Alexis went to the table and took a bite of the food. the turned back to Dash.

I stood up and walked toward her. I took her hands into mine. I leaned in slowly closing my eyes...

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

My lip trembled a bit as I headed to the bed and sat down upon the edge of it. It gave just the right amount, uttering the slightest of creaks beneath my weight. Somewhere deep inside myself I was actually surprised that so little noise was prompted; certainly the weight in my heart was enough to send the springs groaning in protest.

Grunting, I let myself flop backwards, and ran a hand through my hair.

Helmet hair... I always managed to get helmet hair, and how I hated it.... The image came wafting in from so long ago, so very, very far away. That unbidden thought was immediately followed by another, one of Terrin dressed incongruously in Sith robes, scowling in annoyance and embarrassment. And straightaway on the heels of that, the quiet image of the unconscious Loban, his electric blue eyes forever stilled.

I sat up abruptly and put my face in my hands. My teeth gritted so hard with the effort to keep those tears at bay that they squeaked; for a few moments I remained sitting on the edge of the bed, letting images of faces and places run willy-nilly through my head, shuddering to see that, with the exception of one sole individual, anyone I cared about seemed to end up in death... or worse.

Now I lifted my head and stared with unseeing eyes ahead of me, straight into those hideously laughing memories.

No more. This would not happen again; I would not risk the lives of others, not for me, not for me or even for Darra.

If I couldn't get her by myself, then... well, I'd cross that bridge when I came to it.

My mind was set. It seemed a great weight had lifted from my shoulders as I got to my feet, nodding to myself.

Three years ago I was on my own, searching for a certain One... well. Here we go again.

Then before I could let logic begin to lift its head in argument I donned my Sith flightsuit and belt, grabbed a couple blasters for backup, and without another backward look left Terrin's ... and mine! ...quarters and headed for the hangar bay. There wasn't really anyone of account in charge at this odd hour of the night; it didn't take me long to bully the young officer in charge into letting me enter Eagle and fire her up.

The hanger bay doors then opened, revealing the secretive stars without. With no further ado I headed out, determined to find my daughter on my own, or...

I shuddered again, letting that thought die a-borning, and arrowed off into hyperspace where I had always felt so free and able to think. I had a feeling I needed both characteristics in top-notch capability if I was going to succeed with what I was setting out to do.

That is, as soon as I figured out exactly what that was....

[ 05-22-2003 03:30 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Galen ]

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"That was sudden." She said. "Maybe I shouldn't have done that."

Quilky rising from her chair she went to the bed and took a couple of deep breaths and thought.

What am I saying? He is so cute, but the question is do I really want to start a relationship right now, even though he is leaving? She thought.

Then quikly turning around she put her hands on Dash's face and pulled him to a deep kiss.

I guess so. She thought.

I pulled back from the embrace and warm gentle kiss. "I'm sorry." I stammered. "I have to go." I turned abruptly and walked out the door. I didn't get very far though. I stopped a few feet down the hall.
You're blowing this Dash. Where are you going? You like her don't you? The questions kept running through my head.

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

"Dash, you're probably thinking the same thing I am, Will we ever see each other again? But trust your heart and your feelings and they will give you the answer." She said.

She kissed him on the lips and then slowly went back to her door and looked at him one more time before entering. She didn't shut the door though, she knew he would be back, so she just sat on the bed and waited.

With a fresh resolve I strode back into Alexis's room. She started to speak, but was soon quieted as my lips touched hers once more. The door closed of it's own accord behind us.

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

Just who was calling this time of night?!

"This is Captain Barnes," he spoke into the comm after finally finding it and turning the thing on. "I hope this is important..."

The voice of a disturbingly antsy young officer drifted across the comm. "Ummm, sir, this is Hanger Bay Security. It seems the Eagle has been taken..."

Aaron sat up, his eyes suddenly wide. "Say again?" he queried to the officer.

"The Eagle...

...it's been taken."

Aaron's frown became a touch darker. "Taken by who?"

"Well, the officer in the hanger bay at that time is relatively new, and didn't recognize her. But from the description of a short lady with red hair..."

"Damn," Aaron said quietly but with not just a bit of concern as he just knew who it had to be.

"Sir...?" the security officer queried.

"I'll take it from here," Aaron said, keeping calm so as not to worry the officer. "Thank you for letting me know about this, and keep an eye out should the Eagle return."

"Copy, sir. Hanger Bay Security out."

No sooner did that frequency snap to a close when Aaron dialed another. No answer...

Aaron gritted his teeth. "Dammit, Jasyn Lancaster, pick up..."

A few more tries, no answer. Aaron was about ready to go to his quarters and bang the door down when finally Jasyn picked up.

"This better be good," he growled over the line, his voice still clearly drowsy.

"Oh, I'm afraid it's anything but good," Aaron started, "Galen's taken the Eagle and gone..."

[ 05-22-2003 08:26 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Aaron Barnes ]

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"Do we?" Aaron questioned hesitantly. "Maybe she's gotten an idea since we talked about the Sith fighter."

Jasyn pursed his lips a bit. "Maybe. But those sith-ships work like magic. If someone wanted to get through that Coruscant blockade alive...

"A sith fighter would undoubtedly be the way to do it."

Jasyn paused, thoughtful once more as something struck him. "Although...

"There may be a way to verify. Do we still have that tracking system?"

Aaron was quiet a moment. "Yes, we do," he replied. "But she's gotta establish orbit or land before we can find her. Unless she's in realspace..."

"...we have no signal," Jasyn said, completing Aaron's thoughts. "But we have ourselves a friendly host of Jedi..."

"They're on Red level, rooms R551, 553, and 555. Go see what they can do," Aaron stated. "And I'll see if we have any signal for the Eagle. Barnes out, for now."

Jasyn wasted no time as the frequency between he and Aaron fizzled. Quick on his feet, he was down the corridor and to the turbolift in a matter of a minute or so. In just another few minutes, he found himself on Red level, banging on a door to the room now occupied by Dash and Alexis.

"Come out, kriffing Jedi!" he growled under his breath when there wasn't an immediate answer. A few more seconds of no answer, and Jasyn had had enough.

He tried the door release, and it slid obligingly open, revealing Dash and Alexis in the middle of well...

...something. But Jasyn wasn't bashful in the least; at the moment, he really didn't care. He just locked eyes with a suprised Dash. "Well, Jedi, looks like the mission has been moved up. Galen's gone off on her own, and I hope like hell you can use those wonderful Force senses of yours to track her, cause we've gotta find her before she gets into trouble on her own..."

[ 05-22-2003 08:47 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Jasyn Lancaster ]

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I looked to Alexis. "I have to go. You'll be safe here. And I'll come back! I promise." I kissed her one more time and got dressed.

I stumbled into the hallway glowing with delight. Grinning stupidly from ear to ear.

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

"I love you."

I was off down the hall in search of Jasyn and Jebbua.

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

... that set Jasyn off. Scowling blackly even as Dash departed so nonchalantly to "get his gear," Jasyn whirled on his heel, headed down the corridor, stepping in front of the romance-stricken Dash. The sappy look on the guy's face was about all Jasyn could take. Before he was consciously aware what he was doing, he gave Dash a good right hook, sending him flailing into the bulkhead.

"Seeing as you don't seem to care too much about the fact that Galen is running off on her own to a Sith-inhabited world...

...I think I'll deal with this on my own. Like I need a damned Jedi to help me anyway."

Jasyn paused, his look never shifting. "If you want a shuttle, you'd best let the Captain know. I am outta here; I've got a friend who is heading for trouble, and I'm not waiting around while she gets into it."

With that, Jasyn whirled, not giving Dash so much as a second to reply before he was onto the turbolift and on his way to the hanger bay. As the turbolift descended, Jasyn opened a comm frequency. "Aaron, it's Jasyn. I don't think our Jedi friends are gonna be of any help; I need your permission to take the Raptor and do some searching on my own."

Aaron hesitated a moment, then. "Allright. But no way are you going on your own; Matt will be joining you in the hanger bay. I'd go myself, but you guys have the experience, and someone will need to hold down the fort here. Be careful, and keep in touch."

"Will do, and tell Matt to get a move on. Lancaster out."

[ 05-22-2003 09:31 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Jasyn Lancaster ]

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Using my Force enhanced speed, I pushed myself off of the wall and ran to the turbolift. Too late. The doors had already closed.Mr. Lancaster, I sent a mental message as I ran to Jebbua's room, hold on a second. Don't you dare leave me behind. I'll be in the hangar bay shortly. I have to collect Jebbua. if you can spare a few more seconds.

Let's go I yelled at Jebbua's door. We need to leave right now! Meet me in the main hangar. I gotta catch up with Jasyn."

I was off running to the main hangar. I just hope Jasyn waits for me!

[ 05-22-2003 09:45 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Dash Kelderon ]

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Whats going on? I thought.

I quikly dressed and ran out the door to the nearest Turbo lift and got in and wondered what was going on

Dash, Whats going on, What happened? I sent him a mental thought.

I have a bad feeling about this I thought to myself.

[ 05-22-2003 09:47 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Jebbua Dahutt ]

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...in his head.

Don't you dare leave me behind...

Jasyn's scowl darkened, and he began skulking for the Raptor as a pair of hurried footsteps came from behind him. Jasyn glanced to the side for but a moment to see Matt join him, then turned his eyes forward again as he headed onward to the Raptor.

As he lowered the hatch and stepped inside, he muttered irritably to himself. "I have got to get my own ship..."

Then he headed for the cabin and quickly warmed the systems. Matt sat in the copilot's seat beside him. "You're piloting?" he queried, trying to lighten the situation, if only a little.

"Sure as kriffing hell I am..." he replied, satisfied then that the ship was warmed up enough to go to space. He requested clearance, got it fairly quickly, and blasted off to the skies. When he'd cleared the Hornett's gravity well, Jasyn punched in some coordinates into the navcomputer...

...coordinates that were beginning to become extremely familiar.

He turned just enough to eye Matt across the way. "Well," he said then, reaching for the hyperspace lever. "Here we go again..."

In moments, they had faded into the security of hyperspace...

[ 05-22-2003 09:59 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Jasyn Lancaster ]

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I went over to the flight officer on duty. "I need a ship and clearance now. I have to catch up to Jasyn. And we are in a really big hurry. So comm your supervisor and have him comm Captain Barnes. Tell him that Dash and Jebbua need to borrow a ship. And hurry it up."

Just as I finished giving orders to the deck officer, Jebbua ran into the hangar.

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

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

After several minutes of lost confusion, she finally remembered her way back to his office. She stood in front of the door for a moment, wondering if it would be an appropriate time to knock.

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A threat, from a Jedi? Now, what was wrong with this picture...?

"You okay?" Matt asked across the way.

Jasyn shook his head. "No, we need to make a quick communication before we go any further. Something about our Jedi pal Dash doesn't seem entirely Jedi-like."

With that, Jasyn reached for the hyperspace lever, momentarily reverting. Then he dialed a secure frequency straight to Aaron's comm.

"Just a warning, Captain," he said. "I've received a ahhh...

...mental threat from our buddy Dash Kelderon. My leaving without him apparently set him off a little more than is appropriate for a typical Jedi; I'd suggest you get some security to the Hanger bay, where he is headed if not there already. Watch your back. Lancaster out."

Then, with nothing further, Jasyn reached for the hyperspace controls, pulled the lever, and they were off into hyperspace once more...

(((OCC: Follow Jasyn and Matt to Point of No Return in the Jedi Praxeum and Sith Temple forum.)))

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What now...?

Sighing a bit then, thoroughly worried and thoroughly apprehensive Aaron pushed the accept button, and Jasyn's message came wafting into his ears.

Aaron's frown darkened a touch more.

Well, isn't this just dandy? You call a guy an ally and a few hours later he becomes a foe...

Aaron turned to a communications officer. "I want two full squads of security in the main hangar bay, immediately."

"I'm on it, Captain," came the instantaneous response, as the comm officer went right to work.

"And have them report everything that happens," Aaron added.

The comm officer merely saluted, too focused on his work to reply verbally at the moment. After a few moments, he looked up. "Order sent and received, sir. They are enroute..."

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

...a very experienced deck officer at that...

...merely rose an eyebrow at Dash for the longest moment, assessing him as he did so. At length he finally spoke, his voice even and utterly unimpressed. "And you are...?"

And that was all the officer said. For he knew that all of the ships in the hangar bay were locked up, so this fella wasn't getting anywhere...

...especially not with threats.

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

"Dash, if we get kicked of the ship it is all your fault. One of these days you'll learn to control your anger." I said as I readied myself for the people. I was just going to do anything they said, i wasn't in the mood for fighting, because I still wanted to help these people.

[ 05-23-2003 05:34 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Jebbua Dahutt ]

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The deck officer turned then to Dash, almost looking bemused as security closed in a bit more. "Now tell me who is giving orders around here..."

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