"I am sorry, but I do not know of this 'Shawn Petrolu' you are asking for." He paused, cocking a querying eyebrow to the others at the table. The looks they returned told him they were in much the same ship to provide information. "In fact, no one here knows of who you speak. Perhaps it is advisable you contact someone in higher authority, if you wish to find this Petrolu, whoever he is."

[ 05-11-2005 09:14 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Terrin's Crew ]

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

....and it needs to be had now. This is of too urgent a matter to wait until the last minute, which is quickly approaching. Shawn--"

Here he paused, turning to the Jedi, who was standing as well, "I need you to stay here and wait. I may need you to go retrieve the Major."

The Jedi nodded, and took a step back. He did not, however, return to his seat.

"Come," Aaron said, then turning to Nefrai. "Your input on this will be very important, especially for Ms. Manth."

With no further ado than this, Aaron and Nefrai left the private dining area, leaving Shawn behind as they headed to a nearby guard post.

"Take me to Minna Manth's guest quarters," he said simply. The guard nodded and complied, leading the Captain and his strange companion down a short series of corridors, ones which led to the very elegant and posh guest area aboard the Red Level of the Hornett. Once they reached a particular set of metal doors, the guard stepped out of the way, leaving the captain and his guest alone after saluting.

Aaron punched his access code into the commlink. "Ms. Manth," he began. "This is Captain Barnes. We have one final issue to discuss...one which has only recently come to my attetion. If you would, I would like to speak to you as soon as possible."

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

Unless this ship has technology beyond the cutting edge of the rest of the galaxy, she thought, running her hand along the door frame as she hunted for hidden wires or sensors.

But her thorough search turned up nothing; satisfied, she then took about a quarter of an hour to run through some martial techniques before heading off to the sonic shower.

Refreshed, she slid into a simple gown she found hanging in a closet; it was a touch big on her, but silky and soft against her skin. She had just settled into her bunk with a cup of java juice and a holovid when an unseen speaker blared into life, heralding the arrival of Aaron Barnes and company.

She frowned, wondering what in the world they wanted now; with a grunt she set her cup on a small nightstand and slid out from the covers. Going to the closet, she was this time disappointed to discover that there was no robe to be had; her frown deepened to one of annoyance as she sighed, then went to the door.

There she paused, one hand raised to palm it open. The hand moved to the speakerphone set into the wall next to the frame.

"Yes?" she called out instead, not opening the door to her unexpected visitors.

"What is it? I was just preparing for bed; it is rather late, and I wish an early departure in the morning."

[ 05-12-2005 04:05 AM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Minna Manth ]

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

...and his possible involvement in the mission which you are about to embark."

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

How very strange.

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

"You are free to use whatever you find in this suite," he said, "Which includes a kitchenette, some food staples, clothing, and so on. I'm certain the Captain will speak with you again in the morning. Should you need him otherwise I will be glad to contact him for you."

Pausing at this, the guard pulled out an access card and keyed a code into a keypad beside the door. The metal doors whooshed open, revealing a lavish seating area which was no doubt the opener to an equally as lavish sleeping area.

The guard then turned to Dat, and without the least bit of hesitation, handed him the access card. "This will get you in to anything inside that is locked down, since these will be your quarters as long as you are here."

Stepping back then, he waited to see what the Major would do.

[ 05-17-2005 10:17 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Terrin's Crew ]

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

Stepping over the pile of cables and hoses on the floor, he enters the head, spending nearly an hour making himself feel human again. When he emerges, scrubbed and newly-shaven, he moves to the center of the sitting area, pushes the furniture along the walls, and begins to glide silently across the floor in elaborate katas. He begins with the elegant, deceptively simple maneuvers of Keldaeris, then progressing slowly into the darker and more brutal Teras Kasi, until he ends up, in an near-meditative state, performing the most difficult and elaborate sequence in the deadly Echani form.

Dat is abruptly brought to his senses by a resounding <CRASH>. Searching the room for the threat, he finds it... in the form of an expensive-looking coffee table that he had just demolished. His mind whirls. Where is your focus, Dat? He feels as if he's off-balance. The purifying rage and hatred that had fueled his combat through all of his years serving the Emperor... Where is it? With a sigh, he pushes the pieces of the broken furniture aside and wanders toward the bed, extinguishing the lights along the way.

Try as he might, however, sleep refuses to claim him, leaving him alone, in the dark, with his thoughts...

[ 05-19-2005 09:04 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Dat Cyprios ]

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

Suspense rode high in his being as he finally took his first step into the room. The carpet responded to his trotting booting with a creaking and it did so against as his other foot came down. Dashawn was certain that the ground working needed some work, but it was expected of such a great vessel as this. Letting his eyes venture off into the distance of the room, absorbing in every mineral, fiber and fabric he came to.

The situation became ever more clear, as though looking from a telescope. The focus of Shawn stood right before him, Dashawn's eyebrows rising in interest. The curiosity was peaked in an abrupt scream of a "hello" and waving gesture.

"Whats goin' on? I couldn't find ya what felt like da longest! We needa talk."

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

For a long moment she just stood there, mouth hanging uselessly open, before she whirled about and leaned against the doorframe.

What madness was this? The thought shattered her normally calm facade.

It sounds like Barnes wants this-- this-- ancient gandyrak of a stormtrooper to come along???

It can't happen; it just can't! What will I do if he finds out I have--?

Moving quickly, she left the door and went to where her utility belt was laying. There she rummaged in a manner that was bordering upon frantic, until her fingers closed upon the data chip she had hidden there in one of its pouches.

Stifling a sigh of relief, she replaced the data chip and returned to the door.

Then, unable to come up with a good enough excuse to deny the current boss of this ship entry, she palmed open the door.

Her brows rose a fraction when she saw Nefrai standing there as well.

"Umm... yes?" she stammered, doing her best to present a bland yet tired-looking face to the pair, even though in her heart she knew the facade wasn't working.

Her mouth worked a bit before she stepped back into her room.

"Of course, Captain; please, enter."

She waved an arm graciously, her composure returning to her in leaps and bounds as she ushered the men into the quarters that had been assigned to her.

But her eyes never left those of Nefrai as she did... eyes in which she was certain she saw a perplexity to mirror that within her own.

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

He wasted no time with words of comfort or delay.

"I know that this proposal comes as a shock, but hear me out on this. This Major Cyprios is a threat on more than one level, I know. Therefore I have to consider--especially in relation to the data his ship carries--the best situation to place him in without making him entirely suspicious. I can't just simply place him under arrest on this ship; he would immediately conclude that either we are extremely paranoid or up to some something.

Possibly both.

I can't just fix his ship and let him go on his merry way either. If he's aware of the data his ship carries well, in time I'm certain he will lay alliances with someone, and when he does I'm not so certain I want them to have the information that data can give them. However, if he's unaware of the data I could simply wipe it from his computer system and let him go...but then, what other information does he carry that might be useful to the powers that be? To anyone he comes in contact with and allies himself with?"

Aaron paused, the frustration in his words clearly evident. "My thinking is this. Placing him on this mission gives him a justifiable job, one in which both Nefrai and Shawn can keep tabs on him. This is something which I don't believe my men can do here aboard the Hornett, even as well as they are trained. Likewise, it will give him a way to pay for the "debt" he owes EE for the repairs to his ship...

...and it will buy us time to deal with the data aboard his ship and perhaps even discover if he is aware of its existence. His Imperial military expertise could be of some use to you as well should you encounter the new Empire on this mission...

...and any encounter you may have with the Empire with him will also allow us to gauge his reaction to it. This man could be a deadly weapon for the Empire, or whomever is out there who may want either his skills or the very data aboard that TIE fighter in the hangar bay.

Dare we risk making him suspicious by holding him here for an unnecessary amount of time? Dare we just let him go on his way? Or should we keep us under our thumbs and gaze for as long as we can until we know precisely what he is capable of, and what he might do?"

[ 05-22-2005 08:03 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Aaron Barnes ]

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

One of the men at the end of the table glared at the man still sitting nearby the communit, one finger still on the "reply" button.

At least, he thought it had been the reply button.

"Look closer, pal," the man at the end of the table said to him then, "That button says 'enter,' not 'accept'; they've recently changed the units."

The man at the communit scowled, took his finger from the control, and turned to Deshawn...

...who appeared to be looking directly at...

...well, nothing.

He cocked a brow at Deshawn, speaking up and wondering if the janitor would even hear him. "Had to many to drink today, eh buddy?"

Then, this time checking to make certain he had the "send" button pressed, he spoke into the communit once more. "Security," he said, "You are needed right away."

In less than a few seconds after the call, the metal doors to the conference room whooshed open. Security officers began to file in, and surrounded Deshawn.

"Come on, pal," the leader said as a man on either side of Deshawn took hold of his arms and began to turn him away from the conference table. "Let's go have a little talk about all this, shall we?"

And with nothing further than this the guards escorted him out of the room and the conference room doors whooshed to a close as they began leading Deshawn down the corridors of the grand Hornett.

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

For they made sense.

If he remained behind, aware that he was under the scrutiny of Eagle Enterprises, there was no doubt that he would grow angry. In fact, she was certain he was already angry... he was just trained well enough to hide the fact.

And anger leads to hatred... and she was a part of the entity toward whom that hatred would be focused.

Not to mention the very real possibility that he might already harbor suspicions she had made a copy of those Death Star files; she wasn't stupid enough to believe that he was unaware of their presence tucked away in his ship's computer.

He knew someone had been sent to his ship... therefore he simply had to assume it had been gone over with a fine toothed comb. And if he ever made the connection that it had been her and Nefrai, nothing would stop him from going after them in anger...

She raised her head, cut another glance to Nefrai.

My friend, I am so grateful you are here with me....

"Under the circumstances, and considering that I shall have the protection of a Jedi, not to mention the considerable talents of my friend, I can do nothing more than agree with your assessment, Captain," she said in a low voice.

She sighed.

"You may send this Imperial along with us, and we shall do our best to grant you the time you need to do what it is you need to do here."

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

...I think it best you do the same...

...or whatever it is you will need to do to prepare. The guards can escort you back to your quarters...

...I must go speak with the Major."

Saying nothing more than this, Aaron turned on his heel and departed from Manth's quarters, leaving she and Kesh behind. Quickly he made his way to the quarters where Dat had been taken, but not before sending a brief comm to Shawn Petrolu.

"Shawn, the Major will be accompanying you, unless he declines. Meet me at Red Level suite 0059."

After closing the connection, Aaron approached the metal door where the group of 4 guards stood in silence.

"Sir?" the lead guard queried.

"Change in plans," was all Aaron replied before speaking into the communit beside the metal door.

"Major Cyprios, I am aware you may already be resting, but if not I wish to speak with you once more. I've considered what repayment you can give me in return for the repair of your ship, and it has occurred to me your expertise in combat may be of considerable use to my team that is leaving tomorrow to search for a couple of employees who have gone missing on a planet with a grand clan of mystical warriors. If you accept this offer, not only will you be able to repay your debt...

...but you will have the chance to begin discovering the new galaxy which you find yourself a part of."

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

Jasyn, Matt, Galen, Erik...

...and his sister.

Quite unexpectedly...

...for like his sister, Shawn had never been one for grand premonitions...

...a vision came, one emblazoned in fire then darkness. And in that darkness came a swirling mist, and the scream of an all-too-familiar voice. As if on cue to the scream that had to have come from none other than Shayla, an image slowly came into blurry focus, one of two shadowy images. One of the images lay prostrate on the ground, long red-hair swirling about her face...

...while the other image hovered over her. Shawn couldn't make out anything regarding the latter image...

...excepting a pair of disturbing electric blue eyes with chrome irises. They quite nearly looked Vong in nature...

...but suddenly it wasn't those disturbing eyes which had Shawn's attention. There was the scream again, the scream of his sister...

...and somewhere beyond that disturbing figure that previously had his attention, Shawn could now make out the silohette of a small, writhing form on the floor behind him. The form's bedraggled hair was long, and dark-blonde...

In an instant, these images faded, and were replaced by the insistent chirp of Shawn's wristcomm. He regained his senses slowly, and punched the "accept" button, his mind elsewhere as Aaron's message came to his ears and he stood. In moments he then departed from the dining area, and headed directly to the location Aaron Barnes had indicated, already sensing the Captain's presence there.

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

"I hope I did not make an error in this, my friend," she said in a low voice.

"I do not trust this Imperial; however, from what better vantage point to keep an eye on him than right in front of him?"

She moved back to her bed and sat down upon it, drawing her knees up to her chin and wrapping her arms about them.

"Perhaps I am wrong, Nefrai," she continued.

"Perhaps he will prove to be anything other than what history has shown these Imperial guards to have been."

Then she shook herself, and glanced at the chrono.

"The hour grows late, Nefrai; it is time to sleep, if we are to depart in the morning. I hope Captain Barnes has some further information for us, so we at least will have a starting point from which to begin our hunt.

"It is a terribly large galaxy, after all..."

Yet one made surprisingly small by the unexpected inclusion of Dat Cyprios.

[ 05-23-2005 01:20 AM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Minna Manth ]

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

"Time will tell us of this mans intent, and if he proves to be a threat..." He took his index and ran it almost gently and lovingly over the dark muscle and mist that formed his neck. "He can be dealt with."

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

...but you will have the chance to begin discovering the new galaxy which you find yourself a part of."

The voice from some hidden speaker drives Dat from his bed, sending him passing silently toward the door. Entering a guarded stance, he keys open the door to reveal Captain Barnes and his security detail.

"Oh?" His voice is wary -- alarm bells are ringing in his mind. What is this? One minute I'm effectively under house arrest, the next I'm being asked to participate in a mission? Something isn't quite right...

The wariness fades from his voice, at least slightly, as he continues, "...I'll be more than happy to assist in any way I can; I do indeed owe you a debt that I can't currently repay, though I'll need to know more about what this mission entails: background, intelligence, organization, composition, equipment and the like." He backs away from the door, gesturing with his hand, "Won't you come in? I wouldn't want to leave you standing in the corridor while we discuss business." Strangely, the remains of a piece of furniture are clearly visible in one corner of the room.

[ 05-23-2005 07:19 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Dat Cyprios ]

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

What has been going on here?

Then, regaining complete composure, he stepped inside and walked past Dat and into the sitting area as the metal doors of Dat's assigned quarters whooshed to close. He took a seat, but remained very alert.

"I am going to fill you in on all of this-but first, I want you to know I am recording this message and sending it off to Minna Manth and Nefrai Kesh's quarters via a secure frequency."

Pausing at this, Aaron keyed in a code on his commlink. Then he began to speak once more.

"The assignment entails going to a world where a couple of my employees and the wife of my former partner have strangely disappeared. It has been quite some time since we have heard from any of them--their names are Galen Danner, Matt Stanza, and Jasyn Lancaster. I will provide you all images of these people before you depart in a few short hours...

...but now I wish to inform you more of the nature of this world into which you will be finding yourself. The world--which is called K'eel Doba--is one of the homes of a race of magickal beings few know of. You see, they are the home of the true race of Sith..."

Here Aaron paused, knowing what the words Sith meant to Dat. "These peoples are very magickal, but are not Darksiders like the Emperor was. They are, however, very powerful, and the particular clan on this world include those who are warriors. I believe Galen Danner went to this world to procure a particular fighter...

...and my two employees Stanza and Lancaster went after her. All three have disappeared. You, as well as Manth and Nefrai, need to know that Galen's sister may be residing on K'eel Doba. I have not encountered her but once or twice; the only things I recall of her is that she has long red hair, is short of stature, and has a strange device implanted upon her forehead which glows. She is very powerful and very influential among the Sith; finding her may be the key to finding the others. She and Galen have had relations ranging from sisterly love to anything but, as I understand it.

Finally, you should also know that these there is also the possibility Galen succeeded in her quest, in which case she would have gone on to Coruscant, which is heavily blockaded. If she is on Coruscant, she is looking for her daughter...and therefore would be seeking out a man by the name of Sorben Tarnus, whom she believed last had the child. Tarnus is in high-command when it comes to the Empire, and should be approached carefully. But first and foremost, your search will begin on the world of K'eel Doba. My belief--and concern--is that none of the three of these missing people ever left from this location."

Finishing at that, Aaron keyed in something else on his comm, which in turn sent his message off through a secure link and directly to Manth and Kesh's quarters. Then he turned to Cyprios.

"Questions?"

[ 05-23-2005 08:42 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Aaron Barnes ]

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

"Also, how long have we been out of contact? I'd like to know, just so I can have some idea of the probability that the targets are already dead." Precise. Blunt. Military to a tee. "Your employees? How qualified were they? And how long ago were they dispatched? What equipment did they carry? And both teams... What vessels were they using? We can possibly pick up a distress signal once we get in range, or pick up their hull signatures."

"What equipment will we have at our disposal? What about possible support from the Hornett? I don't imagine it'll be available, but better for me to know now if it will be, than to be surprised later by it. Who's in command of this mission, and where will I fall within the chain of command? How free to act will I be?"

"Oh, and one more thing..."

"...How likely do you think it is that we will succeed, that we'll bring back your employees alive?"

A teacher once said that one can learn much from an individual by presenting them with their own thoughts as bluntly as possible. Dat would tend to agree.

[ 05-23-2005 09:16 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Dat Cyprios ]

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

"I don't believe I'm going to like having this gentleman aboard my ship," she said softly, the words spoken by the Imperial still ringing in her ears. Frowning then, she hit the comm-switch by her bed, cutting into the conversation going on in Dat's quarters.

"Excuse me, Captain Barnes, but please remind this-- gentleman that we are not a military mission...

"...and that the ship we are to travel in is not only a private vessel, but mine."

Falling silent, she let her hand fall from the switch to lay in her lap, which it did, resembling nothing so much as a dying bird coming down upon a final roost. Her frown deepened then, and she silently chastised herself for the allegory.

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

He let go of the switch, nodding to Minna before turning to leave the room, and follow Barnes scent towards where they might be, intending to make a few things clear to the time-traveling imperial.

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

Shawn whirled to speak to Kesh's departing back.

"Something wrong?" he queried then fell silent, not deigning to press Kesh any further for the moment.

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

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

As Dat sinks back into his chair, his breathing ragged, he ponders his disjointed reply. He was blinded by emotion, out of control... "What is happening to me," he asks himself as he stands and begins to pace, as if to pick up the broken shards of his composure from the floor.

[ 05-23-2005 09:59 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Dat Cyprios ]

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

"Wait!" Shawn called, his voice demanding attention, "What has the Major done to envoke such a hasty response from you? Your anger is clear to me...

...so tell me now, before this gets out of hand, what has happened?"

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