I flew from literally thin air, head first, my face tucked into my chest in order to convert my mad flight from Hell into a semblance of a controlled fall. One I could at least term to be close to a landing; and luckily my training was still ingrained in muscle memory. For that's exactly what I did: I tucked, rolled, and came up crouching, arms out and low, hands outspread, ready to face anything and everything except the classroom of students who were frozen in their seats, their expressions no less shock and horror-filled than that upon the face of their equally frozen teacher...

Thoran landed on the floor, rolling. He immediately grabbed at his leg and held it tightly, waiting for the pain to subside. He gritted his teeth and roared out a long series of foul words, and after a moment leaned back in relief as the pain eased. He let out one more curse and then opened his eyes to see Sorben crouched and ready to spring. His eyes then took in the rest of the surroundings, and then followed Sorben’s gaze to the classroom of young students and their dumbfounded instructor, all staring with wide-open mouths.

Whirling, I strode quickly to a nearby window, and paused before it.

"Come on!" It was now my turn to take the lead, to urge for expediency. "We--"

I paused in my tracks as the eerie yet shockingly familiar grunts and woorbles of rontos, of all things, suddenly came wafting through the window and into my ears. I leaned out a bit, felt the warmth of the sun-- no, two suns! on my face, felt my flesh shrivel in the low humidity, squinted to see all the more clearly the ragbag little dust-colored community which stretched out not too far from where we now were. Which was--

"Tatooine. We're on Tatooine!"

How we had come to be there I didn't bother to speculate; suffice it to say that my senses were all I wanted to believe in at the moment, and they were telling me that we had somehow and quite fortunately popped back into reality upon a planet which I knew was policed by a rather large blockade of Imperial ships.

All we had to do now was simply contact said ships.

For a moment I considered just waiting until the intrepid instructor returned, then decided against that tactic. Chances were we'd be detained first and asked questions later; without any means of proving to the locals who I was -- for rarely had I been seen by many in anything other than my Mandalorian armor -- it would undoubtedly be a cold day in hell when we'd ever manage to convince anyone into letting us contact said blockade.

And I didn't even want to begin thinking of how to explain Thoran.

"Follow me, pal, and for ghod's sake keep yourself hidden from others if you can!"

Without waiting for any reply from my reluctant companion, I leapt quickly and lithely from the window. Once my feet struck desert hardpan it didn't take me long to make good use of them. I knew the cemented material would resist whatever footprints I might be making in my getaway, and knew as well that the persistent wind on this dusty planet would soon erase all evidence of whatever meager spoor I might otherwise be leaving.

Keeping hunched and low, moving from whatever shelter I could find to the next, and avoiding contact with any others I soon left the school far behind me. Once I was safely away I slowed my pace, and began to simply saunter along, my manner free and easy. For there's no better way to be overlooked as a target, than by not appearing to be one.

And for the time being, at least until I could find the local Imperial base, I figured this simple ploy would more than adequately work to our advantage.

The pain receded as he moved. The constant circulation of fresh blood seemed to lessen the effects of the old imp sting, and whatever had grazed him as he dove through the portal was now wearing off. He followed Tarnus’s pattern of hopping from cover to cover, and when finally in the open hard-packed desert his long strides allowed Thoran to catch the human.

The streets here were pretty much empty.

I knew, however, that the Imperial base we had set up on the heels of squashing the last of the Hutts' spice-smuggling ring wouldn't be in the backwaters, but placed in a prominent position as a reminder to all just who was the new King of the Mountain around here. But to get there, we'd have to pass beneath way too many curious eyes, in my humble opinion.

Not that I worried for my own sake; I'd be as anonymous among the riff-raff as I was to the troops when in full armor. Not too many peeps had ever actually seen me "naked," after all.

But as to my companion...

"We're going to have to do something about you, buddy. I know the dregs of the galaxy tend to migrate here, no alluded offense intended, but even here I don't think anyone has ever seen one of your race before. There will be questions, that's a certainty since we've been seen already. I can lose myself in a crowd; you obviously cannot."

Pausing, I peered ahead. It seemed we were beginning to approach a part of Mos Eisley that was more "hopping," for now I could hear the rough voices of the vendors as they haggled their wares. I waved Panthar into a dark shadowy nook.

"Wait here, pal, and let me see what I can do about that."

Assuming he had followed my directive I simply set out, aiming for a little cart which sat on the next street corner. Due to the ragtag nature of the offered goods there weren't too many others in close proximity to it either, which suited me just fine.

"Mother," I said by way of greeting to the elderly woman hunched between a ricketty table in front of her and splintery, wooden upright behind. I pointed to the latter.

"I am in need of a cloak..." I said nothing further, just fell silent.

Greed began rising in her pale, watery eyes, and she hunched closer.

"Aye, and a discerning eye you have, good Sir--" she began in a cackling croak, but I refused to let her start her little spiel.

"I haven't any money, Mother, but you will be rewarded." That said, I pierced her with an intense gaze, staring her directly in her eyes. She must have recognized the look; perhaps a passing jedi had confronted her at one point in the past, for all I knew. But thankfully she seemed to respond to the look I was pinning her with, for after a moment's pause she turned painfully in her seat and yanked down a sand-colored, hole-filled and altogether dirty hooded cloak. Turning back, she laid it across the table.

"No one is buying it anyway," she grumbled defensively, trying to maintain what little dignity that she could. I merely smiled and gathered it up in my arms, nodded my thanks and turned to leave. I hadn't taken but a couple steps when I was halted in mid-track by the sound of her rusty voice.

"Wrap yourself up good and tight, stranger; my bones are aching. There's a storm coming, no doubt about that."

My smile grew darker, and carried itself into my eyes.

"You have no idea," I replied, then retraced my steps to where Thoran was quietly awaiting my return.

But it was not all goodness and light, this he knew. The shadow was still present, a dark mist from his past, even before his time with the Master. That shadow he could never fully escape, but it was what made him what he was, and what gave him his true ties to the Darker Realms, his original profession.

But never again, not even if the darkest core of the Realms called his name in command, would he ever again be a spirit assassin.

Sorben approached, holding out a ragged cloak. Thoran raised an eyebrow, eyed the cloak, and then twisted his mouth in thought.

“Hang on,” he said. He removed the white covering from his back and folded it twice lengthwise. This he held to his ear, then wound the long fabric around the top of his head, over his horns, and then down around his neck. He tucked the end through the bottom, and held his hand out for the cloak. With that wrapped around his body, most of his head and body was now covered.

"Off to find the local governor, that's what," I replied, letting a grim smile cross my features. "From thereon it's clear sailing."

With that I set up a steady but ground-covering pace, winding through the maze of roadways that snaked this way and that through the community. Mos Eisley might not be the greatest of cities I had ever vusited, but it was the largest on this dustball of a planet, and stretched itself over a wide area. I ignored the sounds of the various and sundry beings who chortled and stomped and whuffed and howled all about me, engrossed in their equally various and sundry, if not dull, daily routines, and kept right on moving. I was hunting for one particular building, the only one to reach toward the sky upon a planet where all other buildings and dwellings were single-storied:

The Hutt's palace. For it was here, I knew, that my troops had set up a base from which to operate.

Nothing but the best for ol' ShaanD'uu Tark, I thought to myself, remembering who had been "elected" governor of Mos Eisley, and who as a result acted in the best interests of the Empire. My smile grew grimmer yet as I shoved my way between a pair of fluttering, bickering Toydarians, sending them wheeling tail over wing-web as I proceeded on, ignoring them.

Where is that damned palace?

One would think it an easy feat to find a structure that towered several stories over the rest of the city. However, Mos Eisley, although spread out over the face of the Tatooine desert, had narrow and winding streets. Crowded by walls of dun colored adobe, from my angle I wouldn't be able to actually see the top of the palace peeping over the buildings on either side of me until I was practically on top of it.

I gritted my teeth, growling.

Not waiting for a reply from Tarnus, Thoran stepped out of the alley and held his hand up to the chest of a passing man.

“Hey, buddy!” he cried out. “Sorry to bother you, but I was wondering if you could tell me where they hold the pod races?”

The man stared dumbly at Thoran, then a smile cracked his face and turned to the left and walked away. Thoran stared at the man’s back for a moment until it disappeared down the crowded street.

“That was strange…” he said, turning to the blue Twi’lek woman who passed near him. The woman stopped and cocked her head at Thoran.

“Oh, um, pod races! Do you know where they hold them?”

The woman cocked her head the other way, then smiled and placed her hand on Thoran’s face, cupping his cheek in her palm. Thoran smiled back apprehensively, then after a few seconds he gently grabbed her wrist and brought her hand down. The woman stared ahead and walked away.

“All right,” he said back to the ally where Tarnus still stood. “I don’t know what is going on here, but something isn’t quite right with the people. I’ve never known…”

Something large bumped into Thoran, sending him sailing to the ground. He rolled to his back and looked up to see a large Rodian male staring down at him. The Rodian was dressed in space faring gear, a blaster hanging at his side. Thoran prepared for a confrontation, but instead of going for his gun the Rodian offered a hand. Thoran cautiously accepted and was pulled to his feet.

“Thanks,” he said. The Rodian said nothing and stared at Thoran.

Thoran noticed the Rodian was still holding onto his hand, and when Thoran looked down he caught the shimmer of a white insect crawling across the Rodian’s hand. It quickly made for Thoran’s hand, and he pulled away just in time. The white thing froze long enough for Thoran to get a good look at it, then it darted back under the Rodian’s sleeve. The large male turned and walked away.

Thoran stumbled backwards into the alley.

I shook my head, and grabbed Thoran, who was looking like something a rancor was about to eat, by the sleeve.

"C'mon, let's try this way," I said and headed off down yet another winding, dusty street. Thoran remained mute, but allowed himself to be dragged along in my wake. As we moved farther through the busy little avenues, though, my own sense of apprehension began to mount, for we didn't receive so much as a single threat from anyone. No death threats, no attempts at extortions. No pick-pockets, no cudgels to the back of the head...

Not even an ugly grimace.

I took a moment to stop and take stock of the situation, hands on my hips and a scowl on my face.

"You're right... and this isn't," I said in a low voice, for by now every instinct I'd ever owned and honed through all my years as a bounty hunter, skills and senses further sharpened by trying to keep up with Galen, were practically screaming at me that something was rotten in Dantooine, and if we weren't careful we'd be sucked smack into it.

I cast a careful glance around, and spotted a handy little niche indented between two buildings. Into it's shadowy embraced I hauled my red-skinned companion.

"Ok, pal, you acted like the world was coming to an end back there. Something about spiders, you said. You wanna come clean about this, and let me in on the scoop too? It would be nice to have all the information available so I can figure out the best way to get us where we want to go."

I gave his sleeve a determined yank, bringing my face not only right up into his personal space, but nice and close to his own. Meanwhile my eyes tried to burn themselves out the backside of his head; after all, I really didn't know this guy from Adam, right? Who was he, a Sith to come spring me out of a Sith dungeon?

“All right,” he said at last. “You probably won’t believe much of it, but all right.”

Thoran inhaled deeply, then let the breath out slowly as he looked out at the wall of the next building.

“I don’t know if it means the world is coming to end or anything, but it’s really strange what’s going on. You see, we came across these white spiders a while back, on Dagobah, I think. They were connected somehow to the A--”

Thoran stopped, not sure if he wanted to go into the All at this moment.

“-- to this power, like the Force. An old line of juju monks and all, you know? But something about it is real, like these spiders. I can’t really say why…”

I won’t, anyway…

I most certainly knew exactly what this "strange power" was that Thoran spoke of, although at the moment I felt it behooved me to keep that little bit of information to myself. To my way of thinking, it grafted nicely with the fact that he was Sith, too.

But all this mumbo-jumbo about spiders...

"Look," I finally said, quite honestly. "I'm not sure what all this is about spiders. But if there's a strange connection to them and this power you speak of, and if it appears peeps start acting like puppets or something if contaminated by them, then by all the ghods we ought to steer clear of them, right?"

I took a quick glance about myself, and lo and behold, showing their faces over the top of a dusty little hovel were the elegant spires of the Hutts' one-time fortress.

"Spiders, powers, leave it, pal. Let's get to headquarters and I'll show you what real authority means!"

Thoran in tow, I took off down the narrow, winding avenue, rounded the corner of said dusty hovel, and headed toward the imposing ediface which finally deigned to show to us the face with which it dominated this equally dusty little backwater burg.

“Authority?” he asked at length. “I’ve had my brush with authority, and those who had it. Seems all it is the ability to out-power the other guy, and then what do you have? Someone always wanting to take what’s yours, and was probably someone else’s to begin with. Authority backed with fear, had enough of that. Now, respect – that’s another thing. I respect the ability to lead, and put be able to trust someone to lead. That’s a rare thing.”

It was that or die.

I leapt up the huge stone steps we had come to, taking them two at a time. Distant voices immediately raised in alarm as shining white troopers descended upon us, blasters at the ready. I just kept going, raising one hand -- in an authoritative manner, mind you! -- smiling to myself to see that even in the wake of the first so-called "skirmish against" the Galaxy, my men still acted with extreme alacrity.

I barked out a particular code; the men came to braked stop on the steps, blasters now held a tiny bit off from us but not yet being lowered. At length one muscled through, a computer padd in his armored hands. I relieved him of it, pressed my thumb to a receiver, then held that receiver up to my right eye.

The padd clicked and hummed for a nanosecond or two before the receiver turned bright green; I handed it back to the armored soldier with a grim smile.

"Get me Landarian on Relentless," I barked as I continued up the stairs, the troopers now parting to enfold us within their midst so as to escort us the remainder of the way to the Command Center of our appropriated headquarters. Thoran trailed behind me.

I waved a hand behind me, not looking back.

"Keep this one under tabs," I said, and smiled again as at least eight blasters immediately trained on his cloaked form. For hey, who was he to me, after all? True, he was someone who had come to my aide, and assisted in getting me out of that Sith dungeon, a dungeon in which he too had been imprisoned as well.

Or so he stated.

All I knew was that there had been enough weirdness happening in my life, seemingly ever since a particular little redhead had popped into it, and to tell the truth I was getting a tad wee tired of it. And Thoran--?

Well, yeah, he had some ability to wriggle from one place into another by ripping open portals into Hell. I'd done that myself, departing from a particular Sith temple when little horrors from said Hell had been spilling over into it. True, those whatever-they-were were indeed enough to warrant a bit of second thought before traveling back through that terrible place... but we had come and gone through it in the proverbial blink of an eye.

Nothing had happened to us, not really. We'd popped through, and ended up here. No major altercation, all our body parts intact.

And one person was always quicker on the move than a pair. This was simple fact, a standard modus operandi I adhered to as a bounty hunter.

So why hadn't we used this to get himself the hell off of Tattooine?

Something was up. Something was happening. And until I had more facts to operate from, I wasn't about to trust a single one of these big, red beings.

No matter how seemingly helpful or friendly they might appear to be.

Not saying anything else, I simply led the way into the Hutts' old palace, coming at last to the Command Center.

"Food, drink, and uniforms," I barked, once again waving a hand toward Thoran. "And something simple he can put on; that cloak stinks to high heaven!

"And someone get me Landarian!"

"Oh, put your arms down, for ghod's sake," I grumbled, motioning him to take a nearby seat. The little retinue of armed guards didn't impede him one whit, but kept their blasters duly trained on him per my order. I settled down into the base commander's chair, said worthy having personally relinquished it to me as he went off to scare up Relentless.

I eyed Thoran while I waited.

"The thought did cross my mind, Thoran," I said seriously, sighing to myself to see the unhesitating manner in which this guy flipped from white to black in his worldview.

Not one lick of gray. Just BOOM, we're palsy-walsy, or BOOM, the most bitter of enemies. Not one thought regarding a possibility that perhaps I'd had to act as I did...

I could only wonder to myself if this was representative of his people as a whole, or simply resultant of his own quirky personality. I really needed to determine if there was a difference, for I'd only met one or two others of his race. His behavior from this point on was going to go a long way toward helping me understand how best to deal with the Sith. So far he had seemed open and friendly enough, but I still couldn't help wondering why after the rather elaborate manner in which he had extricated us from the dungeons we had been reduced to such mundane subterfuge in order to make our way here to the Command Center.

“Yeah,” he said. “All right. I knew it all along.”

Thoran walked to the seat that was offered. He sat down and plopped a leg on top of his other, crossing them and leaning back.

“Not to sound like a woman, but I’ve been hurt a few times in the past. In fact, that’s sort of why I helped you out. You see, there was a time when I was kind of like you. On top of the world, or the galaxy… or in my case something even bigger. But when you make deals with the wrong people you eventually have to pay the bill, right? Maybe you know that already.”

Thoran glanced around, his eyes then coming slowly back to Tarnus.

So you've been hurt, pal. Well... welcome to the galaxy.

I didn't say a word, didn't let the images of a particular redhead rush forward as they were suddenly trying to do, pushed aside another one of a tiny, blue-eyed infant. I just raised a finger toward one of the men, who quickly saluted before departing. Time ticked by, heavy with silence, until he at last returned bearing a tray of something or other which passed for food on this miserable planet.

That at least provoked a frown from me. I mean, ghods but one would think the Empire would provide decent sustenance for its troops. Was this normal?

I thought of mentioning my disgust at what was proffered but decided to hold back. Since I had first fallen in with him, my good ol buddy Thoran hadn't really said much of anything important to me, just ramblings about spiders and being hurt. And according to him whatever hurt him was, in his own words, "something big."

I settled in my seat, nodding to the trooper who moved to Thoran's side, tray in hand. Waving my own to indicate Thoran help himself, I remained silent and simply waited to hear if he would ever say something that might truly prove itself useful.

“So,” he said. “I’m grateful to you for the food and things.”

For a moment longer he let the silence echo, then sat forward.

“All right,” he said. “I guess we’re here, safe, and all is well. So we can finally talk about some things that need to be talked about. Well, that and some other creepiness, like the weird white spiders.”

Thoran paused, trying to read the face of Tarnus.

A conflict.

Arms still crossed I lifted a finger toward the guards, wiggled it in a particular manner. The gleaming white helmets made simultaneous nods in my direction before cocking to their respective left sides in a somewhat peculiar fashion. This was followed by the almost choreographed movement as all heads resumed their normal pose, weapons still aimed in the vicinity of Thoran.

The armored warriors' helmet receivers had been turned off at my command, leaving the lot of them deaf to their surroundings. But certainly not aloof, I wasn't that stupid. Unknown to most in the galaxy, the rising New Empire had developed an entire collage of hand signals.

For just such kinds of circumstances.

Secure that the retinue could no longer hear our conversation, I settled more comfortably in my seat.

"How lovely it is that you wish to maintain good relations between our species," I said wryly, letting a quick smile flick across my face. It hardened back into an unreadable mask.

"Perhaps you will tell me exactly what it was that happened at K'eel Doba, pal. And please, don't insult my intelligence by claiming ignorance; from all the little hints and innuendos you've been tossing about I know you know far more than you've been willing to let out."

In a sudden movement, fluid as a rushing waterfall and just as erosive, I straightened and sent a fisted hand down on the tabletop with a decisive thump.

“Your blockade was destroyed by the power held by the Sith, to eliminate what was perceived to be an unwarranted act of aggression upon the race. However costly, though, I now appeal to you to hold from further action until you hear me out. There is much more at stake here than the expansion of an empire, and there needs to be an immediate understanding and truce between your people and the Sith.”

Thoran relaxed a bit, then glanced at the guards once more before returning his attention to Sorben Tarnus.

Images rose up from memories, those fairly new and fresh in reference to the years I had occupied space in the Galaxy, but images that to most would be utterly unthinkable. Frightening.

Images of my time with Galen, which led me through an introductory period, if you will, against a couple of what I have come to know as being Dark Jedi. Images then leading to what she had endured at the hands of her sister, and then our interactions with this self-proclaimed "Graysith" and the weird power she had, that which I had come to know as The All. Images of running in an otherwise empty temple on the sister planet of Khar Delba, fighting demons from hell, a hell I had recently passed through myself; fleeing from that supposed haven as the Dark Sorcerer Lord sequestered himself away from us, leaving us to fight alone, to go one alone, to face...

What? Other Dark Lords who came and went, the heartache of Galen's departure, the approach of Admiral Actar who wanted her dead, who claimed to want my own daughter dead...

Even though I knew she had something to do with this power, this All, as well.

I knew the Sith weren't supposed to be here... but they were. That was something I imagined Thoran himself had no inkling of; how could he?

He hedged about the All, but it simply made no sense. If his people had flashed out in anger against what they perceived to be an attack against them, even though never once did I destroy any Sith ships in their coming and going between sister worlds, why did they wait until now to do so? The blockade had circled the system for well over a standard year.

Why now?

Obviously there was more going on here than I thought. But speaking to the Dark Lords...

"That would be something of a... complication," I said at length, now reaching for the glass I had set on the table and taking a gulp from it to cleanse my throat, to marshall my thoughts.

"For it was when I had approached the ruling body on K'eel Doba that I was imprisoned. I came before their, what would you call her, the Dark Lady? Graysith--?"

Another swallow, then a gentle thunk as the goblet was set almost daintily upon the tabletop once again.

"--only to be mocked and almost immediately imprisoned, and for no apparent reason, I might add."

Other than I was there, one of the High Mucketty-Mucks of the Empire, if you will.

I fell into silence, still judging the man before me, still trying to determine if indeed I could seriously and truly trust him. I will admit, however, that so far I appeared to have every indication of doing so...

Grudge? Don't be silly...

A ripple of annoyance whispered through me as I listened to what I perceived to be a glib attempt at speaking without really saying much.

Yeah pal, I just bet your "Dark Lord" would just love to talk to me. Especially since Jharmeen Jhin'Darr, the self-appointed "Graysith," whatever that meant, held her fancy-schmancy title of Dark Lady of the Sith.

Yeah. Right.

I leaned back casually, crossing my arms, and was about to reply when an ensign appologetically joined us. He came to a full salute, then upon my response that he rest easy he approached me and whispered quietly into my ear.

I couldn't help the tiny smile that lifted the corner of my lips.

A courier was coming, to take me to Landarian. Actar had sent Swatzi...

Good.

After dismissing the ensign I rose to my feet and considered Thoran for a moment. Here was a representative of the race that had blasted my fleet to smithereens, one who on one hand had released me from imprisonment, but who was remaining remarkably taciturn about issues my gut was simply screaming to me that he had to know.

Into which camp should he be placed: friend, foe, ally...

...or simple manipulator?

All I knew was that he definitely needed to be kept in hand, so to speak; and the best sort of hand with which to hold a nervous flutterby was one from which the gauntlet had been removed.

"We're going to be getting off this rock," I said succinctly, with an equally succinct nod to him.

"Is there anything you need that our simple base here might possibly provide in the meanwhile?"

((OOC: To see what Sorben is referring to, see Back Into the Fire, this date, in the "Empire/New Republic" forums, thank you.))

“I don’t want to put you out,” he continued, considering Sorben’s offer. “Just a chance to freshen up a bit, if that’s all right. Those dungeons were pretty dank, and then the hot sun didn’t do much to make me smell any better.”

Thoran paused, looking at Sorben solemnly.

“I don’t want to be your enemy, you know. I don’t want our people to be enemies, either. I could have left you there, in that dungeon, but I knew that would have been truly bad. There are bigger things at work here, and the sooner we can all get over the emotional ride we’ve just been through, the sooner we can all realize that we’re being played against each other in a ridiculous game.”

Thoran leaned forward, his face growing more serious.

“I took you through the portal to show you what was on the other side of the membrane. It’s not at all a happy place, and the folks there would just as soon cut you up and feed you to the imps than say hello. But I have a feeling you already knew about this place. And I also have the feeling your story with the Sith goes back quite a way. But I’m willing to bet that you don’t know the half of it. So I want to tell you some things, and because you know about the Darker Realms, I’m hoping it will keep your mind open to a lot of other things that will seem fantastic.”

Thoran sat back and brought a leg up to rest on the other.

I let the smile of satisfaction on my lips segue into a genuinely pleasant one. If my traveling companion was willing to finally begin letting me in on the "half" I didn't already know, I was more than willing to listen.

"Ok, shoot," I said, dismissing the hovering troops to wait outside. No need for any possible eager ears to overhear what Thoran might be about to divulge; while prudence cautioned I might want to wait until we were with Swatzi, and possibly Actar himself, I wanted to let my gut make that final decision. After all, I had never come to terms with the horror Actar had placed Galen in.

Not to mention the little fact that he had sent me out to assassinate her, along with our own daughter. Little did Galen know, but I had been fairly certain that the pair I had destroyed at Quee's hidden sanctuary had been merely a set of clones; Galen might be a cunning little firebrand, but she left an electronic trail a blind dewback with a cold could follow. It hadn't been too difficult to deduce what she had been up to, selling off all the familial lands and so on, then going to Kamino for a little visit. A little visit there on my own time assured that Actar would never, ever discover what she did.

Funny what enough credits will buy a guy. Thanks, Admiral, for making me third in command!

Leaning forward casually, I flipped a switch, keeping the surveillence vid-cam sweeping the room operating, but muting the sound. I fed the images to a small monitor outside, where I knew the lieutenant in charge of my little retinue would be hovering, ready to act immediately should Thoran try anything funny.

That little task finished, I reached for my caf, took a sip, and nodded to the rather happy looking Sith.

“You are man of strategy,” he said. “Most people live their lives tactically, jumping from one situation to another and doing the best they can to survive to the next battle. But people such as you can see beyond the immediate concern, can see a larger picture and even learn how to manipulate events to reach a greater goal. That is what I speak to, that part of you with the vision of the grand scheme.”

Thoran leaned forward once more, his face very serious.

“For more years than I care to say I was part of that scheme. Not as a schemer, mind you, but a tactical commander moving events along in a never-ending game of chess. Oh, I was a good soldier, never questioning my orders, always getting the job done. But then I was assigned a very -- shall we say -- ‘unique’ opportunity. It made me question my orders, rethink my role in the grand scheme, and even caused me to step outside of the lines. Now, you may think that makes me untrustworthy, that I cannot follow orders. But what does a commander do when ordered to win an unwinnable battle, and given directives that will surely mean defeat?”

“True, I speak somewhat allegorically. But be certain, I was once part of that greater thing behind that horrible place called the Darker Realms. And there is something greater even than that, and it is playing some strange game where the Sith, your Empire, and other great races are merely pawns being moved about for its greater goal.”

Thoran sat back again, eying Sorben.

Games...

Now I shook my head, pushing aside that eerie feeling of deja vu and leaned forward.

"The Yuuzhan Vong?" I repeated, reaching out for a bit of sweetmeat sitting there begging to be eaten. I thoughtfully obliged, munching away contentedly as I then continued.

"Not much other than what we all learned in schoo-- er, that is, what most kids learned in school. They are a race that is a total antithesis to anything technological, one which manipulates biologically at a genetic level. The came before to our Galaxy, intent on mastering it, and only by the bare skin of our teeth did we manage to defeat them... something to do with the jedi, I believe... and chase them off with their tails between their legs.

"Why?"

I swallowed and gave him a careful look. There was something about his manner, the air of relaxation into which he had eased himself, that somehow sat at odds with what I felt in my gut he was holding back from me.

“They surrendered, and given a chance to change. They abolished their warlike ways and were given a homeworld – a sentient, living thing, believe it or not – and went off into the Unknown Regions to live in peace. But the problem with the Unknown Regions, of course, is that they are – well, unknown. Something found them.”

Thoran scratched at the base of horn, thinking of how to phrase his next statement.

“I know you think I am a little crazy, and I certainly can’t blame you. But remember to think about the bigger picture, and hear me out. There is a saying that we’re all only pawns in the game. That is true to an extent, for there is a game being played. I don’t fully understand it, now do I understand just who the real players are. But they do things to us, make us jump through hoops and force us all to deal with situations. The original Vong invasion was part of the game – but it was supposed to be over. Players 1 countered, and Player 2 went off to the next move. But what I discovered…”

Thoran paused, his head hurting slightly.

“I believe there is a Player 3 that has been quiet for a long time. And it is going to use the Yuuzhan Vong remnants, both here and in their original galaxy, to steal the game from the other two. I mean, with quiet maneuvering I think this Player 3 is setting up a checkmate that will mean catastrophe for all of us.”

Thoran looked at Sorben again, his eyebrows raised slightly.

I inhaled, lifted my chin the slightest, and considered the words he spoke, meanwhile carefully reading those myriad unspoken yet subtly revealed through every nuance of body language he was projecting: the way he sat, when his eyes met mine, what he did with his hands...

And in particular, what words he was actually speaking during those brief moments when his loquacious manner dropped before one of utter seriousness. And I believed his sincerity during those moments to be true; his eyes had been locked in mine, and there hadn't been even the tiniest bit of pupillary change that I could see.

He was either very, very good, or...

A genteel chime interrupted my assessment. On the desk before me, a light flashed patiently for attention; I attended to it, and read the brief message that scrolled in front of me in its wake.

"The courier is due to arrive in fourteen standard hours," I commented, raising a hand as I rose from my seat. After giving my uniform a tug and a brush to neaten it, I took a moment to take stock of my quasi-ally, now thinking about his former request.

He was yet attired in the filthy robe I had obtained from the old woman--

I must attend to sending her some credits, perhaps some nourishing food would be in order as well...

--and did indeed look somewhat ragged around the edges. I nodded to the guards; their heads cocked in that peculiar manner once more as they initiated their headsets, then stood in readiness to receive my command.

"Take him to-- well, somewhere that he can clean himself up. He certainly can't go before anyone looking like this. And get him something decent to wear."

The guards nodded in compliance, and arrayed themselves on either side of Thoran, their weapons now held in parade stance. Not threatening, but easy to use if necessary. Just as any well-trained soldier would do.

"I will meet you in the mess hall..."

I paused, a brow now lifting fractionally toward the nearest guard, who bore the yellow patch of squad leader upon his shoulder. Truth be known, I had never visited this base, and wasn't certain what was available in this building. I sure as hell didn't want Thoran wandering from building to building outside, but my momentary concerns were laid to rest by the nod the squad leader now gave me.

"...in one hour. That should give you time to clean up a little; then we can get something to eat and relax a bit."

This courtesy wasn't simply an overt extension of comradely association on my part. While personally I was just shy of utterly and totally believing everything Thoran had said, there was still the miniscule chance he was holding something back. Or on the other hand, simply couldn't recall it, if indeed it existed at all. A body and mind relieved of the little but highly necessary things in life, such as food and rest, clothing and shelter, was far more apt to function at its full potential. And I needed to be certain I knew everything that was rolling around in that mind of his.

Everything.

Kani received the message an hour ago and truth be told if not for her training would be able to contain her excitement. After a month of orders to stand by at the isolated Tatooine outpost she had received further orders. Walking down the corridor in her black service uniform all the stormtroopers knew who she was well enough that they all moved out of her way while headed toward the command center. Glancing down at the data pad she reread her orders she received to help calm herself.

From: Imperial Stormtrooper Corps Command
To: Major Lrya Kanti

Effictive immediately you are relieved of all present duties and are assigned to Lieutent General Tarnus's support staff as Special Operations Officer. Report in at earliest possible moment.

Kani of course knew when the General arrived, the entire base did but there was no need of her to appear before the General while she was placed in standy status. So it came as a surprise when just right after his arrival she received orders to be reassigned to his command. For the next hour she made sure her uniform was propperly pressed, rank squares correctly aligned and centered, rank cylinder in her left shoulder pocket. And finally centered above her rank the black and gold badge of crossed swords behind the Imperial Insignia, the badge of those who served as a storm commando and the color denoting those few storm commando's that made it into the NightWhispers the most elite stromtroopers in the galaxy. While much of the backstory the Imperials fabricated for her was false they did put her through their boot camp, assigned her to the 501st then using her trainging as a Mandalorian excelled at her duties and was given a commision and transferred to the NightWhispers, nothing about her record as an Imperial Stormtrooper was a fabrication and it showed in Kani's face when she wore her uniform with pride. Arriving out side the Generals office she approched the desk belonging to his secretary. The secretary, a 2nd lieutent rose and offered her a salute which Kani returned.

“Lieutenant,” Kani began. “Inform the General that Major Kanti has arrived to report in.”

Kani Jetiis'ad, a new support staff officer? Why in blazes was I given notice of support staff being assigned to me here, on Tatooine? I had only just showed my face...

I drew back, pondering this latest little mystery. Then the look on my face dissolved into one bordering mild annoyance.

It must have come down from Admiral Actar. He's the only one who could get anything of this sort on the table so quickly. Exactly why I was suddenly being given this honor in such an out-of-place world had yet to be explained. Unless Landarian had managed to get safely back to Coruscant, and had reported the destruction of the blockade.

That would most certainly do it.

I drew back slightly, nodding in satisfaction before flicking the monitor into darkness. My hand moved to the in-house transmitter.

"The General will see you now ma'am," said the Lieutenant.

Marching with military precision and diciplin befitting a stormtrooper Kani approached Sorben's desk stopping herself 3 paces from it perfectly centered. Brining her heels together with an audiable snap she brought herself to the position of attention clutching her datapad in her left hand she offer the general a salute and holding it in place.

"Good afternoon Sir," said Kani. "Major Lyra Kanti Imperial Stormtrooper Corps reporting as ordered."

I could never really understand why Actar chose to elevate me to the position he had. It had always bothered me that one day I was but a simple bounty hunter, contracted by him to hit my own wife and daughter. The next... boom. I was third in command of his little galactic empire.

No one really knew the razor's edge that I had to tiptoe across every day. I had to carefully balance my own innate and nearly overwhelming sense of selfness against the hive-mind of a military that was rapidly expanding to cover the galaxy. I had to play the part of dutiful leader, following the direction of those few above me while yet trying to do my part for what I determined to be the good of the galaxy in general. I'd been too many places, seen too many worlds, gone through too many experiences as a bounty hunter to readily accept the simple, "we're in charge now" theory that many thought to be Actar's single mandate.

Perhaps that was why I now was living the life that I was. Perhaps Actar recognized this, and wanted a counterweight to his and Swatzi's actions... even though as far as I knew he still insisted his only goal was one of order and peace for every world in the galaxy.

But yet, maybe I was reading too much into things. Maybe I was seeing only what I hoped to be seeing; perhaps Actar wasn't the benign man I was thinking him to be. It could very well be that, having discovered what had happened on the Sith worlds, he blamed me for the loss of an entire blockade's worth of ships; maybe this major was being assigned to me for more than what it seemed to be on the surface...

I cleared my throat, rose marginally and tossed Major Jetiis'ad a quick salute.

"At ease, soldier," I said as I sat back down. She then extended her datapad, which I scanned quickly but thoroughly. A brow rose at what it revealed; I forced it down as I laid the pad on my desk, raising my eyes back into those of the major.

For a brief moment the passage of time was a thick wall between us. Then I began hammering it down.

"I would like to know exactly what it is you wish to gain in your service, your goals and personal desires, if you will. And please don't patronize me with generalities."

I arrowed my gaze directly into her eyes, maintaining that hold with not a little intensity as I waited to hear her reply.

“Sir you have my file and how I have an alternate identity,” Kani began. “My real name is Ka’runi Jetiis’ad, former warrior of the Mandalorian Protectorate and daughter of a Jedi Knight. At 13 I was sent to assassinate Admiral Actar but was captured. I thought I was going to be executed just like I thought my mother was when the Empire showed me the truth. They brought me to the valley of the Jedi where I met the Force ghost of my mother who told me the truth, that the Jedi had become corrupt and the Admiral had no choice but to stop them. Then when my mother sought to help the Jedi survivors they killed her and framed the Empire, and that now the Mandalorian’s had become as corrupt as the Jedi.”

“It was then that the Empire gave me a choice, they could release me and let me return to Mandalore or I could join them. So the Empire created my new Identity Lyra Kani, and let me enlist as a Stormtrooper. As a Stormtrooper I had a new direction because I could see the values taught to us in training; loyalty, discipline, order, honor where present throughout my new life. They gave me the drive I needed to excel above my peers, use my training as a Mandalorian for some force of good. Then about a month ago an opportunity presented its self. While I was with the NightWhispers the order came down to assassinate Mandalore himself I volunteered for it, not for revenge but to save my people. I killed Mandalore in plain sight, uniting them against me. Leaving them open to the Empire for aid to help them.”

Kani noted how she had relaxed her posture but caught herself and returned to her previos state of rigidity, before resuming her explanation.

The Mandalorians were yet alive, somewhere. Yet another mysterious resurrection, as with the Sith? Where were they located, and how did they manage to escape the eyes of the Galaxy? Most disturbing, how did Actar become privy to the knowledge that they still lived? And why had I, his Third-in-Command, not been given this sensitive information?

--and I centered my gaze on the datapad once again, appearing to peruse it.

What in blazes was Actar doing? I couldn't help but question. This scarcely followed the parameters of the mandate he had expressed to me. I knew he had retreated to his headquarters on Ambria, and by remaining quietly there was presenting to the empire his apparent reluctance to engage in any further bloodshed. But here he had obviously manipulated a young and idealistic girl into doing with her talents what he himself could not do, no matter how many ships and stormtroopers he could ever send:

That was to secure for the Empire not merely the physical system itself, but the loyalties of the Mandalorian populace as well.

I scrolled down the datapad, but my eyes weren't seeing the digitized characters at all.

How did I know this? From my own pre-Actar history. Although they had always made me feel uncomfortable, I knew full and well the jedi were not corrupt, and with the exception of a rogue jedi here and there, never had been. On one hand I now could see how those in power could interpret their actions as thus, accusing them of behaving above the law, but this was indeed due to the simple fact that they were above the law. They adhered to a Greater Law, that one governing their actions for the good of all the people, no matter if it was a Galactic Senate or self-proclaimed Emperor that ruled those people. But it was to the welfare of those people that they always had directed their focus; again, although I tried my best to avoid them throughout my days of hunting, even I had to recognize this simple fact. A good bounty hunter always considers the big picture in all things, otherwise he usually ends up as dead as the hits assigned to him.

I raised my head, settled into my chair and gave the major a scrutinizing look.

She is talented, there is no doubt about that. And idealistic, and young. Not to mention being in a position of some power in the military. And that is a very, very dangerous combination. Without the experience and maturity that time brings along with it as with the case of most rising officers in the Troops, she could quite easily misuse that which has been given to her. Or misinterpret situations she might be having to deal with.

And this might be the very reason Actar had chosen to make her some kind of wunderkind.

I closed the datapad, closing my eyes as well to hide any reflection of another, disturbing thought now rising up in me.

Out of nowhere I was assigned this aide. Was she to assist me, or to watch me? Quite possibly the latter, for nowhere in the My Eyes Only portion did I read anything remotely connected to the destruction of the blockade or orders as where to go from here. In fact, Actar and Swatzi had remained mysteriously silent in this regard; I knew Landarian had made it back to Coruscant to report, for it was to him I had sent the order for a retrieval from Tatooine. And I knew Landarian; by now the entire Empire was more than likely buzzing with the crushing news of my inexplicable defeat in the Unknown Quadrant.

More than likely Actar blamed me for the blockade's destruction. Perhaps he had somehow discovered that my hit on Galen and Darra had been a failure as well. And add to this the simple fact that the Mandalorians yet lived, were secreted away in a place that Actar and a few select others knew about... said others not including yours truly...

I cleared my throat, and set the datapad down on my desk.

"Very good, Major," I said simply. "As ranking officer of my support staff--" a staff which had yet to fully materialize, I might add "--from this point until further notice I am ordering you into strict silence on anything you might discover in the course of your duties, on anything I may in the future order you to do that might at the time seem to you to be unusual. If in the course of those duties you in turn should see or uncover anything unusual, you will report that information directly to me, and not through any other normal channels. Is this clear?"

I have received orders just like this before when I was part of the NightWhispers, but always part of a mission itself. Who am I to question the authority of a Imperial General, the Empire has trusted me to his charge and to question his order in anyway would not only betray the oath I took as an officer, but betray what it means to be a Stormtrooper.

Pushing her thoughts of doubt to the back of her mind, Kani accept the General’s order as if it came from Mandalore himself.

I cast a quick glance at the chrono. Approximately half a standard hour had passed since Thoran had been escorted off to clean himself; it was nearly time for our rendezvous in the Mess.

"There is a courier due to arrive in 13.5 standard hours which shall transport me-- that is, us to Coruscant," I informed her.

"I shall leave it to you to inform me of its arrival; in the meantime..."

Now I shot a pointed glance at the time-keeper.

"In the meantime I have another pressing matter to attend to." I rose to my feet.

"If you will excuse me, Major--"

I waited brief moments until she cut me a smart salute, then returned it with a fast one of my own. No sooner had she whirled and departed than I was on the comm again, this time summoning the lieutenant in charge of the troops who had escorted Thoran.

"Make certain that mess hall where we are meeting is devoid of anyone other than our, ahh... guest," I commanded, then paused a moment to reflect.

"Prepare something fast and hot to eat, and have it waiting for us. I don't even want the cooks to be present. Oh yes, have an open bottle of Walkn'Fall ready as well, with two glasses. General Tarnus, out."

I smoothed the one-piece I was attired in and nodded with satisfaction. A couple hours of "discussion," with Walkn'Fall to settle any lingering tensions, a good night's sleep, and we would be fully prepared to depart the base when the courrier arrived.

I headed off to the Mess, arriving there before Thoran's arrival. Nodding to the tiny squad of honor guards arrayed outside the door, I entered and headed to the lone table set for two. The Walkn'Fall bottle glinted in the somewhat subdued lighting, and I allowed myself a rueful grin.

It's been awhile since you've had this, hasn't it, pal?

Not bothering to think about anything else at the moment I merely seated myself, poured myself a stiff one, and took a good long drink. But, oddly enough, the rushing fire which then cascaded throughout my body did nothing to assuage the myriad thoughts which flitted through my head like so many nightbats. Far from it.

First the blockade, then the possibility of the Vong returning, now this sudden uneasiness that my very gut sensed was slowly creeping into existence regarding my position with Actar and his little Empire. It was enough to make me go back to Quee and beg readmittance into the Guild.

Almost...

“At ease Corporal,” said Kani. “There will be a certain courier craft to arrive in about 13 hours. Notify me on this frequency when the vessel arrives in system and when it is 15 minutes out.”

But as calm as he appeared on the outside, his head was a sea of tormented thoughts that railed like a hurricane against the logic that still stood before him.

If I am right, it probably knows I know. he thought, buffeting against the whirlpool of ideas and random images that he allowed to play within his head. The raging storm of blurred concepts was his own defense, learned from a master long since forgotten. It was the best defense against telepathy, more so than clearing a mind. A clean, pristine head was too easy a place for a mentalist to find information. It was like looking for a chink in a shiny, glistening suit of armor – keep looking systematically and you’ll spot it. But a dirty, cluttered mind, a whirling cesspool of thoughts and random information – that was a bitch.

But just in case it doesn’t know… Have to keep Tarnus safe, long enough to talk to Phal.

Time ticked on, but it not register to Thoran. Somewhere in the minutes preceding his vigil he had cleaned up and donned the attire set before him. He gave the cameras and the listening devices no courtesy either, saying nothing and making little motion. So when an hour had finally passed and the door to his temporary prison had opened, he was able to stand and smile with an earnest sense of security.

At least from this Empire, for the time being.

He was not taken in chains, not visible ones. The presence of the storm troopers was enough display for Thoran, he was not out to cause trouble and hoped that Tarnus would see it. But what he was proposing did sound crazy, and perhaps the Empire itself was safest if Tarnus did not fully believe, at least not yet.

Enough!

Good. He's more than likely not trying to hide anything, not worrying about how he should behave in front of me.

It was amazing, actually, the way a sudden, invisible weight seemed to drift away from me. I hadn't even been aware that there was one, at least not where my "traveling companion" was concerned. But I trusted my hunting instincts, and at the moment they were hollering for all they were worth that Thoran more than likely had something he wanted to say to me. Easy and truthfully clear; no spectres of subterfuge to worry about.

But yet it seemed as if there were ghosts...

I rose halfway to my feet, then settled back as he joined me at the table. Behind him the mess doors closed upon the backs of the departing troopers.

"I trust you are feeling more refreshed; perhaps this might help a bit as well," I began, pouring him a glass of the gleaming, if deadly, ruby red liquor. He seemed to pause but a moment before taking hold of the glass, raising it before his eyes to stare into its mesmerizing depths.

What an appropriate color. It so well matches his skin. I do hope it is not a portent of things that are to come.

A flicker of a somewhat annoyed frown glanced across my face; uttering a tiny grunt, I chased it away with another swallow of my own glass of Walkn'Fall. Then I leaned back in my chair, running a finger along the rim of the glass while I pondered what to say.

What to say? Now, that was truly a quandary!

I wanted to rise up, grasp him by his shoulders, shake him like a rag doll and scream, "Tell me everything you know!" That, however, would not be my best interests, of course, not to mention in the best of those in a higher command level than myself.

Instead I smiled a little before letting my expression grow more serious.

"You rambled on about a lot of strange things, Thoran," I opened at length. "I must admit that some of it is nothing new to me. I, as you might already have discerned, am aware of the power of which you speak; it has been described to me as something called The All.

"But who wields this power--" Other than a certain flamboyantly deadly lady I have come to know and distrust with my entire being "--is something of which I am unaware. As am I to the mysterious 'game players' that you spoke of.

"And as for knowing what you apparently do about the Vong, not to mention white spiders..."

I let that thought trail off into a suggestive silence, saying nothing more but letting the few words I had spoken act upon their own behalf. Thoran wasn't stupid; I'm sure he would figure out exactly what it was I was asking of him.

I raised my glass and smiled, knowing the next moments would determine into which direction the last, tiny motes of doubt I yet harbored toward Thoran would be sent running.

Thoran sat, his face earnest and non-threatened as he took in two deep breaths.

“I will tell you what I know,” he continued. “And what I fear. There are vast mysteries in the universe, of this you must be aware. You have seen in person one of those mysteries when I brought you through the Darker Realms to escape our captivity. That is a realm of existence that parallels our own, like a symbiotic twin. Neither realm can exist with the other. They are like two halves of a coin, one light and one dark.

“Countless ignorant cultures have created their own fabled versions of the Darker Realms, even suggesting a third realm of total light where the ‘good’ souls are taken upon death. The fact is that the races that were granted an immortal soul are indeed bound to return to the darkness, but not for reward or punishment. They simply go back home.”

Thoran paused and bit lightly on his lip. He tried to read Sorben’s reaction but the man was quite good at hiding his thoughts.

“Here is the really difficult part to put into words. I do not fully understand it myself, but I know enough. Galaxies upon galaxies float in the vastness of space. Each is populated with its own races, and each of these in turn are tied to the Darker Realms in their own way. You see, the Darker Realms has galaxies as well, it is just as vast as this universe.

“But there are beings that transcend these realms. I don’t know who they are or why they do what they do, but each galaxy is run – ‘owned’ if you will – by a number of these beings. Caretakers, perhaps? I’m sure some cultures would look to them as gods, and that is really closer to anything else I can offer. Our particular galaxy has caretakers are engaged in an enormous, epic game. Whether it is merely to pass the time or something vital to the way of running things, I don’t know. But each of the players uses the races of our galaxy to play out the moves in this game.

“I can imagine you think I am mad, but here this out as well. The races are given gifts. Think, look around, and you will see it. Those races deemed important to the caretakers – the races with souls – they are given things that can be used in this game. Intelligence, physical abilities, knowledge… they are granted as gifts and expected to be used. Move after move, you will see races come and go, all part of this game – pawns, that’s all we are. But we are content with that because we don’t know that’s what is happening.”

But Thoran was telling the truth, if indeed only as he knew it.

Only as he knew it...

Now, that brought up another interesting little tidbit. I leaned back in my seat, ran an idle finger around the rim of my glass again and continued to stare quietly into his face. I hoped the words I was about to speak wouldn't provoke him into putting up any unnecessary defenses; if what he was saying was indeed the truth, as I felt it to be, we as an entire galaxy of beings were going to have to unite ourselves against...

Against what, Sorben? Something that for all intents and purposes was little less than a god?

I sighed, and set my glass on the table.

"You seem privy to an awful lot of information concerning these Darker Realms, as well as these 'Caretakers,' as you call them," I rejoined since the man was obviously giving pause for me to speak.

"I would like to know just how it is you know so much about all that you've just revealed to me."

Thoran sat back and shook his head.

The word was out of my mouth before I had realized I had said it, so conditioned was I to the slings and arrows of the billions of beings inhabiting the Galaxy. At least generally speaking; for every sentient world we were aware of, I was certain there were dozens yet unfound, yet uncharted. Who in all the known Universe knew how they ran their lives; all I knew was how the populations of those worlds now coming under the auspices of the New Empire ran theirs.

The mandate had been "each to his or her own, but we're the uniting factor" from the beginning. I saw nothing wrong with this -- indeed, if I wished to remain in the position Actar had placed me in I sure as hell better not see anything wrong with it -- but in that seeing had plenty of opportunity to understand the workings of the great diversity of minds that were out there, all for the most part alien to each other.

Yeah, we humans had a foothold on some worlds... but at the moment it was merely that. What we called "the aliens" who managed the affairs of their world, who decided just how they would fit into the Grand Scheme of things in light of all the other worlds out there alien to them, all had different thought processes, different beliefs, different paradigms, just plain and simple differences that they used to identify themselves from the maddening horde.

How the hell would they all be able to unite into a solid whole, when more than likely each one had a very different universal view of what the "correct parameters" of that whole ought to be? Who set the standard?

These... Caretakers?

I shook my head, took a drink, set my glass down carefully upon the tabletop.

"I don't know," I went on, surprising myself with the honesty that I was directing against this Sith who seemed to know more about things than anyone I had ever met.

Even Galen, and that woman got her nose into more nooks and crannies...!

I thrust that thought aside, concentrated on what Thoran was saying.

"All right," I said suddenly, switching rontos in mid-stream.

"Let us assume that what you are saying is the best thing that should be obtained for the welfare of everyone in the Galaxy; hell, for every living thing in the entire damned Universe. Do you have any idea how difficult this is going to be? How the hell is this going to happen? Attempts at getting the attention of different worlds just for starters usually involve some sort of swift but short punitive measures, followed by obvious attempts to let them run their own lives, but lives now altered with the knowledge that there is another player involved in their private little world-life.

"This is exactly what Actar did, and what we are continuing to do! Don't you see that? And unless you have any other great notions about it, this is the only way I can see to continue on, just as Actar mandated. Unfortunately, in the early phases this is something that most beings instinctively react to as being war, or invasion; we need time for them to realize that is not what we're about."

An unsettling feeling suddenly crept over me that this, although being how I was viewing Actar's actions, how I hoped them to truly be, might in actuality not be his battleplan at all. Perhaps he was really out to become another Palpatine... just one who was a bit more sugary, relatively speaking, than the former Real McCoy.

I shook myself mentally, went on.

"Time is something you say we are running short of. So... any suggestions you might have in this arena would not only be taken in the utmost seriousness by me, but indeed would be greatly appreciated."

Most of the bases personnel left much to be desired, it seemed as if this was where the empire sent all its washouts it did not want to deal with elsewhere. The blockade while a step up but many did not have what it took to keep up with her let alone the average Mandalorian. There was one candidate that stood out, a Sergeant who was a former 501st, some of the most elite stormtroopers the empire had to offer. This particular Sergeant had an impressive record as a Designated Marksmen while attached to the 501st, that is until he was injured and lost his non-dominate eye in a botched operation. He refused a prosthetic claiming another could better use the empire’s resources, in response he was reassigned to the blockades commanders Personal Security Detachment. Kani knew she would need him in her team, using her new found authority from the General’s office she wrote up new orders reassigning the Sergeant from his current assignment to her personal staff. Once prepared she opened a channel to the flagship of the blockade and was connected with the blockaded commanders staff.

“Task Force Tatooine this is Major Kanti over,” Said Kani.

“Major Kanti this is Task Force Tatooine go ahead,” answered the voice over the comm..

“By order of General Sorban trooper IC-889 is released from his present duties and reassigned to my command,” continued Kani. “I am transmitting orders to confirm have a shuttle prepped and transport him to the surface within one hour, acknowledge receipt of orders.”

“Acknowledge receipt of orders,” answered the comm. “But the Captain is pissed you are suddenly taking his men.”

As the little TIE fighter Shawn had been given reverted to realspace and the sensors began to alert him to this, Shawn snapped out of his meditation. Although he could not meditate with the Force as his ally, he certainly could still use the techniques he had long been taught to establish the same tranquility and mind state. And for the time being, Shawn felt it was of the utmost importance to do exactly that...

...and to share with any others that might be out there that this was still possible. For whether or not they could feel the Force, Shawn believed it was still out there...

...and he also felt that perhaps learning to live without its connection was key to reestablishing the connection once more.

Stretching slightly, Shawn let his greeny-blue eyes adjust to reality and focus on the TIE fighter's small navboard. The monitor read a small blockade of ships around the planet, which didn't really surprise Shawn. He keyed in a general comm frequency so all could hear him, and hopefully they would help him out. For the moment, Shawn wasn't certain if getting passage to Tatooine was the first logical step, however. He didn't know if there were even any developments regarding the construction of a new Jedi Praxeum...

...and he was certain that it was lacking in teachers and students. This needed to change, and soon.

"Imperial blockade, this is Jedi Shawn Petrolu, requesting regarding the Jedi Praxeum construction. I fear little has been done, and not due any negligance on your part...

...but due to that of the remaining Jedi who are willing to step forward. I have information the Jedi out there need to be made aware of, as well as the galaxy in general. I desperately need to speak with someone in authority...

...and as soon as possible."

...and as soon as possible."

Kani ground her teeth in anger at the very word Jedi.

Jetiise scum, you betrayed your own beliefs and tried to enslave the galaxy. The empire had no choice but to try and stop you, then when my mother tried to convince your remaining forces of your folly you killed her in cold blood and spread your lies how it was Admiral Actar attacked you, and you did nothing wrong, then how my mother was killed by the empire. But I have learned the truth.

Kani wanted to order the blockade commander to blow the ship right out of the sky or better yet capture it so she could kill the Jedi slowly, but she remembered her duty was first and foremost to the empire. She opened a comm link first to the blockade and ordered a squadron to fly out and escort the craft in. Then she opened a link to the craft itself on the same frequency it transmitted on.

“Jedi vessel,” Kani began. “This is Major Kanti, I am sending a squadron to escort your craft in planet side to our space port on Tatooine. I will deliver you message to General Sorban, who will see you whenever he sees fit. Failure to follow our instructions will be considered an act of aggression against the empire.”

Closing the link Kani copied the text of the Jedi's original message to a data pad. Entering the mess Kani walked up to the General’s table which he shared with a being who even she could not identify the species. Ignoring the General’s guest Kani held out the data pad for the General.

“General, an unknown vessel just dropped out of hyperspace outside of our blockade and transmitted the following message. I am having a dispatched a squadron to escort it in, what should I do with him when he lands?”

...then settled on finding out if and when the opportunity arose for him to do so. As a squadron of Imperial fighters--ones which were quite obviously much newer and sleeker than the one he was flying--formed up around him, Shawn set himself to the task of landing as he was guided to atmosphere in the spaceport as Kani had directed. As the TIE figher settled and Shawn began to cool its engines, he retrieved a datapadd containing the images he had taken when he departed Khar Delba. Popping the hatch to the fighter, Shawn departed it rather effortlessly, as though he had been confined in a solitary space for a short amount of time rather than several days (aside from the TIE's hyperdrive being much smaller than a usual ship, its age also meant the drive was far slower than newer models).

Shawn was not surprised that he was greeted with guards who would no doubt lead him where he would be required to wait to speak with the Lt. General. He was somewhat concerned, however, at the way some of them eyed the lightsaber on his belt.

Even after all this time, people still have hesitations regarding the true intentions of the Jedi, Shawn thought sadly. I fear they will view the Sith in much the same manner...

That which some have come to think of as Which Was reared its wonderful one-ness back into the omnipotent non-ness of what it was/wasn't; cradled its quite unique non-ness into the accepting arms of the all-encompassing one-ness and let go a little, virtual smile. It took a look about its non-self, taking in the grandeur of ALL there was, the ALL of which some little portions of it were now being allowed to awaken to the fact that their gradually progressing perceptions of it were on the right track.

There was a time Man thought HE was the center of it all. In response to that silliness time was given; Man then thought his little celestial body was. Then his little stellar; oh, such wonderful beings those stellars. Perhaps one day their language would finally be deciphered by the other pieces at play.

He/she/it shook a figurative head, smiled more smugly at the Progression Of Things, which albeit slow was at least on an accurate track.

One day those little motes awoke to the fact that there was more, oh indeed quite more; their tunneled little view expanded its paradigms and took a leap of faith.

Stellars existed, vast quantities of them in wonderful pin-wheeling units. At first only each individual one was recognized by the motes inhabiting it, but slowly, bit by bit, in a manner yet evolving, each little bit grew cognizant of the fact that there were more, there were hundreds, millions, billions of those units, each in turn encompassing billions of stellar brothers.

That the stellars were the true Life of the Universe was not yet understood by the little motes dwelling in the All-ness; it was enough that they now looked out toward a universe with tiny eyes that were gradually opening in recognition of the fact that perhaps the better term was in fact Universes...

"Hey, unfair move! That's partiality!" The cry from him/her/itself came from behind him/her/itself.

That-Which-Was took up some stuff of what is, coalesed it into the brilliant ultraviolet-and-chrome Eyes of which he/she/it had become quite fond, and cast them behind his/her/itself.

A figurative sigh was heaved.

"We hoped we wouldn't have noticed..." it non-said, then muttered in further rejoinder, "But a fair move had been made."

Nothing back but a snort; he/she/it sighed, and then waved a figurative hand.

The fabric of Stuff which wove together existence of both forms, be it living or non, rippled, gathered into an immensely tiny little bunch, and exploded outward in the virtual equivalent of a Big Bang.

Here and there certain motes began waking up, some in surprise, some with regret, but one by one those certain few began to wake up as if from a deep slumber.

The Other still wasn't satisfied. "We're not just giving it away!" it protested, the non-words loud and born in total effrontery.

That-Which-Was merely snorted.

"Of course not. Balance must be maintained; it must always be maintained. We know that, and some of us still know it at different degrees, at different levels than others.

"We'll see now..."

The Other muttered beneath its non-breath. "We still think you're making up the Rules as you go along! But we'll wait.

...to then come in contact with that which had been silent for quite some time.

Shawn breathed in more deeply, his senses warmed by the connection.

The Force was with him once more.

Thoran took a drink from the glass he had been offered.

“But I’m not trying to criticize the way you do things. It’s your nature. Every race has its own nature, some are subservient and some are not. It’s life. But you don’t need to unify the whole galaxy. I’ll say the same thing to the Sith, because believe me there are forces at work right now inside the Sith worlds that are setting you up to be the next great enemy that needs to be eliminated, the same way you have your own scum stirrers setting up the Sith. Tell me that’s not true!”

Thoran realized his finger was pointing at the General. He looked at it, then flicked his eyes apologetically and resumed his posture.

“But again,” he continued, “we do it because that’s our part in the game. Obviously one of the players is using you, and the other is using the Sith. But once you have set upon your courses of mutual destruction – well, then comes player three with its own special playing piece. The wild card. Yup, the two biggest powers in the galaxy have set upon one another in a spectacle that will entertain the masses for years to come. But wait, someone has played the wild card – the sabec deck is reshuffled and now your winning hand isn’t worth poodoo. Game over for everyone.”

Thoran wrinkled his lips and sighed. He took another sip and stared off at the wall.

“I told you that the Darker Realms was tied to the whole universe,” he said. “It’s like a shadow, but much, much more. It’s like the conjoined twin that shares the bloodstream. Kill one and the other will live, but not for long. They need each other. Did you know that our galaxy is the most direct line to the Darker Realms? It’s like we’re the piece of skin that connects with the twin.”

The one being singled out turned round, revealing the color patch on his otherwise pristine armor. He moved back to the waiting guards, who split themselves like a river channeling around a protruding bar, and allowed him entrance into their midst. Closing, the front and side ranks then whirled, weapons resting easily in their gloved hands, thus ready to spring into instant action should any false move by their "guest" warrant such.

The leader raised a hand briefly, then let it drop. He came to a halt in front of Shawn, there presenting himself as a gleaming white statue. But behind his mask, his optics were busy scanning the man in front, audio and visual sensors ready and waiting to catch what was forthcoming, recording devices likewise flipped on.

*SHHH... click*

"You may, but it would be to your benefit to increase the volume," he replied, making no pretense of his intention to pick up every word that might be spoken, or written on the tiny screen.

He nodded toward Shawn, his shiny black lenses gleaming enigmatically at him.

Other... player? Who the hell was he referring to? Actar--? But that made no sense whatsoever; I hadn't gotten any new directives against the Sith, and he sure as hell had been made aware by now of the situation in the Sith system! Unless my earlier suspicions of being "under watch" by his men was truer than I had thought earlier...?

Still, that made no sense. And the Sith; no one yet was even aware of them being alive, let alone something to consider as potentially hazardous. Why then would that particular shoe be on the other foot; and who would be the rabble rouser raising hell in their secret little circles?

No, it was all too soon, too soon... there had to be something... or someone else.

I let a sniff escape me, my mind now turning to an earlier, nearly accusatory statement Thoran had let slip.

Scum-stirrers?

That which made me, me, reared back in vehement protest.. This was not, after all, what Actar was all about.

Or was it?

My thoughts circled 'round to where they had begun, initiating yet another creepy-crawly, this one which succeeded in raising the hairs on the back of my neck. A tiny drip of sweat rose from my temple, and clung to what hair it could find there.

Sonmehow this was all too... superficial. Even the part about the Vong.

Who were, according to this altogether too enigmatic Sith, returning...?

I shook off the heavy cloud of trepidation that had been trying to settle on me, and flicked the drip of sweat into oblivion. Letting my stare loosen into one more genuine, I took a sip of my drink.

"Let's assume you are correct," I said abruptly, setting my glass back down again. "Let's assume that someone is raising hell against we humans in your worlds, and someone is trying to blow yours to smithereens. Let's even assume that what you say about the Vong is utterly correct as well.

"WHO has the power to play tiddly-winks with us all? WHO are these other players, especially the one moving the Vong? Why would they be doing this thing?

"And---"

Oh ye ghods, but this sounded asinine!

"--how in the name of all the universe can ANYTHING of ours defeat the Darker Realms?!"

The mere mention of that horrid place invoked immediate visions of my brief but hideous time there. In apparent non sequiteur, my thoughts then flashed to Galen, and through her to that flame-headed hellion of a sister that she had. I didn't think even the weird power she wielded would be enough to hold its own against that Dark Hell.

Kyan's message played out, and Shawn pursed his lips thoughtfully.

He didn't remember Kyani having an apprentice...

...but that was of little concern. What was of importance was that he wasn't the only one who felt his contact with the Force return.

But before he replied, Shawn again deferred to the lead guard, wanting to make certain that he made no assumptions and kept within desired boundaries.

"I would greatly appreciate permission to make a quick response," Shawn indicated to him. "I have been in a potentially less-than-favorable location, and lack of response may cause undue alarm. I would like to let him know I am safe but momentarily occupied...

"You do not need to defeat the Darker Realms," he said. "It is not the enemy, it is your twin, your -- shadow. Sure, every now and then someone opens up a portal and one side or the other causes some trouble, but that's the nature of siblings, right? What I'm saying is that you need to protect the Darker Realms."

Thoran scratch absently at his scalp.

"Look, the first thing you need to do is accept that these players are beyond us. They do what they do for their own reasons, on their own level. I've heard of mortals who have transcended this existence and actually made contact -- this is how I know they exist. But their purpose, their game, anything like that -- forget it. It's not them I'm really concerned about. It's this other party -- whether it's another Player, or a conspiracy of powerful beings somewhere below the Players... The fact is, I know there are mortals working against you here, and things in the Darker Realms causing all sorts of instability in our sister galaxy there. And behind it all is some -- thing."

Thoran shook his head, afraid to think anymore of what he feared. Images of a dark shadowed figure towering in the distance flashed in his mind, and raced to put them out. He forced out a rush of air between his lips and looked at Sorben.

"Master Jetiis’ad, I too feel the Force," he confirmed. "I will respond to you at greater length later, but am currently in the middle of something. In the meantime, please let me know if any other major developments occur."

Sending off the message then, Shawn returned his full attentions to the lead guard, waiting patiently.

(((OCC: Cross-posted in Where Will You Go in response to Kyan.)))

Standing in a neutral but ready posture was the escort troops in case the Jedi was to try anything. The Jedi and one other trooper, most likely the team leader, stood next to the lone table in the center of the room. Kani saw the Jedi’s comm link and surmised the trooper was also recoding everything the Jedi was saying, later when she had more time she would review the recording for herself but for now she needed to at least make the Jedi think that the Empire was trying its best to accommodate him. Once the trooper saw her he snapped to attention, Kani gave him a quick hand signal and he moved over to the door assuming his post.

“Pardon the security escort,” said Kani. “But civilians are rarely allowed to roam base freely, I am Major Lyra Kanti Imperial Storm Trooper Corps, Special Operations Officer and acting Executive Officer to Lieutenant General Tarnus.”

I can’t tell if he is a Master, but at the very least he is a Knight. He doesn’t strike me as a Jedi I met before when I was a child, but even during buir’s time as the orders Battle Master she rarely stayed at the academy itself. Choosing instead to train only a few on Mandalore so they could learn fighting against some of the best warrior the galaxy had to offer, and so we could learn from them as well. This Jedi is not one of the few my mother personally trained so his combat skills might be limited to that of an average Jedi, that and he might not remember that my mother had a child. Even so I’ll have to guard my thoughts carefully so he doesn’t make the association that my mother was a Jedi.

My teeth clenched as I swallowed tightly, my hand brushing against something even as I strove to keep absolutely neutral in appearance in front of Thoran. I couldn't help but glance down to see what I'd hit--

Anything, oh blessed distraction, anything to bring sanity back, to bring a little mundanity about instead of the unfathomable we had been discussing in the same off-hannded manner one would discuss an event read about in the "Tatooine Tattler..."

It was a datapad, which had seemingly popped into existence out of thin air. Now I knew someone had brought it in, more than likely my new aide; what disturbed me was how quietly it had been laid down, and how the bearer had vanished in equal silence. My eyes widened a bit.

How much had been overheard?

All this in a flash before reason returned; holding up a hand to Thoran, I picked up the datapad and quickly scanned the words upon it. I looked back up to the Sith, who was waiting there with a terribly concerned sort of expectancy on his face.

I'll admit, for the smallest of moments I had found myself recoiling, snorting in disbelief at his words. But now there was this, the sudden appearance of a Jedi, out of the blue, now when if what Thoran stated was really true couldn't have been a better time for it...

I never could quite cotton up to the concept of coincidence, of serendipity. One made one's own luck, or someone made bad luck for him. It was that simple.

"There's a jedi here," I stated simply, not a bit hesitant to indulge this little bit of information to Thoran.

"Perhaps we should invite him to our little summit meeting here."

With that I punched a button on my wrist-com, summoning a young ensign who materialized into perky attention at my elbow. She stood ramrod straight, eyes ahead as I deleted the message on the datapad and replaced it with another.

Send him to me. General Tarnus.

"Get this to Major Jetiis'ad, on the double," I barked, taking small, momentary comfort in the familiarity of giving orders, and watched as she saluted crisply, took the pad, and fled.

The moment of reality passed. I turned back to Thoran, and dove once more into the Improbable.

"What precisely do you mean by, 'end the game?'" I asked, even though I felt the answer to that rush screaming through my very bones.

"I was speaking with a fellow Jedi Knight in regards to the Force." He paused, knowing this answer was going to sound entirely too vague. So he proceeded by explaining a little further. "We have been having difficulty sensing its energy recently...

Send him to me. General Tarnus.

Either he didn’t trust her with interrogating prisoners or he felt the need to question the Jedi himself, whatever the General’s reason Kani knew it wasn’t her place to argue. With a quick motion of her hand the troopers all moved from their respective positions around the room back into an escort formation around the Jedi.

“It appears the General himself has taken an interest in this matter,” said Kani. “If you would follow me.”

Quickly Kani exited the room leading the escort back the way she had just came to the mess hall. When they arrived outside the doorway Kani stopped and turned around holding out an open hand to the Jedi.

“I will have insist you surrender your lightsaber before you are allowed to see the General.”

And she had a lightsaber? Interesting...

He might not even be a knight, if he so easily gave up his lightsaber. That or I can guard my thoughts better than I thought.

“Follow me,” Kani ordered. Kani nodded to the two guards at the door to the mess who opened the doors for them. She stepped inside with the Jedi in tow while the escort formation waited outside the mess. The pair stopped at the sole occupied table shared by the General and Thoran.

More than likely, however, he had nothing else to say; that everything he could have divulged to me had already left his lips. Which would mean, of course, that he was probably sitting back just waiting to see what I was going to do about things.

A little sigh puffed out my cheeks; I was readying a bit more coherent of a query to Thoran when in waltzed my aide dragging none other than Shawn Petrolu in tow. Now the little sigh became one in earnest, albeit one stemming perhaps from a bit of surprise.

"We meet again, Jedi Petrolu," I said formally, rising halfway from my seat, my two hands planted on the table top. Shawn stood there unwavering, my aide a ramrod at his side, and a second or two of silence ticked by before I realized there were no other chairs at the table where Thoran and I were seated.

I shot a look at Major Jetiis'ad, and quirked my brows.

"Well--?" I said simply, then silenced as she leaped out to find a chair for the jedi. She brought it back and set it at one of the unoccupied sides of our table, then stepped back a bit and took up a stance near to my side, but not so close as to appear hovering.

...all the while deciding how to address the fact that he knew the Sith that had been in apparent conversation with the Lt. General. Thoran had been with Shawn and several others, after all, when Lord Aelvedaar had ported them to Tatooine and Shayla had run off on her own.

And he had later disappeared when he and others had gone after Shayla via a portal to Degobah.

"Thank you for your time, General Tarnus," Shawn opened with. "My apologies for coming so unannounced, but I would like to know how things are progressing with the construction of the Jedi Praxeum. There have been some unusual occurences in regards to the Force, and with many other things."

Shawn paused, pursing his lips. "But perhaps Thoran has told you something of this."

Realms now lorded over by the very Sith who had promised to help me find my missing daughter; realms of noisome and noxious non-life whose Master wished to let loose upon our own, using its strength to destroy the very species I had myself vowed to destroy, until one of them had come to my rescue, plucked me from their dungeons and finally managed to bring me here...

... only to attempt persuading me into protecting said evil realms.

And over it all, there was Someone, or Something Other.

I blinked, drew in a breath, and ignoring Thoran for the time being focused on Petrolu.

"It seems a bit on the superfluous side, don't you think, to come here seeking the status of your Praxeum, when it appeared that your powers had gone kerflooey. How recently did you get them back?"

This was a logical query; it hadn't been all that long ago that Thoran and I had gone through our own personal little mishap. Therefore, if whatever had caused his powers to fail was the same thing that had affected the Jedi, it only stood to reason that their return to strength was indeed recent. Like mere hours ago. It was also more than likely that Petrolu had arrived here prior to their return.

I paused a moment, satisfied with the trend of my logic, and took a small sip of my Walkn'Fall. It was getting dangerously low, and unfortunately, I was still dangerously sober. I waggled the nearly empty glass in Major Jetiis'ad's general direction, then thunked it down on the table.

"My Force senses returned to me a matter of minutes ago," he admitted. "And my main area of concern revolves around my brother-in-law, who blasted off in anger to do who knows what after his wife disappeared and he lost his son. He has no particular love of the Empire, but worse than that he has no love at all for certain others."

Shawn paused, eyeing the still-silent Thoran, his meaning once again clear although unspoken. "He has a wealth of knowledge that could be dangerous if placed in the wrong hands, he blames the Sith for his wife's disappearance and the death of their baby...

...and I am not sure how far he will go for revenge. My concern regarding the Praxeum is simply this: if Erik uses the knowledge he has to rile up Force-users...or anyone for that matter...there could be major problems. After all, he is an information smuggler and I wouldn't doubt he has gone back to Stargazer Corporation. All of this is speculation at this point, of course. But I know him, and he can be hot-tempered and impulsive. I have a bad feeling about this...

...and no pun is intended."

My inner nek back down, hackles settling s bit. However it wasn't so stupid as to completely dismiss what the jedi was saying as being inconsequential. Plenty of disasters had arisen throughout time and space by operating on that principle. So while I allowed myself a sigh of relief, I did so wuth the utmost of caution.

"So this potentially hazardous information your brother-in-law has, tell me Petrolu. What is it?"

I picked up my glass and drained the dregs, then set it down in expectancy of a refill.

...at least not yet."

Shawn paused. Maybe he was making too much out of this. But something deep inside lead him to believe otherwise.

"He's furious with the Sith, and I fear that he will stop at nothing to portray them all as monsters who need to be destroyed to whomever might listen and have enough power to assist him. I know he's just a single individual, and it doesn't seem like he could pose any major threat...

"I don't suppose you'd have any of the particulars regarding these so-called 'hot little details' you mentioned?" I asked. The question was not meant to be flippant; indeed, I needed to determine just where in the Grand Scheme of things this latest little disruption fit. For gods only knew what kind of poo-doo was coming down the cosmic highway; I didn't dare lay too much focus on what at this point was appearing more and more to be a jedi's suppositions, speculations and hunches. And although the jedi were reknown for their suppositions, speculations and hunches, as did any general, I needed more.

“The General requires more Walkn'Fall,” Kani whispered into the comm.

She wasn’t about to fetch more spirits herself, not because she considered it beneth her, but without knowing the General’s combat capibilities she wasn’t about to leave in alone in a room with two Force users, even if they are unarmed. About to remind the guard the General was waiting the door opened to reveal the ensign from before, Kani watched as the ensign crept up to the table poured the drink then leaving the bottle left the room as fast as possible short of sprinting. The sight that ensign must have seen would have scared any administrator such as herself, an Imperial General, a Jedi, an unknown alien, and a heavily armed Twi’lek stormtrooper.

Kani was becoming annoyed at the Jedi’s ever cryptic responses to the General’s questions. She pulled up her comm and had the escort leader transmit the logs of what the Jedi had broadcast earlier. The first line had just come in on her screen and instantly her controlled thoughts drastically changed to murderous intent, one she no longer tired to hide from the Jedi. Within an instant she was next to the Jedi with her hands on her lightsaber.

I ignored that, but glared at my new aide. "Major!" I barked in a tone that brooked no nonsense.

"You... will... STAND DOWN!"

This one was in pain. Terrible, terrible pain...

While Shawn did not understand the language she spoke occasionally, something about the terms seemed endearing.

As though she were referring to a loved one, perhaps family...?

“Yes sir,” answered Kani.

I have what I need, the jetiise knows where Ba’buir is. Ba’buir will not turn like the other jetiise osik, buir use to tell me stories of him. How he lost his powers but even still was a great warrior, one the jetiise traitors will need if continue their plan to enslave us all. Most likely he has already been fed their lies, but with the empires help I can save him.

Whom I wasn't so certain I wanted as an aide any longer. With everything coming down the pike that Thoran spoke of, the last thing I needed to worry about was a loose cannon, much less one volatile enough to explode at what seemed to be the slightest provocation.

I pinned Major Jetiis'ad with a heartfelt glare.

"You are dismissed, and confined to quarters," I finally managed before turning to Petrolu to see if there was anything I could do about his suddenly soggy condition. All the while the thought of his calm reply to the slavering Major niggled disturbingly in the back of my mind. Jedi dispassion or no, that just didn't seem right somehow. I kept a cautionary edge up, waiting to see if there was anything he needed, and called for an escort for the major.

She exited the mess pausing at the door only to give the lead troop the Jedi’s lightsaber and whisper a warning.

“Watch the Jedi,” Kani warned.

Her temporary quarters were not very far from the mess only taking her a minute to reach. Upon her arrival two stormtroopers stopped outside her door to make sure she remained inside, not that they could stop her. Once inside she remained in her armor and opened a connection to the bases comm center having the communication team try and trace the Jedi’s transmission back to it point of origin. One thing kept eating at her, why was her grandfather still alive.

Ba’buir was supposed to be dead; over 25 years ago he left the order to recover his abilities. When I was captured by Actar’s troops they gave me something to help free my mind of what they said the Jedi had done to me and the Mandalorians after my mother died, that the Jedi conditioned me to attack Actar. Then they brought me to the valley of the Jedi and gave me something that for a little while touch the Force like Buir could. She appeared to me her ghost like some Jedi could and told me the truth about everything, Mandalore betraying our people to the Jedi, the Jedi’s turning to the darkside, and how ba’buir was killed by the Jedi after he left because he knew the truth. But how can he still be alive…

The more Kani tried to work it out the more her head started to throb, a side effect of breaking the conditioning the Jedi did to her the imperial doctors said, she reached for a bottle of pills by her rack that she was to take to help combat the migraines, ripping off her helmet she tossed it on the rack and downed two pills helping quell her symptoms. Those same doctors had also warned the Imperials how the process of fixing her conditioning had left her easily agitated and prone to violence, but nevertheless was still would carry out every order given to her.

Perhaps that is why I was made into an assassin, my Mandalorian nature prevents me from becoming completely like the other Imperials. So why now did they thrust me into this position, what is the brass thinking letting someone like me become the aide to a General.

But Thoran now had clammed up tighter then a Toydarian's cashbox.

I shook my head.

One thing at a time, Tarnus! I berated myself as both my questions as to the jedi's welfare and odd looks I was casting toward Thoran both appeared to be ignored.

I didn't like to be ignored, and especially not when the galaxy seemed to be pin-wheeling all topsy-turvy!

Abruptly, I got to my feet. "If you gentlemen would excuse me..." I trailed, waved one hand toward a server and the other toward the two people at the table.

"See to their needs; I'll return shortly. You will please excuse me."

He'd seen this sort of anger before, and in all honesty he'd felt it...

the day he and Shayla found out that their parents were both dead.

Images flashed of another day in time, images he had buried deep down for many years...

...images which took his attention enough that he had not realized Tarnus had directed any comment in his direction until he got up abruptly, excused himself, and departed the mess hall entirely. Allowing the images and thoughts to recede back to where they were safely guarded and shaking himself alert once more, Shawn turned to the lead guard.

"Please, let the General know that I can put the Major in touch with her..."

He paused, trying to remember the terminology she had used. "...Ba'Buir."

“Enter,” replied Kani.

A solitarty stormtrooper from her guards entered her room.

“The General has called for you Major,” said the trooper. “In his office.”

Kani took her helmet and secured it back into place, then followed the hallways to the General’s office. She opened the door to his office and stopped just three feet shy of his desk.

I didn't give a womprat's hiney about how she presented herself before me. It was, after all, a far cry from her behavior mere moments ago. And that was something I couldn't risk ever happening again.

I let my hand drop a bit.

When the General didn’t respond to her answer, and instead looked confused Kani tried to explain further.

“ba’buir... Grandfather,” Kani continued. “My mother, Pr’acyn Jetiis’ad , was a Jedi. Her father was the one who trained her was Jedi Master Kot’racyn Jetiis’ad. He had supposedly died over 20 years ago, when the Jedi attempted to take over the Galaxy they had known they would never been able to turn him and having a Jedi Master and the former Battle Master of the order running around would have been very bad for the even if he can’t use the Force. Somehow he is still alive and now that osik Jedi Petrolu knows where he is, the Jedi already destroyed my family and the Empire helped me avenge them.”

“After I killed Mandalore I had nowhere else to go, the Empire offered me a place to use my Mandalorian training to help its people and someday the Empire might be able to help my own in return. But now my grandfather might still be alive, and Resol’nare demands I save him.”

Said Empire, upon further consideration, struck me as being something along the lines of that overshadowed by Palpatine. Perhaps I wasn't kept quite as tightly in the loop with Actar as I had been before all hell broke loose in the Sith system, but even I had enough indoctrination to the way Actar ran things to know that Major Jetiis'ad appeared to have some of her signals crossed. Tangled into the proverbial can of worms, to be more precise...

...or the purported fact that Jedi were running about killing those they were supposed to protect, and that somewhere, somebody under the also purported auspices of the Empire had helped in the destruction of said Jedi.

Neither seemed realistic to me. Both seemed more like something one can be brought to believe in after someone had tendered not-so-delicate mind controlling techniques on him.

Or her.

Be that as it may, the fact was that Major Jetiis'ad believed that what she had just told me was solid truth. And hell, who knew? For all I did know, it might have been.

There's a bad apple in every bushel, I reminded myself. But that doesn't mean one is forgiven for taking said basket and spilling out the contents willy-nilly.

I continued looking at her, debating carefully how to reply. On one hand, she was a military ramrod. On the other, the cannon one used said ramrod upon, in preparation of an upcoming explosion.

I let the carefully contrived look of faint confusion drop from my face. It had been placed there to make her feel more comfortable, so she would open up to me. Well, the time for comfort was past.

My hand hit the table with a deliberate thunk.

"I don't care what your family history is, nor what your honor claims you follow regarding it! You are an Imperial soldier, Major; your behavior in the middle of a private audience I was engaged in, an audience whose importance to our galaxy you are entirely ignorant of, is nothing short of appalling!"

I drew myself up until I was sitting ramrod straight myself, my eyes boring holes into her own.

"I am waiting to hear why it is you think I should continue your assignment as my personal aide, instead of sending you into imprisonment for, at the very least, military insubordination...

Anyone can become a soldier, simple tools used by politicians blindly following orders adhereing to no moral code. A warrior, a Mandalorian Warrior was not a job or occupation, it was ones way of life.

In a society such as the Empire Kani saw how they would need soldiers, if everyone is not ready or willing to fight when necessary it became a must for some to become soldiers losing free will to be tools of the government. Warriors had their place as well special forces, black ops, assassins… whatever they are called by the Empire. They live their lives on the edge ready to do anything that the Empire cannot publicly admit to preserve their way of life. Often times these warriors are considered unstable because of the constant training and life they lead. Kani was be far one of the most accurate examples, In only a short time she was made a NightWhisper the most deadly of the Empires stormtroopers and by extension the best the Empire had to offer. Those chosen for this most elite unit are considered some of the most unstable, violent, but loyal to the tenants of the Empire. Kani followed the Empire because a stronger Empire meant a stronger Mandalore in the long run.

The most important thing to a Mandalorian was family; Kani had given up on hers before trying to start a new life in the Empire. Now that she knew her grandfather was alive Kani didn’t know what to believe; her mother, Mandalore, the Empire. There was a saying among her people, Ke nu jurkad sha Mando'ade, burc'ya! (don’t mess with Mandalorians), so until she found out who was playing her it was in Kani’s best interest to keep herself in check and work with the Empire.

"But you cannot say that now, can you Major?" I replied smoothly, stressing the rank she carried.

"You have already failed me, by interfering in a negative manner in something I was engaged in. How can I trust that you will not behave in this manner again?"

I paused, tilting my head a little to one side as I considered her. A little ripple of unease floated up and down my back; good ol' Galen would have called it the "geese marching double-time," hurrying to warn her of something when in the thrall of one of her famous hunches. I'd never been one to pay any particular heed to any hunch I might have had here and there; indeed, I preferred to base my actions on as much factual evidence as possible. Admittedly though, said evidence wasn't always readily at hand. In such cases, one had to deal with the hand they were dealt...

...and mine was waving warning red flags all across the board. Fact was, I found myself suddenly and completely distrusting this fiery young aide of mine.

“I can offer no guarantee General,” answered Kani. “I have neither the powers nor the arrogance of the Jedi to make such a claim. If you want your perfect aide that follows every order to the exact letter without room for interpretation or initiative then look elsewhere. I can only say what I intend to do which is not fail you again General, but I will not be confined by a preset way of thinking that hinders my ability to fight. So keep me, imprison me, reassign me…”

Kani took her lightsaber from her belt and set it on the General’s desk.

"There is no need for theatrics, Major," I said as I paused with my apparent twiddling to look her directly in the eye. Fact was the rotating of said lightsaber was a "perusal by touch" sort of thing. I'd never gotten this close to one before; it was a golden opportunity to see what there was about it, externally at least, that made it tick. So far though my questing fingers found nothing much of importance: something I presumed to be an ignition of sorts protruded from its smooth length, and something approaching a hilt separated the handle from the main body of the thing.

I let it lay loosely in my hands.

"Remember, by being assigned to the Empire you shall carry yourself as an Imperial soldier at all times, especially with the rank accorded to you; this means you do not allow yourself the freedom of acting on your own accord unless given the specific order to do so. Or in the event of catastrophe, should that unlikely event occur. I scarcely think my having a quiet discussion with a jedi in our own mess hall would qualify as the latter."

I paused again, tightened my grip on the lightsaber.

"Remember too, that I did not request you as my aide. So your somewhat insouciant words about my searching for someone else to fill your shoes are moot, to say the least.

"I do not believe you shall be needing this any longer. It isn't standard."

With that I opened my desk drawer, tucked the lightsaber carefully inside it. As I closed the drawer it occurred to me that I had yet to discipline this hot-headed young aide.

"You are hereby reduced in rank to Lieutenant, with the pay and freedoms accorded as such. Furthermore, until further notice, you are relieved of your duties as my personal aide. I will have no loose cannons in my company; no matter what wondrous fighting skills you may possess, the inability to follow orders and your altogether too hasty tendency towards the creation of your own simply makes you too dangerous a commodity.

"Dismissed... Lieutenant."

She left the General’s office and was escorted back to her quarters by a team of stormtroopers, confined there until she was reassigned. Kani sat on the floor remembering the meditation techniques her mother had taught her, though she displayed almost no potential for the Force her mother still taught her much of the Jedi ways so she may benefit at some level. It was now she drew on these teachings to focus her thoughts.

Jedi, Imperials, Mandalorians… someone is lying to me, or everyone is lying to me.

Kani knew she was being used, she felt it but who behind it was pulling the strings was hidden from her. What she needed was evidence. Fact her mother was dead, Kani had clearly felt her mother die that was certain. From there she didn’t know what to rely on, even what her mother’s ghost had told her was called into question.

Buir told me Ba’buir was dead killed by the Jetii’se after he left them, but if that would have happened before I was born and why would Buir cover it up until after she had died. Then there is that transmission the Jetii received. Anyone could fake a transmission but how could they know I would be the one to intercept it, and even if they knew to fake a Mandalorian accent how would they know to fake one with a Kuar dialect, Ba’buir’s homeworld.

She is like a coin that is being flipped, I finally decided as the doors whooshed shut in her wake. One can flip and get heads over and over and over... and then suddenly it's tails.

Random. Unadulterated randomness in her bahavior. And that streak combined with the fighting skills I was positive she had within her...

I shook my head, rose to my feet. On the one hand I knew having her with us, with what we potentially had to face, might make her simply too dangerous a commodity. For could we trust her fully now? Who knew when we might have to do exactly that; to which side would the coin flip? Yet on the other I wanted to keep her close, if only to be at the ready if she should go flying off the handle again. Who knew what mischief she could get into on Tatooine... and Fates knew there was enough laying about ready-made to immerse oneself in.

Perhaps this little nek needs to be muzzled a bit...

Pondering this, I left to return to where I'd left my two table companions. They were sitting there in quiet conversation; I couldn't help but raise a brow at the utter aplomb of Jedi Petrolu. For the other wasn't a race one sees come down the pike very often, and I knew very well indeed how lengthy a time period that truly was.

I drew a breath, joined them, debated briefly whether or not I should bring up Kani again.

Perhaps not at this precise moment...

I shot a fast glance at my chrono. Time was getting short; the courier was due to arrive soon. If I was going to make a decision about the erstwhile Major, it had better be quick.

"So gentlemen," I finally said as I settled into my seat, accepting a glass of Walkn'Fall from the server who instantly materialized at my elbow.

"Where did we leave off?"

"Well, we were talking about my brother-in-law and his knowledge of the Sith...

...and how he might use said knowledge to stir up some galactic trouble. You were asking for facts...and quiet honestly the only ones I have at the moment are that I know he knows the coordinates to all of those Sith worlds, has piloted their ships, and has had an up-close-and-personal look at their magicks and techologies. Not to mention that he also knows very well of their other abilities."

Shawn paused then, chewing his lower lip a bit as his thoughts returned to Kani's sudden outburst. He looked at Tarnus. "And if you will allow it, I can put the Major in contact with her Ba'Buir."

Quieting once more, Shawn's eyes defocused again, just for a brief moment as the reference to the others aboard the ship in transit to K'eel Doba triggered a memory. He frowned to himself and his greeny-blue eyes met Sorben's, their alertness returning. "He is on the ship with Terrin Danner, his crew, and some others who believe you are being held captive on one of the Sith worlds."

I kept my expression neutral, instead taking a sip of my Walkn'Fall while I assimilated the unexpected -- but somehow not too surprising -- words this jedi had just divulged.

So the grandfather of my hotheaded ex-aide was associating with Mr. Danner... which of course would bring my other fiery little ex into the picture...

When the ramifications of that realization struck me, I couldn't help blink.

Darra...

No need to connect the dots at this moment; if I knew Galen, I knew that the possibility that she and her newest would more than likely have some kind of idea as to where Darra was, or at the very least would be of assistance in locating her. How convenient that Lt. Jetiis'ad's dear ol' gran'pappy was with her as well.

This was entirely too convenient for me. Turning slightly, I lifted a finger and momentarily a server materialized.

"Send for Lt. Jetiis'ad," I ordered briefly before turning my attention back to the quietly waiting jedi.

"I believe it is time to think of returning to K'eel Doba," I stated abruptly, not bothering to wonder if my knowing the name of the secreted Sith world was a surprise to him or not. Likewise, I didn't bother to divulge my plan of returning en force; after the fiasco of my last visit, I wanted more than enough power at my back... if indeed such existed in the face of these unusual and powerful beings.

Who I knew as well as I knew that mynocks sucked energy couplings were more than likely not completely isolated in their unusual powers. That damned hellcat of a sister of Galen's was, after all, the last face I'd seen before being flung into their equally damned dungeons; well did I remember all the craziness I'd encountered every time we'd crossed paths over the years, whether I was with Galen or not at the time. Well too did I remember her strangely waffling behavior: sugary helpful in some cases, devilishly evil in the others.

The priorities as I saw them were to deal with the incoming Vong, a daunting task which could possibly be made more palatable by bringing the Mandalorians under our galactic umbrella. Now that Lt. Jetiis'ad had learned a few manners, and was already a part of Imperial forces, being able now to connect her with her grandfather could lead to a mighty fine asset: the voluntary assistance of the Mandalorians. For Jetiis'ad was correct: obviously alive and every bit as secreted away as the Sith, they more than likely were associated with our Imperial military by choice alone. They actually were never recruited, at least not to my knowledge! -- and thus were not officially a part of it. Obviously there were an oddball few such as Jetiis'ad who actively joined our military, or who had been actively recruited, but as for the rest?

So much had seemed to happen during my imprisonment; I couldn't help but feel the Galaxy had turned upside down in my absence.

But at least now I was being brought up to snuff, if only by what I had gleaned over the last few hours; from this I knew that before the abovementioned priority could be properly addressed, Galen's hellcat of a sister simply had to go. Treading carefully here with Jetiis'ad, perhaps the Mandalorians could be persuaded to help in that arena as well, before we then turned our collective attention beyond the Galaxy and toward that which apparently was fast approaching...

"But first, Master Jedi, I believe we have every need in the universe to connect Lieutenant Jetiis'ad with her grandfather. I have, as you are aware, requested she be brought here; let's hope my private discussion with her has reminded her of military protocols, and that she will be a bit more civil to you this time.

"You can't possibly imagine how important it is for all of us to simply get along with each other, am I not correct, Thoran?"

I raised my glass in a toast, the smile on my face tinged a bit by that of a rancor's, then cast a glance at my chrono again.

Kani was clearly irritated she was trying to meditate to help center her thoughts when the order came down. She didn’t know if the continual summons and dismissals where coincidental or by design to see if she would snap again. If it was the later Kani would not give the General the satisfaction. Returning to the mess hall Kani approached the table with the General and his guests taking her place standing behind the General and waited for a break in their conversation.

“Lt Kanti reporting as ordered sir,” said Kani.

I'm sure the reprimand stung, I mused to myself. But it was necessary; we'll see how events unfold from here.

I let her come around me before setting down my glass to clear my throat.

"Lt. Jetiis'ad, how good of you to come," I opened, driving the needle a tiny bit further into the fresh wound I'd earlier delivered to see what kind of reaction I'd get. To tell the truth, what her thoughts and feelings were regarding the jedi and the empire and her place in it were secondary to one all-important necessity: as an official part of said empire, how would she from now on conduct herself within it? The fact that she was now standing with military precision directly behind my left shoulder, silent as a rock, told me one thing at least:

She was learning to overcome her emotions, whatever they were at this time. I imagined they were as fiery and angry as before; now turning in my seat, I let a little smile light up my eyes.

I want to put you back in contact with your..."

He hesitated briefly, not wanting to offend by using the Mandalore terminology that Kani used for her relative but at the same time not having another word for him. "...with Jedi Jetti'sad. As stated, he is on a ship with good friends of mine..."

...None of whom are other Jedi...!

"....who found him on a far outer rim world, stranded and alone."

Shawn paused, his eyes defoucusing a bit before snapping alert once more, looking directly into that enigmatic T-visor Kani wore and meeting her hatred dead-on. They softened noticeably.

"I don't know what has happened in your life or who left your Ba'Buir stranded where he was, but I hope I can right those wrongs at least in some way...

"Oh, the General most heartily approves," I said, letting a ghost of a smile light my face for a moment before effectively squelching it. I straightened up a bit, then placed an elbow on the table and leaned Petrolu's way.

As far as I’ve been told by the Imperials he’s suppose to be dead, long before I was even born. For all I know this is a Jedi trick or a test by the General. If it truly is him does he even know about me, I was born almost 15 years after he left, surly to any Mandalorian this would sound like a trap.

She waited until he accepted the comm link back then hit the releases to remove her helmet. Kani knew that to any non-twi’lek or family member she was the spitting image of her mother. Though she didn’t remember seeing the Jedi as a child Kani knew that because her mother was the Battle Master of the Order, Shawn would have had to seen her in his time at the academy. Opening herself to the what limited access she had to the Force Kani dropped all her guards to let Shawn in so he could verify who she was.

Saying nothing, Shawn nodded once to Kani's request, reopening the comm frequency Kyan had used earlier to contact him. He paused a moment then, collecting his thoughts and trying to decide how to best communicate the news that he had found Kyan's lost granddaughter.

"Master Jetiis'ad, this is Jedi Shawn Petrolu. I have been attempting to reconnect with any lingering Jedi and reestablish connections with others, and have in the process come in contact with a young lady by the name of Kar’uni Jetiis’ad. She says she is your granddaughter...

...and I can verify her honesty in the matter via my Force senses and recognition of her resemblance to her mother, who I came in contact with as a teenager in traing at the Jedi Praxeum. She has been lead to believe that you were dead, and would very much like to speak with you."

(((OCC: Message Cross-posted in Where Will You Go? in this same forum.)))

I drew in a little breath and settled a bit more comfortably in my seat, watching as the jedi handed the comm unit back to Lt. Jetiis'ad, and waited to see how she would react. She did, after all, seem to have such a streak of mistrust within her; would she accept this disembodied voice as the grandfather she had apparently thought dead? If indeed he really was her grandfather.

Aye, and therein lay the rub...

Kani had a million things she wanted to say, a million things she wanted to ask. Questions about how Kyan was still alive, or if the man on the other end was really her grandfather at all. She felt all eyes on her as she accepted the comm link from Shawn, especially from Thoran who at her mention of being the daughter of a Jedi Master seemed to peak his interests. Out of the corner of her eye she could see the satisfaction from the General at how this entire situation put her on edge, she reminded herself that everything she said was going to be recorded and analyzed for later. What could she say, silently she pulled the comm link to her mouth and depressed the transmit button.

“Ba’buir,” stammered Kani.

She had to pause to remember what her mother had taught her long ago for in case Kyan or anyone else from their clan ever returned or needed help, it didn’t take her long to remember the pass-phrase drilled into her head from the age of two.

“Skirata Aliit ori'shya tal'din,” said Kani.
(((OCC: Message Cross-posted in Where Will You Go? in this same forum.)))

“ Gar taldin ni jaonyc; gar sa buir, ori'wadaas'la.”

(((OOC:The following message Kyan is speaking in Concordian)))

“Die proud ba’buir’ika,” answered Kani.

She took the comm link and held it out to Tarnus.

I didn't say a word but merely studied her for a long moment, my hand palm up to accept the comm, hers outstretched yet holding on to it. For a second that seemed to stretch into oblivion we remained as such, my eyes drilling holes into the enigmatic lens of her Mandalorian helm, even as the eyes of others had likewise stared into that of my own, time after countless time.

Then the strange moment was broken as the tiny comm unit fell lightly into my hand. I gave her another appraising look, and then raised it to my lips.

"This is Lt. General Tarnus," I said succinctly and fell silent, letting the strange inner chill building against what I just knew was somehow changing the Twi'lek be squelched before it grew any larger, still boring holes into the T-shaped lens behind which I knew lay a pair of eyes filled with sudden fortitude and determination.

Giving her just an iota of an approving nod, I turned my attention fully to the comm unit, waiting for a reply to come through.

"Your words intrique me, Master Jedi Jetii-- that is, Kyan," I said simply, now leaning back against my seat. The rich leather creaked comfortingly against my weight, welcoming me; suddenly irritated that it wasn't my greatly-longed-for Mandalorian armor I drew in a breath and continued, my eyes never leaving the lieutenant's form, watching her for any reactions as closely as a sandcat watches its prey.

She remained perfectly still, like the proverbial womprat, which I suddenly found in and of itself the most irritating thing of all.

Misaligned apprehensions, General--?

The sly words came from nowhere, everywhere; with a little start I realized they had come from somewhere within me. I tightened my casual grip on the edges of my desk, and went on, suddenly careful.

Hadn't he said something about... something personal?

"Perhaps you might wish to divulge just a tad bit of what this information you hold actually is, Kyan. A mere announcement of such, as stated, is vague at the very least, and is certainly not enough in and of itself to have me running to your beck and call.

"Even if your --"

What was the word that I thought I'd heard him say in that garble of Mandalorian that had passed between them? Something similar to the word she had first called him, ba-boor or something, the jedi had used the term as well; perhaps that meant Granddaddy...

"Boor--?? is here, not to mention being a full lieutenant in our Imperial troops. Undoubtedly the two of you wish heartily to be reunited."

I paused but a hair's breadth longer.

"I can make this happen."

"Yeah, that's him!

"Yes, I recognize your voice. I assumed you would be there with, let's see, it's Terrin, isn't it?

"How wonderful; perhaps we can all get together for a little joint family reunion; however, now is not the time.

I closed my eyes briefly, allowing the play of images across my lids, images of a younger, naively inexperienced me holding a squirming furry critter superimposed suddenly by the arrival of a much larger and thoroughly enraged furry critter, then blanked out by the familiar T-shaped lens of what later became my own helm...

I drew in a quiet breath, opened my eyes. Sat up a bit straighter, gave the mono-form provided me a little yank to straighten an imaginary wrinkle. All was very well and good, but now was not the time to traipse down memory lane. And while I yearned for my armor, really did ache inside for it, while another part of me pricked up very interested ears at the thought of a brand-spankin' new set...

I had my duties to adhere to now, didn't I? I could no longer afford the luxury of being as self-indulgent as I had been in my care-free Hunter days.

The vast military array of Imperial troops and weaponry and ships was my armor now.

I blinked, shot Lt. Jetiis'ad a fast glance, then replied.

"Your offer is most generous, Kyan. However, at this time I'm afraid my staff and I are involved in other issues, and cannot be side-tracked by your hints of information the Empire might find use for.

"While I appreciate your offer of mediating between us and your clans, I will not take it on your word alone at this time. For although my young lieutenant here appears to know you, I myself do not."

I paused another moment, gathering up closing words.

"Please feel free to approach my office on the Galactic Home World of Coruscant; I will personally vouch for you and allow you and your... associates entry there.

"General Tarnus, out."

With that I flipped the comm-link closed, and settled into my seat again.

"My courier is due to arrive soon, Lt. Considering the circumstances, and the probability that your ba'- your grandfather will more than likely be seeking you on Coruscant, it appears you will be accompanying me after all.

"Go ready your gear, and meet me in the docking area. Gentlemen--" I gave my attention now to the others. "It is time for you to ready yourselves as well; Jedi, if you wish to travel with us you will be under Imperial protection. But there is most assuredly business to attend to on Coruscant."

With that I rose to my feet, nodded somewhat brusquely to all, and left with the intention of returning to the control room, there to determine the whereabouts and ETA of my courier. Before I left their company, though, I paused a moment at the mess hall door long enough to direct the following over my shoulder:

"I trust you are still coming, Thoran?"

Then, protocol be damned, I opened the door myself and departed.

Under Imperial guard, just because he was a Jedi. Seems rather familiar...

...as in the days of the Old Republic.

Despite his otherwise calm outer aura, Shawn sighed at these thoughts.

Some things never change despite how a group proves or disproves themselves. As will it be with the Sith unless people can get past their formerly held beliefs.

That thought alone settled Shawn's mind in regards to whether he should go or stay behind and move on elsewhere. Jedi were yet few in number, or even less than that. The ones who needed to hear and see the truth were right here...

...and in the galaxy as a whole.

Pushing these thoughts aside then, Shawn turned to the obstinately silent Thoran, who he didn't believe he'd encountered since he had disappeared on Degobah seemingly months ago. Shawn really wasn't sure if it had even been that long...

...but in the end, this really didn't matter. What did matter was what Thoran was up to at the moment. Or not up to, as it seemed.

Kani knew she couldn’t trust the Empire, but she also knew she couldn’t trust the Jedi, at least they could still be responsible for her mother’s death, but given the option of who she could better manipulate to serve her needs she would have to side with the Jedi for the moment. She signaled the stormtrooper who carried Shawn’s lightsaber to come to her. Taking the lightsaber she handed it out to Shawn and lowered her mental shields.

“Your lightsaber Jedi,” said Kani. “I trust you won’t carve any holes in the shuttle while we are mid flight.”

Mentally she also reached out to the Shawn, she knew the limits of her abilities and how only those who were very close could exchange thoughts but she was hopping when she tried to send him a message through the Force.

But really, that only scratched the surface.

Shawn cocked his head slightly, and accepted his lightsaber from Kani, replacing it on his weapons belt.

"Of course not," Shawn replied to what she had spoken aloud. "I'd like to make it to Coruscant in one piece too, after all."

He fell silent then, responding mentally to her unvoiced plea for help...

...truthfully taken a bit back by it. He knew he needed to tread carefully.

“Follow me she landing pad is this way,” said Kani.

She started walking down the corridor with Shawn and Thoran following in her wake with a small escort of stormtroopers. As they walked Kani tried to explain through the Force what she knew, what both the Mandalorians and the Empire told her about her mother’s death, her mother’s supposed after death confession as a Force ghost, and how she thought her grandfather was dead.

Someone has been manipulating me and for the last three years I thought the Jedi had done this to me, but my Ba’buir still being alive changes everything. I can’t trust anyone, but I know that if you are truly a Jedi like my Buir was I can trust you. I need to find my Ba’buir without the Empire using me as a hostage to control him. I know too much that they will never simply let me go. So will you help me.

They had arrived at the outskirts of the landing pad and had only a few minutes until the shuttle touched down. If Shawn was going to help her it the only two chances they would have before they would be stuck on Coruscant was either now or to hijack the shuttle en transit.

“It will only be a few minutes before the shuttle touches down,” Kani said to the group.

Shaking my head a little to myself at this muse I headed toward the small group that was waiting near the gangway of the courier. As I approached it resolved into the forms of Thoran, Lt. Jetiis'ad, and Shawn. I strode up to them and took a pose, hands on my hips.

"There she is; you may board, Lieutenant."

Assured the young officer would follow orders, I then turned to the silent jedi. Smiling, I put a hand palm-up to one side, then let it fist save for one pointing finger.

"There's your ship, Jedi Petrolu," I said, giving the man a small dip of my head.

"As I stated earlier, should you decide to accompany us, you will be under Imperial protection. We are rather far out in the Outer Rim, you know; pirates do haunt these spacelanes."

With that I spoke a curt order into my comm-link, thus assuring that we would be attended by a small squadron of fighters, should there be any reason to use them. Better safe than sorry, I've always said.

Then with a curt nod I turned and boarded the courier, proceeding to the front of the vessel to watch as the pilot begin his departure routines.

She was so much more dear to him than she ever realized. She never seemed to grawsp that choices he had to make, while seemingly uncaring on the surface, were some of the hardest for him to make. Faced with helping a single person find his or her way...

...even his own sister...

...or staying and helping out with matters concerning a great many...

...the needs of the many had to outweigh the needs of the few.

Shawn's eyes snapped alert as Tarnus approached.

Now is not the time to run, he thought to Kani, whom he was certain would not understand. I will not allow you to be used as a bargaining chip...

...but I cannot dismiss the need to help prepare others for what could most certainly be a deadly threat to us all. At least, not yet.

Your grandfather knows where you are, who you are with, and that you are safe. Reunion will come in time.

"I will be following to Coruscant," Shawn then said, turning to one of the stormtroopers with a polite nod, then turning and heading for his ship...

...pausing for a moment then to turn to Thoran, who was still standing behind.

"So are you coming too, Thoran, or are you going to just stay behind and hope you can just blend in?"

Thenk withut waiting for an answer, Shawn began heading towards the ship again, assuming that if Thoran was coming, he would take the hint and do so before he was left standing alone on the tarmac.

He glanced over to Shawn as the Jedi boarded his ship. Then he looked over at the sleek shuttle that Tarnus had entered. Again he shot a look towards the Jedi’s ship, then back to the courier. He took a few steps towards it and called up into the still open hatch.

“General!” he said. “I assume that if we were ambushed by some unforeseen ruffians, this is the ship that would be best protected. But as the Jedi is going your way, and I am anxious to catch up on some conversation with him almost as much as I am eager to continue our own discussions, I wonder if you would mind me riding with him? If you prefer otherwise, that is no problem, of course!”

Fine Jedi we play it your way.

In anger she closed herself off from Shawn and raised her mental shields again. On this flight she couldn’t afford to be distracted, and what she got from Shawn left her even angrier than before.

The needs of the many… that was another way of saying it was for the greater good. Buir would have never taken anyone like him as her apprentice. The greater good was what the dark Jedi who killed Ba’buir’s wife and daughter said he was doing, that’s how he justified killing 7 Jedi and two civilians. All in the hope of turning Ba’buir to the darkside. So they could reshape the galaxy into the greater good.

I wasn't so foolish as to actually believe that, however; now forcing away the slight quirk that wanted to come to my lips I stopped in the yet open hatch. One hand on the frame, I cast a look down upon the enigmatic Sith.

A frown now tugged at my brows and my lips. This would have been a most opportune time to continue where we'd left off. I was yet extremely interested in his hints about these purported Gameplayers, how he was so assured of his facts involving the Darker Realms and a possible connection to the aforementioned Gameplayers...

Not to mention white spiders. He'd mentioned something earlier about white spiders. Now under normal circumstances a spider of any color was nothing but an arachnid to either avoid or squish under one's boot. But for some reason his mention of the ones on Tatooine had sent ripples of unease coursing up and down my back.

I would dearly have loved to discuss this further, and almost called down for him to please accompany us. However, while at first it struck me with equal unease the fact that he wished to travel with the Jedi, perhaps it was his intention to present him with that which he had provided me. Perhaps he saw this as an opportune time to pull the Jedi away from their self-proclaimed positions as being "above the law," and into the embrace of a new one. One in which personal issues were set aside, and everyone joined forces together against a much more dangerous, if unknown, common foe.

Even though I still felt this to be an impossibility, an event of the most extreme Pollyanna-ish idealism ever to try to seek fruition.

But one never knew.

"Very well, Thoran," I agreed, giving him a nod of my head.

"Travel with Petrolu; I will see you on Coruscant."

With that I returned to my position next to the pilot, and continued my earlier perusal of his departure routines. In no time at all, it seemed, a metallic "thunk" alerted me to the fact that the hatch had closed, and an ensuing if somewhat boisterous hisss informed me we were fully pressurized.

After a few seconds, I knew we were off-planet, and on our way.

...and froze, his usual Jedi aplomb melting in a brief moment of apparent humanness as he finally got a good look at the ship he had arrived in:

Or rather, the TIE fighter he had arrived in.

He'd been so caught up in all that was going on that he had simply forgotten about it, hadn't even thought of it in the least...

...and he had no idea in hell how both he and Thoran were going to share the space of the TIE's cockpit for the rather long trip from Tatooine to Coruscant.

"Kriffing hell," Shawn muttered, turning to Thoran. "I was so busy considering all that was going on that I'd somehow forgotten I was not in a ship but instead had arrived here in a fighter."

He paused, scowling a bit...

...then his look lightening a bit as a small squad of stormtroopers arrived nearby, awaiting their move. Shawn turned to the one who appared to be in the lead.

"Since I was not planning for Thoran to accompany me, I am wondering if arrangements can be made for us to travel in something a bit larger than the TIE fighter I arrived in since we will be doing so under Imperial protection anyway?"

*Shhh-tllk* "I shall seek orders regarding your predicament, sir."

With that he toggled a switch within his helm, contacting the Major now once more in charge of the outpost on this dusty, desert world. Silence reigned a moment longer; then he gave his head a slight tug and turned his attention back to Shawn once again.

"The Lt. General is being notified of this situation, sir," he said tacitly. "You are to remain where you are for the time being."

The stormtroopers' weapons were not raised but neither were they placed at rest. Nobody moved, or made any indication of doing so in the immediate future. Thus the little rectangle remained where it was, standing on the dusty landing area, while the rest of the Imperials in the vicinity went about their various and sundry duties.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
From the command post:

The Ensign who had passed the message along to the Major remained silent, his eyes pinned on his commander as he waited for his next order to fall from the man's lips. He didn't have to wait for long.

"Contact the General's courier, and inform him of this rather distasteful development." The man couldn't help but sneer a bit as he spoke. His world, after all, was the spit and polish one of the military. His was where order corralled chaos, where routine drill more often than not dictated the outcome of unexpected developments. This, however, was an unexpected development out of the scope of any drill he had experienced; while his gut was screaming at him to toss the jedi and the strange red-skinned being into the brig and have done with them, logic reminded him that the last to be with the pair indeed was the General himself. He was aware that the pair were part of the small group that had just departed Tatooine, and for reasons that seemed altogether too suspicious to him had remained blatantly behind.

Who in all the Galaxy can forget his own ship, after all?

Silent he remained, however, while the Ensign sent out the highly encrypted message to the courier that had fled with its precious cargo on a course back to Coruscant:

"Tatooine Base to courier. Two individuals in your party remain on planet, stating they require a larger ship to depart. They are being detained until we receive your orders. Tatooine Base, out."

((OOC: The encrypted message goes to Sorben Tarnus on his courier in Back Into the Fire in the "Empire/New Republic" forums, thank you.))

"Provide them with what they need, and send them on their way. I shall look for their arrival on Coruscant.

The smallest vessel availabe on-planet that would hold more than a solitary individual, not to mention have the capability of spaceflight, was an old but heavily modified YT-2400 it was said Jabba the Hutt himself had owned and maintained. The fact that he had modified it to the specifications of the equally old (as well as reknowned) ship Outrider, operated by the smuggler Dash Rendar, made it even more distasteful to the Major to simply hand it over freely. Military grade ion engines, power generators and weapon systems including double laser cannons and two forward-firing concussion missles, were not something the Major would himself give to those under as great a suspicion as he held both Shawn and Thoran.

But orders were orders.

"Allow them access to Spice Eater," he commanded before turning away entirely, by his action alone mentally washing his hands of what he deemed to be an entirely mis-managed affair.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

On the tarmac:

The squad leader blinked in surprise, but otherwise made no comment or gesture to indicate it. He was a soldier after all, and soldiers follow orders, no matter what they thought of them. Period.

*Shh-tllk* "Acknowledged, sir."

With that he waved an order to his men, who then turned as one and proceeded to follow his lead. With no further ado they were before the old, but still operable, Spice-Eater. He raised his hand then, halting his men, and waited while Operations remotely opened the hatch of the venerable YT-2400.

*Shh-tllk* "Here is your ship; you may board and follow standard departure routines."

He then waved another order to his squad, who segued from their rectanglular formation into a line, weapons now held at a brisk parade rest.

And he couldn't help but noting to himself that the ship they were being provided, while an older model than some, would most certainly have passed the test his sister would have given it. But then, Shawn wasted litle time on such musings, feeling that this was not the time or the place. So he turned to the lead guard with a brief nod. "Thank you, sir," he said simply, turning as the hatch opened and heading for the cabin of the ship, prepping her for take-off and following procedures for departure in a standard manner even as Thoran joined him. He knew that, even as he made the final arrangements to depart, the Imperials were following orders via Sorben to follow them out.

And Shawn realized, for perhaps the first time, that this didn't truly bother him in the least. Reaching out to the communit of the ship then, Shawn transmitted notification that he was ready for take-off, accessed his departure vector, and then simply took to the skies, an escort no doubt following closely on his heels if not already ahead of him.

In a few more standard minutes, though he was not quite the pilot his sister was, Shawn had successfully pulled up and programmed in coordinates for Coruscant and taken the Spice Eater smoothly into hyperspace.

(((OCC: Follow Shawn and Thoran to Back Into the Fire in the Empire/New Republic forums, thank you.)))