Aaron nodded to Dat...

...then looked to Nefrai. "Jedi Petrolu will be able to handle the Imperials, I am hoping."

And hopefully not you, the way you seem to have a serious hang-up about them. Not that it's unfounded... came the mental afterthought.

Minna sighed, hunkered into a ball of gloom. The awesome splendor of hyperdriven starstreaks on her viewport held no interest for her, although under what she would consider "normal" circumstances she would be staring at them, enthralled. The sheer physical improbability of such things always held a certain degree of fascination, but not this trip.

Her focus was instead glued on the tiny data chip she held daintily between two fingers of her left hand, her right hand at the moment being busy holding up her chin, the arm attached to it likewise busy providing support between her upraised knee and her head. On the deck nearby lay a recently emptied bottle of an emetic solution.

She sighed for the umpteenth time, feeling just horrible... and not simply due to the manner in which she had "retrieved" the data chip. She hated -- hated --what she had done, feeling all kinds of traitor and general slime-o for skipping out on her promise to everyone. Especially Nefrai; although she had always kept herself free from any sort of entanglements with anybody (such things always made life much more simple if one was a spy) she found she was really missing him. It had been starting to be a bit fun having a partner to work with; she sighed again, wondering if she should have tried to contact him before she had blown out of the Hornett, to see if he would have wanted to continue along with her or not.

She held the data chip up higher, letting the light from the viewport ripple through it. A scowl raced across her features, only to be immediately replaced by a look more closely approximating fear.

A third sigh escaped her, and shivered the tiniest bit. Then she loosened the ball she had wound herself into, letting her head fall back against the seat, the hand holding the data chip falling limply in her lap, her other arm dangling as she stared off into middle space.

Funny how an object so slight, so seemingly innocent, would press down upon her with the weight of the entire universe...

I should just space it, right now, she mused unhappily.

I should just stop right now, space the thing, and go back....

She shivered again, and straightened in her seat, letting a final sigh escape her with the realization that that was the last thing she should logically do.

But what to do with the information?

Her frown reappeared, abyssal-deep. The data chip burned holes in her fingers. The universe seemed to shrink nonsensically as she scoured her brain for a safe place to hide the thing until she could come up with something better to do with it.

...and hopefully return successful."

Aaron nodded. "May the Force be with you all then," he replied, stepping back and motioning for them to board.

Shawn nodded, then turned to Dat. "Come, let's take that datachip on board and get the ship warmed." Then he spread his gaze to include Nefrai. "I suspect we'll have plenty of planning to do concerning our mission as we travel."

He was supposed to trust this imperial, but not just yet. He would wait and judge his actions a bit for now, and make sure of what he intended.

And by the way, they aren't the new Sith, but rather the old. They've been around for millennia...or rather, they were around about 4 millennia ago. They've been pulled forward into this time frame through a series of events I cannot totally explain...

...but I can tell you this much: they are out there, and they are very real. They are simply a race, a race with many magicks behind them, a race no different than any other in its mix of the good, the bad..."

He trailed a moment. "I don't know which sorts of their people we may face when we arrive. But I know this: If anyone can beat the odds, it's these people we'll be looking for. I think it's time for the datachip."

...then something strange and inexplicable slammed into him, causing him to raise a hand to his temple, squinting his eyes shut for a moment in a gasp.

Shadowy figures, yet again. This time there were still three, but they were even more difficult to make out than the previous vision...

...yet the pervading darkness was not...

With effort, Shawn opened his eyes, possibly looking more flustered than anyone had seen him in quite some time.

"I sense something...very dark," he admitted. Then, he totally changed the subject...

...or at least, it might have appeared that way to his companions. Or maybe not. "How is your familiarity of the ship coming, Major?"

...I'm not willing at the moment to wait long enough to listen to the datachip to go to hyperspace. We really need to get going..."

Again he trailed, his look momentarily darknening. Then he returned to his usual complete serenity, and keyed in Aaron's frequency, requesting the coordinates. In no time the coordinates were returned to them via the Captain for everyone to hear.

Shawn couldn't help but turn to cock a brow at Nefrai Kesh, who had obviously been thrown just the slightest by Dat's initial manuevers. The Jedi couldn't help but smile ever the slightest bit before the look faded once more into utter impassiveness.

"Course is plotted; jumping to hyperspace..."

"...Now." The stars through the cockpit viewports seem to elongate, then the ship is launched across the barrier, carrying its crew out of the comfort of the known, hurtling toward a mystery.

"As for my knowledge of the Sith--"

Here he paused, finally looking to Nefrai, his formerly distant look fading entirely. "--I know of their return to this time, and have had some interaction with their race. Do not be mistaken; their magicks are quite powerful and are not to be taken lightly. There are those who might use this magick for good...while there are those that will do the very opposite. Galen's sister, however, might be the key to all of this. She has involvement with this race and the Lords who rule it; she is quite powerful and has played the roles of both enemy and friend. As for any other information you may need to knw regarding the Sith...

...I believe that should be kept to a minimum. Know that they are magickal, strong, wise, and clever. Beyond that you need know nothing further of them and their past, for this knowledge might very well place you at more risk than any of us would desire."

"But 'Galens sister', by what identity is she known? Does she wield magicks as well?" Kesh was most curious to the nature of these magicks as well. Magic was always a fairy tale to those common beings, but then again, so was he...

...and froze right where he was as Yaoksi's message shot through his ears. Aaron put his face in his hands, and remained there for a moment...

...finally running both of them up over his forehead and through his hair.

He hit the reply button on the comm unit, debated over just what to say, then proceeded on. "Captain Joao, this is Captain Aaron Barnes," he started out. "It's good to hear from you, and I hope that all is well. Terrin is...

...not available..."

"Over."

He deserved to know the truth. Aaron just hated to give it to him over a comm. But better now than finding out later, which might appear strange.

"I'll relate the news of your troubles to K'khil; he's one of our best engineers and has done some fine work onboard the Hornett. As for Terrin..."

Aaron trailed, the pang in his heart almost audible, "He died over a year ago. I'd tell you more...

...but I don't feel all that comfortable about telling you the details over a comm frequency."

Leaving his communication at that, Aaron pushed the "send" button, and leaned back, a hand over his mouth. Then he leaned forward once more, pulling up the comm frequencies for engineering and finding K'khil's. In moments he had keyed in the cricket's frequency, and relayed him a message relating all of Yaoksi troubles, along with the coordinates and physical address he'd given. Then he ended with, "Should you decide you want to leave us with the crew I'm going to send to Captain Joao on Priingsi, let me know. Your work here will be sorely missed...

Surprised am I, the errant thought crossed his mind as he slid out from under the metal console and slapped the badge.

Long worked in quiet here, have I. Worked in diligence, in solitude, in background, keeping to self have I.

Ship in 115% efficiency is, happy Verpine am I.

So this, a surprise is, about what? About--

Boss?

He would have blinked in surprise, if he was physically capable of such things. But the only way he could display his utter astonishment was by a slight clacking of his mandibles, before an appendage raised to switch his comm-badge from "receive" to "send."

"To Captain Joao I go, his woes to soften. Crew a good thing is, materiels better.

"Assessment of damage at point of origin only can be made; sending of small crew with myself a good thing is... with the following items...":

He ended his tacit reply with a rather lengthy list of items and tools. At the end of the list was, of course, a hydrospanner.

His comm-badge automatically flipped from "send" back to "receive" as he stood fidgeting, waiting to hear when he could depart, with what, and with whom.

...but something else was suddenly weighing heavily on Aaron's heart.

He'd been here, on Terrin's ship--gods, but he still thought of her as Terrin's ship--too long. What he needed was a good break, and a good drink...

...and perhaps someone to talk with once again. This was the perfect opportunity.

Aaron flipped the reply button. "K'khil, you can depart from here whenever you see that you are ready. All of the items you've requested will be loaded aboard my yacht the Oasis as soon as possible. I'll have a crew of five of our best engineers and technicians join us...

...and I'm going to join you long enough to ensure that the job is done correctly."

And to get myself a nice drink of Whyrene's Reserve somewhere. Jasyn might be the King Guzzler, but I'd like a drink occasionally myself...

"I'll meet you in the main hangar bay, platform 85, in just a few minutes if this all sounds acceptable. Captain Barnes out."

After sending this response K'khil's way, then making the arrangements to get K'khil the supplies and assistance he needed, Aaron got up from his desk, left his office, and headed off, his wristcomm tuned to recieve any messages he might miss while he was out of his office.

Which, if all went as planned, would be for at least a while.

"To Platform 85, Main Hanger, go I now to await you and the team; out is K'kihl."

Flipping off the comm-switch, the insectoid engineer clambered swiftly to his chitinous feet. He paused a moment, casting a look about himself.

A brief pang of regret came from nowhere to hit him square in the Verpine equivalent of a solar plexus.

The Hornett, without me she shall be...

That thought was swiftly cast aside though, to be replaced by an image of one who needed his assistance far more direly than the huge SSD, with its massive engineering crew, ever could.

He shot a fast look down at himself, his dexterous appendages darting about his work-belt, making certain every tool he needed was there.

Even his hydrospanner. He hoped another one would show its face; one could never be without enough hydrospanners....

Satisfied that he was as ready as he ever would be, he nodded and left, soon arriving at the designated location where he began to wait, as patiently as he could, for the others to get there.

Yaoksi needed his help, and time was a-wasting...

The Lieutenant at communications saluted mentally to the General, then turned toward his panel to carry out his order. Swiftly keying in a few strokes, he brought up the private communications frequency given to them by Jedi Petrolu.

He then set about setting forth a call.

"Jedi Shawn Petrolu, Jedi Shawn Petrolu, this is Sormontato, currently in Tatooine space.

"General Ahem requests your return at your earliest and swiftest convenience, reply when able, over."

Dat looked to Shawn, nodding, one eyebrow cocked. Then he turned back to the navboard of the ship, his hands going to play about several switches. Gracefully, they returned to realspace...

...and Shawn's wristcomm immediately sounded. Frowning once again, he immediately hit the accept button, knowing that there were few who would be making use of his frequency. The message of the Empire immediately came to his ears...

...and Shawn's look actually darkened further as he sensed something he couldn't quite place his finger on.

He glanced back to Dat, then Nefrai. "I am in charge of the Jedi Praxeum's dealings on Tatooine, and this sounds urgent. And not only does it sound urgent...

...I sense something in all of this. How convenient it was for us to come out to make a course bearing just in time for me to receive this?"

He trailed a moment, his look turning serene. "Tatooine is enroute to our destination, and we will have to meet with the Empire soon enough. Why not do it at their behest, and let them know we are trying to search for friends on K'eel Doba while we are in the process? This will make our journey that much more simplier."

Sensing agreement from the others, Shawn hit the reply button.

"This is Jedi Petrolu. I am currently away from the Praxeum on Tatooine, but my destination will take me right by your location. I am on the way."

Sending the message at that, Shawn turned to Dat, who was already in the process of making corrections to their hyperspace path. In moments the ship reoriented herself under his command, and spread her wings into hyperspace once more.

Enroute to Tatooine, and from there to K'eel Doba, as already planned. Shawn was determined of this.

And all that aside, she was simply a beauty. Her nerf-skin seats and marble-decking bespoke of her luxury classification, and Aaron bought her immediately.

But, as it was with all the EE employees and owners, Aaron still hadn't found a ship that pleased him quite as much as his lambda-class shuttle had. Of course, Terrin did have that nice little yacht with the black outer hull.

Wonder what happened to that thing?

Jerking himself from his thoughts, Aaron looked to the waiting Verpine. "Sorry it took a while to gather everyone...

...but the supplies have already been loaded, so now we can be on our way. I for one am ready to get out of here...

...it's been too long since I've gotten away."

Using a command code then, Aaron opened the hatch of his yacht and strode inside, dumping his bags and heading for the cockpit to warm the engines.

She purred like a tigress. Damn, he loved this ship...

Once she was ready, Aaron flipped the communit on. "This is Captain Barnes, requesting clearance from the main hangar bay and transferring command to Commander Garrison."

The main deck crew responded immediately, and only a minute later clearance was granted.

That was all Aaron needed. Though he wasn't quite the pilot his late partner was, Aaron still had some piloting skill, and took great joy in feeling the Oasis spread her wings beneath his touch. As soon as they cleared the Hornett's gravitational pull, Aaron pulled up the coordinates for Sullust from the navcomputer, and keyed them into the hyperdrive.

"Everyone hold on, we're blasting out of here."

Reaching out then, his hand went right to the hyperdrive controls, and he pulled them...

...and space stretched out into starlines and then faded into hyperspace. Aaron smiled.

Aaron was jarred from the deep recesses of slumber by none other than the insistent beep of his comlink. He turned over in the bed and grabbed the commlink, thumbing the accept button. "This is Captain Barnes," he said groggily.

"Sir, the transport has reverted to realspace and we are approaching the Hornett."

Aaron blinked the remainders of sleep from his eyes and sat up, ruffling his hair a bit with his free hand before responding. "Allright, I'll contact the Hornett and get clearance. Our arrival should be already anticipated. I'll have them contact the main bridge with clearance codes."

"Yes sir."

"Barnes out," Aaron ended, closing the connection then keying in the familiar secure frequency to the Hornett's control bridge. "This is Captain Barnes," Aaron began. "The transport has reverted, and the bridge needs clearance codes. I need a docking area ready for my ship the Oasis, and I need a repair docking area prepared for the Devil May Care. I also need the medcenter ready for a Twi'lek with a broken limb."

"Already on all three of those requests, sir. We are prepared for your arrival, and clearance codes are being transmitted immediately."

"Very good. I'll see you on board the SSD."

Terrin's SSD, a little voice commented in Aaron's head. He did his best to ignore it.

...although her owner would never be the one to fly her to that spot ever again. At this thought, Aaron simply sighed and closed his eyes a moment, then opened them hearing someone step next to him and stop there.

Aaron turned to see Yaoksi, who had no doubt already been over to where the Devil had been berthed with K'khil. In the meantime, Kiara had been taken to the medcenter where the medics would look after her injury.

"Perhaps we should find a private place to begin discussing just what we are going to do to search out the others?" Aaron queried then. "And, come to think of it...

...we should get back with Shawn Petrolu, and see if he has made any further progress. This information will at least give us some clue regarding where we need to start...

...but then, if a Jedi can't even find them..."

Shawn, this is Captain Aaron Barnes, now aboard the Hornett. I wanted to establish contact with you to see if you have made any further progress...

...and to see if there might be any way in which I can help. Please respond ASAP.

Finishing the statement, Aaron again reached for the communit, and selected the "send" button. This would in turn relay his message out to the appropriate comm frequency where it would wait to be accepted by the recipient. Only a few moments later Aaron's communit lit up, indicating a received message. Thinking nothing of this for the moment, Aaron took a sip of his Corellian Ale, and pressed the accept button...

...which caused a computerized voice message to play.

Transmission to the following communications frequency failed. Reason: Unable to locate frequency, user unknown.

Along with that followed the frequency which had failed to receive--Shawn's frequency. Aaron blinked in surprise and concern, looking to Yaoksi.

"His frequency should be in operation, I spoke with him while we were still on Sullust. What could be causing this now?"

He frowned, his look darkening slightly. "As the Jedi are so wont to say...I have a very bad feeling about this..."

ic:

Suddenly out of hyperspace came a rogue transport. The marks unintelligeable on the ship. Aboard the ship Miguel stood at the bridge. Droids on either side operated the heavy machinery as they progressed.
Sir, we have intercepted a transmission.

"Jam their frequencies."

Miguel spoke with an automatic tongue accustomed to the understanding. Weary traveling accross the galaxy he grew weary of searching for the lost Dark Jedi Temple.

He had grown accustomed to running into many types of people. However much his wisdom of the Galaxy grew, it meant little importance to Miguel.
Sir, frequencies jammed.

Miguel grabbed his forhead with an aching headache.

"Fine than patch through our transmission."
Yes sir.

Miguel took a few painkillers before turning to the audio screen.

...when here came a little cloud to dampen our day.

I frowned at Aaron's disclosure as I shifted in my seat.

"Yeah, it's strange," I admitted, setting my glass down and leaning forward to rest my elbows on my knees. My hands dangled between my legs; I tossed a quick glance downward to study them for a nanosecond or so before meeting Aaron's disturbed look with a direct one of my own.

"I don't know what would be preventing Shawn from receiving, actually, unless somehow, for some inexplicable reason, your signal is being jammed?"

I shrugged and pursed my lips thoughtfully as I reached for my drink once more.

"The interesting attendant question to that being, of course, just who would be doing that, and why."

I took a slug, mentally berating myself for harboring such goofy suspicions, although anyone having gone through what I had in the past few years did indeed have every reason to harbor them, truth be known.

...irritable. Aaron only frowned more, momentarily looking at Yaoksi as if to say, "Well, doesn't this just sound wonderful?" before pushing the reply button on his comm unit. He removed all traces of the frown from his face and put on his "diplomatic" one, the tone in his voice now calm and cool and very businesslike...a technique he'd learned from Terrin.

"This is Captain Aaron Barnes aboard the Hornett. Just who are you, and what is the nature of your business with me?"

"This is Miguel Borimas, freelancer, owner of the Vigorous Blade. Where lays your alliance?"

Where lies our alliance--? What in all the known universe was this guy yammering on about? Where did he think he was, back in the day of Palpatine or something--?

Now, granted, the fact the there were impy blockades everywhere anyone skated around in this ol' galaxy anymore -- well, at least it seemed like it -- might just go leading insecure types into believing there was some kind of major coup d'etat in place...

Ok. So there had been one, my bad. But to my knowledge there hadn't been too much of a ruckus pertaining to said coup; I thought back to what I had experienced on Sullust, and had to admit the Impys seemed like they were there to help, not hinder.

He turned to Borimas. "Ummm... alliance?" he queried, quite honestly not knowing what the man was referring to. "I'm just the owner of a ship-building industry that builds and supplies to the highest bidders.

Ok, well that's not entirely true. You have been a supplier for Imperials...

...and particularly for Admiral Pallaeon. But he hasn't shown himself in ages, and must be close to if not in retirement by now...

"Are you in need of a ship or ship supplies, or is there someone or somewhere I can direct you to?"

"A Shipbuilder you say? If you have no alliances, speak of whom you support."

It was true Miguel needed directions, but not from your average citizen. He would need to meet much more influential people, or pherhaps far more stupid.

"Allow me to explain myself. I formerly served under Admiral Actar." He lied, "I need to speak with the leaders of the Empire." He finally spoke a word of truth.

Sending off his response, Aaron looked to Yaoksi, who was listening intently. Off the comm and away from prying eyes and ears, he then spoke his thoughts aloud. "Is it just me," he asked Yaoksi, "Or is there something entirely wrong about this scenario? A man, who supposedly worked for Actar, needs to speak with the Empire and doesn't seem to know where to go to do just that?"

An insistent comm beep interrupted Aaron's query. He turned to it, immediately knowing from the way his comm unit was lighting up that the message was coming from the deck of the Hornett. He accepted the incoming message.

"Sir," an officer on deck began, "The ship now in contact with us is activating her weapons."

Frowning, Aaron then pursed his lips. Then he hit the send button, and responded. "For the moment, stand down. We're in an SSD. Certainly he knows his little ship couldn't stand a chance or create any major damage to us. Stay on the alert, however. At the first sign of attack, I want us ready."

"Very well sir," came the reply from on deck.

"Yeah, I agree," I said slowly, unable to help frowning to myself at what appeared to be so obvious a discrepency in this guy's statements to us.

Ok, lies. Never was I not the one to call a ronto a ronto.

I leaned back, trying to relax but unable to keep from remaining tense.

It never rains but it pours...

"Yeah, that's strange that he wouldn't know how to contact any Imperials, especially since he claims to have been in the employ of the Empire. Unless the key word in all the above was his use of the term was.

"Maybe he fell from grace or something, and knows something we don't, and he's trying to find his fleet to bring some kind of information to them. Or--"

My eyes darkened as another thought struck.

"We're getting set up for something; don't you think it's rather strange that he came swooping into our space out of nowhere? I mean, that in all the galaxy, he managed to find us? Who else would know where we are?"

I fell silent, reached for my drink, froze. Then I simply crossed my arms, leaving it sitting where it was. For if something nasty was coming down the pike, I sure as hell didn't need fuzzy senses adding to the confusion.

...absolutely no one knows where the Hornett is without giving us a comm for business relations first. And that, much to my dismay, smacks of betrayal and mutiny."

And more importantly, why. Not to mention the connection that person would have to this guy and his presumed former acquaintanceship with Admiral Actar.

"I picked up energy readings in the areas, I told you before what I am searching for, the Empire."

Miguel waited a moment, looking around at his ship, he knew it wouldn't be able to get past any blockades such as Coruscant.

He flipped up a clear case revealing a small red button which he pushed. The back engines of his ship made no apparent signs of distress. From the inside the engines exploded and the ship leaked smoke through exhaust.

"You say you are a shipbuilder. I need to reach Coruscant. My ship's hyperspace capabilities are destroyed. I need to make ship repairs and speak with the Admiral.

"Er, can we inquire as to what exactly happened to your hyperdrive capabilities? Oh yeah, and how you just managed to find yourself within the perimeter to pick up our energy sigs?" I asked, waggling my brows at Aaron as if to say,

Hey. It's worth a shot...

"First of all, fine the tractor beam will do, if you'll just take me and my ship to Coruscant that would be fine.

And to the second person aboard your ship, I will tell you that while my ship may be a pile of scrap, it still has your up to date scanners and technology. My hyperdrive malfunctioned, I beleive there is a leak in the fuel tanks. Anyway my ship will be going no farther.

If you could tow my ship in, take us down to Coruscant and I could get it fixed it would be the last you'd hear from me. I can assure you."

"He wants us to tow him to Coruscant?!" I said incredulously.

"Now, what exactly is wrong with that picture?"

I leaned forward, all serious now, especially since this bozo was trying to direct where Hornett went, and my baby and good ol buddy were both aboard her.

"Look, last time I looked there were other shipyards closer; I don't trust this guy one bit, pal.

...especially with Sluis Van so close. I have the feeling this guy either has some bad connections with Actar and the Empire...

...or he doesn't have any at all. And, aside from not wanting to get up close and personal with the Coruscant blockade...

...I think Terrin would come back from the grave and take me with him if I took his SSD that close in to Coruscant."

Opening the comm frequency, Aaron formulated a quick reply that was already on his tongue before he really had to think about it. "I can take you to Sluis Van, and the Empire can help you rebuild your ship from there. After all, there are no good shipyards near Coruscant, and I think the Empire would greatly appreciate us saving them the extra trip and fuel."

"Deck, please lock on to the small ship now powering down her engines just to the aft of the SSD, then calculate a hyperspace run to Sluis Van. We'll be hauling the ship there for repairs."

"Yes sir." came the crisp reply from the deck.

Aaron switched the comm frequency then now sending to Borimas. "The Hornett is locking her tractor beams onto your ship, and we will be going to hyperspace and heading towards Sluis Van immediately. I'm certain you can contact the Empire once we arrive there; these shipyards are frequently used by the Imps and they should have a contact for you. So, until we reach the other side of our hyperspace run, I hope the trip is smooth for you. Barnes out."

Even as Aaron finshed his message to Miguel, the Hornett locked on to his ship.

"I sure as hell don't know," I said as I settled back with it.

"But one thing is certain; he was awfully adamant about coming aboard. And that just sets off all kinds of warning flags; what Captain wants to leave his ship to board the one that's tractoring it? Seems if he was on the level he'd want to remain aboard her.

"I know I would."

A little unhappy sort of frisson rippled through me at my own last statement, for hot on its heels came the crumpled image of my poor Devil. But I managed to snort that away with a good slug of my drink; fates knew she was in the best hands that could be had anywhere.

Not to mention the claws...

"Now he has information for you?" I said in a low, incredulous voice. Blinking then, I pursed my lips and propped my elbows on my knees while I gave meaning to what I was saying with accenting hand movements.

"Look, this guy has changed his story not once, but three times! I don't know about you, but I'm feeling all kinds of funny about this entire affair; he still is pressing to board Hornett, which leads me to wonder just how he managed to find her -- let alone why."

I straightened in my seat.

"If it were up to me, I'd say the only way to find out his true intentions would be to either give him a chance to come clean with you, or inform him that you're releasing the tractor and will send an alert to whoever he wants one sent to -- although Fates only know why he can't do that himself--

"And let him know we're going on our merry way. Trusting, of course, that this SSD has strong enough armor to hold up to whatever he might suddenly try to lambast us with?"

I paused a moment, letting those words sink in before finishing up with, "I really don't trust this guy, and I am beginning to doubt that his story of experiencing engine trouble is indeed factual. Remember, the first thing he did was jam your frequencies..."

I paused a moment, my hand going up to my mouth as I pondered further; playing the mind game with unknown peeps had never been my strongest suite, nor one I was much comfortable with. I preferred the cleanliness of the obvious, facts that one could react to without worrying about subterfuge, which led to a little something that was bothering me most of all.

The thing that irked me the most about all this was that I couldn't do a damned thing to help. Every cell in my body was itching to get into Devil and go out and lend what assistance that I could, even though that persistently annoying logical portion of my brain kept informing me that an SSD didn't really need that help at all; it was quite capable of handling things on its own, thank you very much.

I heaved a frustrated sigh and focused on Aaron once again.

"I dunno, an aggressive stance would be a likely opener if one felt somehow threatened by someone bigger than he is. Hornett is rather imposing, you know, and if this guy's engines really are failing, well..."

I trailed off with another shake of my head. Like I said, give me room to purely react, don't make me start second-guessing.

Aaron paused a moment, then continued with, "EE is a large corporation, well noted and highly respected, thanks to my former partner. People in the galaxy know of us...

...so why doesn't this guy? Maybe I'm overestimating how well the company is known...

...or maybe it's another warning flag."

Quieting again at that, Aaron considered just what to do for another few moments...

...then decided to take a gamble. "You know, if this guy just really needs to talk to me...

...then perhaps we can make arragements for him to do so...

...under my conditions. Then perhaps we'll see if that's what he really wants at all."

Saying that, Aaron opened the comm frequency once again. "I can't imagine what information you would have for a shipbuilder, sir, but because you are so insistent, perhaps something can be arranged. There's an establishment I frequent on Sluis Van called the Blue Asteroid. I am willing to meet you there once we arrive at the shipyards and your ship is in repair. Our journey there, as well as getting your ship in place in the shipyards, should take about 30 standard hours. I trust whatever information you have for me can wait this short span of time...

...and I trust that I will be able to bring whatever company I desire along with me. "

Stopping with that, Aaron sent the reply on its way...

It was a very big sigh.

"Good," I stated flatly as, slamming down the remnants of my drink I got to my feet.

"That's about as fair an approach as you can take, considering the circumstances. And since we've got a little time to spare, if you'd be so kind as to direct me to the galley and then my quarters I'd appreciate it."

I paused a moment, reading his eyes.

"And of course I'll accompany you down to the surface when we get to Sluis Van; K'kihl's better off without me vulturing over his shoulder anyway..."

...I still have a very strange feeling about him. We'll see just what it is he wants. And in the meantime..."

Aaron paused, flipping a switch on his comm unit, "Deck, this is Captain Barnes. Are coordinates for Sluis Van locked in?"

"Yes sir. Coordinates locked in and tractor locked. Waiting for your signal."

"Very well, on my mark. 3, 2,1, Mark."

As the final word escaped his lips, the viewscreen behind Aaron's desk splayed out from stars, to starlines, to hyperspace. The Hornett seemed to hum a merry tune as she spread her wings.

And Aaron looked to Yaoski once more. "Now, let's find our way to the galley. I'm looking forward to some good Corellian Ale..."

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

As the Hornett glided smoothly out of hyperspace 30 standard hours later, the scene of the Sluis Van shipyards filled the viewscreen on the main deck of the Hornett. Aaron pursed his lips, and rubbed his chin thoughtfully, then opening a secure frequency to the ship still within his tractor beams. Already having taken care of the logistics with the shipyards, all Aaron needed to do was to make certain the man who called him Miguel Borimas was prepared to leave his ship and meet Aaron at the surface.

And in something of a hurry. Along the lines of lightspeed hurry.

I wondered idly how many lesser bridges there yet were, scattered about the Hornett, just as I wondered to myself what ship we were going use to travel to the surface.

That reminded me just why we were here; stiffening a little I reached a sly hand down and caressed the well-worn butt of my blaster.

I felt oodles better.

Tahel awoke with a start at the sound of a transmission to his ship. Sleepily, and lazily Miguel waddled over to the reply button.

"Yes, I'll be down there."

Miguel stretched his legs and arms as he yawned, before merrily heading down to the dockinbay of his ship. He jumped into a small one man cruiser. He quickly set it to auto piolit, just because he hated flying.

--it sure felt good to hit dirt again.

I couldn't help but smile to myself as I hurried through the spaceport. Aaron, busy with some sort of minor emergency that had cropped up on Hornett, had elected to remain behind for a couple of hours, stating he'd join me at a local eatery after he had taken care of business aboardship. I thought the interim would be a good time to take care of business myself: K'kihl, while having access to an engineer's dreamworld of ship components and parts, still had a couple things Devil was in dire need of that could only be found in a shipyard proper.

And there's the little matter of a hydrospanner or two. I did owe the Ol' Cricket that, after all.

So Aaron had loaned me the use of a ship-to-ground flyer, and I had headed straight on down to the spaceport. After checking in with port authorities I took off, now heading out to find a particular establishment I had heard had not only quality parts but parts at a reasonable price.

As I exited the spaceport I couldn't help but notice an older man sitting alone, an odd enough sight indeed when compared to the hordes that thronged hither and yon within this bustling space facility. But I had other matters to attend to; my casual glance returned to the list in my hand.

Devil deserved the best; she'd saved my hiney on more than one occasion. And yeah, though circumstances hadn't boded well for Captain Danner, at least I got him where he needed to go.

And got out again. Which is, after all, the most important part.

So, needless to say, I had a hey-day finding the parts and materials K'kihl needed to finalize his repairs. So much so that although it seemed fleeting I found, much to my surprise as I stood at the door of an elite supply facility, watching my order -- accompanied by not two but three spanking new hydrospanners -- sent off to be delivered to the repair dock holding my ship, that more than the allotted two hours had flitted past.

I frowned at my chronometer.

Damn. Aaron was footing this bill; it wouldn't do to keep him waiting.

I nodded to the proprietor, who was still gushing around me, inquiring if there was anything else, anything at all I might possibly come close to dreaming I might need in the unforeseeable future, and after acquiescing with some false promises I managed to extricate myself to the streets.

There I took off at a swift pace, and after seeking directions from a few of the locals found myself outside the establishment selected by Aaron.

The Blue Asteroid.

Shaking my head and hoping I wasn't too late I hastened in, finding much to my relief that, lengthy shopping aside, I had still managed to beat Aaron here. I heaved a sigh of relief, slid into a booth against the wall, and ordered myself a drink in order to pass the time until he got here.

Realizing it was the man aboard the ship, the second voice, he began to shadow him.

Tahel followed staying back a turn or so. Taking detours when they were available until he watched as the man took a seat at a booth.

Tahel followed into the booth taking a seat across from him.

But when he up and plops into my booth with such thinly veiled aggression, accusing me of--

"Hey!" I exclaimed as I hurriedly waved off the hovering server. No need for any innocent blood to be spilled, if indeed and Fate's forbid things came down to that. She gave me a confused look, but left quickly.

I frowned as I turned back to the guy, whose voice I finally recognized as belonging to our mysterious parasite who had wanted to go to Coruscant. My eyes darkened as I flicked a glance over him: no weapons that I could see.

At least not above the table, but not even a Hutt would be that stupid.

Realizing that this guy was as touchy as a vialful of fresh antimatter, I forced the frown away, settled into my seat. But kept every instinct, every muscle, every cell on the alert.

Those red warning flags weren't waving in my face just because they're pretty.

Smiling now, I reached for my glass.

"Hey, how's it going?" I opened jovially. "I see Aaron got you here, good as his word; how's the ship repairs coming along?"

I took a sip of my drink, seared him with a stare over the rim of my glass, then put it down with another smile.

"Here I thought you'd forgotten we were supposed to meet here, to discuss, ahh--

"Things."

I left it at that, and sent a furtive glance toward the door.

Aaron, where in all the Universe are you?

At any rate, Aaron was going to find out.

Finally able to leave the Hornett behind in her glory--with tight security--Aaron headed down to the planet in the Oasis. All the way down he lost himself in his concerns over the staff on the Hornett. While no one was particularly discontented...

...no one had ever gotten over the loss of the one person who made business dealings--and the Hornett--run as smooth as spidersilk.

And honestly, neither had Aaron either.

Now heading for the entrance of the Blue Asteroid, Aaron hoped he wasn't too late. As he walked in and scanned the room to finally find Yaoksi sitting in a booth with an older man across from him, Aaron frowned.

Okay, maybe that did take longer than it was supposed to.

Gathering his wits, he walked to the booth, looked at Yaoksi in apology for being so late, then turned to the older man.

You could cut the tension in the air with a vibroblade.

What the Hell was going on?

Ye gods. Hadn't he already done enough for this guy?? He brought his ship here for repairs, he graciously acquiesces to meet him and discuss whatever in blazes it was he wanted to discuss, and all for what?

For this guy to sit there, clammed up like the proverbial stone, utterly ignoring the hand Aaron was extending.

It was all I could do to keep the growl from my voice as I broke into the tension as easily as I could, considering.

"So, Aaron, ale?"

I waved for the waitress, who glided by, nodded, and vanished in the growing crowd. I watched her go, then turned back to Barnes.

"How's repairs on Devil coming? I got the parts K'kihl needed, but the ol' Cricket wouldn't give me an estimated time of completion.

"Do you have any news?"

I reached for my glass just as the waitress returned, setting a goblet on the table in front of Aaron and sending a smile Miguel's way.

It wasn't returned; huffing up frostily, she went back to her other customers, while I picked up my glass and took a good hearty swig. I had to put something in my mouth before I ended up saying something I would probably come to regret.

This guy insisted on them getting together to talk. Only now he wasn't talking. What gives?

Taking a sip of the ale now in front of him, Aaron frowned a bit behind his glass and found himself thankful for Yaoksi's question to break up the uncomfortable silence. He rather hated uncomfortable silences...

"The cricket isn't telling us much either, honestly," Aaron answered, looking to Yaoksi. "He was busy at work when I left though. The way he works, K'khil will have the Devil up and running at 200 percent in no time. He's very efficient. And very tedious, as I'm certain you know."

Pausing at that, Aaron took another swig of the ale, and looked to the ever-quiet Borimas. "The shipyards say all your systems are green, but that your engines are toast on your ship...an internal problem of some sort. You are lucky that only your engines are on the blink, with the damage they have sustained..."

Ok, so maybe mine might had some damage, considering the blast the ol' girl had taken in the spaceport, but her injuries were due to the obvious. This guy's ship, however, had somehow managed to take on some engine problems with all systems green. Granted, there could be reasons for that, but the way they build ships now it's usually the systems that go kerflooey, which in turn provoke the hardware to die one kind of hideous death or another.

This was a rarity...

...and the guy wasn't so much as batting an eye. If anything, he remained stonier than ever.

I didn't like it, nor did I trust this guy. Everything about him was shrieking out in warning, that he was holding back, hiding something...

"Ahh, Aaron?" I interjected, knocking the growing cricket noises away as I turned to him.

"I hate to break up this little tete-a-tete, but if I'm going to get that hydrospanner K'kihl needs, I'd better get going before the shop closes."

I rose to my feet with that, slugging down the last of my drink and turning an apologetic smile toward Borimas. I stuck my hand out, trying to keep the smile on my face from turning into a grimace.

"Nice to meet you, hope your repairs get finished soon and you find whatever it is you're looking for.

"Aaron--?"

Aaron refrained from returning the look, but instead smiled at Miguel perhaps a touch too warmly. "Your ship repairs are in order, and are manageable within a few days time. I'm certain you can find accomodations here on Sluis Van while you wait...

...and I'd hate to waste any more of your obviously valuable time. It's been a pleasure doing business with you, sir."

Taking the last sip of his Ale, Aaron then got to his feet, brushed off his pants, and extended a non-accepted hand to Borimas once more.

Well, ALLRIGHTY THEN.

Lowering his hand, Aaron simply nodded towawrds Borimas politely, turned on his heel, and headed after Yaoksi, leaving Miguel Borimas behind, sitting stonily in a booth by himself.

"Hey, Yaoksi, I'm coming with you!" he called, catching up to the other man.

"Lovely coming all this way, and for nothing," Aaron observed then to his commrade. "Now perhaps we can get some hydrospanners, get back to the Hornett, get the Devil fixed...

...and decide just where we will go from there. In peace."

I shook my head, then went so far as to clap a comradely arm around Aaron's shoulder.

"Look, when all is said and done, we ought to head off and, you know, maybe take a little time off. I know the most wonderful place..."

Rambling on, we moved on down the walkway, soon coming to a parts shop which yielded up a pair of spanking new hydrospanners.

Not even K'kihl could manage a grumble about these babies, I thought to myself as we exited, heading on toward the spaceport where our shuttles were docked. Suddenly the Hornett sounded the epitome of appetizing, and judging from the way Aaron's stride was lengthening, I'd wager he was probably thinking the same thing.

"Yeah, some time off sounds like the best idea I've heard in at least a year. After all, I haven't had any of that since T--"

He paused, stopping momentarily in his tracks and frowning.

Having a partner, and a friend for that matter, made things so much easier...

"...well, you know," he then finished, snapping out of his momentary reverie. "Let's space out of here. Follow me to the Hornett, and then we can get out of here, to well, anywhere at the moment. I need a good place to think. Too many of my good employees and friends are still AWOL, and it's high time to do something about it. See you on the Hornett."

And with nothing further than that, Aaron headed for the Oasis and Yaoksi to the ship he had been given, and clearance codes were granted. In but a few minutes Aaron's ship went from the skies to atmosphere to space, Yaoksi's ship following closely behind. And in another few minutes they had docking clearance inside the main hanger bay in the Hornett, wher each ship settled on their designated landing platforms to power down.

Aaron exited the Oasis, not quite thrilled with the idea of being back on the Hornett so soon, regardless of his desire to get away from Borimas.

This thought clearly embedded in his mind, he cocked a brow at the now-approaching Yaoksi. "You said something about a wonderful place for time off...?"

"Ever been to Coronet, on Corellia?" I countered, giving my vest a hitch.

"There's this place I've been to in Shipyard Row, called uhh--"

I paused a moment, scratching my head.

"Hmm, I believe it was the Cobalt Moonlet, something along those lines. Anyway, it's a place where the girls are soooo--"

I paused once more, but this time to add a touch of leer to my grin and to waggle my brows in a meaningful manner. One hand slid down to heft the pouch on my belt.

Yup. Nice and plump and letting forth such a lovely, lovely jingle...

Too long.

He returned the lopsided grin Yaoksi's way. "Ten minutes it is. And although I don't know the establishment you speak of--it's been quite some time since I've been to Corellia--it is my home.

And I know a good number of hidey-holes, eating establishments, and bars there. Lemme go grab my satchel. I ahhh...

...don't think I ever unpacked from our little meeting on Sullust. See you at the Oasis in 10."

Saluting then, Aaron turned and headed towards his quarters to do nothing more than pick up his things and return immediately to the Oasis, where he began warming the engines, knowing Yaoksi would not be far behind him. As the engines warmed, he flipped a comm switch that connected him to the main hanger bay.

"Engineering, this is Captain Barnes. I am taking a trip off ship for a few days, and want to make certain that security measures are up and doubly enforced. Once I have departed from the ship on the Oasis, I want you to go to hyperspace and travel back to the outer rim. There you will keep security and maximum alert. Also, see to it that K'khil receives any help, parts, and machinery he needs to fix the [i]Devil[/ii] in my absence. You can reach me on my business frequency at any time while I am away should you need me. Barnes out."

As I came up to the poor, shattered hulk of my beloved corvette I couldn't help but smile. For there, sticking out incongruously from beneath the foredeck, was a pair of chitinous, clawed feet.

I came to a halt beside them.

"Hey K'kihl!" I hollered, giving one appendage a nudge with my boot. "I've got something for ya here..."

From underneath Devil there came a series of chittery sounds, accompanied by the scraping of carapace against durasteel. I was expecting to see the ol' Cricket's mandible-laden head pop out at any moment, but instead was rewarded as yet another appendage made an appearance beside his feet. Said appendage waggled it's nippers somewhat impatiently.

"About time hydrospanner, for me have you procured," the muffled words sounded from the depths of Devil's broken bow.

I sighed with amusement, and placed the pair of hydrospanners in what passed for a hand for K'kihl. They disappeared beneath the hull in the twinkling of an eye; I couldn't be certain but what seemed to be an ecstatic sounding clatter now wafted into my ears.

"I'm taking off with Captain Barnes for a little R & R, pal," I said, holding my breath for all of the three seconds in which I really knew no response would be forthcoming.

I was right. My Verpine buddy was lost in his element: Devil-May-Care entrusted to his skillful touch, and not one but two of his coveted hydrospanners now firmly in hand.

"I'll see ya when the moons turn blue; take care of the ol' girl for me while I'm gone, will ya? The parts you needed should be in inventory for ya now.

"Ciao until my return!"

With that I turned and strode back to where Oasis sat in a powerful thrum of warming engines. The yawning hatch beckoned to me; pausing a moment to consider, I quickly decided that I didn't need to bring anything with me from stores. I had enough credits to buy whatever I might need once we got to our Corellian destination.

Aaron turned to me with a smile as I clambered aboard and took a seat, the hatch gliding to an elegantly quiet closure behind me.

"Ready when you are, pal!" I announced with a sigh of anticipation as I strapped myself in.

"Let's sky!"

...and a few bottles of Wyrene's reserve."

Smiling at that, Aaron turned to the navboard, and finalized procedures to depart, clearing the Oasis for take off and then heading to the starry sky outside of the Hornett's main hanger bay. Once this was accomplished, it took him little time to pull up the preprogrammed coordinates for Corellia and punch them into the navcomputer, along with the coordinates for their current destination of Sluis Van.

"Allright," he said at last, turning to Yaoksi one final time, "Time to make ourselves history!"

And with no further ado, Aaron reached for the hyperspace lever, and pushed it forward, causing the Oasis to streak forward and disappear into the great vastness of hyperspace.

...and the ship ungracefully fell out of hyperspace, instantaneously reverting to realspace and standard engines. Aaron never opened his drink, but instead let his feet, which he had propped on the navboard, slide back down to their appropriate location on the flooring of the ship.

"What the...?" he muttered to himself, sitting up and beginning to key frantically on the navboard of the Oasis, knowing from the sound the ship had just emitted that there was something a little more troubling going on than something in their flight path.

Especially considering they had fallen out of hyperspace and right into open space, not a planet or ship in the sky.

"Oh, Hell," he then growled, looking to Yaoksi. "Corellia is a long way off considering I think my hyperdrive--or something in my hyperdrive--just went kablooey."

He scowled. "The navcomputer says we've fallen out of hyperspace about six standard hours away from Sullust, realspace travel. Something minor might be wrong with the hyperdrive, but with the sound this ship just made...

...she's telling me we're gonna have to land to fix anything."

His scowl grew darker. "Sullust, again. Oh, how wonderful..."

(((OCC: Look for Aaron and Yaoksi to appear in Dark Star, Black Sun in the CSWU.)))

Having decided that either decrypting the files Link had found or simply turning them over entirely to the Imperials for passage into the Sith worlds--if it was necessary--the remainder of their trip to the Hornett continued to pass quietly...

And now there was another memory, another one possibly equally as important, although not directly connected to the trail he was now forming in his mind. His eyes vague, he began to speak, knowing others were present but not necessarily addressing any one particular person. "The last time I saw my partner alive," he began, frowning darkly to himself, "He thought the Empire, or rather Admiral Actar, was still after the baby. He even felt he was still after Galen as well..."

He trailed, trying to get grip on where his thoughts were taking him. "Now, if the guys were last on Sullust, and they returned to the Sith worlds to trail Galen, that means they had to somehow get through the Imperial blockade that is there. So what if they never got through that blockade? And what if I've sent Shawn Petrolu off on the wrong trail, and Terrin's suspicion regarding Actar and the Empire should be leading us to that blockade above the Sith worlds instead of the Sith themselves...?"

He opened a secure frequeny to the command deck. "Hornett command, this is Captain Aaron Barnes requesting clearance to land in the main hanger bay," he stated, then rattling off his command clearance code. Punching the send button on the communit, his message squirted across the secure channel to its intended target aboard the main deck of the SSD. Aaron waited, patiently...

...but he didn't have to wait long. "Captain, this is Hornett communications. You are clear to land, platform 1138."

Needing no further cues than the simple clearance to approach the Hornett, Aaron focused all of his attention on the Indira's navboard. In a few short minutes, they had docked, touched down on platform 1138, and the Indira rested, cooling her engines as Aaron once more stood, now turning to the others.

"After being cooped up on this ship for so long, I'd sure like to get to a dining area and lounge a bit," he admitted. "We'll get what you need to see if you can tap into any of those files you downloaded, and we'll also see if we can make that equipment portable. I hate to say it, but I'm really anxious to get on the move, and bring that info as our bargaining chip should we need one to sooth the Empire into letting us near the Sith worlds. If you can't decrypt it, well...

...there's a more than good chance they will be able to."

Aaron paused, turning fractionally towards Yaoksi. "I'd love to know how the Cricket is coming along with the Devil, and I'm sure that you would."

Stating nothing futher than that, Aaron finally made his way to the hatch of the Indira, hitting the release button which lowered the hatch as a ramp to the durasteel decking of the main docking bay. Across the way Aaron could see the Devil, looking very much more in one piece than she had when they had departed the Hornett...

...with a pair of insectoid legs sticking out from underneath her hull.

...only to then recall how strangely Jebbua had responded when questioned while they were still on the Indira. He therefore softened his reply somewhat. "Yes, there will be those who might have some hard feelings even with the others missing in action."

Including myself, came the mental addendum. Strange query for a Jedi...

wait, Jedi...

Aaron then pushed the send button on his wristcomm, dialed in a channel, and raised it to his lips. "Medbay, this is Captain Barnes. We're bringing in a little girl to you who is approximately nine years old. She has been drugged with an unknown chemical, and I want a tox screen done on her blood...

...and her symptoms treated. We are enroute."

Pushing the commlink's send button, Aaron waited for no reply, but instead turned back to the Indira. Thea had been asleep for far, far too long for a mere tranquilizer...

And just why had Thea been coerced to staying there, with that woman, only to then be drugged?

Aaron frowned at this, even as the medic approached them all. The look in her eye gave Aaron pause. "Her vitals are normal, and she is medically healthy. She seems to be unconcious in some sort of dream state," she explained unnecessarily, "But so far our tox screen hasn't identified any known tranquilizer in her system."

The medic paused a moment, allowing this information to digest. Aaron pursed his lips thoughtfully, and honesty a bit angrily...

...and then directed a look right at the medic, realizing something. "Wait a minute," he spoke up, "There is no known tranquilizer in her system.."

He trailed, but only for a moment, "...but there is something, isn't there?"

The medic shifted uncomfortably. "Well, since the time you say she has been unconcscious, whatever it is has been almost completely eliminated from her system...

...but there is a trace of some unknown compound still there. And we are unable to match it with any drug, herbal or synthetic, within our database."

"Hey," I couldn't help interjecting.

"You mean Thea's still out? And you can't determine why?"

This was not good, oh no, not good at all. My heart just went out to the little gitl--

Dangit, ol' pirate, if you hadn't launched her off to her uncle--

I nipped that guilt-ridden thought off in the bud, focusing on the medic in time to hear her say something about an unknown drug or something.

Chills raced up and down my spine.

What kind of so-called "lady" drugs a child!?

Anger gave me a rush of inspiration.

"Hey!" I exclaimed. "If you can isolate whatever it is that's in her bloodstream, can you use it to make an antidote? Maybe it's this unknown stuff that's keeping her knocked out for so long, and maybe an antidote will wake her back up?"

I paused, casting worried glances back and forth between Aaron and the medic, both of whom had turned to hear what gems of wisdom I might have to offer.

In the Elseness, Thoran pressed his hand into the air, touching the faint vibrations of power. It disappeared into nothingness. The temperature beyond was not hot, but not cold. With a deep breath and a shrug Thoran walked through.

It was very dark, but he could breathe and the temperature was very tolerable. He felt around and touched a cold wall that felt like some sort of metal. He knocked on it, and it did not echo. He felt along the wall, coming quickly to a corner, following that, he realized it was a door. He felt for a handle or knob, but found nothing. He tried to reach a finger inside the seam but could not. Frustrated, he banged his head on the wall in front of him.

His horn hit a button on the wall, and the door slid open. Bright artificial light danced in his eyes, and he stumbled out into what appeared to be a hallway. He looked behind from where he came, and a sign in the common galactic language read “Maintenance”. He looked back inside, and saw a shelf with various small pieces of cleaning equipment, a few powered-down cleaning droids, and a data pad. He took that and turned it on.

A screen popped up that read “Hornett deck 7 section I Routine Maintenance Log”. Thoran shrugged and placed it back.

“Well,” he mumbled to himself. “It appears I am on a ship of some sort. The question is where… and when.”

One of the men arched an eyebrow, glancing a moment at a fellow security officer. "Ummm... new crew?" he asked his buddy silently, nodding towards the approaching humanoid. "Some dignitary aboard? I mean, robes and all..."

He trailed, eyeing the still-approaching Thoran. His voice got softer, even though it was still directed towards his commrade.

"What the kriffing hell species is he anyway? Never seen an alien quite like him before..."

At this he cut the chatter, and stood more errect, like one would expect from a professional crewman aboard an Eclipse-class Super Star Destroyer. Besides, the red-skinned, horned fellow was approaching...

...and slowing down. "MIght I help you, sir?" the security guard queried, falling silent then, his eyes remaining focused on the alien's eyes.

Whatever was wrong with thea hopefully their medics would be able to solve it, but their might be another way.

So, humans. Well, hey, some of my best friends are humans! And this one wants to help. Well, I could use a bath after slugging through the swamp…

No. A great idea.

I gave her shoulder a companionable squeeze, then draped my arm about it.

"Hey Aaron, she might be on to something here. Dang but I all but forgot about those data files! Since that-- that-- woman was the one to use whatever in all the galaxy it was to knock Thea out, it just stands to reason that she'd have record of what it is somewhere in those files! It's worth a shot; and who knows? Maybe Cel's right in that the antidote might be there too.

Sheesh, he was dirty. And he said he'd just been wandering around here waiting for someone to show him where to go to freshen up? Strange.

The officer wondered which of the Hornett's crew was going to be in deep poodoo for messing this one up. After all, since when is a nice dignitary admitted on ship then left to wander without direction.

Very strange. Not the kind of politics Captain Barnes liked to play on this ship either. And Captain Danner, had he been around, certainly wouldn't tolerate this.

"My apologies for your trouble here," the security officer then said, actually quite sincere...

...but perhaps still a bit suspicious. This was, after all, Eagle Enterprises.

He then reached for the comlink on his belt, unhooked it, and then looked back to Thoran. "If you'll give me your name, I'll contact some of my bosses and see just what the problem is and where you were supposed to be taken so I can get you there."

Lord Thoran? Yeesh...

"This way, my Lord." With no further ado, the security officer turned and motioned for a fellow officer to take primary guard of the Deck, then began leading Thoran through a series of corridors til he reached a nondescript set of sliding metal doors. Beside the doors, there was a label which read, Deck Seven Administration. The security officer paused a moment, and turned to Thoran. "We will see what room is available for your immediate use and comfort, my Lord," he then said, turning to key an access code into the door. The door slid obligingly open, revealing a small desk with a computer, and a small unimposing looking woman dressed in a standard Eagle Enterprises uniform.

"May I help you?" she inquired the security officer, looking then to Thoran and nodding politely.

"This sir needs some quarters to refresh and rest," the security officer began. "Captain Barnes will want to know that he has been taken care of well, for he is meeting with him, Lord Thoran of..."

...and it's usually fairly quiet there so you can think." He paused then, looking to the awaiting medic. "Go ahead and try a blood detox, and let us know how that goes. Also, keep working on identifying that compound."

The medic nodded once in response to Aaron's instructions, and turned, heading back towards the medical laboratory. Aaron then returned his attention to Yaoksi and Cel. "This way," he said, motioning for the both of them to follow. Leading them to a nearby turbolift that they all stepped into, Aaron requested that the lift take them to Deck 3. Upon arrival on that deck, they once more worked their way through several corridors til at length they came to a set of metal sliding doors with a sign above them that read Hornett Engineering, Deck 3.

Aaron keyed in an access code, and the door slid open. As he lead Yaoksi and Cel into the room, a few workers glanced up from their jobs, quickly returning to them after realizing that the Captain had arrived. Aaron lead his companions deep into the engineering suite, to a back room with not a soul present...

...and about three computer consols waiting to be used. Aaron stepped up to one, keyed in yet another access code, and with a sweeping hand, directed Cel to the chair.

“Oh, very well. I am Lord Thoran…”

Thoran smirked.

Oh, why not? No-one will have ever heard of it anyway!

The security officer didn't say as much, however. Instead he nodded to the polite lady in administration, who keyed the information in. Then, after keying a few more things into the computer, she turned to Thoran. "We hope you are comfortable here aboard the Hornett, and that your business with Eagle Interprises goes smoothly, sir."

Then she looked to the security officer. "Everything should be set for Lord Thoran to stay in suite 723," she said, handing him a datapad.

The officer nodded once, gave her a small salute, and turned to Thoran. "This way please, my Lord," he asked, motioning for the alien to follow and leading him out of the adminstration office, back through several twisting and turning corridors until he at length found a hallway with a series of metal doors, each labeled with 3-digit numbers: 701, 702...

“Well….” he started. “Aside from a little food, drink, and a chance to refresh, I think I can make do with my own devices for the time being. Thank you, officer…”

Thoran looked at the name embroidered into the officer’s uniform.

“…Landar. I shall mention your name to the captain and relay my deepest appreciation.”

Thoran smiled genuinely, and tapped the code from the datapad into the keypad on the door. It slid open and he turned once more to the officer.

“I look forward to meeting you again, sir,” he said, moving into the room and allowing the door to shut.

Inside Thoran quickly stripped down, ran through a cursory cleaning, and redressed in his underclothing. It was a full body tunic, black, and slightly similar to the type of clothing the humans on the ship wore. It would do, as his robes were filthy and he wished to not put them back on.

He opened a panel in the wall and drawer slid out. Inside was a set of toiletries, and Thoran frowned. He looked around the opulent room, and jumped on the bed. It was soft, and he relished it for a few moments before hunger overtook him and he stood again. He went to the door, took the datapad, and departed, closing the door behind him. He walked down the hall until he saw a sign above a door that read “Deck 7: Blue Asteroid”.

Thoran smiled and went inside, picking a spot at the bar. The bartender glanced up, then did a double take.

we've got Alderanian flank nerf and Corellian roast dewback, served rare. But as far as a Sith brandy...

...unless you can tell me how to make one, something else more familar will have to do."

Wait, did he say some kind of meat from Alderaan? Hmmm, I wonder WHEN I am right now, then. Aw heck, this poor body has been sitting suspended in the Darker Realms for longer than I care to figure out, right now anything sounds good! But still, I don't want something that has been well done and floating in space for years. Or even if it hasn't been blown up yet, I think the poor beastie has bigger problems than being eaten by me, and I'd just feel sorry for it and get indigestion.

"...dewback."

All right, priorities…

Well, I know I’m on a ship, a big one. But it sure doesn’t seem like an Empire ship. I mean, for one thing, I’m not in the brig. The ship is the Hornett, and I guess it must be owned by this Eagle Enterprises. Eagle… why does that sound familiar? Do I owe them money? No, I don’t think so. I wonder what they do? Well, I’ll probably have an opportunity to find out sometime soon, when I get my appointment with the captain. Ha!

Oh, but a Sith brandy would taste so incredibly good right now. Where is that slush Jasyn when you need him? I bet he’d have some… wait… Jasyn? Is that where I heard Eagle Enterprises from? Dang, but something sure is ringing a bell there. I wonder if HE owes them money?

Ah well, priorities…

And right now, the biggest one is drinking whatever they put in front of me.

I pulled out the data pad that contained their data base and plugged it into their system. The information appeared on screen but was jumbled and unreadable. From the looks of the code the encryption was a very high level one, most likely one used by goverment intelligence agencies o the military... where did she get this. Normally this would be an easy job but with out the actual encryption program itself the task would take some time.

First thing to do is reverse engineer the encryption program then find the encryption key. This is going to take some time.

I Turned to the closest engineer. "You bring me some caff, as strong as you can brew it, and while your at it someting with meat.'

Thoran tilted the glass to his lips and drank deeply of the liquid inside. He paused, surprised by the very palatable taste, and tossed the remaining drink back. He placed the empty glass on the bar and tapped it.

“Not too bad, let’s have another!”

Thoran watched while the bartender prepared the drink. He felt a little strange, but knew that his large Sith body would be resistant to anything short of Sith brandy. After all, he may not have been in this body for a long, long time, but he surely knew its limits!

“So, as I was saying,” he continued after lifting the new drink in his hand. “I’m an important dig-i-nitary from a very important world. I’m here to see captain… um… oh what’s the name again? You know, the one with the uniform and stuff?”

In the Hornett's data base i found a basic map of the ship and was useing it to find their medical bay where thea was. Even after i decode the information I still wont be able to tell which files are the ones for medical research and could be useful for helping thea. Hopefully their medic will know.

After wandering the hallways i eventually made it to the medical bay that they took thea to. When I entered the room I didn't see any of the medical staff.

I ventured up to the source of the sound. The voice sounded like Thea's but could she be awake now?

I came up to a medical bed with a figure hiding under the sheets. I set my data pad down on a nearby desk and went closer to the bed that the figure was on.

I've never had this happen before. I don't think the smuggler method of drown it away with beer.

"I'm not sure if im the best one to explain this but we are on the Hornett an eclipse SSD owned br Aaron. Jebbua and Yaoski are here too. we rescued you from that crazy lady who we think drugged you and put you in a coma which you just woke up from."

Maybe mentioning the crazy lady was a bad idea. I reached into my vest and pulled out a comm link. And keyed it to the ships intercomm.

"Aaron this is Link, you need to find Yaoski and Jebbua and come to the medical bay right now."

I turned back to Thea.

Thoran took another drink from his glass.

“And food will help,” he added.

“Danner… there’s another name I’ve heard before. Danner… Tanner… Dannin… Oh! Yeah, I remember! I know a Danner. Wasn’t a captain, though, just a big ol’ whiner. You know what I did for him? I brought him back to life! Do you have any idea how hard it is to rescue a spirit from the Darker Realms, and then put that ungrateful thing back into it’s flea ridden body? Then it’s no ‘Oh, thank you so much! Good show old chap!’, no sirree, it’s just ‘Oh, I’m alive, goodie for me, woo rah, kissy-kissy to you Galen, how’s your wife, Erik?’ Never mind the guy who did it all for you!”

Thoran raised his glass in the air.

“Well,” he said, “here’s to you, Terrin, hope you’re having as much fun as I am right now.”

Entering therein, we were greeted with the sight of glistening white tables, glistening white walls, glistening white chairs, and an elderly lady with glistening white hair who hastened toward us balancing a tray of caf between her hands.

How the blazes could she have known--?

I shot a somewhat dumbfounded glance Aaron's way, but that look was only met by an apologetic sort of shrug on his part. Though his eyes were wide and innocent, he couldn't help the ripple of a smile which played about the corner of his lips.

And so we sat for an hour or so, drinking caf and sharing talk both large and small... until out of the blue Aaron's commlink buzzed impatiently upon his wrist. He activated it; sitting close by I could not help but overhear Cel's surprising little announcement.

The medical bay?

Thea!!

I slammed the caf-cup on the glistening white table and shot to my feet, my gaping lips then slamming together in a thin grimace of concern. Then without so much as a by your leave I turned and fled, heading directly to the medical unit where we had ensconced Thea. There I found her sitting up in bed, her blankets drawn to her chin, chatting, albeit perhaps a bit nervously, as if something wasn't quite right, with Cel.

What was troubling her I'd worry about in the next few nanoseconds. As for now--

"Thea!"

Her name exploded from my lips as I rushed across the room, propelled to her bedside by not only the guilt of having abandoned her to her uncle but by the enormous relief I was feeling to see her conscious and apparently unharmed once again. Plopping down at her side, I snaked one arm about her small frame, and crushed her against me in a gigantic bear hug.

"Oh honey, I'm sorry, I'm so, so sorry, I'll never do that to you again, ever, from now on it's you and me kid, all the way..."

My words dwindled to a self-conscious halt with the sudden realization that Cel was eyeing me with open disgust planted across her furry little face. I blinked, stared her straight in the eye...

...and with my free arm reached out and grabbed her as tightly as I held Thea.

What the heck, everyone needed a good hug every now and again!

...and was very concerned with her mention of not being able to remember anything.

Was that just stress? Something minor? ...or not...?

His frown turning a bit darker, Aaron pushed a few buttons on his wristcomm and called for the head lab techician whom he knew would be looking in to Thea's blood analysis. After saying a few quiet words into his comm and closing the frequency, he kneeled nearby Thea. "You're on the Hornett, and you're safe now," Aaron said simply. "The techicians are looking in to what happened to you...

...and we will find out why you can't remember anything."

Even as he stated as much, the head medical technician headed into the room. Aaron straightened up, looking her square in the eye. "Have you found anything yet?"

"We've isolated an unidentifiable foreign compound in her blood. We're running it against all of our databases to compare it to any known drugs, and we're running an analysis on the elements within te compound. So far we've been able to identify only one of the elements...

...an element which can cause reduction in levels of concious thought within many individuals. This could have been used as part of a tranquilizer...

...or it possibly could have been used for something else. The element is commonly found in mind control medicines."

The technician fell silent at that, and Aaron's eyes clouded with worry, as did those of others in the room. He turned to Yaoksi, whose eyes were reading a cross between worry and anger, back to the technician, and again to Yaoksi.

"What kind of person would want to control the mind of a child?!?" he asked worriedly. Then he looked back to the technician once again. "What of the elements you have not beeen able to identify in the compound?"

I took out a datacard and copied several files to it and handed it to the technician.

"Look, honey," I said solemnly, ducking my head a little to try to capture her gaze. I squeezed her shoulders the tiniest bit.

"We think that-- lady you were with for so short a time drugged you with something; Cel's skills just might have discovered what it is, so we can use what she found to make you all better again."

I paused a moment, drawing her to me in another comforting hug. Over the top of her head I couldn't help but send Aaron a worried glance. I pulled back again, trying to hunker down on Thea's level once again.

"What's all this about a dream? Can you tell us about it, honey?"

Danner. Terrin. Galen. While he didn't know any of them personally, perhaps only in name...

...he did know them. And he knew they all went together.

"The ahhh...Darker Realms?" the bartender asked, a hint of suspicion in his voice. "Back from the dead?" he then added. Then, knowing this guy was more than a bit tipsy from the WalknFall, the bartender excused at least a bit of his behavior from the drink. But for someone who said he didn't know a Captain Danner, some of the things he had just said sure sounded similar to the departed Captain...

"You know, Captain Barnes would not appreciate your darkly veiled humor at the expense of what very much sounds like his deceased partner. After all, you seem to know Captain Danner's first name...

...and that of his wife's as well. And I most certainly told you neither."

“Oh…”

He scratched his head, behind one horn.

“So… you’re telling me that good ol’ Terrin was the captain of THIS very ship? Well then…”

Thoran thought a moment, then a chuckle escaped his lips. It turned quickly into a whole hearted chortle, and soon he was shaking with laughter. He threw his head back and laughed aloud, nearly falling off of the barstool.

“Of all the places to land!” he laughed. “Oh, this is just too funny!” Wiping a tear from his eye, he held his hand up in front of his face, palm towards the bartender.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” he forced. “I really DO need to meet with your captain soon. This is going to be a really, um, interesting exchange!”

“Yes,” he said. “And delays are costly to all of us. And with this (hic) new information, it is very important that I see your captain right away. In fact, could you please relay a message that Lord Thoran of the Sith is here and waiting with news of said compatriots?”

...and while he didn't have access to Captain Barnes, he did have access to Level 7 guards. After all, he had dealt with a bar brawl or two, and needed such access to the guards on the rare occassion something of that nature did occur. He unfolded his arms and raised his comlink to his lips, keying in a particular frequency. "There is a Lord Thoran of the Sith here in Level 7 bar and dining who would like to speak with Captain Barnes about Captain Danner. I need someone to take care of this immediately, and the Captain should probably be notified."

Some sort of reply could be heard vaguely after that, but the bartender's comlink was too low and the noise in the area was too high for it to be heard. In a moment, he looked up from his comlink and to Thoran. "You should remain where you are. The Captain is being notified."

Thoran leaned in closer and spoke in a hushed voice, trying to keep it just below hearing of others.

“I am serious, though. Your Captain Terrin is alive, as is his wife Galen and some others. Chin up! And don’t take everything so seriously!”

...and accepted the emssage.

"Sir," came the crisp voice of his Chief of Security, "The bartender in Level 7 has placed a complaint which demands immediate attention."

Aaron's frown deepened. How could events in a Level 7 bar be that important? "Go on," he said instead to the Chief of Security.

"The bartender says a certain patron, who claims to be a Lord Thoran of the Sith wamts tp speak with you about Captain Danner."

The Chief of Security fell silent. Aaron was at a loss for words.

Lord Thoran? The Sith? Terrin? Who was this guy?

Aaron struggled with words another moment. "Send him to my office with a squad of guards...immediately."

"Yes sir," came the officer's brisk reply. Aaron closed the frequency and stepped back in where the othere still were.

"I ummm...have a matter to attend to," he started out stiffly. "It seems that there is a Lord Thoran of the Sith aboard the Hornett, and he wants to speak with me regarding Captain Danner according to my subordinates."

He paused, his look dark and troubled. "I don't know who this guy is, what he wants or knows, and why or now he got onto this ship...

He trailed an almost inperceptible moment, his eyes briefly cutting to the strange looking red-skinned and horned being nearby. "Lord Thoran and take him to Captain Barnes."

He slid off of the stool and stood, steadying himself on the bar. He was still a little tipsy, but his Sith body was absorbing the alcohol quickly.

Feeling no need to say anything further, the lead guard moved to Thoran's side, an equal number of his squadmates to each side of them. They headed out of the bar and then into the corridors without, taking various hallways and passageways til at length they began to head towards a turbolift.

...including the technician who still stood there with the datapadd waiting for specific instructions. Aaron blinked, and cleared his throat. "Sorry--" he opened with, turning to the tech, "Look through the med files for an antidote...and for that matter, look through the med files for anything that remotely resembles something similar to what you found in Thea's bloodstream. I'm not a fan of all these unknowns, and I'm quckly coming to dislike this situation in general."

The technician nodded at that, then turned and nodded politely to everyone else in the room, then leaving to return to the laboratory. Aaron looked to the others in the room. "I've got to go see what this..."

His words were cut off by his commlink. He held his hand up in apology to the others, and pressed the accept button, receiving word that the mysterious Lord Thoran was in transit to his office. He closed the connection, then looked up once more to the others. "...I have to go see about this Lord Thoran. I don't know what this guy thinks he knows or has to tell me about Terrin...

...but I've got a bad feeling about it. I'll be back shortly to make certain the techs are doing their jobs..."

He trailed, looking to Cel, "...and thank you so much for your help. You may very well have the key to what has been done to our young friend here."

He paused. "I will return shortly," he reiterated then, turning to go...

...a strange sort of knot forming in his stomach as he did so.

Too many friends lost, too much injury and death...

I watched as Barnes strode calmly from the room, looking for all the world as if he was simply going off to welcome a visiting dignitary to the Hornett. Then I cut a glance to Thea; her eyes had widened as well.

Guess I'm not the only one who's had dealings with these guys--

I knew Thea would tell me of her past scrapes with them, when she was good and ready to do so. In the meantime, she looked as though she needed a friend more than a step-parent; I gave her another hug, kissed her cheek, and pushed her a bit away from me. Serious, I searched her eyes.

"I'm going to go with Captain Barnes and make sure that he's... that everything goes okay with this meeting, honey," I said, forcing a smile to flicker around my lips.

"I'm sure Cel will stay and keep you company--"

Now I turned to the little Ryn, the smile now intended for her.

"Thank you for your help, Cel," I repeated Barne's sentiment.

"If there's anything I can do to repay you, just let me know. Meanwhile, if you'd just stay with Thea for a little bit, I'd really appreciate your help."

He did so, smiling at the guards. He could feel the buzz from the drinks ebb some more, and was thankful to have a little more clarity in his thoughts. He sat back in the more-than-comfortable chair with his arms folded behind his head.

...but I don't like it. Terrin was killed by some Sith creature, Galen and the guys have disappeared...

...and now there is suddenly a Sith aboard my late partner's ship that I don't recall ever authorizing onto this ship...

...wanting to talk to me about the aforementioned late partner. Who was involved in the Sith, heavily."

Aaron's look darkened. "I really, really don't like this."

He finally approached the turbolift, headed inside it with Yaoksi, took the lift a few levels down, then exited, his companion with him. Aaron and Yaoksi went through another series of corridors til at length they approached the door to Aaron's office, which he keyed open using his passcode to find the room empty. Aaron arched an eyebrow a bit...

...after all the guards did say they were enroute a few minutes before. Then, realizing what probably had occurred, Aaron motioned Yaoksi back out of his office and across the hallway to a main conference room...

...which was guarded. Aaron looked to one of the guards. "He's in there?" he asked.

The guard nodded. "Yes sir," came the crisp reply.

Aaron glanced over a bit nervously to Yaoksi, then wiped all traces of hesitation from his face. Taking a deep breath, Aaron keyed the conference door open, stepped inside along with Yaoksi, the door sliding closed behind him. Sitting at the table was one of the famed red-skinned, horned Sith, hands behind his head in apparent ease. Aaron took a casual bearing.

...and he wondered who else the Sith was referring to when he mentioned mutual "friends."

"What of Terrin...

Thoran sat forward, his eyes growing dramatic.

“Long did we wander –“ Ooops, said that already!

“And came we upon the body of the fallen Captain Terrin, preserved through Sith technology and magick. Hearing the pleas of Galen, and feeling the righteousness of this mission, I ventured forth in the Darker Realms and rescued the spirit of the departed, and through great powers known only to me, restored life to the dead.”

And got into a world of trouble for it, but let’s not go there

“And I now offer you the knowledge of this resurrection, to usher in an age of peace and love between our people, and my hand in friendship.”

"We decided to come back and rescue you once we had a plan. We retraced our steps and I sliced us a way in. I got seperated from the others at that point when i downloaded their database. When I met back up wit Yaoski they where under attack by someone and we had to use craz lady as a hostage to escape. When we found you, they had already put you in a coma somehow. And eventually we ended up here."

I moved closer to Thea's bed and sat down on it beside her.

"I don't know what happened to your lightsaber, and Rico has chosen to stay with crazy lady. But now you have Yaoski... it may not look like it to you but take it from someone who has spent her life with smugglers he really cares about you."

Yup. They haven't a clue. It's still pretty much hidden... but then, what exactly is still hidden?

I frowned, letting hurtful memories flash to the forefront, recalling the few meager times I'd had actual contact with these guys.

Where in all the known universe do they hail from anyway? I wondered briefly before dismissing that question to the back of my head. Of greater importance was what this one was telling Aaron--

--as well as Aaron's interpretation of his tale.

I shot a look Aaron's way, easily reading his heightening suspicions by the way his arms too were crossed, by the manner in which he was standing with his body angled slightly backward, slightly turned toward the towering self-proclaimed Lord. But more importantly by the expression on his face, which was growing more and more obvious by the moment.

I looked back to the so-called Lord Thoran, studied him as well. Although inebriated, he seemed to be telling the truth. I wasn't catching any strange vibes radiating from him...

Well, maybe a tiny bit, in one regard, one I couldn't quite pin down as yet but one which seemed somewhat miniscule in the light of the rest of his astounding revelation.

I leaned in closer to Aaron, let my arms drop to my sides.

"Don't dismiss what he's telling us," I whispered, nodding toward Thoran.

"I've run into these guys before, and believe me some pretty unbelievable things seem to happen whenver they're around--

"But I've not known you guys to raise the dead."

I addressed this latter comment to Thoran, who simply turned increasingly bleary eyes in my direction. Emboldened by the fact that nothing other than that was happening, I continued.

"If you've resurrected Terrin, as you say, and you've been with Galen and the rest, why haven't they contacted us? Where are they?"

I paused a moment, shuddering in remembrance of the demonic thing which had wreaked such bloody havoc aboard not only Devil-May-Care but within one of the medical bays of this very ship as well.

"And why are you telling us this now?"

Peace and love between us my hiney!

“I just told told you why!” he said. “Peace, love, friendship, all that stuff. I mean, really, why would I be telling you all this if it wasn’t true.”

Thoran stood, drawing glares from the security guards. Stone sober in his own judgment, he bobbled back and forth a few times before he stood steadily.

"Seems like I've already asked you that, pal!" I gritted back, shaking my head inwardly at his apparent obtuseness.

"And while you're answering, I think I'm speaking on behalf of my fellow Captain here if you'd be so kind as to inform us as just how exactly you came aboardship?"

I shot Aaron another glance, this one accompanied by a slight shrug which I hope conveyed my silent apologies for possibly overstepping my bounds. But durnitall, there were questions here that needed answering.

And badly.

Thoran smiled, then sat back down, falling into the chair and relaxing.

“He’s with the Sith right now,” he said. “So is Galen and the others, all safe and sound. They’re all probably sitting around drinking Sith brandy about now.”

I hope so, anyway!

“And as for how I came on board,” he continued, “The Sith are a race of magick. You should know this, if you’ve encountered us before. I just sort of – dropped in.”

Thoran felt a yawn come on and stretched.

I tried to find the words of the isolation I had felt for most of my life.

"I'm not crying on Rico's account... Its... just... seeing how much Yaoksi cares about you made me remeber how never in my life can I recall a time someone has ever felt that way about me."

"I was abandoned as an orphan on Correllia and was taken to the Smugglers run because I looked cute. Everything I learned was from cut throats and thieves... not all smugglers are like Yaoksi he is a rairety among them. most are selfish opertunists that care about nothing but money and fame."

This guy wasn't denying that Terrin had died. No, he was saying that he'd been ressurrected from the dead.

And the issue was that, based on the tales Aaron had heard from his comrades who had encountered the Sith over the years, he couldn't dismiss what this guy was saying, as Yaoksi suggested. Aaron shot Yaoksi a side-long look, truthfully still dumfounded, unable to determine the best course of action at the moment.

Maybe this Lord Thoran had a point. Maybe they should take a few hours to digest this.

"Well," Aaron began, hesitantly, “I’d love to know the reasons for your sudden…

…dropping in…first.”

Pausing at that, Aaron looked at Thoran measuringly, still struggling to not be too suspicious of him, silently admitting to himself that perhaps Terrin had rubbed off on him in the past more than he was aware. After all, Lord Thoran’s body language was reading total honesty, and Aaron placed great weight on Yaoksi’s observations, but this whole affair seemed strange. What had this guy suddenly dropped in for? And why?

“To be more specific,” Aaron then said, breaking his momentary silence. “I’d like to know the circumstances surrounding your arrival. What exactly brought you here…

…and why now?”

He paused, frowning a bit to himself. “You’ll have to forgive me, it’s not every day someone drops in to inform one that a fallen partner and friend has been brought back to life, and it’s something I will have great difficulty fully believing until I see Terrin myself…

…and I most certainly want to do just that.”

Aaron paused another moment. “You said Galen, Jasyn and Matt were there as well?”

He couldn’t help but be somehow relieved to hear that.

So they were alive and safe…at least according to this fellow they were.

“Is there anyone else?”

Aaron wondered what had happened to Shawn, Dat, and the others. Had something happened to them during their search?

“Fair questions,” he said. “To be honest, it was fate that brought me here. The All works in mysterious ways, and I was given the duty of coming to you with this information. You shall be reunited with your lost friends!”

And I’ll get a free ride back home.

“As for others, let’s see…”

Thoran counted on his fingers as he named off the people he traveled with.

“Galen, Terrin, Matt, Erik, Shayla, Jasyn, Graysith, Panthar, Phalomir… Oh, and that Jedi Shawn. Let’s see, there was also the daughter, hmm, Darra? Yeah, that’s right.”

Daughter? Darra?

I shook off the unfamiliar name, figuring someone would fill me in on the particulars later if necessary. For now, it was good enough to know that Captain Danner was miraculously alive, hale and hearty and whole, and making me want to go join him in a Sith brandy toast.

Whatever Sith brandy was, that is.

I plopped a comradely arm around Thoran's hulking shoulder -- ok, his upper arm; the guy's tall!! -- and reached out to Aaron with the other. My wiggling fingertips just managed to make contact with the material of his shirt; grasping it firmly I hauled him within hugging distance as well, and repeated the gesture.

"All right!" I said heartily, keeping the tone of my voice jovial as I turned my head to wiggle my brows at Aaron in what I hoped was a meaningful manner.

"Looks like the hunt is over; all we need are the coordinates of wherever they all are, and we can just tootle on by and pick them up! And as for Thoran's, er... well, popping in..."

Flashing the Sith the biggest, brightest smile that I could, I now dropped the arm I had around his shoulder, backed away with a smilingly mouthed "Be right back," turned Aaron's body with me as I did so and headed a few paces away from where Thoran stood. There we stopped, our backs to him.

"Look," I said hurriedly, keeping my voice low.

"We've both seen what these guys can do, how they can just pop in and pop out whenever and however they want; I believe we're both quite aware how this can sometimes lead to no good. I think this Thoran is on the up and up with us, but I just want you to be aware of the fact that he is a Sith... and these guys haven't been anywhere around in the Galaxy in over four thousand years!

"So I wouldn't go pressing him about things if I were you; it might make him mad, and who the hell knows what he'd do then?"

Turning my head, I shot another smile toward Thoran over my shoulder, then turned back to Aaron.

"I suggest we pay attention to the body language this guy's sending out; he's tired and more than likely a little bit drunk. I suggest we let him go sleep off what he needs to, and then find out exactly where everyone is and go after them after we've all had time to rest and, well...

"Think about things."

Giving my head a definite nod, I began turning back to Thoran but stopped.

"Er, maybe you might want to get the coordinates now, while he's still in a talkative mood..."

He nodded briefly in agreement with Yaoksi's words, saying nothing but his movements now indicating precisely what he intended to do. Clapping Yaoksi on the shoulder, he turned to Thoran, now smiling himself. "Allright," he then said, "The fact that you've come to me with this information means a lot, and I would like to get to them, soon. I have some general coordinates for the Sith worlds from past...

“And if not, then who knows? Maybe Dagobah,” he thought, unwittingly out loud.

Thoran tried to focus on Aaron, his look quizzical, not realizing he had spoken his last thought.

[i]What would everyone be doing on Degobah? This guy had been drinking way too much.

"And as for our quest, we have been looking for Matt, Jasyn, and Galen for quite some time. Galen went off on her own, and Matt and Jasyn shortly after to look for her. I had contact with them once after they left, then they disappeared from the universe."

"You're my friend..."

For once those words made me feel needed.

"Thank you Thea... no one has ever said that before."

I took a moment to wipe the tears from my eyes.

...but we can at least start heading that way. In the meantime, as you suggest...

...you should get some rest."

Pausing at that, Aaron looked at the large Sith, easily ascertaining from his stance and posture that the guy was not going to make it very far without some prompting. "Let's get you back to your quarters."

Saying that, Aaron motioned for Thoran to lead the way, not knowing exactly where the Sith had been roomed. Thoran lead fairly well, much to Aaron's surprise, and after a few turns they'd made it to some guest quarters where Thoran stopped.

Aaron hoped he'd lead them back to the right quarters. "Rest well," he then told Thoran, "And I will send an escort for you in approximately four standard hours."

As Thoran turned and headed into the quarters and the metal doors closed behind him, Aaron turned to Yaoksi, raising a brow. "If we are going to get into Sith space, we're going to have to convince the Empire to let us in. I can be diplomatic, explain the situation to them, and see if they will let us in...

... or I could up the stakes. After all, we do have something which might be valuable to the Empire, especially considering Link was able to crack the code on those files she got. I'm going to take a trip back to the medcenter and see if the technicians have made any progress analyzing the information Link gave them...

...and from there I want to take a good look at what is in some of those files. I'm considering that it may be a very good idea to let the Empire know we are enroute before we arrive...

...and to have our cards out on the table for perusal if necessary. I'd love your input on this...

...what do you think?"

As he finished, Aaron began walking towards the medcenter once more, his stride measured and purposeful.

I shook my head, unable to keep a frown from my face. Honest to the gods, this was beginning to sound like some sort of campy space-opera holovid, if you asked me.

But I wasn't asked. Well, at least I the question wasn't what I thought of everything in its entirety, which was leaning more and more towards the "let's find the guys, sneak in and grab 'em, and skedaddle while the skedaddling is good" variety. However, even I could see the futility of that; how in all the known universe were we going to sneak in past an Imperial blockade?

I thought of the rapidity in which they appeared on Sullust when my friend the explosives expert blew apart my baby; now my frown turned into one featuring a brief flicker of disgust. I pursed my lips a moment.

Well Yaoksi ol' pirate, look on the bright side. At least it got Thea off of that hellhole...

I blinked at my own thought.

Thea...

"Yeah," I finally commented in reply to Aaron's first mention of the Imperials.

"I don't think it's the wisest choice to bring this SSD into their blockade. I mean, they might just start asking questions as to exactly where you appropriated it..."

Eagle Enterprises' assets notwithstanding...

"...and they just might want to appropriate it themselves. I say we take something a touch smaller, more nimble, but with some means of protecting ourselves, so we look less of a threat and more of what we really are:

"Friends looking for friends."

I paused a moment as we continued down the corridor, nodding every so often to passersby and smiling a bit as the occasional mouse droid scuttled up, squeaked nervously, and scampered off about its business.

"And as for those files, not only do I hope that you've got plenty of backup copies by now, but I sure as hell hope there's somethng in them to let us know exactly what happened to Thea. I'm concerned about her; I'm going to check on her when we get to medbay.

"Oh yeah, another thing."

I paused momentarily with a snap of my fingers.

"This little gal Link just may have proved to be far more useful to us than we originally hoped for. Now, I can't say for a certainty yet, as we haven't read the files she hacked, but you gotta admit she's a pretty handy little Ryn to have around."

Which is why I invited her to crew with me, after all...

I reached into one of pockets and pulled out a small deck of cards.

"Well, the Force does help with some things. I can talk with other Jedi I'm close to from far away just by thinking what I want to say to them. That's why I was taken to go find Shayla, I was the only one who could get through to her at the time. But its been a while since I've really talked to any of them...

...but I don't know precisely what she would want. I'd be glad to oblige her in whatever her wishes might be, however. After all, her efforts have helped us help Thea."

He paused then, his eyes again defocusing, his mind at work. "But whatever he had been considering saying next was cut abruptly short by the chirp of his wristcomm. Frowning a bit, Aaron pushed the accept switch and listened to the incoming message.

"Sir, we need you to come to the main computer technician room immediately," came a voice across the sequred Eagle Enterprises frequency, "Those files that we were given to analyze...

...we've found something you will want to look at, carefully."

Aaron's frown deepened. "Something to do with whatever Thea was drugged with?" he queried worriedly.

"No, sir, nothing about the drug specifically. But something that might be very serious to any Jedi in the galaxy."

Aaron's frown turned to a look of alarm. "What have you found?"

"We've found coordinates for someplace called the Valley of the Jedi in the computer files...

...and along with that coordinates to another location, on the planet Fierre...

...and finally, a galaxy map that appears to make the rebuilt world the new center of our galaxy."

Aaron glanced at Yaoksi, wondering just what they may have inadvertantly stumbled upon.

He pressed the reply button on his wristcomm. "Get multiple copies of those files...

...and I'm coming to have a look."

"Yes sir. Any other instruction?"

"No...or rather, yes. Look up anything and everything you can about Fierre. I'd love to know just why someone would like to make it the center of our civilization. I'm on my way."

Closing the connection on the commlink, Aaron turned to look at Yaoksi once more as they finally reached the medbay. "I'm going to walk in with you, just to see how Thea is doing...

I picked up the deck of cards and showed them to thea.

"In this deck are 72 cards, 4 suites numbered 1-11 and four face cards. Each card has a value to it either positive or negative. The way to win is to get these values to add up to positive or negative 23."

I took one card from the deck the 8 of coins and showed it to thea.

"It might seem easy at first but here is where the fun begins"

Just as I finished say the last bit the card changed into the card known as 'the idiot'.

"Randomly throughout the game some of your cards will change which might help you or hurt you. To prevent these changes however."

I took the card and layed it face up on the table.

The circle stopped, and each woman twirled in perfect unison before him. He held his hands up and two of the women stopped to help him to his feet. He rose effortlessly, taking each in an arm and walking to the circle. The women softly called his name, their voices soothing and sultry.

“Thoran… Thoran… Thoran….”

The soft music of their calls wafted through the air, filling his senses.

“Thoran… Thoran…”

THORAN!

A thundering voice came from behind. Thoran swirled, the women instantly shrinking away in fear. The white sky darkened to a blackish red, and a lone figure stood in the distance. Thoran crouched, ready to fight or flee – well, flee – at a moment’s notice. But there was nowhere to go, no place to hide. Only a vast expanse of nothing.

I hold your chain, still, Thoran. It is I you shall obey.

Thoran bit his lower lip, the pain keeping him focused. Fear nonetheless crept over his skin, bringing on a panic that threatened to work its way in to his soul. He stood, rising slowly to his full height and swallowing hard to inspire courage.

“I am not yours!” he squeaked. He spoke again, trying to place more testosterone into his voice. “I am my own, I answer now to no-one!”

Thunder cracked, and lightning flashed before him. In that instant flash the figure moved from a far distance to suddenly stand directly before Thoran. He stepped back, startled, screaming. He tried to turn and run, but his feet seemed to be glued to the ground. The figure before him began to laugh, low and deep, until it was nearly roaring. Thoran felt the hot breath of the thing descend upon him, and he knew this was the end.

In another instant the dark sky cracked open with a small sliver of white light. The figure stopped laughing, and threw its hooded head back to peer into the white. A voice, calm and smooth, yet commanding, spoke from that light.

“The Stargazer shall be his salvation.”

The figure stepped backwards, nearly stumbling, and shrank backwards into the nothingness. Thoran looked upwards cautiously, shielding his eyes from the white. Within that brightness something strangely familiar began to take shape, and as the pupils of his eyes shrank all he could was scream.

…

The room reverberated with the echo of Thoran’s scream. As consciousness swept over him, he felt suddenly very sober and very awake. His face was beaded with sweat and he shook from head to toe. He eventually rose and went into the bathroom, splashing water on his face.

After a few minutes he went to com on the wall and clicked the button.

Dang, but it had been a long, LONG time since I'd been in a good sabaac game, and from the looks of the direction in which life was rapidly trundling me the chances of me getting into another one looked mighty slim.

A somewhat forced smile crossed my features as I came up to where the two were sitting together, heads nearly touching as Link worked to teach Thea the intricacies of Sabaac and she in turn did her best to understand. That smile remained planted on my face, rock-steady, a barrier to the mounting worry that Aaron's words were causing to mount within me. But I couldn't help letting a puff of air escape my lips when my gaze settled on the little Ryn.

Oh my dearie, but what a hornet's nest you have unwittingly uncovered...!

Putting the thought on a back burner I hitched a partial seat on the corner of Thea's bed, and returned my gaze to her.

Then reality reasserted itself, along with the words she was tossing in my direction. I opened my eyes, still smiling but now that smile was tinged with the tiniest touch of regret. If not also wariness: a wariness not aimed at Thea although it was toward her that my smile was still directed.

"That's good to hear, hon, I mean that you are stronger now. I'm sure there are some classrooms here on Hornett that you could attend, as far as regular schooling goes, that is. Maybe your friend here would like to join you as well in this."

I turned toward Link, smiled at her, and laughed to myself to see the look of near horror which briefly skittered across her features. Then I turned back to Thea, reached out with both hands now and cupped her face between them. My smile disappeared; I wanted her to know that the words I was about to say were not to be taken in jest.

"Honey, look. I know you want to be a jedi, I know you're meant to be one, or else you never would have been admitted to the Praxeum to begin with. But I just can't see now how this can be done."

I drew in a deep breath, flinching inwardly to see the lightness of her features beginning to cloud. Still cupping her face, I ran my thumb along her cheekbone before releasing her entirely to then run a hand through my hair.

"I don't think there are many Jedi left, hon, and I haven't a clue where to find any. It's not as simple as you seem to think it is, I mean, I just can't up and enroll you in some handy-dandy Jedi school.

"And as for the crystal..."

I paused again, shaking my head.

"I don't know where to find these. If I did, I'd get you the biggest and the brightest one. But this is something Jedi know about, and I'm no Jedi."

Now a thundercloud threatened to erupt in Thea's eye; I couldn't stand that.

"Maybe Captain Barnes knows something that might help," I hurried on before she could say anything.

"Let me go talk a bit with him; in the meanwhile, why don't you and Link just keep on playing your game here, and you get some rest.

"Thank you, Link, for being here," I finished, reaching out to give the Ryn a quick little hug. Then I rose to my feet, took Aaron by the arm and dragged him at a stately run from the medical bay.

"I don't know what to do with that kid," I broke out with as we moved on down the corridor without the med-bay.

"She's not only got her heart set on being a Jedi, she's got a mindset about it that's stronger than durasteel. I really hate to disappoint the kid; maybe we might find something at this Valley of the Jedi that you mentioned back there?

"Dammit, I wish Shawn was available..."

But if wishes were opees then Gungans would ride... well, more so than they already did. Shaking my head, I finally noticed the lines of worry creasing Aaron's face, and remembered his earlier words.

"He doesn't understand, Link. I can do it. I've been teaching myself pretty much since I left the Praxeum. I borrowed a couple books from the library there right before leaving. I still have them in this bag. The librarian said they were good technique references for students who might be having trouble. I've been reading them and practicing. And I have kept up the exercises I was taught by my first Masters. I can lift things now without too much trouble and move things and I made one lightsaber. I just need some scrap metal and something for a switch and a safety turnoff. I can find all that on the ship. I'll just ask a tech for whatever cast offs they have lying around. I can at least get that done before we find a new crystal. I will be a Jedi, Link. Even if I have to learn it all on my own."

...and I've never even heard of it." He frowned. "As for Thea, I think she's clueless as to what the state of affairs of the universe are...

...and I don't think she's too young to know any longer, especially not if she wants to become a Jedi."

He paused, then a thought struck him. "Hey, didn't that Thoran say Shawn was with everyone on K'eel Doba? I wonder if he knows what the Valley of the Jedi is..."

He trailed, his look growing vague for a moment as they came up on a small engineering wing nearby the captain's office. In the center of it was a row of computer consols, and in front of one of those consols was a group of men, some standing, some sitting...

...and all looking fairly wide-eyed. As Aaron and Yaoksi approached, several of the men parted so that Aaron could get a good look at the terminal. "What am I looking at?" he asked.

"A map described by the files as the Rebuilt Fierre. It looks very similar to Coruscant...

...but according to our databases, there was a planet by the name of Fierre."

Aaron cocked a brow. "There was? It's no longer in existence?"

"Well, not exactly. It's still around, but it's uninhabitable. Apparently a native from the planet named Hethrir, who was a student of Darth Vader, unleashed a virus on the planet and destroyed it. Whoever had these plans made up...

...feels Fierre deserves much more than that. They've marked their rebuilt plans as the galactic capital...

...have placed all the other planets on the map...

I took out my blaster and set it down in front of me and stared at it for a moment.

"For the past 14 years that has been my only friend..."

After staring at it for a moment longer I slowly raised my head to look at Thea.

Sure as shootin' there was no Coruscant.

"Now that's just impossible!" I burst out with as I straightened to look everyone in their collective eyes. All I got in return were various and sundry looks that all had one thing in common: they were very worried.

Aaron's most of all.

"Well it is!" I went on, albeit in a bit less of an intense manner than before.

"This has to be wishful thinking or something on the part of someone who is very sick; there's no way in the creation of all that is that anyone is going to take Coruscant out and supplant it with-- with-- well, with whatever place that is supposed to be."

I waved a hand toward the map, continued staring at the eyes all around me. They in turn continued to stare back, the degree of consternation within them not lessening one whit.

Looking over to Yaoksi, Aaron's look only darkened further. "I might not be entirely thrilled with the Empire, but I certainly am not thrilled with whomever this lady is. We need to have discussions with the New Empire...

...and we need to present those files..."

He paused, looking over to the main technician. "Right after we have our own copies of it."

The technician nodded. "Already done, sir," he replied.

Aaron nodded, his eyes vague. Glancing at his chrono a bit nervously, he counted the hours to reversion in his head. "We've got eight standard hours of hyperspace travel left," he observed out loud, turning once more to Yaoksi. "You may want to get some rest, and I probably should do the same...

...but at the moment, with the events upcoming, I think all I really want is a good drink. This is a load of dangerous information we're going to try to use for entrance into Khar Delban space. If I didn't have friends down there in who knows what kind of straights, I don't know that the best option wouldn't be to simply hand this information over as is, because of what it is."

He paused then, another thought occurring. He turned back to the technician. "What about that stuff about the coordinates to a Valley of the Jedi? Did anyone find out what that was?"

"Well, we're not exactly sure what it is sir," the technician replied. "But we do know one thing. Some guy, who was involved with this Hethrir person according to our records, used it to create some powerful Dark Jedi known as the...

...the Reborn."

He paused, wondering why Lord Thoran hadn't noticed this for himself; hyperspace could be seen from every duraplast window on the ship.

Thoran ran his hand through his hair, then blew out a long breath.

I knew I could trust Yaoksi and Aaron they are more or less in the same boat as me on the lines of legality, and I knew I could trust Thea but any jedi we ran into might be a different story.

Thea looked cautiously at Link. She wasn't sure what her friend was going to think of her ideas. She glanced briefly towards the door. Thea was ready to get out of the medical wing and go exploring but she was unsure whether or not she would be allowed to yet.

"I don't think you understand what exactly slicing is and what I do but that can wait for another time."

I stood up and gently grabbed Thea's hand.

"If your worried about things like if you can leave lets just ask Aaron if its ok."

I took a comm unit and handed it to Thea.

Heistantly she pushed the comlink on and called, "Aaron, umm it's Thea. I was... wondering... if I can ... go ... somewhere. Umm out of bed."

So much so that Aaron was completely oblivious to the quiet meeping of his commlink.

I waited a moment or two longer before finally deciding to break the odd, crystalline silence.

"I guess I was caught up in the moment, and some thoughts of rumors I've heard of the New Empire utilizing some people known as Reborn for troops or something. Might be a coincidence...

...but I don't know."

He shrugged it off, albeit only momentarily. "Let's see what this is," he then commented, pushing his commlink.

Immediately Thea's message came through the wristcomm's small speaker. Aaron raised an eyebrow, and glanced towards Yaoksi, his eyes all but asking him what he thought they should do about Thea's peculiar request.

"Sure you can get cleaned up," Aaron responded simply. "in fact, I'd imagine you might be a bit hungry too. I'll tell the head medical technician to take you to some quarters where you can clean up, then you and Cel can go for some food. If you wait just a minute, let me talk to the med tech."

With that, Aaron changed his comm frequency, and requested that the medical techician take Thea to some suites nearby the infirmary. Certain that this would be done, Aaron returned to Cel's commlink frequency.

"I find myself unable to sleep further," he said. "If he should require me, he should find himself free to call upon me. I will be-- well, doing something anyway until then."

Thoran released the button and walked to the video unit on the wall.

"Show me the location of Erik Kartan," he said.

Nothing happened.

Thoran puzzled.

"Show me the location of Aelvedaar."

Still nothing.

He went back to the com on the wall and pressed the button.

"By the way," he said. "I think your revealer is broken... oh, wait."

He released the button and sat on the bed.

It actually didn't take that long to clean it all but took forever to brush her tail so that the fur didn't have anymore knots. While Thea sported a new dress Cel just donned her old cloths again.
A dress on a warship... thats going to stickout.

He shook his head and redressed into his black tunic.

“Well,” he said to the empty shadows. “If I’m going to pace then I’m going somewhere with a better view.”

He picked up the pass card, stuck it in his pocket, and left the room. Closing the door, he attempted to retrace his steps to the lounge. After wandering for a bit, he finally found himself standing once again in the doorway of the Blue Asteroid.

“Hello!” he called in. “I believe that you still owe me a meal. Is it ready yet?”

Blinked.

Yaoksi, this is an SSD, not the understories on Coruscant. It's Eagle Enterprises, not the wilds of Dagobah.

What harm can come to Thea in this environment? Let her stretch her wings a little...

I blinked again, and quietly closed my mouth.

There's more to being a jedi than flashing a lightsaber around, after all. The kid needs to grow up.

My former thought reminded me of Aaron's earlier dire revelations; now all outlandish worry about anything happening to Thea while she was on the Hornett disappeared into the mists and was promptly replaced with a newer and more realistic one.

What in blazes was that file about, the one which showed Coruscant replaced by... by...

...well, by something new and unknown and more than likely something the majority of the galaxy was not going to like very much.

I let a puff of air escape my lips then, one with another directly on its heels.

Who the hell are the Reborn? Or, what?

Shaking my head, I ran my hand through my hair.

"I need a drink," I announced in something of a non sequiteur.

"I'm going to the Blue Asteroid, have a couple nightcaps, and then get a good eight hours. THEN I might be able to come up with some kind of idea as to how I'm going to react to what you just told me, pal; but as for now, it's too much for this ol' spacer to even begin thinking about."

Nodding to Aaron I finished by inviting him to come join me when he finished whatever it was he was busy with at the moment. Then turning on my heel, I retraced my steps to the posh little space lounge the Hornett boasted of:

The Blue Asteroid...

Pausing only fractionally at the doorway into the lounge, I took a quick gander around. Nothing looked scary, no one looked deadly.

Yaoksi ol' pirate, quit looking for ghosts. Just because you've been made privy to what was in the file Cel hacked into...

I shot a furtive glance around again, my gut wobbling between trying to tell me to keep on my toes, and yammering loudly for me to fill it with something tall and cool that bit. Nothing looked untoward; sniffing little, I stuck my hands in my pockets and bellied up to the bar where I ordered a Whyrene's Reserve on ice.

Reborn, evil ladies, Jedi at risk, a Sith on his ship...

...and Terrin, Galen, and the guys alive and well in the Sith worlds. Kriffing hell, this trip wasn't moving fast enough...

...and this was all a bit more than he was used to dealing with. A drink sounded REALLY good...

"Find out more about these Reborn," Aaron then said to the head technician, "And about this Fierre planet, and about its people. I'd love to know why someone would be so interested in making it the center of our galaxy. Give me a comm when you get finished...

...because in the meantime, I sure need a drink too."

As the technician nodded then, Aaron gracefully bowed out of the room, heading for the Blue Asteroid. It didn't take him long to make his way the entrance...

...only to find n Lord Thoran standing at the door about to go in himself, calling in about some sort of meal someone owed him.

“Of course!” he said.

He followed Aaron into the bar. The captain took a seat beside Yaoksi, who had gone unnoticed until now, and held up two fingers. The bartender pulled out a bottle of vile looking liquid and two glasses with ice.

Thoran held up his hand. “For me, I think something a little lighter this time.”

The bartender cocked an eyebrow and pulled out another bottle, this one containing a light brown liquid.

“Even lighter,” said Thoran.

The bartender shrugged and filled Thoran’s glass with water.

“That’s the ticket,” Thoran smiled. He took the drink and turned to the captain.

It was all I could do to keep from choking.

Has four hours passed already? I wondered to myself as I set my glass smoothly down upon the gleaming greelwood bar. A furtive glance at my chrono clarified matters for me.

Nope, not nearly that yet. I still have time for a quick nap before checking with K'kihl about Devil's progress; can't really up and offer her as our transportation to the Sith worlds -- and the Blockade-- unless she's back to her usual ship-shapeliness.

I forced my involuntary grimace back into something resembling a smile and hitched the stool I was sitting on a bit to one side. The Big Red Guy was...

Well... big.

Pausing at that, Aaron took another drink. And the look in Yaoksi's eyes finally registered in his brain. He turned to Thoran.

"You having some trouble resting yourself? After all, we only spoke with you around ninety standard minutes ago, and it sounds like you've been up and about once already."

“And maybe set me up with another one of these?”

He looked over to Yaoksi and waved.

“Sleep sounded really good a while ago,” he said. “But not now. Not when there’s a dream waiting around the corner. I haven’t slept in… well, I can’t remember how long it’s been. And now I’m back in a form that requires it, and I forgot about the dreams. Don’t want the dreams.”

He smiled again, looking at Aaron.

...yes, one is in place."

At least, he hoped it was in place.

Not deigning to inform Thoran any further of the plan at that particular time, Aaron took another drink, and looked back towards Yaoksi, arching an eyebrow a bit in unvoiced communication.

I pulled out my data pad and brought up a schematic of the ship and glanced over it to see the best place for food.

"Well there's the standard cafiteria, then there is a food court area of the ship. Mostly filled with bars and cantinas, but the food and drink is more exotic then what your use to."

Personaly the bars sound better, although it was a long shot one of them might have roasted katarn. Wookies alwayes served the best food.

Seriously, I hadn't a clue.

I raised my brows to their limit, lowered them in a glowering frown and then let them relax, setting my drink down on the bar as I did so.

"Umm... yeah," I offerred a bit inanely, wincing as the Big Red Guy turned his sparkling interest my way.

"We should be able to get past the blockade... only remember, in something perhaps a little bit less, er...

"Ostentatious, don't you think Aaron?"

I grinned with a shrug of my shoulders, then reached for my glass, which to my dismay I found more empty than full.

And here I always thought of myself as an optimist!

He quieted a moment, his look darkening. "Terrin was always better at captaining her. And dealing with these sorts of situations."

But, dammitall, she'd just gotten herself blown to high heaven, just gotten herself fixed -- at least I assumed so, knowing the ol' Cricket as I did -- and the thought of her possibly falling into Imperial hands didn't make me the happiest of campers.

Then lightning, weird beastie that it could be, came arrowing in out of the blue and zapped me square between the eyes. I climbed up from my virtual fall, and turned to the still smiling Thoran.

"Hey pal," I began, my own eyes beginning to sparkle as a growing excitement filled me.

"You've got some kind of magick with you, and you say you want to help us. Why don't you just kill two opees with one spear and pop us over where we want to go? That just might be the quickest way to get to our friends--

"--not to mention the only way I can think of to slip in there under the Empire's nose."

“The magicks I possess are the ways of the Sith,” he said. “But my power stretches beyond the abilities of other Sith. Indeed, I can take you there, but it must be via another realm. A realm which is dark, which can drive you mad with the evil it harbors. If you stray but a step from the path I walk, or give in to the madness that will surround you, then your very soul could be forfeit. In this realm live the most evil, most vile and treacherous monsters to ever spawn into existence.”

Thoran knocked back the remainder of his drink and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. Grimacing, he turned to Yaoksi.

...but then again, maybe not. What you're talking about walking us through to get to everyone...

...it doesn't sound very much like a way I want to take to get them back here."

I stuck my arms out ala-referee mode, bringing the back and forth to a momentary stop. When I had captured both gents' attention, I went on.

"Aaron, I was going to offer the services of my ship to take us to this blockade, and hopefully on to the Sith world where our friend here says Terrin and Galen are. But I want to be completely honest in that I surely do feel a tad bit uncomfortable in the offerring. I mean, yeah, I'm certain we'd be accepted into the blockade without being blasted to smithereens, no problem.

"It's the getting out that concerns me."

I paused for breath, motioned the others to come closer and hunkered down a bit in my chair. Leaning forward I went on, my voice low.

"Look Aaron, that information we've got is probably of way interest to the Imps. Possibly of interest enough that they'd believe us in our honest attempt to use this as barter for passage to and from the Sith world.

"But what if they don't take us at our word? What if they think we're making up something outrageous; I mean, c'mon, taking out Coruscant fer Galaxy's sake!!"

I sputtered to a quick stop, letting that improbable thought sink in, watching Thoran's face from the corner of my eye as his eyes widened. Whether in response to the content of my words or the theatrical way I had spewed them, whose to say?

Onward I continued.

"If this is something of importance to the Imps, whose to say they won't just take it, commandeer my ship, and stick all of us away to where the sun don't shine? I dunno, it just seems to me that there's gonna come a better time to let them know about what we found than right now, trying to get down to a world that really no one is supposed to even know about.

"Don't ya think?"

I started to draw to a close then, straightening back up but not without shooting a final comment out.

"I'm for the quick and sneaky way into this place, even though we have to go to whatever terrible place it is Thoran here is hinting about. But I have a pretty good idea; if I'm right, they've got honest to Pete demons there.

"I know, I've seen one right onboard this ship...! But I have faith that it's a quick step in, step out and there we are. Nice and quiet... and how we get back out again?

"Well, we've got Thoran here, don't we? Assuming that everything he's telling us is the ghod's truth, that is..."

Thoran scratched his head, flaking something off of his horn.

Somehow.

"So this is supposed to be the better, more efficient, quicker way? Can you do this and get us to the other side safely or not? You were talking 50/50 chances...

...and now you're talking something that sounds like slim hopes. Which is it, cause I have friends on the other side, and I'd like to get to them. I haven't seen several of them in two or three years, after all...

...and one of them was dead. I'd like him to not be dead again any time soon, so this thing you're talking about is something you have to be certain of. After all, not only do I not want him to be dead...

Thoran stopped.

He paused, his look darkening, not liking any of the options in particular. "I suppose we should go through these Darker Realms and be done with it. After all, as much as I don't like this lady I'd like to turn over to the Empire, I don't care very much for dealing with the Empire either. Eagle Enterprises has been down that road before...

...and even considering it was just an Imperial Moff, that was quite more than enough."

He sighed again. "Let's just do it, be done with it...

...and get to everyone on Khar Delba. The search for them has gone on long enough...

I started walking down the corridors of the ship heading towards the Bar.

"As for not telling the others, how could I not keep a secret from them if you ask. In a way I've trusted you with my life, You are one of the only people that know i'm Link. In most sectors of the galaxy I'm wanted, and not revealing information about me is a felony in most."

We reached one of the Bars, The Blue Astroid, I stopped outside and resumed my conversation with Thea.

...and then there's the matter of Thea and Cel. I don't really think the Sith worlds are a good place for Thea to be, especially iwth what she's been through...

"Hey, what say we go now... and our buddy here can prove his worth by doing whatever voo-doo he do so well, only enough of it to let Devil through too... with us inside her.

"Personally, I'd feel better having her there with me, just in case we need a means of getting off-planet, you know, in case for some reason our Sithy friend here would be unable to provide it."

“Well,” he said. “It depends on how big your ship is. I mean, if it’s the size of a Sith fighter, no problem. But it’s probably a bit bigger, like a freighter, right? I think I can still do that, but I really need to see it.”

Thoran’s face lit up when the bartender placed a plate of food in front of him. He picked up the utensil that accompanied it and took a bite. A look of total joy washed over his face.

“I haven’t tasted food in—well, in a long time. This is SO good!”

He took another bite and then looked apologetically to Yaoksi.

"Hey now, wait a minute," I finally said, placing my elbow on the bar and leaning forward to look past Aaron at the big red guy.

"Are you tellimg me that in either case you're going to be leaving Aaron and me alone in these so-called Darker Realms, whether for a couple seconds if we go on foot, or an entire minute if we're in Devil?

"That we'd have to wait while you catch your breath to retrieve us?"

We entered te establishment and almost instantly I saw Yaoksi and Aaron talking to a being I had never met. That must be their new sith friend.

"Hey Aaron, does this place have any wookie food."

Without waiting for him to respond I turned and shouted to the closest waiter.

"Hey waiter Caff, extra strong."

Turning back to the group and waiting for my drink I aksed.

“Hello there, Thea,” he said, bemused and taking her hand. “The best thing they serve here is, of course, me. Ha! Seriously, though, try the roasted… um, whatever it is I’m eating. It’s good.”

He let go of the little hand and regarded Yaoksi.

“And no, I won’t leave you alone at all. I wouldn’t do that to anyone, believe me. I’ll be with you the whole time, preferably inside the ship, but the effort to open a hole that big will take a little bit to recover from. I’ll try again as soon as I can afterwards to open the hole back out. It’s sort of like an air lock, if you can think of it that way. We open the door, go in, shut the door, then open the next door. But it’s hard work and I’ll need a minute to get the focus back.”

His eyes opened wide in realization, and he turned back to the girl.

...and something happens?"

Aaron wasn't liking this idea the more they talked about it. Not until he had more specifics and more definitive plans. "And regarding your need some recovery time...

“All right, let me explain exactly what will happen if we take the ship. First, we all climb inside and take off into space. Then from inside the ship, I do my voo-hoo thing and open a portal in front of the ship. We fly through into the Darker Realms, I close the portal behind us. This is all done while we are inside the ship, because I’m just that good. Then we fend off anything that might see us while I get the strength back to open another portal in front of us, this time out of the Darker Realms and into Sith space. That make sense?”

He winked at Yaoksi.

"Whats going on... Darker realms, a ship, Thoran of the Sith?"

Apparently it seems I've been left out of the loop on whats been going on lately.

...not to mention the sudden insertion of the kids into said affairs.

When my hands came back down it was to grab my drink and knock back a healthy shot. Then I slammed my glass on the table and turned back to Thea and Cel. My immediate reaction, of course, was to let them know in no uncertain terms that there was simply no place for kids where we were going, when I paused to reflect on the look I was getting from the little gal.

Those eyes, shining so bright with open curiosity... and something else. A deeper disappointment, ready to flare out once more; hadn't she already shown a tendency to go trotting off with whoever might just up and come down the pike, offering her candy and dangling a carrot in front of her nose? While I knew this would never happen aboard the Hornett, whose to say that she wouldn't turn away again, seeking something, someone else, if she felt betrayed again?

Gods knew she'd already been derailed from her life's goal too many times already.

I rubbed my face again, agonizing. Then I gave a short, definitive nod.

"Only the one, so far," I began as an aside to Thoran before I looked Thea straight in the eye and set out to be totally honest with her. The kids deserved that at least, I thought.

"Thea honey, yeah, I was going to leave you in safe hands here on Hornett, because we--"

I indicated Aaron and Thoran with a wave of my hand.

"--are going off on a little trip that might, in fact probably will, be very dangerous. We have two routes open to us: one involves confronting the Imperials, the other..."

I fumbled to a halt again, shaking my head at myself. How in the world does an adult tell a child that the Boogeyman is real?

"The other is a shortcut through a very dangerous place, one filled with terrible creatures and no light, and one whose people don't care if you're a kid or grown up.

"If they catch you, you're dead, and that's the simple truth."

I paused yet another moment, letting this sink in.

"Our eventual goal is to go to another world, Thoran's world, the Sith world, honey; Galen and Terrin and all our other friend are there and we want to bring them back here. We don't know if they're in danger there or not, but it could simply be that they can't leave because of the Imperials there blockading the planet.

"We're going to sneak in, find them, and get them out of there. I'm afraid it's going to be awfully dangerous, with a very low probability of success; do you honestly believe you are up to what might happen?

"Can't you understand why I would rather you two remain aboard Hornett, where you'd be out of danger? I couldn't live with myself if anything happened to you."

((OOC: Thread continues in Suffer Thou Not in the "Empire/Republic" forums, thank you.))