floating before with her mind hurling it against a wall.

Fury, anger, hated. All delicious and had opened a whole new world to her. She researched and learned by herself, travelling to uncover more and more of what anger of her soul could do. Eventually the Jedi had died as she electrouted him, seeing him fry and curling into a black crisp. Oh, what a delight that had been to hear him scream and beg, before his witless brain boiled with the power of the Dark Side!

And so it was a century ago (for it was still true, she was an immensly old woman, approaching her third century), she had been on that hell hole of a planet and discovered that boy. A youngster, building sandcastles ina desert with his mind. She immediatly sensed the raw potential and somethign more - destiny.

And so it had proven. He had been foretold. The Darkness Keeper had predicted this was the one they were lookign for and thence he had to be trained. So, she had done so, spending 80 years perfectign the ultimate Dark Side warrior and adept. Oh for 8- years Master and Apprentice travelled, he learning all he could. Not a particularly good student she had to admit, he had also been deeply frustrating, self willed and easily distracted. But she had persisted until Darth Venom was ready.... and was unleashed as a final test.

He had failed. SHE had failed. The barstard joined the Jedi. The Dark Side had no real hold on his heart. Even married! Oh how she laughed when she removed that bitch from the worthless worm's life. But he had grown within the Jedi, becoming Darth Turbogeek, to the point he was a Jedi Master and on the Council. Callista had at that point decided to move and kill him, for she saw there was no hope of the worm turning again. They had fought. She had won, but he escaped - only for a few months later to be killed by a Bounty Hunter.

She shed no tears. She simply got on with her new apprentice.

But today, it was noticable to that same apprentice that the old woman was truly starting to show her age. She seemed tired, almost mortally so.

"My Lady?" the big lizard asked. "Is there somethign wrong?"

She didnt answer for a moment, but then she slowly turned to face away from the window and began to limp slowly away. "Borgg'ates, do you remember Venom?" she asked, her voice a thin whisper.

"The clone? Was he not.."

"No, not that useless faliure! My old apprentice!" she suddenly snarled.

"Yes, he died a few years ago" the alien replied.

"No, he did not. He revealed himself to me. We fought mentally. He defeated me" she stated. "He has grown stronger than I am."

The lizard took thins in quietly, before speakign again, unconciously stroking the regenerated arm he had lost to the same human years ago. "So, what is it we do now? He can threaten us if he is this powerful"

"Yes and he knows what we were planning. It is time we contacted The Black Hand and asked one named Hobgoblin for assistance"

[Helenias Evenstar]

I had already booted Oriadin and the blonde past me, down the stairs. I wasn't leaving without a few things - one was my Pike, the second my sabre and third something a damn sight better than this pop gun I was presently using. One semi auto Artec rifle / rail grenade launcher later, I decended the stairs. A few seconds later, the former Imp was following when I had a warning tingle. I reacted fast, turing on my heel and locking in a grenade into the launcher, pointing the gun straight at the flying Pierce. I trusted his reactions would be fast enough to duck as I used him as a blind - the first of the new assassins to enter the passage hardly had time to realise what was pointed in their direction.

The grenade barely missed Pierce, hitting the assassin in the chest, propelling him backwards with the force of the projectile's impact. A second later the explosive detonated. I didn't pause to see the result, I had another grenade loaded and I fired into the top of the wall, blowing the wall to pieces, bringing down part of the ceiling. Another explosion added to the debris, which would have the effect of giving us time to fly without worrying about anyone being too close.

"Down and to the left! There's a guard station commanded by a friend of mine about 200 meters past that - we'll be fairly safe there" I yelled, as I caught up with Oriadin and the blonde, hearing Tondry hot on my heels. "Now move it!"

Blonde didn't seem to keen on me, I had to admit. Mainly because I had decided she was moving too slow and I had grabbed her by the ear and was forcing her to move a great deal faster. I wasn't however in the mood right now to take a vote on the situation.

[Darth Turbogeek]

He truly hated evenings. And while there was such an important - nay personal job as getting that damn brat back, evening sucked even more. He hated being alone at night, for that was when the vocies in his head started. Not voices of a deranged madman, voices of a past he knew that wasn't his. A Jedi Master whom he was a clone of. Knowing what he was hadn't been the problem that could have been expected, it was trying to sort out the memories filed in his mind like a filing cabinet. Unfortunantly, those memories kept popping out in the evenings and he had spend nights reviewing sections of Turbogeek's life.

Admittedly, the memories came in useful. It taught him whatThe Force was and how to use it. Some things he couldn't do, which he put down to some sort of change between the original and him. Others... who knew. Memories were good, but your own experience was better. So anyway, he he was in a bar on Arcan IV, a good looking man with a trenchcoat on, drinking any old <smallfont color={hovercolor}>-Censored-</smallfont> that was served up. And gettinf more and more bitter by the moment.

Gee, what a great life I got here. What a waste of time.

Maybe that was it. He regarded the Jedi in his head a failure for not grabbing hold of the dark Side, maybe that blame was starting to shift to himself. He lifted a glass, sniffed the contents and barely paused as he swallowed the alcohol, the strength of with would put even Arya under the table. Or maybe it was the bullshit the Holo was blabbering on with in the corner, crapping on about Arcan's Senator. Turbogeek took a glance, then took another look.

Whoa. Since when were politicians built with great breasts? . Well, it wasn;t thos ememories in his head so he chose to keep looking, a slight smile on his lips. She was quite something to look at and he was disappointed when the news item finished.

"Not bad eh?"

The words startled DT a bit, looking around for the speaker until he realised it was the bartender himslef. "Sorry mate, but i just noticed you oogling. Not a bad bit of <smallfont color={hovercolor}>-Censored-</smallfont>, is she?"

"Hell yeah" DT responded. "What' her name?"

"Evenstar apparently. She's one them Jedi so I hear and a pretty dangerous sort for all her looks. Heard she shot the hell out of an assasination attempt that happened on the Senate's steps"

"Really? Not bad. She doesnt seem the sort that would go into politics" observed DT.

"Dont ask me - only seen she dont like them traders and commerce guilds much. Cant say I blame her". Withthat, the barman turned away, leavign DT in his musing. Not of Evenstar, but of the Senate, for he had another assassination going on of a Senator. Something pretty quiet. Poison. Good job worth a lot to him - he hoped the droid he rigged worked as he wanted.

--

Later that night, another bar. Getting nice and slozzled. He barely remarked as someone trod on his foot as they went past his stool. Who cared, he was buzzign and quite happ. It seemed the memories were not going to come tonight.

But why was that name Evenstar sticking in his mind? There was somethign oddly familiar about that name, he flet he should know. Ah whatever. He knocked back another drink and burped. Who cared. All he wanted was his kid back.

[Oriadin]

All hell seemed to break lose all at once. There was no time to think. Everything was done on reaction. Oriadin decided that he needed his lightsaber. He focused for a few seconds before comanding it to his hand through the use of the force. He ignited it before it reached his hand and caught it saftly. Without thinking, he swung the saber round to deflect a laser blast, aimed straight for the Knight as he focused on getting his saber. He managed it just in the nick of time.

Oriadin led Helenias and the blonde (Whos name still escaped him) down the stairs and towards the guard station. His head now thumping and his stomache ready to give way again at any time. He felt awful. "Never again" he said to himself.

After Helenias had fired a grenade and brought down part of the ceiling most of the assasins were trapped and would take a while to get out. That would buy them enough time to escape safely. However, there were enough of them that managed to get through to cause them problems. Pierce was running hell for leather but he was under fire. It was Helenias they wanted and so it was his duty to protect her for the time being.

--Keep the blonde with you and dont stop running. Im gonna give Pierce a helping hand!--

He shouted as he turned and ran back to help. It didnt take long for Oriadin to reach Pierce. He crouched down, saber in hand and deflecting the incoming laster blasts. Pierce meanwhile stood behind him and fired away at the attackers. Oriadin made sure he blocked in fire for the both of them, allowing Pierce to easily pick them off one at a time.

After the last one fell, Oriadin and pierce turned to run after Helenias and the blonde.

[Arya Ravenwing]

Arya reached up to toggle a switch, and then was flung against the console as the Habitually Late reverted to real space. Diego raised an eyebrow as she swore mightily, slapped the comm and shouted, "We're in the Cluster! Frelling leave the -"

"Thjisss jisss the Krrree'rrrourrr'ourrr'jia, hajiljing the frrrejighterrr Habjitualljy Late. Ssstate jyourrr bussssjinessssss jin Cjizerrrack ssspace."

Arya swallowed hard at the size of the picket ship, and flipped comm frequencies to match. "This is Rima Xavier, captain of the Habitually Late. We've sustained damage to our hyperdrive, and are unable to re-enter hyperspace until it is repaired. I request permission from the Pride to enter the atmosphere of Carshoulis Prime, and land on surface." She cringed, not quite sure how to address the Cizerack.

After all, she was a smuggler by trade, and if there was anything the trade-minded Cizerack hated more than abstinence, it was smuggling.

[Threepio]

Link in, sir? I'm not an R2 unit. I don't have plugs. Threepio was distressed, as he would have liked to assist, but it seemed impossible. A sound made him turn his photoreceptors towards the ladder.

Mistress Jina! Goodness gracious, you should be in your room. The humanoid droid waved his arms stiffly to shoo her back up the ladder, but she was across the hold from him and simply continued on her way down until both feet hit the floor.

There was a jolt, and 3PO stumbled against the bulkhead as Arya's voice came over the comm. "We're in the Cluster! Frelling leave the -"

Jina scampered over, and turned 3PO around, pulling a slim wire from the comm jack. She struggled to reach the components on his back, where it could be plugged into him. Oh my! What on earth are you doing? Mistress Arya said to leave the droid alone! Or had she? What was going on? They were most certainly all doomed.

[General Tohmahawk]

With all the crewers now in this room, it was getting hard to move. Cleaners, post mortem and Intel staff raking through the room, either tryign not to be sick, or beginning the process of ripping the room up to find out just how far the Admiral was sold to the Imperials. The men in the room gave the General, siting on a kitchen bench and calmly looking out at the proceedings with his eyeshades covering what he was looking at. No one really wanted to get close to Tohmahawk, his temper was legendary. But not just his temper however.... most of the men on this ship had been commanded by him before. For them, the still General was a truly welcome sight, they knew what a leader he was and the degree of respect he carried.

Tohmahawk wasn't however sitting on the bench to rest. He was staying out of the way, his eyes closed, "watching" the activity with his mind. Not that seeing with his eyes would be useful. He let his mind roam the room, looking at how evrythign was connected, positioning all. The flow of the Force right now was almost confusingly fast, which was a real problem with his blindness - relying on the Force to "see", crowds presented problems. Too much flow and things happening. Too much to work out what was happening. He was getting better at splitting the information up into what was useful and what was not, but still.... it wasn't easy. Even for a hidden Jedi Master of his stature. One thing he had learned was the talk and concept of "signatures in The Force" was crap. How people looked in the Force could change. You had to be really used to someone to be able to swiftly work out whom someone was. But you could get a general idea - plus his hearing, smell and touch had become extremely acute. You could pick someone by their smell, their footstep, a breif touch of skin.

So it was that he could sense some one come into the rooom, he couldnt pick whom it was in Teh Force, but he coudl smell the cheap booze and hear a particular wheezing breath.

"Hey, fatso, get over here" he suddenly called out.

The fat Intel agent turned and his face broke into a smile. "Hey, James! I thought you were dead!"

"Nah, not yet. How's it going Gobber?"

Gobber, an untidy man with food stains on his jacket waddled over to where Tohmahawk sat. "Better for seeing you, <smallfont color={hovercolor}>-Censored-</smallfont>. Thanks for <smallfont color={hovercolor}>-Censored-</smallfont>ing off and leaving us with that drop kick - best thing I've seen this week is his guts spread across a wall. So, somone clued on?"

"Clued on?"

"Imp Agent. You beat me to the shot. I had wired off a request of orders two days ago for an arrest"

"Ah. I got a direct order from Central as I left Coruscant - I was headign for Arcan. Got told to come here and relive our Admiral of command immediatly"

"Some relieveing James. There's hardly enough to pick up with a sponge - dont you think it would have been better to interogate him?"

"Who said I didn't?" Tohmahawk replied,"Got quite a bit off him. He was owned by one of the Imp factions, came from there actually. He's ex Stormie commander. He's been running info on NR plans and strategy to his masters for 5 years. I expect you'll find proof in this room"

Goober grunted. "How did you get that out of him?"

For an answer, Tohmahawk cracked his knuckles. The General was certainly not going to tell anyone he stripped it from the Admiral's mind by the Force. The Intel agent shook his head. "You never change. Allright, if you can give us a report on what you got before this mess..... was it necessary anyway?"

Tohmahawk ponted at the blaster, still lying on the ground near the body. Gobber rolled his eyes. "Let me guess, you have rail guns. Allright. What now?"

The General had a think about this. "You saw the two Jedi outside the room, the blonde and the alien? The Blonde's named Dawnstrider, the alien is Haversh. Tell em to get to the Bridge and get this POS on it's way to Arcan IV. I want to stay here and snoop around after you guys have finished cleaning up and stripping this room"

[Sanis Prent]

Good thinking, Red.

(I winked at her, taking the cord from her and using my height advantage to plug it into the interface on Threepio's back)

Alright, don't get technical. Just drown out that transponder.

(The humming of the floor panels shifted. We were back in realspace. And judging from the talking upstairs...we had some explaining to do. I patted Red on the head.)

Stick with Goldilocks here. I'll be right back.

(I retraced my steps through the maze of cargo containers, and rocketed up the ladder.)

Sounds like we got the generic Cizerack warm welcome. Hope you paid good money for that transponder.

[Xazor Elessar]

I know you can take care of yourself, Marcus....I trust you with my life.

The Knight smiled as she communicated with the Jedi Master through their Life Bond. Turning to look inside the room as several men in uniform passed she and Sejah, her eyes took in the bloody sight. It was nothing new to the woman...death of this magnitude had been brought to many by her own hands and by all of the experience, her stomach had become iron and her heart was hard to it. Somehow her mind picked up the thoughts of her fellow Jedi and she turned to witness Sejah take off like a bullet toward the refresher to relieve himself. Rolling her eyes and sighing slightly, the young woman walked toward the facility and waited for the Padawan. Whence he came out through the door, she gently laid a hand upon his shoulder.

"It happens to the best of 'em Sejah....you'll be alright."

Xazor could tell that he was embarassed and let him know with a smile that he need not be in front of her, she considered him a friend and would not look down on Sejah. The pair made their way back to the sight in time to see a fat Intel Op come out and approach the two.

"Dawnstrider, Haversh? Direct orders from James to head to the Bridge and take this POS to Arcan IV."

With a bow of her head, Xazor turned swiftly on her heal and motioned for Sejah to follow her. They walked quietly through the corridors until finally they reached the main bridge and stood tall upon it, looking out through the windows.

"To Arcan IV!"

The Knight shouted the command as if she herself was in charge. Recieving a funny look from Sejah she smiled to herself.

"What? Cannot a lady take a bit of charge now and again?"

The craft turned hard and set its course toward Arcan IV, a place Xazor had not been in quite some time. She looked out a viewport and caught sight of the stars as they turned into streaks, hinting to all aboard that they had entered hyperspace and were off.

Okay Marcus, we're full speed ahead to Arcan IV. Sejah and I will stay up here on the bridge and wait for you.

She spoke softly in the Jedi Master's mind and turned to face Sejah with a grin on her face.

"So Sejah, tell me a bit of yourself......we've not spoken in some time you know. Though our ways may differ slightly, that should not discourage us from being friends."

[Sejah Haversh]

Sejah's gray canvas sneakers squeaked slightly as he followed Xazor to the bridge. They were a stark contrast to the rest of his almost-Jedi attire, and the white rubber rim around their soles was allready slightly scuffed from normal wear and tear. But they drew less attention than the bushy brown tail that followed him wherever he went, and at the moment was drooping from his embarassment

Xazor made every attempt to help him feel better, but it wasn't just his sickness that made him feel awkward, it was the whole ship. To be surrounded by so much technology was uncomfortable, and Sejah didn't especially care for space travel, as it often made him sick in smaller ships. His race had only first entered space just over thirty years ago, and had since been plunged into the 'modern' way of life, causing no end of political and social problems among his people.

As he stepped through the doors onto the bridge, the Nehantite stopped and looked around, nut understandign what half of anythign did, and made sure not to touch anything whatsoever for fear of setting off some kind of horrible weapon or possibly venting a few lower cooridoors out into space by accident. He covered his desire to leave things be by clasping his paws behind his back and holing them there as if he were quite comfortable and asteure that way.

"Of myself, Master Xazor?" Sejah replied questioningly, then thought. "Well, there isn't much to tell, really. I used to be a fencing instructor for several years, and finally came to the Jedi when I was told I might be able to be one. Not much of a big past or any grand stories to tell, actually," he lied; having just recently returned from his homeworld after a most unpleasant and harrowing experience. But, even he believed his past to be of little importance, so there was no feeling of a lie about him, he was convincing himself that other things were true.

"And you, Master Xazor?"

[Xazor Elessar]

Xazor leaned over a flipped a switch to her right. It didn't do much to the naked eye, but she new what she was doing. A pilot turned and looked at her curiously before nodding and turning back to his work. The Knight smiled to herself and eyed the silver switch, knowing that she had just sent more fuel to the main, giving it more charge and power through hyperspace.

"Not in a hurry or anything, Miss, are you?"

The Jedi Knight shook her head innocently and laughed before turning to face Sejah. For comfort, she took a seat upon a padded chair behind the pilot and motioned for the Nehantite to do the same. His words seemed forced, almost....hinting to the woman that perhaps he was lying, but oddly enough she did not sense it upon his conscience. Her eyes searched his momentarily to gather that perhaps he was not speaking all of the truth, but out of respect for his privacy, she did not push the matter.

"Me? Me....."

She drew in a deep breath and exhaled while turning her eyes to look out at the stars. How she realized her life was like the space surrounding them: vast and empty. Yet, there were many a part that was full and clouded with the dust of time and it bore down heavily upon her spirit like a blackhole does upon an innocent little star, unsuspecting of what lay ahead of it. Her silver speckled eyes fell to her hands before making their way back up to Sejah.

"My past is one I am not proud of and I am sure by now you have heard much of me around the Jedi Order. I am sure that you have heard of my.....fits of rage and my uncontrollable anger. Yes, all that is true of me, Sejah. I was once a very powerful Sith Knight and an Empress of a planet called Cysaria. It was quite beautiful there, but was inhabited by a darkness unlike any other. It was home to a faction of the greatest organization of Sith that had ever existed, before its decline and branching off. I killed thousands of people and now as a Jedi...I still do, out of justice. You saw what Marcus did back there....that's nothing compared to a normal day."

She lowered her eyes once again and turned to stare blankly at the back of the seat in front of her. Pride of these things was the furthest thing from her mind at the moment as she rechurned these memories over again. A slight laugh escaped her lips and she turned to face her furry comrade once again.

"I am a Jedi, Sejah.....I stand upon the Light and uphold it in my heart but there is a problem: I do not agree with all that the Jedi Council and the Code have to say.....so yes, I defy them but out of the Light. Many inside of our Order think that I am just hiding behind Jedi robes, and many outside of our Order think that I am truthfully a Darksider still and shall always remain one. Search my heart, though....you shall see. Please judge me not, dear friend. I would lay down my life for anyone of our Order...even those whom view me as a disgrace to the Jedi name."

Her words hung upon the air a moment as she locked eyes with the Padawan. He seemed like an understanding being, and Xazor hoped that he would understand what she had to say. Indeed, her past was quite a long tale, one that she did not tell many people anymore. Perhaps it was even to long to tell at the moment. Maybe someday he would know....someday all would know.

"....My tale is far too long and probably boring to your ears. Just know that I have changed. If you doubt that, ask your Master...he knows me better than anyone in the Order. Marcus is a dear friend of mine...I look upon him like a Father. He must teach you well, yes? How far are you in your learning? Perhaps we shall share a spar, when I am not in the condition I am in currently."

The Knight looked down at the buldge in her midsection and winced slightly as the baby kicked at her ribcage. A slight laugh esaped her lips as a look of discomfort crossed her face.

"I swear this child views my insides as a jungle-gym! She never sleeps a wink!"

[Diego Van Derveld]

Diego watched the Krrree'rrrourrr'ourrr'jia make a flyby with a passive face. He'd never traveled to Cizerack space before, and had only a few interactions with their kind. They seemed aggressive and standoffish...his kind of people, in that analytical way of thinking. The reddish brown hue of the Cizerack vessel glinted in the starlight, as it assumed an escorting position. The silence between Arya's request and the answer was quite lengthy, but eventually...a reply was given.

"Perrrmjissssssjion grrranted, 'Habjitualljy Late'. Follow ourrr essscorrrt, and prrreparrre to enterrr the desssjignated apprrroach lane."

The tension didn't seem to leave after the supposed good news, however. The picket followed in a doggishly close escort vector...stating without words that if Arya had second thoughts and wanted to deviate, it wouldn't be a particuarly long or fun trip. From seemingly nowhere, a pair of Keerta fightergrapplers diverted from patrols, following the Habitually Late in as well.

"Wonderful hospitality" Diego commented in usual nonchalant deadpan.

The freighter eased through an increasing mass of intergalactic traffic as they approached the core of the Carshoulis Cluster. Rivalling Coruscant as a commerce site, Carshoulis Prime was an immense urban sprawl, and drew the riches and space traffic of hundreds of sectors around it. Eventually, the Krrree'rrrourrr'ourrr'jia diverted sharply, allowing the freighter to continue its heading, along a path lit by blue orbital guide beacons. They descended through pinkish clouds, and toward a massive city sprawl. The buildings were mostly shades of terracota or pewter, and major buildings were designed in impressive pyramids, which was preferred by Cizerack architecture. Eventually, the trip terminated in a vast landing pad, to which rows and rows of myriad spacecraft were berthed.

[Sejah Haversh]

"I've been told that Nehantite women are lucky; our kind needs only seven months of gestation before birth instead of the more common nine. Of course, that can lead to large families, but... I won't go into that." Sejah chuckled to try to lighten his own mood as he sat down, tucking his tail off to his side.

The mongoose held his paws in his lap, nervously rubbing the knuckles of one with the pam of the other. He was uncomfortable. Uncomfortable with space travel, uncomfortbale with his master, and uncomfortable in his own situation. But still he sat and tried to eb as polite and respectful as he could to Xazor. "Master Q'Dunn had taught me much, I will say that. He has taught me how to focus, and how to feel the Force. How to watch people, and also how to act as a Jedi. But-" he cut himself off, searching for the correct way to word what he wanted to say without it soundign like an insult, for it wasn't. "But he seems to have a hard time connecting with me, and I to him. We are similar in some respects, and far different in others. He refuses to see that my ways might benefit me more than his would, or that perhaps every now and then that I might need somebody to make sure I am doing things correctly. But those last two are not the responsibilities of a Master. A Master is there to teach and train, not to reassure and comfort. Master Q'Dunn is a good master, and I am glad to have him, Lady Xazor."

[Xazor Elessar]

Xazor sighed to herself and shook her head.

"I comfort and reassure my Padawans.....but then again, Marcus is a rough man....a warlord. It is hard to get him to soften up sometimes. Just talk to him, I know he'll understand. That is the key to your relationship: communication."

She smiled and allowed her eyes to drift out the window once again. The flight was boring through hyperspace....nothing to see or do but talk to your traveling companions.

"I am glad that you are grateful to your Master, Sejah....it is good to see that there are a few Padawans who do not take for granted the fact that they are training. Many are not so lucky; many do not have teachers yet. You're an interesting one, Haversh...I can see why Marcus took an interest in you."

Smiling and baring her elongated canines, Xazor shifted her weight uncomfortably before sitting still once again. She felt good in the fact that she was getting to know someone knew...someone she had been watching, yet had never spoken must to. Perhaps there was more in store for this trip than she had originally envisioned....at the forefront, she was making a new friend...and strengthening the bond of comrades.

[Sejah Haversh]

Interesting. There was that word again. He didn't want to be interesting, for interesting meant different. Sejah wanted to be normal, to blend in, and not have attention drawn to him. His species often made that difficult, but he was learning to deal with it.

It wasn't that he didn't want to talk to Xazor at the moment, but that he didn't want to talk about himself. Popping one knuckle, he tried to smile politely for Xazor, but it was a piteous attempt. Taking a breath to help him stall until he came up with a better subject to speak about, he finally asked, "Lady Xazor, what are we doing here? I mean, I don't know where we're going or why. Master Q'Dunn is bothering me with his new persona as well, and I have concerns about whatever it is that we're doing."

[Xazor Elessar]

Sejah's aura changed and Xazor caught bits of his thoughts. He was...uncomfortable and perhaps regretting being different. She thought of it as a good thing; being the same as everyone else was boring and dull. Sighing at his new question, she thought back to Marcus.

Why didn't you tell your student what we're doing? Doesn't he know about The Lost?

She spoke in the Jedi Master's mind, obviously a bit upset at the fact. Shaking her head, Xazor's eyes met those of Sejah and she shrugged, though she knew very well what they were going to be doing.

"All I know is that we're meeting someone on Arcan IV....other than that, I am not sure."

The Garou Knight lied and did so very convincingly. It was obvious that Sejah was concerned about Marcus and his 'new' approach to things. Though, she knew very well that this was nothing new at all. Despite that, she could not speak freely anymore....not about that anyway. Not about The Lost Jedi.

"We're Warriors, Sejah...we do things a bit differently than the rest of the Jedi. If it isn't your way, than that is fine....we do things, though, to get our point across in a quick manner. If no one goes out to fight the wars and win the battles, then no one would....that's why we're here.....that's why Marcus and I are so close: we think along the same lines. He's rougher than most others and though you've never really seen this side of him...it's there....I have it to, though I can't control mine as well. Do not worry so much about Marcus.....he is very wise and knows exactly what he's doing."

She said softly, attempting to comfort and reassure the Padawan as best as she could. Obviously those were some skills that his Master needed work on, but she was not out to judge or teach Marcus anything. He had his style of teaching and she had hers. It was as simple as that.

"I'm here for you, though...no matter what happens on this trip. No matter where we go, I'm always your comrade.....and friend."

[Marcus Telcontar]

He waited for a few more minutes, waited until people were clear and he was alone int he room again, before he walked over to the door and closed it, leaving some guards outside. He also now turned off the light, so as he could now see with his eyes. The scene cahnged slightly as small details the Force had not given him appeared, his eyes looking at the darkness but still seeing. Now, with both his eyes and the Force he could look for any further information. Didnt take him long to find a cunningly created secret hiding hole in the wall, which with a bit of help from a lockpick, he had open in a few seconds.

Flimseys. A datapad. A comm code chip. A few minutes reading and he knew that the Admiral had been acting alone. and was indeed a traitor. Angered by this, he put his eyeshades andturned the light back on. He winced as soem pain went through his head, he made sure his eyelids were closed tight and went deep into the Force to guide his feet.

"I'll be back at my ship" he said gruffly to the door guards.

I'm in my ship for transit to Arcan Xazor - let me know when we have arrived

Minutes later, he was back in his ship, with the door on his cabin locked, so he could concentrate on breaking the codes on the datapads.

[Pierce Tondry]

The quartet continued running when another explosion sounded behind them. The lights went out, but illuminating blasterlight began flickering down the passageway. An off-branch to the right provided an immediate escape from the fire. "They don't quit, do they?" Oriadin shouted above the noise.

"That was a TR-888 rocket!" Pierce yelled, firing around the corner. "Military issue, used for blowing through walls and blast doors! These guys are armed to the teeth!"

Helenias pounded on the wall in frustration. "Where does this passage go?" Pierce asked.

"Dead ends in a supply closet!" she shouted back. "We're pinned down."

A fierce grin flashed across Pierce's face. "Guess I'll have to improvise!"

Helenias gave him a look. "What are you- nevermind. I don't want to know."

"Just go when the gas grenade hits!" Pierce said, reaching inside his shirt and pulling one out.

The blonde took one look at the weapon and fainted dead away. Helenias reached to pick her up, but Pierce stopped her. "She's safer here than with you," he said. "Get ready, both of you- Oriadin, protect her as best you can."

Oriadin's answer was to ignite his lightsaber and cast a dim glow.

It was almost fitting, Pierce thought, turning the grenade over with his fingers. Where there was a Jedi, a light was cast into darkness.

"GO!" he bellowed, and hurled the grenade down the hall.

With a loud hiss, obscuring gas began springing up. Helenias and Oriadin leapt into the passage; the senator springing off into a run with the Jedi Knight deflecting bolts behind her. He, too, backed away quickly.

Alone again, Pierce looked at the unconscious blonde. "You know, used to be a time when a girl like you would turn me on," he said conversationally. "These days, I just don't trust women like I used to. The woman I was married to did some pretty frightening things- killed innocent people, even. You have any idea what made her tick like that?"

The blonde did not reply. "Yeah, I didn't think you would," Pierce sighed. "And here I am about to do some killing myself. Ironic, isn't it?"

There was still no response.

"Guess you're not much of a talker," Pierce said. "She didn't tell much much, either."

Slamming a new clip into the flechette semi-auto, the Republic Intelligence officer rolled to the side and sprayed the hallway with ammunition. The weapon fired silently, each flechette built to blast through armor and deliver a fatal dose of toxin to its victim. His first clip fired away at waist-level, the second covered the floor to get anyone lying low, guessing when and where to fire.

There were several cries from behind the gas cloud. Rolling back out of the hallway, Pierce waited. There were no sounds, no shots. Readying another round of flechettes, Pierce spun back into the hallway.

Ten beings of various race and size lay on the ground. Some were twitching, others were completely still. Pierce could see flechettes sticking into their limbs, their weapons dropped or clutched awkwardly.

He'd killed them with a quickness and efficiency that rivalled a Sith's. It made him think of Lilaena. Why wouldn't she believe me?

The pistol returned to its holster, its job done. Shouldering the blonde, Pierce continued down the passage.

It wasn't long before he saw the light of the exit.


######

Helenias and Oriadin were waiting anxiously in a safe room at the guard station when the door opened and Pierce was admitted. "Everybody okay?" he asked.

"Yes," Helenias said. "The guards have radioed for an armored squad to take us to the Senate. In the meantime, all we have to do is wait." She gave him a stern look. "You had us worried."

"Right man for the job," he shrugged, pulling a chair around and sitting in it.

"Um, the uh-" Oriadin started.

"She's fine," Pierce waved the unspoken question away. "Just not allowed in here. She's in a separate safe room not quite as well-equipped as this one. Speaking of which, pass that bottle of whisky."

The bottle was passed and Pierce took a long pull. "Ahh, just right."

"Any pursuit?"

"Dealt with," Pierce shook his head. "And unfortunately in a way that means we can't get answers out of them. Had no choice- I needed a silenced weapon and the flechettes were all I had. But I got the job done. What's next? After we get to the Senate, I mean."

[Helenias Evenstar]

"What's next" I said between gritted teeth, not exactly pleased with how my morning was going so far, "Is I pack. I'm supposed to be going to the damnable system of the Cizerack to negotiate the Calan dispute. The Chief of State seems to think I have unique skills that will help bring a resolution. Now if you will excuse me, I've got a hangover and I'm going to find somewhere to privately throw up. There was a bit of a party last night"

"Why wasn't I invited?" Pierce asked.

"Lost your address. Now where are the refreshers around this place, or would someone prefer I decorate the floor instead?"

Three hours later. It was wonderous what a nap and a hangover cure could do, for I was feeling a good deal more alert and awake. Still in a foul mood and despite the protests against it, I had gone back to the wreckage of my room to collect what I could from the mess. And mess it certainly was, with the debris and blood stains on the floor. I was gathering my belongings and stuffing them into a few packs - a formal gown, a few resonably good dresses and some personal items. Another case had some other belongings no dipomat or Senator normally had - weaponry. Of the heavy caliber type. I myself was certainly not in any clothing approaching respectable, I had a tight fitting jumpsuit, with one of the familar guns I preferred on either hip and my sabre within easy reach. If the truth be told, this was how I preferred to be garbed. As I slammed the weapons case shut, Tondry walked into my room, without knocking or announcement. I had sensed his approach however.

"What have you found out" I requested, not even turning to look at him.

"Officially, not a lot. No one knows how they got in"

"I could have guessed that. Unofficially?"

"Let in of course. Helenias, you should be back at the Senate where you will be safe"

"Oh, right. Just in the same halls from the ones who set this up. No thanks. I swear the Senator of the Trade Federation is slimy and stinks worse than a sewer..."

And I just got rolling, going into a diatribe about the Senate and the scum in it. In not very lady-like terms either, really getting wound up. It ran on until I caught Tondry trying not to laugh.

"WHAT?" I snapped. "What's so amusing?"

"Nothing in particular" he replied, still trying not to laugh.

"How about then you find some amusement in helping carry my bags for the transport, then". Rather annoyed with the Galaxy as a whole, I snatched up one pack, and stormed out of the room.

I did have to admit, it was good to see Tondry back again. Even if he was finding something amusing in my temper tandrum.

[Oriadin]

As Helenias left to throw up, as she so beutifully put it, Oriadins stomach was begining to catch up on him too. He had managed to focus enough to forget his hangover but he knew it wouldnt last.

He sat down quietly taking short breaths and holding his stomach. He wasnt sick again but his head wouldnt stop throbbing. The sight of Tondry having whisky didnt make him feel any better what so ever. He got up and walked over to a reasonably clean looking sink before lowering his head and drinking from the tap. It was cool and refreshing. He stood up tall and took some water into his hands before splashing it over himself in a vein attempt to freshen up. He run his hands through his hair and tried to look at least respectable.

Oriadins thoughts dwelt on the woman. He was sorry that hed been the cause of her getting involved in this. The fact that he couldnt even remember who she was only made it worst. He decided that she had dropped off somewhere along with his deepest appologies. That would be awkward.

A few hours later, Helenias had returned to her room to take a look at the damage done and gather up a few of her belongings. Oriadin took this time to do the same and to appologise to the woman. He got the impression she didnt really want to hang around and so he gave her a quick kiss on the cheek before she left. He tidyied himself up a bit, took a couple of tablets and headed out to see it Helenias and Tondry were ready to leave. He arrived just in time to see Helenias storm out the door. Tondry followed casually just behind.

--I get the feeling shes in a bad mood. Lets hope things move a little more smoothly later.--

He said half joking, half deadly serious.

[Arya Ravenwing]

Arya vaulted out of her seat as soon as the Habitually Late touched down. “Frelling - “ She didn’t finish her curse, but dashed down the passageway to the small compartment that led into the cargo bay. The door was open, and she poked her head in, slightly breathless.

“Prent, you better pray to your gods that you haven’t destroyed that tracking devi -”

“Mistress Arya! I have been transmitting counter-resonance transmission into the component on the Raven’s hull. It is successfully blocking any further receptions.”

Interrupted again! “Bloody hells, Threepio, can’t you keep your yap shut?” Arya was climbing down the ladder, then decided it was taking too long, and jumped the rest of the way down. Red giggled.

Sanis held out his hands, palms outward, Arya stalking towards him like a caged animal. “Look, I was only doing what you wanted -”

She smoothly interrupted, “And I thank you, Mr. Prent. I apologize, my droid gets on my nerves.” She thumped C-3PO on the chest plate as she walked by, and the droid gasped. “Just keep on jamming that signal, Threepio.” Red anticipated her move, and dashed over to the bay door controls, straining to reach them.

Arya grinned in spite of herself, and scooped up the small girl, allowing her to open the doors. Placing Red’s feet back on the deckplating, Arya picked up a handful of tools, and stalked outside, her anger at the tracking device and those who had placed it there returning full force.

Behind her Sanis was looking at Threepio, and Arya barked at him to follow her. “Leave the droid, and help me with this thing.” Without waiting to see if he was following, she turned a corner around the outside of the ship, and began scaling the hull near the still warm engine manifolds. With any luck she’d be able to pry the tracking beacon off and attach it to an outgoing freighter before twenty minutes had passed.

If only she could be sure that their pursuers would be fooled. Or even if they were fooled, that they wouldn’t try to check out the Cluster ‘just in case.’ She cursed again as she saw the beacon, and set to work with her tools.

[Threepio]

Why, I never! Not even a word of thanks. The droid looked at Master Prent quite indignantly, but the man just ignored him and followed Mistress Arya.

Jina, what are they doing out there? You can’t just leave me here! Come back! The small human was scrambling back up the ladder to the rest of the freighter. Wait, I wasn’t done talking! Threepio shuffled forward, and then felt the connection between his body and the comm jack loosen. He twisted around to attempt to fix it, but he simply was not made for manual labor, and was not flexible enough.

Oh my. I’m doomed. The cord fell away and hit lightly against the bulkhead. 3PO amplified his voice, suddenly remembering that Arya did not like being called Arya when in a new port for the first time. Mistress! I have been disconnected!

There was a lot of very audible cursing on the other side of the hull from where he stood waving his arms, and Threepio hoped she’d managed to get it off the hull already.

[Radish Xavier]

Radish’s real name wasn’t Radish, of course, but it was a...a cover name. Her born name was Jina Jade, the daughter of two great Force users. Not that it mattered much to her who her birth parents were. She’d never really met either of them, just a distant memory of what others had told her about them.

Marcus told her she looked like her mother, who someone else had told her was very beautiful, so Jina was happy about that. But right now there was someone else on the ship who was a lot more interesting than Threepio. Although Threepio was pretty interesting. Most of the time. When he wasn’t whining.

Arya always told her not to whine, and so Jina did her best. Threepio didn’t even try not to. Silly droid. Red scampered up the ladder to the rest of the ship, and skipped down the passageway to the cockpit, where the long haired man was still sitting, looking out the viewport.

Jina scrambled into the pilot’s seat, and looked out the window too. “That’sa lotta ships.” She leaned forward, trying to see more of the city just visible beyond the spaceport. “Where are we?” Jina turned to the man, her small face expectant that he knew the answer to all her questions. “Are we lost?”

[Pierce Tondry]

"Neighbor," Pierce said with a laugh. "When she starts being happy there's something wrong with her. Lot of the time she covers up her feelings with irritation. Grab a suitcase." And with that, the Republic operative left the room through a broken door.

Oriadin caught up to the two of them just outside the turbolift, hauling a second suitcase. "Where are we taking these?"

"There's an ambassadorial transport waiting on a landing pad about five kilometers away. B22-H if I'm right."

"Five kilometers? That's a lot of walk."

Pierce laughed again. "This is Coruscant. You do things by speeder here. There's a modified Sorosuub waiting upstairs."

"You sure know a lot." Oriadin gave him a curious look.

"I'm very curious by nature."

The deliberate shrugging off of the question seemed to give Oriadin the hint. "Have you ever been to Calan?" he asked Helenias instead.

"No, and I don't like it already," she grumbled. "Damned Cizerack have been giving us grief about it for years, and suddenly they decide to start shooting over it. I wonder which one of them got their tail stuck up their butt."

"Or maybe their manservant ran off with another female," Pierce commented dryly. "Cizeracks are a female-dominated society. Who knows- maybe Oriadin here'll get lucky."

Oriadin made a face. "No thanks. Fur isn't my preference."

The lift stopped and the three of them got out, heading towards a large vehicle with some very obvious shield generators set into it. Quite clearly it was meant to make the run to their shuttle's landing platform in one piece, no matter who decided otherwise.

"An obvious gesture," Pierce mused. "Leader of the strike wants to cover his tracks, so he offers protection."

"I'm sorry?" Oriadin asked.

Pierce shook his head- he hadn't thought he'd be heard. "Just thinking aloud. Let's go."

A half an hour later, they were in hyperspace.

[Helenias Evenstar]

Maybe I should be studying whom would be doing the negotiations for the Cizerack. Maybe I should have been studying the back history of the Calan dispute. Maybe I should have been sleeping or mediating as a proper Jedi would be doing.

Instead, I was using a spare room of the fairly large shuttle (It was more like a cruiser in size) for kata practice. Dressed in shorts and a tank top, hair tied back in a pony tail and bare feet, I had my Pike held to one side, feet placed carefully on the cold steel deck in a backstance. I closed my eyes, stabilised my breathing, reached out into the Force, feelign my mind become calm, relaxed and peaceful. Already warmed up with some stretching, as I began to step slowly to begin with and bring the Pike around in a very sword like move, I felt my muscles ease in tension, feeling the flows of energy that marked my particular style of combat. As I was lighter and less strong than the majority of opponents, I more depended on speed and also using the strength of an opponent against themselves.

It was a style for probing defences and when one was found, taking advantage in a lightning fast swoop. The Pike moved from left to right hand as I gracefully turned, parrying an imaginary strike to chest, then using the Pike's pommel in return. The weapon started to move faster, my movements flowing from one strike or defence into another.

Club aimed to the knee. Leap up, spin, side kick to the head. Land, attack to the back. Turn, parry with the Pike, strike with fist to the solar plexus. From the side, dodge then swing Pike into chest. In front...

I was close enough to the wall, judging it precisely, I discharged the Pike as the point scraped along the wall, electrical energy snapping and crackling as it did, leaving blackened steel and a smell of ozone.

Turn, opponent foot sweep. Lift leg and kick to face. Int he same movement, pivot and spinning kick to the face. Dance away and then backflip away from blaster fire. Duck, then throw Pike. Spin, call Pike back to my hand and then strike to the throat

I was simply throwing myelf into this. This was what I was good at, I was a warrior. I preferred my enemies with blaster and knife, something I could deal with fast and on my own terms. Not these assasination attempts. Certainly not sitting around all day in some committee, listening to mindless dribble. Or in the Senate, listening to the latest bill of self interest. Not needing minders and secretaries, not listening to sociopaths and certainly not needing a minder. Another leap, another timed swing, using the momentum from the leap to strike downwards and cave in the head of another. Come upright, then step off, in five paces building up speed, then cartwheeling, before leaping as high as the ceiling allowed, bringing my Pike up and around savagely, using the fall to add additional power and weight. This time the target was real, a wooden desk that the Pike smashed through, the table breaking into ruin. I ended in a wide forward stance, one leg straight, the other bent 90 degrees at the knee. I slowly exhaled, pivoting about and drawing my hand around, palm outwards. My palm finished it's slow sweep as I released energy, the Pike finishing parallel to the ground, also in front of my face - and also facing the audience of two I had been aware I had obtained about halfway through my practice session.

"Hangover cure" I quipped.

[Oriadin]

Oriadin stood leaning up against the frame of the doorway with his arms folded. His head was still thumping from his antics the night before, but he was slowly getting better.

It had been a while since he'd seen Helenias in full swing. In fact, the last time was probably when they had their last spar and she had wiped the floor with him. He was a Jedi knight himself now and had progressed from their last encounter. All the bruises had gone but the memory was something that would probably stick with him for a very long time.

Oriadin thought about his Pike back home at the Jedi order and thought about how he hadnt used it yet. Helenias said she would teach him to use it properly some day, and who better to teach after that display.

--Very good, and im glad your feeling better. As for me, I dont think my hang over is going to be cured quite so easily.--

He smirked but was telling the truth. He still felt awful. He was begining to wonder if he would really be any help on this mission given the state he was in. Things had a habit of turning out for the best though Oriadin felt. It was what he belived.

Watching Helenias in action made Oriadin think back to when he was her Padawan. Fond memories of a time that seemed somewhat simpler.

[Pierce Tondry]

'At least she's not drowning her sorrows in a bottle," Pierce said. Unlike Oriadin, the Padawan had decided to take a seat by the wall until Helenias had finished. "And speaking of which."

Pierce picked up a nearby bottle of something he assumed was Helenias' practice fuel and tossed it to her. She took a drink and wiped her mouth with the back of one hand. "Thanks," she said. "I was getting thirsty."

She closed the cap with a snap and tossed it back to Tondry, who set the bottle down. Then she took a second look at him. He seemed oddly pensive.

"Something wrong?" she asked.

"You know, Calan has already been under fire for several months," Pierce replied.

"What's that got to do with anything?" Oriadin asked.

Helenias held out a hand to forestall the question. "That's just his roundabout way of getting on to a subject. Whatever he's actually going to say, it'll come from that."

Oriadin looked between Helenias and Pierce- now Master and Padawan. "The two of you sure seem to know each other fairly well."

"We're alike in a lot of ways," the Padawan said, dropping the ironic twist that had been in the set of his lips. "Similar kinds of people tend to connect like that."

Helenias regarded him carefully. "Alright, out with it. Whatever you're going to say, just say it. Enough beating around the billabong."

His immediate reply was to sigh and adopt an even more brooding cast. "I've been on Calan during the recent hostilities. I don't think anybody in the upper echelons of the Cizerack government will know about it, but it is a potential liability."

"But that's not the real reason you've gone quiet all of a sudden," Helenias replied. It was a guess, but knowing Tondry, probably a correct one.

"It's a place to start," Pierce said. "I don't know what's up, but my gut's telling me something is."

"Tell us how you ended up on Calan. Maybe it has to do with that."

"How I ended up on Calan is a story in and of itself. Do you remember how I left a couple of months ago, all sudden-like? Decided I was walking too thin a line and had to figure some things out?"

Helenias suddenly had the feeling this was going to be a very long story. "Yes," she said, picking the pike back up. "You don't mind if I practice some more, do you?"

"Go ahead," Pierce shrugged. "Anyways..."


######

The story Pierce told them ended up being several hours long and they went on to do other things during its telling. The Intelligence agent (which he had finally told Oriadin about during the course of things) finished his tale over a meal with his companions. Helenias was enjoying a thick steak, Oriadin a sandwich, and Pierce a hearty bowl of stew. In fact, at the moment he'd finished, he was trying to wolf down a spoonful with a particularly large chunk of meat in it.

"This is quite a mouthful," he said.

"So was that tale," Helenias replied, frowning in concentration. "It sounds like you're well on your way to becoming a Jedi already. Basically you shot the only person who clearly saw you on Calan?"

Pierce nodded. "Yeah, but you never know about these kinds of things. One of the golden rules of Intel is to always assume your enemies know everything you do, which includes what you've been up to recently. Totally and securely hiding a trail takes a lot of time."

"I don't think there's any need to worry. You're better than you give yourself credit for," Helenias told him.

"It sure sounds like it," Oriadin put in.

"I know I am," Pierce said with a slight smile at the compliments. "But that doesn't mean it won't pop up somehow. Just keep it in mind."

"How long until we arrive?" Helenias asked suddenly, looking for a chronometer.

"About another day," Pierce said. "This thing has a pretty slow hyperdrive, especially with the shielding and weapons systems it has. Carshoulis Prime is far enough out as it is. If I didn't know better, I'd say someone was trying to lengthen the trip."

"Damn bureacrats," Helenias grumbled.

Maybe. "It could be coincidence."

"It could also play into somebody's trap," Helenias countered. "I'd rather have speed over firepower on a mission like this."

"Well, you can't always get what you want," Pierce said. "But if you try real hard, you might just find you get what you need."

"That was corny as hell, Pierce."

"What?" he said innocently. "It's true."

"And still corny as hell."

"Fair enough."

[Marcus Telcontar]

Where now the horse and the rider?
Where is the horn that was blowing?
Where is the helm and the hauberk,
and the bright hair flowing?
Where is the hand on the harpstring,
and the red fire glowing?
Where is the sping and the harvest and the tall corn growing?
They have passed like rain on the mountain,
like a wind in the meadow;
The days have gone down in the West
behind the hills into shadow.
Who shall gather the smoke of the dead wood burning,
Or behold the flowing years from the Sea returning?

Within the battlecruiser, it was ship night. Within the hangar that only held one solitary craft, there was no moment, for while the warship moved through hyperspace, there was no need for anyone to be here. The lights were turned down, so all was in a shadow. Apart from the odd creak from the metal, there was no noise, except for a solitary figure, sitting with his back to a wall, right at the ednge of the mag-lock barrier. Outside, not even the swirls of Hyperspace could be seen, only a blue flicker. He had a pipe in hand, smoking and singing softly to himself, alone and out of place within the perfectly clean and ordered hangar.

Much as he had been for the last few years. Just a Numenorian so far away from home, lost and no longer with purpose. When had he first realised it? When had he first the creep of dissatisfycation, the anger, the sadness and loniness?

<font color=blue>“Umm, Miss? Can you please pass me that hydrospanner in front of you?”

She turned to the voice, mildly surprised not to have felt the presence of this person first. And was even more surprised with what she saw.

He was about 30, dark hair, a bit overweight, but not much. No hunk, but pleasant features. But what surprised her was the fact he was in a servo chair, the type used for cripples who could not afford to have the bacta and medical treatments. When was the last time she had seen one like that? Certainly not on a warship, where everyone had to be fit and fully able. What was he doing here?

She picked up the spanner, now curious. “Here you are. Anything else?”

“Only that you smile at me”

She stared in astonishment at the remark, then burst out laughing for some reason, despite her dark mood. It was said with such innocence and honesty….

The cripple smiled in return. “You know Mara, you simply are too nice for a Sith”

Puzzled that this person she had never met before knew her name, she squatted down to his face level as he fixed a loose bolt on the servo chair. “Do you know who I am?” she asked

“Yes, I do. Your Lady Mara Jade, Sith Empire ruler and one very pretty lady.”

“Flattery will get you nowhere, even with a sympathy vote like you have. How do you know who I am?”

“We’ve met of course”

This threw Mara off course. They had?

The cripple manouvered the chair down the hall , as Mara still still in wonder. She finally snapped out of her surprise and moved to catch up with the floating chair, already several meters away. “Sorry, but how? I don’t exactly feature on the Coruscant Holo channels. The only ones who know who I am aren’t exactly well known either” she asked

Continuing down the hall, the cripple looked sad. Not answering for a such a long time, she thought he needed to be reprompted, he finally spoke in a soft voice

“I’ve known who you are for years, Mara. Every day I have watched you, wondering why you do what you do. Why you follow a lifestyle you don’t truly believe in. Why you deny to yourself where you path truly lies.

Why I cant be who I really should be either” he ended in a whispher.

Just who WAS this person, Mara wondered. Surely she didn’t know this person.

“Who in the name of the Force Are you?” She asked. “Do you have any idea what sort of rot your speaking? I am not just a Sith, but a True Sith Lordess. I could take your life without thinking twice, and you presume to say you know me? What type of fool do you take me for?”

“No fool, Lady Mara. Just another lost soul, crying out for an answer to why there is pain in the world.” The cripple stopped and turned to face Mara “Look at me. Do you think I can accept what happened?” She thought about this and shook her head.

“Your wrong Lady. I accept this as the price I paid for a hundred times I should have died. Should I accept only the good in life and not the bad?”

“You sound like some damn Jedi, you know that?”

“And so it should be too”

Mara got a cold shiver up her spine. Surely not… but the sudden change of voice, the tones of command and power….

“Your not a Jedi Knight. I know who they all are. They also are all upstairs in tha t area they changed to be a training hall. And they certainly don’t have a useless cripple as their number”

“Your right Mara, I’m not a Jedi Knight….. “ The cripples face seemed to change, to become haughty, proud and powerful. The voice deepened. “I am a Jedi MASTER”

The face relaxed and the cripple looked boyish again. “What wrong Mara? Struck dumb?”

She stared in almost horror. Surely not….. wasn’t he supposed to be on Coruscant?

“Hey Mara. If the wind changes, your face will be stuck and you’ll look like a stunned Bantha for good. Is this the way you treat old enemies? Gawk at them?”

No way….

She finally found her voice. “But you… you were virtually dead, right? How can you be here, Turbogeek?”

He stared ahead. “How can I be here? With a lot of pain, that’s how. The blaster shot to the back was every bit as bad as you probably heard it was. Oh, here’s the medical room I’m in. Would you care to come inside?”

She nodded as the Jedi reached up and keyed the door open. Of all the Jedi, she would have to meet Darth Turbogeek in the mood she was in before he interrupted her in. He was childish and stupid, prone to mindless pranks. I bet this is all one of those pranks to throw me off balance she thought. Maybe I should not entertain this silliness anymore and just walk away…. She paused at the open door, then for some reason decided to go in anyway.

Inside, it was indeed a medical room. Well equipped to. And to her surprise, Turbogeek was beginning to argue with the medical droid there.

“Look, I feel fine, okay? I don’t need to lie on the bed”

“Sir, but you do. You back is not healed yet. Please lie down here Sir” said TK-D2, the medical droid.

“No, I’m quite okay. Will you leave us please?”

“Sir, the sensors tell me you need your next treatment. I must insist”

“Look, just go okay?”

The discussion went like that for a moment, until Mara intervened. “Turbo, do it you stubbon idiot Jedi.” She knew medical droids would refuse to give up if they saw genuine danger to a patient and continue to insist to treat them.

He looked at her balefully. “Whose side are you on??”

“Certainly not yours!”

He snorted a laugh. “Yeah, that’s true. All right you piece of scrap metal. You win.” He looked back at Mara. “Just to let you know, I’m going to blame you for this.”

“Blame me? What for, forcing you to be healed?”

He didn’t answer, as two medical droids picked him up. Mara saw the legs dangle uselessly and the sudden sensation of agony that slipped past the Jedi’s mental barriers.

So that’s why I didn’t feel him approach me, she though. He’s not allowing any of the pain to filter out by the mental blocks! Looking in new respect, she watched as Turbo’s face contorted as he was laid out on the bed. A couple of gasps later and he seemed to return to normal. Which was to say, back to the point where she had failed to recongise him, when she shouldn’t have.

“Turbo, you look different. Why is that?”

“You’re the first person in years to see me as I really am Mara. I’ve hid behind that dark cloak to hide myself and learn how to alter my face naturally. I changed the tone of my voice too by the Force. To be honest, I don’t know why I needed to show myself as I really am to you. Especially a Sith as you are”

“Are you looking for pity? You wont get it from me”

“No, I’m just telling you what I have needed to do. I’ve run from what happened years ago, protected myself from my past” He winced as the droids attached some sensors “Now, you could say it’s caught up with me. Callista is back and she is braying for my blood to be spilt. And I’ll tell you Mara, your seriously undermanned if you expect to take out Callista with this fleet. She has allies that you cant imagine, reach that you cant escape from”- a distant hint of pain and shame came to his eyes - “And I have to face the evil I faced once before. Me”

“You? I heard you were Callista’s apprentice….”

“No, not that. Tell me Mara, have you heard of a Dark Jedi named Darth Venom?”

She searched her memory. “Vaguely. It was said he died by the hand of Master Yogurt.”

“Venom was me Mara and Yogurt never defeated me. I turned because of something I saw. I became a Jedi because of the evil Callista unleashed on a planet. She killed or enslaved the population with the Dark Fury”

This statement rather puzzled Mara. The Dark Fury? What in the name of the Force was that? She was about to ask when she felt Turbogeek’s defences suddenly drop and a bolt of pain stabbed out via the Force. She reeled and recovered as DT regained control of the mind shield he was using. “Oh Lord, this hurts” she heard him mutter.

Despite her antagonism to the Jedi, she felt sympathy for the long time foe. No, respect. At another time, she would gladly have killed this Jedi. But not now.

“DT, you’re a maniac for sneaking on-board. Your hurting yourself by this. You should be in a controlled coma to allow the medical droids to fix you.”

“Good advice from a Sith? That’s a first. No Mara, Rmaio knows quite well I am here. He in fact ordered me housed here as he suspected Itala’s Sith would make an attack on me if I were to remain at Coruscant, so I came here and my presence must remain a secret. I only woke up since I got shot a day ago too.”

He gasped and rested for a bit before continuing

“How I would want things to be different”

“Bad luck Jedi. You can suffer with the rest of us”

“No thanks Mara. I’ve got enough self pity to wallow in for a while, thanks”

She smiled at that and turned to leave

“Mara”

She faced back at the door. “Yes Turbo?”

“You should smile a bit more often. Your quite pretty when you get that permanent scowl off your face”
</font>

He suddenly came awake, blinking with surprise. He hadn't been feeling tired... just... lonely.

"Now, why did I dream of that?" he wondered. He took a moment to collect his thoughts, trying to work through the memories of the enconter with Jade. Ahhh, the things he hadn't revealed then.... little would she have known it was the last time she would have seen the real Turbogeek, for the clone had taken his place, not long after. And what a wonderful <smallfont color={hovercolor}>-Censored-</smallfont>up that turned out to be. Not even his foresight could have predicted Jade and Turbogeek the clone would become entwined and have a child. Foresight could n't tell Jade would die and the clone gone mad. Foresight couldn't tell that Jina would become his to look after.

Foresight hadn;t told him a lot of things. Certainly hadn't told him that he would be facign almost certain death in a few motnhs time , when his friend and one he almost looked upon as daughter gave birth. Hadn't told him what his path was. Blind was his footsteps in the future, unseen and unknown. Like he was now, blind physically in daylight. Relyign on the Force, relyign on others to find his path, where to place his feet.

Footsteps. He tensed, then relaxed, recognising the light steps.

"Over here Xazor" he called.

The tall blonde and still slender woman changed course, sighting Marcus and walking over. "Hey General. I was wondering.."

"Marcus" he said with some irritation. "I know I told you to always call me Tohmahawk... but..." he sighed, a look of sorrow on his face "... it's not me. I don't think I can pretend to be whom I am not any more. We'll leave the ship at Arcan and go our own way"

Xazor nodded, sitting down on the cold metal hangar floor next to Marcus. "And where will we go?"

"I'm not sure Xaz. I'm not sure of anything right now. I can't see what's ahead"

She stayed silent for a moment, before replying "Your thinkign about when my baby is born again"

"Aye"

"I wish you would not. I don't want this to be a burden on you"

"Either do I Xaz. But... ah, why waste words, you know what I think. When someone knows their time draws near, they start thinking about their life. And really, I'm not too liking of what I see..."

"Shhh" she said, reaching over and placing a finger in front of the Master's lips "Marcus, dont dwell on fate. Live while you can. Don't dwell on your past. You still have some sort of future, make the most of it"

He turned his head, a twisted smile appearing on his face. "Sounds like somethign I would say"

"It was, you said it to me. I'm only throwing your words back at you"

He stared, then broke into a soft laugh. "Aye and deserved that I did. If I saw you moping, I would have kicked your backside"

Xazor also smiled. "Yes, you have done that, remember? So anyway, why Arcan? You haven't told me"

"And you have not stolen it from my thoughts? Your slipping m'lady"

She pouted. "Your hiding it from me. Why?"

"My new apprentice is there"

"Oh? Who's that?"

"Just some guy I met. Ugly guy, smells bad. Has a wolf fetish I hear. says when he sees one, he can't keep his hand of her wonderful..."

"MARCUS!" she gasped, seeing the mental picture in his mind. "That's disgusting!"

"That's what I told Terran whenhe said it" Marcus said, straight faced.

"Ter... Terran? Terran Starek? We're picking HIM up at Arcan?" she cried.

"Apparently"

Quite abruptly, she grabbed Marcus in a fierce hug. "Oh, you are wonderful!"

"Settle down, missy" he laughed, untangling himself from a now very exited young woman. "You'll do yourself an injury. That or upset your child. How does she go, anyway?"

Xazor touhed her stomach, which was beginnign to swell with the unborn child insode. "She grows. Right now, she's resting"

"Good to hear". And even if his vocie sounded glad, he didnt feel it. Every day closer to the child's brith was one less day he had.

[Sejah Haversh]

Sejah hated space travel. He hated it, hated it, hated it. It was long, boring, and often made him queasy in smaller ships. But, on the large one he was currently aboard, he at least didn't have to suffer from the lattermost of those discomforts.

Xazor had gone off in search of Marcus, and left him alone on the bridge. Being quite unfamiliar with the controls and layout of such a large craft, the Nehantite wisely chose to stay back and out of the way, taking a seat where it appeared that he wouldn't be in the way of any crew member's work. Far be it from his nature to interfere in things he knew were beyond his understanding unless he ahd good reason.

Still, it was interesting to watch the crew go about their tasks and duties, and see them work as a team. The air was not austensibly military, but it still was thick with discipline and respect for superiors. That was a feeling sejah enjoyed; the feeling of knowing where you stood, and what was expected of you. It wasn't until the lightsaber in his belt began to slip that he snapped out of his small daydream, and the mongoose sat up to straighten it. He was going to be a Jedi, and he shouldn't slouch or make a bad appearance of himself, especially when he was the only one present from his group in the room. So, he saw casually, yet respectfully and didn't speak lest he disturb someone, only watching and waiting for his next instruction, or moving from his seat if he had to. He still hated space travel.

[Xazor Elessar]

The Jedi Knight could not help but sigh inwardly. She did not feel the happiness in Marcus's voice. Shaking her head slightly, she gently took his hand in her own.

"You know something? I never asked you to protect me that day so long ago that you swore to me you would -- even if it meant your life. I still have not figured out why you would do something like that -- but you know that I am so thankful you did."

She smiled as the words came from her heart. Indeed, she never understood Marcus's reasoning and she was slowly beginning to realize that she needed not to for everything worked out in the end.

"Please don't let this eat away at you -- there is more to the future than perhaps even the greatest Seer can see. Your hope will take you to the places you wish to go and if that isn't true -- I don't know what got me to the point of which I am at this very moment."

Smiling still, she patted the Master's hand with her other before rising to her feet and eyeing the doorway to his quarters. Taking a step toward him, she hugged Marcus once again and then backed away slowly.

"I'm going to see where we are and then report back to you. Remember what I said, okay? I need you now, here -- in the present. Always in motion the future is -- who knows where we shall end up in the next ten minutes."

With that, she winked and turned her back to him, inhaling deeply. It was a troubled time and she was lying to think otherwise. Keeping these thoughts close to her heart, the woman made her way back to the bridge to study a coordinate plane and figure out their location. They were just fifteen minutes off of Arcan and the large planet loomed in the view of the window her cyan eyes wandered to. She smiled with satisfaction as they seemed to bare down upon the land. The brief time before landing she spent staring out the window before she had to strap herself in for safety. Soon the large ship was touching down upon the surface of the ground and she was released from her seat.

"Guess we're here, Haversh."

She said, patting Sejah on the shoulder. He still appeared a bit uneasy, but better now that the flight was over. Smiling to herself, the Knight made her way to Marcus's location once again and knocked on the door.

"What do ya wa -- oh, it's you Xaz."

The Knight rolled her eyes and she knew Marcus knew it. Approaching him slowly, she smiled to herself as excitement mounted in her heart. Soon she would see Terran and that meant everything to her.

"Nice to see you again -- it's only been a little while and you've reverted back to crabby mode again. Anyway, we've landed and I think we should get moving!"

Marcus chuckled to himself and shook his head before standing and placing a hand upon her shoulder. She knew what he would say before he said it and had to laugh to herself.

"Selfish motives will get you no where young lady!"

'They've gotten me everywhere I wanted in the past!' she protested in her mind, allowing him free access to her thoughts through their Life Bond. The pair laughed together before departing the room to meet with Sejah so they could leave the ship. The time seemed to crawl for Xazor, but she knew they would see Terran soon enough -- all in time.

[imported_Terran Starek]

"Would you like another glass of water, Sir?" The sever spoke, her voice softened as she allowed the question to escape her lips. She felt sorry for the man--the man who had waited for almost her entire shift for seemingly no one.

"No, thank you." He smiled back at her. He had been her for...three hours now. They were late. He wondered what would keep them? They weren't usually late, and this was not very characteristic of thier usual behavior. However, his heart was at peace. That fact alone told him that no tragedy had befallen their passage. He would feel it...somehow, he would know.

"I think it'll just be a bit longer." He assured the server, who was hovering around his table, trying to ease his wait time, he guessed.

"Yes, sir. Of course. Would you like anything until your company arrives? Perhaps an appetizer?" She pleaded to help him--almost as though her manager was putting pressure on her to get a sale out of this guy or kick him out. He got the message.

"You know, miss, you've convinced me. How about one of--" he pointed to a picture in the menu of some tastey looking vegetables on a plate with an interesting dipping sauce "--these. Would you reccomend this particular dish?"

"Oh yes, definitely. The sauce is a perfect mix of randibean and irrantil juice." The server spoke with new entusiasm and energy in her voice.

"Great." Terran smiled as she buzzed off and turned his attention back to nothing, waiting for his guests.

[Helenias Evenstar]

Considering all things, if this ship was under the control of the assasins that were dogging my footsteps lately - we'ld be dead already. Nice and easy to lunch a hyperdrive and have a reactor melt down. This transport however, might have been slow but it was armoured and shielded. It trusted to strength rather than speed. And now I was thinking about it....

"Pierce, what was the order number for this ship?"

"Pardon?"

"The id number of the orders for this crew. Specifically, I want to know if there is an AA-427 anywhere."

"Might I ask why?"

"As fast as this little mission was changed to us, someone I suspect is making sure we can get there and get away in one piece. Your quite right, someone gave us what we needed. Up to 24 hours ago, I was not slated to go on this diplomatic mission. I believe that someone changed the orders so we got something safe. "

[Pierce Tondry]

"You know, I was just thinking along those lines. I never saw the order registry for the ship and crew itself, just the flight plan which came from the office of some damned Bothan. But I can do a rundown on the ship ID and see what comes up. Give me a few minutes to nose around and I'll see what I can find."

A few minutes actually turned out to be a few hours, during which time neither Helenias or Oriadin caught sight of Pierce, although there were times when he was obviously close by. The Intel operative caught up with them as they were headed to an observation deck to look out at the swirls of hyperspace. If Pierce knew Helenias, she was there not for the view, but for the temporary escape it brought from her duties.

"Nice to see you again, Pierce," Helenias said, not turning around. Oriadin, conversely, turned and gave him a handshake, which Pierce reciprocated. "We thought you'd fallen off the ship."

Pierce stared her in the eye. "Did you know that the Slothrynt species considers a minute to be equal to sixty-seven Standard minutes? By their standards, I was only gone a few minutes."

"And when did you become a Slothrynt?"

"A what?"

Helenias gestured. "A Slothrynt. Or whatever. The species you just said."

"I'm sorry, there is no such thing as a Slothrynt. You must've been hearing things."

Helenias stood there, staring at Pierce's straight face and twinkling eyes before finally shaking her head in amusement. "So I'm predictable sometimes. What did you find out?"

Pierce lifted the datapad he was holding and keyed up a few files. "There was no AA-427 in the ship or crew registry, so I pulled up a component spec on the ship to double check and see if there was anything unusual about it. What I found, was this."

Helenias accepted the datapad from Pierce and scanned it. "Long range turbolasers and a modified Calamari MC 90 reactor? What's so interesting about that?"

"Not just long range," Pierce shook his head. "Extended range. It gets 150% of the effective distance on an average turbolaser. Both it and the power supply system are Imperial-based designs, built to dish out firepower at long range."

"Imperial?" Helenias frowned. Trying, no doubt, to connect her husband with some recent Imperial activity. "They couldn't have been stolen in the raid on Balmorra, could they?"

Pierce laughed. "Balmorra wishes it had these specs. No, there was no need to steal them. I provided them some time ago, not long after I brought the remnants of Imptel to the Republic."

"Provided?"

"Yep. It was a prototype project brought up under my jurisdiction. They integrated it with Republic mechanisms pretty well, I gotta say."

"Who...?" Helenias trailed off.

"Yeah, that is the big question, isn't it?" Pierce said, a mysterious smile playing around his lips. "Knowing where the parts came from led me to some further checking. I found out this particular ship was transferred from an AA classification ago into diplomatic service over a year ago and has had minimal crew transfers since. Couple that with the fact that this ship was delegated as your new transport within an hour after we reported the assassination attempt and I gotta figure someone's looking out for you and didn't want it to be obvious to just anyone. Moreover, that someone knew I'd be along on this trip and wanted to send a message."

"To you?"

"Could be." Pierce shrugged. "Could be to you through me. But whatever the case, these coincidences are really close."

Helenias wore a troubled face while she digested the information. "Who exactly did you provide these designs t-"

"Nah, ah," Pierce shook a finger, the mysterious smile again returning. "That's telling."

He took the datapad back from Helenias' proffered hand and stepped over to lean on the railing, gazing out at the mottled blue swirls of light with a pensive expression. "You've been pretty quiet," he said, giving Oriadin a nudge.

"I was just trying to figure out what all that meant," Oriadin replied.

Intelligence speak was difficult to wrap your head around unless you were used to it. Pierce gave Oriadin a clap on the back. "It means you're our wild card, buddy. We're expected to be on this trip, but you aren't. Keep an eye on our backs, okay?"

Oriadin nodded, still puzzled, and Pierce returned to staring out the window. The swirls and the colors almost reminded him of- eyes. That was it. They reminded him of her eyes-

Abruptly, Pierce felt cold all over. "If you don't mind," he said, getting up from the railing. "I think I'm gonna go get some sleep. We arrive at Carshoulis Prime tomorrow and it runs on an earlier time than Coruscant."

"I'm tired," said Oriadin. "I just haven't been able to get rid of this hangover all day."

"Why don't we all go to bed," Helenias suggested. "Tomorrow is a big day."

"Right," Pierce said, with a casual wave over his shoulder. "See you tomorrow."


######

The next morning, Helenias had just finished getting dressed when her intercomm twittered. "Yes?" she answered.

"Oriadin and I are in the mess hall having breakfast if you'd like to join us," came Pierce's voice.

Helenias paused. "You're both up already?"

"Yeah, we reached Carshoulis an hour ago. I told them not to wake you because you'd need your sleep."

"That was considerate. Thank you, Pierce."

"Yeah, well hurry up and get down here so you can eat. The Carshoulis day is twenty-eight hours long, but it'll feel a lot longer to you by the time it's over."

[Oriadin]

It didnt take long for Helenias to join them at the breakfast table. The table was fairly big but didnt look it with all the food spread out across the table.

She arrived to see Oriadin and Pierce engaged in discussion about past experiences. Oriadin didnt speak about anything previous to his time at the Jedi Order since his memory of his past still eluded him. Instead he went on to talk about his training with Helenias and his friendship with Sejah. He talked a little about a few of the missions he'd been on etc etc. It was known for Oriadin to be a little shy around new people, espcially around new people who were close to each other. What with the fast actions of yesterdays happenings and the fact that Pierce and Helenias knew each other quite well Oriadin found it a little hard to feel 'in' with the group. The fact that Oriadin wasnt feeling at his best didnt help matters any either. Now though he felt ready for anything. Refreshed and back to his usual self. The time he had alone with Pierce was time well spent in getting to know the man a little better and what he was like.

--Ah! Good morning. Good job you didnt miss out on breakfast, this tastes lovely. Im not sure what it is exactly, but its very nice--

He spoke, looking down at the meal infront of him. The food was alien to him as he didnt usually try new things at the order. He usually stuck to what he knew he liked. It was nice to have something different for a change.

Helenias pulled out a seat, sat down and began tucking in. Swallowing what was in his mouth, Oriadin looked up at Helenias and then glanced at Pierce.

--So, whats the plan for today?--

[Sejah Haversh]

Sejah had been led to the correct exit door by an enlisted crewman, and waited patiently. It felt good to know he was about to get back on the ground again, to feel real gravity beneath his footpaws.

When his master rounded the corner with Xazor by his side, sejah came to a more attentive stance and nodded hello, though made sure not to blow Marcus' cover. "I believe we are landed, sir, would you care to lead the way?" He asked, still unsure of what exactly they were going to be doing. Marcus still packed his railgun on his hip, which bothered Sejah, but, the Nehantite would learn to deal with it. After all, he had dumped a fair amount of cultural differences on Marcus when he was taken as his padawan, so, Sejah would learn to adapt as well.

[Marcus Telcontar]

Arcan IV. When he first came here, it was a shithole, filled with greed, corruption and a Governor trying to steal a fleet of Destoyers. Today, it was a good deal cleaner, the government was honest and people could actually lead normal lives. And it was the place the Jedi had sheltered when they were on the run from Imperials, whom up until the Vong, had rules the Galaxy. Remarkably fast, the galaxy tyrant had collapsed and the NR had taken it's rightful place. Now, Arcan IV was a symbol of peace and rebuilding, even it's own Senator was a Jedi. And leading the fight to maintain that freedom so hard won.

Not that she believed she had much of a choice. And she certainly has a talent for annoying those lousy asses who think more of their own wallet and power than the beings they are supposed to represent.

He stopped, reachign out with his senses to feel where they were. He had still personally flwon his own ship down to the surface, not with the characteristic verve and daring he normally did, but with a fair bit of conservativeism. Something else he did was to have the sword at his side, plus also wear a tidier and newer version of his usual garb. As he stepped out into the sunshine from the gangplank of Razor, he put the hood of his cloak up, adding additional shade to his face so the contacts that he was now wearing would be even more effective. Only another few months to wait while the optical repaired..... but for now, he reached out with the Force, feeling the connections of everything, then stridign out with confidence in the direction the Force todl him to go. Because he had walked that path before, he had made a deliberate decision to land in the same place he had when Jyanis and he had originally landed. And he was aiming for the same hotel that he had met up with Ravenwing, now rebuit after the devestation of the battle he and Jyanis had fought there. Without talking out loud the trio walked and even across the unusal mental link he and Xaz shared, he was quiet. Thinking about news from Coruscant he had recieved when they had come out of hyperspace.

For some time they walked until he felt the rightness of stopping.

"Xazor, building to the left. What's it's name please?"

She told him.

"That's it. Let's go in"

The day was hot, but inside was cool. The bar itself was entranced from the building's lobby and a few beings were walking out as the trio walked in. Marcus allowed his mind to wander and locate the exact person he was looking for and with a smile on his hooded face, he elbowed Xazor gently.

"Tell me. Man over by the pillar there. Who does he look like to you?"

[Darth Turbogeek]

At the other end of the bar.....

A lone Dark Jedi sipped his tenth drink, feeling very, very plesantly smashed and off his face. It was a brilliant sensation, one he had learned of a few months ago. Being a clone and only a few years old, things were still new to him and a pleasure. Food especially. And sex. Oh yeah, especially sex. He wasnt the shy geek that was left behind by Ravenwing. Before coming here, he had visited the brothel that he had sheltered at when war had swept this planet. The ladies there were very pleased to catch up with him and he, with them.

Pocket of credits lightened (Not that he cared, he had loads from profitible business ventures) he had wandered here and spread more credits out. Happily drunk, by himself and smiling as he swayed on his bar stool. Ahhh, life was grand.

He fell off with a crash.

Laughing as if it was the funniest thing ever, he declined the hands reachign down to help him get up, seeing three newcomers coming into the bar. Bleary eyes followed the feet to the legs of the newcomers, noting one had bllts and old style clothing, the others were an alien and female. He slowly got up, still giggling and glancing at the three again. Yep, cloaked male, pretty female and alien of a species he didnt know of. Without thinking, he looked at their colour and in shock, his hand slipped off the chair he was using to haul himself up with, crashign to the ground, bu this time not giggling, but staring as the trio walked away from him, not taking special note of the drunk. He slowly hauled himself back up, mind coming sober at a rate that would defy belief - but so it would, after the shock he had just got.

It wasn't the obviously light coloured alien (Jedi that would mean), nor the even lighter coloured female) and the lighter coloured splotch near her stomach that indicated she was pregnant with a Force sensitive - it was the man.

"Holy sh1t!" he muttered, unable to break his gaze. Unlike anyother being (for all beings were various shades of colour, depending on their strength in the Force), this one had none at all. Absolutly none. For some reason that terrified Turbogeek deeply, even more so rememebrign the times he had faced that mn before. All times it had gone very, very badly for Turbogeek.

The Man with No Colour! What the frell is he doing here? he thought desperately. Thinking running liek hell would draw attention to himself, he instead got back on the stool and just tried to fit in with the rest of the drunks.

OOC : BTW I am NOT the man by the pillar :)

[Sanis Prent]

(Clamboring out the hatchway and onto the engine manifold, I stood opposite Rima, as she hunkered over a small, dome-like apparatus, about the size of a dinner plate.)

That's a high-magnitude trace. Signal probably reaches halfway back across the core to the middle rim again.

(Getting only a grunt, I turned away, looking at the Carshoulis skyline, clustered in a jungle of durasteel and concrete. It looked like an alien Coruscant, with its unique style of architecture. A cool wind picked up, and only now, I realized I'd been sweating in the ship, as we touched down. Was I really that nervous about being back here? Probably moreso.)

Rima? Arya? I'd ask which if I cared.

(I looked back to Arya, who returned my look with a darkening glower. Shrugging it off, I fished in my jacket pocket for a smoke.)

The kid yours? Cute.

(Lighting up, I raised my eyebrows)

Real sympathy points. Gets me right there.

(Hunkering down to her level, I took a draw off my stim, the tip glowing bright red. As I talked, my breath came out in smoky intervals)

So what's the game? I mean...there's obviously a score here, and don't give me any single mother sob story. Two names, a ship like this, and all the trouble back on Coruscant. I can smell a pro a mile away.

(I flicked the ash tip beside the beacon)

I think you can understand my concern, due compensation and such. Since I know you're probably not making a living smuggling spaghettios for Red, you have a golden opportunity at playing good samaritan for a day.

[Helenias Evenstar]

"Our plan for today?" I repeated, taking a seat. "Our plan firstly is to get down onto the planet and meet our hosts. From there, work out what we can do to mediate this dispute. I was considering that last night before sleeping, seems the Chief of State wanted Jedi, we'll seek a Jedi solution, one influenced by The Force. It also very much struck me that Jedi would have been doing this kind of thing within the Old Republic, so I have some datafiles that go back a few hundred years to see how they did it"

Part of my attention trasferred to an exotic fruit I rather liked, so as I spoke, I used The Force to call it to me, settling it down on my plate. Proceeding to cut it up, I fell silent, considering my plan of action.

"We have the files from the Repubilc on theor point of view of this situation. Hearing the Cizaerack view will give the opposing view. I suggest after initial discussions, we withdraw to a quiet area and then meditate together for two hours. I feel that a solution will quickly present itself. At least, that is what I hope - I dont have the patience for extended arguments and discussions and I doubt negotiation by lightsabre is going to be very effective"

That bought out a smile or two.

"But we will take them with us anyway. I dont believe our hosts will particularly like us being armed to the teeth, so just have your sabre and a side arm of some kind". As I took a bite of the fruit, I gave Tondry a wink, clearly suggesting he should bring a good deal more than that. Jedi robes were great to hide things in, after all.

<center> * * * * * * </center>

The cruiser, despite it's size, was small enough to land. Just as it touched down, I stood up, smoothed down the Jedi grab that I was wearing. Mine was obviously new, as was Tondry's. Come to think of it, I wasnt even sure I had ever dressed like this before. The robes were well fitted, but stiff and to me uncomfortable. Oriadin probably was the only one of us to have worn his robes before!

As we stood at the exit ramp, I glanced over to Pierce. "Put your hood up. And you too Oriadin. I also want you both to reach out with your feelings and sense what is about us. I'm going to be concentrating on the delegation that meets us. Always remember to behave like Jedi too"

"And dont rip anyone's arm off" replied Pierce.

"I only do that if I'm going to beat them to death. The expression on an enemies face while you bludgeon them with their own leg is priceless"

"Your joking, right?" asked Oriadin uncertainly

"No, she's not" Pierce replied for me.

"That'll be enough from both of you". I had a hard time right now keeping a straight face, which is what I wanted as the exit ramp lowered and I could see a Cizerack delegation waiting for us. "Come on, let's get this over and done with"

[Pierce Tondry]

Stretch out with my feelings. What the hell kind of crap is that? She acts like it's just natural that people should walk around picking things out of the scenery around them without their eyes. Stretch out with my feelings. I'm not gonna be picking up any danger on my radar, thanks.

In spite of his inner grumblings, Pierce was at least well-prepared for danger if it came his way. Including the lightsaber and semi-auto blaster he had clearly displayed on his hip, Pierce was wearing a composite body armor that wouldn't set of most detectors. Also with him was his flechette automatic, a standard blaster, and a hold-out weapon all concealed. Some preparation had gone into his choice of weapons- they were all things that Pierce had a decent chance of getting away with having on his person should the need to use them arise.

Helenias started forward once the ramp had stopped moving, moving at a stately and slow pace that bespoke dignity, importance, and grace. Oriadin did too, albeit with a little less dignity and grace than his mentor. Recalling days of straight-backed marching at the Imperial Stormtrooper Academy on Carida, Pierce started forward. His own dignity could have been in the form of a medal pinned to his chest. It was a posture and style he would not have used in a million years for many reasons. But hopefully, it would impress the Cizerack into giving him some space.

As the trio continued down the ramp, an honor guard of twelve soldiers- humans- formed up around the trio of Jedi. The contingent moved to meet the much larger delegation of the Cizerack, led predictably by a female of the species. Both sides eyed each other tensely for a moment before the greetings began, and Pierce began scanning the crowd of soldiers and diplomats to check their reactions. Any conflict in the ranks of the enemy could be of potential help at this point.

The Cizerack ambassador cleared her throat in preparation to speak.

[Xazor Elessar]

Xazor's eyes widened as Marcus nudged her and pointed out a lone man beside a pillar. 'Terran?!', she thought to herself, shaking her head in disbelief. The cloaked Jedi Knight looked to Marcus for a moment who smiled and nodded toward the young man -- her counterpart -- her love. She grinned to herself, unable to contain the joy of the moment as she ran toward him. Several people gave her strange looks, but she cared not, no one else existed when they were together. Suddenly he was nearly plowed over with the woman's embrace wrapping tightly around his neck.

"Terran!"

She exclaimed before kissing him on the cheek a few times and then upon the lips. Pulling away, Xazor set her glittering eyes upon his face and gently caressed his cheek with a hand.

"I'm sorry we're late -- but it's so good to see you! I've missed you so much! Oh my baby -- it's good to be back in your arms again."

Xazor held him tightly once again, basking in the glow of the moment. It was beautiful -- their love was. She never had looked happier in her life than when she was with him and perhaps even the same could be said for Terran.

"Thank you, Marcus -- thank you so much."

The words skipped gleefully into Marcus's mind as the Knight giggled and kissed her love once again. It was moments like these that she lived for -- and it was times like these that they would never change, no matter how much ridicule they might receive in such a public place. They were not afraid to express their love and that's what it came down to.

"So, how long have you been waiting here? Sorry it took us longer than expected -- we ran into some problems on the way here."

Xazor glanced at Marcus and recalled 'The Tale of an Admiral -- Or Lack There Of'. At the thought she had to laugh to herself before drawing here attention back to Terran.

"So you're joining us on this -- escapade, yes? That is most wonderful and I'm sure you'll be a great asset to our purpose."

She spoke with great confidence, knowing that Terran was reliable and quite dependable. If something needed to be done, he would stick with the plan until the end -- no questions asked or anything. Indeed, this was becomming more interesting by the moment.

[imported_Terran Starek]

She fell into his arms, showering him with hugs and kisses and her aura. Terran saw two more beings with her--two he recognized. Sejah Haversh and his Master, Marcus Elessar. They were familiar faces--ones that he knew and loved. People he cared about. He had been waiting her for too long, on a planet unkown, and his morale had begun to fall. Now that they were here, he felt reunited with his life again.

"It's good to see you again, my love." He spoke softly to her, holding her as she slid next to him in the solitary booth. She let loose a barage of questions--on after the other--as she often did. He smiled and laughed, he had missed her so. Even when he felt like some sort of strange prisoner in the interrogator's chair while she, the cheif investigator, hovered over him with questions, he thought she was beautiful. An angel--her blond hair glowing heavenly as her soft face seemed to take on a soft light at his appearance.

"So you're joining us on this -- escapade, yes? That is most wonderful and I'm sure you'll be a great asset to our purpose--" Terran cut her off, his lips meeting hers again in another kiss. He hadn't seen her enough lately, and it was becoming hard to bear the distances. Especially with so much traveling this way and that. He held her lips against his for several seconds before opening his eyes to see the looks on the faces of Master Elessar and Sejah. He broke away nervously.

"Excuse my manners, Master Elessar and Master Sejah. Please, if time permits, be seated." He smiled and laughed with a funny, anxious tone. "I'm glad to be here, Xazor." He took her hand and patted her stomach, seeing that her child was developing just as rapidly as it had for some time. "As I sit before you, I committ myself to the task at hand--trusting you all immensely. But...if it was possible...could somebody fill me in here?" He chuckled again, a sheepish grin crossing his face as he still had no idea why Marcus had called him here.

[Marcus Telcontar]

But Marcus wasn't answering. In fact, stunningly, improbably, he wasn't even there. In the blink of an eye, he had somehow managed to disappear without a trace, leaving two highly surprised Padawans and a Jedi Knight with the traces of a frown on her face.

"What the hell?!?" Xazor could be heard muttering and for good reason for about 5 seconds later all hell broke loose.

--

The Jedi Master had watched the surprise reunion he had arranged, a smile over his face, wishing he could see the expressions on the faces of Xazor and Terran. Of course, he could experience their emotions thrugh the Force, but that really wasn't the same as seeing them with his eyes. Still, reaching out with his feeling, he could know. And besides, with the unique bond Xazor and he shared, he could 'see' through the Knight's eyes. Some of the emotion washed through the Life Bond and Marcus smiled...

There was a scrap of memory, fading. as they entered the bar, a drunk picking himself up off the floor. Nice looker, sun glasses, cool looking coat.... but ignored and dismissed as soon as she realised her love was here...

Marcus turned his attention towards the bar, feeling the emotions, the feelings, the connections to the Force. One by one he checked them over until he found the one Xazor had seen. And in a blink, Marcus 'Shadowed', disappearing in the Force and for a second from sight as he darted behind another pillar. Keeping himself Shadowed, so one with the Force he could not be seen in it, he allowed the Force to tell him what was about - using the recieve sense only of Shadowing to go through what he was sensing, working it out and then realising what he had seen with Xazor's eyes was right. A snarl began to form on his face as he reached down and drew out the sword that had been hidden within his cloak. He kept the draw slient and un-noticed, taking a final sense of what was about.

Turbogeek. By the Force, is that damn clone STILL alive?!?! Well not for much longer!

Dropping the Enshadowment, he leapt out and attacked in a blur, swinging the sword down to execute the clone that somehow existed. The clone turned, alcohol seeming to hinder it's movements right until the point of too late - incredibly then leaping aside even faster than the Master was moving. The sword smashed into the chair the clone had been sitting on, scattering wood and plastics with a loud bang. Hardly stopping, Marcus swept the sword out of the wreckage, swinging again. The clone managed to duck, then dodge a second blow, swinging a punch after the stroke that connected with Marcus' gut. With an oph of expelled air, he stepped back, breathed in, then launched himself at Turbogeek again. Aain, unbelieveably fast, the clone dodged and incredibly ripped the sword out of the Master's hands as another blow decended at DT's head - catching the sword in between clapped palms, then a hand shift to give leverageto enable the disarming.

It was a move Marcus himself would have done. It was a move only a true fighting Master could have done.

Deeply surprised, Marcus viewed the clone through the Force for a second, before firing off a group of punches, so fast they could hardly be seen. Turbogeek barely blocked, the final punch breakign through the clone's defences and smashing the younger man in the jaw. Marcus grabbed the black shirt DT wore and with one almost effortless movement, picked the clone up and threw him over the bar, smashing through the drink laden shelves. Glass exploded and popped, alcohol flew everywhere as the clone fell to the ground, a mere second later Marcus leapt over the bar and disappeared from sight.

A yell and smoe more unseen crashes, before Turbogeek yet again flew over the bar, flying hard enogh to crash into a wall a good 10 meters away, slumping tothe ground and breaking a table while the Jedi Master came upright - hood now off his face, his cheek cut and bleeding.

As he climbed over the bar, it could be noted there was some vague similarity between the two fighters - same general build, same jawline, same unbelieveable speed - but only Xazor knew the truth, knowing from Marcus' mind whom this Turbogeek really was and the surprise in Marcus' mind the clone had grown considerably more skillful since they last faced off. She would have looked with concern, wondering why Marcus had never mentioned a living clone.

And hence the power the clone possibly had.

[Sejah Haversh]

Sejah was more than a little surprised as a fight broke out between Marcus and a man at the bar. But, when things started to get out of hand, all he could do was just stay out of the way until his help was asked for or needed.

(Wow, my shortest IC post ever...)

[Diego Van Derveld]

Diego glanced sideways at the girl from his vantage point in the reclined seat. He smiled a little, and tussled her red hair.

"Lost? Nah. Just consider this a little vacation. I'm sure there's a beach on this planet somewhere."

His eyes remained on the girl, in a state of contented interest. Her eyes were large and brilliant, and reflected the innate curiosity that all children had.

"What's your name?"

[Radish Xavier]

The girl hesitated, and then supplied another question. "What is he doing?" A little hand pointed, and Diego leaned forward to see Sanis dashing across the duracrete, slinking towards a freighter that was in process of being loaded. The pilot, or someone, was pacing around the cargo bay, whip like tail curled over one slim arm, while the other one urged the males to load faster.

Jina turned back to Diego, waiting for her answer. He felt at a loss for words.

[Arya Ravenwing]

While Sanis was busy smoking his stim and talking and noticably not helping, Arya pried up the trace with a little bit of finesse and a lot of in-a-hurry. They both finished at about the same time, and Arya looked over her shoulder.

"Ah, the welcome wagon." A group of three Cizerack were approaching the freighter, but were just far enough away. Arya slapped the trace into Sanis' chest, and he caught it reflexively. "You can either wait here for the BS story I'm giving them, or you can go put that on an outgoing freighter. Don't you dare get seen, or I'm leaving you here." A glint in her eyes warned him that she meant business, and then she was climbing down off the other side of the engine manifolds.

She heard Sanis drop down on the other side, and she made a show of wiping off her hands and stuffing a rag in her back pocket. "Damn mynocks, chewing on everything. I frelling hate those space moths."

There was a polite throat clearing, at least by Ciz standards, and Arya looked up to see two petite females and a large male. "Oh." She stuck out a hand, "Rima Xavier, captain of the Habitually Late."

The shorter female shook her hand, and introduced herself. "jI am Farrrrrrrrjinji Nuatjissssssa, dockjing Agent forrr Carrrssshouljisss Prrrjime Porrrt." She said agent with a Captial A. Arya swallowed. "jYourrr ssshjip needsss rrrepajirrrsss?"

"Oh, yeah..." Arya gestured behind her vaguely. "The motivator is shot to shreds, we hit some spacedust or something and it got sucked into the manifolds and cracked something. I couldn't get a good look at it en route."

"We can rrrecommend a -"

"Oh, I was going to take it to a friend of mine. The sublights and repulsors are working, I just need permission for a short flight." Arya caught the taller female, a half breed, looking above the engine manifold at the spot where the trace had been. "Mynock. Hate those nasty frelling buggers." The female nodded agreeably. Arya's eyes returned to Farrini.

The Agent of the Port of Carshoulis Prime smiled too sweetly. "Therrre jisss a cossst forrr sssuch actjivjitiesss."

Ah yes, everything has a cost. Low level shipping agents, getting their kicks squeezing bribes out of the small folk. Everything in Cizerack psychology came full circle back to the caste system. The lower you were, the less people there were to lord it over. The more people you could look down on, the more fullfilled you were as a female. Males, of course, didn't care about any of that, namely because they weren't allowed to. And half breeds were only around to kick at the end of a frustrating day.

Arya looked to the side, saw no one, and then back to the trio in front of her. "How about two hundred."

Farrini looks affronted. The male bristled in response to his mistress' mood. "A thousssand."

"What? Five hundred, take it or leave it." Arya hoped she knew what she was doing.

"A thousssand. Orrr jI'll orrrderrr a full jinssspectjion of jyourrr frrrejighterrr." Apparently they weren't used to people trying to negotiate the price down. And even if her ship was totally innocent, which it wasn't, a full inspection probably included planted evidence and eviseration in front of a ruling body. Or by the ruling body.

Arya dug in her pocket and brought out a credit chit, and programmed it for the correct amount. She grumbled as she placed it into the smiling female's hand. Wow, it feels great to mave made someone's day like this. Frelling bitch.

The smuggler wiped her hands a few times as the trip took their leave, and then slowly walked back to the cargo bay, and glared at Threepio. "Is Sanis back yet?"

[Sanis Prent]

Just barely!

(I came sprinting back from the opposite direction, and skidded to a halt. Fortunately, the freighter crew had gone starboard for a moment, leaving portside unattended. With an unguaranteed time window, I booked it, full throttle. Now, I was a bit winded, and my breathing was up.)

So...did we keep their nose off our trail?

[Threepio]

Goodness gracious me! Mistress, er...Rima, may I remind you that bribes in Cizerack society, giving or receiving them, is a capital offense! The golden droid waved his arms in the air, very distressed as the hatch closed up, sealing everyone back inside the Chevvette77.

Where are we going? What is going on? I demand to be told!

[Arya Ravenwing]

Arya leaned against the bulkhead and looked at Sanis, who was catching his breath. "My name is Arya Ravenwing. There is no score. I'm pulling bodyguard duty."

She left Prent to think that one over as she pulled herself up the ladder and into the rest of the ship. The dark haired woman nodded to Diego, scooped Jina out of the pilot seat, and contacted the control tower. "Carshoulis Control, this is the freighter Habitually Late, requesting permission for a hop to these coordinates. Agent Farrini Nuatissa already gave me verbal permission on the ground." She sent the coordinates to the Cizerack on the other end of the comm, and waited, drumming her fingers on the edges of her seat. Silently. But nervously.

There was a mewling cough on the comm channel, and then, "jYou arrre clearrred forrr atmossspherrrjic trrravel. jYou wjill be monjitorrred. Do not devjiate frrrom thjisss courrrssse." A map was uploaded to her computer (and only a map, her data filters made sure of that) with a course plotted out, taking her far out of the way. In a straight line the Chevvette77 would have had to fly over the Pride Mother's palace, or some such gaudy nonsense, but now it would probably take ten minutes longer.

Arya sighed, then thumbed the comm back over. "Copy that. Habitually Late out." She looked at Diego, and then back to Sanis, who had managed to ditch Threepio in the hold again and was leaning in the doorway. "Don't worry, a day, two days tops, and we're out of here. Yarshu is great." She started the preflight, and checked the repulsors. Still working. Good.

[Helenias Evenstar]

The Cizerack welcomer, a female with several red dressed males around her was giving me a look I didn't like, even glanicng around to see if anyone was follow us. I glanced at Pierce, communicating my puzzlement with a lifted eyebrow. Under the cloak, I detected the hint of a shrug. He seemed just as in the dark what was causing the odd behaviour as I was.

"Who arrre jyou?" she mewed. "jYou arrre not the Chandrrrjilan Ssenatorrr ajide we werrre expectjing. jYou arrre Jedji, jisss the Rrrepubljic to force unjussst sssettlement?"

There was a slight exclaimation of surprise from Oriadin, for which he earned a look of 'be quiet' from me. "We are indeed Jedi, but in that capacity I am not here. I am Senator Evenstar of Arcan IV.."

"A Jedji Sssenatorrr? Sssjince when jisss thjisss allowed?"

"The people of Arcan are free to choose whom they want to represent them" I replied, a tone of icyness dropping on my voice, for I was quite fed up with other beings asking the same thing "and I am their chosen representitive. Now, please explain why you are not expecting me - I would find it hard to believe the Republic would not have informed you"

"The Rrrepubljic told us Mon Tharrreena would attend. Not Jedji" replied the greeter, eyeing us off with suspicion. "Thjisss jisss jirrrrregularrr"

"I am not here in any capacity as a Jedi, madam. I am here as a Senator and I am here for the negotiations between the Cizerack and the Republic on the Calan issue. Now where in seven hells are my companions and I supposed to be staying at and who am I going to be negotiationg with? Or is every frelling being on this lousy dungball of a planet going to go all white and poodoo their pants just because I supposibly can waggle my hand like this and make their brains ooze out their ears?!? I didnt want to come here, I have to deal with the frelling situation, so you felines can just -censored- deal with the situation as well. I've got an allergy to your -censored- fur, I'm hyperspace lagged, I haven't had a good -censored- in months and I'm not in the -censored- mood to waste time! And I certainly do not appreciate the word of a Senator being doubted! Do I make myself clear?!? I want to know whom I am to speak to, I want to know what the issues and sitiuation is from your point of view, I want to work out a peaceful and amicable settlement without any of this -censored-!"

I think everyone was rather taken aback by my rant - that is except Oriadin and Pierce, especially Oriadin whom was quite used to my short temper and lack of tolerance for nonsense as I saw it. I could tell he was trying not to laugh. The aide stepped back, seemingly alarmed as I advanced a few steps, in full cry.

"Now you are going to start again and this time, we are going to do this properly, understand me? All right Padawan, what the hell is it?!?!" I snapped, turning my head slightly to make it clear I was addressing Pierce.

"Ummm, you sure this right, Master?" he said in an impressively meek sounding voice.

"Do I look like I care? Would you rather I do this in my normal manner?"

"Normal?" he asked

"Ripping limbs off" Oriadin filled in, taking an obvious amount of delight relating the story. "She does that you know. I saw her pull the right arm off a Wookie once, with her bare hands even, then she shoved it up its..."

"That will be enough Jedi Oriadin, thank you....."

The rather unjedi like manners, despite the rudeness seemed to convince the aide to a degree I wasn't going to do a Jedi trick for now - thence we went through the normal greetings and protocols properly and after a few minutes, things were sort of sorted out. I could tell the Cizerack wanted soem time to most likely find out exactly who I was, which, given the situation, I was happy to give. We got an escort to our rooms - a rather swank apartment building they were in, several floors up. As we walked in that direction, I fell back a bit, so I could talk to Pierce and Oriadin without being overheard.

"What was this, good Jedi, bad Jedi? Not a bad idea I'll admit. Nice whining tone too. Been practicing?"

"Nice story from Oriadin" Pierce replied, sotto voice.

"Who said it was a story?"

A pause.

"You ripped an arm off a Wookie" he stated.

"Yes"

"And then shoved it where?"

"Up it's rectum"

"You... stuck it's own arm up it's <smallfont color=#FF0000>-Censored-</smallfont>?"

"Yes" I stated, perfectly serious. Oraidin however was definantly laughing quietly

"What did the Wookie do to get that?"

"Said hello" I stated.

"Said hello?"

"With a blaster"

[imported_Terran Starek]

Without thought or a second of emotion, Terran's instincts kicked in. He shot from his chair as quick as he could--standing before Xazor. It was odd, really. Xazor was a much stronger warrior than he, better trained in the Force, and more likely to succeed in battle against this strange opponent. But Terran took none of these facts into consideration. He only wanted to protect her--that was the only goal that stuck out in his mind. Everything else--including his own personal safety--was thrown out the window.

His eyes attempted feebly to follow what appeared to be two streaks of refracted light zipping across a background of the diner behind them. The figures moved so fast...he was in awe. He had never seen Marcus move that quicky nor, even more shocking, had he ever seen anyone match such a speed. This enemy was obviously just as much of a threat to Marcus as Marcus was to he.

Much too strong for Terran to even think about it.

"Xaz," he spoke, his mouth wide open at the spectacle that had errupted before him, and his eyes still glued to the fallen opponent, who had taken a momentary break, having been slammed into a table. He could see the man stirring and knew that this was far from over. "We should get the frell outta here!" His voice escelated in volume a bit as he glanced back to look at Marcus. His Master's face was solidly intense and focussed on the slumped--but moving--body of his opponent only meters away. If he and Xaz made a break for the door--right now--they might slip by the fallen warrior unnoticed. But their path to the exit went right by the powerful man who was beginning to pull himself together again. He looked back at Xaz, his eyes worried. They were going to have to act--and fast.

"What're we gonna do?"

[Darth Turbogeek]

Damn I thought, struggling to get back to my feet, Who the hell is this guy?

My clothes were now covered with dust and I was also covered with table splinters. Not to mention my back was now aching from being thrown into the wall and my head was ringing from the ffects of a punch. Least I was feeling sober now and my shades were still in place.

Glancing over a the whack-job that was the Man with No Colour, I really began wondering exactly whom he was. Not only was he dressed like a reject from 2000 years ago, he also had a sword - a bloody sword! Who the hell used a sword in this day of sabres and blasters?

Who dressed in frigging chain mail and leather armour as well? Who was this freak?

Whomever he was tho, he was bloody fast and knew how to fight. And as I had come across him before, I had been doing some pondering whom he was. Certainly, he was no ordinary person. Too fast, too powerful. He knew the Force at least as well as the Jedi Master's memories in my head.... the musing were cut short as he leapt at me again, this time with a knife in his hands. Barely getting out of the way in time, I literally ran along the wall, doing a backflip to land on my feet, coming to rest in a ready stance and with the growing anger I had learned was the key to the powers and energies of the Force. Feeding my anger with thoughts of the hidings and attempted killing this <smallfont color=#FF0000>-Censored-</smallfont> had tried on me, I raised a finger and pointed.

Malice and hate flowed, heat and fury. A small jet of flame, pointed at the No Colour Man. I had the satisfaction of hearing him squark in surprise as he leapt aside, the flame tendril hitting a pool of alcohol caught alight. I saw the No Colour Man look, then look back at me.

"Xazor.... I smell gas. Get out of here. I'll finish this clone off now"

I didnt care if they smelt flatulance. I raised my other hand, beginning to laugh madly, the nager, the hate, the fury building. I let fly again with a fire stream, this time setting some being alight. I heard screams and I felt panic. I smelt burning. Destruction I sensed. Wonderful, wonderful mayhem and destruction. Giggling I pointed again at the Man, ready to burn his backside too....

Thwack!

I screamed in pain, feeling the knife dig into my shoulder. The Man had a chair now in hand and was now ready to throw that too. I screamed again, using the pain to fuel the hate, pointing again I literally blasted the chair to ash with a fireball. As luck would have it, the bloody bastard had managed to leap away again. Didn't matter. I was going to burn this place and this Man with No Colour with it.

[Oriadin]

They were each given their own rooms but they were right next to each others. Helenias's room was choosen as the one to be in the middle so Pierce and Oriadin could offer some sort of protection incase there was a similar attack to the previous day.

The rooms were nice, very nice. Very large and spacious. The bed seemed huge. Why it was so big was a mystery to Oriadn. All around the room there were soft seats and pillows. The Cizerack looked like a race that was deeply into comfort. Perhaps they spent a lot of time sleeping since the bed was so big?

Oriadin traveled light and so it took him no time at all to settle in. He moved quickly to check out the room for any security risks. All in all it seemed pretty secure. The appartments were high enough up to make it a real struggle to come in through the windows but you can never be too carefull.

After he was happy with the room, he made his way out into the hall and looked out both ways. Two security guards at either end of the corridor. There was a strange feeling emulating from them though. Oriadin wondered if they were there to keep intruders out, or to keep an eye on Helenias.

He stood next to her door and knocked.

Oriadin knew very little about the Cizerack. Practically nothing infact. He knew they were a race, run by women and they had a very distinct accent. Sometimes it was hard for Oriadin to work out what they were saying, he just had to make sure he listend hard.

[Xazor Elessar]

"Holy <smallfont color=#000000>-Censored-</smallfont>!"

The words barely escaped Xazor's lips as she witnessed a strange man fly across the bar and smash into a wall full of glasses and expensive liquor. Her eyes went wide and then suddenly her vision blurred and went blank as she entered Marcus's mind through their Life Bond and attempted to see what he was. Everything was strange -- there were memories, vague ones that Xazor had never known before. There were words flashing across the screen of his mind and a vague statement that repeated over and over.

"Xazor get out of here!"

Suddenly she snapped back into reality but her breathing was hard and her heart pounded within her chest.

"Xaz'? Xazor are you okay?"

She was being shaken by Terran who looked on her with concern and then she snapped back into reality when shrill screams were heard just meters away from them. The Jedi Knight felt panic sweep over her as she attempted to devise a plan -- but there was nothing. She was very aware that this other man was a clone -- the clone of Marcus and he was dangerous. Thoughts of an illusion crossed her mind, but she was sure he would know reality from fallacy. She closed her eyes then and allowed the Force to show her the room they were in. Surprisingly enough, just behind her was a boarded wall but on the other side of the boards was a window that had been covered. Her eyes opened and she gazed at the wall and then with Marcus.

"I -- I can't fight this time, can I?"

She spoke softly as time seemed to stand still. Her heart pounded loudly in her chest and she could hear it in her ears. The Garou woman felt a tear sting at her eye -- pleading to be released as she set her gaze upon Marcus. All he could do was look at her and not even see her at all. Lowering her eyes, Xazor turned away unsure if Marcus would make it out alive or not, but she knew he wanted her to save herself. Grabbing the sword off of her back -- the very sword that Terran had given her so long ago -- she raised it up and charged at the wall before sending the silver blade into the wood. It broke apart with ease and shards sprayed forth like water from a river's falls. The window was now exposed, but it took her another strike to break through it fully and allow enough space for a pregnant woman through. Her hands quickly slipped back to resheeth her sword before she looked deeply into Terran's eyes. He nodded and then yelled something before taking her by the shoulders and turning her to face the escape. With an encouraging nudge, the Knight made her way into the booth and then climbed through the window into the ally between the bar and the neighboring building.

"Terran!"

She yelled as she ran down the ally as fast as her legs would carry her. He was right behind her though and she nearly fell out of the ally way with him right on her heels. Suddenly then there was a loud sound as an explosion rocked the bar. Flames enveloped the establishment like water upon an unsuspecting rock at the bottom of a river bed. Xazor's eyes went wide and her jaw dropped as the sight consumed her gaze.

"Oh good Lord -- Marcus."

Xazor absently reached out a hand toward the sight as tears welled up in her eyes. Terran moved close and wrapped his arms around her which she did in turn before crying into his shoulder. The young woman completely ignored all that was in her mind at the moment, forgetting the bond she shared with the Jedi Master -- forgetting that she would feel death if something aweful happened to him. All thoughts escaped her except for the pain she was feeling in her heart -- and now within her womb. A silent groan escaped her lips as pain seered through her stomach. Wincing, she kept her face from Terran's sight so he would not no of her suffering. 'This child can't come yet!' she pleaded in her mind -- but all things come too soon.

[Helenias Evenstar]

A knock on the door made me lift my head, reaching out with the Force to see whom it was. Satisfied by the familiar presence of my former Padawan, I called for him to enter. He did so and would have been rather surprised to see what was on my bed - one of my cases had false lining, packed full with electrics and spying counter measures.

"What is that?" he asked. I looked up, pointed to a corner.

"We are being watched. This is some toys to make sure that what I'm really doing and saying stay safely hidden"

"What are up to?"

"Going to have a look around. Seems that the surprise the Cizerack had in seeing me was genuine. Thence, someone made sure our arrival was not known beforehand - that either means we have someone watching over us, or someone is setting us up"

"Considering the attempted assasination before we left, the second option seems most likely" replied Oriadin.

"Planning for failure? Possibly. For now, I'd like to have a look around without our hosts knowing."

"How are you going to do that?"

"By pissing Pierce off in a big way" I replied, grinning.

"Pardon?"

For an answer, I began taking off my Jedi robes, revealing that under the loose fabric I had been wearing full body armour. Dark red plates, black webbings, the style would be familiar with those with Imperial knowledge. The helmet I reached out for and took up out of another case made it blindingly obvious. The armour of an Imperial Royal Guard. Putting the helmet on and attaching the micro fibre power, the sensors came alive, the visor immediatly giving life form reading. What owuld have been truly startling would be the fact the colour of the armour immediatly shifted, darkening and merging my form into the background - chameleon active paints. Responded to the surrounds and automatically changed colour to suit. With a brief wave, I stepped away - up onto the window ledge I had already readied with a ultra thin rope, grabbed hold and swung quickly and sliently away.

Even in a few seconds, I could feel the freedom the form of Lord Fire Balde gave me. No Jedi, no Senator - just armoured assasin and warrior, moving with purpose and stealth. Back into my true element. Reaching out with my hand, grasping claws took hold on the building's stone, a foot kicked a simliar grapple into mortar. I let go of the rope, then began to climb sliently - the darkness now gathering, helping to hide me even better. The chameleon paint added the final touch of invisibility.

Not worried about being seen (I had done this time and time again in much heavier guarded places) I quickly made it to the roof, rolled onto it's surface, made a quick scan before getting up. No one was up here I could see or sense, so I took a moment to close my eyes and reach out with the Force, seeing if I could feel a threat or even a way to go. Surprisingly,a immediate hint of where to go formed in my mind - opening my eyes I began to run, then leaping as only a Jedi could, crossed the gap between buildings and was off into the night.

Pierce was goign to kill me when he found out I was going snooping.

Or maybe he will use that brain of his and work out it would be the first thing I would do and be helping me in some way

[Keerrourri Feessaarro]

The initial meeting was to take place that evening. In the sake of diplomacy, and an attentiveness to their guests, it would be over a dinner, suitable for humans. While this was well and good, Emissary Sarrtarroa opted for a more traditional mid-day snack, to sate his appetite, so that he might not offend his guests. Entering the feeding chamber, Keerrourri was immediately disrobed by two attendants, allowing the Pride Mother's favorite to feed without fear of dirtying his fine clothes. The lamb bleated at him fearfully, as he stepped towards it. However, there was no reprieve in store for the doomed animal, and the lithe Cizerack sprung on top of it, quickly pinning it and locking a death bite across its neck. The lamb's shrieks were muffled, and after a few seconds, its jerky struggles ceased. Licking the blood from his lips, Keerrourri began to eat...but was interrupted.

"Emjissssssarrrjy?"

He rose, blood on his face, hands, and chest...as the young officer entered the chamber, giving a crisp salute. Her greedy eyes diverted south at his classical physique, but the officer's military disciple quickly wrangled her libido, and she returned to his blue eyes.

"jYesss, Captajin?" Sarrtarroa idly licked crimson from his fingers.

"jIt appearrrsss the New Rrrepubljic delegatjion hasss been changed wjithout ourrr knowledge."

Sarrtarroa's ears twitched, and he paused. "Explajin."

Her brow furrowed as she reported to him. "The Sssenatorrr jisss a Jedji. Helenjiasss Evenssstarrr."

The Emisssary's elegant ears folded back for a moment, and his eyes narrowed. Not a malicious expression, but an uncomfortable one, as he contemplated precisely how the game would change.

"jIt jisss of no consssequence. Howeverrr, jincrrreassse ssstate medjia coverrrage on herrr. jI am sssurrre that a Jedji Sssenatorrr wjill be qujite an object of ssscrrrutjinjy. Thessse forrrce ussserrrsss arrre ljike rrroachesss. Thejy fearrr nothjing except the ljight that exposssesss them."

The Captain nodded. "On that matterrr, ssshe hasss alrrreadjy made ssseverrral tactlessssss commentsss, djiplomatjicalljy ssspeakjing, of courrrssse."

Sarrtarroa nodded. "jI am sssurrre mjy prrropaganda advjisssorrr wjill brrrjief me on jit morrre. Thank jyou, Captajin, jyou arrre djisssmjissssssed."

He sent her on her way with a salute, and crouching once again at the dead animal on the floor, resumed his meal. Sending a Jedi to the talks would be a sure sign that the situation had escalated. They had the capacity to be statesmen, but also far more. If what the Captain said was true, and Senator Evenstar's comments were as colored as suggested, it could be manipulated into an embarrassing scandal for the New Republic. One that might deflate their aggressive questioning into Cizerack internal affairs, once and for all.

Keerrourri smiled as he fed on the slaughtered lamb. The benefits of this were beginning to outweigh the detriments.

[Helenias Evenstar]

Standing on top of a building near where we were staying, I looked around the night landscape, a frown on my face. For half an hour, I had been going from roof top to roof top, avoiding street level as I sought the reason the Force was leading me. Frustrated, I had come to a halt, thinking it was well time to go back. Pierce would be no doubt highly unhappy.

Since when I care what others thought? Smiling a bit under my helmet, I suddenly froze, then moved fast and silently into deeper shadw, where the chameleon piant would work even better. It didnt give invisibility, just camoflage. I allowed my head to look around, seeing what the source of the alert was. Presently, a being came out onto the roof, bearing a long, thin object. I boosted the visor receptors, identifying the being as a male human and the thing in his hand a portable rocket launcher.

A suspicion came to mind and I turned away to where it was the building I was staying at was, counted the levels and swore softly. Right in range, too. It seemed whomever had set the original rocket attack had gotten here pretty quickly, knew where I was staying - and I bet the room. I turned back to watch him set up, now joined by another human. I switched the recorder on for the visor - in case I needed to refer later to this. Eventually one of them spoke.

"So, think we'll get her this time?"

"Depends. We'll wait till Jas spikes her drink, that way her Jedi powers wont be sharp. After she gets to bed, and is asleep, then yeah, I'll reckon we will toast her this time."

"Hope so. Be a poodoo to come out to this crap hole and miss again."

"Well if Tim had done his part of the job properly, we wouldn't be out here! How the frell one frelling woman managed to kill all them mercs got me beat. Her and that new guy. Do we know who he is?"

"Some Padawan supposibly"

"Yah well them Ciz we got doing clean up will work better"

Ciz cleanup crew?!? Cizerack???? I felt anger begin to encroach. How dare those felines! Keeping myself in control, I waited and continued to listen.

"Okay, we set?"

"Yaw. Lets go downstairs and get some grub with the rest fo the boys"

The two left, not noticing the shadow that detached itself from the wall and followed quietly. Two levels down, I saw them enter a doorway, close it behind them. Right, I'll fix you little red wagon, I thought.... Back upstairs I moved, then judging the place where their windows would be, I moved a few meters across, to a pillar area with no windows. I set an anchor line, allowed a fine coil of filament drop down. The filament was more than strong enough to bear my wait, but for now I set the climbing claws and went down the two floors manually. When I reached where I wanted, I attached the filament to my belt, the swung away to the edge where their window was. Grabbing hold, I poked my head to peek through the blinds at were half shut. Yes, there they were, with three others, sitting down for some meal. They were all also heavily armed. I didn't like my chances of a crash through the window and blast the room to pieces, so reaching one hand to my belt, I pulled out a very rarely used device. Something no Jedi should have, but was standard equipment for an Imperial Royal Guard. It had a miniture silenced drill, which I used to put the tiniest of holes in the glass, then poked the small nozzle through the hole. A small puff of compressed air sent a tiny capsule a few meters away, where it laid, unnoted - even as it began to expell a nearly colourless gas. Pulling the tube back, I applied a very quick heat treat to seal the hole and cover where the tablet of poison gas had come from, that now quite neatly killed the rooms occupants in a few short seconds. The gas would deteriorate in about a minute, leaving little trace as to why five humans had suddenly all died around a table wth no signs of violence. Now was the time to get the hell out of here and back to my room.

--

A housekeeping pillowfluffer servant came into the apparently empty room. A few loceked cases were on the bed, some clothes were laid out. The servant looked about, puzzled as to why the senator was not there...

"EXCUSE ME??? DO YOU <smallfont color={hovercolor}>-Censored-</smallfont>ING WELL MIND??? I'm trying to have a shower and get ready, now get out!" I snapped, coming out of the shower room naked, dripping wet and rather miffed my privacy had been violated. The servant mewed an apology and got out. I waited a moment, then stepped over to the door, making sure it was locked, before getting back to drying off and getting ready for my first meeting with Keerrourri Sarrtarroa. Good thing I had gotten back in time, I considered.

Now... where had I put my hairdryer?

[imported_Terran Starek]

Without thinking, he had followed her. Without feeling, he had jumped to her side, running alongside her as fast as his legs would carry him. He could only hope that he could maintain pace. Something was not right here--he could feel an odd shift in the Force. He felt uneasy--something inside of him left him nervous. It was as though he was anxious about something he could not pinpoint. Something was coming--he did not know what. It was the nature of the Force to hide these things from him, he thought. Damn the Force!

No, he didn't mean that. He didn't mean that at all. The Force was the strongest ally he'd known. It's just that all of this had occurred so fast and had come on so strongly that he had not had much time to think. Not until now--running through this alleyway. To where? Where, he thought.

kaaaaaAAA-BOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

The explosion nearly shook them from their feet--they would have fallen were they not agile warriors. Immediately, Xazor's head turned towards his and her face contorted in such a way that he had never seen. He immediately wrapped his arms around her as she sobbed into his shoulder--he could tell that he heart had gone out to all the victims in that building--and she feared for the safety of those dear to her. He squeezed her tightly, holding her.

"It's ok, everything's going to be fine. You know Marcus is ok. How are you feeling?" He took the moment to check her over--looking her over like he always did when he suspected her hurt. "How is the ba--" He paused, as her eyes could tell the entire story.

You've got to be kidding me, he spoke into the Force, seemingly addressing it and it only.

[Cizerack Hunter Forces]

Before Helenias was ready, there came a loud, persistent rapping at her door. Likewise, Oriadin and Tondry's quarters also received knocks. On the other end of the doors were an entourage of Cizerack soldiers, all with stern, no-nonsense faces, and all carrying quite visible sidearms. At the head of the group was, naturally, a female officer. Her auburn locks spilled loosely out from beneath an officer's cap, until they were pulled loosely behind, and left to hang down her neck and dress uniform. She knocked repetitively with her left hand, while her right never strayed far from her pistol's holster.

"Sssenatorrr Evenssstarrr, open the doorrr now, pleassse."

There was a calm but urgent inflection in her flowing accent. She and the soldiers under her waited in a tense moment for her to respond.

[Marcus Telcontar]

He had barely gotten away from that last hate fuelled percussion. Now here he was, trying to buy time, trying to keep this clone in one place until everyone had gotten clear....

SHEILD UP!!!!!

The Force almost screamed the iminant danger, whch he responded to by curling up into a ball and setting his mind into a full blown defensive shield for what was to come...

<h1><font color=red>WHAM!</font></h1>

The fury of the gas driven explosion washed over him, heat tried to tear at him, shrapnel flew everywhere as he concentrated, gritting his teeth in the effort to protect himself. Right outside this building, he had managed to shield himself from a turbolaser blast - it had knocked him cold and destroyed his clothes, but he had lived. This hell wasn't quite as bad, but it was still straining him - then a secondry explosion literally picked him up off his feet and blasted him through where a wall had a second ago existed and far out into the road, crashing through a door on the other side and into unconciousness.

With any luck, Turbogeek was toast.

--

Two hours later.

"Why. the hell does my head feel so awful?" he mumbled, finally waking up.

"You took a nasty fall Marcus". The voice was male and Marcus knew him. He blinked, remembered he couldn't see anyway, then stretched out his mind to sense whom it was. To his surprise, it was the Governor of Arcan IV.

"Roger? What the hell?"

"I was asking the same thing until they found you unconcious. You do have a way of saying hello to Arcan, don't you?"

The Jedi shook his head trying to clear it. "Ummm... yeah. Roger, where am I?"

"Medical wing of the Governor's office. We took you here once one of my men recognised you"

"He... did?"

"Yes, he did. The sword mate. You might look different, but the sword you carry don't. Don't worry, only he and I know. Everyone else just been told your a VIP"

"Oh... good" groaned the Jedi, hauling himself up in a seating position. ""What about the other Jedi? Xazor Dawnstrider and two others?"

The Governor paused. "What others?"

"I came here with two others - we were picking up a Padawan. Surely they would have come looking for me...?"

"Sorry mate, but you seem to be alone, now. Your ship was seen taking off not long after the explosion in that bar, hightailing it like the hounds of hell were after it. "

WHAT????

Marcus sat up very fast and immediatly regretted it and his head felt like it was splitting. Masterign the pain after a bit of Jedi pain killing, he searched for the presence of the Governor, before asking just what the hell he meant.

"Exactly that. Your ship got out of here in a hurry. It outran everything we had and entered hyperspace 15 minutes ago"

Frell. Marcus tried to reach Xazor over their Life Bond, but got nothing. Only something akin to a place holder saying "I'm alive" - an effect that only took hold when she or he was in hyperspace or a long, long way from each other. Indeed, she was out of here, he would have sensed if she was on the planet. "Okay Roger, that makes no sense. She would have been desperate to make sure I was okay. When did my ship leave the surface?"

"Dont know - we only saw it as it was making space. Say, 1 hour after the blast."

That would be 5 minutes prep, 10 warm up, 5 to figure out the boost controls, 30 minutes to get back... okay, almost straight away. That truly is odd. What in the name of the Force would make her get out of here that fast? Surely Turbogeek hadn't tried anything...?

He laid back, trying to let his aching head clear. "Roger, what the <smallfont color=#FF0000>-Censored-</smallfont> is going on?"

"Dunno Marcus, you tell me. Your the one that normally knows"

Yeah.. yeah, that was true. But Marcus was blind, he had no ship, his Padawans and his adopted daughter had done the bolt, Turbogeek had turned up from whatever rock he had been hiding...

He sat back, deciding to rest. He couldn't do much more right now with this headache. Maybe an hour of Jedi Meditation would help....

As he was slipping under, he sort of heard the news in the background. Something about a Senator escaping an assassination attempt. Who cared, he thought, as his mind slipped into meditation and he heard no more.

[Xazor Elessar]

Xazor did all she could to prevent the tears in her eyes from falling, but it was no use and they fell in flooded riverfulls. She slowly dipped down to her knees and wept into her hands as Terran held her tightly.

"It'll be okay Xazor, I pro --"

Just as he was speaking, the Garou's eyes became glassy and she blacked out, becomming limp in his arms. He shook her gently before panic set over his features.


- - - - -

Carshoulis Prime.

Before Helenias was ready, there came a loud, persistent rapping at her door. Likewise, Oriadin and Tondry's quarters also received knocks. On the other end of the doors were an entourage of Cizerack soldiers, all with stern, no-nonsense faces, and all carrying quite visible sidearms. At the head of the group was, naturally, a female officer. Her auburn locks spilled loosely out from beneath an officer's cap, until they were pulled loosely behind, and left to hang down her neck and dress uniform. She knocked repetitively with her left hand, while her right never strayed far from her pistol's holster.

"Sssenatorrr Evenssstarrr, open the doorrr now, pleassse."

There was a calm but urgent inflection in her flowing accent. She and the soldiers under her waited in a tense moment for her to respond.


- - - - -

Xazor's eyes shot open suddenly as she gasped for air. The vision entered her mind just as strong as s ton of bricks hitting her body going mach twenty. She sat up despite Terran's efforts to keep her still.

"We have to -- we have to --"

The Nehanite Padawan stepped forth and gently placed a hand upon her forehead as her eyes met his with worry.

"Carshoulis Prime -- we need to get there, but -- Marcus!"

She reached out toward the blown building once again as tears filled her eyes once again. Terran shook his head and grabbed up the young woman in his arms, having a bit of trouble picking her up at first due to the added weight of the unborn. Sejah followed close beside the couple, checking over Xazor and making sure that Terran was able to support her weight. The journey took them nearly a half hour, but soon they were back at Marcus's ship and boarding.

"Set me down!"

Without argument, Terran did as the Knight asked and quickly she moved to the main controls.

"Lights up! Begin main and sub ignition sequence."

She spoke to the computer which responded by doing as she asked. The lights flickered on and the main board switches came to life. With a quick movement of her hand, Xazor had Razor charging to life. Fifteen minutes into the stage, the Knight began fumbling about for a pair of boost controls.

"Where the hell are they?"

And just as she was about to lay a hand on one, the woman accidentally took out the lightsaber on her belt. The beautiful silver hilt went flying to the ground where it separated in the center as was normal -- but then she noticed several wires hanging out from both sides. A connecting rod had fallen out and the Knight's eyes widened in disbelief. 'IF ONE MORE THING GOES WRONG!' she nearly shrieked inside her mind before sighing and resting her head in her hands.

"Damnit! Damnit all to the nines of hell!!"

With that, she slammed her fist onto the control panel and nearly broke a few lights. With a silent sigh, the Garou turned around and eyed the two men who's attention she had after the little outburst.

"Sejah -- have you ever constructed a lightsaber before? Anyway -- please, if you will, fix mine. Just let the Force guide you, I can't do it right now."

It was an important task for Xazor rarely trusted anyone with her weapons -- especially this one. She trusted Marcus's student and so, she leaned over and picked up the pieces -- then placed them in Sejah's hands.

"Please?"

She pleaded and then smiled with satisfaction before turning around and slamming down on the boost controls.

"Hang on!"

With that they were off and blasting through hyperspace. Xazor's mind frequented the thought of Marcus, but somehow -- she knew that he would be okay and Helenias needed help now more than the Jedi Master did.

[Sejah Haversh]

It was officially Sejah's second worst day since joining the Jedi Order. Not only had he just about been blown up, but now he was rocketing off in a ship that was giving him some serious nausea, Xazor was not well, and he had to fix a lightsaber.

Since when did he know anything about lightsabers?

Well, other than how to swing one, that was.

Xazor was allready hard at work piloting the ship once more, and he felt a sudden wave of space-sickness come over him, so Sejah couldn't reply for a moment; too busy trying to quell the churning in his stomach.

Stumbling back to a place where he could sit down, the Nehantite tried to make sense of what needed to be fixed, and how the darn weapon even worked in the first place. He never had been good with technology--at all--so he couldn't even figure out where to begin. Even taking out his own lightsaber and looking at it to compare with was no help, and he was too afraid to take his apart because then they might have two non-functioniong sabers among the three of them. Taking a deep breath, Sejah tried to calm himself and see where the Force would giude him, but that only ended up in him crossing some wires and accidentally zapping his paw with a sharp burst of electricity.

Once his paw regained feeling, he figured out the best course of action he could take at the moment. Placing Xazor's broken saber in a pouch so none of the pieces would get lost, he got up and headed back to the cockpit, extending his own lightsaber to her, a sheepish grin on his face. "I'm sorry, Xazor, but, I really don't know how to fix it right now. Take mine, odds are you'll use it more than me anyhow." It was a sorry apology, but, not knowing the first thing about how the weapon worked, it was all he could do.

[imported_Terran Starek]

"Allow me to take a look, Sejah," Terran spoke from behind the Nehantite. Terran was quite used to space travel now, and the initial sickness had passed over him quickly. Sejah handed him the hilt and found a seat, still a bit weary from the shake-up of take off. Terran took his place at a small workstation.

You're positive that you're fine? He sent the message silently across the bridge to Xazor, who sat at the pilot's seat. The auto-pilot had taken control, and she sat, her head in her hands. She was deep in thought about something.

I'm fine, she snipped back. Terran's face shot up from his workstation as she spoke. She swiveled her chair to look at him as well. I'm sorry, I'm just--

I know. It's alright, Xaz. You don't have to be strong for me. He smiled at her, pulling a small toolkit out from his equipment. She returned it with a look of her own that said 'thanks.' He was there for her--she knew it, she didn't doubt it, and he knew that stress made people respond differently to things. She had much on her mind--much she hadn't talked to him about yet. Soon enough, things unsaid would be revealed.

With a few moments of tinkering, the man had the lightsaber up and running. Terran had a way with weapons--Xazor had always said it. It was such an odd talent--Terran was a very nonviolent person, and yet he seemed to be able to construct some of the strongest, most reliable blades. Xazor wore one of his weapons at all times--a symbol not only of their bond but of his craftsmanship.

"There--it should be fine from here on out," he said, returning the blade to the very tired Xazor. He hugged her--softly, but with feeling. "I take it you know what's going on here, because I think it's obvious that Sejah and I sure as frell don't!" He said it loud enough that the other padawan could here, and chuckled.

[Pierce Tondry]

Pierce opened the door to his hotel room. "You're late," he admonished the officers at the door. "I expected you ten minutes ago."

This seemed to catch the officer knocking on his door slightly by surprise, and before she could recover Pierce went on. "Well, don't just stand there- come in, come in. Make yourself at home. The place is yours, after all."

"Mjisssterrr Tondrrrjy, we forrrmalljy rrrequest that-"

Then the Cizerack caught sight of what Pierce had done to the room. "jYourrr furrrnjiturrre," she said. "jYou have moved jit."

"Of course," Pierce said. "I like it better this way. More defendable. Oh, and I also found a lot of these as I was moving things."

He handed the Cizerack several small spying devices that had been crushed to ensure their non-functionality. "I'd also advise your chief of security to hide his spybots better next time, if these are his."

"Mjissster Tondrrrjy-"

"Oh, and I also want you to know I've got my little watchdroid on lookout," Pierce said, indicating the small droid sitting on the nightstand near the dresser. "There was an attempt on Senator Evenstar's life recently, and as her bodyguard I want to make certain no one comes snooping around my room without my knowledge, just in case."

"Mjisssterrr Tondrrrjy, thjisss jisss highljy jirrrrrregularrr-"

"Oh, it's hardly a spydroid," Pierce reassured her. "Your own customs people went through it after all, and you do trust them, don't you?"

There was a half-second of complete flabbergastedness from the Cizerack official, then she straightened up. "Mjisssterrr Tondrrrjy, jI have been sssent-"

"Yes, of course," Pierce interrupted again. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt. Do go ahead."

[Diego Van Derveld]

Diego's nostrils flared a bit as he glanced to the man named Sanis. Despite Arya's assurances, his mood was still sour, and his scent reflected it. As the ship lifted off, and weaved through the Carshoulis city sprawls and its traffic, Diego looked down to the little girl, and winked.

[Arya Ravenwing]

Arya's lips tightened as she eased the Habitually Late into the air. To her annoyance a small one man tugship buzzed her, the Pride's way of telling her that they were still there. Go to the seven hells of Corellia, you...cats!

Uh oh, her insults were getting weak. Arya frowned, and flew the arranged flight path, the tugship leaving them at the edge of the spaceport. Jina climbed up into Diego's lap, and Arya almost stopped her, but changed her mind when she saw how gentle the Lupine was with the girl.

"So, you have anything to say, Mr. Prent?" She broke a five minute silence with the words, and began the landing procedure, engaging replusors outside of Yarshu's shop.

[Sanis Prent]

I need a drink.

(I padded down my jacket, and pulled my flask from the pocket. Untwisting the cap, I upended it over my mouth, but not a drop came out. The thing was dry as Tattooine.)

Spast...figures. Perfect timing.

(I slouched into a nearby seat, running a hand through my hair, as I watched the Carshoulis skyline pass.)

How long you figure we'll be stuck here? This Yarshu had better have good connections.

[Helenias Evenstar]

Somewhat puzzled, I tilted my head to look out the bathroom door. I extended my awareness into the Force, wondering whom it was. It didn't seem like danger to me, else I would probably had picked up somethign much earlier. Out on the front door of the apartment, there seemed to be a group of Cizerack guards.

Odd. It wasn't time to go meet the Cizerack Ambassador. And it didn't feel like a threat or a potential problem. What was going on?

Somewhat curious, I completed clipping the long dress I would be wearing to a shoulder clasp, moving to the door, unlocking it and looking outside into the hallway. Observing the Cizerack guards and their slightly tense attitude.

"Yes? Can I help you?" I asked

[Marcus Telcontar]

The hour's worth of meditation did him good. when he came out of it, the headache was gone and he was feeling refreshed. As he woke, he noted there was someone else in the room. Scanning with his mind, he realised quickly it was the Governor and relaxed.

But Roger Ram'jet was looking tense. Extremely tense. The Governor glanced at the Jedi and Marcus felt the other man's mood change. Trying to put on a bright face. Not that it would do good against a Jedi and it certainly would do no good against a Jedi Master depending on the Force to sense his enviroment. "Welcome back Marcus. Feeling better?"

The holo that had been playing when Marcus went into meditation was off. Outside the office he was in, there was a palatible sense of anger and fury of the people outside. There was a few words he could hear, but not really work out what context they were in. Certainly, nothing sounded pleased. "Yeah, much better. You mind getting me a drink of water?"

"Sure.. one moment" The Governor went over to the water dispensor, pouring out a large glass. The Jedi noted ram'jet seemed nervous as well. even a touch scared. This was getting Marcus more and more curious by the second, but he didn't say anything until he had a good few mouthfuls of the clean and plesantly cold water. Ram'jet was waiting for the Jedi to finish.

"So, mind telling me what's going on?" asked Ram'jet.

"Nothing much really. Was here to pick up a Padawan and wandered into a Dark Jedi. I think I got him toasted"

"Ah"

Marcus was really starting to get concerned. Just what was the Governor worried about? "So, what about you? I sense much fear in you mate" Still feeling thirsty, the Jedi started to take another gulp.

"We just got word - someone tried to kill our Senator..."

Marcus' reaction couldn't have been more comedic. He choked and spat the water out, coughing and spluttering. "What the frell? Tried to kill Evenstar...?"he managed after a minute's worth of coughing and recovery. "Is she all right?"

"Yes, she cleaned the would be assassins up. However, that's not all. She then went to Cardohoris Prime on some dipomatic mission..."

"Hey, whoa, stop there. The assassination is okay, that's heavy poo, but your tellign me some nutcase sent her on a dipolmatic mission to the Cizerack home world??? Who in God's name would be mad enough to do that?"

"It get's better. It's the Calan dispute. She's supposed to negotiate... "

"No.. no no! Now this is perposterous. I know her Ram'jet. She is the single most undiplomatic person I have ever met...."

"Then you two would get along well" the Governor inserted.

You have no idea how well mate! "... and that's just asking for a diplomatic disaster. You send Evenstar in to kick heads and take names, not negotiate! And...." He paused, just sensing Ram'jet. "And... she put her foot into it, Didn't she?" He didn't need to see the nod of affirmation. He sighed. "Okay, so how bad is it...?"

The full story was ugly. He went quiet, thinking. "Roger, get me a coom unit" He eventually said.

--

After the <a href=http://www.sw-fans.net/forum/showthread.php?threadid=27370#post483094>conversation</a> to Jeran, Marcus say back on his chair, considerign and thinking. What didn't make sense was why Xazor had gotten the frell out of here. Unless....

"Roger, your techs. Did they get a exit vector on my ship"

"Ummm... I dont know"

"Find out for me please"

[Xazor Elessar]

Xazor couldn't help the feeling that something awefully wrong was happening. 'Someone's trying to kill Helenias', the words danced across her mind as the Force spoke to her. Still this was hard for the Jedi Knight to believe. She closed her eyes and began to meditate. The Force swept over her body and calmed her immediatly, bringing peace to her mind once again. 'Without Marcus to help me, I'm alone on this one with two Padawans', the thoughts crossed her mind but again, the Force reassured her. It seemed like an hour had passed before the Knight came to, but it was only at the jolt of their ship. It had fallen out of hyperspace, but for good reason -- up ahead loomed Carshoulis Prime. A hard lump formed at the back of the Knight's throat as her eyes widened at the sight before her.

"Sejah -- Terran, something is happening down there. Sejah, could you pull up the latest news broadcast about the troubles with Calan? Terran, could you possibly find out anything about the latest Senator's meeting? I have a really bad feeling about this."

She said softly. 'Marcus? Why can't I hear you now? Just when I needed you the most, I'm on my own -- I don't feel prepared', she spoke softly through the Life Bond that felt so empty at the moment. A silent sigh escaped the woman's lips as she began configuring Razor for the landing procedures. After typing in a few access codes and pressing a series of buttons, the Knight allowed the ship to take over and do its thing. Xazor only hoped that her Mother was still alive and well -- she could only trust the Force on this one.

[Simon Desvelles]

"So..."

Simon Desvelles turned around to regard the speaker behind him, an ugly lump of a man. "So, what?"

"So, you going to stand looking out the window all night, or are you going to get some sleep?"

For an answer, the big man - and there was no disgusing it, Desvelles was tall and very powerfully built - turned back around to look out over the skyline again. Here he was, on the first trip off Ukio he had ever had, looking out over... a city! An actual city, stretching out of kilometers, as far as the eye could see. It's lights glittered, it smells assasiled him, his mind was in overload mode - it was overwhelming for such a man like him. "No. I wouldn't be able to sleep anyway. I've never seen anything like this"

Fregge Duval, his next door neighbour (If a farm that stretched for hundreds of kilometers could be said to have neigbours) got up off the sofa he had been lying on and joined the much larger man at the balcony. "Simon, this is nothing. Wait'll see Coruscant. There are towers there that stetch for kilometers straight up"

Desvelles turned his head, a disbelieveling expression on his face. "Oh come on. Next you'll be telling me Jedi exist"

Fregge shrugged. "suit yourself, just telling ya like it is. Simon my boy, you should have gotten off Ukio before now"

It was Desvelles turn to shrug. "Why? Being a nerf herder's a good thing to be, it's a nice quiet life. This... out there may be pretty mind boggling, but I'd still prefer to be at home"

Fregge rolled his eyes. "Simon, I told - get out and see the Galaxy while you can. You a wealthy young man, this deal to supply nerfs tot he top resturants of Coruscant will have you so rolling in credits you could by this place. You dont have to live on the farm you know. You dont have to be breaking your back working with the rest of them labourers. Simon, you have the Galaxy at your feet! And what about a woman? Lad, you could have any one you want. Rich bloke ike you and also handsome as all get out. Who would resist?"

"I'm just a nerf herder Fregge. Always and always will be. I dont want more than that" Besides, I know who could resist. She could.

Fregge sighed. "Okay... okay. But your still going on to Coruscant with me, right?"

"Yeah"

"Good. Well... night Simon. See you in the morning"

"Yeah. Night"

The other farmer left Desvelels alone in his thoughts, just staring out over the night sky of this place. He didn't remember what it was called, but the beings here were walking cats. He had seen or imaginged nothign like it before in his life. The only cats he knew of were of the domsetic kind or the Naboo sabre cats they had imported years ago to help herding. Scaabs and Nerfs were his trade on the rolling green hills and pastures of his prime Ukio land, a huge farm and he the sole owner. It had made him wealthy and Fregge was right, Desvelles sourced nerf was a wanted commodity. Had been for years before his birth even. His whole family line had been nerf herders for so many generations, the farming way was in his blood and would never leave.

It was his way, his life and he loved it. He had never wanted to leave. Until he had met that woman. He had gotten a bit of wunderlust and decided to take this trip to work it out of him. And indeed, it was working. Sure, itwas good to see some of this... but to his eye, even this spectacular night sky was just simply.... unnatural. Cold. Soul destroying.

What did she see in all of this, he pondered. Why does she wander about as a smuggler, why does someone like her like going from place to place?

And just why, he wondered, was he still thinkign about her? It wasn;t like anythign happened between them. Fact, she was a bit nasty to him. To him, he was as the Galaxy saw nerf herders - backward country hicks. Dumb. He sighed. There was wonder and joy in his life the Galaxy just didn't understand. Couldn't understand if the evidence of this stone and steel monstrosity called cites could be believed.

The big man continued to stare outwards, hardly moving.

Wonder what Arya's doing tonight anyway?

[Darth Turbogeek]

Oh for the zark's sake -he was a mess. Decidely uncool. Then again, getting into a battle with some sword weilding madman, then havign the bar you were in detonating around your ears would do that. Plus, being thrown outside by the blast. And then...

Yeah okay, he thought. Enough of that. He was a mess an that was all there was to it. Now, the bones in his arm he could heal, same withthe cuts, bruises and burns, but his pride and his clothes - tattered and ripped - would not be fixed so fast. Forget the threads, they were trash. it was his pride. He had to face it, what he had learned in the last year from the memories in his head hadn't been enough. The pysical training and exercises, the guns... not enough. The Man with No Colour had ripped him new one - again.

What was most infuriating is that Turbogeek had been tryign to find out whom that gorm was, for absolutly no result. As he sat up and leaned back on the wall he had been slumped against, he rememebred how every data trail that colourless manic had, dissappeared into the ether. Not a trace. No id anywhere, no history.... Turbogeek had worked out it could only be a Force user and a powerful one. Yet, there was no record anywhere of anyone alive that good. Even the clone of whom he was, the Jedi Master named Turbogeek was nothing like that and he was the baddest of them all apparently. Really annoyed now, he ripped off a hanging bit of cloth and threw it away in disgust. He kept thinking and stewing for some more minutes, hardly aware of the pain in his arm, not realising until too late there was some... things surrounding him. Surprised, but not alarmed, he looked up - 12 of them, lizard things.

"Weee waaantsssss tooo speeeak tooooo yoouuuuuu" hissed one of the enormous lizard beasts.

"Yeah? What about?" he said.

"A Muuutuuuaaaallll prooobleeeemmm"

"Look dude, or whatever you are, how do you know what my problems are, okay? Maybe I fell off my bike, right?"

"Wrrrooonngggggggg Turbogeeeek"

"Ummm.... excuse me? How did you know my name?"

"Beeeccaaassssuueeeee... we sssssawwww you beiinggggg madddeeeeee"

What the..? Turbogeek stared up in astonishment. "You... saw me being cloned? How...?"

"Cooommeeeee wiiiiiiithhhhh ussssssssss"

"Yeah.... yeah allright I will. Ummm... I'm not that in one piece, are we going far?"

The lizard pointed and two of the other beasts reached over to pick the injured clone up - surprisingly gentle. That still jolted his arm and he hissed in pain. Still, this was getting his attention. What did hese things want and how did they knwo about him?

[Arya Ravenwing]

"This Yarshu had better have good connections." Sanis' words kept replaying in her mind, even as the Carshoulis native folded his arms and shook his head.

"jI am sssorrrrrrjy, Rrravenwjing, but jI cannot get the parrrtsss untjil Frrrjidajy." Yarshu was a lumpy, disheveled human male, grease almost permanently worked into his hair and skin.

She leaned closer, her face intense but her voice low. "I cannot be here that long. I have to get off this damn planet before I'm made."

He stepped back, face angry at her intrustion of his personal space. Growing up with Cizerack would do that to you. "Then jI sssuggessst jyou bujy a new ssshjip, jif jyou arrre ssso jimpatjient." He wiped his hand on a rag that was more dirty than his hands.

Arya took a deep, calming breath, "Yarshu, I'm sorry. I really need this ship fixed, and you know it, but if your yanking me around about having to order a part then you're going to eat slag, you hear me?"

He held up his hands and grinned, teeth a surprising white slash in a filthy face. "No fearrr, Rrravenwjing. jYou can watch me orrrderrr the parrrt jinsjide, wherrre jyourrr frrrjiendsss arrre."

They walked inside, Arya taking the time to knock some of the dust off her boots. Sanis was trying to peek out the window into the open air yard without being seen by...anyone. Jina was climbing on Diego's back for another piggy back ride, her new favorite thing to do. Thankfully he was as gentle with the girl as he was violent to Forceusers.

Force users.

Krrassst!! Jina used the Force, unconsciously. If she did so while around Diego.... Arya scooped the girl off Diego's back, and tucked her under her arm, giving Diego a non-worried wink, and followed Yarshu around the counter. "Is there a hotel nearby where we can crash for the time being?"

Oh just wait until Sanis finds out we're going to be here until Saturday. Maybe he'd buy a ship and leave. Ha! Arya brushed some hair out of her eyes, but kept a firm grip on the wriggling Jina.

[imported_Terran Starek]

Terran spun in his chair as he looked towards Xazor. He nearly spoke, but then paused to look at her. She didn't notice he was watching and, in that moment, he could see her face without her having a chance to mask her emotions. Her brow was crumpled and her eyes almost squinted with thoughts. Her mind was wandering--perhaps in directions he could not understand. She looked forlorn, or maybe greiving for something. He didn't know. Every part of him wanted to reach out and hold her, to make sure she knew he loved her. Something told him not too--that this was not the time. Instead, he reached over and took her hand lightly.

"Xaz, I just checked up with HoloNet on the Senate meeting. It appears as though the Senate is in quite an uproar over recent events with Master Evenstar," he spoke. Most of the galaxy referred to her as Lady Evenstar, but as a Jedi, Terran referred to her in her proper Jedi title. "Apparently, Master Evenstar and the Cizerack are butting heads over something. Unfortunately, the media is only showing the fact that they are, not why."

What's wrong, my love? He added in her mind, softly.

[Xazor Elessar]

Xazor sighed at the news and eyed Terran for a moment before delving into the databank herself. Her brow knit together as her hands furiously worked to type out command codes and access cheats. Suddenly she worked up all that she wished to know about the Senator's meeting.

"Thank's Terran -- Sejah, did you find anything?"

She didn't wait for an answer as she received the message in her mind from her love. A sigh escaped her lips as her eyes met the flat screen of the computer before her.

"Helenias is in trouble -- I had a vision and the Cizerack are not pleased with her presence. We are going to help her, but I fear something aweful is going to come from this."

Her voice was soft and desperate in his mind as she herself tried to think through everything that was happening -- everything that was going through her mind involuntarily -- everything that could and would go wrong.

"That's why I'm in such a mad rush -- we must hurry."

[Lady Panther]

The clone now being bought in front of her was a rather handsome young man, she mad to admit. And different too. The loyal Vog'on with him pointed to the withered old crone she was, making it plain they had come to thier destination. They were carrying him and he looked a mess.

"Ahhh, Darth Turbogeek. How good to meet you again"

He looked rather puzzled. "Ummm, Hi there, but I think you have the worng person. ANd how did you know my name?"

"I know a lot about you" she cackled. "I am Callista. Does that name mean anythign to you?"

"..... no, sorry. Should it? He replied. "Look, you mind telling me what you want with me?"

"Why, certainly. But irst, I see your hurt and you need soem new clothes. Would you allow us to help you in that regard?"

"Yeah... sure. But can you give me a quick summary? What's this about?"

"I believe - you call him the Man with no Colour"

The man's jaw nearly hit the ground. :Ho... how did you know about him?"

"As I said, I know a lot about you" she smirked, her aged and quite evil face wrinkling as she did so

--

Her guest was cleaned, clothed and tended to, his broken arm in a bacta sling. Callista had a minute before asked herVog'on to leave, while she spoke to the young clone, alone. Her beasts didn't really like that, but the tone of her voice left them with no choice.

"So.... how do you know about me and the Man with No Colour?" Turbogeek demanded as she entered, closing the door behind her.

"We have been watching you, ever since we found about your existance. When I say we, I mean operatives in my command and even some unwitting accompancies. We even hired you for your last job to see how you work. Might I say, your a credit to the Turbogeek name, unlike the last one. Your learning much and becoming quite evil. Your running a front operation called Anasta Medical Supplies and your also running Assassins Inc. Quite something for a clone that has only been two years in existance, is it not?"

She noted the clone was now giving her a steely look. If he was impressed or concerned with her knowledge, he wasn't showing it. "That's pretty good. No one else seems to have worked it out, but they could have. What I want to know is about that man. I've told nothing about him - or the colours I see. Your about as black as anyone I've ever seen"

"Good, I would hope so, for I am Callista The Black - Black of soul and black of heart. Your colour seeing I know of, for your predessor had it to a degree. You too also see users in the Force in strength and usage. Light for Jedi, dark for Sith and Dark Jedi. You see those wthout real strength as grey - you seeem to possess this ability acutely however. So much so that you can not see the being whom you came from at all"

"Excuse me? If I have coloured vision, should I not be able to see any colours better?"

"Yes. But you seem to be further away from the person you were cloned from that the original Turbogeek"

That flat out confused Turbogeek. The frown on his face was the only thing needed to demonstrate that fact.

"Haven't you wondered where you came from?" contined Callista.

"Well.... not really. I know I was grown in a Spaarti cylinder on Myrkr. I know I've got the memories of a Jedi Master in my mind and I can use them. I know at TSE drew the DNA from Jedi Master Turbogeek. Seems to be all I need to know"

"No, it's not all. Turbogeek himself was a clone. Your the second generation copy and there's been changes made to you. The original, the true one is the one you can't see. He was my servant, my apprentice many, many years ago. He turned on me - but before he did, I had grown the first Turbogeek. It is a long story and complex..."

"That's okay, I'm not going anywhere" said Turbogeek. "Take your time. I want to hear this"

--

"...Okay, I understand now" nodded Turbogeek and Callista finished speaking. "Marcus Q'Dunn was the original, Turbogeek the first clone and now me. And so your the Sith Master the memories know about? OKay, it's making a bit of sense now. So, this Marcus. You know much what he did after he betrayed you?"

"Up until I thought I killed him. After that.... there's nothing. Not until he mentally challenged me some months ago and defeated me, I thought he was dead. It seems he has been near the GJO for a long time under different names, but that even now has disappeared. He's simply gone and I can not figure out where. I need your help"

"He's here on this planet. It's the reason I'm a mess"" he asked.

"He is?" she asked, a glint in her eye.

"Yeah, somewhere. I got my backside handed to me tho. I dont think trying to meet him head on is a good idea and your goign to need lots of crap if your going to rast him. I think he's a lot more powerful than he's letting on"

"I know, I trained him. He hasn't really used his power for years I believe, not fully. Even against me, I felt he was not really going full - and that is what was insulting. I could not match even that. But together...."

"Yeah, okay. I'll play. So, what the plan then?"

"Here. Look at this" she said, handing over a data pad. Turbogeek tok it with his good arm, stared. His face turned red with anger. The old crone took a step back, wondering what was causing him to anger with such intensity.

"He's looking after this girl? This one? THIS IS MY FRELLING DAUGHTER!" he screamed

"Your daughter?" replied Callista, deeply puzzled.

"Yes, she's MY daughter! Well okay, the Turbogeek before me... but it still doesnt matter how, she's mine! I've been trying to hunt her and the low life woman that was looking after him!"

Surpirsed, but in some way glad at this temper display, Callista nodded. "Certainly, I agree. The lowlife is a Senator"

"She.... what? Arya's a Senator?"

"I dont know who this Arya is" Callista stated. "The woman however looking after Jina that I know of is Helenias Evenstar, Jedi Knight and Senator of Arcan IV."

"Her? Your kidding me. She's never been seen with Jina"

"Believe what you want Turbogeek. Evenstar looks after Jina"

"I dont see... waaaaaaaaait......" Turbogeek's face took on a sly expression. "You want to attack Evenstar or Jade direct to smoke Q'Dunn into the open. Yes>"

She nodded.

"Well, that's a good idea, except Evenstar aint anywhere near Jade. And there's already been a few hit attempts on the bitch. You know, after she dismembered the last lot, the going price has triped, yet no one's game to try. I read the last underground report on our good Senator - You couldnt get even The Black Sun to try"

"Which is why I've come to the man with the reputation hitting Sith and Jedi. I heard you scored a good one on Mu Satach, a Sith Master. You bagged a Sith Knight not long ago. Everyone knows that if you want a Force user disposed of, you go to Assassins Inc. That is why I offer all I have as well. You can claim the girl, but I want Q"Dunn dead. Killing the Senator would be an added bonus"

"Oh hell yeah. The asking price on her is huge. So, 50 50- partner ship on the takings?"

"No, You get 100% of the credits. I just want Q'Dunn dead. Deal?"

"Deal. So, seems you know what's goign on with me, do you know where Jade and Evenstar is?"

"OH, indeed I do. I have forseen exactly where they will be. I arranged for Evenstar to arrive not long after Jade did on the Cizerack homeworld. They both should now be there"

"That's not a good place to hit. Too much security"

"Which is why all you need to do is get Evenstar, Jade and Q'Dunn running offplanet together. Foresight my friend is a powerfu thing. A surprise awaits them as they try to run"

Turbogeek cocked his head, trying to work this old crone out. "How would you know they will run and what will they run in?"

"It has been arranged" she said. "Everythign is going precisely as I have seen it and as planned. You, my friend shall be the catalyst that brings them together and then forces them to try to hide."

"Yeah, allright. So, when do I start?"

"By chance, it appeared that battle you had with Q'Dunn, that was where you began" she smirked.

Finally. She was goign to have her revenge.

[Dasquian Belargic]

What a whirlwind of a time…

As Dasquian sat in the small bar on Arcan IV, he tried desperately to fathom out what was going on. His mind was straining, struggling and mostly failing to piece together what was going on.

“Need another drink? Everything alright?”

Pulled out of his thoughts by a female voice, Dasquian looked up to see the nervous face of the bartender. Aside from the Jedi Knight, there were only perhaps five or six other customers in the bar, none of which appeared to be doing much aside from sleeping. Dasquian, therefore, was her only source of conversation, and undoubtedly she felt anxious in the silence that had been between them thus far.

“No,” he replied, and then added as a rushed afterthought, “I mean… it’s complicated.”

This, to anyone with a gram of tact, is code for ‘I don’t want to talk about it’, and the tender acknowledged this as she refilled the glass of water in front of the odd looking man, causing the ice cubes to bounce about and clink together in the tumbler. He lifted it to his lips to take a drink, and through the rippling water caught sight of something quite shocking.

In front of him there was a monitor, on which a news feed was playing concerning the failed assassination of a Senator – and one who he recognised. His eyes broaden and glass lowered back down to the bar top.

“… On second thoughts, give me an ale.”

[Cizerack Hunter Forces]

The Cizerack officer was nearly flustered enough to snap Tondry's neck, when Senator Evenstar finally arrived to ease the tension. She composed herself, hands at her side retracting the claws she had unconciously extended in the verbal exchange. Now paying the male no further attention, she stood at attention in respect to the Senator's title, and curtly nodded.

"Sssenatorrr, jyou and jyourrr entourrrage mussst come wjith me, jimmedjiateljy. Therrre jisss ljittle tjime."

[Sanis Prent]

Hotel?

(I snuffed out my stim in the nearby ash tray, rising from my seat)

Lemme guess...no parts? Great.

(The bad news elicited from Arya's silence caused me to fish out another stim from my pack. I glanced to the window, turned back, and sighed.)

I frelling hate this place.

[Diego Van Derveld]

Diego passed the little girl off to Arya, about the time as a headache assailed him. He rubbed at his temples, sitting down for a while. Of course, he knew the reason why this was happening. Somewhere, someone was using the force. Fortunately it was extremely weak, but nevertheless, it was more than a bit of discomfort at the moment. Not making a big scene out of it, Diego looked to the human mechanic.

"Do you have any water?"

[Marcus Telcontar]

The exit vector confirmed his fears. Straight at Carshoulis.

"Could this get any frigging worse?" Marcus groaned, nursing a cup of tea. No one answered, for right now he was alone in the Governor's office, leanign back in a very comfortable leather chair, feet on the desk and trying to work out a way - any way - this situation could be improved. So far, he was getting exactly zero, zip, nana, blurter, donut. A big fat frigging didly squat. Helenias causing hell, Xazor about to cause hell, the Cizerack who were hell and him, so far out of the way and alone, he may as well have been in hell. Okay, so what am I going to do? What can I do? I really wish I could see the future like Helenias can and try to work out something.

But the only thing he could see in the future was him on that rock, sword and sabre bare, ready to defy the oncoming unseen enemy and give his life for the others. What the frell was it about the birth of Xazor's child that became such a nexus for so many people? why was it such a focal point?

And here is the choice. Xazor's time must be getting close, the Garou dont gestate for as long as humans. I can choose to stay, break the dream, change the future. I can live.

But what about Helenias and Xazor? What about the others? Would they live if he wasn't there? Would they stand a chance against whatever it was that would threaten them? His mood turned black and then quite suddenly in a fit of rage and impotency, he flung the cup agains the wall, screaming out obsenities at whomever has set up this cosmic joke. His feet came off the table and he smashed a fist on the wooden surface with such force that the tabe broke in half. The sudden bite of pain broke through the mental anguish and he managed to take some sort of control of himself. Eventually. And sort of. He was still breathing heavy and still quite clearly not happy.

<font color=green>Pierce turned his head towards Helenias and grinned. "Pfft. I wouldn't put it past him to know," he said. He reached up and pulled the blindfold off, then cracked his neck. "Just like I know he's off working on some secret project or other. The two of us have always liked to be informed. It's just the way we are."

"Ordinarily I would agree that he knows. However, not only has he dissappeared yet again, the last I knew was 3 months ago and he had been blinded. After that, I have heard not a thing. Now. How about you tell me of your fight and I'll tell you something of the future that makes me think Marcus won't know for some time. Not until you two meet again" she replied.</font>

My God, she was beautiful. How he missed her

<font color=green> "Not much to tell," Pierce said. "It was Arcan IV's liberation day. I was working on the inside to take over the regime, he was trying to bring it down, but we caught him. We were showing him on some live holofeed when the Governor ordered the alien quarter gassed. You don't want to threaten other people when he's around. Something in that Jedi Warlord psyche of his goes snap. He was moving so freaking fast, I almost couldn't see him" </font>

Suddenly he blinked, realising time had slipped. Disorientated, he glanced around, seeing the shadows had lengthened in the room

I had a Jedi vision.

Certainty of that conclusion gave him some calmness. The Force didn't show you things so unexpectantly unless it was critical to know. He settled back in the chair again, put his feet back on the table and went deep into thought.

firstly, what in the name of the Force were Helenias and Pierce doing together? Sounded liek they were discussing somethign and the topic had switched to him. Now.... what exactly were they discussing? Something he didn't know of and also of the time of the Arcan IV liberation. Specifically his reaction when that frelling dren of a Governor of the time threatened to kill the alien quarter....

"You don't want to threaten other people when he's around. Something in that Jedi Warlord psyche of his goes snap..."

His mind dwelled on that. It was true. You dont go making threats when he was about. Marcus had this tendancy to go ballistic. It had happened a few times. If there was one thing others didnt understand about te Jedi Warlord, was his singlemindedness of purpose if he was in the warpath. It didnt matter how long it took or what it took. He did what was needed to defend those threatened. After all, isn't that why he created The Lost? Wasn't that why he had sacrificed his standing and erased himself out of history? Wasn't that why...

"I came here nearly two years ago? Is'nt that why I survived Whitetown? Isn't that what drives me onwards and gives me strength?"

Yes... it did.

Helenias didn't see my dead body. Thence, it's not hopeless. I can live on and I must take that chance if Xazor and her daughter are to live too. That's MY FRELLING FAMILY!

The look on his face darkened once again as he stood slowly up. He turned on his heel. He walked to the door. He put his hood up. He opened it. And walked out without another word.

--

Still didn't answer how the frell he was goign to chase Xazor down. Marcus' personal ship was a custom built hot rod that simply would give the Milennium Falcon a run. Well, at least she knew where she was going, that would be a start. And as he strode out towards the outside, through a small bar, he ....

The Force showed the people in the bar. One was familiar.

"Dasquian?" he asked as he walked up to the familiar presence. "What in seven hells are you doing here?"

[Arya Ravenwing]

Jina monkeyed around in Arya's arms, climbing from under her arm to her back where she proceded to lean all the way back. Arya leaned forward to compensate, watching Yarshu put the part order in as Sanis blew another cloud of smoke in the front of the store.

"Waterrr?" Yarshu looked up at Diego's question. "jI have the one waterrr coolerrr, jit'sss rrrjight arrround the edge of the counterrr." Diego walked to the side, and nodded as he found the slighty grimy cooler.

Arya swung the girl around and down to the floor, her long red hair tangled across her face. "Half now?"

Yarshu nodded, "Ssstandarrrd fee forrr parrrtsss, due now. The rrressst jI'll figurrre out laterrr." He gave Sanis an appraising glance, and then looked back at Arya. "Betterrr than what jI usssualljy sssee jyou wjith."

She rolled her eyes, and Jina ran up to the front of the store where she pressed her nose on the window by Prent. The young were eternally curious. Until they get older and learn that it's best to just not know some things. Arya snapped her fingers, trying to get Jina away from the window. "Yarshu, small talk just doesn't wear well on you. We're going to go now."

He leered at her, and she repressed an urge to gag. "Enjojy Carrrssshouljisss Prrrjime."

"Will do. Diego? Had enough water yet?" He was still looking at the water cooler, as if not sure that it really supplied fresh water. "I hear a hotel bed calling my name."

Arya scratched her forehead, the synflesh from her wound flaking away. Her head still ached, but at least she wasn't woozy anymore. Jina slipped her hand into Sanis', dragging him out of the shop after Arya, who wasn't slowing down for stragglers.

Hotel should be right around the next corner. The sun was hot, and unlike the presentable parts of town, the sector Yarshu lived in was short on shade. Plenty of dirt to go around, however.

The hotel was underwhelming. Typical rat infested dive, minus the rats. Arya figured they were a speciality in the diner across the street, however. She walked up to the counter, and eyed the sign in book as a weak looking male approached from the other side.

[Threepio]

Inside the Habitually Late footsteps echoed in the darkness. "Hello? Mistress Arya? Jina?"

Glowing photoreceptors became visible in the living area as the protocol droid tottered around the corner. "Hello? Hello!" The golden droid made his way to the booth, and slid his metal body into it. "They left me behind. How typical."

[Diego Van Derveld]

Diego made a face of disgust, upon seeing the filthy cooler.

"No thanks."

Glancing back at the others, he followed as they left, without another word. The residual headache died away a few minutes afterward. Stepping out into the hot Carshoulis day, Diego was assailed by the unfamiliar smells of the planet. All around was the strong (by his standards), unique scent of the Cizerack. His brow furrowed as he followed behind the group, keeping silent and to himself.

[Radish Xavier]

Jina pulled on Sanis' hand, and reached forward and grabbed Arya's hand as well as they entered the hotel. It was hot outside, but the air was cooler in the lobby. She looked about wide-eyed, letting go of Sanis' hand, and trying to release Arya's....

...but Arya wasn't letting go. Jina made a face, and settled against the side of the counter, not tall enough to see over it.

[Dasquian Belargic]

The Hallaer nearly jumped out of his skin when the voice of Marcus Elessar shook him from his thoughts. Only a short while ago the story about Helenias working as a diplomatic representative had replayed on the news, and suddenly her husband had appeared.

“Marcus!” he spluttered out, drawing the attention of the whole of the bar with his exclamation of Marcus’ name.

He got to his feet, in somewhat of a panic.

“Have you seen the reports from the Cizerack liaison?”

[Marcus Telcontar]

He slapped a hand over Dasquian's mouth, silencing the Jedi Knight.

"Dont speak my name so loud!" Marcus hissed in Dasquian's ear. "It's no longer safe to even know I'm alive!"

Obviously the Jedi warlord was in no mood for chit-chat, for he took hold of the Knight's shoulder and dragged him out the door as if he was nothing more than a toy.

"Hey.. HEY! Stop that! Let me go!"

"Listen ponce, I'm in no god damn mood for niceties. You saw that thing about Helenias on Holo, right?"

"Yes...."

"You think that's bad?"

"Yes..."

"Well it got a lot worse. Xazor's on her way there on what appears to be the warpath"

"Whoa, time out here! What? Put me down and explain what's going on!"

Marcus did so.

"A bit more gently next time? By the Force, what's gotten into you?" explcalimed Dasquain

"Helenias is being set up. Xazor for some reason is on her way there with Terran Starek and Sejah Haversh. Darth Turbogeek's been seen around here. I'm stuck here playing with my sabre while my whole family is going to hell! Would you be in a good mood? No? Right, first thing. You got a ship or somethign we can use to get off this rock?"

[Arya Ravenwing]

"Can jI asssjisssssst jyou, Mjissstrrressssss?" The male was thin all over - even his voice was thin. The wheezy, wheedling tone continued, "jI have a few vacant rrroomssss..."

Arya eyed the sign in book once more. Looks like they're all empty, bud. "Could I get three rooms on the same floor?"

He reached out spindly arms and slowly turned the book around to face him. After a few moments of looking, he nodded, "jYesss. Rrrate jisss thjirrrtjy-fjive a njight perrr rrroom. jYou can pajy up frrront, orrr jif jyou don't know how long jyou'll be ssstajyjing, pajy everrrjy dajy forrr the next njight." His speech pattern indicated he'd long ago memorized this little spiel.

A squawk from the back room jerked his head up, as an unseen female started berating him in their native language. His ears flattened as he accepted Arya's credits and then he started to hand her all three keys. "Wajit...thjisss jisss onljy enough forrr one rrroom." He looked up, confusion on his striped face.

She held out her hand for a key. "For myself and the girl. If the males want rooms they're either getting into my good graces or paying their own." Arya winked at Diego as Sanis scowled.

[Sanis Prent]

You've got to be kidding me!

(What a weaseling bitch! Not only was she occupying my precious time, but now she was taking a bite out of my wallet as well. That was NOT going to fly. Fuming, I stepped between Arya and the way to the room, jutting an accusatory finger in her direction)

Listen here, sweetheart...its not exactly like I wanted to come on this little joy-ride from hell. First, you wreck my ride. Next, I almost get shot. After that, you decide to turn tail and drag me out to this crap-hole, AND NOW, you want me to pay for my own room?

(With an incredulous laugh, I ran a hand through my hair)

Are you completely bats? Gimme that key.

(I made a move for the key she had in her hand)

[Arya Ravenwing]

Arya pulled back the hand with the key, and shook her head. "Look, you wrecked your own speeder, you ended up on my ship because you were getting shot at, as was I. I really don't want you along with me, but we're sort of stuck. Besides, hot shot businessman like you should have creds falling out of your ears."

He growled and reached for the key again, close enough for her to take a bite out of his neck. Arya put her free hand on his throat and pushed him away from her, stiff arming him. "If you want a room, I need something of equal value from you. Unless you'd rather just waltz down to the spaceport and pay for passage off planet."

The quiet clerk watched them bemusedly, ears perking forward for the first time since they'd entered.

[Sanis Prent]

THAT'S BESIDE THE POINT!

(I thought about making another break for the key, but with her hand at my throat, and since she obviously spent some time working out, I decided against it. I backed away, but didn't back off entirely)

So whats the rest of the scam? Where do you ask for my PIN number? I'm hanging on the edge of my seat? How else can you make my life any more of a living hell? I'm tired, I'm sore, I'm out of booze, low on cash, and on the last planet in the galaxy I'd like to spend my time. What do you want from me, a pound of flesh? Have fun picking bones, sugar, cause you're last in line!

[Diego Van Derveld]

As Arya and Sanis were so terribly distracted with each other, Diego decided he wanted no part of that. Walking to the door to exit, he gestured for Jina to follow, with a friendly smile.

[Radish Xavier]

The little girl trotted out after Diego, feeling no danger from him. Arya seemed to trust him, and he wasn't giving her any trouble either, not like the sandy haired man. Sanis.

She slipped her small hand into Diego's larger one, and looked up at him, green eyes sparkling. "What're we doing?"

[Diego Van Derveld]

Diego shrugged.

"I've never been here. Lets go exploring. Probably plenty of sights to see around here."

With a smile, he hoisted her up on his shoulders, stepping out into the sun.

[Arya Ravenwing]

She wished for lekku, but made do with her hands and signed something specifically rude about his ancestry. "I think you, Mr. Prent, need to be a little less loud." Arya contemplated pulling her railgun and dropping him right then and there, but resisted the urge.

Turning to the eavesdropping clerk, she slammed her hands on the counter. The male jumped at the sound, and claws appeared reflexively at the tips of his fingers. "C-can jI help?"

"Well you think a personality transplant would work for Mr. Charming over there?" She jerked her thumb towards Sanis, and then handed the Cizerack another thirty-five creds. And then some more. He looked at the extra money curiously. "Think of it as hush money. We're honeymooning and I don't want any visitors. At all."

He stared at her, and blinked slowly. "Cerrrtajinljy, Mjissstrrressssss." He handed her another key, and she grabbed it from him and turned towards the turbolift, both keys held securely in her hand.

[Sanis Prent]

Now...was that so hard?

(I sighed wearily, walking with her to the turbolift. The door opened, and we both got in. As we turned around, though...)

Maybe its just me, but I could've sworn there were two more of us at one point...

[Arya Ravenwing]

"Krassst!" The doors closed and Arya searched for the open doors button. There wasn't one, at least not one in Basic. She stopped herself from pressing every button in desperation, and settled for the first floor as the 'lift rose.

Diego was trustworthy, right? Arya felt a sudden panic. She was supposed to be Jina's bodyguard, and now she was loose on Carshoulis Prime with a known criminal. She clenched her firsts until her arms trembled, waiting for the 'lift to make it to the first stop so she could take the stairs back down to the lobby.

[Radish Xavier]

Jina giggled as Diego swept her up onto his shoulders, and held onto his forehead as he walked down the street. "Will Arya worry?"

"Probably." He jiggled her around a bit, and she giggled harder.

He was right. Arya always seemed to worry about her. But Jina knew how to take care of herself. Mostly. She pointed ahead of them. "Are we going to walk all the way to Exploring? Or take a taxi?"

[Diego Van Derveld]

"Whatever you want to do."

Diego held her legs fast, as they dangled from his shoulders. She held onto his long hair like a horse's reigns. He didn't mind much.

"I'm just along for the ride."

Down the road, there was a small crowd, around several kiosks, decorated with holographic signs.

"Looks like some shops. Wanna go see?"

[Radish Xavier]

"Yes please!" Jina intertwined her fingers in his hair, and bent over the top of his head eagerly as they approached the shops. A gaggle of children were clustered around a store front as a matronly Cizerack female came out and shooed them all away. Jina watched, wide eyed, as the felinoid youngsters scattered, some bumping against Diego's legs.

She was a little worried that he might get knocked over, but then, he was very big, and the children were pretty small. "Can I get down? I want to walk."

[Diego Van Derveld]

Diego eased her down, watching with a bemused grin as the Cizerack youngsters scattered.

"Jina, don't wander off."

Extending his hand to her, he walked up to the shops with her. The first one was selling some kind of wristcomms, or more specifically, the covers that went on them.

[Sanis Prent]

(I watched Arya exit the lift on the first level. I considered tagging along, but she was a big girl, right? Besides, I needed the downtime, and running around Carshoulis right now, wasn't my idea of fun. So instead, I followed the lift up to my room, and suddenly forgot one important part of my plan...the key.)

Ah frell.

(I considered jimmying the door open, but the last thing I needed on Carshoulis was legal trouble. I sighed, slid against the door, and stayed there for a few minutes, before getting the nerve again to go back downstairs)

[Arya Ravenwing]

Arya was out the door almost before they slid open, tearing around the corner to the stairs, and trying the door.

It was locked.

"Frelling dren!" Arya dashed back around to the turbolift, and pressed the button for the lobby.

[Radish Xavier]

The little girl pressed her face against the case inside the store, and ooohed over some of the prettier comm covers. "I like that one!" She pointed to a pink and purple monstrocity, with bright sparkles, and then found something else to look at.

There was a poster at the counter advertising a male escort service of some kind, but Jina couldn't read Cizerack. Thankfully. Although the pictures did pretty much explain themselves. She frowned lightly, and tugged on Diego's hand. He was still bemused by her choice in wrist comm covers. "What is he doing?" Jina pointed at the poster, tame by Cizerack standards, but well beyond what would be considered suitable for the public in other circles.

[Diego Van Derveld]

"Well he's ah...."

Diego paused, an uncomfortable look on his face, as he tossed his hair back. The female at the kiosk couldn't contain an entertained grin as the forrda tried to explain such things to the cubling. Most forrda were prudish over such matters.

"Why don't you ask Arya, later."

Diego hurriedly eased Jina along to another kiosk.

[Radish Xavier]

She tried to look over shoulder at the poster again, but allowed Diego to direct her attention to something else. They looked at sunglasses for a few moments, and then she started giggling again.

He looked down at her. "What's so funny?"

"My tummy is talkin' to me." She pointed at her stomach, and added, "I think its hungry."

[Helenias Evenstar]

"Sssenatorrr, jyou and jyourrr entourrrage mussst come wjith me, jimmedjiateljy. Therrre jisss ljittle tjime."

"Oh? Might I ask why?"

No explaination, just indications of urgency. A stray thought crossed my mind and an idea.

"Oriadin, could you please stay in my room? I have a few communications I am waiting on from the Jedi Council. Please answer them for me when they come" There are two cases in my room. Do not allow them to be opened by anyone else.

"Yes Master" he replied. Anything in those cases?

Yes. Some things others dont need to know about. Guard them well. Oh, there actually is some communictions coming - make sure they get to me

Mental communictions with Oriadin over, I turned back to the Cizerack guards, whom, if the truth be told, were not looking comfortable. "Lead on please"

Pierce. My hand brushed a imaginaery bit of fluff from my dress, the fingers however dancing in an Imperial hand code. A rather high level one that I would expect no-one else would have a clue about.

Yes?

Trouble. He gave me a glance and I could almost see him mentally sigh.

Something to do with this urgency?

Maybe. I went snooping.

I'll ignore the fact you disobeyed a directive of mine for now - what did you find?

Five humans and a rocket launcher. Pointed straight at my window

Did you alert anyone?

No, I dealt with it myself. I guess they must have found the bodies and the launcher, worked it out for themselves. Unless what I heard them say before I wiped them out was true.

What was that?

They are in with the Cizerack

Charming. You certain of it?

I recalled the conversation that I had overheard, re-processing it.

Not 100%. Be on your guard however. I'm beginning to suspect we are being set up

Beginning to? I was almost certain. While there seemed not to be anything to be worried about in the immediate future, I was uneasy.

[Oriadin]

Oriadin bowed as Helenias, Tondry and the others made thier way with the Cizerack. He wasnt sure how pleased the Cizerack would be about him staying behind since they asked Helenias AND her "entourage" to go with them, but he'd recieved an order and he would follow it.

Helenias was up to something but he wasnt sure what at this time. What ever was in those cases had to be kept secret. Thats all he needed to know for the time being.

The Knight started back towards the senators room.

[Arya Ravenwing]

Arya unconciously checked her blaster as the interminably slow 'lift made its way back down to the lobby. Finally the doors opened, and she hit the ground running, tucking her blaster back under her thin nerfhide jacket.

The clerk was no longer behind the counter, and the female in the back room wasn't yelling anymore. Her boots puffed up little clouds of dirt as she dashed through the lobby and out the door.

Sunlight hit her eyes, and she looked to the left, and then to the right. Which way did they go?

[Diego Van Derveld]

"Hungry, huh?"

Diego glanced over to another kiosk, where the "local cuisine" was being served. While it suited him just fine, he doubted that it would be any good for Jina. So for a few moments, he simply stood with his eyes closed, and faced the wind. After a few moments, he opened his eyes.

"Lets see what we can do about that. I know where we can find a place to eat."

Hand-in-hand, the unlikely pair made their way down the street.

[Darth Turbogeek]

Another puff of smoke came out his lips. Nude, he laid back on the simple bed in shuttle, watching the lights on the life support slowly click over. It was early evening outside as the shuttle rose into orbit, the moons of Arcan IV were just beginning to rise. And Darth Turbogeek was deep in thought. Many things that old crone had told him and his mind was whirling with thoughts. Not of the beasts that were piloting this ship. Not of the coming job.

No, of his past. Well, not exactly his past. He knew as a clone of only two years activation, he had no real past. That never bothered him. What he had been told of was of where his cells and memories, locked in his head in a jumbled mess, came from.

So that explains it. That Man with No Colour, his name is Marcus Q'Dunn. He was the original DNA donor. I can see those years up to the time the first flash memories resonably if I try, I sense and feel the Sith training he had. I know of the first clone, the weaker one that became Darth Turbogeek. I know of the stronger one, Venom. I now know that Darth Turbogeek is where I came from. I know why he died, I know why he was in witht he Jedi. I know. I understand.

It still didn't make him feel better, knowing whom the No Colour Man was. Knowing that man was the still living Marcus. That Marcus had swept aside Callista without thought or pause and seeming how powerful she was, that meant this Marcus was greatly more so.

But what he has, so can you. His power is in your veins and in your mind. The other Sith and Dark Jedi could not have that - even the Jedi are scared of him. Rightly so, for he is unpredictable and has veiled his trueself. There is more than anyone suspects. Only you can ever be his match

Yeah, but not yet, he considered. Marcus had so easily swept him aside. He still bore the cuts and bruises of that bar encounter. Even more mind numbing was the fact he had disappeared off all records. Callista had confirmed it - that Jedi Master now appeared to have never existed. why, Turbogeek had no clue. Soemthign was up, men like Marcus didn't do things liek that for fun. He was breaking off with the Jedi and the NR, gone to ground. That worried Callista, for it gave Marcus the ability to act and do as he pleased, with no restraint. Operating outside of the laws of the republic and the Jedi.

He did that after he faced me, she said. One day, I knoew of my now revealed old apprentice then... gone. Nothing left. We have much to fear if he has no ties to anything. He even left that Jade brat with this Senator of Arcan... Evenstar. From what I know, she's not to be messed with either. You seen how she's brushed off assassination attempts. It's rumoured she has Imp training. That is why we have to set a proper trap that cant be escaped - somewhere quiet and out of the way. Somewhere with nowhere to run.

Yes.... yes. Nothing less would do. On Carhoris or however the frell you pronounced the Cizerack home world, there was places to escape. On this place called Harrvii, there wasn't. There was only death and destruction, surrounded by thousands of the Vog'on.

A trap to catch the current best Jedi there was. Destroy a senate nuisance. And by the looks of it a handful of other Jedi as well.

Turbogeek smiled. And he would get Jina Jade as well, if Callista could be believed. How fortune was smiling on him and what a chance he now had. a chance to, in one blow, tie up plenty of loose ends for lots of people.

"Oh yeah. Now we are going have some fun!"

[Dasquian Belargic]

Originally posted by Marcus Elessar
"Helenias is being set up. Xazor for some reason is on her way there with Terran Starek and Sejah Haversh. Darth Turbogeek's been seen around here. I'm stuck here playing with my sabre while my whole family is going to hell! Would you be in a good mood? No? Right, first thing. You got a ship or something we can use to get off this rock?"

Dasquian gawked – literally, he looked gob smacked. It was a rare sight, and it certainly wasn’t flattering on the Jedi Knight. It took his mind a moment or two to catch up with what was being said by Marcus, but he eventually hurried out a response:

“I don’t, but there’s a rent place just down the road,” Dasquian waved off toward the far end of the street they were on, and was tugged quickly by Marcus into running off to the place.

It was a dump, admittedly, but it provided good, cheap crafts on short notice. The two Jedi found themselves a damaged – yet flyable – Republic craft and were boarding in no time; Dasquian following his peers lead.

[Cizerack Hunter Forces]

Still remaining, the Cizerack officer glanced to the others.

"Sssenatorrr, forrr the sssafetjy of jyourrr entjirrre delegatjion, jI asssk that jyou all come wjith me. Ssspljittjing jyou up jisss not an optjion."

[Helenias Evenstar]

"Oh yes it is a frelling option" I began, getting ready for a stand-up argument I was going to win - when abruptly, I felt my stomach heave. Suddenly I was feeling queasy and I had the need to....

"Excuse me" I choked, then bolted back for the refresher. I barely made it before throwing up noisily and rather painfully. Cramps raked me as I heaved, eventually collapsing on the floor too weak to even sit up properly. Oriadin and Pierce looked through the door with concern written all over their faces.

"What's wrong?" asked Oriadin

"Noth..ing. Just a bit of... " This time I couldn't even reach the toilet bowl in time. I quite forcefully threw up over the floor and over my dress, before passing out.

I wasn't exactly sure how long I was out for. I did know that when my mind slowly came out of the fog it was in, I was not in the same room. My cases were next to the bed, I had an IV line in my arm, plus there were two rather relieved looking Jedi standing over the bed.

"Don't ask how I feel" I croaked. "I must look every bit as bad as I feel"

"You certainly have looked better" quipped Tondry.

"Thanks. Don't become a medic, your bedside manner is lousy. Do any of you two know what happened?"

"Not really, apart from the fact you've been out of it for 18 hours. The medics scanned you in all ways and apart from finding out your not human, nothing else out of order" replied Pierce. "The negotiations have been put off till tomorrow, depending on your health"

Not human. That was true. I was far from it. "Good. Can someone get me a glass of water? I'm thirsty". Despite the fact I was woozy, I had to admit I didn't feel like I was unwell. even with alien biology, the medical scanners should have been able to adjust and find out what was going on, if anything.

[Pierce Tondry]

A glass of water pressed itself into Helenias' hand. She drank it down greedily, and when she was finished another glass was already there. That one she had half-finished before her thirst was sated, and she handed the glass back to Pierce, who set it beside the empty one.

His Jedi Master looked up at him gratefully. "Thank you," she said. "I feel much better."

Pierce nodded. "Welcome."

Her eyes caught his own and something passed between them. "What is it?" she asked.

"Like I said, the scanners didn't find anything wrong," he replied, shrugging it off.

"But you did."

"Stop reading into things," Pierce admonished seriously. "There is absolutely, positively, nothing wrong with you."

As if to emphasize the point, he turned from the bedtable and went to open the curtains a little wider. More sunlight fell in, a bright and cheery touch livening the somewhat sterile hospital decor. "Your body, however, is under a lot of stress," he said. "You've got some elevated chemical levels the doctors assume are common to your species."

"You need at least a day before you can resume your duties as a negotiator," Oriadin put in.

"During that time, Oriadin and I are gonna handle the negotiation preliminaries," Pierce nodded at his companion in agreement. Turning his head back, he caught sight of Helenias trying to sit up. "I wouldn't do that if I were you."

In the middle of trying to sit up, Helenias groaned with nausea and stopped. "My bedside manner may be lousy, but my medical advice is always on target," Pierce chided her gently, easing her back into the soft down of the hospital bed with a firm hand. "Twenty-four hours. Ori and I can handle things for that long. Hell, if a Jedi Knight and the former Vice-Director of Imperial Intelligence can't handle things for a day, we ought to be shot."

Helenias looked at him suspiciously. "Why are you treating me like I'm some breakable Berchestian crystal carving?"

Pierce's lip twitched and he shrugged in an embarassed fashion. Helenias grinned. "Why, you old softie. You've got a heart beneath all that wampa hair."

A look of consternation crossed Pierce's face. That's not- "No, I-" he said aloud. "I mean- Ori, help me out here."

"Against her?" Oriadin smiled lightly. "You know we'd never get away with that."

Pierce sighed in mock disgust. "If I didn't know you better, I'd say you have him whipped," he told Helenias.

"Good boy. You get a cookie later," she said to Oriadin, making it his turn to look out of sorts.

Pierce had to smile. There was a unique bond between the three of them, like the two men were children and she their caretaker. Yet, the maturity in each of them made them able to laugh and joke with each other as friends and adults. It was trust at it's best, and the veteran soldier found himself enjoying it.

"Anyway, mom," Pierce smiled. "Ori and I are gonna go play with the kitties now. I know it'll be tough, but you need to get some rest. There's some reading material, if you get bored, and your luggage is by your bed."

The reading material referred to was a set of communications from the Jedi Council back on Coruscant; the luggage was the two cases Helenias had warned Oriadin to guard earlier. Helenias took note of both items, then looked up in time to catch Pierce and Oriadin quietly heading through the door.

Pierce suddenly stuck his head back in the room. "Oh, and when you get out of here, we've got new rooms," he said. "The Cizerack apparently found several potential assassins on a rooftop across the way- all dispatched. Someone did a very professional number on them. Anyways- good bjye and good rrressst!"

Pierce pulled the door closed behind him and caught up to Oriadin, who was waiting nearby. "What's next?" Oriadin asked.

"You get to head up preliminary negotiations to the manservants of some Cizerack bureacrats," Pierce said brightly. "Starting with the manservant to the Pride Mother herself."

"Keeri- uh. Um."

"Keerrourri Sarrtarroa."

"Right. That."

Pierce stopped and stared at Oriadin. "You can't say his name?"

Oriadin grimaced. "Do I have to?"

"You're the Jedi Knight here. No one's going to listen to a Padawan, even one as connected as I am. The best I can do is advise you."

"Um. So what do I need to know?"

The two of them stepped into a turbolift. "We've got an appointment in half an hour, so the first thing you need to know is this guy's name. Say it with me- Keerrourri Sarrtarroa."

"Carry Certaroo."

Pierce paused, then hit the ground floor button for the turbolift. "Maybe we can get the driver to take the scenic route," he said.

[Helenias Evenstar]

I watched my former Padawan and current Padawan walk out the door and leave me alone. I considered getting out of bed, but thought it would be unwise as I was still suffering the effects of whatever had caused the illness. Strangely, even with the head spin, I really wasn't feeling all that bad. I certainly could not sense anything wrong within myself.

So if that was the case, why had I gotten so ill so fast, then become righted? Poisioning? Something I ate? Allergic reaction? Whatever it was had hit my system hard then disappeared. I did know there were drugs that could induce such an attack, I in fact had used one in the past to stop a similar negotiation as I was now involved in. What was the drug exactly? I could not recall for now. Still, Pierce didn't seem to be worried by this and he would have been going through the medical records with a fine toothed comb.

Nice to have someone looking out for me. I was confident of his ability to spot something wrong, so I did have a measure of comfort. A thought popped into my head, which I dismissed just as fast as it was impossible. The room I now noticed was quite nice. The sun was shining onto the floor, it was warm and comfortable, the bed was soft and inviting for sleep.

"Ah, stuff it. No use in worrying". I pulled the blanket up, turned onto my side so I was facing the window, snuggled down into the mattress and closed my eyes. Maybe I was just tired and this was my body's way of saying enough. After all, I was a Senator, a Jedi Council member, a Jedi Knight and a teacher of Padawans. Too much I guessed.

I drifted off into a natural, peaceful sleep.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

Misstressss...Mjissstressssss...."Mjissstrrressssss Vjide, arrre jyou awake?" A largish male leaned over the human female, trying to wake her up without touching or annoying her. "Mjissstrrressssss...."

One eye opened. "What is it now, Ruurrian?"

He bowed, backing away slightly. "You wjissshed to be jinforrrmed when we werrre nearrr the capjitol, Mjissstrrressssss." Tufted ears flicked from side to side as brown eyes sought the floor.

She raised herself up on one elbow, leaning against the cushions of the transport she had bought. "How much farther?"

"Onljy a few mjinutesss. The talksss arrre about to begjin, Mjissstrrressssss." Ruurrian sat attentively at her feet as she sat up, his dark skin interlaced with darker stripes. He was having a hard time figuring out this female. Usually females from off planet hired him as a tour guide, but really wanted...other attentions. This one clearly had hot blood running through her veins, but she had yet to allow him to touch her.

Sometimes the look in her eye betrayed her. She was no....cold fjisssh as the forrrda say, but her feelings ran deeply for another. Vide would not bear to allow one other than he to touch her. Ruurrian hunched a little as she leaned forward to glance out of the smoked windows. The view from this point was impressive, the spires of the capitol buildings rising above the streets. She didn't appear to be looking at them though, not really. More like...through them.

Vide looked at him, and his eyes met hers for an instant before he looked away. "Mjissstrrressssss, we wjill be therrre sssoon."

"I am not worried." Her voice was faint, but strong, like a thin wire of steel. Ruurrian nodded, and settled back into his seat, facing her reclining one as she draped her long body back into the cushions.

[Keerrourri Feessaarro]

<center>Elsewhere...</center>

"Ei'jaataa'ree'kai'leerraa."

The servant quickly fetched a silk robe, as Keerrourri emerged from the steaming bath, draping the garment over his nude form. As he dried himself, another form in the bath emerged.

"Be courrrteousss but fjirrrm, Keerrrrrrourrrrrrji. jIf the negotjiatorrrsss arrre Jedji, jyou mussst be morrre carrreful. Thejy arrre dangerrrousss."

Smiling warmly, Keerrourri turned to face his mistress, as another lackey draped her crimson robe over her naked form. She purred, stepping close to him, her blue eyes intense.

"jI wjill not have them rrrujin the prrrogrrressssss jI am makjing. jYou arrre mjy chosssen one, but do not fajil me, Keerrrrrrourrrrrrji. jI can fjind otherrrsss to fulfjill the tasssk, jif jyou do not."

The words were a near-constant caveat from the Pride Mother. She lavished great things upon her "favorite servant", but always reminded him that such good graces were his only so far as he gave her results. Thus, she kept the leash around his neck tight. But it was a beautiful leash. Keerrourri bowed deeply.

"jI wjill do asss jyou asssk, mjy mjissstrrressssss. The Jedji wjill ssspeak wjith me, and then thejy wjill go home."

The Emissary smiled as his mistress approached, and ran the tip of her tongue up his bareskinned chest. His purr rumbled to match her own.

Good. Then get drrressssssed, and go meet them. The sssoonerrr thejy leave, the sssoonerrr we can rrresssume ourrr tjime togetherrr.

With another deep bow, Keerrourri turned and walked away, followed closely by three lower servants. They approached an alcove, where the Emissary's long hair was scented, brushed back, and tied up in a ribbon. Within the hour, his figure was attended to with great care, until finally his clothes were slipped on...a shining silk tunic, with a flowing overcoat. The lackeys applied the correct amounts of scented oils and makeup, to finish the cosmetic touches, and then allowed the Emissary to depart. He turned to face his mistress, who gave him a pleased growl. With a final bow, he exited, heading toward his diplomatic suite. If he timed it correctly, the Jedi would have been waiting for a few minutes. He liked to keep them waiting.

[Oriadin]

Indeed Oriadin and Pierce did arrive first. This didnt bother either of them since it gave them both a few moments to go over some fine details as well as to get used to their suroundings in time for the negotiations to begin.

Oriadin had never done any thing like this although he had studied it before. He was more interested with negotiations than with fighting. Still, no experience. Nothing like being thrown in at the deep end. He was going to have to use his Jedi skills as best as he could. Be mindfull of everything he did. He'd be lying if he said he was fine with the fact Helenias wasnt there. She would know how to handle negotiations far better than he but since she'd come down with something so suddenly, Oriadin had to take control. He was confident in Pierce to let let him go too far wrong anyway. He was calm and he was ready. Perhaps the best tactic was to try and draw the negotiations out for as long as possible. That way it would stall long enough for Helenias to make any proper decisions.

The room fell silent as the two Jedi awaited the Cizerack representative. He was late.


Kerreery stararoa?
Karrey Satroa?
Cirroury Smartarra?

Oriaidn still couldnt get his tongue round the guys name. He was just about to ask Pierce when the doors swung open.

[Arya Ravenwing]

Arya hung a quick right, and jogged towards some shops that were across and down the street. Kitty cornered. Catty corner? She didn't remember which it was, but either way, it fit this place. Once across the street, she was suddenly surrounded by little felinoid children, mostly males, who clamored and begged for attention and credits.

She'd heard about these kids from Yarshu, back when he was adjusting her stabilizers on Nar Shadda...years ago. Before TSO had squashed down on smuggling through their sector. Well they didn't so much squash, as make it just a little harder to survive being caught.

But the kids, these baby males, were thrown out by their parent, as female children were the 'special' ones. Often times a wealthy businesswoman would simply abandon a firstborn male, as having a female was much more desireable. Males were okay for second or third born offspring, but even then the mothers favored the older sisters. So they lived on the streets until they were old enough to apprentice to a trade, or fulfill some other low position in life.

Or until they were killed, or died of malnutrition. It was hard to believe that even on Carshoulis Prime there were crimes of this nature going on. One would imagine that a female, upon learning it was a male child, would simply terminate the pregnancy. But fertility, pregnancy and life itself was very important to the Cizerack. It was better to give the child a chance at life than to simply end it before it ever got to see the sun.

Or something like that. Arya shaded her eyes as she looked over the heads of the youngsters, trying hard not to listen to their mewls for food. A storekeeper, a busty, matronly female, came to her door and started shouting at the children in a throaty language that sounded roughly like rocks in a sack. Arya recognized the Cizerack language, although she didn't speak a lick of it. The males scattered again.

"jI told them to come back laterrr. jYou look ljike jyou arrre lookjing forrr sssomeone?" The female bustled towards Arya, who made an effort not to back away.

"Just my little girl and my...manservant." The female's Basic wasn't bad, but cursed with the accent all Cizerack seemed to bear.

She loomed near, a tad shorter than Arya was, but all ears, tail and nosiness. "A gjirrrr? A ljittle female chjild? About ssso tall wjith rrred hajirrr?" The female gestured with her hand.

"Yes...I was supposed to meet them for lunch, but I don't know what restaurant they are going to." Arya managed to look only vaguely worried, as if a lunch date were the only thing on her mind.

"Lunch? Therrre arrre no placesss to eat wherrre thejy went, onljy rrresssjidencesss." The female pointed up the street. "jIf jyou hurrrrrrjy jyou mjight catch them." Arya looked along the woman's arm, and saw nothing but sidewalks and scraggly trees lining the buildings. No people.

"Thanks, I appreciate it." Arya offered a warm smile, and then walked briskly in the direction the female had pointed.

Behind her the children clustered around the storekeeper, who handed each one of them a sweet and then shooed them away again. One thing was for sure...the rat population on Carshoulis didn't stand a chance with the street urchins around.

[Typhoon]

Another morning.

He yawned as he awoke, blinking from the brightness of the sunlight. Stretching, he allowed the blaket to slip off his torso, to reveal the stunning array of patchwork scars over his body. A legacy of a life his brother thought was pure stupidity - but one he had to live. Otherwise, he could never live with himself.

"Hey there little birdie!" he called out to a small black bird on the window sill. The bird ignored him, pecking at somethign before flying off. Vash didn't mind. He was happy to have seen the bird in the first place. Glad he was alive and able to greet the day. He always awoke glad to have lived another night. So many others didnt. Deciding it was time to get up, he twisted his torso, before removing his feet from the blanket., revealing he wore boxer shorts to bed and nothing else. While well muscled with not a scrap of fat on his frame, he was quite thin, tall. Looked young. Spiked blonde hair. And what was quite clearly a non biological left arm.

"Ahh, so what am I goign to be up to today?" he asked of the Galaxy. As per usual, no answer came back, but for some reason.. he just had a feeling. Today was going to be somethign different. Something unusual. Maybe he would meet someone. Yeah. That would be good.

Toast and tea for breakfast. He ate, then had a shower, before drying off and going to where his clothes were. Longjohn undies, then the black / brown body armour he wore. Next was the gun belt. Then, a long flowing red coat that hid both. Gloves. Then, he suddenly waved his left arm, triggering the machine gun built into it to pop out and arm. He flicked his wrist again, causing it to resettle back into it's hiding place. again, he tested the weapon's expose response, before rehiding, a grin on his face. then came the enormous six shooter - a slug thrower with a difference. What was different he didnt say, but the weapon was polished silver, absurdly big for a hand gun but still a work of art. He spun it on his finger, holstering it. Finally, the sunglasses - yellow tinted. Odd frame shape.

He glaneced outside once more as he picked up his pack. Yeah. it was a wonderful day allright. Time to go out and face it head on.

[Sanis Prent]

....I SAID.....WAIT UP!

(My sprint slowed to a stop as I drew up alongside Arya. I put my hands on my knees, my chest heaving with heavy breathing. Not that I wasn't out of shape, its just that I didn't make running much of a priority. That, and glitterstim isn't the friendliest of medicinals on the respiratory tract. I straightened up, my forehead sheening with sweat of effort, mixing with the brash Carshoulis sun. I was taking a gamble on running around in the middle of Carshoulis, but at the same time, wasn't there safety in numbers? Maybe.

Spitting, I glanced to Arya.)

Any idea where they went?

[Arya Ravenwing]

Arya shrugged, slightly surprised to see Sanis. "I thought you'd be sleeping." Oops I have the keys. She frowned, and continued stalking down the sidewalk, Sanis at her side. "Apparently they are somewhere in this residential district. I have no idea where. With Diego..." ..they could be anywhere doing anything.

She pivoted around a corner and faced into an alleyway, blaster not drawn, but acting as though something might start shooting at her. Nothing happened. And there was nothing in the alley. "Frell!" Frustrated, she continued down the street.

[Diego Van Derveld]

Hand-in-hand, Diego walked along the road with Jina, looking toward a residential corner. He paused, near a modest looking apartment complex, and squatted down to eye level with Jina.

"I need you to do me a favor. Wait in those bushes over there for a second."

He smiled, tussling her hair.

"I'll come and get you when its okay to go inside, okay?"

[Radish Xavier]

She reached up and carefully 'straightened' her hair. "Okay." Jina slipped behind the bushes between the wall and the plants, and crouched down, curling into a tiny ball.

Arya made her do things like this all the time. To be safe. Jina wasn't afraid this time though.

[Sanis Prent]

Yeah...oops.

(I flashed Arya a bitter look as we walked, allowing my breathing to slow down)

Worried about Mr. Personality? He's not some pedo, is he?

(My eyes kept shifting about, on alert for the signs of any red-uniformed figures that might approach, or at least recognize me. Paranoid, yes...but better paranoid than sorry.)

[Arya Ravenwing]

She hesitated at that thought. "Diego? A pedo? No." Arya looked at Sanis, who appeared to be very alert as well, and then back to where she was walking "If you think about it, keep your eyes open for a huge canine type mammal as well."

Arya started jogging, her head turning from side to side as she checked alleyways.

[Sanis Prent]

A what?

(I turned to look at her)

What aren't you telling me?

[Arya Ravenwing]

Arya faced around a corner again, trying to get in tune with her second sight, but failing. "Well...." She straightened her long nerfhide jacket, and looked back at Sanis. "Ever heard of a Lupine?"

[Sanis Prent]

Can't say I have....krasst!

(Looking past Arya's shoulder, I spotted a trio of Cizerack in red military uniforms. One of the females looked across, in my direction. Quickly, I leaned down, wrapped Arya up in my arms, and kissed her, obscuring my face from their scrutiny in an attempt to appear inconspicuous. Arya wriggled in my embrace, but I held on for dear life, glancing to the side of her face at the group of Cizerack officers. After a second or two of standing around, they proceeded to walk away.)

[Arya Ravenwing]

Arya squirmed against his unexpected touch, but in the split second before he completely blocked her view, she caught a glimpse of the security officers. She relaxed a little, running her hand up into his hair as he continued to desperately kiss her.

He paused for a breather, and she glanced to the side. "Looks like your friends are leaving." Arya grabbed a beltloop on the front of his pants and yanked him closer, "Oops, they're coming back."

[Darth Turbogeek]

You seen one uncivilised craphole, you seen them all. Well.... not him exactly, the memories in his head had, tho Turbogeek had seen some pretty crap filled places in his short existance. This was not exactly scraping the barrel, but boy, it was down there on the craptastic level.

what drew it up was the unexpected fact that money talked loudly on Carhoulis. Dont have a landing permit? Credits. Dotn have a landing spot? More credits. Wanted a better slot? Hey, got the credits? Wanted your cargo unscanned? Find the roght Cizerack and pay up. The right beings were prefound, but still... the ease of gettign to the ground with his new Vog'on pals awas too easy.

Surprisingly, for a race that had built a religion on the total hatred of weapons and him being armed to the teeth, he and this Fregge were getting really well. These weird beasts were intelligent, fast and plain evil. Each one of them had a strong Dark side presence, took orders without question and were just... plain cool as. Where the frell had Caliista gotten these things and where could he get some?

Also, he had learned to use the Force to speak to them in soemthing resembling normal Basic. They had the worst collective lisping problem he had ever heard.

"Okay, what now?" he asked of Fregge.

"The others will use the predawn in get hidden. You and I, we will walk openly. Do you have any reason you could not do so here?"

"Nah. Never been here. Besides, the way these kittys take money, any problems can be smoothed over"

"True. They are corrupt by worthless script." That's what the other thing DT had picked up - these Vog'on had no store in goods and money. They tended to take what they wanted.

"Well, the rest of us beings aint like you lot. Thinking of that, you hungry? We could find somewhere to eat"

"Yes. Hunger. Cizerack eat raw animals, preferrably alive. The Vog'on do as well. I could do with a human - raw and wriggling"

Turbogeek lifted an eyebrow. "Yeah? Not many here I'd reckon"

"Cizerack are slavers. We can buy human to eat. We trade humans for credits so we feed at home"

Okay. Too much information. That'll keep me alert with this lot, Turbogeek thought. "I thought you said credits are worthless?"

"More fool Cizerack" replied Fregge. "Come. I show you place"

"Ummm... okay. Just dont expect me to want any, fine?"

"They have Nerf steak there too"

HEY!! OWND! "I'm there!"

--

The place in question was off a quiet alley in the slums. Fregge seemed to know it's way around the place well, so it was not surprising when Turbogeek asked, Fregge confirmed it had been here a few times. "Serves best human. Fattened and juicy, puts up good fight while you rip it's stomach out"

"Thanks, but I rather have my food on a plate, cooked and not moving"

Did the big lizard actually grin? "Just make sure you have good stomach when we go in"

And damnit, the Vog'on was right. This was lie nothing DT ever seen or remembered. Pens and cages with all sorts of carnivores gorging out. The air was think with the smell of blood and flesh. If he had a weak stomach, DT would have puked - and probably one of the smaller things in here would have lapped it up as a delicacy. He steeled himself instead, making sure his sunglasses were fixed to his face and stocically went further in. Fregge met up with a fat female Cizerack and much to DT's surprise, they communicated in the same mewing language. Arragements made, Fregge signalled DT to a corner, where there was a table and chair, plus a cage with a struggling human making a thin wailing sound.

"You didn't tell me you could speak Ciz" said DT.

"You didn't ask"

"Yeah... okay. So, how come you speak Ciz so well, yet cant speak Basic for a damn?"

"Basic invented by ones like you. Our jaws can not make sounds properly. Only primate type beings we cant mimic and learn. Now, excuse me. Hungry"

DtT nodded, taking the seat clearly for him. The cage door opened and closed,the huge beast coming to it's prey. DT looked away as the howls grew up a scale and came piercing. The sounds of tearing flesh came to his ears and a sick sounding plop, accompanied with an extra loud scream made DT turn around. Urk. The plop sound was the humans guts hitting the floor from a ripped open abdomen. He could only stare as Fregge casually took the humans head in it's jaws, bit down and split the skull open. The lizard's tongue came out and began scoopong the still living human's brains. DT tunred away, feeling liek he was goign to puke. He got his stomach back under control and morbidly turned around. The human was now dead, witht he Vog'on finishing off the grey matter entray. "Sure you dont want any?" it said.

"Ummm... no thanks. Yu go on ahead"

Turbogeek turned away again, to see the sizzling steak was being placed before him. well, when you thought abut it, beings differed. Soem like him liked dead nerf. Fregge liked human. really.... what was the difference? You just made sure you were on the top of the food pyramid, so you didnt get eaten.

With that in mind, Turbogeek cut off a piece of steak, considered it, then shrugging his shoulders, eating it. Damn, it was good too.

[Marcus Telcontar]

The vloume of the swearing from the engine room would have been loud enough to deafen a Nehisherite. And the hit from the hydrospanner being thrown at the hyperdrive wuold have felled a bantha. Getting that bit of agro out of his system, Marcus, stripped down to a set of work pants, covered with grease and gunk, stared malevolently at the hyperdrive, now very much ready to eject the damn thing out the lock.

"Anything?" called out Dasquain from the cockpit.

"No! The short still exists! It must have burnt out closer to the coolant than I thought. Try rerouting power via the alluvial dampers"

There was squeal and then a slow winding up of a motor.

"Okay... yes I see it now. Close it down"

The Jedi waited till the active lights went out, before using a flat blade spanner to lever away another cover. This ship that was hired was about as retarded as TSE and that was saying a lot. Frelling old and badly maintained. Was this surely the best Das could do? Probably was unfortunanlty, while arcan was modernising, it still had a lot of old crud. Spare transport was one such piece of crud. well, beggars couldnt be choosers. Least there was some chance they could get to Cardorlis. In how many years.... eh, that was up for debate. With skilled hands, he ripped the burnt wiring out, checked the connectors, then quickly made a juryrig.

"Okay.... try that!"

The Hyperdrive suddenly glowed.

"RIGHT DASQUAIN! WE'RE WORKING!"

The reply couldnt be heard as the ship began it's run for hyperspace. Marcus shut the covers, picked up his tooks, got out of the compartment. He slammed the cover down on that with some relief. He felt the grav plate he was on change to his preferred Gee. Ahh. Heavy Grav. He felt somewhat better than the usual lightness other beings needed.

"All fixed?" asked Dasquain, coming out of the cockpit of the transport.

"Yeah. Should hold together for the flight. I'll check the course and the other monitors, then I really think I want to have a wash down. They got a shower on this POS?"

"If you can call that sonic thing a shower"

"Damn. Ahh well, water shower can wait. Can you skerrick around and see what wer can use as dinner?"

"Sure"

--

Motors - check
Monitors - check
Telltales - check
Food - check
Clean clothes - check.
about to enter sonic shower - check.

Naked in the refresher, he stepped into the sonic's zone, using the force to grab one of the speacial cleansers used for a sonic. Coming from a desert, he still preferred the delicious feel of water on his body, not this... travesty. Still, it worked. Jsut was dry and boring. Sod thiis, he thought. He was going to use the facet to wash his hair. That wasn't too easy, but it was worthe freshly scrubbed feel on his scalp. The sonic handled the rest. really, who wanted these stupid soncs when you could have a water one? Much fun could be had in one of those, as he well remembered with Helenias....

Whao. Stop there. DON'T think about that, it could lead to a sticky accident. He still grinned at his reflection in the mirror as he dried his hair off., the smile freezing in place as he was neatly tipped into the wall by the ship suddenly pitching violently. Crashes and bangs could be heard and a loud yell of surprise and pain form somewhere else. Picking himself up, h realised the familiar hum of the hyperdrive was off. Cursing loudly, he stormed out still nude to the cockpit.

Odd, he saw. everythign was rated normal. But they were still out of hyperspace? Puzzled, he began to look over the logs, when he heard footsteps in the corridor outside.

"Umm Marcus what is.... " Dasquain said, before freezign with surprise. "..... okkaaaayyy...."

"Yeah, what?" Marcus snapped, glancing up.

"Your.. ummm..."

"Haven;t you seen a nude ranger before?"

"Well.....no." Dasquain was still staring until Marcus realised why.

"I was thinking about doing nice things with Helenias in a bath. sue me"

The Jedi Knight shook his head, bliinked a few times and forced his concentration elsewhere. "Right. So, what's going on?"

"Buggered if I know. We dropped out of Hyperspace and nothing seems wrong. That can only mean...."

"Unidentified starship, what is your id?"

"..... Interdictor. What the frell is this all about?" Marcus took a seat, before hitting the comms switch. "This is.... Glorified Turkey. Why have we drawn out of Hyperspace?!?"

"Hold position Turkey, we wish to run an inspection."

"Yeah? Says who?"

"Captain Zara Drecker of the NR, that's who mate." stated a new voice.

It would have amazed the Jedi Knight now sitting in the co-pilot's chair to see the huge grin suddenly appear on the Jedi Master's face. "Drecker! Damn it, you chose a good time. It's Tohmahawk"

"James?!?!". The female on the other end sounded startled. "I thought you were dead! Give me some proof this is you!"

"Id in progress of transmit" he said, still with the smile on his face. What a piece of luck. Drecker could help them out well and truly.

[Zara Drecker]

I couldn't believe my ears as I stood before a set of computer monitors and watched the information come up on the screen. Right before my eyes was the identification of James Tohmahawk -- someone I had not seen in a quite some time. Though I was a bit suspicious of the whole ordeal, I allowed the feelings to passby and cleared his ID.

"What are you doing in that POS? You know, I have a fleet of better cruisers than that." I laughed to myself at the fact and thought about his sad state at the moment. After thinking about it for but a minute, I decided to do the man a favor. "James -- we'll drawn you in and you can dock on board. I have something that you'll appreciate."

I turned off the comm and flipped a few switches. Docking Bay 9 opened up slowly, though I could not see the event -- I had sent a command through the computer to do it for me. I rose from my seat and when I turned around, I noted a group of subordanates eyeing me curiously as if I was out of my head.

"Get back to work, pups! You have a lot to do." I commanded and began my way down to the Docking Bay, expecting the arrival of an old friend.

[Marcus Telcontar]

The Glorified Turkey landed in the dockign bay and Marcus - now properly clothed - waited at the ramp for the ship to land. Soon as the ramp opened, he put his hood up, then lowered the boarding steps.

And right enar them was the woman he fondly referred to as Step-Bitch - Zara Drecker.

"Hey Zara! How's it going fly-bitch?"

"James you butthole, where the frell have you been?"

The two met and hugged, two friends that hadn't seen each other for a long time. "Oh here and there Zara. Look, I'm sorry I haven't caught up with you and frankly, I dont have the time, much as I would like to. I'm in a hurry and I need some help. feel like may be doing soemthign that could get you court martialled?"

"Since when is anything done with you fully legal? Of course. What do you need?"

"Something fast with good guns. I need it with a few crewers and I need a good batch of weapons. You got anything matching that?"

[Diego Van Derveld]

Leaving Jina behind, Diego picked up his pace, moving toward the front door of the dwelling. The familiar odor of something cooking was strong, its scent was a light pink tone...or at least to him. Diego paused on the porch, took a few quick looks around as a precaution, pulled off his shirt, and changed. It was quick and effortless, his physiology changing form and function in the blink of an eye. With a sound of a moist sigh, he completed his metamorphosis, and two clawed forepaws clicked against the porch. The lupine shivered his pants off his quadriped form, and stepped out of oversized shoes. Nuzzling the clothes away into a corner with care, the creature then burst through the door...

...and a few seconds later, the human occupants of the residence left in a shrieking frenzy, out the same door from whence Diego came. All too easy.

Five minutes later, Diego returned to Jina's hiding spot, buttoning his shirt up, while holding a plate of roast beef sandiches.

"Didn't bother to ask what you like, sorry."

He smiled sheepishly, and extended the plate to the girl.

"This is one of my all-time favorites."

[Radish Xavier]

Jina unfolded herself, and scooted over as Diego joined her. "I like sandwiches. Arya does too. She eats a lot of sandwiches." The little girl picked one sandwich up, holding it with two hands, and took a big bite.

Mouth full, she added, "Amf Ith gomf bith im trummelth?"

[Keerrourri Feessaarro]

"Ahh, gentlemen."

Keerrourri bowed to both Jedi as he entered his office. He walked with grace and poise, across to his side of his immense desk, and took a seat.

"Pleassse, sssjit. Can jI get jyou gentlemen a drrrjink?"

His elongated ears tilted forward as he leaned back in his leather seat.

"jI mussst extend mjy condolancesss to jyourrr Sssenatorrr Evenssstarrr. jI hearrr ssshe jisss not well. jIt jisss a pjitjy ssshe cannot be herrre to parrrtjicjipate jin thjisss meetjing."

[Sanis Prent]

Krasst!

(I returned to Arya's embrace, and hammed it up for a few more seconds. She seemed eager enough, which was a suprise, to be sure. I kept it going for a while longer, pausing for air, and to whisper)

Gone yet?

[Pierce Tondry]

"Quite a pity," murmured Pierce. Half the reason her absence was a disappointment lay in the fact that she was female and Cizerack reverence of the female was nearly instinctive, according to the NRI data.

The other half lay in the fact that Helenias could give Keerrourri a thrashing if things got out of hand.

"We thank you for your concern, Emissary," Oriadin said diplomatically. "And we wish the Pride Mother continued health."

Silently being thankful Oriadin hadn't used Keerrourri's name, Pierce spoke up. "Indeed. Emissary, we'll get directly to the point. Calan has been disputed territory for almost as long as anyone can remember. We would like to end the dispute in such a fashion that guarantees the Calani colonists' safety and settlement rights while at the same time remaining where they are. That being said, we are aware that the Cizerack are a valued trading partner to the Republic and believe that the current state of affairs can be resolved to the mutual economic satisfaction of both parties. Do you have any comments you'd like to make in response to this?"

[Zara Drecker]

I smiled to myself, though I seemed to absently ponder the question he put forth to me. "Why do you need all that?" I thought and shook my head before looking out over the massive ship with crewers, weapons, and many fast vehicles at my disposal. I turned back to my friend and nodded slowly as a smile broke across my features once again.

"I think I can help ya out, mate." I said with a cocky grin now as I walked over to command panel and typed in an access code. Two alarms began sounding and nearly immediatly two lines of good sized men, well shaven and clean cut dressed in military uniforms queued up. I smiled and walked out to stand above them. In perfect timing, all saluted and I did so in return before deciding on the plan that was formulating in my mind. Folding my hands behind my back, I called their attention with merely my presence and eyed the men carefully before practically startling them.

"REPORT TO SECURITY SECTOR FOUR NOW! READY A QUICK DRAGON CRUISER AND BOARD IT -- YOU WILL BE CREWING FOR ANOTHER TODAY AND YOU WILL GIVE HIM THE RESPECT HE DESERVES!" As the words left my mouth, the men turned and all in time they bolted toward the designated area and within a few minutes, a Dragon Cruiser, something quite new to the NR -- was being run through flight checks. Weapons came standard on that craft -- but not ordinary weapons -- things that could blow your mind away, literally. I turned to James and nodded slightly.

"I hope you approve, James -- it's one of the best I've got -- not just the ship, but the crew. The weapons you'll need, for whatever you're doing, are all standard equipment on a Dragon. If you follow this deck all the way down the length of the ship, you'll run into SS4. You are already granted access, so simply walk on in. I know you're in a hurry, but the ship will be loaded with everything you need including food." I said with a genuine and heartfelt concern, for the first time in a long time. Moving forward, I embraced him once again before quickly pulling away.

"Good luck -- and maybe we'll catch up sometime." I said before standing at attention and saluting James. It was sad to see him go with barely a proper 'hello' spoken, but then again -- it was his way and I could not stand in it.

[Helenias Evenstar]

OOC - Ignore this for the moment, I'm a touch ahead of everyone else, posting while I can

Warm bed. Nice sheets. A fluffy pillow. Was I in heaven or what? I opened my eyes and looked about the now darkening room. Nice pastel colours reflecting the sinking sun. The flowers in the room made a wonderful smell, plus there was soothing and relaxing music playing from a hidden speaker. I had to give the Cizerack one thing, they had a nice hospital. I was considering whether to get out of bed or not when I saw a shadow flit over the wall. Very quickly too. Some sort of bird I guessed. I dismissed it and thought about turning over.

The window exploded as the shadow resolved into a huge alien, who punched it's way through the plastiglass, then leapt into the room. Almost too fast to react to, it leapt for the bed I was in, claws out and mouth open, screeching. It was rather fortunante I wasn't too sleepy, but still, my reactions were dulled as I rolled out of the cot, two enormous fists smashing the mattress in the place I was but a second before. The IV line was still attached to my arm and the drip stand fell over, rolling my way. The beast recovered from the miss, turning and gathering to strike while I was on the floor. I really had only one option. I grabbed the drip and swung at the alien's legs. It didn't really do much, but buy me enough time to get on my feet as it retreated.

The beast was just re-assessing me - I could feel it was thinking what next now it's surprise attack was foiled. Just what I was thinking too. I had the drip stand in my hands, ready.

The cases!

My mind reached out and unclicked the silver case. Before I could do anything else, the door to the room opened and a Cizerack orderly came in, to see what the noise was about. The beast pounced on the unfortunate Cizerack, which gave me my chance. The case flew open and a flash of metal came to my hand. The beast, after dropping the orderly with a huge punch was coming back at me - but was halted as the rail gun came to my hand and was shoved into the beast's nose. It's eyes went wide as I smiled sweetly, then pulled the trigger.

CRACKBANG!

The body dropped to the ground as did the bloodied remains of it head that splattered the opposite wall - Another orderly came in to see me with gun in hand, now looking out the smashed window.

"Mjissstrrressssss?" it mewed. "What happened?"

"Assassin. There may be more. Go and sound an alert"

The orderly did as I ordered, leaving me alone for a moment. The dead body seemed just a bit too familiar to me - I bent down to look it over and quite abruptly, my blood froze. Vog'on! What the frell was this thing doing here? Whatever it was here for, I knew there would be at least 11 more.

Out of all the potential assassins... this can't get worse. Time to go into Bitch from Hell mode Helenias.

I headed for the cases, grabbed them both and went to the bathroom, locking myself in. Case one had weapons - case two had my armour. Stripping off, I got changed into the red of the Guards.

"Madam? Arrre jyou jinn therrre?"

The voice was joined by a knock. "Yes I am. One moment, I'm cleaning up myself!"

"Open the doorrr. We mussst take jyou to securrre place"

Click. Click. Click. The armour shards clipped into place as I hurredly assembled it all together. "Just... be.. a... moment!"

The door was tried. Frell. I grabbed the assault gun, my sabre, the Pike and the second of the paired rail guns, ammo, plus the wrist rockets. With both cases emptied, I reached down and pressed the dissolve switch - the case materials began to hiss and sag as a reactant was released that dissolved the plastics they were made of.

"MADAM! COME OUT!"

"Coming!" I said, now ready to go when from behind me, the wall caved in. This time I was ready, turning and aiming the assault gun. A second Vog'on appeared and was dispatched just as messily as the first, the assault gun's roar overcoming all other noise.

"MADAM!!! WHAT IJSSS..."

"Sorry, no time" I muttered, leaping through the hole in the wall - which lead outside. There was a third of the huge beasts just by the hole - it missed with a claw as I sailed through, rolling and landing on the ground a good few stories below. I dropped the helmet as I began to run, turning around to fire the assault gun once again, right at the helmet. It blew to pieces, scattering shrapnel that took down two humans whom were moving to attack as well.

Feet, dont fail me now! I thought as I ran for an alley at top speed. Humans and Vog'on working together... crap, I was in deep trouble. Who wanted me dead this badly?

A loud explosion sounded out and I got the sudden feeling someone had hit where the negotiations had been taking place. There was no time to think on that as another human jumped out in front me. I used the assault gun as a club as I ran, smashing the pathetic dirt bag into the ground.

I was moving so fast and concentrating on the surrounds, I didn't notice I hadn't pulled the IV drip needle out of my arm.

[Diego Van Derveld]

"No way."

At a sound around the back of the apartment, Diego's eyes shifted to each side. He took Jina by the hand, and walked away from the house, carrying their lunch as he went.

"Stick with me, and you'll be fine, Jina."

They walked down a sprawling avenue, surrounded by a throng of pedestrians. Always, there was a crowd. It made Diego a little uneasy, as he liked personal space. After a few minutes of walking, he looked down to his little companion.

"I guess we'd better get back to the others. They should've cooled down by now."

Turning a 180, Diego retraced his and Jina's scent, using it as an invisible lifeline, back to the nondescript hotel they had come from.

[Radish Xavier]

Jina hopped into the elevator, and looked around a bit as Diego got a spare key from the desk clerk. Arya didn't seem to be around. She couldn't feel her.

The little girl pushed all the buttons right before Diego walked into the 'lift, and grinned. "Arya isn't here."

[Arya Ravenwing]

Arya peeked around Sanis' head and nodded, "Yeah, they're gone now." She used her thumb to wipe his mouth a bit, and then pushed him off her as she elbowed herself away from the wall. In fact, the Cizerack guard hadn't doubled back at all. But, a girl's gotta get some, and Sanis wasn't a bad kisser. Actually, he was pretty good. Practice, most likely.

The smuggler put on her sunglasses, and tugged Sanis down the sidewalk again. Where was Jina and Diego? Arya stopped walking, and Sanis ran into her from behind. Diego would return to the hotel eventually...and he did like kids. Hopefully not for dinner. "Lets just go back to the hotel, I think they'll go back eventually. And if not, at least I can watch the news."

Lupine on Carshoulis...should show up pretty quick on the local holonews. Arya started walking back to the hotel.

[Diego Van Derveld]

The spike of a Force presence sent a screaming migraine through Diego's head, and he faltered for a moment, his hand clenching around Jina's. He dropped to a knee, and began breathing irregularly. With his free hand, he pressed fingers against his temples, trying to relieve some perceived pressure in his head.

"n-GAH!"

[Radish Xavier]

Jina put her small hand on Diego's forehead after he fell to his knees. "What's wrong?" Maybe she could fix him.... although she didn't know how.

The little girl closed her eyes, and the 'lift doors closed as well, the elevator slowly taking them up to the next floor. The Force flowed around her like a cyclone as the little girl tapped into her potential.

[Arya Ravenwing]

Arya stepped into the lobby just in time to see the 'lift doors closing, and Diego on the floor inside of it. He looked...bad. Sanis was sticking pretty close to her after the scare with the Guard, but as she ran for the stairs all he heard was a disjointed curse, and then he was alone in the lobby.

He sighed. "That just about figures."

Arya pounded up the stairs. Jina was using the Force...she had to be. And now she was trapped in the 'lift with a huge monster that ate little girls. This is not going to look good on my resume.

[Diego Van Derveld]

Diego's skin was damp with perspiration and flush with color. He lay collapsed on the floor, cradling his head between his knees. As he heard the elevator "Ding" on the next floor, he reached forward, and violently shoved Jina through the door, and reached up to press "door close". Through gritted teeth, he yelled at her, eyes blue and bloodshot.

"Go....find Arrrrya.....stay with herrrrr"

The door closed, as Diego howled in wailing agony.

[Arya Ravenwing]

Arya burst through the doors on the second floor to find Jina on the ground, crying. She slid on her knees across the threadbare carpet, gathering the little girl into her arms. "Are you okay? Are you hurt?" The dark haired woman did a cursory check of the girl as Jina continued to sob, and determined that she wasn't injured.

"Where is Diego?" Arya looked into Jina's eyes, seeing confusion and hurt, but no fear. Maybe he hadn't changed...

Jina pointed up, and then buried her face in Arya's shoulder. "I'm sorry... I didn't mean to hurt him."

Arya's hand was tangled in Jina's long red hair, and she heard a wailing howl reverberating through the hotel above them. "Frell." The dren was hitting the fan. Again.

Turbolift, or stairs? Arya struggled to her feet, clutching Jina to her body.

[Diego Van Derveld]

*DING*

The doors to the lift parted, revealing a world of monochrome and flowing auras of olfactory color. The vornskr rose from its haunches, growled, and sniffed at the air. The scents of hundreds of creatures filled the hallway, and none of them matched his quarry. Enraged and frustrated, Diego trotted out of the lift, and followed the freshest trail he had...which took him down the stairwell.

[Sanis Prent]

*BANG*

(I looked up the stairwell. Eight stories up, precisely. Somebody was in a damn hurry, and nearly busted the door off its hinges. I could hear footfalls coming down the stairs in rapid procession, which caused me to poke my head out from under the alcove where I had taken a smoke break. I didn't see anything, but heard an earful)

ARROOOOOOO!!!

(Eyes widening, I snuffed my stim against the concrete alcove, and got the hell out of Dodge, running out into the lobby.)

Buddy, you got a rule in here about no pets?!

(The clerk looked at me disdainfully, ears flattening back)

We alssso have a rrrule agajinssst no sssmokjing.

(Krasst, smart-aleck)

Yeah, yeah, well...I'd prioritize, and call a dog catcher or something!

(I glanced around, and made my way for the elevator. Pressing the button, I turned to hear the chilling howl again. The desk clerk's ears twitched, and he went for the comm.)

Yeah, see!

[Arya Ravenwing]

The elevator doors opened in front of Sanis, and Arya bolted past him into the lobby. Jina was wrapped up into her arms, and she didn't look like she was going to stop running once she started. Sanis sidestepped neatly, avoiding being bowled over, and popped into the 'lift, pressing the close door button.

Arya looked back at him just as the stairwell door exploded outwards, flying across the lobby as a huge canine shape slammed against it. Jina squeaked and closed her eyes, and Arya took a split second to make up her mind. Outside, or turbolift?

The doors were already closing, but the vornskr was already recovering from sprawling into the lobby. It jumped on the front desk and attacked the mousy clerk, and Arya turned and ran for the 'lift, sticking her hand between the doors to force them open.

[Marcus Telcontar]

Oh boy, did Zara ever have something. A neat new model cruiser of Lancer size, equipped with al sorts of new technology as well as two dozen former NRSF grunts. Much better than that crap box of a transport. What was even better was the fact this ship was internally slaved and the main computer could run the entire ship if needed.

"Even fight quite well by itself" Zara added. "It's pretty experimental so far but it's working quite well"

"Really? stated Marcus, eyeing off the cruiser floating in space from a port hole. "How fast is it?"

"Point 45 past light and 80 MGLT"

" 80 MGLT???? That's fighter type speed! What the frell is that thing running for engines?"

"Not sure, but I do know it has unusual amount of power processors. The shields are ISD grade. This is one sick puppy"

"Are you sure you want me to have that thing? I'll want to keep it you know"

"Marcus, since when has that worried you?"

"Point. I'd still feel better for you if I contacted someone irst. Can I borrow your comms unit...?"

How good it was to have friends in high places and have such a clearence id. 10 minutes later, the cruiser named Hawk's Hammer was transferred to the command of James Tohomahawk by order of the Chief of State herself. And 15 later, Marcus was on the bridge, looking about as a few of Drecker's crewers set the ship ready to roll. Bridge crew was normally 10, but one was enough to set the thing in motion. 100 crewers and 10 bridge for fully manned. It was a resonably big cruiser, but not too big to make it an awkward handler. It also had the smell of newness about it. Man, he wished he coud see it for himself - cause it just had a great feel. He decided that when everyone was out and they were on their way, he would turn most of the lights off so he could see for himself.

"Okay, all set Marcus...." Drecker stated finally.

"Good... Zara, thank you. I owe you one"

"No problem. Good luck -- and maybe we'll catch up sometime."

Marcus smiled. before hugging Drecker. "I hope so too. May the Force be with you"

She slipped somethign into Marcus' pocket. The Jedi noted and was goign to ask when Zara shook her head. "Please. Take it. It sounds like your going into some real trouble. I"ll go back up when you call"

"Hey... thanks. Really, I mean it"

"Force be with you Marcus"

The Jedi bowed in respect, then turned away to leave

--

The Dragon class cruiser was just a bloody good as it sounded. It was ripping through hyper space, everyone else preety much bunkered down sleeping through the rest of the trip while Marcus had appropriated a small room and had turned the lights off. He was getting changed into a more military dress, black with a cape, black leather boots and gloves. With some regret he put the sword on the bed, deciding it was not the right thing to use. The rail guns Zara had supplied were beauties - the latest Mark IV models with only a 15 shot clip, but more power and a bigger caliber. Nicely balanced, sleek and deadly. A few extra clips too. Neat.

On the bed was the rest of his usual weapons, steel blades mainly. Somehow, he had the feeling they woudl not be useful Something else was there, several pieces for a device he had not used in a year. He pondered, then picked them up, pocketing them.

Now, he thought, takign a seat, he could only wait and be ready when they arrived

[Keerrourri Feessaarro]

"Well....rrrjight to the pojint."

Sarrtarroa smiled thinly.

"jI admjirrre that. Can't jI get jjyou two a drrrjink?"

Tapping a button on his desk, a bottle of chilled Keeja wine and three flutes rose to the surface. Sarrtarroa made small talk as he uncorked the bottle, filling the glasses.

"Gentlemen, letsss be qujite plajin. The Rrrepubljic...orrr...jit'sss forrrmerrr vjisssage, and the Prrrjide got off to verrrjy rrregrrretable ssstarrrtsss. Farrr too much warrr, forrr eitherrr sssjidesss tassstesss, jI'd jimagjine. jIf jyou wjill rrrecall, Jedji Knjightsss werrre sssent to negotjiate a trrreatjy."

Tapping a button, a holographic copy of said treaty appeared.

"Thjisss trrreatjy rrrecognjized the Carrrssshouljisss clusssterrr asss ourrr sssoverrrejign terrrrrrjitorrrjy. Now, rrrecentljy therrre hasss been djissspute overrr whetherrr Calan ljiesss wjithjin the clusssterrr. Asss jit sssjitsss on the perrrjipherrrjy...that prrresssentsss usss wjith qujite an jinterrressstjing sssjituatjion, jindeed."

[Darth Turbogeek]

How the hell Freggee had pulled that little interview off was beyond Turbogeek. Fact is, the Vog'on was becomming quite an eye opener with the smooth way it operated. It seemed to know exactly the best way to open doors, it knew the right words - and even more, knew the Cizerack language and spoke it like a native. What was even more bizarre is that Freggee had changed it's skin ever so slightly to have a distinct female appearence!

"Matriach society. While the Vog'on have no sex, we can alter very mildy to take the appearence of sex if needed. Males are chatternel, slaves only. Females however can get some respect."

"so... where were we just then?"

"That... was the Matriach herself. The Pride Mother"

"Right. So.... did it work?"

The Vog'on looked at Turbogeek quizzically. "You remember what you said, surely"

Ehhhhh...... "No. I feel like I just missed 10 minutes of my life. what happened?"

"Did you know you had the computer codes to a back door of the Neew republic's systems?"

"Ummm....."

"You gave them, in exchange for what we wanted and also for some other things. Help for your business. It took some convincing and explaining what could be done.... but you have gained a powerful ally."

Turbogeek shook his head, trying to clear the fog that was around it. He did have some memory of that. It was coming to him now. "Okay, so it went well. What now?"

"We gained the location of the Senator Evenstar. We hit her first at dusk. She will not be a problem, it seemed she took ill and is hospitalised"

"Good. So.... what do I do? You Vog'on seem to have this all worked out"

"The ship"

Turbo nodded. Not used to this spear carrier role, he could only watch as this superb trap was slammed shut. He was awestruck at how Freggee was engineering every move. Turbogeek knew he was in the presence of a real pro.

The Jedi didnt have a chance.

[Oriadin]

Oriadin was still strugling to understand the way the Cizerack spoke. He was improving the longer they stayed on the plannet but he needed to concentrait.

His mind began to dwell on something else as the Cizerack representative continued to speak. He sensed something. Something terrible. There was a huge disturbance in the force to which he found it hard to ignore. Oriaidn glanced over to Pierce to see if he felt it too, before returning to Mr Sarrtarroa.

He took a sip of the drink which had been poured for him just moments before. More to stall on time than anything else.

--What action have taken to resolve this situation, Mr Sar... Sarr... Mr Sarrtarroa.--

Oriadin let out a quiet sigh of relief as me managed to get the name right. Pierce looked a little relieved too.

--As I understand it, the Cizerack are occupying Calan right now. If there is cause for argument as to whether they fall within your territory or not, surly this should have been discussed and negotiated before the Cizerack took control?--

[Sanis Prent]

Can't you make up your mind???

(Quickly, I pressed the "open" button, and jerked Arya and the red-head inside, and slammed my palm on the "close" button. It seemed to take an eternity...an eternity in which the vornskr rose from its haunches with a blood-smeared muzzle, and proceeded to leap towards the door. Instinctively, my hand reached down to my gun that wasn't there)

Ah hell on a stick!

(I had to leave it on the ship, and now I was regretting it. For a half a second, the issue was in doubt...and then the door closed, preceeding a loud "WHOOMP" as the creature slammed against the durasteel of the outer lift door. After the fact, I realized how tense I was, and let myself slide down the lift wall, until I rested on the floor. I wiped away a sheen of sweat on my forehead, and looked up at Arya)

What the HELL is that thing?

[Arya Ravenwing]

Arya sat down heavily, and put Jina on the ground beside her as she pulled out her rail gun. She did a quick but throrough check of the weapon, and then put it back in the holster on her thigh. "A Lupine. Shapeshifter."

Sanis looked blank for a minute, and she stood to her feet, her brain going over a thousand different ways to get out of this mess. Arya looked down sharply at him. "Diego is a shapeshifter. Only, when he changes he doesn't know what he's doing. He literally becomes that animal." She pulled her blaster from her shoulder holster and checked that weapon as well. "The only way to get him to snap out of it is to -"

Jina tugged on her arm, and pointed out a pile of torn clothing in this middle of the elevator that the two adults had missed. Arya continued, " - is to knock him unconscious. Or kill him. But it's nearly impossible to kill him in that form." Arya cast a worried glance at Jina, wondering again how they were going to get out of the elevator. "Ji - Red, don't use the Force, honey. That'll make Diego very very angry at us."

The little girl nodded, white lipped.

[Xazor Elessar]

The Razor thundered through hyperspace - with Sejah and Terran asleep in the other cabins, the lone Jedi woman had tried to sleep in the cabin reserved for Marcus. She wanted to be alone - to think for one, to plan for another. The vision of Helenias in trouble was disturbing enough. That was why she had reacted like she did, impulsive.

Niow, why hadn't she waited for Marcus she wondered, looking up a the ceiling. He would have known what to do. He also seemed to know what to do. What to say.

Or would he?

She knew why Marcus had been avoiding his wife. she knew almost everythign about the man she shared a life bond with, the man she now called father. The damn prophecy, the thing that came to fruition when she gave birth to her daughter. The swollen stomach was ample evidence how close that was. what she hadn't mentioned was exactly how close that was. Garou had a shorter gestation period than humans and she knew her daugher was only a few days away.

Marcus doesnt think he'll survive. He thinks it's his death coming. I know it. I feel it in his mind. He cant say goodbye. He doesnt want to.

I dont want him to go either, she thought. Him and Helenias were her family now. But the fact was, that's what he saw and in so many things in the Force, the Jedi Master was right. Damn it, this was no good. Brooding in his room was bad. she choose to go to the control room instead.

That however was a reminder that her father had already made sure she was looked after... after he was gone. This incredible ship already responded to her command. The ship itself was sentient and had a will of it's own, responding to no one else but it's Master.

And now her. She sat in the pilot's seat, staring out at the spirals of hyperspace. Somewhere, Marcus had reprogrammed the security systems to accept her command - and the ships "mind" had accepted her as well. Reluctantly by the feel of it.

Hello Mistress Elessar flashed on the small screeen near the control yoke.

"Hello Razor" she replied.

Cant sleep?

"No" she sighed. "Worried about Master Elessar"

He doesnt sleep well either. He talks to me when he cant. I expect you wish the same?

She blinked. "Ummm.... what did you talk about?"

Many things. Somethings I would speak of when I was human

"Human?" she asked puzzled.

Yes. This ship was built around a cyborg concept. A mind freed of it's resposibilities of body works much faster and works better with a computer interface.

"You... did that willingly?" she asked, feeling ill.

Yes. My body was dying. So, I was put into the central core. I have no regrets

Xazor became facinated, eventually beginning to converse with the computer core - not realising she wasn't tired anymore.

Time in transit slipped by - there now was only 6 hours before they arrived at the Cizerack homeworld. They were scheduled to arrive just after dusk.

[imported_Terran Starek]

His hand slipped across her shoulder lightly and squeezer her firmly. His other hand then followed suit as he gently rubbed her shoulders. She groaned with appreciation and he leaned in to rest his face in the back of her hair--he loved the way it smelled.

"You're awake." He spoke through her hair as he continued to rub her shoulders, his hands like those of an expert's as he squeezed in and out. "Are you feeling ok?"

"Yes and no." He adjusted his neck and moved his head to the side and rested it now between her neck and her shoulder, still rubbing with his hands.

"I don't have to ask. I know." He smiled, and so did she. Without any special bond between them, Terran was one of the few people in her life that could nearly read her perfectly. It was very difficult for Xazor to lie to him. "It's ok." He kissed her neck softly, his hands continuing down to massage her lower shoulders. "He's going to be fine and you know it." Terran had little real knowledge of the prophecy or of the relationship between Helenias and Marcus, but based on what knowledge he had about Marcus, he figured the Jedi Master would be fine. She looked back at him with worried, caring eyes.

"I'm here for you," he spoke, leaning up to kiss her lips lightly. "I'm not going anywhere, and niether is our love." She smiled as they kissed deeply. He then nuzzled his face into her neck. "You need some sleep, my love."

[Lilaena De'Ville]

De'Ville was stuck in traffic. It was slightly annoying, but couldn't be helped. The Cizerack male she was trapped with was alternating between quiet subservience, and attempting to stroke her thigh. It was more than slightly annoying.

She was about to tie him up with the ornamental drapes when a flash of dark fur caught her eye. Lilaena looked out the back of the speeder and saw a huge animal trotting down the sidewalk. That is more than a bit strange. The creature was soon lost to her eyes.

[Arya Ravenwing]

The darkhaired smuggler unloaded the occupants of the elevator into the top floor, and listened carefully. "It sounds like our pal has left the building. Only one way to be sure."

Arya picked up Red and shoved her into Sanis' arms. "Please keep her safe. I'm going down, but follow me at a distance ok?" The railgun was in her hands, held in a safe position in front of her and pointing downward. Sanis didn't look too happy, but then nothing about this trip had seemed to tickle his fancy in the first place.

She walked to the stairwell and opened the door, looking down carefully, railgun first. "Clear." There was a whisper of leather on the doorframe and then she was gone.

[Radish Xavier]

Jina looked up at Sanis as he put her down to poke his head into the stairwell. They could hear the light footsteps of Arya as she made her way down the stairs. The little girl ran to a window and looked out, down five stories to the sidewalk below.

"Hey! A dog!" She pointed and Sanis sidestepped to her to look.

"That isn't a dog." The businessman was itching for a stim cig to calm his nerves. The Lupine was loping down the middle of the street, and was soon lost from sight as it turned a corner and headed towards the capitol buildings. "Arya!" The man shouted down the stairwell at her, "He's going down the street I think we're safe for now."

Jina waved to the dog, and then joined Sanis at the door to the stairwell.

[Arya Ravenwing]

"Frrrellit!" Arya shouted in frustration, her curse reverberating inside the stairwell.

They reconviened in the lobby momentarily, Arya covering Red's eyes so she couldn't see the bloody smear that had been the clerk. From the lack of sounds, apparently his mistress had met her end as well.

"Well you can't stay here, because redcoats are going to be swarming this place in a minute or two. I'd send you both to Yarshu's, except that he won't let you stay on the ship while he's repairing it, and he doesn't have anywhere in hs shop for you to hide out at. Plus, he's the type to roll over on us for protection from the law." Arya didn't seem to take a breath as she thought outloud.

"I can't leave the planet, and I'm taking responsibility for getting Diego back. Sanis, you can come with me or not, its up to you." She looked at him for an answer, and Red also peered up at him from between Arya's fingers.

[Sanis Prent]

Ah hell...

(I muttered under my breath, looking from little Red to Arya. One option was playing hide & seek with a four legged killing machine. The other was milling around a crime scene, or some other place, by myself. Neither was very appealing to me, but somehow, I already knew where I'd be placing my bet)

Fine. C'mon.

(I was kicking myself for not bringing my guns now. I thought they'd get me in trouble, but I should've known that trouble seemed to find me whether I was packing heat or not. In the back of my mind, there was a morbid curiosity in seeing it all played out. Diego and Arya were obviously acquainted on some level, so there was no telling how big the crap heap was until I grabbed a shovel and started to dig. To add insult to injury, I wasn't just a backseat driver, but a babysitter on top of that. I'd lugged around that little fuzzball Daanarri for Saa before, and that was just enough for me to know that I wasn't ready to deal with kids, maybe never.

With a sour look on my face, I looked back at Arya)

At least we'll be able to find him easily.

[Keerrourri Feessaarro]

Originally posted by Oriadin
Oriadin was still strugling to understand the way the Cizerack spoke. He was improving the longer they stayed on the plannet but he needed to concentrait.

His mind began to dwell on something else as the Cizerack representative continued to speak. He sensed something. Something terrible. There was a huge disturbance in the force to which he found it hard to ignore. Oriaidn glanced over to Pierce to see if he felt it too, before returning to Mr Sarrtarroa.

He took a sip of the drink which had been poured for him just moments before. More to stall on time than anything else.

--What action have taken to resolve this situation, Mr Sar... Sarr... Mr Sarrtarroa.--

Oriadin let out a quiet sigh of relief as me managed to get the name right. Pierce looked a little relieved too.

--As I understand it, the Cizerack are occupying Calan right now. If there is cause for argument as to whether they fall within your territory or not, surly this should have been discussed and negotiated before the Cizerack took control?--

The emissary arched an eyebrow.

"Masssterrr Jedji, jI beljieve jyou arrre mjissstaken. We have taken no jimmedjiate actjion towarrrd colonjizjing Calan...not wjithjin sssome fjive jyearrrsss. But, asss jyou alrrreadjy know...the lassst attempt wasss...djisssuaded, bjy the New Rrrepubljic Ssstarrrfleet."

Sarrtarroa glanced carefully at the Jedi's subordinate, studying his facial expression, before continuing with a half smile.

"jI can assssssurrre jyou that we have made no attempt to colonjize ourrr borrrderrr colonjy sssjince that jincjident. That doesss not, howeverrr, make the sssjituatjion anjy lessssss jimporrrtant to Cjizerrrack jinterrressstsss. We sssjimpljy beljieve that naked aggrrressssssjion jisss not the anssswerrr."

[Arya Ravenwing]

Arya nodded, and quickly swung Jina up on her back. The little girl clung on tightly with her legs around her waist and her hands around her shoulders, and Arya only needed one hand to make sure she didn't slip off. She tossed her blaster to Sanis. "Power cell is full. I trust you know how to use one of those." She winked to show she didn't mean what she said, and then quickly made her way out the front door.

"Look, Arya," Jina released her with one arm and pointed down at the sidewalk. There were bloody paw prints, and they headed off to the left. Arya grunted, and cut across the street to where she'd seen the vornskyr last. There were no speeders around at the moment, no one that she could see that would be able to tell the authorities they'd seen someone fleeing the scene of the crime. But then, you never know.

A peek around the corner, and then Arya rounded it, finding herself on a much busier street. They were closer to the capital building than it had appeared before, or perhaps it was just an illusion created by the city planners. There was a commotion up the street, and someone screamed. Arya started jogging towards it.

[Helenias Evenstar]

I was on the run. Adrenaline pumped through my veins as I ran, feet pounding as I turned a corner. For now, it appeared I had dropped my chasers and I was in the clear. I doubted that would be for long however. to a stop I came, breathing heavily as I wiped the sudden drops of sweat off my brow.

I had to admit, now I had a problem. The solution to the problem was to get off the planet as fast as I could. How, I wasn't sure. I had to try to alert Pierce and Oriadin to my predicament and work out who was foe and who was friend. If I presumed everyone bar Pierce and Oriadin foe, that would probably sum up how I was thinking right now. Now... first things first. This armour would make me an obvious target, it stood out. thence, I had to find myself a disguise of sort, make myself fit in. At least the approaching dusk would help with my face. The colour morph wont be of much use, not while moving on ground level. Thinking about it, I scanned the area, then I spied the clothing store.

Yes.

Racking another shell into the assault gun, I sprinted to the closed store. Locked of course, but the lock only lasted a few seconds with my lock picking skills. Inside I went, re-securing the door behind me. It was about now I noted the IV drip still attached to my forearm. I ducked down below a rack of clothing, took off the forearm armour shard, then ripped off the bandage holding the line in place.

OHFRELLTHATWASABADIDEAAAAAAA!!!

I blinked, barely holding onto conciousness from the pain. I gasped, before grabbing hold of the line and pulling it out of my arm.

ohfrellthathurts

Thankfully, there was a bathroom, because I had a sudden desire to go to the ladies room. Ouch.

Ten minutes later, my arm was bandaged with some cloth, the armour back on and a loose fitting set of clothes over the top. Black vest, white shirt, black cargo pants. I was looking like a smuggler now, especially with the cool shades I had found. Smiling at my darkened reflection, I slung the assault gun over my back, settled the rail guns at my hips, ruffled my hair to make it untidy, blew the reflection a kiss, then left the store.

It was now much darker outside. In the time it had taken to get dressed, I had formulated a plan of sorts. It was called get a drink at the nearest bar and be Eileen Cross, bitch, kicker of scum backside, smuggler. I had my alt id's ready, something I hadn't thought I would have needed on a trip like this.

Well, it seemed it was just like the old days. And, I was starting to feel right at home. I wasn't much of a Jedi or a Senator - that really wasn't my thing. Now, this was. Eileen verses everyone.

Second thing was at the bar do a bit of snooping, maybe listen to the holonews and see what I could find out about what had happened to Pierce and Oriadin - for I was in no doubt they would have been attacked by now.

[Diego Van Derveld]

Pedestrians scattered around the broad throughfare as the vornskr picked up its speed. The creature snapped at stragglers, clearing a wide swathe of space around it as it sprinted forward. Through the dizzying auras of scent, Diego managed to hone onto the one he was looking for...

...Jina's.

Huffing, he picked up speed, trampling a young Cizerack woman as he went. Jina and Arya stopped in their tracks, and then bolted into a nearby alley. But for Diego, they might as well have been standing still. His paws skidded on the street as he banked toward the alleyway...

[Arya Ravenwing]

Arya saw the huge beast loping towards them, and immediately ran into an alleyway. Sanis darted in the other direction, so as to be behind the animal once it had passed him. Arya's feet pounded the pavement, gaining speed, but not enough, as Jina bounced along on her back.

Cutting through another alley, she emerged into a street full of idling speeders. Air traffic was restricted this close to the capitol, and so they were all close to the ground. Arya leapt onto the hood of the nearest one, and started jumping towards the towering buildings in the background.

[Sanis Prent]

The vornskr bolted toward Arya and Red, and avoided me altogether. Good for me, bad for them. At least I was on the thing's six, as it padded down the alley that Arya had gone down. I rounded a corner and sprinted in pursuit, watching the distance between myself and the beast increase, as the distance to Arya dwindled. I was running out of time, so I did the most absolutely stupid thing I could think of.

I palmed a rock and hurled it at the vornskyr, smacking it across the hindquarters. The beast broke stride, but was otherwise unphased.

"Dammit!"

I found a better missile as my feet pumped, and I slowed to scoop up a durasteel pipe. With all my strength, I hurled it like a battleaxe, just as the vornskr skidded to turn at the intersection.

[Pierce Tondry]

Originally posted by Keerrourri Sarrtarroa
The emissary arched an eyebrow.

"Masssterrr Jedji, jI beljieve jyou arrre mjissstaken. We have taken no jimmedjiate actjion towarrrd colonjizjing Calan...not wjithjin sssome fjive jyearrrsss. But, asss jyou alrrreadjy know...the lassst attempt wasss...djisssuaded, bjy the New Rrrepubljic Ssstarrrfleet."

Sarrtarroa glanced carefully at the Jedi's subordinate, studying his facial expression, before continuing with a half smile.

"jI can assssssurrre jyou that we have made no attempt to colonjize ourrr borrrderrr colonjy sssjince that jincjident. That doesss not, howeverrr, make the sssjituatjion anjy lessssss jimporrrtant to Cjizerrrack jinterrressstsss. We sssjimpljy beljieve that naked aggrrressssssjion jisss not the anssswerrr."

Pierce's face remained cool, in spite of certain unpleasant memories from his time on Calan recalling themselves.

It made great sense if you read between the lines. No immediate action, our border colony, naked aggression is not the answer. Sarrtarroa had even openly admitted the Cizerack were still very interested in the disputed world.

What he hadn't said, was how the Pride Mother intended to change that.

On the other hand, for the New Republic to come off as aggressive negotiators themselves would be worse than disastrous. Any guarantees made now would likely not be taken in good faith anyway- the likelihood was that the cunning felines would work around them later with new agreements or loophole-providing revisions to older ones.

What would a Jedi do? That was the big question here, wasn't it? Unfortunately knowing that Oriadin just wasn't as strong-willed as Helenias, or as quick as Pierce was, left them in a very awkward negotiating position. There was, after all, only so much a Padawan could do other than ask questions.

But asking the right questions could get them...

Somewhere, maybe.

"May I presume to ask whether the Cizerack have considered arranging an offering of peace to Calan through New Republic intermediaries?" Pierce asked. "If your intent is as you say, surely the Pride can manage a gesture to demonstrate their good faith?"

[Xazor Elessar]

Originally posted by Terran Starek
His hand slipped across her shoulder lightly and squeezer her firmly. His other hand then followed suit as he gently rubbed her shoulders. She groaned with appreciation and he leaned in to rest his face in the back of her hair--he loved the way it smelled.

"You're awake." He spoke through her hair as he continued to rub her shoulders, his hands like those of an expert's as he squeezed in and out. "Are you feeling ok?"

"Yes and no." He adjusted his neck and moved his head to the side and rested it now between her neck and her shoulder, still rubbing with his hands.

"I don't have to ask. I know." He smiled, and so did she. Without any special bond between them, Terran was one of the few people in her life that could nearly read her perfectly. It was very difficult for Xazor to lie to him. "It's ok." He kissed her neck softly, his hands continuing down to massage her lower shoulders. "He's going to be fine and you know it." Terran had little real knowledge of the prophecy or of the relationship between Helenias and Marcus, but based on what knowledge he had about Marcus, he figured the Jedi Master would be fine. She looked back at him with worried, caring eyes.

"I'm here for you," he spoke, leaning up to kiss her lips lightly. "I'm not going anywhere, and niether is our love." She smiled as they kissed deeply. He then nuzzled his face into her neck. "You need some sleep, my love."

Xazor nodded and smiled gently as Terran spoke. Sighing inwardly, the Jedi Knight rose to her feet and embraced him warmly. "We'll be there in a few hours -- let us both rest. The computer will be able to take over from here." She took his hand and led him back toward the living quarters of the ship. Though they had not been sharing quarters on this trip thus far, the woman did not wish to be alone. "Please, at least sleep near my bed." She pleaded with her eyes. With a single nod, Terran followed her into the room and shut the door behind him. There both laid down upon the bed and the Padawan held the woman close to him, hoping to comfort her so she would go to sleep finally. It did not take much time, and the Jedi Knight was lulled to rest by the gentle hum of the engines below.


_______________________________________


It was just after dusk and Razor softly touched down on the ground below. It jarred the ship slightly and would have normally woken Xazor and the other occupants, but all three were awake and ready to face whatever was ahead of them. Gathering nothing but a small satchel for each, the decided to head out. "Well be back before ya know it!" She told the computer who sighed and then shut down for rest.

Slowly the three crept out of the ship and then, began making their journey toward the capital buildings. "We'll be lucky if we're not caught." Xazor thought to herself as the walked in the shadows of the setting suns. Night came sooner than they expected and now, the Garou had to rely on her ultra-sensitive night vision. She saw nothing, surprisingly, but felt the urgency to hurry. It did not take them too long, though, for nearly fifteen minutes later, they were coming up on the capital building.

"Looks like we've made it." She announced to the group, but suddenly doubled over, holding the buldge at her midsection. "Oooooohhhh, that one hurt." She whispered as Terran rushed to her side and embraced the woman. "Are you okay?" Both he and the Mongoose questioned in unison. Nodding, though not quite sure, Xazor rose to full height once again and inhaled deeply. "We must keep moving -- we haven't much time." She said and they continued on once again, and that is when the three of them heard a great racket rising from the large structure before them.

[Diego Van Derveld]

The vornskyr braced to change direction, and as its body slid 90 degrees to continue the pursuit, a metal bar smashed into the animal's skull, fracturing it and causing the animal to slump to the ground, as it began to bleed heavily from what seemed a fatal head wound.

[Arya Ravenwing]

Arya stumbled, falling off the speeder hood she was jumping onto, and Jina and she tumbled to the ground. Jina squeaked, but landed on top of the smuggler, who got loose gravel imbedded into the side of her face. Arya cursed roundly and struggled up to her feet, pulling Jina by the hand and yanking the five year old across the last lane of traffic.

Once on the sidewalk she risked a glance behind them, and saw...nothing. Prent jogged up to the other side of the street and gave her a thumbs up sign. Whatever that meant. She hald expected Diego to jump out of no where and tear the bounty hunter to pieces. Which didn't happen. Ah well, too bad.

Jina whimpered. "My arm hurts."

"Oh, sorry Red. We'll put some ice on it when we get back to the ship, okay?"

"Ice? Cool! Can I have a fizzyglug?"

Arya sighed. "We're still watching out for that dog thing, okay? Lets talk about that later."

Jina nodded seriously, and trotted along beside the tall woman as she started walking down the sidewalk outside the palace. There seemed to be a commotion going on inside...

[Lilaena De'Ville]

"What was that? Driver, what was that?" De'Ville knocked the manservant out of her way with surprising strength, and rapped sharply on the smoked glass between the compartments.

The glass rolled down. "Sssome pedessstrrrjian jumped on ourrrr vehjicle. Do not worrrrrrjy, we arrre at the palace now. You arrre not late."

No, but I should have driven myself. Frelling Cizerack. She glared at the manservant, who cowered in shame. For what, exactly, he wasn't sure, but she wasn't pleased and it must have been his fault.

A few minutes later the speeder stopped and she got out, having already paid the driver and her 'guide.' De'Ville didn't look back as she strode into the palace grounds. The moon was rising. Strange...she didn't remember the sun setting this early. Ah well.

She strode into the palace with surprisingly little trouble. Then...

...all seven hells shook loose.

[Arya Ravenwing]

Arya walked right past the palace. Red looked at it a little longingly, as if wondering what it would be like to run amuck inside its many passages. "Don't even think about it, kid." Arya tightened her grip on the girl's hand, and quickled crossed back over the street at the nearest crosswalk. "We have to go see what happened to Diego."

Red wanted to ask why, but she kept her mouth shut, like a good girl, and just followed Arya back to the alleyway. A few minutes later Arya was elbowing through a small gathering of hungry Cizerack. One of them was bending over Diego's unconscious form, dipping a finger in the blood pooled by his head. Luckily it was a male.

"Hey!" Arya held Red's hand in a deathgrip, and knelt down beside Diego's naked form. "Leave my man alone!" The male jerked away as though he'd been slapped, and got to his feet, backing away slowly.

The wound on the back of Diego's head was already healing up, but it didn't look good. Did you have to hit him so hard? Sanis didn't seem to be anywhere around. He was probably cursing her out from a shadowed alcove. Something along the lines of 'I save your life and now you go back into danger?'

Diego was massive, however, and nearly impossible for her to move all by herself. Arya looked around briefly, and then realized that Jina was staring at the Lupine's naked body. Frelling hells of Corellia... "Red, close your eyes." Jina closed them without question, her hand holding onto Arya's tightly.

One hand...one heavy man... It didn't add up. Arya slapped his face gently..ish... hoping he'd start coming around and putting on pants.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

All seven hells broke loose... in her mind, that is. Tondry. She could sense him.

Without another thought, Lilaena turned and exited the palace, walking briskly past a darkhaired woman and a redheaded human child, and hailing a taxi. She was getting away from this place.

[Sanis Prent]

"Hey...I dunno about you, but I could sure use a little less dead lupine drama, and a little more getting the hell outta here!"

I was slowly catching my breath, tagging along behind Arya and red as they turned back to the shapeshifter.

"I dunno, doesn't he seem a little too much trouble than he's worth?"

[Arya Ravenwing]

Arya shot him a look, and retorted, "Why don't you hold Carrot's hand, and I'll take the dead lupine, okay? I wouldn't want to stress you out." Red released Arya and grabbed Sanis with her other hand. Sanis looked pained.

The smuggler gathered herself, and stretched a bit as she reached for the inert body in front of her. Diego seemed to enjoy spending most of his time half dead: he was doing it so often lately. Muscles popped and flexed, her unusually dense musculature expanding a bit. Her clothes got a little tighter in the shoulders as she grabbed an arm and a leg, hefting Diego into a type of fireman's carry.

Her legs creaked as she staggered to her feet, and then strengthened. It had nothing to go with the Force. Her skin seemed to get a shade or two paler. She grunted at Sanis, "If you wanted to be helpful you could nick a blanket or something to cover his bum."

[Sanis Prent]

"Yeah, lemme check the towel room....hm....I don't seem to have a towel room."

Muttering, I glanced around the alleyway, looking for something, anything to do the trick. Eventually, I settled on a piece of dingy but opaque plastic wrapping. Maybe in a previous life it was a tarp, or maybe it had always existed as garbage. Either way, I shook beads of residual rain water off of it and handed it to Arya.

"Eh, it'll have to do."

I frowned.

"So....you're gonna lug him around the whole way?"

[Arya Ravenwing]

She struggled to drape Diego appropriately, their little audience having left after she yelled at them. The alley was theirs, for the moment. "Well, to a cab, at least. Unless you had a ...better idea? We could wait for those helpful guys in red suits to show up." Arya began walking forward, down the alley away from the palace.

Sanis thought about what she said, and followed her, noticing he had Red attatched to the end of one of his arms. She trotted along beside him, taking everything in silently, her green eyes wide. He caight up to Arya at the other end of the alley, where she shot him a glare, probably by accident and because of recent stresses. Probably. Maybe not.

"Hail us a cab..." She rested awkwardly against the shadowed wall of the alley, peering into the nearby street. "I'll wait here until you've got one."

[Sanis Prent]

Red in tow, I waved my hand in the direction of the street, until yellow airtaxi descended down to our level.

"jYou want rrrjide?" The female asked in poor basic.

"Yeah, uh...."

I glanced back to Arya, who was obviously wearing the pants of this little operation.

"Hotel or shop? Doubt your bucket of bolts is up & running at the moment."

Either way, I hopped in, pulling Red along for the ride.

"Hey, you really bringing the big guy along? I mean, its just dead weight."

[Arya Ravenwing]

"Frelling shut up Sanis." She heaved Diego into the backseat next to Sanis, and shut the door, climbing into the front seat with the female, who nodded approvingly at the tone she'd taken with the manservant. "Take us to a hotel near these cross streets." Arya poked her index finger on a liquid plasma screen map that was mounted to the speeder's dash.

"Rrrjight awajy..." The yellow cab jerked upwards, and Sanis groaned as Diego's body slumped against him. From the other side of him Red pressed her nose to the window, taking in the sights.

[Sanis Prent]

"Great, I've got less say-so than a half-dead invalid." I spoke almost inaudibly.

I took the trip back to the hotel in stride, trying to keep the Lupine from bleeding on my jacket. If I didn't know better, I thought I saw his face twitch.

Eventually, we made it back, and I was out the door as fast as we hit pavement, popping a stim between my lips.

"Red, lets go get a fizzyglug."

It was at least an excuse to pry myself away from the battleaxe in the front seat, and let her pay for the fare while I was at it."

[Radish Xavier]

Jina brightened up, wrapping her tiny fingers around Sanis' hand again. "With ice? I'm hot." She felt tired, but was determined not to say so. The new hotel looked a lot different from the last one. Not...nicer, but different.

She could hear Arya grumbling as she paid the fare, and flagged down an unsuspecting felinoid male to help her with Diego. He sure was sleeping a long time! And not waking up...Jina was a heavy sleeper too, and thought she knew how he felt. Then she remembered the blood on the pavement, and her brow creased in worry.

Sanis tugged on her hand, leading her to the hotel's adjoining bar. Jina knew bars...Arya had taken her into a few. She struggled to get onto a barstool.

[Arya Ravenwing]

Arya paid the impatient female driver, and struggled to pull Diego from the cab. He fell forward against her, and she tipped his head back, lifting his eyelid to see if she could get any response out of him at all. His pupil was dilated already. Frell. Maybe Sanis had killed him.

Ah well. Worth a shot anyway. Arya shanghaied a loitering male, and got him to carry Diego into the hotel while she arranged for rooms. Her creds were almost gone, so she could only afford one room. Dammit to all the hells. Receiving her key, she instructed the creature behind the desk to give Sanis the copy when he emerged from the bar.

Twenty minutes later she was soaking in the bathtub while Diegos body lay prone on the bed.

[Diego Van Derveld]

*GASP!*

Diego's eyes snapped open, and he bolted up from the bed as his metabolic processes caught up with themselves. He nearly choked on his first breath, staggering to the mirror naked as the day he was born. He blinked his eyes into focus, then scrutinized the still-large wound on his head.

When he heard the water splash in the bathtub, he paused, sniffing at the air.

Arya.

Diego turned toward the bathroom, suddenly wary that things might not be as they seem.

[Arya Ravenwing]

Arya had fallen asleep, her head pillowed on a towel folded carefully on the edge of the tub. Her arms were draped along the sides of the tub, and she looked almost peaceful as the bubbles slowly began to melt away.

[Sanis Prent]

"Two fizzyglugs, please."

I smiled politely to the bartender, who hurriedly went on his way to get my order. All around, various aliens spoke in dozens of languages, but the order of the day was stripes by far.

It kept me on edge. My eyes were always glancing here and there, afraid to pick up some unwanted attention. After a moment, the pair of chilled sodas came to my rescue, and I paid the 'keep.

"Thanks."

I passed one of the bottles on to red, who gripped it with both hands. I took a small sip, and redoubled with two deep gulps, forgetting how thirsty a city chase in Carshoulis heat could make me. The humidity didn't help either.

"How you doin, Red?"

[Diego Van Derveld]

Just as Arya was about to drift asleep, a voice cut through the silence in the bathroom.

"You seem to be enjoying yourself."

Diego stood over her, now clad in a hotel bathrobe.

[Arya Ravenwing]

She jerked awake, right hand scooping up the blaster that rested on the counter by the tub, and was aiming before she was fully conscious. Water slowly dripped from her bare arms as she focused and then relaxed her two hand grip, setting the blaster back on the counter. "Good way to get yourself killed...again," she growled, splashing about as she struggled to reach a towel.

Diego handed her one, and Arya got to her feet, wrapping its length around her wet body as she stepped out of the bath. "I thought you were dead that time. Good thing I got you out of the street, or you'd already be cat food." She tucked the loose end of the towel in the top of the wrap, and started gathering up her discarded clothing.