"Again we have no time for this..." I added keeping a straight serious face "..as you said, Quee is here."

Galens face went from one of passion and content to one of shock. Her mouth was hanging slighly open and her eyes looked confusingly into mine. Quickly I turned releasing my grip from her back.

"C'mon." I said as I moved for the door. Galen stood still as she placed her hands on her hips in protest.

"You just kiss me and expect me to just...?" she began as she waved her arms around in a protesting manner.

I smiled as I stopped in front of the door. I slowly turned back towards Galens short (dare I say perfect?) form. I looked directly at her and raised a finger to point at her.

"Galen..." I began as... as.. my mind went totally blank as to what it was that I was going to say to her. I knew how I felt. She had to know how I felt! I was just to damn scared to admit it. Love interest and bounty hunters don't mix. I cared for her to much . I couldn't risk her to the countless enemies that I had made over the years.

Galen sensed that something was going through my head. She lowered her defensive posture and slowly walked my way. I lowered my outstretched finger as I gazed down at our rooms carpeted floor. She moved slowly towards me.

"Sorben.." she said as she stood before me. Her arms reached up towards my shoulders, her hands locked behind my neck. My eyes met hers yet again. " It's okay. I think I understand."

Fultus Krange!! She's a telepath!

Her lips gently met mine . A short, sweet kiss was their offering. I sighed as our lips parted. A smile crossed my face . She returned the gesture with a slight snicker.

**SWOOSH**

The door that Galen and I were standing before opened. I quickly drew my blaster instinctively as I guided Galen behind my protective frame.

"Glad you've come to your senses, Sorben." Quee said as he entered the room. He kept his chin resting upon his clinched fist as he past the two of us. I knew he was smiling behind his fist.

"Glad you made it in one piece." I said as he walked to the edge of the bed that I had only moments ago occupied. I placed my blaster back into it's holster. I could make out One Eight Sevens form standing guard outside the door before it closed shut.

"When did you pick up a drinking and spice problem?" Quee joked as he sat upon the edge of the bed.

I shrugged. Galen looked at me with a smirk.

"Listen Quee..." I began before he waved at me to cease my babbling.

"Here's what we've learned." Quee began as he looked at Galen and I " Desolist does indeed have an impressive fleet within this system. The locals seem to be loyal to him since he provides protection from the pirates that raid this area constantly. Since the T'lyx System does host a planet of salvagable Imperial junk and it manufactures quite a supply of Bacta it is quite a prize to have, especially way out here in the Outter Rim."

Quee paused as he looked around the room. He then refocused on myself and Galen.

"I did manage to find out that Desolist has postioned most of his forces around Ploatius, the fourth moon of Yarnig within this system.. This to me is strange since most of the sentient population is located on H'del."

Quee rose from his seated postion and bgan to pace about the room. He hands clasp one another underneath his dark robes.

"Ooglan and Boglan ran a check on some of the passing ships that were heading to Ploatius and made a small but significant discovery." Quee turned to face us." There were quite a number of mining vessels headed there."

"Whats so strange about that?" Galen piped in. Quee smiled.

"There are no mineral deposits worth claiming on Ploatius. None worth mining anyway." Quee looked then at me. "Yet he has dedicated a Star Destroyer, two Escort Carriers, an Interdicter, two Dreadnaughts, and two dozen smaller ships to protect that moon."

"Sounds a bit odd to me." I said as a smile spread across Quee's face.

"Indeed it does." Quee responded.

"So no H'del?" I asked.

My comm buzzed suddenly.

"Boss?" K'Kihl clicked over the comm system. I pressed the respond button on my guantlet.

"Go ahead K'Kihl." I barked.

"Local traffic is speaking of Iron Guantlet entering H'del space. Interested we are I think." K'Kihl said in his native klack.

Why did I know that ships name? Where in the universe have I heard that ship before? I looked down as Galen and Quee fixed their eyes on me. I looked down in thought. Then it hit me like a Bantha on a rampage.

"Dark!" I exclaimed. I quickly looked up to Quee who tilted his head to the side half surprised at my announcement. Galen bit her bottom lip as she gazed at my face.

"What now, Quee?" I asked as I turned to him for some sort of plan. Desolist and Dark had something big going on here. It was our job to find out exactly what it was that they were doing.

"Volcrath likes the smell of this place!" the devorian whose presense I had almost forgotten blurted as he walked behind Sasetch and myself on this busy outwalk. The devorian inhailed deeply as he confidently rested his hands behind his horned head. "Volcrath thinks the smell is reminding him of his time on Jubinee! Many happy thoughts of Jubinee."

It is amazing that my devorian partner even has the ability to think. Don't get me wrong, he is intelligent. He also a very capable pilot. He is just... well, he gets on my nerves with his ego. He has enough ego to fill the Death Star.

"Where exactly are we going , Jacko?" Sasetch asked impatiently as we continued our journey down the city outwalk.

I glanced up and stretched my flexicasted arm towards one of the many buildings that towered around the busy speederways and outwalks. Sasetch looked up towards where my finger pointed.

"Bourgius Corporation?" Sasetch asked somewhat puzzled. "We will find Dark there?"

I slowly nodded in responce to her query.

"Volcrath says walking is for Rontos. Recommends that we get a speeder cab, no?" Volcrath suggested from behind.

"For once I agree with Volcrath." Sasetch said as she glanced at my casted form. I turned towards her slowly as we stopped at the edge of the outter edge of the outwalk . The stream of people made their way around us without hinderence. Volcrath joined Sasetch and myself on the curb.

"Cab we are getting then?" Volcrath said as he placed himself between Sasetch and I . His arms resting on both of our backs. Sasetch shot him a foul look as he smiled between her and myself.

"Not a .. good.. idea. " I forced out. It still hurt a bit to talk. " Taxi speeders... use ID systems. If we.. were to pay for one..."

"Dark knows we are here?" Sasetch finished. Inodded.

"Volcrath says Jacko is wacko. "Volcrath said as he patted me on the back. "Volcrath used fake ID's to land here. Volcrath has fake credit chip IDs for his three bestest friends." the devorian said as he produced three foraged ID chips. "Volcrath is good Imperial Youth Scout, no?"

Sasetch smiled at the devorians remark. I still wanted to smack him just for fun. In my impatience on getting us here I had overlookedc some "monor" details. I suppose that is why I do not mind Volcrath all that much.

"Then let us get a cab." Sasetch said as she hailed an autocab from the busy skyway.

"Volcrath wanna know why Dark is going to be roosting in some business?" the devorian asked as he looked to me for answers. "Dark Jedi business smarts?"

Laughter from the devorian followed as a cab made its way down our location. The autocabs door opened as a droids voice greeted us. We began to board.

After we sat somewhat crowdedly in the back of this small automated cab and told the droid brain our destination, the cab zoomed off towards the Bourgius Corporation on the near horizon.

"Volcrath would like to know what it is Dark is doing there?" the devorian asked.

I crowded a bit closer to Sasetch as the devorian sandwiched his large frame between the door and myself. Sasetch made room for our sudden closeness.

"Maxpres D'olla... " I began " .. knows where ... Dark would be. Desolist... and Dark both... use corporation.. for contracting .. local mining guilds."

"Volcrath says he is satisfied with answer." Volcrath said as he rested his arms behind his head again. "Comfy."

I am sure at he is comfy since I sacrificed a third of the space that my flexicasted body required. Sasetch rested her right arm around me so that I could have a little of the room that was taken from me back. I think I'll still blast him one day.

"DESTINATION AQUIRED." the automated voice announced as the cab slowly descended in front of the huge corporation building. "FIVE CREDITS."

Volcrath inserted his foraged ID credit chip to pay for our fare. Sasetch and I exited as the transaction was completed.

"HAVE A GOOD DAY CITIZEN." the droids voice said as Volcrath exited. The autocab quickly left our location to rejoin the sea of traffic above.

(trembling)

*aNgEr*

(sweat)

*HaTe*

(makes you blind)

AlL Of ThEsE MaKe ThEm VuLnErAbLe...VuLnErAbLe to DARK!

I stood within the office of former business executive Maxpres D'olla. Maxpres lay dead before me. I glanced at the three guest of Maxpres as they stood in front of me . The womn and the devorian had their blasters trained on me. The man in the gray flexicast stood perfectly still. The womans blaster trembled in her hands. My yellow eyes peered at the trio. My saber ignited and ready to parry.

"You are unwise to point your toys in my direction." I calmly stated at the the group of intruders. "Almost as foolish as Maxpres selling you information as to my location."

The womans anger swelled within her. I felt it rise even more as I demanded that they put away their weapons.

"You killed my brother!" she barked as she readjusted her blaster sights upon me. The devorian turned slightly in her direction yet keeping his blaster trained on me as well.

"Indeed I did." I said plainly as I retracted my blade. I stood calmly before the trio now as I placed my saber on my belt.

"The three of you will come with me. My master seeks an audience with you." I crossed my arms within my dark robes as the door behind the three of them opened without warning.

The trio quickly turned to face two squads of stormtroopers as they stormed the office. They formed a half circle around the three would be assassins.

"Volcrath says he is good. " the devorian glanced about the room obviously looking for a way out of this one. "But Volcrath says he is not that good."

The devorian smiled as threw his blaster to the ground. He jagged teeth displayed in my direction. The flexicast being slowly raised his hands as well at the opposition before him. The woman however did not.

"Put it down now!" a trooper barked at Sasetch. Her eyes swelled with tears of anger and hate. Her body trembled. Her blaster was unsteady. Her grip tight.

"Volcrath says don't be a nerf herder and do as the nice men say, no?" the devorian encouraged as he shot a smile in her direction.

"You will pay for the death of my brother!" she wailed as a tear ran down her flushed face.

"Indeed." I said as I conjured up the invisible energy known as the force to take care of this quite resistant woman. In the blink of an eye her body was thrust upwards towards the glass ceiling of the office. Her body met the hardened glass with a loud *thunk*! The blaster she carried fell to the ground as a stormtrooper quickly collected it and the devorians weapon. She was held against the glass until the trooper had completed his task.

My yellow eyes narrowed as I released the energies that held her in place against the ceiling. She quickly crashed into the ground below. Her armor saved her from any serious damage. She lay on the floor crying.

"I will not be paying today," I informed the weeping woman turned hunter. I walked past my masters three "guest" leaving them in the hands of the stormtroopers. I concentrated yet again to summon the force. The man in the flexicast fell limp as I passed. Jacko would be doing no tricks today.

"Volcrath will walk." the devorian said to me as I passed fearing that I may do something to him as well.

"Master." I concentrated as I sought out Desolist in my thoughts.

"You have captured Jacko Kragar and his friends?" Desolist voice echoed in my head. I could feel his power fill my head as he spoke.

"Yes my master." I responded in thought.

"Good. Now bring them to me as we prepare for our next guests."

"Yes my master." I thought as Desolist power fled from me.

Coming out of my momentary day dream, I realized that everyone was looking at me for direction. Luckily, my hood was low so they did not see any detached or stupid facial expressions I might have been making. That was lesson one in the Jedi handbook. Always appear fully focused, even if you are not.

As a child, I remember Master Yoda sitting in a room listening to several Jedi discuss matters of procedure for the council. As he was not involved directly, he found it an opportune time to catch a few extra winks. When a question was finally directed his way, I found it funny to send one of my grav balls telekineticly to wake him. I was admonished for disturbing the procedings, but Master Yoda spoke on my behalf explaining my "lack of control". He later sat me on his lap, smiled knowingly and then conferred that nugget of info to me for future use. Master Yoda loved pranks. (TANGENT).

Looking at my companions, I smiled. "It is time to go." I said. "We must take a shuttle to H'del. There we will find out what company handles the mining operations for Desolist and make a plan for jumping on board one of the ships bound for His base. We can possibly get a ride as miner's, Guards, or stow away the old fashioned way. Our answers lie on that rock. We may also run into Dark down there. He may be the only answer we need, only time will tell."

Everyone was silent. I held my breath waiting for the protests that would come.

SSHH"We're going where again?"SSHH 187's helmet stared blankly at me and slightly cocked to one side.

"Treasure's of Roon!!!" Galen exploded in animated disbelief. "Is this guy crazy, Sorben? Dark was bad enough, but if this Desolist is a Sith Lord? I thought we were just going to do a little foot work, spy a little, not breach an Imperial Bastion. Come on, Let's get out of here." She tugged at his arm as if to go.

"Bossh? Argge you SShure Agbout thish?" Ooglen asked. He tried not to let on any emotion, but his tentacles twitched in slight agitation.

"I know it doesn't sound like much of a plan." I began. "But, it doesn't apear that we have much of an alternative. Until we get down to H'del, we have no other leads."

"I love it." Sorben finally opened his mouth. Everyone's eyes fell on him in astonishment.

Galen looked as if she had been kicked by a Ronto. Here was Sorben seemingly throwing away his life instead of choosing a future with her. She was disappointed and hurt.

Looking up into her brown eyes, Sorben smiled gleefully. "Look, we beat Dark by ourselves. It was only a moment of exhaustion that took us off guard and we still escaped okay. Now we have Quee and 187, along with Quee's ship and crew. The odds are still okay. It may not even come to us going to the rock if we intercept Gravin. We're just wasting time talking about it here. If we don't hurry, we might miss him."

Sorben was already grabbing his equipment. 187 made for the door with Ooglen in tow as I still stood watching our other two companions. They were looking at one another passing unspoken words. Finally, Galens expression softened and she turned to gather her own things. Sorben watched her backside for a moment longer before glancing my way and shooting me a wink. Grabbing his net gun, he was right behind Ooglen.

It was only moments later, after having relayed our intentions to k'khl and Boglen, that we were on a high speed drop shuttle to H'del's surface. Boglen and K'khl were to stay on their respective ships, monitor traffic, and be prepared to come in with guns blazing if we needed a fast out.

Dalius city. Nice from the air. Everything looked clean. Not what I would have expected of a Hutt controled planet. Granted, they were now Imperial controlled, sort of, but it was still unexpected. After departing the cramped shuttle, we quickly found an info terminal and Ooglen began a berthing query for the Iron Guantlet.

"Got'em!" He exclaimed. "Platform 231, section B."

SSHH"I got point."SSHH 187 was already off at a trot as he said it.

"Be ready for anything." I warned them before following the armored shadow ahead.

Ooglen was right behind me as Sorben and Galen took an extra moment together before following.

Moments later, we were facing the long stretch of tunnel down to the bay that was platform 231. 187 had given us the signal to slow down and approach the entrance to the tunnel quietly. With another signal, he informed us of four stormtroopers guarding the bay doors.

"Let's go." I said feeling the stares looking incredulously at my back. Ignoring them, I acknowledged a shiver from 187, on my right, that could only be a chuckle and entered the hallway. To my surprise, Sorben and Galen were right next to me with Ooglen and 187 slightly to the sides and back a bit. As we walked slowly towards the blast doors, the stormtroopers moved up to intercept us.

SSHHK"Authorization chips please?"SSHHk. The first stormtrooper asked as he held out his hand to stop us.

"She's got them in her Brassiere." Sorben blurted out as he pointed his finger at the front of Galen's flight suit.

Galen quickly turned to him with a look of shock on her face.

"Go on sweet cheeks, show'em." Sorben grinned through his face plate.

Galen realized the distraction about two seconds before the trooper. In a mere second, two troopers fell entangled in the deadly web thrown down by Sorben's net gun. A third had found silence on the cold steel blade of 187 as he had thrust it up under the protection of the troopers helmet and into the neoprene covered neck. Finally, the last was a victim of a projectile ,shot point blank between the eyes, from Ooglens silenced slugthrower.

Galen would have screamed in surprise except for a hand I had placed over her mouth just before the dispatching of the troopers. After her initial shock wore off, followed by a brief peak of anger at having been silenced, I finally let go.

A quick search of the troops gave us a set of security cards. We then headed for the personnel airlock entrance to the bay, instead of the large blast doors. Inside the lock, two more troopers fell into the dreamless sleep.

Looking out onto the bay floor from the plasteel window of the lock, we could see a lambda class shuttle preparing to depart as at least a squad or two of troopers stood guard. By the front boarding ramp, we could see several Imperial naval troopers carrying the unmoving body of a man in a full body flexicast. Meanwhile, walking behind this group was a handbindered devorian trying to look as dangerous as possible followed by an angry woman being dragged aboard by two more naval troopers. There was no sign of the Iron Guantlet.

I watched the proceedings with curiosity as the others looked around in disgust.

"Ooglen, Check the terminal for the Iron Guantlet." I ordered, trying to stay focused.

Ooglen went to work as 187 continued to watch for anyone getting a make on our position. Meanwhile, Galen stared intently at the Lambda and her cargo as Sorben checked out our rearguard. I waited for Ooglen's report as I too watched for anyone making us out.

"Sorben!!!!" Galen burst out suddenly. "Its the group from the hotel. Look!"

"We don't have time for that now." Sorben responded unconcerned.

"I'm serious!" Galen turned and back-handed Sorben across the back. "Look for crying out loud."

"We definitely don't have time for that." Sorben quipped at her as he turned around and gazed out the window. "I don't see how it could.....Eh?....It is them."

Galens swelling anger diffused into beaming joy as Sorben acknowledged her discovery. It then passed into sudden curiosity at the unlooked for presence of these three persons and their connection to Dark.

"Maybe we should stop them." Galen suggested.

187's hand was already on the hatch release before I was able to stop him.

"No!" I quickly blurted. "We would take too long to eliminate the troopers. The ship would be in the air and broadcasting the situation before we could get out. Our best bet is to continue researching the mining corporation involved and what they are doing specificaly. I suggest we get out of here first, however."

Without any arguments, we made our way out of the personnel lock and back down the tunnel past the dead stormtroopers.

Half an hour later, we had the name of the mining company to investigate. Bourgius Corporation.

"Well everyone, I think its time to pay a little visit downtown." I said. "Perhaps we'll even apply for a job."

I gulped a bit to myself as I stood there on the walkway, gazing up and up and up to the top of the rather imposing door to the even more imposing identifier placed atop it. "Bourgius Corporation, District HDQ" I read in subdued but flowing script. This was the place....

I took another breath, wriggling a bit in my new attire. The Kaladorian dress Seus had given me, eons ago it seemed, fit in an entirely different manner than originally. Still low-cut, one of the long sleeves had been removed entirely, as had the majority of the flowing skirt. It now boasted a highly shortened, assymetrical hem, a slit wandering up my thigh from it's highest side.

I wriggled a bit, adjusting the new fit of the dress. Amazing what Quee could do with that lightsaber of his! But damn, he got it a little short.... Sorben seemed to like it though....

I sighed. Looked forward again. Tossed my carefully mussed-hair a little, getting into the role I knew I had to play. Seeking inside information about this giant corporation was one of our major objectives; as the only female in our little group, I had the dubious honor of playing a perfect mole.

In for a credit....

Gathering all my focus, I pushed the door open, slinked in like a Twi'lek dancer. Before me was an information desk, a young helmetless Trooper posted there. He looked bored with his bottom-of-the-heap assignment; the boredom quickly disappeared, however, as his head jerked up and his eyes widened in my direction.

I gave a mysterious little grin, sleazed up to the desk. Leaned over, letting the low cut of the dress act to my advantage. Noting an inscription utensil stuck behind the Trooper's ear, I let my eyelids droop a little, and reached out to pluck the instrument with delicate fingers.

Placed the tip of it in my mouth.

Cocked my head a little.

Reached out with the writer, and lightly touched his rapidly reddening nose with it.

Breathed as seductively as I could...

"Do you have any job openings available, good-looking?"

I'll give the young boy credit: he managed to raise his eyes from my cleavage when he answered me. "Umm-- er, ahem!" He cleared his throat, his eyes dropping again. "Ahh-," he continued to babble a bit desperately, as he started hunting through the materials on his desk. "I-uh, I'm not sure, maybe, yeah... somewhere...." He fumbled again, rather idiotically I thought.

Poor kid, he thought he had it bad now. I was beginning to get in the swing of things; slowly I batted my eyes at him, gazing at him from beneath lowered lids once again. Leaned forward on the desk even more, up on tiptoe now, one leg cocked upward behind me.

The utensil found its way into my mouth again. I moved it around a bit, trapping his eyes with mine. Pulled it from my mouth again, and traced the tip down his cheek.

"Do you have an application, sweets?" I purred innocently. Batted my eyes again, revelling in the rising tide of red that was flushing the poor guy's face. He squirmed a bit in his chair, torn between searching for the requested document and removing his gaze from mine.

"Mmrrf!" he garbled, hands fumbling unseeing on the desk. Suddenly a racous noise blatted out. Damn; he'd accidentally hit an alarm.

That brought him to his senses; quickly, almost gratefully, he slammed a palm down, silencing the grating beep. But the damage had already been done.

I trembled inwardly a bit as a fully armored officer Trooper rushed over from a side room to investigate, blaster held ready. Now's not the time to blow things, ol' girl, I told myself. Definitely not! Keep up the charade, and keep it up good...

With one quick glance the Trooper took in the situation. Tapped a commlink, barking dismissal orders to the oncoming squad that had been alerted by the alarm. Closing the link with an audible snap, he directed his full attention upon me.

"What's going on out here?" he growled in an authoritative tone of voice, the blaster rock-steady in his grip.

I turned to him, dismissing the embarrassed youngster behind the front desk. Hope I got the little worrt in trouble, hehehe...

As seductively as I could manage, I leaned against the desk, toying with the young Trooper's writer. I glued my eyes to the enigmatic lenses of the older Trooper's helmet. Smiled, hoping like Hell's Seven Circles he had a little bit of humanity left in him after the training I knew he had been through.

I forced my voice into the basement, letting my words be carried on a breathe of air. "I can type and run keyboard, and collate and dictate...." A slight lowering of the eyelids here; keep it up, I think he's paying attention, judging from the tilt of his head.... "I'm really good with people, and quite adept at...." Now a little wiggle, shifting of the hips, toy with the writer a bit; good, he's holstering that damned weapon! "...other things."

Guess those nasty old Storm Troopers aren't trained quite as arduously as they were in the days of Vader and Palpatine. Or else they'd been allowed to get lazy, to go slack.

I was hired on the spot. Now the real work begins....

*It Is NoW mY cHoIcE As To WhAt YoUr FaTe WiLl Be*

My yellow eyes pierced the dimly lit grand office within the powerful Bourguise Corporation located in the bowels of Dalius City. One of Desolist was on her way up to see me. It was surely going to be a shock to her system to see me sitting here behind this grand dark desk. I sat in peace as two troopers lead her unsuspectingly to me.

"*SSHHKK* We are just about there sir.*SSHHKK*" one of the troopers whispered into his comm. She was unaware of the message that had been sent to me. They calmly escorted her to meet her new employer.

The two white clad troopers stood behind the nervous Galen as the turbolift rose to the executive office which rested at the very top of the giant megacorporation. She stared at the numbers as they climbed higher after passing each floor. She bit her lip as the numbers were about to reach their limit.

"Fifty five floors..." the woman said to the silent troopers behind her. "..thats pretty tall."

*SWOOSH*

The door to the turbolift opened rapidly revealing a dark hallway before the trio . Galen stepped out looking to her left and then to her right. The troopers followed her out as she stood waiting for some sort of direction.

"*SSHHKK* This way .*SSHHKK*" one of the troopers said as he pointed to the left with his hand.

Galen turned to face the short dimly lit corridor before her. Two strange plants sat on opposite walls within . She cautiously walked down the corridor with the two stormtroopers in tow. The corridor ended after only walking a short twenty meters. Two doors greeted her at the end of the passageway.

"Maxpress D'olla" Galen read to herself . The name was posted on the door before her. Her stomach tightened as she approached the door. A sudden jolt shot through her body seconds before the door opened. She was having a bad feeling about this "meeting" between her and her employer.

*SWOOSH!*

The door slid open rapidly as she nervously enetered the dark office. A silhouette of a being behind the desk was all that she could make out in the shadows.

*SWOOSH!*

The doors closed behind her she quickly turned to look . She noticed that her two escorts remained outside the now closed door.

"Welcome to this humble place of business" I said to the woman as she held her position just inside the door. Her hands tightened nervously into fist. She knew my voice....good.

"What in Hells Seven Circles are you doing here, Dark?" she blurted without thinking. She turned away from me as I slowly rose from my chair.

"I want nothing to do with you." I said coldly as I stood motionless behind the large desk.

"How'd you know..??" Galen asked as she turned in my direction without warning.

"That it was you?" before she could finish her question. I walked slowly around from behind the desk , stopping in front of it with my arms crossed. My yellow eyes read hers from afar. Silence screamed only for a few seconds.

"I didn't." I announced as she cocked her head to the side. "My master told me only to expect persons seeking me."

"Oh.." Galen sighed as she turned away from me yet again.

"I have said enough for now." A slight pressure began to build upon Galens throat. My eyes flared as a choking sensation began to build within her.

If I have her, Tarnus will follow. Tarnus will be mine at last! At last I will have my revenge!

But my masters orders. My masters plans for these beings that I am bringing before him are unknown to me. I must follow the will of Desolist. I must follow his commands even though I know that he has found...

Galen fell limp on the floor before me. I looked down at the small frame of this woman. A brave soul indeed to walk knowingly into a nest of K'yats! She was still alive.

*SWOOSH!*

The doors into the office opened rapidly as the two troopers who were standing guard outside entered with their blasters drawn.

"Take her to my ship."

The two troopers quickly picked up her limp body and carried her out of the dimly lit office. The door closed quickly behind them.

I turned to face the windows behind me. I gazed out over the city of Dalius. I inhailed a deep breath knowing that Tarnus was out there. I could not give chase. I had my commands and I must follow them. The four my master spoke of were now in my custodity.
What plans Desolist had for Jacko, Sasetch, Volcrath, and now this Galen were not for me to question. Though I think that I am incorrect on assuming that one of these beings is the one my masters means.

A shot of sharp pain coarses through my body suddenly!

"I'm here!" a whisper echoes as I quick snap my lighsaber into action. I turn to face the direction of the haunting voice behind me.

"VARSEK?!" I scream as I look into the void of the office. My saber still ignited I look around as my vision makes the dark into day. He is not here? Not in this office at least,...but I can feel his prescense through the force. He must be extremely close! My eyes wide now as I retract my red glowing blade.

I rapidly walk to my transport above where my final prisoner awaits. A squad of stormtroopers follow behind me as I make my way to the roof platform.

I quickly boarded the Iron Guantlet as the troops remained waiting outside. Within moments, I was airborne and headed for my masters abode. I sighed in relief as I prepared the jump coordinates in the nav computer.

"Varseck here?" I wondered. "How did he find me?"

These thoughts would haunt me as my ship slipped into hyperspace. I must inform my master of Varsecks arrival. He must know that a Republic spy is here.

"Quarters." The word was a mockery of the durasteel-plated cell I was caged in. There wasn't even so much as a bunk to lay upon; I awoke to discover myself lying on a cold, metal floor, my throat feeling as if a dianoga's tentacle was still clutching it. I reached a hand up to rub it as I paced about my cramped prison, wincing at the memory of my last conscious thought and feeling.

"Stupid, stupid, stupid!" I berated myself as I paced. "What did you really think, girl? Think you could waltz right into a wampa's ice cave and expect to be totally unnoticed?" I shook my head to myself angrily, forcing down the niggling flood of despair that threatened. "Hmmph; that officer Trooper's response should have been the first clue that all was not kosher on Dagobah; he gave in to you way too easy! And now look where you are! Stupid!"

I paused in my tracks, glancing about. Nothing but cold, unfeeling, gunmetal gray. A small barred window, slot more like it, in a heavily reinforced door. On the other side of that door I knew a pair of Troopers stood attentively at guard. A deep bass thrum which I felt in my bones more than actually heard told me we were travelling through hyperspace to Desolist's unknown location.

Breath escaped me in an explosive, if a bit forlorn, sigh. Despair reared its ugly head once again; I clenched one hand into a fist, smacked it into the palm of my other hand, raised both to my mouth. "Do not give in, ol girl!" I berated myself, angry with myself for letting this occur, angry with my naivete. Angry most of all at Dark.

Angry at this unknown Sith Lord, Desolist. Why in Hell's Seven Circles would he want me?

A rueful acknowledgment followed on the heels of that question. Maybe I ought to be thankful Desolist did want me; otherwise I more than likely would be dead.

Breathe puffed out of me as I began my pacing again. "Think! Sure as there's Treasure on Roon there's got to be something you can do! Something somebody can do, will be doing!"

I stopped, looked down at myself, attired in the mockingly useless seduction of my transformed attire. Ached to replace it with my flightsuit and good ol blaster. Sighed again; no use in going down that blind alley, ol girl. Nothing there but a dead end and more despair.

Now tears threatened as I resumed pacing. "Damn Dark anyway!" I wailed inwardly. "I would have gotten away with this if it hadn't been for him, the slimey, egg-stealing, worrt-kissing Force user!"

Stopped suddenly in place as inspiration struck. Force user--??? Would it; could it possibly work?

I thought some more, hardly daring to do so, afraid Dark could somehow be eavesdropping into my mind. Knew with an assurety as uncompromising as my love for a certain bounty hunter that if it didn't work, there would be no harm done, but... if I stood a ghost's chance that it would actually succeed, it would have to be done quickly....

Knew deep within my being it would work. I just knew it would work. It simply had to.

With no further thought, I stopped, closed my eyes, forced my mind to go blank...

(c'mon, you can concentrate, ol girl; you've got every coordinate of every place you've skyed to at your mental beck and call, you can do this....)

...concentrated with an inner fierceness to bring up the image of Quee. The moment I thought of him, Sorben's face wavered into my mind: that little quirky grin, the rugged planes of his features, those soul-melting blue eyes of his... SORBEN! One brief but agonized cry reverberated throughout my very being. Oh, help me, my love!

//Stop. Think. Concentrate.//

The hardest thing I ever did in my life was banish his face from my thoughts, but I managed. Deepened my concentration further; ah--- a glimmer of shining armor, flowing robes... a long, plaited braid, humorous eyes....

I was no Force user, Khaandon knows. But according to Sorben (don't think of him now!) Quee was. And not just any Force user, but some big-time Master at it. Maybe, just maybe, if I thought hard enough, concentrated...

Quee might somehow pick it up. I knew I could focus clearly when I had the need to, I have always been able to do this. If I doubled my effort... maybe Quee might somehow "home in" on the message.

I didn't know, but it didn't hurt to try. But I also was aware that if Quee actually could somehow hear me, track us through my thoughts... Dark would be able to pick it up as well. I didn't have much time in which to try this; no telling how that yellow-eyed piece of blackened mold would react to this attempt at communication of mine. I could end up dead.

But at least then Sorben and Quee and the others would have a link to finding Desolist.

My concentration deepened further. Now the image of Quee stood clearly before me, almost as if I could open my eyes to find him joining me in my captivity. The vision was so clear I could easily make out the growing worry and concern I saw flooding his eyes, wrinkling his forehead, thinning his mobile mouth into a determined line....

Maybe he smiled suddenly; did I imagine that? My eyes responded by falling back into my head; my knees buckled and I sank down to them, my head hanging.

"Quee," I thought, imagining the word as an arrow of energy, flowing from my brain and easily escaping the meager confines of the ship confining me. "Quee."

No panic, no anger, no despair. Only a deep, calm, and soul-encompassing concentration. "Quee. I am here. I am here. Dark is here. Desolist will be here...

"Quee, hear me. Hear my thought, hear my plea. I am here. Come after us, Quee. Come for me. Follow... follow... follow...."

I repeated the mental message, beyond wondering if it would work, beyond the fear that Dark might hear it. Outward I imagined it going, repeating over and over, arrowing through the unreality of hyperspace, a flickering beacon shining with bright hope into a rapidly darkening night.

Come for me, Quee... Follow....

"There we are." I said as I gazed through my sensor scope at two miners who had just disembarked from their aging mining transport. They seemed to be talking to one another in a friendly fashion as a transcargo speeder skimmed up behind them. Six workers leapt into action and began loading the same old same old into the miners transport . This was the fifth transport since this early morning. All of these ships were being resupplied. Nothing was being offloaded.

"Damn." I cursed to myself as I pulled the jac that ran from my high tech helmet to the powerful scope that was mounted on my EE-21 sniping rifle. I sighed as I sat my rifle down for a moment. My body was stiff from sitting here for the past nine hours. I leaned against the mighty trunk of the F'lar tree as I stretched my arms upward towards the blue black sky of H'del.

I wondered how everyone else was doing. I knew that 187 had the honor of monitoring the Bourguise Corporation . I knew that K'Kihl and Ooglan were monitoring the local space traffic for anything that might be of interest. Boglan volunteered to go to the local cantinas and pubs to try and mingle with the locals . Hopefully he would find out something about Desolist and his dark schemes. Then there was Galen... Galen? What in Hells Seven Circles was Galen doing? I bet Quee is giving her a day of rest. Khaandon knows she needs it!

"SSHHKK*Sorben?*SSHHKK" 187 said over our secure comm channel.

"Yes?" I replied as I leaned forward again into my sniping rifle.

"SSHHKK*Can you see me?*SSHHKK" he asked .

I quickly turned my scope to the city of Dalius a mere two kilometers away. I trained my sites on the Bourguise Corporation and began to search the area for 187. The son of a wookies uncle was hidden well!

"SSHHKK*I'm waving at you.*SSHHKK" he said as a few seconds passes.

I scoped out the area again with a more focused search. Within seconds he was spotted. He was hidden between a holoboard and a communications array. He was clad in his Imperial armor and had his sniping rifle in my direction. He was pointing it directly at me! I noticed that he was waving his pinky finger at me as his hands firmlt gripped his rifle.

"SSHHKK*Ka-pow*SSHHKK*Ka-pow.*SSHHKK" he calmly mimicked me being shot at by him. I laughed to myself for a brief moment.

"Good eye." I congratulated him on finding me.

Then I noticed that he pulled away from his rifle suddenly and began to break down his gear. I raised a brow beneath my helmet as I watched his action.

"What in Hells Seven Circles are you doing?" I asked as he removed his sensor scope from his rifle and packed it into his carrying case.

"SSHHKK*Found Dark.*SSHHKK" he calmly said.

A lump grew in my stomach at the mention of that Jedi hunters name. My temper flared, then quickly diminished.

"SSHHKK*He's got Galen.*SSHHKK" 187 continued as he sat his rifle carefully into it's case.

My heart about stopped! A second lump began to form in my throat as a shot of pure rage was sent through my system. My hands began to tremble.

"WHAT?!" I asked." How did..???"

"SSHHKK*Quee sent her in to infiltrate the corporation.."187 began to explain,"She was hired on the spot and lead directly to Dark. He captured her.*SSHHKK"

I quickly began to break my gear down as a third person joined in 187s and I's conversation.

"One-Eight-Seven, Sorben, and Boglan return to the hotel at once. Dark has one of ours and we must act at once." Quee calmly said with an added edge of urgency.

"Quee? How could you send Galen into hat flabid den of womp rats?" I criticized as I fumbled my equipment into its proper carrying case space.

"I am sorry Sorben but it was best that you remained ignorant to this part of the plan. She was more than capable of taking care of herself before you and I came along. I assure you that she is more than capable of taking care of herself now. "Quee pointed out in a half scolding tone." We will get her my friend."

I lept to my rented swoop below with my gear in hand. I quickly began to secure my gear to the bike.

"We shall make ready our plans when we all meet in the hotel. We will be leaving by the darkening. I await your arrival." Quees voice faded as I sat upon the seat of the swoop and started her powerful engine.

"Galen.." I mumbled to myself. ".Please be safe. Hang in there girl, we're on our way."

It was now time to plan our next course of action against Dark and his master, Lord Regent Desolist. What dark plans lurk within their deadly minds? I could only wait and see what we discover......

Galen, please be safe...

Desolist had stationed many capital class vessels within the vicinity of Yarnig and her Seven Moons . Mining ships came in almost every other day for some reason. The mining vessels parted the system only to resupply at H'del, Crix Minor, or Vheng Ki, then the ships would return in a few short days to dig yet again on the near barren surface of Ploatius.

Beneath Ploatius there was the secret hold of the fallen crimelord, Gordoz. It stretched for many kilometers beneath the surface of the barren moon. It consisted of nearly a dozen hangers of various sizes and barracks for nearly a thousand men. Many of the hangers and barracks were add-ons made by the Lord Regent himself to accomodate the troops and equipment he felt would be necessary to defend Gordoz's old abode.

The three prisoners slowly made there way down one of the many stoneworked corridors of this base. Volcrath managed to smile every step of the way as he gazed upon the back of Jacko's head who stumbled along before him. Sasetch was in the lead of this trio of shackled prisoners and she silently cursed the guards every step of the way. Six stormtroopers in grey stormtrooper armor escorted them to their destination.

"Volcrath says chains not too bad, no?" he smiled devilishly as he glanced at the back of Jacko's flexicast head. "At least on you!"

The devorian laughed loudly as his annoying humor seemed to fall on deaf ears. The troopers lead the three beings into a large open circular cavern within this hold. The three were lead to the center of the room before the lead trooper ordered the captives to halt. Two troopers then stood the three side by side and quickly shackled them all together. Volcrath smiled to Jacko as Sasetch raised her head to look into the hollow of this grand cavern. She only saw darkness. Jacko stood still as he gazed upon the writings on the wall. He squinted his eyes to try and make some of the writings out but was interrupted by a booming voice from above.

"Welcome to Desolist domicile. You three are his.." a brief pause "..GUESTS."

The three looked up as the troopers took their guard positions around the new arrivals. The prisoners strained to see where the voice was coming from. The room was largely shrouded in darkness except for the small amount of light that was coming from the floor lamps that lined the walls.

"Desolist will be back shortly. He placed me in charge of your hospitality. I can promise you that I will do everything in my power to make your stay a pleasant one." a short laugh followed, almost as annoying as Volcraths. "First thing is first..."

A small dark clad figure gracefully walked out from the shadows. His uniform was black and form fitting. His skin tone was of pure white and his eyes were of ice. The man's dark hair was wild and unkept as it spiked to various angles.

"A Nagai?" Jacko questioned to himself as he looked upon the small man who barely stood a little over five standard feet. Nagai were the scourge of their small universe. They had challenged the Republic once but fell shortly after. The Nagai incursion was one of the shortest conflicts that the Republic had seen to date. Nagai make great assassins but only decent warriors. They had all but vanished to the known universe. Now, there was one here standing before Jacko, Volcrath, and Sasetch .

"Guards!" the Nagai ordered."Take these three to their..quarters." He tilted his head down at an angle as his eyes flared in delight as the troopers moved in to take the prisoners to the dungeons below.

"Cheif Alzerander!" an Imperial officer said off to the side to the pale Nagai. The Nagai turned his attention towards the young human officer standing to his side.

"Lord Dark is back with the final prisoner. He just landed in hanger Alpha One." the officer informed.

The Nagai nodded a quick affirmation as the officer saluted and walked away. Alzerander wore a wicked smile at this news. Another "guest" for the dungeons. It had been a long time since the dark hold played host to such. Not since the torturing of Gordozs men at least.

Within several minutes, Gravin Dark joined Alzerander within this dark cavern. The security cheif gave a quick bow as Dark entered the room. Dark seemed to be looking beyond the security cheif as the dark hunter walked past. Dark disappeared in the shadows as the Nagai slowly rose from his bow to watch the Dark Lord go to his quarters.

Alzerander stood at attention then slowly paced the stone floor as he waited for Lord Regent Desolist to return.

I grinned to myself, imagining that brief moment of surprise that must have crossed this barve's mind when the little helpless dri'kk turned....

Not that long ago, the jolt of landing brought me out of my self-imposed near-trance, effectively breaking off whatever communication link I might have had going. Might have... I still hadn't a clue as to whether or not Quee had managed to connect to the thought I strove so hard to send. If so, fine. Chances they were on their way. But if not....

I cut myself off as the door to my cell suddenly opened. Without stood a fully armored Imperial Trooper, blaster rifle held at the ready. SSHKK- "Come along now, Miss," -SSHKK, he directed in a monotone. The tip of the blaster swerved momentarily in my direction, then off to his left. SSHKK- "This way." -SSHKK

I bowed my head before his impervious form, and took a hesitant step toward him. For my efforts, he reached out an armored hand, grasped me by my upper arm, and flung me afront him. SSHKK- "Move it!" -SSHKK

Anger flared within, but by a dint of effort I kept it at bay. Now is not the time to use it, ol girl, I thought to myself as I obeyed the overly-zealous trooper's command. Just keep your wits about you, and your eyes open. With the most pitiful look I could dredge up (not too difficult a feat, actually, at the moment) I moved ahead of him, dragging my feet. Behind me, the blaster rifle poked into the small of my back.

We moved down the companionway, up a small stairway, through myriad corridors and finally exited the ship. At every step of the way I expected to be joined by more troopers, perhaps even by Dark himself. Apparently they thought there was no major threat inherent in my small form; one Imperial with a blaster was good enough to contain me as prisoner.

So they had thought....

We moved through the hangar to a small barred door hidden in a corner. I heard the whirr-click of the trooper's commlink as he connected with his commander. SSHKK- "I'm taking her to bay 383-B, holding cell 57 right now, Sir," -SSHKK I heard him mutter in a low voice. Then all was quiet save for the clack of his boots upon the stone floor.

I shrank into myself, trying to look as small and helpless as possible. All the while, my eyes were noting the characteristics of this strange place. Electrical wiring strung overhead, held up by studs driven into stone walls, stone floor. Wherever we had landed, we were obviously beneath the surface. Occasionally we passed side passages; they stared at us like balefully dark and empty eyes, watching as we moved beyond them. Here and there we passed clumps of troopers who stood about chatting amongst themselves, observing others in mining gear who bustled about. Occasionally one would tip his helmeted head in greeting to my captor; he merely kept his blaster firmly planted, moving me along.

At length we came upon a magnetically sealed metal door. I stopped before it, unable to continue. The trooper nudged my back with the tip of his blaster rifle, then reached around to tap in a code to unseal the door. Now or never, ol girl, I told myself. In for a credit....

With a grace and speed that took the Imperial utterly off-guard, I whirled, took a small sideways step. Grasped the blaster with both hands, one near the tip, the other reaching far forward to plant itself close to its stock. The Imperial reacted as I knew he initially would. He froze in surprise.

I didn't give him time to think further. Keeping my back completely straight, and using my whole body, I took a big step backward, still maintaining my grip. The trooper's body followed my quick movement; he leaned forward, briefly off-balanced.

I didn't stop there. Staring him straight in his helmet's black lenses, I now took a sweeping stride forward, hugging into him, arms extended upward. The trooper continued to respond as I knew he would: he refused to let go of his blaster. The net result was that he now found himself with his arms lifted above his head, his blaster forming a neat little bridge under which I quickly ducked, turning as I came up on his left side.

Now the trooper's armor worked to my advantage. It stiffened his arms even more, which were now crossed over themselves at the wrists, elbows straining, his whole body leaning down to my level. I moved the blaster in a quick little circle...

...and it obligingly snapped right out of his grasp. Letting its momentum carry it, I moved it down and around; then, pushing forward with my entire 110-pound frame I slammed the butt up under his helmet, directly into his unprotected throat.

The force of this blow knocked his head back, loosened his helmet. He staggered briefly; I kept up my momentum, repeated my attack, now catching the helmet by its edge and ripping it viciously from his head. Bringing my trailing foot up next to the other now, I lifted the rifle over my own head. Then I stepped forward, and slammed it in a great swinging arc into his temple.

He fell like a ronto. And I wasn't even panting.

From start to finish, my unexpected attack took about ten seconds. I looked around, assessing my situation, the blaster now a comfortable presence in my arms. I remembered many of the side passages we had passed; with no further hesitation, I began slipping back the way we had come.

Perhaps one of those passages led to the surface. There I could either wait for help to arrive (assuming it would arrive, that is) or perhaps sneak aboard an outbound ship.

Somehow, someway, I was going to get off this rock, and back to my companions. Back to safety. Back to sanity.

Back to Sorben.

But for now, once again, I was just another little mole, creeping along beneath the surface. Like some sort of renegade moth, I sought out the dimmest-lit passage I could find. Found it. Glanced briefly around myself. No one in sight. Good.

I disappeared into the shadows.

That night, Zarist was in rare form. He was buying drinks for everyone at "The Ladies Orb" and he was popular with most of the clientel, especially the ladies. He liked the place. It was dimly lit, with plenty of tables for eating and gambling among other things. Twi'lek dancers and a vugel band were the highlights of the entertainment. Zarist had two ladies sitting with him at his table, one on each knee. A drink in one hand, and an exposed bit of flesh in the other. Life was good for Zarist Mk'fel and he let everyone know. He spent most of the evening talking of the places he had been and the job he was to take here in T'lyx proper. The ladies listened attentively as they carefully kept track of the level of credits he had in his pockets. All was good until Zarist got up to relieve himself. As he entered the back area of the bar and was about to go through the door of the facilities, he felt a strong clammy had grasp his face and head just before the door frame lashed out and hammered his head. He was stunned but still on his feet. He felt those same hands guiding him roughly through another door into the outside. It was dark, but he could hear the atmosphere scrubbers far overhead loud and clear. He was definately not in the bar anymore. He stumbled over what sounded like bottles and refuse from the bar. The fermented smell that pervaded his nostrils confirmed the fact. Falling against the wall in front of him, Zarist tried to steady himself and turn to face his assailant. As his eyes grew accustomed to the dim light, he could make out the form of a bulbous-headed alien with four tentacles writhing where a mouth should have been present. There were Thousands, millions of alien life forms in the galaxy, Zarist could not know them all. In it's right hand, the creature held a long knife. Its other was clenched in anticipation. Sighing once, Zarist stood up fully before flinging himself at the attacker with a gut-wrenching war cry. His left hand went out to grasp the knife hand, his right went down to encircle the creature's left. The two embraced face to face in a death struggle. Zarist's cry turned into a gurgle. Even as he grasped the creature, he realized that it was not struggling against him. It's limbs were at rest. He was within an inch of the creature's face when two of the creature's tentacles shot out at his own. Small, sharp, durasteel tips, that had gone unnoticed in the darkness, led the way as one tentacle pierced Zarist's eye socket and entered his brain while the other went to the same destination by way of his open mouth. He did not have a chance to feel any pain before his body littered the ground.

Boglen quickly rifled through Zarist's pockets after wiping the goo off of his tentacles. Only a moment and he had found the commission datachip and the few credits the hauler captain had left. Taking these, Boglen thanked the Gods of the deep. He did not want to look for anymore commissioned haulers just to steal a datachip. Besides it was hard to find a suitable target. One who worked alone, would not be missed, ship with matching specs, etc.
Securing the chip, Boglen threw away the captains ID before dragging the body into a shadowy area of the refuse corridor. He then reentered "The Ladies Orb" through the back door. Taking a moment to readjust his vision, Boglen made his way to the bar, quaffed down the drink that was waiting for him, threw down some credits, and made his way out the front doors. He liked this place. Lively. He would have to thank Sorben for suggesting it. It was in a bit of a rough area, not far from the Galaxy Queen Hotel, but it was the kind of place "The Scourge" could be himself.

Gravin was pacing the floor of a dark room within the cavern complex that he had finished out for his own private meditations. He was deep in thought over his recent premonition in the corporate HQ of the Bourgius corporation when the door slid open and the pale figure of the Nagai security chief entered.
"What is the meaning of this interruption?" he asked.

"Forgive the intrusion my Lord, but something has happened on B'racus."

"What is it?" Gravin asked quickly. Fearing the worst under the shadow of the premonition.

"It seems several stormtroopers that were missing have been found." The pale Nagai began.

"Is that all, my chief?" Gravin let out an audible sigh. "It does not concern me about the wanderings of a few soldiers. That is for the garrison commander to worry and to punish."

"Unfortunately, master, they were found dead." The nagai continued.

"Then the garrison commander needs to find the murderers and make an example of them."

"I am afraid there is more,sir."

"What else?" Gravin asked a little frustrated.

"The troopers were guarding the bay to your shuttle."

Gravin stood in shock. (His own guards. It could only be one person.)Coming to his senses, Gravin looked again at the Nagai.

"How long ago did this happen?" Gravin asked.

"No more than an hour or so, my Lord." The Nagai said firmly.

"Have the station guard alerted. Have them begin a sweep of the landing bays. Check all recent traffic layovers. They are to look for a tall man in old styled armor and a hooded cloak. He will most likely be accompanied by a bounty hunter who carries a net gun as his preferred weapon, a couple of Quarren, and a verpine. They are all considered dangerous and are to be shot on sight. Captured if possible. Also, put our Interdicter at B'racus on full alert as well. I want them to monitor all traffic coming to this base closely. All other traffic is to be temporarily put on lock down."

It was the Nagai's turn to stand in shock. He stood a moment in silence, letting the orders go through his mind. Seeing that Dark was serious, he bowed low and began to leave. Stopping short, he again turned to Dark. Dark looked back at him quizzicly.

"What else?"

"I almost forgot, your prisoner has escaped." The Nagai said wincing. "The one you called Galen. She killed her guard and is somewhere in the lower chambers. We have sealed of the area and are making a systematic check of the caverns. As an area is cleared, we are sealing it and pumping out all air. This will insure that the mouse must go where we want it." The Nagai looked up at Gravin somewhat hopeful after delivering his plan.

"How long has she been missing?" Gravin asked as he turned away from the Nagai's eyes.

"No more than fifteen minutes." The security chief said a little more confident.

"Very well. Continue your efforts and report to me in intervals. Thank you, chief." Gravin went back to his pacing as the door slid shut behind the Nagai. His thoughts again went to Quee and the events that were unfolding.

"What in Hell's seven circles were you thinking, Quee?" Sorben yelled as he walked into the hotel room to face the Jedi.

Quee looked at the angry bounty hunter as he approached and noted the clenched fists, the reddened face, and the violent trembling that was running through Sorben's body. Stretching out his hand in Sorben's direction, Quee touched the force.

"Calm, my friend." Quee spoke.

Sorben felt as if he were back at the "Emporer's Palace" in that smoke filled bar, again under the influence of glitterstim spice. 187 quickly helped him to sit down on the bed before his legs began to give way. The anger Sorben had felt seemed to float away as the effects of the force stun wore off.

"Now that you are able to listen, we will discuss the recent events." Quee began. "First of all, Galen is a big girl. Second, it was our decision not to let you in on her going to the bourgius corporation as you would have insisted on being in 187's place as her cover."

"You're damned right I would have." Sorben interrupted. "And I wouldn't have allowed her to be taken either." He shot a glance at 187.

"Which would not have let us tag Gravin's vessel." Quee began again. "You would have played hero and failed. Leaving us nowhere except maybe two men down."

"You tagged Gravin's ship!?!" Sorben blurrted out in excitement.

"187 did." Quee pointed to the armored man.

Sorben looked up at 187 apologeticly before asking his next question.

"We know where Galen is, then?"

"Not exactly, but we are tracking the general direction. Once we are in pursuit, it should be a little easier to pinpoint as we get closer."

"So we are going after her?" Sorben querried more hopefully.

"yes, and we need to go soon. We don't want them finding the tag and removing it before we pinpoint the location." Quee explained. "We will take my ship, as it is faster than the freight hauler. Ooglen and K'khl will follow later in it."

Sorben and 187 looked questioningly at Quee.

"Boglen has aquired a commision for a mining vessel. The 2200 fits the bill. Ooglen and k'khl will pose as miners."

SShh"What is our disguise?"SShh 187 asked.

"We won't have one. We'll have to go in stealth mode. Gravin is on the lookout for us. Any ship without a commission will be suspect I am afraid." Quee looked to his friends for any more questions. They only stared back blankly waiting for his next bit of good news.
"Well let's go then, we don't have all day." Quee grabbed his bag before turning to Sorben who was still sitting with a despondent look on his face.
"Don't worry, she is alright. I have felt her. She has been trying to call out to me. I have not answered because I want to keep Gravin from knowing to much and I fear he would read her thoughts."

"Thank Khaandon." Sorben sighed in relief before slinging his net gun.

SShh"Khaandon?"SShh.

Sorben stood bolt upright before turning to face 187.
"Shut up!" He shouted and headed out the door.

Two more hallways and they would have been home free. K'khl and Ooglen were already on board the 2200. As 187 rounded the corner of the intersecting corridors, a blaster bolt splashed across the durasteel wall just a few inches from his head. Quee and Sorben rushed to the corner in time to see the body of a stormtrooper fall to the deadly fire of 187 who had immediately dropped and rolled at the attack on his person. Coming up firing, he took the assailant in the chest followed by a second and third in various places before rushing behind the cover of a media stand located on the opposite wall from Quee and Sorben. Several stormtroopers from what was left of the squad were making their way towards 187, while the rest opened up towards Quee and Sorben. With a snap hiss, Quee ignited his light saber and stepped out into the middle of the corridor, thereby splitting up the troopers fire. Deflecting the incoming bolts, he began to walk slowly towards the attackers. Sorben took out two with his net gun as another fell to 187's fire. In range, the last two fell to the sabers cut.

"187, are you alright?" Quee asked as he looked over the unusually empty corridor to the bay.

SShh"Peachy."SShh

"Sorben! Boglen! Get to the ship. We'll cover the rear. There may be more ahead, so be careful."
As the two headed down the causeway, Quee looked to 187. "This was a trap." He said."They were set up and waiting for us. They must have been warned about us by Dark and then seen us on a monitor."

SShh"They probably saw this too."SShh 187 deduced. SShh"If they saw your saber just then, they will be sending a lot more."SShh

The sound of many feet came to their ears down the corridor from which they had come just as the sound of blaster fire came from the bay. The two companions looked at one another.

SShh" I think we better be leaving soon."SShh

"I agree."

The two turned and ran down the hall toward the bay the ship was docked. The blaster fire had stopped and smoke filled parts of the bay. Sorben stood at the bottom of the ramp waiting for the two.

"EVERYTHING OKAY HERE!" he shouted when he saw them come through the bay entrance. "But the dock blast doors are shut."

"Hold them off." Quee ordered as he ran to the empty control tower at the edge of the bay.
It was only a minute or so before he heard the sounds of blaster fire coming from the bay. After activating the atmosphere shield at the dock doors, Quee proceeded to open the outer blast doors. When the process was well under way, he ignited his saber and destroyed the controls. As he went to the stairs back down to the bay, he could here the thunder of the ship's Quad cannons going off and smiled knowing the Scourge had entered the fray. By the time Quee was at the bottom of the stair, the fight was over.

187 had taken a few grazes but nothing bad and Sorben was unscathed. Quee looked at the two before heading to the ships bridge. Boglen was already warming up the ship as he waited on Quee to take his place in the command chair. Sorben and 187 took seats in weapons and communications stations as Boglen manned the sensors.

In seconds the black freighter was into the vacuum of space.

"We have that Interdictor bearing down on us, Quee." Boglen announced to the dismay of Sorben and 187. "It already has a gravity well in position and Ties are inbound."

Sorben and 187 made ready to go to guns, but Quee motioned for them to be calm.

"We already have our coordinates in the computer. Disengage the navcomp and sensors Bogen." Quee spoke to his engineer as the other two looked on in horror.

"What are you doing, Quee?" Sorben asked with a note of anxiety.

"The Interdictor forces us out of hyperspace by creating an image of a gravity well for our sensors to see." Quee explained. "It doesn't really exist, but our computer thinks it does. It cannot calculate a trajectory until it does not pick up the well. We simply turn off the sensors and computer and I calculate the path." Quee smiled at Sorben and 187. The explaination being mulled over in each's heads.

"But how can you..." Sorben began, but too late, they were already into hyperspace.

Well, not without a fight, they're not! I vowed as I shifted the blaster to ready position. This little morsel is not just gonna stroll right into the Space Slug's open maw!

I straightened quickly, my eyes darting about, seeking any place to hide, any cranny, any little crevice in which to secrete myself. The surrounding basalt stared back stonily, uncompromisingly solid and black and unyielding. Sheesh, there had to be something here...

With quick little steps I crept forward, one hand gripping the rifle, the other outstretched, feeling my way in the dim light of the passage. Behind me, the sounds of the hunters grew louder, their echoes ringing in my ears, raising a growing desperation against which I fought as my searching hand probed, patted, scrabbled...

...and discovered. There: a definite edge. My hand slipped around further; no immediate end in sight. Quickly I slipped into a small indentation in the stone wall: an ancient gas bubble created in the slowly cooling rock during its formation untold eons ago. It's trailing edge flared into the passage, then back toward the main body of the bubble. If I hadn't happened to have placed my hand on that very edge, I would have missed seeing it altogether, as at just a quick glance it appeared to be no more than some obscure lump in the wall of solid rock.

I hunkered in further, drawing my legs up, hugging the blaster like a life-saver. Gritted my teeth fiercely; Khaandon, but this rock was cold against my bared legs. Chattering teeth could give away my position as well as a general announcement.

The footsteps grew deafeningly loud, came directly afront me... I hunkered further, holding my breath now... voices muttering and mumbling vicious little promises of dire intentions upon my person... they were here, they were here, they were...

...passing.

I think I held my breath a good minute after the sounds of voices and footsteps dwindled in the distance ahead of me. Then let it out in a definite whoosh. Drooped in relief with a sigh. Then frowned, as yet another noise came stealthily into my ears.

Something else was still whooshing...

I suddenly became very aware that a tendril of my hair was pulling out from my head. Wha--? Hopping from my hiding place, I re-entered the passage proper... to discover that a breeze indeed was blowing therein, and gaining strength with every passing second. I hurried forward, following this strange wind, wondering what in Hell's Seven Circles was going on now...

...and came to an abrupt halt with the realization that I was now leading into the wind. Instinctively, I looked up. There above me hung a metallic conduit. In it's side was a grated air vent. With a start that shook me to the marrow, I realized the winds were converging upon that little vent.

Great Khaandon's Ghost! They were pumping the air from the passageway! If I stayed here, I would certainly suffocate. What to do, what to do...?

Desperation is truly the mother of invention. Without any further thought, I raised the blaster, aimed at the conduit and fired. The smoke produced by this act quickly disappeared into the gaping hole now revealed in its metallic side, strips of shaking metal hanging down within my easy reach. Slinging the blaster rifle over my back, I grasped a strip, bent my legs, leapt with all my strength, and found myself hanging over the edge of the hole. For only a part of a second I hung there; then the strengthening wind grasped me as if I were straw and sucked me from my precarious position. I suddenly found myself rapidly drawn headfirst down the dark and claustrophobic tube.

A seeming eternity later, and I literally saw a light at the end of the tunnel. Weird, it was blinking rapidly, almost strobe-like... My eyes widened the next second as I realized what it was. Desperately, I scrabbled around in the cramped confines, managing to bring the bore of the blaster over my shoulder to point in the direction in which I travelled. One elbow probed in a blind frenzy...

...and thankfully, the blaster discharged, sending it's ravening energies against the circulation fan whirring directly in front of me. With a sudden jolt, I found myself flying out of the tight confines of the conduit, passing bits of blasted fan, and landing in a defensive roll upon the hard floor of a singular room.

A singular room which possessed a singular door. Still shaking from my narrow escape, I regained my footing, crept to the door, eased it opened...

Without, an empty hall. A real hall, with walls of durasteel and not stone. I tiptoed out, glancing at the small and unassuming plaque embedded next to the door. "Atmospheric Quality Control Substation 137-8-Zulu," it announced almost as an afterthought.

I grinned. Almost there now, ol girl, I told myself. My eyes everywhere, I hurried ahead. Finally came upon a small door. Opened it the merest bit, peeped a careful eye out...

...to see rock and machinery and buildings in the distance and beautiful, beautiful sky....

Keeping to the shadows, I crept without, hurried as quickly and as quietly as I could, occasionally having to hide as clusters of Troopers, rifles at the ready, clattered past, no doubt en route to the subterranean caverns to assist in the increasing effort to find me. I continued on, my goal the group of buildings which grew with my every step into the mining shantytown I knew it would be. The gears in my brain began to whir, and I came up with an idea. With renewed spirit, I headed toward the run-down little huddle of buildings.

Enroute I took care of another little matter. As I crept along, I managed to stumble upon a solitary miner, heading toward whatever place he headed after a day's hard work, there to seek refreshment and relaxation. I would be heading there myself, but first...

The miner never knew what hit him. I came away from that little fracas the proud owner of a light-weight hand-blaster, which I strapped to my thigh. Let him explain to the Troopers who might find him how he came to be in the possession of an Imperial issued blaster rifle....

My searching gaze soon led me into the shantytown proper. There ahead of me was my goal: in fading letters it announced its being to the universe in general.

"Blue Asteroid," I read to myself in a whisper. Just the sort of place where the rough and ready might hang out. A perfect spot in which to glean information; everybody sold out everybody in a dive like this.

A perfect place to perhaps reunite with Sorben, if indeed he was en route to me at all. But, a perfect place to plan my next course of action.

Running my hand through my hair (Khaandon, but I must look a fright) I tugged on the remnants of my Kaladorian dress. It bore a few more holes, and several shredded tatters. Perfect.

Head held high, mysterious little smirk on my lips, I slinked into that lovely establishment in the exact same manner as I had into the Bourgius Corporation headquarters on B'racus Seven. Sleazed up to the bar, and pouted my lips at the large and hairy humanoid who tended it.

It didn't take me long to get hired....

"The woman was hired by one of the miners do you say?" the white humanoid asked as he continued to walk back and forth across the floor.

"Yes Sir. That is correct." the young olive uniformed officer responded.

Alzerander quickly turned towards the officer who was standing at attention and crossed his arms against his chest.

"Wonderful." the Nagai smiled.

"Shall I send a squad to retrieve her? I am sure I could..."

"No!" Alzerander interrupted. " Tell the miner who hired her to work her as if nothing is wrong. Treat her like a normal employee."

"But sir.." the young officer began to protest. The Nagai's eyes flared as he raised a hand to silence the questioning of his judgement. The officer quickly silenced and snapped back to attention.

"I am sure her friends will be coming here to rescue her. If my research is correct this Galen is a friend of Sorben Tarnus. Sorben Tarnus of course is an enemy of Gravin Dark. Oh the drama that a soul could enjoy if these events are allowed to unfold." the Nagai was smiling yet again as he gazed walked closer to the young officer. The officers mouth dropped.

"Couldn't this disrupt Lord Regent Desolist plans?" the officer asked.

"Tarnus and Dark?" the Nagai gave a slight chuckle at the thought of Dark and Tarnus ruining his Lords plans. "I seriously doubt that."

"Alzerander!" a voice interjected from behind. The Nagai and the young officer quickly turned to face an older, more rotound officer standing at attention behind them.

"Pardon the intrusion however I have two bits of rather disturbing news." the man said as he stared only at the Nagai.

"Go ahead Major D'verus." the Nagai said.

"First , there was a transport to leave H'del without clearence. It was the one that we had been watching. The one with the hunter Tarnus and his Jedi friend. The interdictor failed to stop them . We think they may be heading here."

The Nagai raised a brow at this news wondering what in Gloroos depths could be next.

"Secondly, the technicians found a small tracing device attached to the outter hull of Lord Dark's transport. It was inactive when we found it however my technicians believe that it was active up until the Iron Guantlets systems shut down after landing, some sort of self destruct type thing, sir."

"Then I promise you that Tarnus and his friends will be coming here then." the security cheif deduced rather easily.

"Are you still sure about holding our actions agains securing Galen, sir?" the young officer asked from behind.

"I am sure." the Nagai said as he turned his head to the young man who seemed eager to bring the young woman back into the Lord Regents hands.

"Thank you for your report major. I shall inform Lord Dark as well as Lord Regent Desolist."

The overweight officer gave a slight bow before turning sharply on his heel to exit the moderate chambers. Alzerander turned to the young officer still standing behind him.

"I want a Nagai squad watching that womans every move. I want to know where she is at all times!"Alzerander stressed with a raised finger. "I also want all troops on double alert! There is no telling what Tarnus and his friends will do once they get here."

"Yes sir!" the young officer said as he gave a quick bow.

"Jacko?"

I lifted my head slowly up then turned to my left. Through the bars I could see another cell some twenty paces away. I could barely make out Sasetch's form as she leaned against the old bars that held her captive. She had been the lucky one. I could escape her hold. The cell I was in was a force cage consisting of both bars and energy fields. My gifts were helpless as long as I was within this prison. I sat my cup down slowly and crawled towards the edge of my cell.

"Where's Volcrath?" she asked, her voice hoarse. Her dark hair was matted with dried blood and her once flawless face was covered with scraps and bruises. One of the wounds was caused by Dark when she refused to drop her weapon and she was force slammed into the ceiling to quell her. Most of the marks were fresh, the work of the Nagai interrogators who had questioned both her and myself within our first hours of being here.

"I.. don't..know." I struggled as I gazed upon her form. She coughed.I wish I could tend to her as she had tended to me over the past few weeks but I was seperated from her by this hindering technology of old.

"Are .. you..??" she began to ask as I nodded.

"I am.. okay." I said as I tried to smaile beneath my flexicast. "They seperated.. me from Volrath after.. they divided you.. from the two.. of us."

"I hope he is faring... better than the two of us." she smiled as she began to cough yet again. I hope he wasn't. I was hoping that the damned devorian was getting at least twice what we were getting.

"Me too." I lied as I looked down the hallway. Sasetch and I seemed to be the only prisoners in this section of the detention area. The other cells around us were empty.

"Tell me Jacko,.." Sasetch began " ..what was it that you..saw when we first arrived?"

I turned my head to the side as I looked at the young bounty hunters bloodied form.

"What .. do you..??"

"When we first..arrived. You were taking in ..all the writings.. the script that was on the walls." Sasetch said." I check.. out things too when I'm.. being held prisoner but..your eyes seemed surprised by something."

Her eyes met mine from across the hallway as she clinched her hands on the metal bars of her cell. Was it that obvious that something was beginning to come together in my mind? I stared in silence for a moment at her.

"Well?" she asked.

"The writings ... on the wall.." I began as the door swooshed open at the other end of the hall.I quickly became mute as our captors made their way towards Sasetch and I.

The thin Nagai stood before us clad in all black. His uniform was hugging his body tightly as a bandolier of sharp knives hung across his chest. With his one good eye he looked at me helpless behind my cage. He smiled a bit.

"Lord Regent Desolist would like to speak to with you ,Jacko Kragar."

He reached into one of his many pockets that adorn his belt and held forth a small device that controled the force cage. I could see a squad of grey clad stormtroopers moving in behind him.

The Nagai keeper lowered my cage with a simple push of a button. The bars were slowly opened by a small humanoid creature to standing to my right. I had not seen the furry little devil until now. The seditives the interrogators had given me had not fully worn off. My senses were still far from a hundred percent.

"Lord Regent Desolist, I have brought Jacko before you as you have requested." N'ieve announced tilting his head up towards the throne.

Out from the shadows that surrounded the throne, Desolist leaned forward into the dim light that filled this chamber. His dark robes lay lazily upon him as his old fingers gave a tap upon the thrones arms.

"Thank you, N'ieve. Leave us." Desolist said in a raspy, dark voice.

N'ieve gave another quick bow as he released his end of the chain from around Jackos neck. Jacko remained bound, as his hands and feet were still shackled. Jacko looked up at the Dark Lord as he heard the Nagai and the stormtroopers exit.

"Jacko Kragar, I am honored to have you as one of my guest. I hope that you find your quarters to your liking?" a yellow stained smile crossed the Regents face as he slowly rose from his seat.

"With all due respect,... I have had .. better." Jacko mustered .

The Regent seemed to laugh silently at Jackos comment as he slowly walked down the stairs towards the shackled man.

"I do what I can." Desolist paused as he read into Kragars eyes. Desolist placed a feeble, cold hand upon Jackos shoulder. "I will make your stay more relaxing if you wish."

Jackos bonds fell to the ground as Desolist smiled briefly then turned away . Jacko looked down at his freed hands and feet.

"What.. is going .. on here?" Jacko asked as he turned his attention to the pacing Dark Lord.

"Come now , Jacko! You have a guess!" Desolist snapped as he turned towards the slightly startled man.

Jacko rubbed his wrist. He could feel a healing coarsing through his veins. He then reached up to his throat as a warm sensation burned him there. He swallowed his own spit as his vocal cords healed within seconds. Desolist was healing him?

"I am afraid that I do not have a clue as to what you are planning." Jacko confessed with a raised brow beneath his flexicast.

The Dark Lord smiled as he stopped to look up at the confused guest. He then looked about the chamber that the two men were standing in.

"This place was once the home of an outcast clan from Jorus .." Desolist began as Jacko gazed once again at the symbols on the walls that surrounded them."..Clan Magroo."

Jacko turned his attention solely to Desolist.

"Clan Magroo was held in high honor until their leader began to take an interest in Sith magicks. The desire to learn and understand all that was Sith eventually drove the man mad . His clan tried to stop their leaders new found obcession but failed. The other clans eventually got involved causing a whole bunch of bureacratic babble! The United Clan Council decided to send in the Justice Keepers to stop the leader of Magroo forcefully. The leader refused to comply and thus he was killed at the hands of the Justice Keepers after he had taken three of them with him."

Desolist grew quiet for a moment as he recalled the events of a thousand years past. Jacko looked on.

"The leaders son, Kym Magroo took charge of the clan and vowed to avenge his fathers death. He blamed the council for not acting accordingly to their sacred Seven Laws of D'antis. He rallied his clan and began taking action against the council and their Justice Keepers. After a full year of battle, Magroo fell to the might of the combined clans against them. Kym was brought before the council. The council sentenced him and his entire clan to banishment beyond the stars. Their old starship brought them here."

Desolist walked over to one of the walls of the great chamber and began to glide one of his hands over a line of symbols that stained these walls.

"Pardon my questioning, Lord Desolist but what does an outcast clan mean to you?" Jacko dared to ask. Desolist smiled to himself before turning to face Jacko.

"Kym Magroo had studied the same Sith writings as his father. He memorized all that he could before declaring war on the council and the Justice Keepers. He wrote down all that he knew within these walls. The history of the Sith is perserved here ......as well as something else." Desolist smiled as he walked towards Kragar again.

"The digging?" Jacko asked.

Desolist laughed loudly as he patted Jacko on the sides of his arms.

"Magroo used his knowledge of Sith weaponry to construct a small one meter device that had the power to decimate an entire planet. "

Jackos eyes widened as he glanced into the Lord Regents yellow eyes.

"I intend to find these weapons that Magroo had constructed and use them against Skywalker and his New Republic." Desolist hissed as he face scowled.

"Couldn't you just recreate these weapons?" Jacko asked . The Dark Lord turned. " I mean, it would save a lot of digging."

"Yes... if I could find the rare metals that are needed to construct such a device. Even if I could locate the metals the scale of the device would require a single modified star destoyer to deliver the device. The Republic outguns all of the fragments of the Empire thus that plan is not a feasible one."

The Dark Lord smiled yet again.

"However, I am very close to finding these weapons. I can feel it ,though they are hidden very well from the force. "

There was a silence that filled the air for a few minutes as Desolist made his way back to his throne. Jacko stood silently still at the base of the stairs leading up towards the dark throne.

"What is it you seek of me?" Jacko hesitated.

Desolist took a seat as he drapped his arms around the sides of his throne.

"You will contact your master. You will bring him to me. I have many things to discuss with him."

Desolist then withdrew into the shadows. His form melded into the throne as Jacko stood silent below him. Jacko lowered his head as his eyes stared blankly at the cold stone below.

"What of my friends?" Jacko asked somewhat confused as to whether he was being released or not.

"Lets face it, Kragar.."the unseen Lord hissed. "You have no friends."

Out of the shadows from behind the throne a fiendish looking devorian emerged. His jagged teeth smiling down at Jacko.

"Volcrath says it is good to see you again." the devorian said. "But of course there is nothing good about seeing a Jacko, no?"

The devorian smiled as he confidently made his way down to the astonished Jackos side. Volcrath patted him quickly on his arm before announcing that it was time for he and Jacko to leave. Jacko followed the devorian quietly with his head hung low in thought.

Later that evening Sasetch would wake up on H'del. Her body unscathed. Her mind unable to recall why she was there. All that she knew was that she had to return to the bounty hunter guild. There were no memories of Jacko, Volcrath, Desolist, nor Dark. Her brother had been killed by some unknown while on a mission to Jorus. His partner, Sorben Tarnus was to blame for her brothers death. She would deal with him another day...

Desolist sat on his throne in silence . Things were beginning to fall into place. He would help unite the fragments of the Empire and the Dark Lords that lead them. United, they would have their revenge against the New Republic.He sat silently for hours before fading out of existance... his soul searching for the Chosen Daughter..

Galen felt a cold chill wash over her as she filled another glass of Bloo Ale to another nameless miner . An image of Dark shot through her head.. his yellow eyes piercing, but his expression calm. She jerked quickly as she sat the drink down before the miner who seemed to not notice her sudden twitch as he spun stories of todays dig. She slowly looked about the bar as for any signs of Dark or any of Desolists other goons. She shot a false smile towards one of the patrons as she filled yet another glass.

"Straighten up old girl." she thought to herself. "Sorben and Quee will be here soon enough to get you out of this mess."

She glanced about the shanty bar . Gravin Dark was sitting at one of the tables staring into her eyes. Darks yellow eyes studied her movements.She quickly averted her eyes away from hisas he sat calmly before her , his hood lowered and his weapon on the table... he waited for her to come to him.

The devorian quickly cleared his throat as he leaned up against the glass cluttered bar and smiled at the back end of some human servant girl . He turned his head to the side as he glanced at her work uniform which clung tightly to her natural features.

"Galen!" the owners voice barked as he saw the devorian leaning on the bar as if he needed some attention. The woman quickly jerked as she quickly turned to the muscular human who wore hair everywhere but on his head. "Customer!"

Her boss tilted his head towrads the devorian as he cleaned his two three thousandth glass in three days. Galen turned quickly to the devorian who was still smiling at her. She rapidly walked his way.

"Sorry.." she apologized as she stood behind the bar, her thoughts seemed elsewhere. "What can I get you?"

"Talbot says you can get him into all the trouble you want!" the devorian laughed as he cleared a group of glasses out of his way in a single push. Galen smiled slightly as the devorian leaned forward. "One Walk'nfall on the cubes!"

"Comin right up." Galen replied as she moved to the center rack of the bar that was filled with various liquors and sprees. She poured a tall glass of Walk'nfall for the devorian client.

"Talbot curious as to how a beauty like you gets to be here with all these peoples?" the devorian asked in his own special way. She sat the drink before him.

"Oh, I just happened to come by this part of the galaxy, needed a job , and well.. here I am!" she nervously said.

"Talbot thinks a lovily lady needs to be elsewhere. Ploatius very dirty. Not fit for a princess." the devorian flirted displaying his white, sharp teeth.

She smiled again , trying not to look at the dark robed man sitting behind the other side of the bar.

"Talbot thinks you are in trouble." the devorian said as his face straightened. Galens eyes widened. The devorian quickly smiled again." Spanking you are needing for being so naughty naughty."

He leaned in towards her as he gripped his drink tightly between them. She remained still.

"Talbot says Dark is watching you. Dark is bad vibration, no?" the devorian glanced behind Galens ear and looked at the robed man who still sat calmly at his table. "Talbot says Dark is using you as bait for your friends. Score to settle with them he has, no?"

Galen remained unmoving as the devorian whispered this into her ear. She bit her lip as the devorian drew away from her smiling.

"Talbot knows a lot. Desolists plans even. Talbots cousin works for Desolist and shares many things with me. "the devorian emptied his glass in a single gulp. He used his sleeve to whipe his maw. "Talbot works for Desolist as well. Talbot ship captain. Talbot delivers droids throughout core worlds. Legal business. Desolist makes money off Republic by selling droids to fund his military ."

The devorian laughed at the irony of it all. Desolist gets Republic credits to build up an army to battle the Republic. Irony indeed.

"Aren't you afraid of Gravin telling me all this?" Galen asked softly as she looked into the devorians eyes.

"Talbot not afraid of the Dark!" the devorian said as he leaned forward towards Galen. Luckily the load music from the old tune machine blanketed his outburst. "Talbot tired of the games. Talbots desire to serve is gone. Talbot lost mate and kiddies to Gordoz because Talbot works for Desolist. To Hades with them all!"

Galen reached out a hand to the devorians as he turned away. He quickly jerked his hand away from hers. He focused his eyes back on to her.

"Talbot says this will be his last run. Talbot going to Kaladore then home... forever."the devorian said as he quickly stood up from his seat. The rush from the Walk'nfall made his balance a bit uneasy. He reached deep into his pockets and threw a shiny gold twenty credit piece her way. It landed on the bar before her. "Keep the change."

Galen looked up at the devorian as he exited the dive. He wobbled from side to side as he made his way through the miners. She quickly glanced back behind her to where Gravin Dark had been sitting. The Dark Hunter was gone.

------------------
"Jedi go big boom... I like this."

My vision blurred as the words the Devoranian spoke to me ran through my mind over and over and over. It was one thing to suspect one was bait. It was quite another thing to actually realize this as being fact. A fact which was entirely out of my hands at the moment, which made me tremble all the more. Then this wonderful fact had been followed with information concerning the underhanded doings of the Dark Lord we were trying to learn about... and capped off by the fact that his yellow-eyed piece of mildewed jerky not only was watching me, but had been sitting here, right here in this fine establishment, his Merenzane Gold untouched before him, as he had stared at me.

Right in my eyes.

I shivered, slamming the tray again. Oh Sorben! I cried inwardly. If only you were here! I don't know what to do! I don't think there is anything I can do!

Or is there...?

That Devoranian certainly seemed to have more information than he was letting slip to me at the moment. He certainly seemed eager to divulge it to my ears as well. Maybe he would be persuaded to divulging whatever he might have been holding back. Maybe I ought to go after him.

But first: the naturally following thought struck me with the same force as it had its first time, when I was held prisoner in Dark's ship. Maybe... no telling if it would work, but again, it was worth trying....

Anything was worth trying. I somehow had to get a message out of what I knew so far, to warn them. To warn Sorben. If anything happened to him because of me....

"Hey, Thnak!" I hollered, striving to keep a lurking growl out of my voice. He jerked his shining face in my direction, his watery eyes narrowing. "I'm taking ten!"

Before he could complain, I dashed toward the back of the establishment, and out the little back door hidden there in a murky corner. Came out in a small "yard" of sorts. Rock, gravel, and a dismally scraggly tree were the only witnesses to my next, and to all outward appearances, bizarre behavior. Closing my eyes, I dropped to my knees, ignoring the pain which coursed through them as bits of stone tore into my skin.

I took several deep, calming breaths.

Quee, I thought as hard as I could, striving to focus, to imagine my thought as a beacon of light aimed directly into the haven of his mind. Beware. Dark. Bait. Desolist. Droids. Republic. Armies. Beware.

Over and over I repeated the message, hoping somewhere deep down inside me, where I was still very much conscious and watching over the procedure, that this was getting through. If they knew I had information, maybe they wouldn't want to hang here, risking their lives, risking Sorben's life. Maybe we'd all just take off and get the hell away, and plan our next move together, from a safe distance.

Maybe.

Sudden resolve, strength came over me in a calming flood. This would work. This was working. I knew it was; I could feel it.

Just as I could feel a dark shadow dropping over me....

"Move any closer and I will kill you." she made known to me as she remained kneeling with her back towards me.

Without warning she quickly rose to her feet, spinning around to face me. In her right hand she tightly held a hand sized rock. She stood trembling before me. I am sure the young lady didn't know what to make of my old Jo'vas armor (partially covered by the brown robes I wore to conceal it) and especially my helmet that looked more like a Gand Findsmans than that of a Kilferian. I slowly lowered my rifle before slinging it to my back.

"FrIeNd I Am." I informed in an electronic,somewhat muffled voice.

"I have made enough friends tonight!" she shouted as a tear formed in the corner of one of her eyes."Visited by Dark, then a strange devoranian, and now.. now..what ever the hell you are!"

She brought the rock behind her head as if she were going to throw it at me. I placed my arms forward, palms facing her. I scanned.

"No HaRm I Am InTeNdInG. " I calmly stated as I began to walk closer.

"Don't come any closer! I'll scream!" the young woman said as she looked around her.

"ThInKiNg TiN MeN of DeSoLiSt WiLl HeLp YoU? " I asked as I stopped walking towards her. She stood quietly still for a moment as my sensors began to do a bio-read on her. My sensors quickly noted her increased heart rate as well as the fact that she had not slept much in the past two days. She was running from someone. She did not belong here.

"I Am D'UbUs. I WoRk fOr MaNtI NiNiNg gUiLd. No DeSoLiSt. HuNt MiNiNg CoNtRaCt BrEaKeRs. InDePeNdEnT FrOm DeSoLiSt I Am." I informed her as I remained still. I kept my gloved hands forward where she could see them.

In the shadows something lurked. My sensors quickly zoomed in on the faint movement of something. I quickly noticed three Nagai hiding about the shadows against the old dive. They were watching her? Maybe us? Nagai were skilled assassins and spies that were known and respected by the unfortunate few that knew of them. She had definately angered someone.

I slowly walked towards the woman again as she lowered her weapon. The rock fell to the ground as her body almost went completely limp from exhaustion. She leaned into my form (which was about the same size as hers) and burried her head in my robes. She immediately began to sob. I embraced her as I noted the assassins positions.

"YoU NeEd DrEaMtImE. YoU LeAvE WoRk NoW. TeLl ThNaK YoU SiCk. He UnDeRstAnD. " I suggested as the Nagai evaded my sensors suddenly. I scanned the area behind the bar again.

"D'UbUs CaN PrOtEcT. No CoNtRaCt BrEaKeRs On RePoRt. ShElTeR I CaN GiVe. HiDe FrOm DeSoLiSt EyEs I CaN." I caressed the womans back as she continued to sob into my robes. She was tired and a little on the delirious side. She withdrew from my armored embrace to wipe the tears from her eyes. I stood away from her as she stood silently in front of me. Her eyes looked into the silver lenses of my helmet.

"WiLl YoU AlLoW Me To HeLp YoU?" I asked as I quickly looked around the area. I didn't trust those Nagai one bit.

I have to get off....

I did get off. With a start, my senses snapped back to themselves, although now the tears were coming freely from my eyes. I could only stare at this unexpected stranger before me, silver lenses obscuring his eyes.

I wished they didn't obscure his eyes. I couldn't sense a thing about anyone if I couldn't look into their eyes. Like Sorben's, those wonderful icy blue pools, so cool, so promising...

I jerked, shaking my head. Khaandon, I was sick. This whole mess was wearing me down. I could feel my lower lip beginning to tremble as this thought crossed my mind, carried on the back of those baby blues I wanted so badly to be looking into again...

Fresh tears blurred my own. I gulped, trying to compose myself.

"I-- I--," I stammered, not knowing what to say, how to react. Khaandon, the strain was finally sinking in. I could scarcely think. Who in Hell's seven Circles was this guy? Could he be trusted?

I knew I couldn't stay here. The whispering, lurking shadows which were gradually blending with darker ones off to the side assured me of that. The memory of the Devoranian's words were fresh on my mind; the image of Dark haunted my vision.

I've never killed anyone before....

I looked to the mysterious personage who stood so silently and patiently waiting. All I could do was nod two times; then I hit the ground as, knees buckling, encroaching darkness at last won out and claimed me for its own.

The dockmaster was sitting behind a large desk in an immaculate office decorated with pieces from a thousand different worlds. The chair he occupied was turned away from the doorway and faced another table behind the desk on which sat a datapad. He was apparently monitoring current activities of the traffic flow, as the screen was filled with hundreds of names and destinations.

As Ooglen and K'khl tried to enter, they were intercepted by a stormtrooper inside the doorway.

SHk"May I help you?"Shk. The cold black eyes of the trooper's helmet met the two pair of Ooglen and K'khl. Neither felt any sincerity in his offer.

"AAAG, we wangt to see the dockgmasterg." Ooglen began.

Shk"He is busy."shk The trooper cut him off.

"But weg haveg a commision!" Ooglen shot back angrily as K'khl made ready to run.

The stormtrooper stared a moment as if contemplating whether or not to shoot these two aliens. Had it been easier than dealing with them, he may have. Instead he turned to the chair that was just beginning to swivel around as if on cue.

The man sitting in the chair wore the uniform of an Imperial army commander. As he turned to face the two alien "miners" he gave the trooper the okay to retake his position beside the door and let the two inside.

The commander was of middle age with greying brown hair. His face was wrinkled and permanently browned as if he had spent many campaigns hoofing it on some sunbaked planet. His eyes were somewhat squinted for that same reason, but appeared to be green.

"What can I do for you, then." The commander asked through a tight, chapped smile. "I am commander Vegan, the current dockmaster, newly appointed."

Ooglen and K'khl looked at one another with concern over the revelation.

"We have a commision." Ooglen stated again, though somewhat less emotionaly than before.

The commander held out his hand for the ID chip that accompanied said commisions and after Ooglen handed it to him, read the info on the datapad behind him. After several moments in which the companions both began to perspire and even curse Boglen, the commander turned to them and returned the chip.

"Very well, your ship will be loaded immediatly. You are to leave in an hour.

An hour later, Ooglen was setting the coordinates for the HT-2200's hyperdrive. After an uneventful departure, he and K'khl then made their way to the cargo bay to inspect their shipment.

When the lights came on in the bay, the two companions were struck dumb by the equipment that had been place inside of their ship. Four turbo drillers on huge hover vehicle bodies sat on the cold bay floor looking like some kind of assault tank in a museum. In fact, the bodies were based on the Imperial hover tanks such as those used by Hell's hammers, a brigade known in the rim. The only difference was the removal of much of the side and rear armor, and the replacement of the main cannons with a scaled down version of a turbolaser for drilling. The front of each machine also had rubble grinders for clearing fallen debris as the machines moved forward.

K'khl felt his mandibles ooze slightly at the thought of tinkering with these toys. When he looked at Ooglen, he found no words necessary before starting off in the direction of the first drill. Ooglen watched a moment before returning to the bridge.

It seemed like only minutes in Hyperspace to Quee, before the ship was circling Desolist's base planet. In actuality it had been several hours. Quee kept an orbit in hyperspace around the planets mass shadow, careful not to run into any ship's path.

"Turn on the navcomp, Boglen." Quee ordered through gritted teeth. He had to maintain complete cocentration in order to pilot the ship and keep himself hidden from Desolist and Dark.

After Boglen switched to the navcomp, Quee relaxed somewhat and opened his eyes to the three faces that were now staring back at him.

"Why in Hell's Seven Circles are we circling the planet in hyperspace, instead of landing and rescuing Galen?!"Sorben cried out at Quee. The others had turned to take in Sorben's demeanor before turning again towards Quee.

"Because Dark and Desolist are watching for us." Quee replied. "Surely you understand that they have a make on our ship."

Sorben looked as if someone had kicked his pet rancor. "How are we going to get down there then?" He sighed. He could see Galen's face crying out to him. Urging him to aid her. He felt helpless.

Smiling slightly. Understanding his friends conflicted feelings. Quee felt sympathy for Sorben. "We will wait for Ooglen and K'khl, contact them, then dock inside the HT."

Shhk"How are we going to contact them if we are in hyperspace?"shhk. 187 asked.

"Seven?" Quee began. "Have you not learned anything about the force in all the times you have traveled with me?" Quee smiled at his friends before sitting back in his chair and closing his eyes.

Ooglen heard the summons. Only minutes and he had changed the navcomps course. A short rendezvous and they would then make their way into Desolist's mining operation incognito.

"Uhhhhhhnnnnngghhh" the woman who was laying only a few paces away from me moaned as she slept. She was completely exhausted . She pulled the old G'nbal quilt tighter against her as she shifted her body about the small cot. She was definately sleeping hard, and even a bit restless.

I turned my attention back to the outside of my plain domed shape home. The rain had begun to gather in small puddles on the hard sandrock pathways outside. I activated my sensors again to sweep the area one last time. Nothing but rain was visible. I could still feel the assassins trained eyes watching as she slept.

"SeCuRiTy LiNk, AcTiVaTe. PeRiMeTeR DeFeNcEs,PrImE." I said to the small computer built into my bulbous helmet. The laser nets were activated and the remote repeating blasters were activated. All of these defences were linked to me, instantaneously feeding any information to the Kilferian computer within my helmet.My small abode was one of the most heavily defended in this mining town. Then again, I was a bounty hunter after all...

I lowered my rifle that I had been gripping tightly ever since I came upon this interesting human. I could only wonder as to what type of trouble this young lass was in. The spirits had guided me to her this cool Ploatian night however I am unsure as to why. I could only guess, but guessing is a waste of time.

I made my way to the side of the cot where she lay. I stood gazing at her for a moment, then sat down in a ceremonial circle not to far away from her. I sat with my legs crossed and my hands outstetched by my side. It was time to replinish my own energies as she slept. My sensors would alert me to any trouble. I shut my eyes beneath my helmet and began to meditate in the ways of old. My body relaxed, my voice chanted quietly as I began to merge with my surroundings. I left my body as I repeated the Jhin Karla over and over again in my head. Quickly,I began to feel as if I were floating . I passed through the walls of my home and into the empty streets outside. The rain could be felt only if I chose notice it. I searched the shadows. The hidden demons lurked in the cold, black shadows that the various rubble walls and small shelters and homes provided.

"ThErE!" my senses exclaimed as they spotted a well hidden Nagai in the shadows across the street from the house. Rain dripped off his pale flesh he stood motionless watching the entrance to my home. I floated beside him. I wondered what he was thinking. I slowly reached out a hand to touch his face as I looked upon his sharp features.His eyes were focused and his expression was of determination as he waited in the shadow. He quickly shifted an eye in my direction. I knew he could not see me (at least I hoped that he could not) but the sudden shift of his eyes was somewhat disturbing. I hovered about him for only a few minutes more before returning to my body.

TaLbOtS DeStInY WaS To BeTrAy Us. It WaS NoW ThE HuNtErS DeStInY To BeTrAy TaLbOt.

Scarcely daring to turn my head, or even lift my lids, I carefully peered sideways. Small but cozy room, circular in design. Soft shadows flickering on the floor moved sinuously about, now and again revealing mysterious symbols enscribed there which were bound together in a another circle.

A circle in which my mysterious benefactor now sat, apparently meditating. Or at least I thought he was; he sat still as some insectoid statue, hands out to his sides, apparently lost in another world. For a long moment I was content to merely watch as he sat unmoving there, bulbous silver lenses reflecting the flickering light like the skin of a quiet lake. I wondered if he was able to connect with the Force?

The sudden sound of his voice made me sit bolt upright. "SlEePiNg LoNg TiMe YoU hAvE," he announced calmly, his voice seeming to come into my ears out of thin air. Slowly, with great deliberation, a hand raised and aimed itself, palm out, in my direction. "bIo SeNsOrS rEaDiNg NoRmAl PaRaMeTeRs NoW," he finished in that helmet-altered voice. "fEeLiNg BeTtEr, ArE We?"

Breath whooshed out of me in a rueful sigh. "Oh yeah," I answered shortly, swinging my legs over the side of the bed. "I'm just peachy-jimdandy."

Groaning at the stiffness I found lurking in my joints, I got to my feet. The moment I did, I found myself staggering under an almost palpable feeling of danger and sinister unease. My eyes took in a small curtained window in the stuccoed wall; I headed there, unthinking.

With a speed and grace that belied the ancient and cumbersome armor which he wore, the mysterious being was suddenly before me. A brown-robed arm restrained me with a surprisingly gentle touch. "DaNgEr ThErE," was all he said.

I shivered, letting him guide me back to the bed. That feeling of unease, of lurking dread simply would not leave. In fact, it was getting more and more oppressive by the minute. I wrapped both arms about myself against the onslaught, shaking. I knew with sudden precision exactly what was causing this.

Dark. It had to be him. He had to be out there, somewhere near, lurking like some yayax crouched before a kill. I knew he was waiting... waiting for Sorben to come here, to be lured here... by me. And there was absolutely nothing I could do about it.

Or was there?

Running my hand through my hair, I eyeballed my mysterious benefactor. Noted the strange symbols on the floor. Recalled the manner in which he had been sitting. As if he had been deep in meditation, or something else entirely....

I turned to him quickly, opening my mouth to let the words tumble out before I thought long enough about what I was going to say. For if I dared to consider for any great length of time the plan that was forming in my head, I simply would not follow through with it.

Khaandon, but I didn't want to hurt Sorben in this manner. I loved him too much; I just couldn't--

I had to.

"Hey, uh--D'ubus?" I began. ""Um, I'm a little curious here. Can you, er, direct your thoughts outward to someone? To many someones; make 'em think things which might prove, er-- 'beneficial' to the cause, so to speak?"

The silvery lenses hid his features, masked what might be going through his mind at my strange request. After a moment had passed, be merely nodded.

I took a breath, then rushed on. "C-can I kind of guide your thoughts to a certain someone out there?"

His helmeted head tilted a bit to one side. I believe he was with me on this one. I knew it, when he spoke the words he did next.

"YoU mUsT bE tHiNkInG hArD oF tHiS SoMeOnE," he whispered succinctly, then fell silent, waiting.

Oh Khaandon be with me on this one! I cried out unto my diety. Forgive me, love, for what I must now put you through. But you must stay away; you must not charge in here for my sake!

I turned to the unknown being, who merely nodded once. Then I closed my eyes, concentrated on Quee and Ooglen and my dearest Sorben with all the fierceness I could muster...

And somewhere above us, above the dark night skies of this miserable little moon, in a little ship hidden from sight and quietly orbiting, Sorben Tarnus put back his head and let forth a cry of utter anguish. His Jedi Master companion rushed to his side, concerned at the outburst. "My friend, what has happened?" Quee asked him, his voice low with worry, brow wrinkling as he placed a hand upon his shoulder.

The bounty hunter dropped his face into his hands. "I-it's Galen," he gasped, his voice cracked with fresh grief. "She's dead."

Quee's frown deepened, and he drew back a bit, instinctively reaching out with all the Force at his formidable command, seeking... seeking to find, to sense, to allay fears... to reassure....

His eyes widened, then filled with heavy sadness for his friend. Sorben took one look at the expression on Quee's face, then buried his own face in his hands once again.

"What now?" she asked with a nervous laugh. I stood still for a moment as I closed my eyes in thought. I could sense the Nagai still waiting patiently outside. I could feel that they had not received any orders to strike out at myself nor Galen. They were waiting for the very friends that she had just thought to.

"YoU CoMe WiTh Me To GaMmA FiVe." I suggested. I couldn't just leave here here all alone. There was safety in numbers afterall.

"What exactly is Gamma Five?" the young woman asked as she scratched her unkept hair. I offered a hairbrush from the plain table that sat alone in this room. She smiled yet again as she reached for the item.

"GaMmA FiVe Is MiNiNg CaMp OuTsIdE Of ThIs ToWn. MaNy HiNtS Of DeSoLiSt DiGgInGs I Am HiNtEd At FiNdInG ThErE." I explained to the combing Galen. She placed the hairbrush back on the table.

"W-What exactly is it that you want from..." she stopped for a moment as she glanced towards where I was pointing my fingers. She caught a quick glimpse of one of the Nagai assassins moving about the shadows outside.

"YoU WiLl HeLp. PrOtEcT YoU I CaN If YoU StAy ClOsE. HiDe YoU FrOm PrYiNg EyEs I WiLl OnCe AsSAsSiNs We LoSe In MiNiNg CaMp. As LoNg As ThEy WaTcH, DeSoLiSt KnOwS WhErE YoU ArE." I explained as I gathered up a few things in a rucksack that I slung over my worn armor.

"I got your point." she said as she looked about the room. I quickly offered her one of my extra blaster pistols that she eagerly grasped. I turned to walk towards one of the portals of my home. The assassins were hidden again.

"CaSuAl LeAvInG We ArE." I stated as I opened the door to my abode. The raining had stopped thank Villean! I gazed back at the young woman who stuffed the pistol in the pants of her dirty work uniform from THE BLUE ASTEROID. She quickly joined me at the door.

"Let's go." she said eagerly as we left my home. We calmly walked about the muddied streets past the stealthy Nagai who had been tailing us for a day now.

"ThInK NoThInG Of SoRbEn. He Is A StRoNg HuNtEr. YoU DiD ThE RiGhT ThInG To PrOtEcT HiM aNd HiS FrIeNdS. " I stated to her as we walked past several miners getting ready to start another day of digging.

She raised a brow and cocked her head to the side.

"D'UbUs IS MiNdTrAvElLeR. HiDe NoThInG YoU CaN FrOm HiM. KnOw MaNy ThInGs AbOuT GaLeN I Do NoW." I turned my head briefly to the woman as she jerked her head away from facing me. "SoL VaReTh."

She quickly turned towards me again as I quickened my pace through the somewhat crowded streets. She snickered as she jogged a bit to keep up with me.

"MaYbE I WiLl TeLl YoU." I said trying to make her feel a bit more relaxed with a tease. "FoR NoW, We HaVe No TiMe."

Galen had heard that "no time for this right now" line many times from another bounty hunter in her life. She just shook her head as the crowd in the streets began to swell in the morning sun of Ploatius.

I watched from the shadows behind an old mining shed as the pair passed. I squinted my yellow eyes away from the old hunter and Galen towards Sephania. The Nagai huntress gave me an acknowledging nod as she quickly darted into the street many paces behind D'Ubus and Galen. Sephania merged in and out of the early morning crowd and shadows as she followed the pair through the streets. The rest of her Nagai assassins followed. I remained behind.

"Tell me my Dark Hunter, what exactly is going on with the young Galen?" my masters voice ricocheted through my head. I closed my eyes in thought.

"She has sent Tarnus and his friends a false ripple in the force. She ... faked her own death with the help of the hunter D'Ubus."

There was a moment of silence. I felt a cold chill surge through my body.

"She is aware of our assassins. She knows she was being used as bait to lure Tarnus and the Jedi here." My master reasoned rather quickly.

"Yes, my master." I responded mentally as I bowed my head under my hooded cloak. I quickly looked up to observe the area around me once again. The Nagai had all vanished from my sight. They remained on the pairs tail.

"Rather a crafty soul this Galen is turning out to be." my master added." Then again I would expect no less from a sister of a Sith. "

My mind was full of questions that I dared not ask. At least.... not yet.

"So be it."my master interjected" I will keep Sephania and her agents on Galen and this D'Ubus. You Dark shall return to me. We will be having some more guest arriving shortly and I want you to be here to meet them."

I could feel my master smile through our mental connection.

"Yes, my master."

I felt Desolists cold prescense leave. I emerged from the shadows and into the swelling crowd of miners and technicians that lived in this small town. I quickly made my way back to Desolists lair where I waited with my master for the guest that he kept speaking of.