It has been months since I was captured aboard that Sith ship. Much have I endured in that time. Torture, loneliness, heartache, and most recently pain. Pain from the feeling of all the sudden tragic deaths that occurred in the destruction of the Empires blockade around the Sith worlds.

I spent many long hours in my cell before I was granted a limited freedom aboard the SSD. I learned my captor was one named Sorben Tarnuss. A reasonable man, when he is getting what he wants. I am actually a little surprised that I was not sent back to my cell or confined to my new quarters during the aftermath of the mass destruction. But like I said... Tarnuss can be a reasonable man.

The months have been long here, and I long for some adventure, an adventure of my own. Word has it that we are headed back to Coruscant. I'm sure there will be plenty of adventure there!

Many things have I learned in my private meditation. Mostly force related. My Lightsaber was confiscated long ago, and though I had, and have, the use of the force, I still felt rather defenceless. So I developed a technique to remedy that situation. I can now create a feild of Force lightning so controlled that it can be wielded as a lightsaber. Granted it has limited cutting power, but It should be enough to keep those who dare attack me at bay.

There is much to do upon arrival on Coruscant, if I am allowed off the ship that is. I see no reason why I shouldn't be allowed off, but that decision is not mine to make at this time. I am still a "guest" here, and will abide by the rules of Lt. Tarnuss. I will seek audience with him before we arrive and request permission to stay on Coruscant. My first order of business will be to track down my first child, whom I have not yet met, in order to do that I must first find my hetero lifemate Dink the Wonder JAWA, and my ship, or at least transport to Tatooine. The homeworld of Alexis, my lover and mother of my child.

I don't think I'll ever get used to how large an Imperial Super Star Destroyer really is. The walk to the turbolift just from my quarters took a good 15 standard minutes, of course that was at a leisurely pace, the troops and officers on board walked much faster, due to years of training and hurried schedules.

I entered the turbolift. "Administration Office." I stated to the computer.

"Access Denied" was the automated reply.
Access denied?!? I thought. "How strange?!? Oh well. I'll just comm them from my quarters." I thought out loud.

Landarian sat in military-stiff silence, just as he had the moment they departed orbit; well, departed from the space where they had been in a far-orbit: filling the seat normally occupied by Lt. General Tarnus, keenly aware that he was far from completely filling it's potential.

Sorben. Was...

Gone.

He blinked, his hand once again fisting atop the shining desk, vowing for the umpteenth time to return with an even larger blockade, to pluck his Commander from the jaws of presumed imprisonment--

If indeed he was yet alive, that is...

--and reduce those worlds to rubble.

His self-imposed hermitage was rudely interrupted when an incoming message blinked on the desk in front of him. He loosened his hand, slid his eyes downward with a grunt, reached out with a single finger and flipped the comm.

"Yes?" The word was more bark than vocal.

"Dash Kelderon, prisoner of the Lt. General, requesting audience, Sir."

Prisoner of Tarnus? Out roaming Relentless free as a proverbial bird? Landarian shook his head, reached out and flipped the switch, opened his mouth to order the apparently former prisoner be reinstated to his earlier status, when he stopped.

Could his presence onboard be more than just a coincidence? Could there be some connection between this man and the Whatever-It-Was that rocked them nearly senseless, and destroyed every last ship that had been parked in orbit around the Sith system?

Deep inside he knew he was grasping at straws. But considering the enormity of what had occurred, he didn't dare dismiss even the tiniest irregularity as being trivial.

He leaned forward.

"See him in," he replied, his voice now calm, his manner back to it's usual aplomb. Then he released the switch, straightened an imaginary wrinkle on his uniform jacket, and waited.

"You have been granted an audience with our commander. Report to the Administration Office post haste."

I made double time to the Administration office. I took nothing with me, as I was relieved of all my possessions a long time ago. All I had was the clothes on my back and the Force. But I do not believe they knew about that.

After a relatively long ride in the Turbolift system, I arrived at the Administration Office.

"Dash Kelderon. I have a meeting with Lt. Tarnuss."

"Right this way" And the officer at the desk bid me to follow her. She gave me the once over with a security scanner. The Imperials were always a cautious bunch. She keyed in the security code to open the door to Lt. Tarnuss' ready room. "You may enter."

I bowed politely and entered. I looked around the lavishly decorated office, but the man sitting at the desk in the center of the room was not in fact Sorben Tarnuss.

After letting a carefully calculated minute pass by, he cleared his throat genteelly and addressed him.

"That should be my line, under the circumstances," he said calmly, letting Dash know by those opening words just who had presumed to contact who first.

"May I ask your purpose for this meeting?"

I felt a twinge of something within the man through the force. As if he were pained at the mention of the name Sorben Tarnuss. I paused giving him the opportunity to offer his name to me. No response came.

"Moving along to my second reason for requesting this meeting... I wish to take my leave of this ship upon reaching Coruscant. I will understand if the mighty Empire wishes repayment for their great hospitality, and I am willing to offer my services if need be to pay off my debt to you."

"I really hope that he tells me that I can just leave... But something tells me, they may take me up on my offer of repayment..."

I bowed slightly, and left the next move to the man standing before me.

Sinking ships and all that...

The Captain of Relentless and Second to Lt. General Tarnus stared keenly at the blue-skinned man, noting his calm yet open expression, as well as his apparent naivety and simplicity. And didn't believe any of it one whit.

"Thank you for bringing to my attention the fact that there are loose lips aboard this ship," he stated at length, reaching out a finger to signal for an orderly. Moments later an ensign entered quietly, saluted, and then disappeared after taking the order to return with tea for the two of them. During this hiatus Landarian spoke nothing further but merely studied the man before him, debating with himself as how to how best approach this small dilemma.

At length the orderly returned and set two steaming cups before the two men. Landarian nodded at Dash, took up his cup, and drank deeply. Removing it from his lips then, he studied the Ch'iss further over the cup's rim, letting his eyes narrow thoughtfully.

"I do not think that can be allowed at this point," he finally said. "Furthermore, there is nothing you might have of Imperial interest with which to buy your freedom, unless--"

He stopped as the look he cast upon Kelderon segued into a rather shrewd one, and took another sip of his tea. How the man replied to this rather oblique statement would guarantee his fate, and as far as Landarian was concerned there were but three stretching out before him...

"unless..." That statement bothered me a great deal. Did he know about my abilities? Or was he just probing me for more information about myself. Perhaps a false pretense would be best.

Perhaps this one was truly innocent after all-- unless he was very, very cunning.

The Second and Captain doubted the latter; he hadn't risen to his present position because he was foolish, or unable to read the body language of others clearly. Considering the words Dash replied with he carefully set his cup down, and loosened his shoulders a few degrees from their former and absolute military stance.

He leaned forward, clasping his hands together and lanced a direct look into Dash's eyes.

"Are you saying you would be a willing recruit to this ship?" he asked, genuinely curious as to what the reason for this apparent turn-about might possibly be.

"That is not something one usually hears coming from the mouth of a pris- that is, of a former prisoner," he amended, then took his cup of tea in hand once more.

I took the offered beverage and sipped it slowly. Buying myself some time to think.

What have I got to lose? I do not know the whereabouts of my friends, my family, even my ship. Perhaps this is just the opportunity to venture around the galaxy searching for them, relatively uncontested. For there are very few areas where the Empire does not have at least a small presence."

Setting my empty teacup carefully back on the tray, I made a decision I never thought I would make. More of a counter offer really, but still something very unexpected.

"I would offer my services to you for a period of time, not as a part of your crew, but more of a secret agent. I would have clearance to enter all of Imperial space unscathed, in a spacecraft provided by you. I'm not talking about any standard military vessels, for that would not fit the job. But rather an armed unmarked transport, with a private channel linked only to you and the command crew of this ship."

I looked him square in the face, trying to get a read on him.

"But first I would like the pleasure of your name. Before we agree on anything."

“Weren’t expecting that were ya,” said the young and decidedly unkempt Sith navigator from the pilot’s chair. HaFassil made no effort to hide his awe.
“In my years as a warrior,” he gasped, “I have sacked many a well fortified planet. But I have never seen a defensive fleet such as this.” He mumbled some words under his breath, audible only to AyaShaar who was shoulder-to-shoulder with him. She assumed them to be part of a prayer. AyaShaar had spent the traveling time sequestered in her bunk where she had been reading up on galactic history via the HoloNet. Freedon had been right about everything, she had learned. All his wildest claims about the deceptions the ruling bodies had perpetrated against them had been proven true. Her recent scholarly endeavors had prepared her for a sight of this magnitude, and though she was startled, she was not nearly as awestruck as her bodyguard. She did not say this. Instead she pretended to be dumbfounded. AyaShaar had learned it was best, in most cases, to play your cards close to your chest and not reveal anything unless it was necessary.
“So what now boss?” JenSaan asked.
Neither she nor HaFassil (who stiffened visibly at the appellation ‘boss’) deigned to respond to such an informally phrased question. Traveling the past few days had been trying for both AyaShaar and HaFassil. They were people of action and did not abide being cooped up for long. The irritation was further aggravated by the presence of JenSaan, the young pilot who had been assigned to their mission. Although undeniably competent, JenSaan was infuriatingly informal in his manner of speech and frequently insubordinate. HaFassil had confided in AyaShaar once they he felt that the qualities JenSaan possessed were, in his words, “exactly what was wrong with you the Sith Youth today.” AyaShaar had been less than receptive to his indictment of the “Sith Youth,” and the two had shared little conversation after that. AyasShaar suspected that he now lumped her in with the obnoxious JenSaan, but didn’t care enough to set the record straight.

“Do not divert course,” she instructed, “fly us into the blockade.”

“Don’t you mean establish a wide orbit and wait to be hailed?” said JenSaan.

HaFassil swatted the back of his head, “Do as she says.”

AyaShaar rewarded HaFassil with a brief smile, which he abruptly turned away from. He wanted it to be painfully clear that he was doing only what he felt was his duty. Meanwhile, JenSaan complied. A wing of tie fighters pulled up next to the Sith transport. JenSaan glanced nervously out the viewport at them. AyaShaar could see the blood drain rapidly from the pilot’s face.

“Open a channel. Hail the blockade.” She ordered.

“Which ship?” asked the frightened pilot.

“Any, all, just do it,” was AyaShaar’s sharp reply.

“Alright, your on,” said JenSaan, his voice quavering audibly now.

AyaShaar was beautiful by Sith standards. She had long dark hair that curled luxuriously about her short, elegantly tapered horns, which swept back from her face, following closely the contours of her skull. Her face was girlish and sweet even though experience had long ago robbed her of her childhood naivety. Nonetheless, when she straightened herself up before the holoprojector, preparing to transmit her message her two companions were struck, for the first time, by how regal and self possessed she looked. She appeared absolutely in control and at ease. As if it were she who commanded the vast armada and they who were in the lone transport.

The words, "ETA Coruscant, 42 standard minutes," scrolled by in all their digital glory; quickly he acknowledged and flipped off the screen. It lowered itself back into the desk, and went to sleep once more.

Landarian raised steely eyes to the waiting Dash.

"We could use one as you, if what you claim you can do is indeed true. But surely even you can see the foolishness of handing over what you wish on a veritable platter, especially since we were not the ones to call you to our ship in the first place."

He moved his brows in a meaningful manner, trusting Dash would recall more clearly how he arrived aboard Relentless, and remember as well how lucky he was to have been given the relative freedom of it.

Captain Landarian folded his hands atop the desk.

"In order to comply with your desires, you must join into Imperial Forces. You will be tested to see what talents you possess; if you have the inherent predisposition to gain the MOS of stealth fighter, or -- ahem! -- gatherer of information, we shall place you as such.

"Otherwise, my friend, I fear you are in no position to obtain any such deal from us, unless of course, there is more you have to offer which you might have neglected to mention? Odd your request to act as a spy for us; perhaps there is something you know now that you'd wish to divulge?

"It might prove to gain my interest and leniency regarding the proposition you have presented here."

As he spoke, his fingers had been busy, typing a swift message to Captain Sarontogo aboard the flagship Catalytic, currently in command of the protective blockade around Coruscant. In it he asked formal permission to penetrate the blockade, that he might send a message to Admiral Actar without any undue electronic disturbance that would be produced by the web-work of tractor beams.

After a moment's thought, he scribed a quick missive to him, just as a backup.

"Blockade around Sith sector destroyed. Show-Man missing. Relentless only survivor; if no further message from me within the hour, send information to Actar, doubly coded, encrypted, and pig-backed.

"Matter is of the utmost urgency."

A tiny movement of one finger, and the message winged off, being doubly encoded, encrypted and piggy-backed atop his formal request for re-entry into Coruscant space. Once it was safely sent off he returned his attention to Dash, and quietly took another sip of his rapidly cooling tea.

I shifted in my chair. Wondering what the Imperial officer sitting before me was doing or reading on that screen.

"I have been to the Sith worlds, as you no doubt already figured out. I have some information that may be of use to you."

I gazed at him, hoping deep down that I had peeked his interest. No dice! His return glance was as cold as ice.

"It seems that you leave me little choice in the matter. I either join the Empire, or stay here on board this ship, indefinitely."

A nod from my captor, and a faint smile crossed his lips. He did believe he he had me cornered.

"With all due respect sir. I do not wish to formally join the empire. I am afraid that the information regarding my new status as a member of the mighty Empire would leak out, and I would become a target by many who do not believe in the Empires principals and practices."

I was stuck. I didn't want to show him any of my Jedi abilities, but I was backed into a corner. And I hate being backed into a corner.

"Would you do something for me?"

A questioning gaze was all I got as a response.

"Take your blaster and fire a shot at me."

This plan had better work.

(((OOC: Sorry about the Capt. Obvious post. I didn't realize I was still logged in as him. Please delete it when you get a chance. Thanks)))

He folded his hands, shifted his weight just so.

"So," he said in the softest and most level of voices. "You have been to the Sith worlds. You must have seen things, heard things, observed their culture, spoken with the natives--

"It interests me how you came to those worlds, and what you might have learned during your sojourn there."

He picked up his cup again, glanced at it then grimaced. The tea had gone quite cold, as cold, in fact, as the tightening constriction growing within his chest. For it seemed doubly odd that this man had made no mention of the titanic rocking Relentless had undergone.

"I know of their culture and society. But I wish to have confirmation that my previous requests will be carried out before I divulge any information about the Sith. I wish to have my leave of this ship."

Sith?

He couldn't help but rear back in surprise, blinking.

Sith?!

Training took over; he whirled in his seat, calling out for the Officer on Deck.

"Sir, I have an incoming transmission, sir; it requests permission to land on Coruscant and meet with Admiral Actar, sir.

There was an imperceptible pause.

"They claim to be, ahh-- United Sith, sir."

The Officer on Deck had been coming over with a scowl, for such a request was one to be automatically denied unless formal permission was given, and the Ensign had no business passing this hail along to him. But when he heard from whence the hail originated--

"Put that ship up on screen, Ensign!" he barked as he came up behind the Communications officer and stood there, arms crossed. He pinned steely blue eyes to the forward screen.

"Aye, Sir!"

Immediately there appeared on-screen a strange ship, a ship whose configuration was utterly different from anything anyone on the command deck had ever seen. Now it was the turn of the OOC to blink, taken momentarily aback.

"Sith?" he repeated awkwardly, then resumed his normal, icily military control.

"Send what you've just told me to Captain Sarontogo, His Eyes Only."

"Aye, Sir!" came the automatic response, and it was done.

Another? he wondered to himself, thinking it was Landarian squirting more information to him. His brows rose even further after he quickly read the glowing digital print.

United Sith... as in coming from the worlds in the Sith sector, our blockade around said worlds having just been handily destroyed?

By this lone ship--?

He snorted in disgust.

Hardly; no single person or ship had the wherewithal to destroy an entire blockade; this Sith ship now suddenly showing its face here simply had to be the forerunner of--

What? Invasion?

They certainly weren't here simply to say hello.

He grunted, realizing that although to all outward appearances these strangers were powerful, they were not omnipotent. For while they were aware of Actar being Number One in the chain of command over their New Empire, they hadn't a clue that the man wasn't on Coruscant at all, but secreted away on the world of their shipyards, Ambria.

His lips curled.

"Request reason for said contact; the Admiral is a busy man," he sent back to the bridge, then settled back to await the reply he knew was sure to come.

________________________________________

So that's what this was all about. A faction of dissidents, seeking asylum, he thought to himself. For he certainly did not believe a word the strangers were saying.

Even if he did believe them, how was he to know that indeed they were not behind the purported destruction of the blockade? Purported since, to this moment in time, he had nothing to go by other than Landarian's message, obliquely backed up by that of the newcomers.

Who may indeed have somehow feigned the missive supposedly coming from Relentless.

He sighed a little, nodding to himself.

Nothing for it, actually, but to wait and see if Relentless actually does show her face, and then after conferring with Landarian, he finally decided.

But in the meanwhile, what to do with these so-called United Sith?

"Inform them to stand by," he sent back tersely, nodding when an "Aye, Sir," came back from the bridge.

He avoids answering my direct queries, he makes no mention whatsoever of the pounding we so recently took, and now there is no reply from Sarontogo.

The icy constriction in his chest constricted further, and he cast an even more discerning look upon Kelderon.

Something is happening, that's a certainty, but what?

He sighed. There was nothing for it, then. Quickly, he contacted security via his touchpadd, ordered guards to his ready room and from there to escort the strangely complacent Chi'ss to quarters-- and to keep him under heavy guard there, both within his room and without. When the order had been carried out, he turned his attention to other important matters.

Leaning forward, he flicked a particular switch, his lips thinning when a penetrating wail responded to that move. His finger moved and opened ship-wide communication.

"This is Captain Landarian. All personnel, battle stations code two; I repeat, battle stations code two. This is not a drill."

Just as we rounded the corner to the hall that my quarters were located on, there was a ship wide hail.

"This is Captain Landarian. All personnel, battle stations code two; I repeat, battle stations code two. This is not a drill."

This may be the chance I was looking for.

Tensions aboard ISSD Catalytic had lessened a touch when at length Relentless had showed her face. From there a sleek interceptor had carried Captain Landarian to board the flagship of the protective Coruscant blockade, a small fact undoubtedly noted with much interest by the newcomers who were yet hovering nearby.

But nothing untoward occurred; at the moment Landarian found himself in Sarontogo's ready room, his tea cooling in front of him, his eyes filled with worry he would allow no one other than Command rank and above to see. Uppermost in his mind was the troubling memory of his fleet's utter destruction, but even more troubling was the naggingly persistent question of, by whom?

It was a world of the Sith. The newcomers proclaimed themselves to be of the Sith. And what did the Empire know of the Sith? Nothing, other than whispers of them being Darkside users, foes of justice and democracy, haters of Jedi and all things good, selfish beings who lived purely at the expense of others... and who purportedly existed only as a single pair.

A single pair.

Yet here was a ship, albeit a small one, who carried beings claiming to be of the Sith. And behind Landarian was an entire world full of them, if what Tarnus had stated was indeed true.

A world around which an entire fleet of Imperial star destroyers had been flicked from existence with no further thought than one would give in the flicking off of a gleeberfly.

Indeed it was enough to fill one's mind with worrisome "ifs" and "what ifs." And so the little ship remained where it was, blocked by the fleet's tractor beams from entering Coruscant's atmosphere, likewise (if hopefully) kept from departing by another set of criss-crossed beams, while Landarian and Sarontogo debated over entirely too much caff and tea as to what in all the Galaxy they should do.

Sorben's absence, not to mention the cricket noises emanating from Actar and Swatzi, were a set of keen and aching holes both men were very much aware of, which quite obviously did not help matters in the least little bit.

Bon followed at the rear of the group, followed closely by a pair of armed stormtroopers. For years he dreamed of this moment, living it over and over in his nightmares, but in that dream he always ended with pulling out a thermal detonator in the main reactor room and taking the elite command with him. But even though this was a very different situation, he still felt oddly at ease.

Maybe it was the pure hopelessness. But no, there was something very serene about being in the very belly of your enemy, thinking there might be a vague sort of hope that you may live through it. He would play the part, and hope that the Empire actually would be reasonable.

Sure, and maybe womprats would fly out of his rear, too.

Well, there was always the thermal detonator idea.

If only he had one.

I dunno if it was the stormtroopers following us, or the cameras all over, or what, but the hairs on my neck stood straight up for a little bit, like something unnatural was spying on us.

Well, it didn’t last long, at any rate, because soon we were hustled into a holding room and told to sit tight until someone came for us. I think we all knew the place was bugged, because nobody said anything for a long time. Even Bluebell didn’t fidget, he just kept his hands glued tight on that big book of his.

After what seemed like an eternity, I couldn’t take it any longer.

Time that Sarontogo and Landarian had spent in private discussion, letting endless cups of tea cool untouched before them, to be replaced, only to be once more ignored as together they sought to make sense of the tragedy the Imperial blockade had been hit with in the mysterious space surrounding the even more mysterious worlds of the Sith. Landarian, worried sick for the sake of their third in command, had been all for immediate retaliation; his fire-edged words of retribution had time and time again been tempered by Sarontogo's more cautious approach as that Captain repeatedly reminded him of the one fact that kept them, at least for the moment, immobilized:

What the hell had destroyed Landarian's fleet?

"If that kind of power has been used once, it will surely be used again," Sarontogo pointed out as he had set yet another cup of tea on the desk of his ready room. To this wisdom Landarian could only agree...

...an agreement joined by Admiral Swatzi upon his arrival from the Empire's own secreted base. Words had flown, ideas bandied about, arguments ensued, until the Admiral finally made a command decision that nothing be done until more data could be gathered.

Then, he had promised silently to himself as, after boarding his craft, he blasted off to return to Ambria and Actar and fill him in on the Empire's current tribulations.

Then, all hell will surely break loose.

So Landarian had returned to ISD Relentless, there to remain in orbit about Coruscant, uniting the last remnant of power under his command to Sarontogo's to do his part in assuring that the stroke that had blind-sided him would not happen to this world.

Then a miracle occurred: from the distant world of Tatooine came the message that Lt. General Tarnus had appeared from nowhere...

Landarian had immediately sent a courier to fetch him, sending a message of the fact to the base the Empire had left in the wake of their squelching the Hutt's iron-fisted rule. A single messenger was likewise sent out to Ambria, travelling in a modified, heavily shielded interceptor, that Actar and Swatzi would be informed of this news and send instructions as what they wished the Empire to do next.

All he could do then was sit on pins and needles, pacing endlessly in his ready room, drinking endless cups of tea, letting pent-up anger and energies build up within him, coiling therein like a lurking serpent ready to strike at the least provocation.

Waiting to attack the Sith worlds in a full-out strike, an order he was certain would soon come riding down the celestial pike on a rancor of war...

((OOC: For events regarding Sorben Tarnus and his appearance on Tatooine, please see the thread Round and Round and Round She Goes in the "CSWU" forums (and backtrack from there, lol!). For reference to Swatzi and Actar, please see post dated 7-27-2007 in the thread Root, Root, Root for the Home Team in the "Empire/New Republic" forums, thank you.))

Stupid female, he took a moment to think to himself. She thinks this ship will just jump and run at her beck and call.

Attitudes like that don't win any favors from us, and we DO have ways to get what we want from otherwise recalcitrant people.

Now he let his lids droop in one long, luxurious blink.

"I'm sure you will be summoned when the time is appropriate," he replied, before falling back into a silence as stark and stiff as was his highly muscled, heavily armored body.

...and she had a sneaking suspicion he hadn't moved a milimeter from that place since they had been escorted inside. Rico hunkered impatiently nearby, eyeing Bon, seeming to expect him to explode at any moment. Cardissa wasn't so certain he would be incorrect in that assessment, either.

Standing up, she came and sat next to the blue-furred alien, smiling sweetly. "All will reveal itself in due course," she then said to him, knowing that he was no doubt questioning why they were offering to aid the Imperials. Especially considering he believed he was working for a Rebellion.

If only he knew, the black thought popped into Cardissa's mind. As quickly as it had come, however, the thought passed, and not a hint of it showed on her face. She turned then to Rico. "Get him something to drink," she orderd rather than asking, motioning to the refreshments the Imperials had been at least kind enough to provide.

The time for this foolish silence has passed, came the final mental rejoinder as Cardissa waited for her order to be fullfilled.

And now Cardissa wanted him to stand up and get that little blue ball of grimy fluff something to drink. Hell, did that thing even drink? He hadn’t moved, not gotten up to drink, or eat, or even slink off to the cramped little lav hidden in the corner. Cripes, did he not have a bladder?

Bluebell’s head lifted a tiny bit, just enough for Rico to catch his eyes. A little smirk crossed the blue face, just for a brief split second, but that was enough for Rico. He stood up quickly, red streaking across his vision.

“Yeah,” he said. “A drink! That’s what he needs.” Rico moved quickly, not to the drink try but directly over to the startled Bon. Before the little furry creature could move, Rico had him by the scruff and lifted into the air. In an instant Rico had moved to the lav and turned the hapless Ryn upside down and dumped his head into the water.

Rico let Bon drop to his knees and turned back to the others. He then calmly walked to the drink tray and opened a can of bubbling water. He raised the can to his lips then paused, raising his eyebrows.

For the strange little ship, the one who had so boldly approached them, coming out of nowhere, identifying themselves as the United Sith...

Had vanished from their screens.

Poof.

Frantic, immediate short-range scans followed by more intense long-range ones had turned up nothing. As far as ISS Catalytic knew, it hadn't managed to land anywhere on Coruscant. No other ship had tractored it in. No one reported any sort of "oops, sorry about that, Chief" mishap involving weaponry of any sort being levied against it.

It had simply... vanished.

He sighed again, wondering if Landarian had come up with any answers yet. But communications from Relentless had remained obstinately quiet; he could only assume they were as stumped as he was.

And where the hell was Lt. General Tarnus? The courier was taking far, far too long to retrieve him; was there something going on distant Tatooine that he should be made aware of, something he didn't know about? Should he send another, larger ship to investigate?

Dare he risk that?

He sighed, his thoughts turning full circle back to the initial cause of all his newfound worry and frustration: Landarian's report of the mysterious power that had eliminated his mega-fleet with the unthinking ease of one casually squishing a gleeberfly. He sighed again, shaking his head.

I don't dare waste men and materiel taking such a risk. Maybe I can find someone who might be willing to investigate for us...?

This provoked another sigh. From what intelligence had relayed to him, the popularity of the Empire still remained frighteningly low, despite Actar's care in (for the most part) letting systems run their own governments, in not placing too many blockades in too many places, but merely around those systems with the notoriety of historically acting before thinking, for the most part.

Then the question slammed full-bore into a thought he had placed on a burner so far back in his mind that it was a wonder he recalled it at all.

There was a new wrinkle to events here, "visitors" aboard ISS Sormontato who stated they had something to offer the Empire...

He sat back a moment, reached for his tea, and took a small sip of the liquid. Grimacing, he set the cup down quickly, then with an affirmative nod to himself opened a comm to the Officer on Deck.

"Open a transmission to General Ahem," he commanded, then had only the time to straighten an imaginary wrinkle from his uniform before that elder man's crisp features filled his screen.

"Have you spoken to those who have come to you?" he asked simply, knowing that Ahem would know of whom he meant. When answer came in the negative, undoubtedly due to the more pressing circumstances all had been witness to, he went on.

"Interrogate them... gently, my friend. Find out what it is they have to offer. And see if you can... persuade them into contracting with us. We haven't yet heard if Lt. General Tarnus's extraction from Tatooine has been a success or not."

Closing the link, he rose to his feet and freshened his tea. Then he moved to his viewport, there to contemplate the hulking shadows which were the ships encompassing the city-world below.

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

Aboard Sormontato...

The officer in charge of "watching" the strangers straightened involuntarily as his comm-link came into sudden life at his belt.

"You may now send in the newcomers," it said in the voice of none other than General Ahem himself. Even though he new the captain wouldn't see it, he nodded as he squawked an affirmative. Then he turned to their "guests," motioning that they accompany him, saying nothing else to explain the reasons behind their rather lengthy wait. He well knew that during that hiatus General Ahem's attentions had understandably been busy elsewhere...

But that was really none of these peoples' business.

...taking the opportunity in his unsteady moment to take possession of the book he had been clutching for herself. Ignoring his quietly uttered protests, she gently led him to where they stormtrooper stood waiting. It came as no surprise that, as the door before them opened, a squad of stormtroopers had already formed up, likewise waiting. Cardissa, wrapped in an envelope of utter confidence, stepped out of the room, keeping a hand on Bon's shoulder to steady him...

"I am General Ahem," the warhorse introduced himself, rising half-way to his feet before settling back into his chair. He let a ghostly smile flick about his mouth.

"I apologize for not seeing you sooner; now, I believe there was something of import you wished to state to me? Something that might be of importance to the Empire?"

He kept his tone carefully pleasant yet neutral, as if the drawing of the ship he had been shown earlier, a memory of which now triggered as the group came to assembly before him, wasn't sending the hairs on the back of his neck to dancing like a Twi'lek slave girl chained to Jabba the Hutt.

For it had been very, very similar in appearance to the strange little ship that had so boldly approached the hulking Imperial blockade... to then vanish from beneath their noses as if it had been made of nothing but dreamfluff.

"I am the daughter of Tigris and the grandchild of Hethrir and Rillao, thus have some interest in the continuing growth of the Empire," she opened with. "I am also quite interested in research, and have teams who have visited many worlds. My friend here," she paused, indicating a now trembling Bon, "Came upon this book with specs to an amazing ship, one with capabilities I cannot imagine, along with other various drawings of unknown and frankly unbelievable technologies. I would like to continue my research and invest further in the growth of the Empire...

...but the world I would need to visit in order to continue my research has been blockaded by your forces. I am willing to share anything I might find if you allow me access..."

The carefully copied words therein would keep Linguistics busy for months; the images drawn with as equal care...

He closed the book quietly, and just as quietly keyed a lock in his desk. A drawer slid open; with no further ado he placed the book therein and closed it. The locking mechanism filled his ready room with a final click.

"Thank you for bringing this to our attention, Miss," he said carefully as he settled a bit more into his seat. Behind Mitra, the blue furry thing was starting to moan; a nod from him, and the Trooper had it by the arm, thus reminding it to keep still.

"As for your request, the Empire feels that allowing you access to the world in question is repayment enough for your continued... studies there. And as the daughter of Tigris and grandaugher of Hethrir and Rillao, as you claim to be, we feel equally that any information gleaned from said world... any at all... would be handily offered freely to us.

"Call it a gesture of goodwill."

He smiled a touch more broadly, but that smile never came close to touching his eyes. They merely grew a tad bit colder, a touch harder; whether as a result of being filled with growing impatience, flaring anger, budding disbelief or simply just an aura similar to that spilled forth by the sandcat who eats the womprat, none present could tell.

Or perhaps preferred to ignore out of their own heightened desires for continued well-being.

Apparently he didn't fully appreciate the subtlties of keeping one's enemies close...

"With your permission, I would like to proceed with my research...

...personally."

"The book is of interest to the Empire," he said carefully, letting his words carry to the others on the back of a rancor's smile.

"You and your abilities, therefore, are as well."

His eyes swung back to Foyagee, arrowed into the fuzzball's startled pair.

"As for your... research..."

Now he smiled back at Mitra.

"A team of our best... scientists shall be dispatched to, ahh-- assist you. You shall be escorted with them to this world you allude to, and allowed access to its surface. There you will continue your research; you may communicate with this one--"

He waved offhandedly at the now nearly apopletic Bon.

"...by transmission. You discover, holograph, sketch, however you go about your research. What glyphs you might find can be scanned and sent to us, that this new assistant of ours may in turn assist you in their translation.

His eyes flickered back and forth from person to person, the panic within wanting to rise and break loose. But he held shakily together and gulped deeply.

They would send a team of their best scientists with them. Yeah, right...

But her thoughts then stopped short as clarity finally emerged.

Maybe there was something here she could still use...

Her dark black eyes snapped alert as Foyagee begged to not be left behind. And really, she was honestly surprised that the Imperials would want him there.

They hated aliens so, and they'd yet to see some of Bon's fits...

Cardissa squatted to be on eye level with Bon, smiling sweetly. "I'm certain you will be safe here," she began. "The Imperials will give you everything you need and will be certain to take care of you in every way."

She paused, her dark eyes pinning Foyagee's alarmed pair. Then she stood in one smooth motion, turning to the General once more. "Very well, we will comply with the...

General Ahem rose to his feet, but held a staying hand up toward the party as he did so, indicating that they stay put.

"I will show our new... assistant to quarters aboardship." He nodded toward the Trooper, whose head immediately jerked in a manner telling of toggles being flipped, orders being sent. It didn't take long for another stormtrooper to arrive, one who after coming to a smart salute quickly escorted the little Foyagee away from Mitra and Rico. The hapless bluebell's wailing squalls lingered long after his somewhat abrupt departure to "holding quarters."

"Now, as for you..." Ahem nodded pleasantly, flipped open a comm-link and spoke quietly into it.

"A research vessel is being readied, complete with our scientists and crew. For of course not all will comfortably fit aboard the ship which carried you here; that shall remained safely berthed aboard Sormontato until you return with whatever, ahh-- discoveries you have made on this world of yours."

He blinked, smiled again.

"Of course all of you need to be aboard the same ship, to more easily allow for scientific discourse when said discoveries would be made. Not to mention the equipment is much more complete than what you more than likely have; I trust this-- arrangement..."

His eyes darkened imperceptibly.

"Meets with your full approval?

"Good. You will be taken to quarters to relax a bit until our vessel is fully ready to leave. I estimate that to be in, oh--

"Eight standard hours."

He nodded to the Trooper in charge, who saluted crisply before turning to the remaining pair, herding them from the General's ready room and into the corridor without. There they were encircled by the remaining stormtroopers, who formed an "honor guard" of sorts about them. Surrounded thus, they were escorted to an area of ISS Sormontato that was far from anything of a sensitive nature, shown the 'fresher and food replicator, and thus ushered into a single room.

Of course the door closed behind them with a locking click...

Once the party had left his ready room, the General wasted no time in contacting Sarontogo aboard ISS Catalytic, the link that he opened being highly encrypted and secured.

"My friend, I believe I have something which might be of some interest to you. Contact Landarian, a meeting is in order."

A bit of quiet back-and-forth ensued, after which Ahem chopped communications with his sister ship. Pausing for a moment, his eyes closed in thought, he then left his ready room for his personal quarters.

In his hand he carried the journal of one Bon Foyagee, a journal which he planned on scouring from cover to cover in the safety of his suites. Not too long thereafter he was in fact implementing those very intentions, secure in the knowledge that guards stood ready at his door, at strategic places in the corridor, and at equally strategic T-intersections with other such corridors. Nothing would interrupt his study of the strange little book with such strange little drawings.

The more they tighten their grip...

Finally, she turned smoothly to face Rico, all traces of darkness hidden from her face. Mostly, at least.

"How can this be?" He was spluttering. "How can something like this happen to us, remain unknown to us, while these-- these-- beings stumble on it themselves? Where the hell were we?!?"

Ahem sighed, took a sip of his drink, and was about to reply when Sarontogo did that for him.

"It's a big universe, my friend; there is much to maintain, and few of us. Relatively speaking, of course."

Ahem set his tea down at that, and leaned forward to interject.

"And a lot has been happening in that universe, if you recall," he said smoothly. Landarian began to splutter even more, but managed to refrain from saying anything else as Ahem continued.

"Our first mandate is to the safety of the Empire," he reminded them, raising a hand to tick this off on one finger. "Yes, it is of dire importance to retrieve Lt. General Tarnus safely, but the key word in that is safely. What the hell happened to him, why he was held on the Sith worlds, how he disappeared from them, this we really have no idea.

"All we know is that he was effectively blockading those worlds, disappeared, and then Landarian's fleet was utterly destroyed by some strange power."

He cast a look to Landarian, whose face now showed a warring admixture of utter grief and utter rage. A brief smile of pity graced Ahem's lips before he went on.

"According to Sarontogo, a strange ship claiming to belong to the United Sith suddenly appears within his protective blockade around Coruscant. Then, poof! It just as mysteriously disappears."

He paused a moment, hand upraised, another finger ticking off this second link in what was suddenly begin to form into a very suspicious chain of events. His smile grew dark.

"The Sith. Not quite what we expected them to be, ey? Not the dark Force-users of history, but something else. Something just as elusive, just as mysterious. And something perhaps a tad bit more powerful. I've not heard of any power great enough to destroy in the manner of whatever it was that took Landarian's fleet, other than our old Death Star. No one has reported anything about one of those being created by anyone. So--"

He paused to take a genteel sip of his tea, hoping someone would jump in. This was supposed to be a conference, after all, and it seemed he was leading the brunt of the discussion.

Sarontogo finally spoke.

"It does seem that these, ahh... new Sith might be behind all this, doesn't it? I mean, it was on one of their worlds that Lt. General Tarnus disappeared -- if indeed we are to believe what they stated to us in their transmission! -- and around their world an entire fleet was unimaginably destroyed. A strange ship pops into being here over Coruscant, and just as strangely disappears. It shows the same configuration as one of the drawings in that book you retrieved from your pris- your new assistant." He dipped his head, then went on.

"That's enough circumstantial evidence for me."

Landarian finally calmed down enough to bring up another point.

"There was another strange incident reported to me by Lt. General Tarnus, something that happened several years ago. It seemed we had been holding some prisoners, let me see, I believe it was a Mr. Terrin Danner and another man, can't remember the name offhand. At any rate, they poof, just up and vanished from Imperial detention, on Coruscant! The word Graysith was left behind, somehow scored into the durasteel walls of their cell.

"Gray... SITH.

Ahem frowned a bit at this tidbit, then set down his tea.

"I believe all the evidence we have points to one thing: there really is a race called the Sith. They are hiding, keeping themselves aloof from the remainder of the Galaxy, and seem to be wielding a power which dwarfs that of our combined strengths. But--"

He settled back again, now holding up the book he had appropriated from Mitra, and waggled it meaningfully.

"It is my belief that this journal contains information of ships and other technology discovered in an archeological dig on a world unbeknownst to us. I spent the best portion of eight hours studying this journal; while I cannot decipher the alien portion of the notes, from the drawings herein I can only conclude that somewhere on this world that technology exists, or at the very least remnants of it do. If we could learn from it, learn to use it, then we'd have a defense against these Sith, and would be able to... remind them that even though they think themselves above the Empire, their system is within our Galaxy. Which we govern.

"I cannot believe that any race who did what they did to us would remain silent, not expecting contact or retribution of any kind."

The faces before him frowned a moment, as both men digested Ahem's logic. At length first Sarontogo, and then Landarian nodded in affirmation.

"This is why I chose the course of action that I did concerning Mitra et. al. Besides, when do we really bargain with ruffians? That is a shadow of the Empire of old, not the new one Admiral Actar wishes for us to maintain."

He paused, taking another sip of his tea, and quieted a moment to let the others assimilate all he had just presented to them.

“Well,” I said, “I guess we won’t be little bluebell again. Even if he survives their torture, he’ll go crazy in there. I can’t believe it! I mean, I’ve seen some pretty cold moves in my day, even done some pretty low stuff myself. But THAT…”

I was actually on the verge of being mad! Huh, who’da thought I’d feel sorry for that little fuzzball? But man, just think of it.

“I mean, damn! What’s the one thing he felt passionate about all this short time I’ve known him? Who’s the enemy to him? You just dropped him off, gift wrapped, in front of the targ and smellin’ like bantha burger.”

I turned and paced a bit at that, not sure now if I was really upset about Bon or that all this transpired without me being able to stop it. I had a bad feeling about this all the way, and it just kept getting worse.

Feeling no further need to explain herself and as though there were too many eyes and ears to see and hear, Cardissa fell silent and headed for a small couch on the other side of the room. She seated herself, her eyes defocusing as she considered just how, in fact, she could make the best of this situation.

Me, I’ll keep my nose clean and maybe still be able to come out of this all right. I mean, I wasn’t no revolutionary or nothing, and I still had contracts with the Impys. Which, by the way, I needed to report. Ah hell, how do I explain that one? Ace in the hole, buddy, that’s what that is.

“Anyway, lead and I’ll follow, babe.”

Yeah, I guess I would.

“Bah,” he spat. “Humans. Not them, not them. Beasts, that’s what they are. Wild beasts bent on conquering everything they see, man. No better than the Vong, man. No better. We oughtta let them come back, man, yeah, that would teach them.”

Bon continued to pace, his hands wringing together frantically as he walked.

“Why, man, why? It’s my book. Well, OK, not my book, but I found it man. And it’s all in code, man.”

All right, man, yeah, I worked out the code. I know the secrets, man. But they don’t know that, do they? Not even the lady knows it, man. The lady – oh, what is she doing to me man? What is she thinking?

Bon paced some more, then stopped.

“What IS she doing, man? This can’t be part of the plan, to let the beasts in like this. We shouldn’t have come here man, just should’ve stayed away. But I guess she knows that now, right? Well, I guess if I play along maybe I can figure out--”

For a short moment he even brought himself to wonder why in all the known galaxy the Empire would find this... thing... to be of any use to them. But his was not to question why, his was but to follow orders.

Or die.

"You will please come with us," he said, his manner the very epitome of civility as he turned his own body slightly to the side, one gauntleted hand gesturing toward the corridor without where the remainder of his squadron waited to escort the alien to General Ahem.

"Please do not tarry; the General is awaiting the pleasure of your company."

Then her look darkened and deepened somewhat and turned inward. For a long few minutes, the room fell into utter silence, much to Rico's discomfiture.

“Well,” I began, then paused. What did I know about any of that?

“Just what I read in some books and picked up around bars, I guess. I know that name, Heth-ror or whatever, he was someone really bad from long ago, right? Something to do with that myth of the Reborn, I think. That can't be who you mean, is it?”

I shrugged and went on.

“As for your people, I guess I don't know much at all. I think you had your homeworld blown up a long time ago, and then settled on... um, lessee... Datnooine? No, Belderone? Maybe. As for those other name, nope. Not a clue.”

I was curious, though, I had to admit. I stepped over to the chair next to her and sat down on the edge, looking right into her eyes.

She paused then, her black eyes growing somewhat vague. "The Reborn are anything but a myth. My grandfather was the first to create and lead Reborn...

...and the atrocities he committed were forced on him."

By an annoyingly humanocentric Empire, Cardissa thought blackly. Something which perhaps has not changed all that much.

Cardissa stood suddenly then, crossing the room and coming to a corner where she paused, looking down at the floor as if something very interesting was below her feet. Then she turned smoothly. "Isn't it amazing that, even after all this time, humans still seem to know so little of cultures alien to their own? We are not always what you think..."

She trailed, something deeply within yet unreadable in her eyes growling a final addendum. Rather we were forced to become what we are to survive in the universe...

I stood then, and walked a little closer to her.

“Everyone's pretty much the same to me. See, beneath all these good looks I'm a businessman, and credits spend same way no matter who you got 'em from. Well, sure, sometimes I get a little creeped out by tentacles and such, but it's what in the mind and heart that matter to me.”

A little closer...

“And I don't care that you're not human, you're probably better off for it. And you're a hell of a lot better lookin' than most humans I know.”

Crap, did I say that out loud? Ah well.

"So tell me more about yerself. Where'd you grow up?"

At least, we have no homeworld at the moment...

"But my father made certain I had the best of education regardless of our location."

She paused then, her eyes focusing more intently on Rico, and on his words. She slitted her eyes slightly. "The galaxy is controlled by mostly by humans, you know. You honestly think that you wouldn't be at least somewhat uncomfortable if things were different?"

I stopped, I really couldn't believe I just said that.

Cardissa smiled an eerie sort of smile, then it vanished. "Not that I would know anything about that, my homeworld was just obliterated by the Vong. While the Empire may have played a part in defeating them, we barely got out of the struggle at all...

...and it took far more than a mere government to defeat them."

She waited. Until at length she felt he was simply going to stand there and say absolutely nothing.

How unsurprising. How typical.

Hmm, come to think of it, I owed that little fuzzball.

“Remind me to kick his little blue butt for puttin’ me through all this, by the way. Assuming he lives through the stuff they got him doin’, that is.”

I stepped forward, closer to Cardissa.

"I need no protector," she replied tersely, falling silent. For a long moment she remained as she was, but suddenly she turned, tossing her two-toned golden and cinammon hair indignantly. "And I trust nothing to fate." Her eyes glazed a moment, then cleared. "I don't believe in it."

Crossing her arms, she then merely regarded Rico quietly, wondering if the Empire was going to ever tell them that they were going to go anywhere.

Upon hearing Thoran's call, I returned to the hatch, passing by the seated and very stoic looking Lieutenant Jetiis'ad in the process. She remained still as a stone, her eyes staring ahead, apparently oblivious to all that was happening around her.
I wasn't so foolish as to actually believe that, however; now forcing away the slight quirk that wanted to come to my lips I stopped in the yet open hatch. One hand on the frame, I cast a look down upon the enigmatic Sith.

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

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

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

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

But one never knew.

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

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

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

I felt down to my very soul that this was one of those defining moments, recognized it as such in every neuron that fired within my brain. For although innocent it may appear on the surface, the ramifications it held hidden away had the potential to alter the very future of our existence.

The only larger ships we have on base have lightspeed capability, and are heavily armed. Allowing them freedom to one would look upon by Actar with the greatest of dispproval, at the very least. But to ignore this, to confine the men until a later date when perhaps another courier could recall them to Coruscant... that would more than likely be looked upon with equal disapproval by the Jedi himself, and by Thoran. Now is not the time to estrange what jedi yet remain to us, and as for Thoran...

The man needs to make an appearance on Coruscant. The other generals need to see him, to speak with him. As does Actar himself...

I drew in a deep breath, then sent a return to Tatooine Base:

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

"Tarnus, out."

Letting a small sigh escape me, I settled back into my seat. I could feel the heat of Lt. Jetiis'ad's eyes blasting against me; I knew she disapproved of my action as well.

Hell knows part of me did too. But dammit, there comes a time when trust must be gained, and in gaining that one must first give it.

I closed my eyes, and spoke aloud, softening the tone of my voice to make them more of a suggestion rather than command.

"Speak what is on your mind, Lieutenant."

I fell into silence then, listening to the sounds of the courier as it sped along the spacelanes, waiting to see if she would reply.

((OOC: Tarnus's returning order goes back to Round and Round and Round She Goes, in the "CSWU" forums, thank you.))

Jedi though he was, Shawn was also more human than most probably realized. And this was again one of those moments where his "humanness" couldn't help but announce itself. For while he had most certainly made the request hoping for a positive answer, Shawn hadn't quite expected it to be responded to quite so positively or perhaps even as quickly as it had been.

And he couldn't help but noting to himself that the ship they were being provided, while an older model than some, would most certainly have passed the test his sister would have given it. But then, Shawn wasted litle time on such musings, feeling that this was not the time or the place. So he turned to the lead guard with a brief nod. "Thank you, sir," he said simply, turning as the hatch opened and heading for the cabin of the ship, prepping her for take-off and following procedures for departure in a standard manner even as Thoran joined him. Reaching out to the communit of the ship then, Shawn transmitted notification that he was ready for take-off, accessed his departure vector, and then simply took to the skies, an escort no doubt following closely on his heels if not already ahead of him.

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

Only then did he finally turn to Thoran, again quirking a brow in question.

"Well?"

Is he actually trying to understand me or just trying to find the best way to use me.

“My grandfather was supposed to be dead,” answered Kani. “The Jedi found him and killed him because the threat he posed to their rebellion. But now he is alive, what conclusion am I suppose to draw?”

“Well, what?” he said. “Oh, how are you, Thoran? Oh, I’m fine, how about yourself.”

Thoran shook his head a little and let a slight grin escape.

“Not exactly what I was expecting, but I guess it’s better than nothing. Needless to say, I really didn’t expect to see you here. But the odd thing is that things do tend to work themselves out if you let them, so meeting you on Tattooine was most likely a blessing. On the other hand, you’re probably wondering what the heck I’m doing here, right?”

He paused a moment and then cut in before Shawn could answer.

"Yes, she has, and I'm not sure what sort of mental state she is in." He paused, shaking his head, his eyes turning a bit reflective. "Erik and Shayla's baby--who had been born premature and was being kept in an incubator on Khar Delba--passed away. In the midst of dealing with all of that Shayla just..."

Shawn trailed a moment. "...snapped. She blasted off Khar Delba on her own and from there no one knows where she went."

Shawn shook his head. "As if that isn't enough, Erik blasted off on his own to bury his son, blaming the Sith for his death."

Shawn shrugged. "It might sound a bit 'cliche but I have a bad feeling about all of it."

Quieting for a moment then, Shawn's eyes defocused a bit, then snapped alert as he looked back at Thoran. "And speaking of how have you been...

...I think the question is where have you been? Last I saw you we were on Degobah."

He paused, the corners of his mouth quirking up into a bit of a smile. "I thought you wanted to to 'catch up' on something? After all, you and Tarnus were having quite the discussion until I came in."

Good, solid Imperial training, that. The words flowed into my head, a comforting line of normalcy to idly toy with even while I thought of how to address something which I suddenly knew could have potentially dire ramifications on down the line. I never came to question those few times when my gut rose up to inform me of this type of thing; I only rested assured in that if I paid heed, life would continue on its merry way, with me playing right along in it.

It's part of what kept me alive as a Hunter. It was part of what made me have that instant connection with Galen that I did. That spark, that innate, subconscious recognition that we are two alike, ye and I...

I shook myself a little, drew my attention back to the young lieutenant who appeared coiled so tightly it seemed she would explode if I simply said, "boo."

Watch your step, Tarnus.

I drew in a breath, leaned ever so slightly toward her. Let my blue eyes capture her form, letting her know I was sincere by the body language.

"I don't know who lied to you, Kani," I said softly, speaking her name for the first time. "But whoever started this lie did not send it on down through any channels that pertained to me."

More than likely this began before I was even wrapped up as tightly as I now am with the Impys.

I jumped a bit in response to how I suddenly viewed my career. The tiniest of schisms seemed to have cracked open, the tiniest of separations...

Who are you Tarnus, and what do you really want?

I drew in another breath, settled back into my seat and shoved those nagging subliminal thoughts as far away as I could.

For the moment.

"As for how you respond when you discover who started this charade," I went on, "Well... at the least may I remind you that while you wear that uniform you are acting as an Imperial soldier, and in the grace of the Empire, for the Empire. What you do when divested of it... that is your own choice, and will bear its own set of consequences.

“I think I’m the one you least have to worry about,” replied Kani. “My Grandfather is the one they should fear.”

From her mother’s descriptions and stories Tarnus seemed to resemble her Grandfather in many ways. The attitude, sense of right, the presence they commanded.

Maybe that is what keeps throwing me off, the General acts so Mando’a without knowing it.

Images coming from my youth and my naivete, images of a struggling otter-like creature held by the scruff of the neck, the bustle and noise of the Coronet Treasure Ship yards framing his squirming body, masking the arrival of another, taller one like it, one who could fight like an enraged rancor...

A shadow falling, a sudden screech. The thrashing creature yanked from my hand, a deep voice speaking to the tall being. A clink of coin, the shadow looming over me, a figure there, hands on hips, staring at me intently through a T-shaped visor which had over time become more than dear to me...

I shifted my weight, every ounce of willpower in my possession put to the task of maintaining an outwardly calm demeanor.

But inside, ahh inside...

My innards were quivering as much as they had the fateful day my benefactor was killed by that feral bantha on Talasea. Not merely at the ferocity of his death, no. But by the fact that up until that very moment I hadn't so much as seen my Teacher's face.

I shifted again, drew in a deep breath, considering whether or not this needed to be any business of the lieutenant. In all actuality, I couldn't see how it could be anybody's business, other than my own, and business I wished to keep stuffed away in the recesses of my memory. But Lt. Jetiis'ad had dragged the sandcat from the proverbial bag; time to reflect a bit before shoving it back into it.

"Someone who wore such armor was a very important part of my life," I finally said. "And when he was finished with it, that armor became more than a part of me."

I paused again, waffling between military and personal protocols. Then it struck me that my hot lieutenant had suddenly cooled, and in fact appeared to be trying to be civil. Perhaps this was an outreach on her part, so to speak.

I considered my earlier gut feeling about this fem, the creeping notion that somehow she would become more than a mere officer in the Empire. That she might turn out to be a connection, a nexus if you will, between her people and those who would really count in the days of turmoil I was certain were coming.

I shot her a serious look.

Kani wanted to pry further to know more about his past and this man with Mandalorian Armor but she could tell that for now that was all he was willing to share.

“I understand,” replied Kani. “To us Mando’ad the Armor we wear is who we truly are. Our body is just a shell but the armor represents the spirit of the Mando’ad and to us the helmet we wear are our own faces. The armor its self is often times passed down as one of us dies. My own armor is made from that of my Aunt and Grandmothers. I just wish I knew what happened to my Mothers armor.”

The talk of her mother brought to her mind of her last memories of her. How she refused to let Kani go with her on the rescue mission and Kani helping her mother with her equipment check then at the last moment leaving Kani with one of her two lightsabers promising to return for it.

She never came back.

“Funny you should mention that,” he said. “That’s pretty much what I was discussing with Sorben Tarnus.”

Shawn’s raised eyebrow gave Thoran the cue to continue.

“I went through a weird little adventure since I saw you last. I ended up getting myself thrown into the dungeons on K’eel Doba by our ever loving Dark Lady Gray – or what is it her less loving daughter? Tell you the truth, I’m not too sure I remember which one it was now. Doesn’t matter though, because I discovered I was neighbors with said Tarnus. I had some things to talk about in private, so I busted us out via the Darker Realms and we ended up here – by way of Tattooine.”

Thoran paused, his face now somewhat puzzled.

So Thoran had been on Tatooine. And just maybe he'd seen some of those damned white spiders that attacked Lord Aelvedaar and Galen, maybe?

"I wouldn't think you've lost your mind, if that's what you're asking," he then replied, at first being somewhat vague.
After all, those white spiders did something or other to Galen and Lord Aelvedaar. Soemthing that he was unable to heal via his quite capable healing gifts. And now here was Thoran, speaking of them...

...Thoran who had been missing for quite some time, and who had a proclivity for never being quite specific as to what his true intentions really were.

So... he was not another Hunter who had managed somehow to appropriate Mandalorian armor, I thought to myself. He was Mandalorian.

This I suddenly knew to the very core of my being. Not simply because of the armor, or of how he wore it. But rather, of how it had felt when I first put it on. How deeply important that armor was to me, more so that up to this very moment I hadn't realized exactly to what depth of meaning it held.

A glimmer of pure anger flashed through me, anger at the mysterious race who had not only destroyed my ships...

They had taken my armor. And I wanted it back.

I jerked my focus back to Kani, who was sitting very quiet, somehow vulnerable. The realization that we were two alike struck me then: she was angry over the death of her Mother, the apparent deception of the Empire concerning her grandfather, while I was angry at the Sith for the way they had attempted to divest me of my past. But through my anger, another tiny chisel widened that even tinier schism that had cracked open mere moments before, allowing me sudden opportunity to peer inside to discover:

I did not like being who I was. I had hidden behind that armor, misusing it, dishonoring it, and now with it's loss was discovering that what was left behind wasn't someone I would under any circumstances give a moment's time to. How had it all come to this? How had I come to this?

Other images flashed: of Actar, of his steadily tightening velvet-gloved grip, of his ability to stealthily manipulate all those who opposed him as cleverly as did Palpatine of Old. And how, exactly?

By giving his opponents everything they wanted... and then at the appropriate time yanking it all away.

A tremor thrilled through me, and momentarily I lost sight of Kani, lost track of our conversation. Once again I could clearly see Galen standing before me, her chin raised in defiance as with glare and that obstinate braking ability she had she would at this time or that holler about those niggling gut feelings she would get.

Like those I used to get.

Like the one now screaming within me, screaming for all it was worth. Telling me of the prize, the elusive carrot: the privilege of being put into power, with but two others above me in the entire New Empire.

Why had this happened? What had I done to deserve this? Was it the assassination of Galen and Darra? I knew that had been a failure; Actar should be aware of it as well. Yet still I found myself the incongruous Third in Command of Imperial Forces.

Why? To what end? Of what possible use could I be to Actar? Why would he want a bounty hunter?

A sudden flash of inspiration.

Was it a connection to two worlds very dangerous to the Empire? The Bounty Hunter's Guild World, and Mandalore? Did he think I had some connection with the Mandalorians that he could use against them, and was biding his time until it was right for him to approach me with this, a time when he felt my loyalties had finally and one hundred percent bonded themselves to him and the Empire?

Could this speculated desire to find and destroy Mandalore have anything to do with Imperial deception with Kani, and maybe whatever had happened to her mother as well?

Was my own rage entirely misdirected?

I paused, turning inward, and digging deep. The rising sense of urgency suddenly diminished, and the image of Galen quieted to cross her arms. I knew; knew to my soul, that I was right.

I was right.

Funny thing, so major a paradigm shift. And the fact it had happened so quietly one could hear a proverbial pin drop.

I sniffed, more to break the lengthening silence I found myself in upon returning from equally lengthy introspection. But there before me, still sitting quietly in her seat, Kani seemed to be waiting for an answer.

I wanted to leap to my feet, to rage against Actar, against my being so easily deceived, so utterly at odds with my own perceived character. I wanted to grasp the controls of this ship, and set course to Mandalore, bringing Kani to her people and there possibly begin finding a means to nip Actar's plans, whatever the hell they were, in the bud.

I paused again, however, as another realization hit me.

What better position to be in than the one I owned, as Third in Command? And though every conclusion I had so rapidly come to was based on nothing more tangible than speculation, I knew in my gut I was right.

Beware the lurking nek, Admiral. For it is quietly growing to rancor proportions...

Now I leaned forward, pinned my baby blues directly upon my lieutenant's own pair.

"We'll find out why you were told your Grandfather was dead, Kani," I assured her, nodding again only this time for emphasis. "And I'll find out what happened to your mother.

"That's a promise you can take to the bank."

"Ok, so I know something about white spiders."

He paused, his looking only intensifying more. "And I've seen them in action and know what they can do."

He quieted again, the look in his eyes growing even more intense as they remained pinned on Thoran.

"Why do you ask?"

How am I supposed to answer that, these is no falsehood in that statement. Just a straightforward and honorable gesture like any Mandalorian would make.

“Mando'ad draar digur General,” Kani responded. When Sorben looked on confused at her answer she remembered that even though he acted like a Mandalorian he did not understand everything it means to be one. So before he could question what she just said Kani provided a translation. “A Mandalorian never forgets. Mandalorian code of honor demands we keep our vows and repay them in kind. Just like…”

Kani’s mind wandered off for a when she remembered her own debt to the Empire.

“Just like when the Empire after they captured me after I tried to assassinate Actar,” Kani continued. “They showed me the truth about the Jedi rebellion and how they were responsible for the corruption of my people and my mothers death. Then they let me go to take my revenge without punishment for my attempted assassination from before. And now in repayment of that kindness I use my skills as a Mandalorian Super Commando for the Empire.”

Somehow her words, as neatly stated as they were, seemed to be...

Hollow.

A slight shiver ran up my spine at the recognition. What the hell was it Galen used to say?

A gaggle of geese was marching up and down her back...

Well, that gaggle was most definitely there, complete with their accessory gooseflesh which suddenly erupted on my arms. While wishing like hell I had my Mandalorian armor on my body again, I was thankful for the long sleeved uniform I was now wearing.

Gooseflesh can be read as a sign of weakness. But... would she read it as such?

And why did it bother me what she thought?

I jerked my focus back from this little bit of off-course wandering, concentrated it fully upon her again. Finally decided to let drop a tiny bit of... what? Knowledge?

Or gut instinct...

"Are you certain?" I asked, not specifying as to which statement of hers I was responding, satisfied that she would know deep within her own heart... and soul.

But how do I know what is true both feel real to me and yet one has to be a lie.

“I don’t know anymore General,” answered Kani. “I know in my heart what my mother has told me is true, about the Jedi, and my Grandfather. Also the evidence the Empire has shown me contradicts this and is both overwhelming and verified by outside sources. I was willing to consider that the Jedi did betray my mother and their own principals in a grab for power; both of these statements could in fact exist simultaneously and still be true.”

Kani reached behind her to the back of her neck to release the seal on her helmet. There was a brief sound of air escaping as Kani broke her armors environmental seal before she removed her helmet. She felt more vulnerable without her helmet because that was her real face as far as Mandalorians were concerned. But to many of those from outside of that community the helmet invoked the images of a droid and not the living person underneath. Her gesture of removing it was to show Sorben on a personal level how conflicted she was on this issue, even to the effect that she was willing to step outside of her armor to show non-Mandalorians how this was affecting her.

Vulnerability. As if she was just waiting to hear what I'd say, as if somehow my words might in turn produce some kind of paradigm shift in her world as the one I had experienced mere moments before, and bring her security and a sense of inner peace.

I pondered her question carefully, keeping my gaze pinned on her's, letting time crawl past until I finally felt I'd seen inside her down to her very heart.

And knew the damning words I was about to speak aloud would never be given voice by her lips. Her honor as a Mandalorian precluded that.

"First of all, Kani, I will never lie to you," I began carefully, hesitating the slightest bit, reading her body language. It remained steady; taking a deep breath I leaned forward and lowered my voice to the merest of whispers.

"I would not trust anything the Empire would ever state to me, no matter what supposed proof they have to justify their statements. And I urge you to do the same."

Again I paused, this time in light of her suddenly widening eyes. Deep within their glistening depths I could clearly read something approaching confusion, if not downright shock; oh, how I wanted to press on, to not let her wonder longer, to be as forthright with her as she just had been with me.

How I wanted to continue on with the final, blatant statement, "I no longer consider myself part of the Empire, yet I wear its uniform..."

But wisdom overruled this. I felt I could, but I needed to see how she reacted to my former little bombshell. Straightening up now, I sat silent in my seat, waiting to see how she would react, judging every slightest bit of body language, ready to put her down should push come to shove, and she fall back into Imperial mode.

But somehow I didn't think that was going to happen.

I should have known better, as one of their commando’s I know full well that the empire has done plenty of things that it denies to its citizens and even its military. How could I make such a stupid mistake?

“Ni shab’rud’ni,” muttered Kani. “Ke nu’jurkadir sha mando’ade.”

Kani was seething; she accepted her Mother had died when she was 8. She knew Mandalorians died in battle all the time her mother was no exception, she had bore the empire itself no ill will only to avenge her mother’s death so she could rest in the manda.

This is different, even if the Jedi were responsible for my mother’s death and not the empire they used my memory of her against me for that alone the empire must pay.

Kani pushed back the urge to lash out, that would not suit her objectives at this time. For now she needed to play the calm commando for the empire to see, and to let Tarnus know she agreed with his sentiments.

“Well,” he said. “It’s like this.”

He thought about what he was going to tell Shawn, and how he would in fact tell him. This was delicate information, not to be doled out like candy to babies. In fact, he wasn’t really sure what he was going to say in the first place.

“Or maybe it’s like this,” he said. “All right, I don’t really know what it means. I went through a lot the past few weeks, and I could be going through some extreme personal moments. But, I saw the white spiders on Tattooine. They shouldn’t have been there, but there they were. And they were crawling around like little thieves, getting onto people and doing who knows what to them. I think we’re going to have an unpleasant time if we go back there.”

Thoran looked around, suddenly nervous. When satisfied that nobody had mysteriously joined them, he turned back to Shawn.

Not quite yet...

Instead I merely shifted in my seat, gave Kani the barest of nods. Then, keeping my thoughts to myself, I rose to my feet, strode about the room, cutting off vid-cams and other snooping devices as I meandered hither and yon. When all were satisfactorily discombobulated, I returned to my chair and sat down with an admitted sigh of relief.

Nanoseconds later, I leaned forward, and cut Kani my steeliest look.

"Now the time has come to be forthright," I stated, all the while searching deep within her own enigmatic gaze.

It seemed as if there was something there, something operating on the same level as--

I didn't let that thought seek fruition. I merely sat quietly, waiting to hear how she might respond...

...before I spoke anything further.

If.

“Consequences be damned,” said Kani. “Even if everything the Empire said is true they are still using me to their own end. These Aruetii’se will keep on spilling Mando’ad blood to fight their wars and do their dirty work. Only to discard us when they see fit.”

Kani kept her emotions close to the surface; it was how she was trained to survive. Her mother taught her just like her Grandfather taught her Mother in turn. Emotions were not to be suppressed or denied as in traditional Jedi philosophy, but rather embraced to fuel one’s drive. So it was no surprise that her rage was almost to a boiling point.

Not now, later… right now without an outlet I can’t surrender to that anger and pain.

Reaching back to those memories of her younger days with her Mother, to a time when her Mother thought she would at least need to know how to control her own Force powers. Kani used a Jedi relaxation exercise and within moments came down to an almost statuesque demeanor.

“Whatever debt I had with the Empire,” stated Kani. “Even if I had one I have more than paid in full. The price they ask now goes against everything it means to be Mando’ad, and jeopardizes my soul with the Manda. I’ve been away from my people for so long that I almost forgot what the heart of a Mando’ad looked like, you and my Grandfather forced me to confront that.”

It felt as if a massive weight fell from Kani’s shoulders, or more of a veil being removed from her eyes, but whatever the cause she felt a glimmer of internal peace she had not felt since her mother’s death.

Her pain runs deep.

The thought, flicking from nowhere almost in complete non sequiteur, startled me. Not so much as what it was revealing about her...

As much as me.

I drew in a deep breath, let the slightest of smiles curl my lip. Before me she stood, the epitome of honor, ready to die in defense of that. I never thought Mandalorian armor looked as good; it fit her like a glove, paralleling her principles even more so than it did her battle-ready body.

A nudge of guilt slithered through me again.

I hope one day I can retrieve my own, and bring back the honor my own Teacher had bestowed upon it.

Pushing that aside as well as I could, I leaned forward the tiniest bit. Even though I thought I had disengaged all the bugging devices, even I couldn't be completely certain that we weren't yet being watched. I let a few moment more trickle past, waiting to see if anyone would be bursting in at the treasonous words Kani had just spoken, holding onto my authority like the false cloak that it truly was.

Nothing happened. No one came.

I let the breath I had drawn escape in a soft hiss. Pinned her with my eyes. Then--

"We are at an understanding," was all I said.

I rose then, meandered to a sideboard, poured a cuppa caf. How I wished it was my better friend, Walkn'Fall, but now was certainly not the time. Turning round, I took a sip, looked at Kani over the rim of the cup.

I defied the Empire and got away with it, damn that feels good.

Instead of returning her helmet to its proper place Kani left it off as a show of her acceptance of Sorben in her personal life. She reclined back in her chair kicking her feet up in a manner more appropriate of an old mercenary sitting at a bar exchanging old war stories than a well disciplined Imperial Officer.

“Two things about Mandalorians Ner Vod,” Kani boasted. “First one being we love to fight, drink, and party. Second thing being with the way we Mandos play sabaac, it involves all three.”

Kani thought she saw the emergence of a smile behind the cup of caf coming from Sorben from that amusing anecdote of Mandalorian culture.

Then, "I know more of this than you seem to think, and agree with you in more ways than you believe," he replied a bit cryptically. "I have been on Khar Delba, with the Sith, and have come from there after having given my word to Aeylmaar that I would let my kind know that the Sith are not who or what the majority of this Universe believes."

He paused, pursing his lips. "I am going to keep my word on that. Especially since I too know there are things at play which are of far greater importance and danger to us all."

Quieting again, Shawn thought back to when he too had seen the white spiders. "I know of these white spiders, and have once tried to heal someone who was bitten by them."

He trailed, actually frowning for a moment, then continued. "All I can say is whatever they did nothing I could do would help, which is saying something considering Healing is my gift."

As well as your sister's, right?

Shawn shook his head. "And on top of all of this, Erik and Shayla's son who was being kept on Khar Delba has died. My brother-in-law departed in anger to do Fates know what and hasn't been heard from since, and my sister..."

Shawn paused, shaking his head, for the first time allowing any hint of grief to cross his facial features. Instinctively, he reached out to that blood-link he shared with her, something of a protective older brother surfacing in him...

...only to come up blank. "...I have no idea where she is or what she is doing...

...and can't even sense if she is alive or not. Granted, that may all be meaningless in the grand spectrum of things, for there is far more at stake with what you and I both know..."

He quieted a final time. "But I have a really bad feeling, to use an entirely overused phrase, that it isn't."

"Then I'd say it's time to plan a little game strategy," I said, taking another drink. The hot liquid flowed down my throat, but I neither did I really feel or taste it.

"And keep your sabaac face on, Lieutenant."

I then set down my cup and approached my computer console. A few deft touches, and I discovered our ETA upon Coruscant to be mere hours distant. Nodding, I turned from the monitor, blackened it, and set my personal computer to computing pi as far as it could; a favorite ploy of mine when I wanted it to remain busy, and reply in generalities to any incoming messages. Even, in this case, if said messages would turn out to be marching orders, although I seriously doubted anything of this sort would happen.

“So what do you suggest General?” asked Kani.

Funny how even when we are alone and exchange our mutual statement of disloyalty we still address each other by rank. Well I at least need to maintain this fascade until I know who to strike and if the General can help me so be it who knows he might prove himself to be a Mando after all.

"I am the Empire, Lieutenant," I replied, now rising from my chair to stride about the room a little. It always seems to help me think clearly, getting the kinks out in the process.

At length I turn back to her.

"When the need comes, would your people accept me, help me?" I asked her suddenly, accentuating the pronoun that she understand it wasn't "me" the Empire to which I referred, knowing that a wealth of information would be carried upon the backs of whatever reply she might possibly make: the fact that Mandalore does yet exist, in greater numbers than the Empire dreamed, the possibility that they could be persuaded into coming out from beneath the isolationism they imposed upon themselves.

Where they have hidden themselves...

I let my eyes pierce her own, trying to reach into the deepest corners of her heart.

“The short answer is no,” replied Kani. “When it comes to the Empire our wounds run deep, as a people we still live with the scars of slavery from the times of Palpatine. It was only because of Mandalore Fett and the war against the Vong that we were able to rebuild our civilization. It would take a new Mandalore to convince them, the current one is a puppet and it would not surprise anyone in the least if he were to suddenly die.”

Kani could tell that was not the answer Sorben wanted to hear, but it was difficult to explain the customs and traditions to an outsider, let alone in a language such as basic that lacked the necessary vocabulary to express its ideas.

No. Still am. And always will be.

The coming back was comfortable, like pulling on a pair of old shoes. I suddenly found myself wishing like hell I still had my armor, but realized that armor does not the man make.

As they say on Kani's world, it is the man that makes the armor. And this one's coming home.

I brought my restless pacing to a sudden halt. Realized further that the tiny germs of possibilities that were running through my head needed to be passed along. She had lowered something of her blast shields; time I let mine down a little more myself.

"We're going to take the Empire down, Kani," I said softly, her name slipping from my lips as natural as water going over a fall. "It's not going to be easy; I know your people are fierce fighters, and honorable ones--"

Hell, my own Teacher was Mandalorian!

"--but even they don't have what it takes to make the Empire crumble. But the iron fist hiding inside the velvet glove they show to the Galaxy has to be crushed, somehow. While it's good on one hand that there may be a chance your people can help, I think the most realistic means of instigating the Empire's demise is from within."

I paused a little, wondering just how in all the known universe I was going to manage that one. Perhaps some discreet words dropped to the admirals--? I shook my head, and went on.

"I will find out who was in charge of the fiasco regarding your mother. Whoever was at fault will pay, and--" I raised a hand to dissuade the ire I saw rising suddenly in her eyes. "--I will make certain said person or persons will be duly held, their eventual fate to be in your hands. That I promise you. Meanwhile, do you think we could get your grandfather to join with us, to do what needs to be done to persuade your people that what I'm saying is the truth, that no harm will come to them and that I do need them if we're ever going to get rid of Actar, Swatzi, and whoever else would yet follow after them."

I blinked a little, not needing to name anyone further. Swatzi I knew was loyal to Actar in the extreme, but as for the other admirals and commanders, I wasn't so sure. Although after his initial bloody coup Actar had been loud in proclaiming a non-militaristic presence in the affairs of the galactic worlds, if only by maintaining a steady absence from them, I knew many bore a deep grudge against him. Hard to admire the man who killed so many that he could reach his current "happy place," not only during but after the coup as well. A well placed word here, a discreet inquiry there...

All we needed was time. And the promise of back-up by those able to provide it, should things go to hell in a hand-basket along the way.

I wondered about the Sith, but had yet to really trust them after what they'd done to my Fleet. For although it would appear that they and I were now somehow on the same page, I didn't think I'd have a good opportunity to convince them of this. Showing up with goodwill and begging for their help would probably give them plenty of information they needed to bolster the path they were already treading upon considering the Empire, but I wanted to be treading it right along with them. I'd already had a taste of their dungeons, and wasn't in any great hurry to get back into one.

So... time. Time was what we needed, and as long as I continued to play Daddy to the Galaxy, time was something I had plenty of. Not to mention time I could dole out to others, like a certain aide of mine that she could go out upon a very special, if highly secretive, mission.

Ba'buir's loyalty is unquestionable when it comes to our people, it is his other loyalty that is the problem.

“He might,” she said. “Its complicated because he is not only a Mandalorian Warrior, but quite possible the last living Jedi Master the destruction of the Jedi might make him believe this is some sort of trap. And to be perfectly honest Mandalore while many of us hate the Empire are convinced it is not exactly a threat to us. We have long ago abandoned our idea of galactic conquest and largely leave the rest of the galaxy alone only taking mercenary work as needed. In our history only one man has ever conquered our homeworld, The Revanchist or as most people know him Darth Revan. In more recent memory when the vong attacked us and invaded our system with the full force of their Army we managed to drive them back and for every warrior we lost we made sure they lost a thousand in turn.”

Kani reached into one of pouches on her belt and pulled out a metal cup and what looked like a bag of sticks. Using them she made herself a traditional Mandalorian drink both designed to be field expedient and provide quick substance when needed. While it may seem more prudent to take advantage of Sorben's well stocked shuttle Kani both preferred it and the time it took to prepare gave Sorben a chance to process what she said before she continued.

I merely nodded in turn.

"I would be honored to approach your grandfather, if you could arrange for this meeting to occur," I replied, wincing at the formality the words carried upon their backs.

"If there is anything you need to make this happen..."

I let my words trail off, and rising quickly checked the monitor. We were fast approaching Coruscant; I needed to get back into Impy mode, and the sooner the better.

But before I did...

I moved to stand before the young lieutenant, well aware of how I had treated her scant hours earlier.

How to repay that debt...

I reached out a hand, and planted it upon her shoulder.

"I trust you, Kani. And I hope you fully trust me. But now it is time to play the rancor once again."

I flashed her a brilliant smile, the last I knew I would be able to give her in godz knew how long a time from now. For even though Third in Command I was, Actar had his eyes and ears planted everywhere. If I was going to beat him, I had to maintain the posture of being "him."

There is much the Empire missed when it came to the destruction of the Jedi, many of its safe houses and escape routes it hid in such an event were missed only known to a select few masters. Lucky Ba'buir knows of these and so did Buir... good thing she showed me just incase.

Kani returned a smile Sorben, then donned her helmet sealing her back into her little world. She offered a slight nod acknowledging the role she must yet again assume her role.

...but Shawn didn't really sense such. It was more like Thoran just didn't trust anyone at all.

"You know, sooner or later you are going to have to trust someone with what you know," Shawn then spoke up simply. "No one is an island."

He paused, casting a greeny-blue gaze Thoran's way. "We should be arriving at Coruscant shortly," Shawn continued with. "I need to do some meditation and collect my thoughts for whatever might be ahead," he added. "The controls are on autopilot, so you may do the same if you like...

...but I think I am going to retire for now."

It seemed we were coming in to Coruscant.

Straightening out any imaginary wrinkles my clothing may be holding -- I had to present my best, even in the simple jumpsuit afforded me by our base on Tattooine -- I headed forward. The pilot turned in his seat, and let a slight smile flash from his eyes, before returning to the duty of landing this little courier on one of the myriad Imperial landing platforms in VLO near our military HQ.

I closed my eyes, feeling a little bit of tension dissipate. It would have been just one more little messy item to deal with if I had been forced to kill the man at this point; by that simple and barely perceptible gesture I knew he was one of the myriad holding a grudge against Actar and Swatzi.

I dared to reach out, and clamp an extremely un-Lt.-General-like hand upon his shoulder.

"Take us home, Mister," I ordered, then seated myself for the rest of the ride. Behind me I heard the slight rustle of clothing as Kani likewise seated herself. We could have remained standing... but I had a feeling that once we hit dirt we'd be on our feet for quite a long period of time. Might as well take a load off for the duration of landing.

It proceeded smoothly enough. Our pilot's console burst into vibrant life as orders were passed along the ether: some that he could listen in on, assuring him that other ships had been told to heave too, or hold their own orbits, or even back off that we could slip through the morass which was Coruscant airspace with as little effort as possible. The last such order was for us, giving us our landing vector, which we homed in on like a Dagoban bat.

Not too much time passed, when a gentle thump informed me we had landed. I rose, tugged my clothing again, and moved toward the hatch. I could almost feel the electricity passing between Kani and myself as I passed her; holding my head staunchly upright, eyes forward, I merely treated her as would any upper echelon officer treat an underling.

The hatch oiled open, I stepped foot upon the gangway...

...only to be suddenly enclosed by overly-armed men in their gleaming white armor.

"You will come with us, Lt. General," one with a brilliant red shoulder patch allowed, his helmet dipping with... was it respect, or something else?

I couldn't be certain.

My hackles rose as my mind went into overdrive, wondering if the pilot had managed to fool me after all. I then relaxed the slightest; nope, that couldn't be it. Only I was being surrounded; they had left Kani out of the square of soldiers.

I turned my head, to see her standing in the hatch of the courier, every inch of her body the perfectly obedient young officer.

Could it have been her...?

I shot her a glance, a heavy look that displayed nothing but surprise laced with a bit of trepidation.

Curse that damned helmet; I can't read her eyes...!

Then I thought I saw that helmet dip, just the slightest little bit. Behind her came the pilot, who after standing down the little courier was waiting to disembark. He placed a hand on Kani's shoulder, let it sit there the tiniest of moments, then proceeded to move it as though brushing off a speck of lint.

Two ways to read that, Sorben ol' boy...

The thought pushed through my mind, and was forced away as I turned to my "entourage" and nodded to them, keeping my own bearing as militarily upright as I could.

Thus it was that I was delivered to another little ship that was standing by upon the next landing circle. Moments later, and we were off.

Dear Khaandon, as Galen was often wont to say. I can only hope that I judged Kani correctly, and that she would have it within her to do whatever it is that had to be done.

Whether that was keeping somehow to our furtive, if budding, and very very traitorous plans, finding what in Hell's Seven Circles was happening to me, or simply continuing on with her own little militaristic life.

I was betting on two out of three.

((OOC: Follow Sorben Tarnus into Root, Root, Root for the Home Team, in the "Empire/New Republic" forums, thank you.))

He wasn't far off, for when he returned to the cabin and resumed controlling the ship, only ten standard minutes passed before proximity indicators came alive. In another few minutes, the ship reverted, and they were greeted with a very intricately woven blockade.
Oh, yikes, Shawn couldn't help but think. Could really use Shayla's skills here...

Flipping on the comm unit, Shawn requested a landing vector, and waited.

The two exchanged eyeblinks.

What was an old YT-2400 doing coming in to their airspace? Let alone one...

The ensigns hands flew across his console.

...as heavily armored and weaponed as this one?

The supervisor's initial reaction was to warn nearby ships to stand back before he blew it out of the sky. Luckily for the patiently waiting Shawn, however, he decided instead that discretion was the better part of valor, especially when it came to the affairs of their esteemed leader.

"State your designation, your destination, and your name, pilot," he barked over the ensign's shoulder before raising himself upright to await the reply.

"This is Spice Eater, destination Coruscant. I am Jedi Master Shawn Petrolu, travelling as an associate of Lieutenant General Sorben Tarnus."

As Shawn sent off the message, he couldn't help but wonder if the recipient would accept his explanation...

"This seems to check out, Sir," he stated, nodding toward the blip which on his end was Spice Eater. "This ship is registered to us, and was in fact based on Tattooine. Which was where our courier was dispatched to pick up General Tarnus.

"Sir."

The ensign's supervisor, himself a Lt. Commander, mulled this over for a moment. On one hand the facts seemed to indicate everything was on the up-and-up, but then not too many Jedi were known to still be out and about.

Much less at the helm of one of their own, military grade ships.

But there was the connection with General Tarnus to consider...

"Contact the General for verification," he ordered, standing fully upright while the ensign's hands once more flew over his console. At length--

"Sir, General Tarnus has been unexpectedly called away, and is not to be disturbed. Top Priority Code Alpha One One Omega Red.

"Sir."

This unexpected revelation would have put a lesser man into a tizzy. But the Lt. Commander had been with the Empire many, many years, hiding out in secret, if solitary, rebellion while the galaxy tried to run itself, then quickly brought back into the fold with Actar's coup. He let his fingers stroke his chin while he considered. Then--

"Check with Tattooine Base."

A few more seconds passed while subspace chattered with vocalizations spread thinly from planet to distant planet. At length the ensign turned toward his supervisor, an confirming affirmation upon his lips.

The Lt. Commander scowled. Something didn't seem right about all this, but who was he to question the powers that be. His was not to question why; his was but to do or-

"Let them through," he finally said. Then he straightened.

"I want that ship gone over with a fine-toothed comb upon his disembarking. Compare what we find with last known specs. See if this Jedi has done anything to her but flown her. I also want this information sent to Ambria, double-encryption code 00-254.

"In the meantime, send someone to meet with this Jedi. Until we find out what the hell he's doing here, the very least we can do is keep a close eye on him."

"Aye, Sir."

The unattended speeder roared to life speeding off without a driver and into a near by fuel truck and detonated upon impact drawing everyones attention to in the opposite direction, more importantly it also destroyed all evidence of her tampering. Kani caught a luck break with the fuel truck explosion she waited until the shockwave from it hit her and adding a little more force she made it appear as if it knocked her off her feet and right over the edge of the canyon. It was about a two kilometer drop from what Kani's range finder told her to the bottom and waiting till the last 200 meters she fired her jetpack off at full power slowing her decent at the last minute so she hit the ground going into a roll. Continuing her roll until she hit the wall of a structure she remained crumpled in a ball for a few moments before ripping off her helmet and more importantly ripping out its comm link and crushing much of its fragile circuitry.

Now for all appearances sake Kani was caught in an explosion from a speeder accident and knocked unconscious from it only managing to regain consciousness at the last second to save her own life but lost her comms and was now trapped within the under city of Coruscant.

Her efforts though hindered by the mess of the Undercity were eventually rewarded when she arrived at what looked like a decrepit warehouse long abandoned by those who dwelled above. The entrance to the safe house was easy enough for her to find and to her satisfaction remained undisturbed. Not wanting to waste anymore time Kani entered the building and ignoring everything else the safe house had to offer she went straight for its comm station.

She composed a short message that read. “Kani Jetiis’ad Mandalorian Protectorate, urgent message to Bes’in Skirata. Empire turncoat, need support of Mandalore, requests alliance, provide further instruction.” Kani had the terminal encrypt the message and readied it to upload to a dead drop for the Mandalorians, but first she had to make some preparations to make this look good. Checking the safe house Kani found what she needed; a comm link, a few thermal detonators, and a lightsaber. She removed her helmet and with the lightsaber she grazed the side burning the paint and scorching the metal. Again Kani repeated the process with her chest piece before returning her armor and snapping her newfound lightsaber into place on her hip. Only one task remained she took the thermal detonators she had found and wired them in series to the comm station rigging them to blow after the terminal received confirmation of a successful upload, which by her rough estimation was a minute. Kani hit the transmit button and took off beginning her mental count down from 60.

What Kani discovered 10 seconds into her count was that she overestimated by 50 seconds. Just clearing the building the shockwave from the explosion hit Kani sending her flying into an adjacent warehouse slamming against its duracreet wall. Silently cursing to herself while at the same time realizing that the suddenness of the explosion would help sell the narrative she was about to tell the Empire Kani turned to see the effects of her handiwork. Not only had the thermal detonators annihilated any trace of the safe house they had blasted a rather large hole up into what Kani’s HUD told her was an abandoned industrial district.

Doesn’t get much better than this.

Kani now took the comm link she had previously lifted from the now obliterated safe house and used it to open a channel on the Imperial Military Emergency Network.

“To any Imperial Forces,” Kani said. “This is Imperial Commando NW-1154, special operations, authorization black 778. Send a security detachment of Stormtroopers to my current position. I will leave comm link open for ease of location.”

Kani knew her ride would not be long the authorization code labeled her as Classified Special Forces, from that moment the nearby base commander would no doubt realize that the terminals used to confirm her authorization are now locked out until Kani chose to release them. A safeguard the Empire put into place to make sure its agents had the loyalty of the Imperial Military.

But then, after another brief passage of time, something else happened. Deep within the recesses of meditation a Darkness, borne of what Shawn did not know, slammed into him. Unlike when this had occurred before, this Darkness seemed immediate, tangible, and very close.

Shawn's eyes snapped open even as the Darkness which he sensed flashed into nothingness. On instinct, his senses stretched out immediately to the others on Coruscant, particularly his shipmate Thoran, Kani Jetiisad, and Tarnus. While he was immediately relieved to sense no immediate danger with any of them, he sensed utter alarm from the latter of the three. And while the Darkness he had just sensed had dissipated,there was still something that seemed quite amiss.

Perhaps that was because he knew Tarnus, and had never sensed anything like what he was now from him. Perhaps it was because of something even more.

Keeping his senses attuned and alert, Shawn began to mentally prepare himself should he need to take some action.

Relax, you have done this hundreds of times before. While conducting operations off the books for the Empire you have done things like this before.

Slowly she approached the Colonel, she did not offer a salute that to most would seem customary. While on covert ops she held no rank or command per se, instead she represented the authority of the Empire itself. She extended her hand toward the Colonel who handed Kani a datapad. Kani entered in a passcode that rescinded the earlier lock out that was initiated when they had verified Kani’s identity. Handing the datapad back to it owner Kani then addressed the Colonel.

“None of this goes on any records,” said Kani. “Official or unofficial, no reports are to be made. You cover story is this unstable portion of the Undercity collapsed revealing what was an obsolete ordinance depot. Your men discovered this depot and conducted a controlled detonation of the munitions stored here. As for the earlier bombing at you base that was a simple mechanical failure of a speeder. Is that understood?”

With only a simple nod the Colonel acknowledged what his duties in this matter. Satisfied that their was no reason to remain longer Kani took a comm link off of one of the Stormtroopers and commandeered one of the landspeeders the contingent used to arrive at Kani’s location. She headed back to the base to wait for Sorben when over her newly acquired comm link came the confirmation that the Jedi Shawn had been taken to a holding room until the Empire could find a use for him. Kani smiled at this turn of events, now was her chance to find answers to some of her questions.

The return trip to the base only took 5 minutes, and at the main gate she was immediately waived on through. Once inside she parked her borrowed speeder and was greeted by a young ensign who handed Kani her bag, recovered from the earlier explosion completely intact. Shouldering it Kani headed to the holding rooms, she stopped only to provide her credentials as Imperial Spec Ops and inform the lead guard she was taking command of the Jedi until further notice. The guard was eager to handover responsibility, no doubt relieved that the Jedi was someone else’s responsibility. Entering the holding room she could both see and sense Shawn meditating.

"Yes," he said evenly, answering Kani's observation aloud.

But at the same time, knowing Kani would not necessarily hear actual words but instead sense his feelings, Shawn opened up a Force connection with her Force signature. His greeny-blue eyes focused on her intently.

Something's not right with Tarnus, he thought, just as loudly across the connection he had established as possible. He let the feeling linger, hoping Kani would get the message, sensing and trusting that she most certainly had the ability to do so.

Tarnus… danger…

It took all the strength Kani could muster to maintain her composure, slowly she removed a small disk from her armor setting it on the table. She pressed a button on the device and waited as a single light in the center slowly blinked at first then gave a solid indicator remaining on. It was a similar device that Sorben had used on their shuttle ride out to Coruscant blocking all listening devices and disrupting all recordings, and as a Spec Ops Stormtrooper no one would think twice about Kani employing one. The instant that she knew that whatever was said between them would not be watched or heard Kani drew her sidearm and leveled it at Shawn’s head.

“Don’t ever do that again Jedi,” Kani barked. “Next time I will shoot out your knee caps.”

Holstering her pistol Kani dug through her bag for a small case of pills. After retrieving them she removed her helmet to take one and then sat in a chair across the table from Shawn.

“No one can hear or see us Jedi,” Kani said. “As for the General he has been arrested, probably by Actar, I don’t know yet what he is charged with.”

Kani knew there was nothing she could do but wait. If it was Actar’s doing she did not have the resources to rescue Sorben. She barely had the resources to get off Coruscant if the Empire decided to come after her as well. Like it or not she needed to be here in case Sorben had something up his sleeve, or if things went bad she could catch an early warning that she needed to run. The best place for either scenario was with Shawn.

“This shows how everything the empire told me was a lie,” Said one voice in her head. “No he invaded your thoughts, he is a traitor to the Jedi, like the ones who killed our Mother,” said another.

As much as Kani wanted to escape from her personal dilemma and sort out the thoughts raging in her soul, she did not have that luxury at this time. More importantly her indecisiveness on the matter was hindering her ability to maintain her mental guards. She shoved that feeling of betrayal and confusion deep into the recesses of her mind for later, what she needed most was a calm analytical mind to sort out what needed to be done.

Kani sat in the chair opposite Shawn and removed her helmet setting it on the table between them. She had no doubt Shawn could read her suspicion of him but her gesture might go a little way to assure him that she at least was willing to work with him to some degree.

“My Grandfather appears to have some faith in you,” Kani said. “So you might not be one of the Jedi traitors who killed my mother, but until I find out who did kill her for sure keep out of my head. As for the General what is this danger you spoke of, is it something you heard, or saw, or sensed…”

Kani let that sentence hang in the air. She knew too much about the Force for her to dismiss anything so easily.

He trailed, shaking his head a bit as his eyes defocused for a moment. "No, something more than even that...more like utter shock," he amended. Then his eyes snapped alert once more, and he refocused them on Kani. "I'm not sensing any immediate danger regarding him, but I've never sensed what I just did from him before. He is usually so cool and calculated, and this is just so...

...unusual." He quieted, sensing out again, but coming up with nothing out of the ordinary. Then he refocused his attentions on Kani once more. With each passing moment, something of her reminded him more and more of his sister. After all, Shawn was thoroughly convinced that the death of their parents was what had driven Shayla away, and ultimately over the edge.

And that was when, with a sudden jolt, he realized he hadn't breathed a word of this to Kani. While she might just see it as him trying to get her on his side...

...she very well could also be thinking that he had been very vague and aloof with her regarding her mother. He hadn't really established any avenue for her to relate to him, and for that matter might appear to be coming off as Holier-than-Thou, and not very human at all.

Just maybe she needed to see that, at least in some ways, he very much understood and had felt some of the same pain she had.

"And I am so sorry for stepping into your mind like that...

...and that your mother was so cruelly taken from you." He paused, his greeny-blue eyes defocusing a bit. "My sister and I lost both parents in an attack not long after we started training at the Jedi Praxeum when we were very young, barely 6 years old," he then continued with. "I devoted myself to my studies and training to handle it," he admitted, quite honestly. "But she did not, although she is quite well trained in the use of the Force, and quite a talented Healer as am I. I have lost ocntact with her, but I know she has turned to something that I fear is quite dark and evil..."

He trailed, not able to finish his own sentence for the damning final thought which was coming to his mind. ...and I am afraid at some point I may have to face her...

...and kill her. That was, if she was not already dead.

For a long moment, he said nothing. Then, with obvious effort, he jerked himself from such thoughts, and refocused on Kani, and on the situation at hand.

"I wonder why Tarnus has been arrested, yet we have not? We were, after all, in his company," he then stated, both trying to refocus the conversation....

...and to get himself far away from his darkening thoughts regarding Shayla.

“Do you think that little revelation about your family makes it so you can relate to me?” Kani asked sarcastically. “Lets compare them to see how much they match up, you were 6 and I was 8 when we lost our parents that’s a similarity. You were at the academy at the time. I was on Mandalore at the hidden Jedi training base that’s a close one so I’ll give you another point. I had the experience of my Mother reaching out to me through the Force then feeling every blaster bolt that stuck her, all the pain and fear she felt, the guilt of knowing I would be left alone translated back to me as if I experienced it; you had the same thing… oh no wait you didn’t… well that’s different. You had friends at the academy and a sister to help you. I had no remaining family besides my Force striped, self exiled, Jedi Master Grandfather who I still have never met, and an Uncle who is a MagnaGuard Droid who fought in the clone wars against the Jedi. Notice how when my world was destroyed and my Force connection with my Mother was severed it shattered my mind and there was no Jedi who could help me through that. So please go on and tell me how everything will be all sunshine and happiness and lightside of the Force crap you Jedi love so much.”

She knew that last part about the Force wasn’t true and how dangerously close she was walking the line when it came to darkside of the Force. Relative to most of the Jedi, Kani’s Grandfather and Mother were both considered to be treading on dangerous ground because of how much of their Mandalorian upbringing influenced them. Kani on the other hand was taking it to its absolute limit.

Kani furiously pace around the room the room she needed a way to vent her anger in a manner that didn’t involve attacking Shawn. “Look Jedi, you want to help me find closure then stay out of my personal life,” stated Kani. “Unless of course you can tell me who killed my Mother.”

Kani didn’t wait for a response from Shawn, she knew any answer he gave she would be unable to verify leaving her back at square one. Instead she finally calmed herself enough to take her seat across from Shawn.

He had no intentions of comparing the loss of his parents to how the loss of her Mother had affected her. And the same went of his loss of contact with Shayla...and she was his twin. They were connected far more than some may believe.

But Shawn could only spare a few nanoseconds for such thought, and remained alert and intent on what Kani was saying to him and asking him. The answer to how he could be of use was simple.

"I have knowledge of the Sith, and connections with your grandfather...and with others who have such knowledge as well. Maybe now, with the Lieutenant having been arrested, we should tap into those connections."

It felt strange and somehow stilted to be arguing his self-worth based on who and what he knew over his Force abilities...

...but Shawn was indeed no fool. Kani was well aware of said abilities already and was potentially very correct in concluding that those abilities may do them little good at the moment. And if she really knew what he knew regarding darker forces, of players beyond and greater than the Force...

...and of the Yuuzhan Vong...

"There has been much more going on than I have time to explain at the moment, things that the Lieutenant General and the Admiral are aware of, to differing degrees, as well. I have to wonder if something of this is not the reason for Tarnus's sudden arrest by Actar," Shawn then stated in a sudden flash of clarity...

...and utter alarm. After all, based on what Thoran had told him, he and Tarnus had been imprisoned on K'eel Doba and had just managed to free themselves only a short time ago and now all the sudden Sorben was confronted and arrested by Actar out of the blue. Coincidence?

Probably not. And where the bloody hell was Thoran and what was he doing...?

“Haar'chak,” cursed Kani. “Alright Jedi, we are getting you out of here. First we need to get off of this base then find a way to hide until the General contacts us or we can make our escape. The later I can take care of its the former that poses some difficulty.”

That's an understatement, this is an Imperial Garrison on the most important world in the Galaxy. This will take every trick I know to get the Jedi out of here.

“What exactly are you capable of Jedi?” asked Kani. “Any unique Force abilities that your family posses, your overall abilities. Anything outside of the Force we can utilize in our escape.”

She wondered how much she should share in turn to Shawn, their escape might also depend on how much Shawn knew about her and her capabilities even if her Force abilities were extremely limited.

...and furthermore rejoin with Tarnus who clearly was in a predicament of his own. Still, as Shawn stretched out to sense what he could of Sorben's force signature he sensed no immediate alarm....

...which led home to believe Sorben had things under control. Or at least that Sorben believed he had things under control...

"Well, as far as how I can help you with what Force abilities I do have...

...I can to some extent sense Tarnus's Force signature. And at the moment I don't sense any immediate threat with him...

...so maybe we need to play along with what is going on as if nothing is immediately amiss."

He paused, his greeny-blue eyes peering deeply into Kani's.

Which is precisely what you are already doing anyway, he thought, not sure if she could sense that thought or not.

"You are a high ranking Imperial trooper. You managed to get here to me unscathed, and I as of yet do not sense any immediate threat to us or to Tarnus. My senses are very attuned...

...and we need to take advantage of the lack of threat while it lasts, cause gods know it may not be for long."

He paused, his brow arching slightly. "I am a Jedi who has suddenly appeared almost in tandem with the Lieutenant General's arrest. You are an Imperial officer who has been with said Lieutenant General, your associations with him unclear. Escort me out of here, while we still have the chance..."

It would work.

“I like your style Jedi,” said Kani. “I can get us off this base and I have an idea of where to hide until the General can contact me. Here's our play, we just stroll out of here. You are not under arrest or guard, I am transferring you to an offside facility for your safety. You are a deep cover operative for the Empire tracking down Imperial sympathizers to the Jedi, and the General may have been one of those sympathizers. Answer no questions posed to us by any of the base personnel if they press us for any further explanation respond with the code Authorization Black Saber... 8... 8... 0... Interceptor nothing else. Don't act like a prisoner, your an Imperial agent like me posing as a Jedi, got it?”

She didn't wait for a response, Kani reached out and returned the disc from the table to a pouch on her equipment belt. Then donned her helmet before motioning Shawn to stand and follow her. Kani led them out of the holding cell and the guards true to Shawn's predictions none payed any heed to their presence. They made it out of the building and out the entrance of the base and were only questioned twice, both times Kani flashed an identcard displaying only the insignia of the NightWhispers. No one in their right mind thought a NightWhispered was within their pay grade to challenge. Once outside the gate and down the street several meters before reactivating her jammer but at a much lower setting, only masking them visually from electronic surveillance and disrupting audio equipment within a half a meter of the pair. Kani pitched her voice to one she knew only a Force user such as Shawn would be able to hear.

He still had it. Those in the underbelly of Coruscant generally would only regard a Jedi with curiosity, but to keep himself and Kani unnoticed was fairly simple. Most had their minds on other things, so they didn't notice them at all...and those who might have never did for the Force blanket Shawn was able to drape around both he and Kani.

She was quite the master at the part she was playing as well, and Shawn respected that more than ever in this moment. At length they arrived at their destination, an upscale hotel with bustling life. Shawn did as Kani requested and took the lead, his Jedi senses trained on all that was happening about them as he entered with Kani and approached the desk.

"I am Jamis Quinn, Corporate Sector Special Ambassador, and this is my bodyguard and aid." He paused, but only for a moment, his face remaining inscrutable. "Show us to the executive suite held on retainer here," he then requested, waving his hand slightly to indicate Kani, who he chose not to introduce at all for the moment by the name she had indicated.

They didn't have to wait long. The clerk took a look at a datapad to pull up the requested information, found said information, and then called for an attendant.

"This way, Mr. Quinn," the attendant stated, motioning for him and Kani to follow.

“Wait here sir,” Kani flatly stated. “Conducting security sweep.”

Kani swiped the keycard and entered the suite, playing the role of Mr. Quinn’s bodyguard Kani made a show for the clerks benefit of checking the room for any surprises. What the clerk didn’t know was upon entry the suite communicated back to her armor’s HUD that the suite had not been disturbed since Kani initially established this location. Satisfied that her show was convincing enough Kani returned to Shawn and the clerk.

“Security check complete sir all clear,” Kani stated in her flat tone. She motioned for Shawn to enter and then moved to block the clerk from entering the suite. “Mr. Quinn thanks you for your service; send the bill to the usual account on retainer, and this is for your services.”

Kani slipped the clerk a cred card loaded with a more than generous tip, and then proceeded to enter the room locking the door behind them. She removed her helmet and tossed it on one of the many plush chairs adorning the suite.

...this was Kani's domain. And Shawn wasn't about to pretend otherwise. Still, one thing she had said did catch his momentary attention.

Interrogation room?

He didn't say anything regarding it, but for a nanosecond his greeny-blue eyes flitted towards the door...

...then refocused on Kani while he considered what she had said to do next.

"Got it," he said then simply, nodding once more to her before turning gracefully on his heel and heading to the room she had indicated as his.

Both Kani and Shawn’s rooms were high end bedroom suites they differed in additional features. Shawn’s contained the wardrobe and appearance alterations for any number of species and sizes. By contrast everything in Kani’s room was tailored specifically to her size and specifications. At a desk sat a terminal Kani used to access her cover identity and refresh herself on the back story. After a few minutes of reading she knew what changes she had to make. Stowing her armor away Kani donned a simple grey tunic similar to Corporate Sector Security and appropriate tactical gear to match her role; light armor, throat mic with ear piece, verpine shatter pistol and carbine, fighting knife, a personal shield, a dressier overcoat to conceal herself, and she hid her lightsaber within the coat. With all the clothing in place she moved on to the biological. Like she suggested with Shawn she used contacts to change her eyes from blue to green and grabbing and injector she headed back into the main room leaning her weapons on a nearby wall then sat herself on a couch using a data pad to construct the Jamis Quinn identity for Shawn.

Hey, he figured two things. One, he might need his lightsaber at some point...and two, if he had to give up his Jedi cloak, he might as well be wearing something that was similiar, therefore making him feel more at ease.

Hearing Kani's call to him, he stowed his Jedi robes away in safe location, and headed back to the main room where she sat on a couch with a datapad. Tilting his head slightly, he quirked a brow in her general direction. "How can I help?" he asked, realizing as he did so this might be one of the last times he would be asking such, at least as long as he was to play the part of a politician.

“Here is your new ID,” Kani said. And the pad contains your backstory for you cover. Before I get to the unpleasant part the kitchen is fully stocked food and alcohol, you can access any of the public holo feeds for news or entertainment, and that pad contains access to the imperial military holonet, just don’t do anything that might draw unwanted attention. Now onto the unpleasant part.”

Kani handed him the injector and quickly headed into the interrogation room retrieving a chair with full restraints and a gag. Setting it in the middle of the room, removing her overcoat and armor Kani set them on the floor near her weapons, then sat in the chair before strapping her feet, waist, and chest down with the restraints.

As Kani worked she explained her actions to Shawn. “What that injector contains is a quick acting subdermal pigment dye, in short it will change my normally aquamarine skin to green until I take the deactivating agent. The effect is take place in a few minutes but until my body can process the entire drug the side effects are quite extreme. Almost immediately I will go into a violent psychosis, followed by convulsions, seizures, unconsciousness, and extreme nausea.”

Before settling her arms on the restraints of the chair Kani attached several medical leads from the chair to positions on her own body.

"I am, by my bloodline, a Healer." He paused, his brown eyes meeting her now green pair. "I will not leave your side until it is over."

She didn't say anything in reply, and Shawn didn't really expect her to. She just arched her brow slightly, clearly indicating that she was waiting for him to do what she had requested. Firming himself he did...

...securing restraints and then pausing to look her in the eye one final time before placing the gag in her mouth. Then, despite any reservations he had regarding what he was about to do...

...for he most certainly had them...

...he carefully injected the pigment dye into her right upper arm.

She hadn't been kidding. Not in the slightest. Shawn immediately knew why she had him place a gag in her mouth, because she began screaming even as her eyes rolled back in her head. He almost couldn't stand it...

...he wasn't sure how long this lasted, for her datapad and the medical leads be damned, his own Force senses were trained on her.

She was very much alive. And very much in pain. The convulsions and seizures had begun, and she was foaming at the mouth. Her racing heart was almost an audible thing. And then, after an indeterminate length of time--forever, it seemed to Shawn--her back arched, and she fell limp.

Shawn waited for a count of ten seconds to be certain she was unconscious, then removed the gag from her mouth. Only then did he begi to keep an eye on her datapad, which was monitoring her blood toxicity level. Oh so slowly, her blue skin began to shift colors to a deep green, and her blood toxicity began to drop. Downward and downward it went, her heartbeat slowing in tandem with the change in her skin color.

At last, 2ppm. He waited for a seemingly long minute. Toxicity level remained stable.

He unstrapped the other restraints. She seemed to be out of the woods...

“Interrogation room,” Kani labored. “Has a med kit, one of the items is an anti-nausea injector use it.”

Kani couldn’t follow Shawn’s movement across the room or the exact passage of time but soon he returned and gave her the medication as instructed. Soon after her breathing eased and most of her symptoms subsided only leaving her extreme fatigue over the ordeal, whether that was the medication or Shawn’s healing she was glad for both.

...a stuck-up ambassador with way too much money for his own good who really disliked anyone who questioned the Empire or ever might have...

..including the Jedi.

Phenomenal.

As he read through the backstory, he kept his senses trained on Kani's breathing and heart-rate, still admittedly flustered by what he had just witnessed...

I used the meditative process of a Jedi healing trance to speed up the process, the Jedi must have helped me slip into a true Jedi healing trance.

She slowly worked herself up to a seated position seeing the look of concern on Shawn's face and his eagerness to help her if necessary.

Then, as she had just mentioned needing food, Shawn wondered, with a sudden start when the last time was he'd even had a real meal. Heading to the kitchette he quickly realized that when she had said it was fully stocked she hadn't been kidding. Finding a sort of "party tray" of various grilled and fried meats, he warmed it up, grabbed a few- due to what Kani had just been through- non-alcoholic drinks- and headed back out to where she was sitting with them.

Ultimately I need to keep the Jedi alive until I can find out what is happening to the General... and help him, he and this Jedi are my key to the truth.

"Our position is secure," said Kani. "Once I am back to normal, I'll work on finding out more about the General. He can help me discover the truth about my mother, and he can help you with whatever it was you wanted."

She needed a calm mind to think rationally. Right now they were going up against the Empire on their home turf.

"Think of what we will be doing as recon," said Kani. "We need more information before we can formulate a plan of action. Above all we need to maintain our covers or we will be of no use when the time comes."

Kani knew how vague this all sounded and could see the apprehension on Shawn's face.

"It's not you," he then responded, honestly. "It's just the entire situation."

He paused, sighing. "Actar's already killed many Jedi...

"...and I wonder who else he's killed along the way to meet his own ends. He's done some really bad stuff..."

He trailed for a moment, recalling how he had put Galen in a state of unconsciousness...

...and recalling how he was constantly after her and her daughter.

Until recently, when he had just seemed to sit back and watch...

Shawn frowned. "Regardless of what he's doing, Tarnus's arrest is more than a bit troubling." He paused, debating on exactly what to tell Kani, but feeling that perhaps now was the time so she might further understand what might be happening. "Tarnus and his ex-wife had a child with great abilities, perhaps beyond just the Force...

...and Actar has been after her since before the child was even born. He perhaps has a dark agenda of his own involving the child's powers...

Kani didn’t know why she thought that or why she said it to Shawn. All of it was true but…

He’s a Jedi, but if what he and Ba’buir say is true than I am a tool of the Empire. It all fits with their story as much as the one told to me by the Empire.

“My former unit and this place,” Kani continued. “Are all about controlling the Jedi. We would capture those who had information about the most influential Jedi or those who were the most vocal about Actar and interrogate them to reveal more information. My role besides information gathering, abduction, and interrogations was combat. Actar’s administration has had me capture or eliminate several knights and Jedi Masters behind the scenes. The training academy they promised was all about drawing others into the open as a means to screen for those who may be compliant or who needed to be eliminated. At least that’s what I’ve been told. I was recently reassigned to Tarnus and as far as I knew that didn’t include some hidden agenda, but during that time we did contact you, my grandfather, and his apprentice who knew the General. That might have something to do with the current situation.”

She didn’t like this situation; Actar was smart like Shawn said, along with ruthless, and cunning. There had to be some other agenda. She needed more information and like it or not Shawn was truthful thus far and Kani could sense that.

...but oh, how he wished for a time where the Jedi were thriving and able to help the Galaxy instead of working in the shadows, hoping no one got hurt in the process.

He sighed. "Trust is severely lacking in these times--simply because nobody knows who or what they can trust. Tarnus has links to many things that make him a valuable tool for Actar."

Kani's hand began to exhibit a slight tremor, a sign she had long associated with what the Empire told her was a side effect of breaking her from the Jedi conditioning. In response she had already pulled out her small pill case and was about to take one of the pills she had become use to taking to counteract the condition when she stopped half way into the motion.

I never questioned the Empire because I never had a reason to. The Empire gave me everything I ever wanted; closure, revenge, sense of purpose, helping Mandalore... So I blindly accepted everything they did to me or requested of me. I need answers starting with this.

Kani took two of the capsules setting them on the low table in front of her couch. Using the flat of her vibroblade she crushed the capsules into a fine powder. She was about to ask Shawn to retrieve a scanner from the interrogation room so she could analyze what the composition of the drugs when she stopped herself. Slowly moving the vibroblade out of the way the powder started to slowly at first but increased steady in letting off a cascade of blue sparks.

Shawn's eyes darkened a shade, clouded with worry and alarm.

"Yes, I am familiar with it. A few years ago, I healed a Jedi of gliterstim exposure after she'd been trapped in the Kessel mines without a rebreather for some time."

He paused, his eyes defocusing a bit as he thought.
Glitterstim, when taken occasionally, heightened the senses and telepathic abilities of the user. But in Kani's case, if she may had perhaps been given it in doses over time...

...the results included degenerated nerves in the brain, resulting in loss of sight, twitching, nervousness, and paranoia...

Shawn's eyes fell on Kani in concern. "How long have you been taking that?"

He arched a brow slightly, still clearly concerned. Then, he reached a hand out in her direction, wondering the true extent of the damage this drug may have caused, his background in healing taking over.

Kani ran a mental assessment of her time in the Empire, over that period how many times had she been taking those meds. She recalled how the Empire steadily upped her dosage over time.

My symptoms don’t exhibit the advanced degenerative factors I’m familiar with. Without a detailed medical scan it might be impossible to tell the exact damage. For now the Jedi might be the best option.

“As much as the glitterstim worries me Jedi it’s the reason the Empire might have administered it that concerns me more,” said Kani. “It could be for the addiction to inhibit me if I were ever to leave; another possibility was to break my mental defenses to make me compliant, worse yet to shorten my life so after my useful years to them I disappear on an operation.”

Kani took her vibroblade and set it far away from her.

"I should be able to do more than simply check for what damage there may be," he responded simply. "Just... relax," he finished with, realizing how inane the direction sounded.

Kani shot an unreadable look his way...

...and then nodded, just once. Shawn reached a hand out then to touch her forehead and rest there. His eyes closed...

...as did hers, whether by her own violition or due to the mental connection he then established with her was unclear. As he sensed, he quested out for damaged nerve endings, mending them and making things as they should be once more, within her peripheral nervous system and then moving in to her central nervous system, and lastly to her brain.

And Shawn had waited to the last for this with reason. For he knew in that healing, he would touch her thoughts...

...and he didn't want to intrude any more than necessary without her direct permission. And aside from that, as Kani had pointed out, who knew what the Empire...

...or perhaps Actar...

...had conditioned her to unconciously do.

Then out of nowhere, as Shawn expected, as frayed nerve endings healed, memories emerged. First of Kani as a child, with one who was no doubt her mother, to a scream of terror as a deeply rooted, bloodline Force connection was suddenly and cruelly severed...

...memories overlayed with the face of Actar, his eyes dark, an entirely unpleasant smile darkening his face...

And then, whether it was due to Kani or for some other reason entirely, just as Shawn was certain his healing efforts were successful and all nerve damaged was reversed, something from out of nowhere abruptly shoved Shawn out of Kani's mind, the push so strong it physically forced him to his feet and against the nearby wall before completely disappearing.

Her arm reached out and from the pile of weapons in the corner flew Kani's lightsaber into her outstretched hand. “...and that presents us with a problem, nothing personal Jedi.”

This isn't happening. What am I doing? Why can't I stop this?

Kani watched helplessly as she slowly rose and advanced on a stunned Shawn.

One step. “Don't do this,” Kani whispered.

A second step. “You can't do this,” Kani said.

Then a third step, igniting the saber and preparing to strike. “No get out,” Kani commanded.

Kani could feel something receding and her body go weak as she asserted control. She fell to her knees panting then threw the saber to the far side of the room. Scanning the room Kani found no trace of the presence she had just felt.

He shook his head, the concern evident in his face. "I...I don't know. I know Actar has Force abilities...

...but this?"

Take your weapon, strike down the Jedi traitor, they are the responsible party.

She slapped his hand away before retreating a few feet from Shawn.

What in all the Fates was Actar...for certainly this was Actar...planning to do...?

It would have been oh-so-easy to directly associate the Empire with all of this. After all its leaders, one after another, all seemed to be blood-thirsty and have dark intent. But the fact of the matter was that there werethose in the Empire who truly meant no harm to anyone...

...and quite frankly perhaps did not have a clue.

Shawn's eyes flicked to Kani once more. Without stretching out with the Force, he knew she struggled mightly.

"We've got to get to Tarnus and get out of here," he said simply, wondering down deep if there was anything he could do to help Kani escape the Fate which she had been so cruelly tied to.

She slowly stood up and moved back to the couch. Testing a theory she raised her hand and beckoned to her lightsaber, after a few moments of silence and nothing happening Kani gave up.

“Looks like whatever mental block I have with the Force is still present,” said Kani. “Don't even think about trying to heal that Jedi you passive Force use is enough to deal with trying to keep that thing in check. And it apparently has full access to my abilities which is frightening on another level.”

Kani rocked back and forth on the couch debating with herself how much did Shawn need to know if they were to continue to work together.

This Jedi has been nothing but honest with me, he had ample opportunity to take advantage of the situation. He at least deserves to know the dangers associated with continuing to try and help me.

“I mentioned how I have two bloodline Force abilities and how they were unimportant to our situation back at the base,” said Kani. “At the time they were unimportant because I couldn't use them properly, but if that thing takes over you need to know about them and understand that when I tell you if it gains control why you need to run as fast as possible away from me.”

Kani slowly exhaled preparing her thoughts. “Like my mother I am not overly strong in the Force, my reserves and overall powers are below that of an average Jedi. There are two unique abilities of my bloodline that only my family and the Jedi council knew the full details of. The first abilities relates to how I perceive the Force, you like 99% of all Force users see it much like a sixth sense. You mind interprets the Force, its currents, its energy and allows you to manipulate it. On occasion your perception may bleed over into one of your other senses, you actually see its currents, feel its touch. To both my mother and I the bleed over is very intense, all of my senses can actually perceive the Force and see its effects upon the physical world. Even now I get vague shadows of it with my mental block across all my senses. The advantage of this is you can show me a technique two or three times and I would understand how you did it and be able to replicate most of it, in short at my full abilities I can master a technique in a short time.”

“That ability alone is not exactly unique others can learn the Force at astounding rates,” said Kani. “Its the second ability that you need to worry about. You probably already know about Force Drain, to siphon off another person's reserves to replenish your own. I actually do that all the time, because of how I perceive the Force I also could use the Force Powers of another person instead of my own. Unofficially among the Jedi Masters it was refereed to as Force Vampirism. I spent much of my training learning how not to do it. If that thing gains control I don't know the extent of my abilities it can utilize, just be ready.”

Imagine what Actar could do with a Force ability like Kani's...

He frowned, his eyes turning a bit stormy.

"I really have to wonder what Actar's true end game is," he said thoughtfully. "I mean, control of the Jedi and control of the Galaxy...

...yeah, that's obvious. But I think theres more than that."

Shawn paused, recalling how Actar had always been after Galen, and after her baby...

...and fairly certain that he was well aware of the Sith race.

And of the All.

Now it was Shawn's turn to wonder how much he should tell Kani. Not because he didn't trust her, but because of his uncertainty of just what powers had a hold on her and what they could do.

"You said your unit was all about controlling the Jedi. I'm certain you are aware Actar had Force skills of his own...

...did any of your instruction go beyond just being told to seek out Jedi who might be against Actar and his Empire and destroy them?"

Kani took a moment to practice her deep breathing and Jedi meditation. It helped hold back the other presence she felt.

“My unit did hunt down Jedi,” said Kani. “That was only a small part of the whole overall mission. We dealt with the threats to the Empire they couldn't publicly announce out of fear it would induce in the populace. Ohh sure the Empire is a dictatorship but Actar still needed the support of the Moff's, private military corporations, the Admiralty, and government contractors. Sure they knew we carried out clandestine operations to silence his opposition and critics but as long as it was unseen to them then in their thoughts it was not something to be worried about. Its not so much a unit but special individuals given targets and almost unfettered access to the Empire's resources.”

It is becoming easier to as I shift back to my rational mindset. The order and logic creates the barriers I need, likely it exploits my instincts and fears. That and it also feeds them in order to find gaps in my armor.

“This is how a standard operation worked,” said Kani. “I was given a target, usually by Actar or one of his trusted officers. During the operation I am given agent of the Empire status, effectively unilateral authority to do as I please. I would then do research, recruit the necessary personnel, and we would capture or eliminate the target. Afterward evidence is destroyed, witnesses are silenced, that’s not a euphemism. Even loyal servants of the Empire if they learned too much during the operation are killed. “

He trailed,hesitating with the realization of what he was about to say, "...and with the abilities you have I'm certain you were quite successful." For a moment more he quieted, the last statement meant more as an observation than and accusation.

Shawn hoped Kani took it as such. "And you were recently reassigned to Tarnus, who has connections with Jedi."

And, whether Tarnus likes it or not, or even wants to admit it, connections with the Sith...

Shawn eventually stopped talking, which suited Thoran fine, and left. He felt he still wanted to tell Shawn something, but for now it would have to wait. Something was amiss, he felt as if something was searching for him, seeking him out. It was oddly familiar, like an old song heard as a child, but it did not stir happy feelings. It was as if he was being summoned, or….

Thoran sat upright, bolting to his feet.

“No,” he muttered. “no no no no… not him!”

"There is too much to explain so you get the short version," said Kani. "Over forty years ago my Grandfather, Uncle, and Mother founded the Paladins. Think of it as the Mandalorian form of the Jedi Knights and Imperial Special Forces all rolled into one that answer only to their mandate to preserve and protect what it means to be Mandalorian. So in secret they trained with trusted Jedi Knights, infiltrated several government positions, received training by some of the best military schools, established companies in most of the important industries, the list goes on. All in an effort that if needed could unleash one of the most technologically advanced best trained militaries upon those who attack Mandalore."

Kani let that sink into Shawn's mind for a moment before continuing on.

"Back on the shuttle ride here Tarnus confided in me that he intends to reform the Empire," said Kani. "But for that he needs help to take on its leadership, The Paladins could prove a force to help him do that and for the Paladins a change in leadership within the Empire would align with their interest. My message was vague but alluded to the possibility of someone within the Empire willing to work with them, someone worth me making contact. As to how they might react, I have no idea they could send their fleet, a single vessel, or a single ship."

The relative calm Kani was experiencing was receding ever so slowly. She could feel it trying to assert control ever so subtly and that frightened her. Kani quickly moved into the interrogation room gathering up some equipment and returning to the main room. Quickly she began to fit it to her body.

"It is trying to exert control," said Kani in a panic. "I probably can fight It off but I need you to pay close attention to my instructions. These cuffs are linked to this remote and this head gear." Kani tossed him a small remote and fitted a traditional looking twilek headdress.

I could feel my heart rate slow more and more with each passing parsec I was placing between that hellhole of a planet and Actar's ship. Granted, quite a bit of said acceleration was due to the simple anticipation of being caught, of being found out...

But even more was due to the sheer joy, the thrill of having outwitted the enemy, from having pulled the wool smack dab over its eyes. Something of a frown creased my face then, and I drew in a deep breath.

How quickly had my paradigms shifted. Now the Empire was enemy to me, and I to it. But, in coming up gold as attested to yet again by my personal history, I had managed to glean a simple but very important bonus:

The Empire wasn't aware of that little paradigm shift of mine.

At least I didn't think so... nor, if I thought things out carefully and examined every bit of minutia from every single angle, would it.

Nodding, I shifted in my seat, and began planning what I was going to do next. The first step was to determine what factors were currently in my favor, at least as far as I knew them to be:

1. Actar, bless his dianogish ol' hide, was never one to present himself in the open. He operated quietly from his little palace on Ambria, preferring to remain in the shadows, following his own rules. In the case of my absconding with his personal ship, that isolationist behavior would more than likely prove in my favor, for:

1a. It did indeed allow me to steal said ship right under everyone's collective nose.

1b. It probably alluded to the more than likely fact that the majority of officers under his - hell, under my command on Coruscant didn't even know why I had been taken to Ambria. Oh I wasn't foolish enough to not realize that speculation in this regard was probably running rampant... but at this point it was indeed merely that. Speculation. I doubted that even those sent to take me to Actar knew if I had been actually arrested; for all they knew I was needed and needed promptly in front of the highly secretive Admiral.

Theirs was not to question why, after all.

2. As far as everyone knew then, I was not - at least not yet! - a fugitive but was still the Third in Command of the entire damned Imperial empire. Changes to that entitlement to be made upon my arrival at Coruscant, of course. And finally...

3. I had an ace-in-the-hole in the form of a very distrustful and very hot-headed Twi'lek of a personal lieutenant. While of course I didn't completely trust her yet, not nearly to the extent that I knew and trusted my little firebrand of an ex, something told me that having her around would prove useful one day.

I nodded, letting a breath of satisfaction escape me, and pondered further which immediate course of action I should take. The next few hours would of course be the most telling, for it was in those hours that I would have to present Swatzi's death...

...assuming, of course, this hadn't already been discovered and announced... which of course would in turn then elevate me to Second in Command, yay rah...

...and then the fact that Admiral Actar had disappeared.

I didn't think that would present much of a problem. It was the truth; all I needed was just not be quite as completely truthful about said truth, and all would be well.

At least I fervently hoped.

Dammit, Actar, I'm no politician! I'm not meant to lead armies, to deal in plots and subterfuge and assassinations and all the rest that go hand-in-hand with climbing to The Top and remaining there!

I'm a Hunter!

Ok, so be a Hunter, Tarnus ol' boy. Trust your instincts. The hit?

Every damned officer and soldier and administrator and attendant in Actar's little Empire. Only I wasn't about to kill them, of course.

Only... change their minds.

Completely.

Pretty big order, Tarnus...

Which, of course, was exactly what I was planning on doing: making it an order.

It was as laughably simple as that. It was just that what would more than likely follow that was going to be so damned complicated.

He looked down a bit helplessly at the remote Kani had tossed into his hand, wishing he could help her and hating that she was going through this.

"It seems to happen to you based on the discussion we're having," he said, hoping she could read between the lines what he was implying and certain she was smart enough to do exactly that. "Can you clear your mind..."

He trailed for a moment, the objection sensing the objection that was probably about to come out of her mouth based on the look in her eyes.

“There is no Emotion, There is Peace.
There is no Ignorance, There is Knowledge.
There is no Passion, There is Serenity.
There is no Chaos, There is Harmony.
There is no Death, There is The Force.”

She opened her eyes her trembling has stopped but It was still there in her mind still as strong as ever like it knew that exercise was one in futility. Not one to so easily accept defeat Kani closed her eyes and tried again.

“Ba'jur, Beskar'gam
Aliit, Ara'nov
Mando'a, Mand'alor.”

The recitation of the ancient tenants of what it was to be Mandalorian also did not have the desired effect Kani hoped for. Now it felt as if It extruded a black cloud across her mind showing that meditative breathing and ancient creeds were not enough to prevent It from exerting control.

This isn't me falling to the Darkside, this isn't a temptation to accept greater power, what that thing will do is effectively bring about your death Kani if you don't fight back.

Kani stood and then reached inside to that part of her where her Force powers lied feeling the mental wall her unconscious mind had erected around them. Long had she avoided this wall because every time she probed or tried to work her way through the painful static of the missing Force connection she shared with her mother came crashing back. Well this time she needed some of that power, this time instead of the gentle probe or careful analysis Kani used brute force to bash through that barrier. The result was an immediate wave of that painful static washing over her and the force cuffs delivering a violent shock at her attempts to use the Force. Shawn appeared ready to jump up to intervene and stop her when Kani sent the clearest message she could through the Force to stand down for now.

“I am a friend of the Living Force,” said Kani. “I am a warrior of Mandalore.”

The mental and physical pain was overwhelming, but nothing compared to the emotional pain of feeling her mother continuously die within her Force bond. Her Force cuffs continued to deliver their electrical onslaught, Kani dug deeper into her Force powers and took all that pain she felt and channeled it along with the electricity into her hands. Blue tendrils of electrticty danced in the air off her hands as she directed that power out of her body and without any cautionary thought dived right into the core of her mind she had walled off so long ago.

“The ways of the Jedi give me guidance,” said Kani. “The teachings of Mandalore give me Strength.”

Kani opened her eyes and saw that she was now floating a few inches from the floor, still channeling the electricity she could see Shawn watching on in surprise and concern. Once again Kani turned back into her mind this time drawing another wall around everything that defined who she was even the things that caused her the most pain were also included. When she had finished Kani could see an ever growing but defined shadow within her mind. Reaching out she at first tried to shove that out of her mind, all her efforts were in vain as it refused to budge. So instead she tried to shrink its area of influence to trap it in a cage.

“I will not fear death,” said Kani. “For my ally is the Force.

That idea appeared to work but the effort it took drained her, slowly she descended onto the floor and then sank down to her knees. She was losing control of her ability to channel the electricity bring back the painful shocks and in reponse It began to push back. Seeing how her efforts also left her vulnerable and how if she failed now It might take over completely Kani reached out through the Force for anything. In her desperation she saw what to her was a pillar of light within the Force that was Shawn, and to that shining beacon in the Force Kani let down all her barriers and called out to him.

"I am here. You are not alone." Shawn stated. "The Force is with you."

As he stretched out to link to Kani, he was slammed with an upwelling of both physical and emotional pain. But instead of trying to shield her from it, or heal her from it, he instead lent his own strength to fight what was happening, sensing that the only way for her to defeat this was to meet it head on. As he did so, he too sensed the shadow within her, trying to gain control, fighting with all its might. Likewise he sensed Kani's strength and her insistence to persevere.

Together we will face this, and fight this, he thought to Kani, accepting the pain and anguish Kani was feeling, allowing his strength to become hers as well. Closing his eyes, Shawn stretched out further, ensuring his link to Kani was secure.

Externally, Shawn began channeling the energy that was surrounding Kani, giving her less pain so she could devote her senses to what was causing her pain within.

The Force was with them, surrounding them. It provided a blanket as Kani dug deeply into her soul, fighting the Thing that wanted nothing more to either control her or destroy her.

In his mind's eye, an image sprung forth, one of he and Kani as points of light, fighting against It even as the shadow tried to regain control, even to the point of killing its host if necessary. But Kani's determination and strength began shining brighter by the moment, and joined with Shawn's strength and light the Shadow at last began to recede...

Kani sensed Shawn's concern but also his compliance to her request. The sensation was too much to handle all that pain she had to channel more of her Force powers to compensate. In response the force cuffs ramped up to lethal levels. Her heart began to experience arrhythmic response and the force cuffs themselves began to burn her skin as they began to overload their capacitors. To continue down this path appeared to be suicidal, even the shadow in her mind began to stop its onslaught at the idea that Kani was trying to take it down with her, and that was the moment she had worked toward.

“Shawn use everything you got and push It back now,” shouted Kani.

She changed tactics, utilizing a technique prevalent among the Horn family of Jedi Kani took all energy from the electricity and burning heat from the overloading stun cuffs then converted it all into raw Force power. Kani then drew on Shawn's abilities to augment her own and in one violent motion she tried to shrink the cage around the shadow in her mind. However much power she amassed she could not make it budge. It wasn't enough she thought, she continued to fight but was realizing the futility when she felt a familiar hand on her shoulder. Not Shawn's or any other person physically with them.

Buir

“Bring it on,” said Kani. “I'm not giving up, I am not a tool. I... am... a Jedi Knight.”

Kani drew on the third power she felt lending her aid and it gave her more power than she could ever hope for. She grabbed the cage and instead of shrinking it she shoved it out of her mind, with a deep exhale a shadow flowed out of Kani's mouth and hovered in the room contemplating if to strike back. It didn't take long to decide before fading out of sight. She breathed a sigh of relief when the high pitch whine of the force cuffs capacitors overloading filled the room. She shoved Shawn away and added a small nudge in Force before yelling for him to get clear. Kani tried to turn away but wasn't quick enough. The outer casing of the force cuffs exploded showering the right side of her face with burning metal and a hail of sparks. Shawn was at her side in an instant to try and heal the damage when she grabbed his hand stopping him.

"I can shield us from attention," he stated, not letting go of her hand but instead helping her to get the stun cuffs and headdress off and get herself to her feet. Simultaneously he did a quick sense of just how she was doing physically, keenly aware that she was hurting.

Superficial burns to my wrists and hands, minor nerve damage there. Minor cardiac arrhythmia, probably temporary due to the shocks. Major burns to the right side of my face and neck. Optic nerve flash burned in right eye, also scaring of the cornea, and permanent damage to my retina.

Kani pushed those thoughts to the side and instead she recalled the layout of the building, considering their options. In a place such as this the staff would treat the explosion as a terrorist event, they would evacuate under a fire drill to not arouse to much suspicion. Likely Stormtroopers would be watching the crowd and Kani with her burns would be a dead giveaway. So a ground floor exit was out, she then remembered a parking garage on the top floors housing the guests speeders.

We would need a distraction, luckily we can use the one that will happen when I destroy the evidence of us being here. Guess its better than nothing.

“Down the hall is a service elevator for staff,” said Kani. “We override it, take it to the roof garages, and steal a speeder. In my room is a bag containing my armor grab that we need its contents.”

Kani waited until Shawn complied before moving to a hidden panel on the far wall. She tried to fumble with the release mechanism but her hands didn't want to comply with the precise manipulation required. So instead she retrieved her lightsaber from the floor and cut through the panel's outer housing to reveal the controls behind it. At that point Shawn returned with her armor in a bag and Kani pressed a button on the panel activating a silent countdown within the room.

“Okay in five minutes the mini thermal detonators are going to obliterate this room,” said Kani. “That's our distraction; we just need to slice the turbolift, hotwire a speeder, and fly out of here. Or you need to because right now I can't do any of those things.”

Spreading his sphere of influence out to the surrounding area while also keeping tabs on Kani who, as a testament to her strength, kept up with him despite her pain, Shawn began to head out to the service elevator down the hall. All the while he kept a Force shield about he and Kani, hoping to keep their presence as unnoticed as possible as they fled. And this worked, at least for the time being, for those who passed by were so concerned about the explosion that drew their attention earlier that with a little Force subversion they didn't even notice Kani or Shawn.

In no time, they arrived at the turbolift. And it was at that moment that Shawn knew he had to do something, something that he knew Kani ws going to have to allow or they would never get out of this alive. Without hesitation...

...for there was no time for such...

...he stretched out into Kani's mind. For, though Jedi he was, Splicer and Tech he most certainly was not.

You're going to have to guide me through this with what you know.

And with nothing futher he pulled the panel revealing the circuitry to the turbolift.

Its actually easier than you think. My bag has a number of keycards, the one we need is a solid red color. It is an emergency service override it will commandeer the turbolift and allow you to take us to the staff parking. The vehicles there do not need keys because only authorized hotel staff have access to that level.

Kani could vaguely follow Shawn rummaging through her bag, finding the keycard she described, and carrying out her instructions. It helped that as much as she could in her instructions she included the images and memories associated with her requests. They arrived on the staff garage and Shawn was guiding or more aptly dragged Kani along and help place her in the passenger chair of a speeder. Confident that no one was listening in on them Kani gave Shawn some final instructions.

“Here's the deal Shawn,” Kani said between labored breaths. “I'm going to pass out soon, and at this point I have no plan besides escape. Get us to the undercity it will be harder for the Empire to find us. And our disguises will still work there. Good luck Shawn and May the Force be with you.”

Kani didn't immediately slip into unconsciousness but became gradually less and less aware of her surroundings. She lost track of what was happening around her mumbling the same word to herself.

“Buir.”

But no one was followig them. Not. a. single. person.

Shawn frowned to himself, the obvious becoming apparent.

This was all too easy.

His mind shifted to all that had been going on. Tarnus's arrest. Actar's disappearance and his control of Force users such as Kani. Kani's connections to the Force and to the Mandalorians....and Tarnus's connections to the Sith and to a child with quite amazing capabilities...

Shawn couldn't contain himself from thinking something he had heard out of the mouths of Terrin Danner's assistants quite so often: Oh bloody hell.

Shawn then shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts even as he tangled himself and Kani into the undercity further. Occasionally Kani muttered a single word: Buir...

He took a moment to cast a concerned look Kani's way as she murmured the Mandolorian term for Grandfather. And in that moment, inspiration struck. For Shawn knew that if they attempted to make any communication with anyone via traditional means, at least while Kani was down for the count, there was potential of tracing.

But he had something other that could not necessarily be traced. And they needed allies, especially now.

So, making use of the new identity Kani had set for him and the perks of it being the wee hours of the morning, Shawn pulled his speeder up to a lavish hotel in the undercity with drive through check-in. Using the Force as cover to mask Kani's presence altogether, he secured a suite using his identity. Securing their speeder in a VIP garage where they had easy and direct access to it when needed, he carried all of Kani's belongs and Kani herself into the posh suite, laying her on a bed to rest comfortably and then sitting in a chair beside her. Making certain the room was secure, only then did Shawn close his eyes and stretch out to the Force to connect with Kani, not only to begin healing at least some of her wounds, knowing that if they were ever going to find Tarnus and get out of all of this in one piece, especially now, they were going to need a new strategy...

In the confines of her own mind Kani unconsciously worked to rewrite the pathways that the sudden removal of the wall within her own mind coupled with the expelling of the other presence had caused. These was damage there, some of it would be permanent, abilities hindered or affected. There also was the potential for greater growth, the stress of the ordeal opened entirely new pathways for her. She had no idea how long this process lasted her disconnect while the healing process went of disrupted her biological clock.

Slowly though she cam back to her own body, she felt intense pain most of it centered around her left eye. Kani didn't try to move at first assimilating what had happened, she knew one healing session alone couldn't undo the damage this time her injuries even with the best healer would take time.

Nerve damage to my arms have been corrected, heart arrhythmia corrected, skin burns mostly healed some scaring especially to my face and neck, left eye optic nerve completely flash burned no chance of regeneration.

Even with this assessment fresh in her mind it still did not prepare Kani when she opened her eyes. The world first came unfocused, blurry, then slowly came into view. Like she thought her left eye was permanently blind, however even with all the physical loss she couldn't help but laugh and feel joy for the first time since her mother was killed.

“I can...” rasped Kani. “I can feel her, what Buir was trying to tell me when they killed her. We will meet again... well she kept her word.”

And truly, wasn't that the truth of it? She had been lied to, misused, and drugged. She deserved a time of reprieve to process all that she was just now finding out, and her body certainly needed rest to recuperate...

...but they had little time.

Still, Shawn did not speak for several moments, giving Kani time to process what she was feeling without interruption. His only action was to at length place a hand carefully on her shoulder so as not to jar recently regenerated nerves.

"I believe you will be able to make contact with your Grandfather now..." he said simply, in seeming non-sequitur.

"I would if I could Shawn," answered Kani. "I don't know if he told you or if any of the Jedi at the academy let it slip but my Grandfather is Force Blind. Even if I could connect with him right now that might alert the Empire to us. I wasn't assigned your case likely the Empire has another agent allocated to handle you do you think we can handle a Jedi hunter at the moment? Don't you think a man like Actar would also have a means of knowing if I broke free as well?"

Assessing their situation, Kani noted that though Shawn was in a hurry he still managed to get them out of their last location and into relative safety.

So he knows more than just Jedi philosophy, not Imperial Intelligence Agent by any means but better than what I gave him credit for.

Or at least, Actar had put a lot of effort in... came the errant but very logical thought. Despite himself Shawn frowned, his greeny blue eyes defocused a bit as he thought. This didn't last long however, as Shawn redirected both his eyes and his attention to Kani.

"Getting you combat ready will still take some time," he admitted, keenly aware of the injuries she had sustained. Still, she had abilities of her own, and could endure more than most. Shawn hoped that Kani knew he understood this. "As for being out of practice with your abilities...

...I can, if and when you are ready and if you so choose, help you with that."

Kani tried to think of anything occupy her mind, truth be told the reality of what she had done even under the Empire's control began to hit her.

The fact Actar knew exactly what to do to control me, no utterly turn me to his use.

Then he turned to her query regarding a new Jedi Academy.

"Establishing a new Academy has been an idea more than once, and by more than one. At one point, the Empire tried to offer assistance in restarting said Academy."

He paused with a snort, not needing to look at Kani to know what her reaction probably was.

Yeah, he thought a bit blackly, What better way for Actar to keep tabs on the Jedi and all their dealings than to have direct involvement in the Academy...

"But there hasn't been any Academy for quite some time, and the people involved in that...

...who knows what happened to them, if they are alive at all..."

He trailed a moment, his eyes defocusing, a brief moment of obvious pain glinting his eyes.

Your sister included, right Petrolu?

Shawn quickly snapped away from that thought, knowing there was no time at this moment.

"But yes, establishment of a new Academy should happen. And your assistance would be essential, especially with any Force users currently spread througout the galaxy, and some of them perhaps in hiding."

He paused once more, cocking his head at Kani and arching an eyebrow. "Apprentice of the Battlemaster, eh? Impressive."

It was not a taunt, or a jab, although it was stated as such. For the truth of it was Shawn was more than just slightly impressed with Kani, and not just for her ability to fight or use the Force, but for her character.

Saying nothing further, Shawn returned his attentions to healing Kani a bit further, knowing the time for such was short.

Kani laughed a little, talking with Shawn helped her pass the time and not focus on her own physical condition. However all this talk did remind her of her own loneliness.

The Jedi always frowned upon my Mandalorian heritage, and the Mandalorians had disdain for the Jedi. And my unique Force abilities forced me to keep away from others until I learned to control it.

"No, the Empire is good at creating machines of their own without any help," he quipped a bit blackly despite himself. Then, "I think I'm finally getting the major portion of your injuries to a more..."

He paused, wincing at what he was about to say. "...manageable level."

He knew she was by no means healed, and no matter what he did scars would remain. As a healer, this pained him greatly, and even more so when it was someone he cared about.

Something Kani had just said registered in Shawn's brain, a bit belatedly but just the same. She had felt alone, and had been isolated even more so, and very purposefully, by the Empire. Shawn's greeny-blue eyes deepened slightly, the look in them a bit far off.

You aren't alone anymore, came his response to her mention of loneliness.

Most of the nerve damage to my hands have healed, fine motor control still an issue but will recover in time. Heart damage from the electrical shock, completely recovered. Minor burn scarring to both wrists will heal over time. Major scarring to right side of face, starburst pattern crossing right eye socket needs major cosmetic surgery to remove scars. Right eye, retina and optic nerve flash burned, cornia permanent scarring, no chance of regeneration or repair surgically. Major surgery required for replacement.

As Kani evaluated herself she noted Shawn following along with her assessment through the Force and his growing resentment for not being able to do more.

“Don’t beat yourself up over it,” said Kani. “With my ability I know your healing ability is a bloodline trait, even if you fully developed it to a Masters level you wouldn’t be able to heal everything. And the scars.” Kani paused briefly to think of an appropriate Mandalorian idiom. “Well lets just say Mandalorians dig scars. Not that it would help me, most are scared off by the lightsabers, the rest when they see me working at the anvil.”

She laughed at the few attempts that young Mandalorian warriors would try to impress her by attempting to work at her forge, only for her to run it three times hotter and swing the hammer with much greater force.

“When we get out of this remind me to make you something at my forge, short of a full set of custom made Paladin Armor.”

...when they got out of this.

That final statement refocused his attention on the situation they were currently in. And of what had happened to Tarnus.

"Yes, when we get out of this," he finally stated sincerely, shaking himself from the momentary reverie he had shifted into. "Speaking of which...

...we do need to figure out a way to get out of here, and figure out what happened to Tarnus. I am certain your cover plan was impeccable, but that was before you stumbled upon Actar's work in your head."

Kani let out a deep sigh, the reality of their situation did not escape her.

“Just kidding by the way,” said Kani. “Mandalorians are into dark humor, just get use to it. Well when it comes to Tarnus all I know is he was taken away from what looked like Actar’s men, if he’s fine then he can think of a way of contacting me.”

If he can remember any of those old codes his “mentor” taught him and I’m right about him being Mandalorian that is.

“To find out what happened to Tarnus that’s the tricky part.” said Kani. “If as we assume Actar know I broke his control any attempt I make to use Imperial resources will be flagged and bring a legion of Stormtroopers down on us. This hotel appear to be in the undercity enough to keep us off the Empires radar for the short run. Good job with that by the way.”

Kani thought about her other assets, to get Shawn out, and contact her Uncle like Tarnus wanted she had to burn most of her resources. Now anything remotely Imperial was too risky of an option.

My own Force abilities are out of the question, too wild for one, and unpracticed if we are making a list.

"That's not an entirely impossible suggestion," he then responded to Kani. "But I'm afraid before we can be of any use to anyone we're gonna have to get away from Coruscant. Too many eyes and ears are watching and listening."

He paused, pursing his lips, a couple of ideas coming to mind. "I do have some potential connections to get us away from here...

...and on the road to finding Tarnus as well," he then stated. "It's possible Stargazer Corporation, an information smuggling agency which is owned by my sister and brother-in-law, may have connections here that we can tap into and use, and I know how to contact them."

For a brief moment Shawn trailed, his eyes defocusing a bit at the mention and thought of Shayla and Erik.

Had Erik gone after and found her? Had they reconciled with the loss of their child? And with each other?

The very thought of them and of the situation troubled Shawn. With effort, he refocused.

"We could also contact Terrin Danner and Eagle Enterprises," he stated, this idea seeming to make the most sense to Shawn. "He's got good connections as EE does business selling ships of all varieties all over the galaxy...

...and he is also very familiar with... political...matters."

Not to mention so more than that. What an understatement, Petrolu...

“I would avoid using comms planet side,” said Kani. “Or at least until we can get past the range of the planetary shield. Out of system would be better yet. Aktar is beyond paranoid about holding this world.”

She ran through the overlapping layers of security; from getting a ship (easy), breaking atmo (kinda difficult), clear planetary shielding undetected (borderline impossible), escape the blockade alive (impossible). Their problem was the ideal vessel to clear the shield threshold was light and nimble, while the one to run the blockade was big and bulky. Ideally a light frigate with a cloak…

That ideal vessel does exist, in fact we could probably steal it and get it in the air. Too bad flying in atmo with the cloak is basically suicide. For most people.

This sounded like something his sister would be good at, not him...

"I am able to pilot a ship, and probably have enough of a Force connection that, along with radar, I could control a ship blind with pretty good skill...."

Shawn trailed. But good enough to get them away safely?

He looked at Kani, and another idea popped into his head. She was well more trained for something like this than he was, and that was putting things very lightly.

“No electronic radar,” Kani corrected. “Imperial Customs Corvette, modified. 35 meters in length, 2 crew compliment, 6 passengers, no weapons, modified engines and shields. Most of its internal space are occupied by its capital ship class power core and cloaking field generators. It was envisioned to deploy small teams planet side behind enemy lines undetected. The fatal flaw being that because of the cloak field you are completely blind 2 meters beyond the hull. No radar, no comms, no sensor readings, no light on any band of the EM spectrum. Out in open space it worked great, intrasystem was adequate if you accurately knew most of the active travel lanes. Once you were in the atmosphere you were dead, to many flying objects, no way to know where the terrain was, and worse sudden wind sheer you can’t account for suddenly plowing you into a mountain. The Empire lost 15 of these things before it gave up trying. Plus they were tested on unpopulated barren rocks, imagine the most heavily populated world in the galaxy. Aside from its stealth capability it is literally the worse vessel to perform its designed function.”

She didn’t quite know of Shawn’s continued silence was out of sheer horror of the stupidity of the idea or if he was intrigued on how Kani planned to pull it off. She decided to continue before he could decide which.

“Like I said I can[i] see[\i] the Force,” Kani stated. “More accurately I can see its interactions with the natural world like a physical tangible thing. Without concentrating I see out to 25 meters, if I bring it down to 5 meters I can triple my reaction time, however extending it slows my reactions considerably. Because of the velocity of ship travel I will have to see 500 meters in all directions and close to 20 kilometers along our projected flight path. Now I can’t react to anything I see because all my concentration will be focused on maintaining that vision, but it may be possible to overlay that on your senses when you fly. You will be able to see in my field but it would be up to you to react to what you see and let me know where you want to look.”

Kani saw Shawn processing it all. Luckily he seemed familiar with the physical limitations and dangers to flying under that restrictive set of conditions, she wanted to give him enough time to form his own opinion of his own limits and abilities before she hit him with the big problem with the plan.

Assuming, of course, they had any sense at all.

And Shawn was fairly certain they did.

"I'm a descent pilot. After spending years being nearby my sister, who was an exceptional pilot, I learned a lot. Jedi reflexes and all should help with all this, and I know you know your skills well enough that you wouldn't suggest it unless you thought we could do it."

He paused, pursing his lips a bit. "And honestly I can't think of any other way for us to both get out of here in one piece, not with all that has happened."

Directing his greeny-blue eyes toward Kani, having an inkling of some of the potential dangers she might be alluding to already, he finished with, "I'm assuming your particular Force gfts--the fact that you can siphon power--is among the risks?"

Total blindness, not even perception of light. I doubt bacta could do much at this point. No time to dwell on what we can’t handle.

“Yes it does pose a risk,” said Kani. “However not in the way you would think. The explanation is hard to grasp unless you experience it for your self. I need to borrow your raw power, my overall Force potential is quite weak in its own. I only need to use slightly more than I can naturally generate, do I have your permission?”

She waited a moment and upon hearing no protest Kani began. At first she slowly suppressed her own mental barrier that kept her Force Vampirism in check. She could feel the passive flow of power from all living things slowly start creeping toward her. Then focusing on Shawn she strengthened that connection just enough to allow Kani to tap into Shawn’s access to the Force.

“I have the connection,” She stated. “Since you will need to know what it’s like I’m going to share my Force perception with you, I’m going to limit it to one meter. I’ll do it twice around 10 seconds each time, try to see if you can notice the difference.”

Concentrating Kani drew power from Shawn into herself, drawing in her awareness to around a meter she then sent a portion of that power back to Shawn bridging their senses and drawingShawn into her perception of the world. Chords of light emanated from the living things around them but also reflected off the non-living things. If Shawn chose to he could now focus on a particular object down to an almost microscopic level. Kani withdrew a coin and using a tiny portion of borrowed power she suspended it in the air showing Shawn how to her the visible threads of the Force flowing from him to her held it aloft. Then just as the coin settled back to her hand she withdrew the affect from Shawn. Twenty seconds of preparation and ten seconds of vision, thirty seconds in total.

“Now watch as carefully as I do it again,” Kani said.

This time Kani touched Shawn’s Force powers and instead of first channeling them through her own body Kani manipulated a portion of them directly at the source. Within an instant Shawn was back into Kani’s perception of the Force. She repeated the coin trick with the tendrils of Force power flowing directly from Shawn to hold it aloft before it settled back down. Kani then brought Shawn out of her shared vision and severed the connection, only 10.001 seconds had passed from when Kani had finished saying the word "again".

“Notice the difference between the two? Care to guess the potential dangers of the later compared to the former?”

Kani would link up with his mind, allowing him to use her ability to literally see the Force as he piloted "blind," using what she could see as his "glasses" so to speak.

But, unlike what he had first thought, Kani wouldn't be drawing from his Force power to guide both him and the ship with hers. In fact, it was almost the opposite.

"So you'd be basically giving me your ability to see and I'd be the one reacting...

...because you aren't able to see out with your Force vision at the distance we need and control the ship at the same time."

Shawn paused, pursing his lips.

She's putting a lot of trust in you to do this, you know that Petrolu. Your reaction time will have to be...

"This basically leaves you defenseless in in my hands, since I'll be using your vision to pilot the ship. My reaction time is going to have to be spot on...."

He doesn’t yet understand the fundamental difference between the two actions I performed. Not Surprising because even the most experienced Jedis wouldn’t recognize the important detail.

“You are correct in identifying those potential hazards,” Kani said. “I will be defenseless and unable to react to what I see and you will be responsible for the flying. But for the moment think back to the coin, and the time from when I established a connection with your powers to when the vision started.”

She gave Shawn time to replay events in his head, he might have spotted the differences but did he understand the significance.

“The first time I used the Force like a typical Jedi would,” Kani continued. “Ignore the effect for the moment but remember how the Force flowed. First I drew a measured amount of power then shaped it to the task at hand, same with the coin. I gathered power from you channeled it through me and then influenced the world. When you break down how A Jedi or any Force user accomplishes what we do it follows those logical steps, and why would it not even for the Force sensitive your greatest amount of control comes when you channel it’s power through you. This in turn imposes two fundamental limits; the first being you first become the buffer introducing a measured time delay, the second is if the initial amount of power drawn is not enough then more must be drawn again also more time.”

“But consider this point,” Kani proposed. “What if you could see the very power you needed to draw in, what if you naturally could see its interaction and form when it is manipulated? Could one then bypass the need to use them selves at a buffer and manipulate the sources of power directly? The first time I acted as the bridge using my own body to channel the Force as needed to accomplish my goal. That second time I commanded your powers to directly act as I knew they needed to. Bypassing my need to be a conduit and allowing instant access to your full powers.”

Kani thought she saw the realization dawning on Shawn of the difference. Her demonstration and her explanation providing the information he needed.

He was no Jedi Master, after all. Still, he had trained as a Jedi all of his life.

"I have to be honest with you," he said then to Kani, "Depending on what obstacles we come against I may not have quite enough Force connection to do what needs to be done. And as far as the link being severed and the potential ensuing reaction to that..."

Shawn paused, frowning despite himself. Bang.

"If we do this I'm going to have to meditate and get my Force reserves and connection as solid as possible, but I know time is extremely limited. If I could think of another way out of this I'd take it...

...but anything I've got requires us contacting someone else one way or another, and like you've already said, that' a risk that is too big to take."

She ignored Shawn’s puzzled look, and gave him an explanation.

“The blockade makes it all possible,” Kani explained. “For inbound ships it sits just outside the planets gravity well. Jump too far out the blockade deters you, too close your stuck in between the planet energy shield and the blockade fleet. Out bound traffic needs clearance planet side otherwise they raise the shield and then has to clear the blockade before jumping. Luckily the shield is down until they need it. Because of the cloak we can wait in the zone between the planetary shield and the blockade while we recharge. Any traffic in the area will only be in approved Imperial lanes, that we can avoid.”

Kani rested her chin in her hand and revealed a very mischievous grin.

"Perfect," he responded, meaning the word quite sincerely.

For perhaps the only time he would ever admit it to himself, maybe it was a good thing he coudn't quite heal all of Kani's injuries. Still, he could do more for her...

Shawn shook himself from these thoughts. There would be time for that later.

"I'm ready whenever you are, then," he stated, knowing there was no time like the present. "After all, we still have the task of finding Tarnus after we get ourselves through all this, and we certainly can't do that in our current situation."

Kani knew their options were limited, hunted by the Empire on the most secure world in the Galaxy. Not only that but her current injuries reinforced her need to depend on others for mere survival. However in spite of all those thing, she felt more at ease than anytime since her childhood.

“I only need a few more things to really sell this to any prying eyes,” said Kani. “We are going to need a repulsor chair, some hastily applied bandages, and we need to do something about those clothes.”

Over in a corner Kani identified the bag she had told Shawn to grab, the one that contained her armor and other equipment. She needed to test the extent of her physical abilities, so forcing her muscles to respond Kani stood and hobbled over to the bag.

There is still some residual nerve damage, combat may prove to be a problem. True there are techniques that I maybe able to draw on but not without jeopardizing our second phase. Deception will better serve us here.

Kani settled down next to the bag sifting through its contents and withdrew a med kit, small knife, her pair of slug thrower pistols, and cache of data cards. She slid the knife to Shawn, and began to apply bandages to her wrists and she side of her face that bore the brunt of damage from the exploding stun cuffs. Caring little for professional appearance in that regard, she wanted them to appear self applied in haste. With her eye though she took more care applying a bandage.

“Your telling me a minor case of larceny is the issue,” Kani joked. “Today I have literally blown up a fuel truck, speeder, warehouse, and hotel suite. Our plan involves stealing a top secret cloak capable vessel, we already stole a speeder. But a floaty chair presents concerns. I’ll make sure that our follow up operation of robbing a bank includes zero jay walking.”

Finishing with the bandages Kani felt conviced there was little more they could do to prepare.

“Hold up I think I found one,” Kani said.

Stopping out side a room she checked again.

Older model, but appears to be in decent condition. Better still the occupant is out.

Kani reached out a hand placing it onto the door release. Closing the eyes she exhaled and focused on the mechanism. First she called for the air to remain perfectly still, then she grabbed onto the mechanism itself quickly pulling it back. It casually was ripped from the door, her prior trick ensuring the sound did not transmit through the air. She motioned for Shawn to help her to the chair, easing into it she found that although it was not in great condition it would work for their purposes. Powering it up the chair hovered to 30 centimeters off the ground.

"Hey, where do you think you're going with that?!?" a gold-skinned Nothoiin exclaimed as they were departing the hotel Shawn had secured with the stolen chair.

Shawn put on his stuck up Ambassador persona...and added a little bit of something else. "It's not your concern where we are going!" he said with a wave of his hand.

The Nothoiin paused where he stood, frowning a bit, and appeared to even be considering arguing back.

But Shawn did know something of his race being that of a noble, respectable one. "My security officer is injured after protecting me from attack," he said then, allowing the look on his face to turn angry. "She needs medical attention."

The Nothoiin cocked his head, as if considering once more, then stepped back, signing something in his native language that Shawn was fairly certain was a cross between sympathy and well wishes.

He and Kani continued on towards the docking area, and mentally Shawn could only hope that they could get where they were going as easily as they'd aquired the chair.

A flicker of numbers scrolled across the board in front of me, telling me of this little fact, along with the myriad others which now whisked from right to left, informing me of altitude, vector, velocity, as well as coordinates as to my location which seemed to change by the nanosecond.

One little bit of information informed me that auto tracking was in place, with auto-guidance now kicking in to lead me to my usual landing pad.

Well... to his usual landing pad, that is.

I studied the board in front of me, reaching out as I quickly and correctly deciphered the particular sigil that meant "override." This I punched, followed it quickly by inputting the coordinates to the major landing pad of Imperial HQ.

Might just as well make your entrance a good one! I smiled darkly as the ship slewed off it's former course to take up the new. It wasn't long before she had found a berth on a particularly large landing pad on HQ's tarmac, one obviously intended for peeps of high rank or visitors of the same.

Consider me both.

I wiped the even darker smile off my face, rose to my feet. Smoothing my clothing, I let the ship quiet itself into semi-torpor, opened the hatch, and stopped in that opening to confront a squadron of Honor Troopers, all standing in perfect attention.

To a one, they snapped to attention, dropped the salute only when I allowed them to.

Buddy, you've still got it. Thanks be to your mentor... and more than likely to Galen too.

I stepped forward then, strode upright and full of Imperial self-importance, my posture daring anyone present to so much as squeak. None did; they merely turned as one as I approached their phalanx, breaking in the middle and facing inward toward the Corridor of Honor they had awarded me.

Yup, I sure do. In more ways than one.

I paused, singling out the Squad Leader by his golden shoulder pauldron. Without offering any explanation, I spat him an order:

"Find NW-1154. This one is to be sent immediately to my ready room."

To the fact that the Third-in-Command was giving a direct order to a lowly squad leader did not result in so much as a blink of an eye. My lip curled.

It was good to hold that kind of power.

Turning away from them, I headed on across the tarmac, seeking further transport to the Command Room of Imperial HQ. The guard followed as I knew they would, providing me with not only escort but protection.

Time to get this show on the road, Tarnus...

“This is NW-1154,” Kani answered. “Channel secure transmit message.”

There was a few moment of silence before a voice heavily obscured by static but still audible came in from the distant end.

“NW-1154,” came the static voice. “Night Whisper Controller, General Tarnus has returned and issued a recall order. Suspend your current mission and report directly to him. End of Message, Night Whisper Controller Out.”

The line went dead leaving them in silence.

If that was an official message that’s how it would go down. A ploy by Actar or one of his flunkies would use Actar’s name not Tarnus. And if they truly suspected me there would be a planet wide lock down not this level of subtlety. No Imperial Officer would allow a rouge Night Whisper to run unchecked.

Refocusing his eyes on Kani, Shawn nodded. "He's here, I'm certain of it," he stated. "And I don't have any sense of a threat towards us through the Force either."

He paused, for the barest of moments, just to stretch out and confirm what he had said via his senses. "Let's report in and find out what's going on."

“I agree as well,” Kani replied. “It appears to be too simple to be a trap set by Actar. Still it never hurts to be cautious.”

She reached back for her datapad stowed in her bad. It was slightly beyond her reach so she used a slight pull of the Force to bring it close enough for her to grab. With datapad in hand Kani pulled up a public access map of the Imperial base. Highlighting an entry point on the opposite side of the main entrance, she turned the screen for Shawn to see.

...and then faded as he once again noted Kani's injuries. Although his senses told him that all was in order regarding the call for Kani to return to base, straight to Tarnus, he still had some concern that if this was in fact a ruse she might not physically be up for any conflict.

Like she would admit that though even if every nerve in her body was screaming in pain, he thought to himself.

Shaking himsef from such thoughts, he got to his feet, unloaded the repulsor lift chair and helped Kani get back into it before they began heading towards where Kani had indicated on the map. He was certain to act the part of the dignified and pompous dignitary, clearly insulted about something. Likewise he was very prepared to argue with anyone who stopped them, brushing past them to lodge his formal complaint. They had no interruptions, however, as they moved on. Shawn frowned slightly to himself at that, wondering if perhaps this was all too easy. He knew without voicing said thoughts that Kani may be thinking the same exact thing...

...or perhaps sensing what he thought. Even as they got closer to their destination, another thought struck Shawn, one prompted by something Kani said.

With her injuries Kani did draw attention, but was quickly dismissed by everyone around them. This assessment suited her because it allowed her to focus on the guards without breaking character. What she observed brought her some relief.

Those are Stormtroopers, but the level of attention I’m garnering is because it looks like I’m a twi’lek. If they were looking for me specifically those troopers however disciplined would be panicking at every twi’lek being a hidden storm commando waiting to murder them. I think we are golden.

“They aren’t looking for me” Kani relayed. “I got this.”

Kani waited until it was they were signaled to come forward to be identified. Once they moved to the spot the guards indicated Kani reached into a pocket and withdrew a rank cylinder and held it out without comment. A new guard, one Kani guessed was in charge of this post, came forward taking the cylinder and inserted it into a datapad. That guard read his screen before removing the cylinder and handing it back to Kani. The guard then stood waiting, ready to receive further instructions.

“General Tarnus is expecting us,” Kani commented. “Have one of your men take us to him.”

The guard nodded in acknowledgment before relaying orders to have a speeder brought around for Shawn and Kani. Both of them hopped aboard being brought across the base to it main headquarters. Then indicating the Generals orders for her to be brought to his ready room. The same guard tried to have Shawn wait outside but Kani wouldn’t allow that.

“No I was told to keep this one with me,” Kani answered. “Leave us.”

Kani waited until the guard departed leaving them alone in what appeared to be a room suited for mission briefing and planning.

"This is Captain Terrin Danner, seeking the assistance of the Empire and Lieutenant General Sorben Tarnus. My wife, Galen, is is currently stranded on a disabled ship running on emergency power and emitting only a simple SOS. We have been unable to devise any way to contact her or locate her ship, and time is of essence."

Terrin paused. "I know with your resources you are my best shot at finding her safely. I'm hoping we can work together to do so."

And in that regard his disappearance was taken as a matter of course to correlate with my absconding with his ship. So far no one had even bothered to put two and two together; now sitting in my Ready Room, I remained entirely unmolested. I glanced at my chrono... and dared let out a small sigh of relief.

That sigh was nipped in the bud when an insistent light started beeping on my desk. Instinct raised my hackles, but logic forced them back down. I mean, it was going to behoove me in the long run to keep my eyes peeled 540 degrees at all times, but since this little light was blinking lieu of a squadron of the Empire's finest bursting through the door, I decided that it was indeed simply what it looked like.

Drawing a breath to compose myself, I toggled a switch.

"Yes-?"

I was quickly informed I had an incoming transmission from a Terrin Danner of Eagle Enterprises, and did I wish to receive it or should they deal with it as they would other routine transmissions of the sort, Sir? My eyes widening at the serendipity of the moment, I kept my voice steady and flipped the switch to transmit.

"Send it to me, please," I replied to HQ, and soon found myself occupied with the message being sent...

Not to mention reading between the lines of said message.

Galen, what in the name of all the Spice on Kessel have you gotten yourself into now? I couldn't help but think. I'm out of your life for only a moment, it seems, and you go off and--

And what?

"I'll be dealing with this one myself," I sent back to HQ, finishing with "Lt. General Tarnus, out," before toggling more switches to open a secured, scrambled line back to the waiting Mr. Danner.

"How may I be of assistance, Terrin?" I sent off, hoping my use of this given name would send with it the subtle nuance that what he might be thinking of me at this moment in time just could be entirely wrong, yes indeed it could.

((Sorben's message goes out this date to Tales of Strength, Life of Honor in the CSWU forums, thank you.))

"We've been able to narrow down the location of the ship Galen is on to a quadrant of the galaxy, but nothing further. She's on a Mandalorian ship and not on one of our ships, or else I might be able to track her. I don't have near the ships we'd need to possibly pick up on that SOS signal and triangulate her location, either. You’ve obviously got way more access to ships and to even the Holonet grid to pick up that signal and maybe get a lock on her location than I do. Right now she’s wearing Mandalorian armor powered by a backup battery, which only gives us a few days, and even that might be stretching it." Terrin paused a moment, pursing his lips a bit before finishing with, “I can send you a map marked with the area we’ve narrowed down her location to, via the Mandalorian Jedi we’ve got on board. He’s got some contact with her….”

Terrin trailed, sighing. His concern and worry an almost palpable thing. “But right now that’s all I’ve got.”

From where?

I pushed this aside - after all, didn't she come zipping in to rescue you and K'kihl in a Sith ship, of all things? Remind me never EVER to play sabaac with her, she's got more luck...

I then pushed THAT away, and placing my hand over my mouth pondered my next move. For of course I wanted to help, but I had to do it in such a way that the forces beneath me would accept. After all, it would make more sense to be capturing these people now, wouldn't it? I mean, didn't they...

The thought died a-borning.

Didn't they WHAT?

What had Eagle Enterprises done lately to warrant arrest of any of their employees by Imperial Forces? For while the causal factor was still something of a mystery to the Empire in general, I knew the ones who blasted my fleet were not this small business, but rather the Sith whom no one knew diddly about.

Hmmm... now there was an angle...

A Mandalorian ship.

I gathered myself together, toggled the communications switch again and opened the relay.

"Send the map of her general whereabouts; as soon as it's here I can send help. A lot of help, in fact. More than a lot, if she's anywhere close to the Galactic Core worlds.

"Tarnus, over."

I sent the reply winging across the HoloNet, then toggled HQ.

"I am ordering the deployment of a full Heavy Super Star Destroyer armada with accompanying Aggressor and Adz destroyers, all with full complement of interceptors, fighter wings and CR-90s."

I pause for a hair's-breadth, then thought, why not? Now's as good a time as any to break the news.

"General Swatzi was found assassinated on Ambria, and Admiral Actar is missing. Stand by to receive coordinates for a FULL rose plot search for the Admiral; it is thought he left in his usual manner but in a..."

In for a credit, as Galen was wont to say!

"...Mandalorian ship of unknown procurement. Ambrian intel believes he may have run into trouble somewhere near the Outer Rim; again, hold for final coordinates.

"Lt. General Tarnus, out."

((OOC: Message goes off to Tales of Strength, Life of Honor in the CSWU forums, thank you.))

"Map incoming. I'll see if Master Jetiis'ad can communicate with Galen that she's probably going to get picked up by the Empire to lessen the...surprise. Until then, I'll keep trying to get some sort of lock on her from our end, with the resources we've got. Please, keep me posted. And--"

"Thank you in advance. Please keep me posted."

At least they've got her generally located to a particular quadrant, and it seems to be in a fairly unpopulated section of space. How they managed to get this far is beyond me, but that's just a little detail we can iron out later.

Dismissing Terrin for the moment, I brought up HQ again.

"Sending coordinates of search area; deploy all ships in armada once reaching general area at extreme overlap of sensors. I don't want a single ship out of contact with any others, but I want them all in use.

"When target is located, attempt no hostile actions. Tractor ship and bring it back to Headquarters.

"Do it... NOW."

Knowing my orders were being carried out I sent final reassurance to Danner.

"They're on their way. We'll keep you apprised of the situation. Lt. General Tarnus, out."

With that I let out a brief exhalation of breath, then settled more comfortably in my seat. Next on my agenda: the reunion with Kani. I'd been notified she'd been found and told to report to me; all I could do now was await her arrival.

“I think we’ll need to put this on hold,” Kani commented. “Hopefully when this is over we can get back to this, or bacta.”

There was a knock on the door followed by a few seconds delay before the team of four Stormtroopers entered. They attempted to position themselves around Kani, between her and Shawn. Apparently their aim was to separate them, something that Kani was having none of.

“No I am under orders to keep the Jedi under watch,” Kani winced at having to refer to Shawn as Jedi to maintain her position. “He comes with us, he can wait outside the General’s office until called for.”

The Stormtroopers backed off allowing Shawn to maintain his position behind Kani’s chair. Then they led the pair a short distance down the hall to the entrance of Tarnus’s ready room.

“Don’t worry I got this Shawn,” Kani relayed through her thoughts.

One of the Stormtroopers moved to guide her chair inside the ready room, Kani cut them off with an outstretched hand. Gently she nudged her chair with the Force closer to the door. She knocked twice then waiting a few seconds and hearing no objection from the other end she used the Force to gently open the door, move her chair inside, and close the door behind her.

Lets see how he reacts to that small display, that may tell me what Actar did to him if anything.

Not wanting to give to much away from the beginning Kani maneuvered her chair opposite Tarnus with his rather imposing desk in between them. She rendered a rather shaky salute to Tarnus, glad that the healing Shawn performed eliminated the sensation in her nerves of being burned alive.

Galactically speaking, of course.

Nodding a little I flicked the monitor to standby, settled back in my chair and raised my eyes all in one motion. "Kani-" I began, seeking from the start to make her more comfortable by using her given name rather than the more formal one of rank and last name...

And froze.

Seated before me in a repulsor-chair was scruffy Twi'lek fem who looked a bit on the worse-for-wear side. Behind her, the door to my room was just closing. No one was there to push the chair.

My hand flashed to the comm unit, moving to toggle and alert HQ, when thank the ghods on Yavin my Hunter's reflexes leaped into play and brought the instinctive motion to a screeching halt. Frozen yet, I allowed myself a moment or two to simply look at this person sitting berfore me, her obviously injured body fairly oozing with a certain familiar elan.

"Khani-?! Wha-?"

I snapped my mouth closed, suddenly aware that with it hanging open I was probably looking like nothing better than a gandyrak in headlights. Hardly the demeanor a gentle-being newly elevated to the position of Boss Baby of the Entire frakking Empire should wield.

Forcing surprise into a semblance of humor, I quirked a brow at her.

"You're looking... well," I finally said, following those words with,

"Did you come alone?"

“I going to assume your definition of well is slightly different than mine,” Kani replied. “Yours seems to include being blown up twice, electrocuted, burned, oh and I’m green. This is the condensed version but I’m game if you want the more detailed version. To that end and to answer your question I did bring someone who can help out with telling you what happened, at least the parts I was unconscious for.”

Kani motioned to the door behind her indicating her guest was waiting on the other side.

“I have been keeping Jedi Petrolu company,” Kani indicated. “Although he looks different as well.”

Kani thought she caught a raised eyebrow at that comment. Realizing the implication of her comment.

"I trust our forces weren't those responsible for your... condition," I replied as sitting back I quietly waited for Petrolu to come into the room.

"As far as you had let me believe earlier, your position as a Nightwing Whisper Special Operation agent hadn't been... compromised...

"For whatever reason."

For a moment allowed myself to settle back in my seat a little, my mind racing with exactly what words I would speak to this uncommon pair once her traveling companion entered the room. Then I rose, went to a sideboard, picked up a carafe and poured myself a drink.

"Hot tea?" I asked, turning around to stare directly into her oddly colored eyes, letting the Hunter's instinct that had saved me more than once rise to the surface, seeking any subterfuge that may have been hidden in their depths.

Still shakey, still pain, but all manageable.

“Tea would be appreciated,” Kani answered.

She let the silence hang in the air for a moment while she collected her thoughts to answer the real question Tarnus asked.

I might go down for this, but I first need to see if it will take Shawn with me. I owe him that much.

“I may need some answers first before I can give you mine,” Kani began. “First your definition of our, forces, and responsible. Last I saw you were being led away in all but literal irons. Now your back with no repercussions, makes one wonder what occurred there? The most genuine answer I can give you is this, I am still Ka’runi Jetiis’ad, I am still Mandalorian, and who you saw on that shuttle is still who I am if not more so.”

She removed the bandage from her wounded right eye and locked her gaze upon Tarnus.
(((OOC: Got the wrong eye, now fixed.)))

"-man still relying upon the capabilities of a good aide," I finished smoothly. Handing her the cup of tea, I then turned my back to her, presented it as well to the waiting troopers who held the newcomer by either arm.

"Release him, and return to your posts," I commanded as I set the carafe back upon the sideboard. I then stood silent a moment longer until the slight whoosh of the closing door told me the guards had returned to their duty.

I turned from the sideboard then, cocked a brow at the Jedi.

"Shawn?" I said, stifling the whisper of a grin that was straining to lift a corner of my lip. I turned back to Khani, cut her a most meaningful look, slid my eyes back to the waiting Jedi yet again, then widened my stance and planted my fists on my hips.

"Would either of you be so kind as to tell me what in all the Treasure on Roon has happened to you two? I have... something that is rather of some importance to disclose to you, but-"

I now turned my face back to Khani, let my gaze sink into her eyes, searching out her very soul. Considered but a moment longer before finishing.

"But it would be helpful to know if there are any other, ahh... players in the game that I should be made aware of before I go on any further."

The Jedi would more than likely spit out only the truth. That's what they do, after all.

But Khani... There was something about her screaming to me that something had happened, something dire enough to make her suddenly not trust who I was.

Whichever one I was in her eyes, that is.

I needed to know, and I needed to know now.

...that was the past. Shawn sensed absolutely no reason to not trust here and now. In fact, he felt this was the time to do just that.

"It's Kani's story to tell," Shawn said simply then. Shawn flicked his eyes to Kani then, sending her a meaningful look. "He needs to know."

“There are three or four different plans that ran together that brought us to this point,” Kani began. “I’ll work through them chronologically. I did as you asked and sent out a message to my people. As far as the Empire knows I tracked down a Jedi sympathizer, not Shawn, who bombed the base after you left and I killed them in one of their safe houses. That accounts for two of the three explosions you will likely hear about today.”

Observing that this news did not appear to faze either of them Kani moved on to the next part of her story.

“Next I returned to base to keep an eye on Shawn and find out more about what was happening to you,” She continued. “We came to the realization that neither of us were in the position to do anything here so through a joint effort we disappeared and established cover identities while we formulated a plan on how to help you. Though I am glossing over many steps it is because of this why Shawn looks the way he does and why I am green, at least for now.”

Someone offered Kani a cup containing some tea, at this point Kani was not paying attention to who but was thankful for the intermission to allow her to mentally prepare for the important part.

“Now lets just say for a moment that our conversation aboard the shuttle had me questioning everything the Empire had told me. And in that questioning I took a second look at these.”

Kani withdrew her pill case that she had carried, the one she knew both Shawn and Tarnus had observe her taking before. She tossed the case over to Tarnus.

“Turns out Actar or whoever was tasked with handling me had gotten me addicted to glitterstim. That is only the tip of the iceberg, Shawn offered to use the Force to heal me. That is when we discovered what Actar had really done. I’m not sure of the method, but somehow Actar had me possessed by something that responds to sufficiently powerful Force users. One that attacks them and had full access to my once former abilities. The glitterstim we guessed kept that thing in check, in process of dealing with and getting rid of that… thing, I ended up in this physical condition. On the bright side I regained a limited connection to the Force. Lets just say that in the aftermath it would have drawn to many eyes and to many questions, hence we covered it up with explosion number three. Shawn took us into the undercity their we came to the realization that if Actar had the resources to do what he did to me then surely he would have a means to know if I broke his control over me.”

She finished her cup and levitated the empty glass back over to the others.

“Our new plan was to get off of Coruscant before he could do anything about it, then find a way to help you. We were about to execute that plan when your recall order came in and both Shawn and I knew we had to investigate. My reluctance to tell you this right off the bat is from a certain point of view your return indicates that Actar may have gotten to you as well, in which case me telling you this is at best a death sentence or worse you have those Stormtroopers ready to take me back to fix what hold I broke. And I assure you I am not going back to that life.”

She is seeking something...

Quietly, I pressed a particular button on the desk, was rewarded when a small door slid obediently open. I didn't have to look; my fingers reached and brought out the blaster I had hidden there for such an occasion as it would be needed, and needed quickly. I might not have my armor any longer, but I still had my reflexes.

I laid it quietly on the shining greelwood desktop. Placed my hand flat down beside it. Placed my other hand in a similar position, and leaned slightly forward.

"Shawn?" I said, not looking at him as I spoke the words, my eyes still glued to Khani's pair, one clear and deep, the other horribly blank. It was all I could do to keep my gaze from dropping down in horror to drink in the sight of the rest of her battered frame.

"Shawn?" I repeated, and fell silent.

Off to one side, the little signal continued its insistent blinking, impervious to what might be going down in this very room in but moments to come.

...with hurt knowing what Kani had been through, knowing how she had been lied to and used by the Empire. Knowing that the hurt ran far deeper than physical wounds.

"She's telling the truth, Sorben," Shawn said then simply, keenly aware that Tarnus was asking far more than that. "And somewhere in all of this the Empire...or at least, Actar...lead her to believe that the Jedi had her Mother killed....

...and with all that's happened, along with what I know as a once very active member of the Jedi Council that has long since died, that's simply not the case."

Shawn paused then, looking to Kani, whose eyes were still locked on Sorben's, sensing she needed reassurance as well. "Kani, you can trust him."

"You could use a bacta tank, Kani," I said, now fisting one hand, finger alongside my upper lip, elbow in the spot occupied by the blaster mere moments before. "I'll get the best med-droids out to you as soon as we're finished here."

My eyes slid to the blinking light, and for a moment I simply sat there staring at it. Then I reached out and toggled a switch so that message would come out as audio. What better way to show the pair who I was, who I really am, and ghods helps us that we never go through this kind of distrust again.

The message quieted. I let it sit impatiently; it was, after all, not essential that I respond immediately. Of greater importance was this pair sitting in front of me...

And what somehow we had to finagle out of this great, uncaring Galaxy we lived in.

"Terrin Danner approached me not many hours ago, seeking assistance in finding his wife, Galen. It appears she is lost in the northern quadrant, trapped in a powerless-"

I hesitated just the slightest.

"Mandalorian ship, with only a standard SOS distress signal being squirted. It was their belief her distress signal is not being relayed in subspace or along the HoloNet, but is traveling in realspace. They needed help in triangulation, and I agreed to send an armada to assist."

Another brief but pregnant moment passed, one in which the two shot fast glances toward each other before placing their full attentions on yours truly once again.

"They have been told General Swatzi, Admiral Actar's Second, was found on Ambria, assassinated. This I know to be true... the Admiral himself told me when I was brought before him.

"They have also been told that Admiral Actar is missing from Ambria, and was last seen departing in a ship of Mandalorian origin. Admittedly I fudged this slightly, for I needed to direct them to help Danner and his friends.

"We may be in need of every friend we've got."

I stopped for a moment, now rising to pace back to the sideboard, there pour myself two fingers of Walk'nFall in lieu of the cooling carafe of tea. I shot it down my throat, relishing it's hot fire, visualizing the fires I knew were out there, fires answering the beck and call of Forces I'd rather steer as far away from as I could, truth be known.

But you're the goddamned Acting Admiral of the entire frakkin' Empire, ol' Blue Eyes! No more cutting and running, not again.

I thought of my purloined armor, sitting where it was. Thought of all I'd experienced, what so many of us had gone through. Swore to all the ghods that I would get that armor back again... and regain the honor due it by actions I was now trying to set in motion.

I poured another double, turned back to them.

"Admiral Actar has nothing to do with that Mandalorian ship," I went on as if discussing the weather. "But it is true that he's missing."

I drew in a breath.

"When I was brought before him on Ambria he announced he'd killed Swatzi, said this-" I waved a hand about myself "-was all mine now, and... and..."

Ghods but Khani was going to think I'd gone off my rocker. I could only hope the Jedi could verify something of the bombshell I was about to drop on them.

"And then some kind of portal, a black roiling rip in the very air, opened up and yanked him through. I know that place, I've been there. They call it the Darker Realms; it's outside of our reality but that doesn't mean it's not real.

"It's very, very dangerous, and he's in it. And I'm in charge of all Imperial Forces, but I can't quite claim this fully as yet. Not until Actar is formally pronounced dead."

...only to in turn learn of who and what the Sith truly were: a civilization with both good and bad, like much else in the Universe. While he had not actually ever been there, Shawn had much knowledge and experience with the Darker Realms...

...including hoards demonic imps and Sith with All powers that were aligned with the Realms. The idea of Actar being in those Realms, potentially doing something of his own malicious design, did little for Shawn's nerves.

Shawn looked to Kani, daring to stretch out and open himself to her. "I haven't been to the Darker Realms but I'm way too well aware of them an what can happen when they are pulled into this side of reality and used by someone who already has powers of their own," Shawn said, his look darkening. "Those that exist in those Darker Realms would very much like to have a foothold here in reality, and if Actar allies with them we are all damned."

Shawn paused. For quite possibly Kani might decide both he and Tarnus were quite mad. "We need to disconnect him from the Empire and let them know he is dead...

“Few days ago I would have a hard time believing you,” Kani said. “I mean I had seen some incredible things through the Force, like Skywalker level stuff. But considering what I have just been through I am willing to reconsider what I though was absolute law. I have no reason not to trust you, either of you at this point. At best I could only manage to kill myself if you really wanted to do something to me.”

Kani did long for the promised bacta, Shawn’s healing had done so much already but she knew that the damage she sustained would have killed almost anyone else.

The woman and child Admiral Actar had commanded I hunt down and kill, as proof of loyalty to him. Damn my soul but I tried... only to find that, per her usual way of handling her life, she'd managed to stay one or twenty-five steps ahead of me, creating clones which ye ghods I murdered...

It was the hardest thing I'd ever done, keeping every lick of the internal struggle now roiling in my gut from showing itself on my face. What a time to be without my armor!

I let my eyes go pewter.

"Galen is the wife of Terrin Danner of Eagle Enterprises," I finally said. "She and I have had a... past, now over.

"How she managed to get her hands on a Mandalorian ship is beyond me. Suffice it to say she has a knack of doing these things."

I reached out, ready to send out a communication.

"How about I order that bacta tank for you?" I went on, genuinely concerned. She wasn't fooling me in the slightest with the tough act she was putting on.

Galen was the Queen at that trick...!

"There's a lot on our plates, and I need you in the best condition you can be. My thanks to Shawn here, but I think our facilities can greatly expedite getting you back on your feet again. Not to mention doing something about that skin of yours.

"But first-"

I toggled the transmitter, replying to Terrin who I'm sure had gnawed every fingernail off his fingers by now.

"Tarnus here, Terrin. I'm afraid I can't let our forces know about you, not yet. Be prepared to cooperate fully; I will make certain that you are not harmed when troopers board your ship. But you may have a bit of a wait ahead of you, quite possibly in one of the detention centers aboard ship.

"Again, just play along, and trust me.

"Tarnus, out."

One flick of a finger sent the message back to the waiting man. I raised my eyes to Kani again.

"Bacta?" I inquired, quirking my brow and letting a corner of my lip follow suit.

((OOC: Message goes into "Tales of Strength, Life of Honor" in the CSWU forums, thank you.))

Yeah, that wasn't going to go over well with Terrin. Not in the slightest...

Shawn could practically imagine the reaction from the other end of the communication. He actually wondered if Terrin would have it in him to play along...

...and trust.

He probably wasn't going to have a choice. Hopefully he had some EE crewman or someone else with him who could keep him thinking sanely…

Shawn cocked his head a bit as Tarnus offered Kani bacta, and the guilt he was harboring over not having the time to handle it himself resurfaced. Shaking himself from such thoughts, Shawn focused on Kani once more, hoping she'd take the offer after their very long ordeal before the new challenges that laid ahead. And likewise suddenly feeling like a fish out of water without his blue jedi robes....

“Very well,” Kani admitted. “I’ll take you up on the bacta, but a few ground rules. No using this as an excuse to leave me behind, no glitterstim, and no prosthetics.”

Kani looked back and forth between the pair starring them down to reinforce her seriousness on that point.

“Before I forget I should contact my uncle before he shows up unannounced or something. Since I only gave him minimal information. Anything you want me to relay to them first?”

She gave them time to respond while finding the words she needed to say on a more sensitive matter.

"I- I've been away for some time, leading an armada elsewhere. I'm afraid I have not been informed of your mother's death or what may have happened to her effects."

I turned back to the pair, tossed the drink down the hatch and placed the glass on the sideboard.

"Actar and Swatzi are known to be extremely close-mouthed about things they find of importance, you see. They would know of this; unfortunately at the time of her death I was not... important enough to have been enlightened.

“It is a speculation, but one rooted in logic. At the time I reached out to him with the brief message of needing to make contact quietly I was still working under the assumption that the Jedi killed my mother. My Uncle likely knows what really happened and will take it as their first firm lead of my whereabouts. He won’t outright attack and risk a war with the Empire, but he does have the resources to hit the Empire in a way they never saw coming, or could be traced back to them. He may not buy my reasons of recent change of circumstance but I do know him and can gauge a likely response if I were to speak to him.”

Kani maneuvered her chair closer to Tarnus.

“Also I know at a time like this it is a selfish request. To ask for my mothers armor and weapons, surly you know what a parents armor means to their child. Before I thought it lost, now with every thing that has happened its possible for me to recover her lost soul to help return her to the Manda.”

Kani folded her hands in her lap. Searching for the words, running far short of an elaborate or logical reason she stuck with the raw emotion she felt.

“I have never told anyone this though Shawn felt it briefly through the Force. Right before my mother died she reached out to me through the Force. However in the moment of her death all her emotions, all her memories, all that was her being flooded over me. On one hand it was beautiful I had a perfect understanding of how much I meant to her how my life in a way filled the impossible hole left by my grandfather leaving like he did, that made me very happy. On the other every painful memory of her life, and their were several, also came out. Many of those from before my grandfather found her on that pirate ship. But the worse one she had was the realization that very soon I would lose her. I was very young at the time and couldn’t comprehend the importance of that moment. So I withdrew and severed my own connection with the Force, and suppressed most of my memories surrounding that event. It didn’t help that the Empire covered up the Mandalorian mission, they didn’t want to admit at the time how far they made it through Imperial security nor how much that mission actually succeeded.”

A gentle smile grew on her face, the first genuine one since that day.

“When Shawn helped me overcome that thing of Actar’s control I felt another presence, my connection with the Force was tenuous and just as it was about to take me over and kill Shawn I felt her. My mother somehow helped me drive that thing out, and now I can see what really happened that day what really happened to me all these years.”

She gathered what strength she could through the Force, commanding her muscles and nerves to ignore their protests and work for once. With both hands on the arm of her chair Kani pushed herself off and advanced slowly on Tarnus with a shuffling uneven gait. In front of his imposing figure she could hardly appear threatening, in fact that was far from her aim. Kani faced him as any Mandalorian would.

“I have accepted those events, I am not seeking revenge on you or the Empire for the wrong it has done me. I will be the first to admit that I would relish the opportunity to run Actar through with my lightsaber. Let me say the proper goodbye to her that I denied her all those years ago, as her apprentice and her daughter.”

Her control was waning, with a shaky attempt to balance herself Kani started to fall back when something caught her and helped guide her back to the chair.

"Yes, I do have the resources at my disposal, Kani. What with what the immediate future is bringing us I was hoping to put this aside for a bit, but I see how much this means to you. I'll get someone on it immdediately, but I am also ordering you to not try anything on your own regarding this. Searching for this information is not your mandate; there are other areas where you may be needed more, and I want to have your full attention.

"Is this clear?"

I paused a moment, but simultaneously raised my hand to prevent any rebuttal on her part. When silence ticked on, I smiled and loosened my demeanor a little.

"General Landarian is commanding Relentless," I went on in apparent non sequiteur. "He has my full trust, and always has. At this time the only people who are aware of the assassination of General Swatzi and Actar's disappearance are him, perhaps his First...

"And you two."

Another pregnant pause, accompanied by yet another raise of my hand.

"There are... forces in play that very few are aware of, forces which supercede personal closures or simply chasing after loved ones at this time. We three-" I indicated in turn both Kani and Shawn with a simple nod of my head, "-are the only ones in the Empire who are aware of who the pilot of that Mandalorian ship really is. The only other people who even know the ship is out there are Landarian, and the people aboard Challenger who unfortunately must play along with this little game until I am safely accepted as successor to both Actar and Swatzi. Remember, until Actar is truly pronounced dead, I am only considered to be acting Admiral. And while I hope the brief communication between Danner and I won't have been picked up by any big ears as of yet, I simply don't want to press our luck any further by sending him any further and lengthy explanations.

"You know that even in my position, the walls have a tendency to grow them. Thus those aboard Challenger must be allowed to be tractored, and brought here. I think it the best means of getting them onboard with us at this time. And when that Mandalorian ship is found, and the pilot is discovered not to be Actar, Galen is most certainly to be detained. Again, this is the best way of getting all who will eventually be involved with us here with minimum of risk. Plausible deniability is crucial right now."

I gave them both a moment or two to digest my words before turning to Shawn.

"Didn't Thoran come with you?" I asked in genuine surprise. "I think you two need to listen to some of the things he divulged to me before we left Tatooine." Quickly I checked records; there was nothing showing any unknown alien being arrested and placed in Imperial detention.

I cocked my head toward the two in front of me, took a brief moment to order the circumstances surrounding Kani's mother be investigated, then rose for some more liquid fortification. I remained silent as I poured another stiff jolt, my mind circling and circling like pod racers on Boonta Eve as I busied it pondering what next potential moves we would make in this little game of galactic chess we had so suddenly been drawn into.

And how he's always after Galen, came the unbidden thought. "There is the possibility that some the inner circle of Eagle Enterprises knows about that Mandalorian ship and that Galen is its pilot...

...and they may make a move to do something to find it, especially Terrin's business partner, who tends to stay on the outskirts of things until needed. And if I know Terrin like I'm pretty sure I do, he covered all his bases before he turned to you for help." Shawn paused, pursing his lips a bit. "Could be a potential problem for things to fall in line for all of them to get captured and sent here if EE starts looking for that ship too...

...or for Terrin, for that matter."

Shawn quieted a moment then and frowned, having totally forgotten about Thoran with all that had happened in the past few days. "The last I saw Thoran, he was still on the Spice Eater," Shawn then replied. "I don't know where he went from there."

He paused then, letting all traces of annoying Jedi inscrutability slide, at least for the moment. "He and I had a little chat on our way to Coruscant, actually, about some of those other forces at play, the Sith...

...and white spiders that seem to have the capability to do strange things to people that even my Jedi healing abilities--based on an all too close encounter I've had--can't do anything about."

Shawn trailed a moment, calling on a bit of his Jedi calm to assuage rising concern.

What were they, anyway? They practically...no, pretty much literally....sucked the life force from Lord Aelvedaar and Galen...

With effort, Shawn shook himself from such thoughts. Then, "Before I came to Tatooine, I left from Khar Delba as an ambassador of sorts. I was going to the Praxeum that never happened to let the Jedi know that the Sith are not what history says they are and to set the record straight. I had been working with a fellow Jedi called Paul Arakeen, but I have absolutely no idea what happened to him, and the little bit of the Jedi Council that was is no longer....probably all dead."

Shawn's eyes defocused for a few moments, his calm again sliding into the barest traces of pain. And just like that, it the look faded, and his eyes snapped back to Sorben. "As you have already said, there are forces at play beyond all of us. I'd love to hear what Thoran has to say. Hopefully he hasn't gone too far, and will be willing to ahhh..elucidate further. He was being a little hush-mouthed and cryptic when he and I spoke on our trip here."

He paused then, eyeing Sorben's drink. "Got any of that to spare?" he then asked.

Jedi or not, after all, he did appreciate a good drink, especially when the conversation was shifting to matters of oh-so-much consequence....

...and far more than even just that.

White magical healing spiders, how hard did those explosions knock me around today. Questions for later…

Kani would normally have remained silent gleaning the conversation for all the Intel that it was worth, but this was not not her best day. Her usually contradictory demeanor of stone like rigidity contrasted against the brazen firebrand did soften considerably from recent events, something she contributed to not being under the influence psychotropic drugs or possession any longer. In her truer to original the Kani from before her mother’s death, Kani appreciated the steps Tarnus was taking in regards to her mothers possessions and left the matter is his more than capable hands.

“Sorben,” Kani said. “I leave the task of locating my mothers belongings to you, thank you ner vod.”

She offered a slight bow of her head as was typical of Jedi deference, and not in any way meant to convey sarcasism.

I will offer him the same level of trust I would to any fellow Mandalorian. Lets be real, short of a box labeled “Twi’lek Mandalorian Jedi Master Jetiis’ad’s personal effects” being plopped down right in front of me by magic I doubt I can speed up the process.

Leaning back, Kani relaxed in her borrowed chair. She was using a very broad definition of relaxed, one that encompassed the concept of sitting there because she lack the energy to do much of anything else. Realizing that her immediate usefulness was limited to answering Mandalorian specific questions, those questions predicated on knowledge that any of them lacked at this juncture, Kani longed for the sweet release that only death or its much more preferred substitute bacta could only bring.

Dammit Sorben ol' pal, if you don't get her into a bacta tank pronto, she may be past healing, or at the very least incapacitated longer than all of us wish her to be. Not to mention how long [i]she'd want to be.

I nodded to Shawn that he help himself to beverage of his choice, even as I toggled for a med-droid to take her to the infirmary and get her installed in the highest grade bacta tank we had.

And there was yet a lot more filling in which was in order. After all, he'd only been able to relate a bare minimum to her regarding the Sith when they'd been on the run to find Sorben. And there was much more at play than that, not only the Darker Realms but also the incoming Yuuzhan Vong.

Shawn's eyes defocused, and he frowned despite himself. Thoran had been right when they had spoken while en route to Coruscant. Everyone needed to stop fighting with one another and prepare for what was incoming.

“General, Jedi Petrolu.” Kani bade goodbye.

The droid maneuvered behind the chair and guided her out the ready room. Once on the other side Kani signaled it to halt briefly while she ordered one of the troopers to take her bag that she had Shawn carry from before and follow them. As they proceeded down the corridor the med-droid ran a high level scan relaying the results as they went.

Massive calcification of the skeletal system, micro seizures, double vision, dermal burn scaring, flashed burned retinal and optical nerve. All great things to be experiencing.

They arrived at the infirmary, before the trooped who carried her things departed she had him retrieve a specific datacard from the duff and hand it to the med-droid, one that contained the protocol for how her skin had turned green. Luckily the process to change it back did not involve the extremes of before and could be added to the bacta treatment it was already prescribing. Kani nodded along to its assessment before interrupting its efforts to begin treatment.

“I do not consent to any use of glitterstim or any similar drug, coma inducing medication, or any prosthetics. Do I make myself clear.”

"Captain Landarian to Coruscant HQ, Eyes of General Tarnus Only. Informing of capture of small ship Challenger, Captained by one Yaoksi Joao, in the company of escaped Imperial prisoner Terrin Danner, a Jedi of unknown Force ability, and a female Ryn outfitted with a prosthetic arm, said to be the adopted daughter of Captain Joao. It is the claim of this group that they are seeking one Galen Danner, wife of Captain Danner, whom they claim to be trapped alone aboard a dysfunctional Mandalorian ship.

"Furthermore, info from Star Destroyer Rabid provided by their interceptor, Sly, states a signal emanating from coordinates..." He quickly read them off. "...which may prove useful in triangulating the position of what just may be Admiral Actar and the missing Mandalorian ship.

"It is my personal opinion that the likelihood of two Mandalorian ships, both disabled, would be in such close proximity to each other is highly unlikely. Unless there is something afoot in Mandalorian space.

"Forgive the temerity, my friend, but I would think it more than appropriate to send at least some scouts into Mandalorian space, and see if there is anything untoward happening there. Just as a precaution.

Ah, good. Captain Jissel aboard flagship Todthund was relatively close, still seeing to the blockade at Obra-Skai. This works nicely...

Quickly sending the command that he send one of his accompanying destroyers to check out the sectors covering Mandalorian space, I then turned my attention to Landarian's information. Paused a moment, then opened a returning scrambled and coded message of my own.

"Landarian, Tarnus here," I began typing, then stopped. Cocking my head a bit to one side, I took but a small moment to arch a brow in Shawn's direction before switching to audio. This, if nothing else, should help lay to rest any remaining doubts he may yet be holding about me and my sincerity in helping him.

"Landarian, Tarnus here. I welcome your insight as always, and have just sent orders to Jissel to check out the possibility of something ahh... untoward coming down the pike in Mandalorian space. Depending on what is found there, you may find assisting him to be your next mission.

"Regarding the people found aboard Challenger..." I paused a bit longer now, considering the best course of action for all involved.

"I want them continued to be held in detention... BUT I want no harm to come to them. I know your troops, my friend; they're good soldiers but do tend to be a bit eager in the performance of their duties.

"They are not, I repeat NOT to perpetrate any aggressive actions against these detainees, nor to harm so much as a hair on their heads. Not. One. Hair. Keep them under wraps; we don't want them wandering about your ship of course. And again, keep them separated. I've never trusted the Jedi, and this Danner fellow has escaped from the Imperial detention center here on Coruscant. Be particularly careful with both when seeing to their needs, but see to those needs.

"These people are known to Admiral Actar; I'm sure he would want to deal with them upon his return to HQ, and they aren't much use to him dead.

"Tarnus, out."

A movement of one finger sent the return communication winging back to Relentless, where I knew Landarian would follow my directive to a tee. During this implementation my eyes had never left Shawn's; I now settled again in my chair and reached out for my own Walkn'Fall.

"You were saying something about Thoran?" I put forth, really as a simple gesture to get conversation rolling while the question rolled about in my head as just how he should be, ahhh... sent for.

This was after all Imperial HQ on Coruscant, and I found myself now wondering if it would be best to order troops to approach as phalanx consisting of friends...

Or foes.

"Ahhh yes, Thoran," Shawn then said, pursing his lips a bit. "He and I had a very brief but interesting conversation on our way to Coruscant. We talked about the Darker Realms, white spiders, and other forces of potentially greater import that are out there. He told me that he felt the Empire and the Sith needed to not be attacking each other, considering what is incoming....

...and after having spent time with the Sith myself and having seen and experienced the things I have in recent years, I can't say I disagree with him."

Shawn paused, frowning a bit, taking another drink as his eyes defocused a bit. "As to the white spiders he referenced, he says they are on Tatooine, getting onto people and causing them to do things. I'm not sure what things they are making people do, but I am sure how they got on Tatooine. I was there when it happened. I saw them attack both Galen and Lord Aelvedaar, and it took All ability to heal either of them. Nothing of my Force healing could do a thing."

Shawn trailed for a moment, then continued. "I know all this may seem rather minuscule in the grand spectrum of things, but I've been on the Sith worlds and working with them and others for quite some time, thanks to both my sister, who is the Adept of Graysith, and because I've helped both Terrin and Galen several times. These other forces at play...

...I don't know if the white spiders are part of any of it." He quieted a moment, shrugging. "But I do know specifically that we have Yuuzhan Vong incoming into our galaxy once again, that there are some of the Sith who are entwined with the Darker Realms, trying to somehow recreate a past that is our present...

...and that there is Something Other out there that is able to block all Force and All abilities, Sith magicks, and anything seemingly "supernatural" within the entire galaxy. Probably the entire Universe. Again, I can verify it happened...

...I was there when it did. And I felt my own Force connection both disappear then later return not all that long ago, when I first came to the Imperial Outpost on Tatooine and found you there with Thoran."

Shawn shook his head. "Thoran knows more than he's said so far, I'm certain of it. He was once working with, and perhaps still is working with the Master, who is Lord Phalomir's Father. That particular worthy plays his cards as he sees fit, and at one point was working with Forces in the Darker Realms to strengthen the Sith and prevent them from a destruction that happens to them in the future. I wonder the truth in all of this, and if this is in fact why we are seeing Other Forces at play, considering reality seems to course correct after being tampered with for so long."

Shawn took another, good drink, his eyes locking on Sorben's. "I'd be very interested in hearing more of what Thoran knows: of the Sith, the Master, and the Darker Realms...

...and about whatever else may be going on here in our Galaxy--and perhaps beyond--now."

The buzzing and beeping of the ship's systems played like soft music in the background as he raised his groggy head. He had fallen asleep some time ago, enroute to the planet. He was eager to help Tarnus and elated that someone with some authority was finally listening to him. Things were finally going to work out.

His thoughts drifted as he rubbed his eyes. He wasn't quite sure how long he'd been asleep, but he heard no other voices. Shawn had long ago gone to bed which prompted Thoran to eventually do the same. Tired of Shawn's droning, and wanting to be undisturbed for the remainder of the trip, he had subconsciously enveloped himself in a cloud of Sith magick meant to obscure him from his compatriot for a while. It was unintentional, but it had worked! He had slept the sleep of the dead to be sure. It could have been for days as far as Thoran was concerned, but since nobody had come to wake him then everything must be fine.
Either they had landed or they were still in space -- but the systems sounded quiet, and there was no engine noise. They must be on the ground.

He forced his eyes to open. They resisted, and with good reason. It had been days -- no, weeks -- since he had any reasonable amount of sleep. And recent events had taken their toll on him. It began with the Master forcing him into stealing Graysith's spirit, alienating him from two powerful allies in her and Phalomir. Then the incident on Tattooine with the spiders... he still wasn't totally sure what was going on there but it had to be a sign of things to come. But if he played his cards right he would have the Empire on his side and with their backing just might live through this.

He rolled over and swung his feet over to the floor. His head swam a bit, the fluids inside swishing like water in a jostled glass. He tried to steady himself by holding his head, but that did not stop the motion. In fact, it was getting worse. And a high pitched, whiny tune began playing in the back of his skull. The sound grew, becoming painful and intense. His eyes closed instinctively and he tried to rise to to his feet. Grimacing, clutching his head in pain, he stepped forward...

And fell through the unseen portal.

Thoran landed with a thud onto a bed of soft grass. The sound faded and the pain in his head subsided. He let out a long sigh and fell backwards to the soft ground.

The warmth of the air delighted his senses, and still groggy he let his eyes remain closed. The stillness around him was comforting and the distant sound of birds and animals reassured him. The bliss was broken, however, by a soft chuckle which gave way to a familiar laugh.

Thoran groaned.

"What do you want now," he said with a heavy sigh. "Master?"

{{Follow Thoran to Motes in a God's Eye in the Sith and Jedi forums}}

I lifted those eyes to the Jedi.

It wasn't that I was taken aback by anything he'd just said, hell no. Much of it certainly jived with what Thoran had begun telling me during our conversation on Tatooine.

But it was for the simple fact that it was only Shawn sitting here now, imparting this information to me.

"Is there any reason Thoran isn't here with you?" I asked in sudden non sequiteur. "Why didn't he accompany you when you were given permission to disembark your ship when you landed?

"Is he still aboard your ship?"

I threw the last question out almost as just a simple means of closing the game, for odds were that was indeed where he was hiding. Why he would remain hiding when I'd given them both my assurance of safe travels both in coming to Coruscant and then while staying with us here, made absolutely no sense.

My Hunter's instincts started whispering in my gut, running stealthy fingers up and down my spine.

What exactly had transpired between these two during their journey here from Tatooine?

"When we arrived here I disembarked the Spice Eater only to be escorted off by a squad of stormtrooers to a holding room; I assumed the same must have happened to Thoran. It was about that time you were...called away, Kani picked me up and went after you, one thing lead to another...

...and I lost total track of what happened to Thoran."

Shawn quieted at that, suddenly feeling very badly...

...and really not believing that Thoran would have just stayed on the Spice Eater all this time.

His frown deepened. Despite the overusage of the phrase, Shawn had a really bad feeling about all of this...

But what had happened to Thoran?

My spine froze further as my gut clenched into a knot. Quickly I opened communications to Flight Control, seeking answers, and not getting the one I wanted to receive. For it seemed the inspection team that was sent to crawl over every millimeter of Spice Eater hadn't turned up so much as a Dagoban brine shrimp.

No Thoran.

I leaned forward, spoke a quick "thank you" into the comm and closed the connection. Now I allowed worry to carry me to my feet, which followed suit by pacing me hither and yon around my Ready Room. I went for another jolt of Walkn'Fall, hoping its fire would burn that worry into logical assessment of the situation, but I just couldn't help but shiver at invisible breezes seeming to blow in from a charnelhouse, raising goose bumps on my skin.

I looked Shawn dead in the eye.

"I've got a bad feeling about this," I said simply, followed with,

"Now to determine just what in Hell's Seven Circles is going on around here!"

"Yeah, I have a very bad feeling about this."

Shawn paused then to lift his drink to his lips...and drain its remainders entirely.

Back into the fray again...

"There's only one way I know of that someone can just up and disappear from anywhere, and a very few people I know of who can do such a thing...

...Thoran being one of them. The problem with that is I sensed no deception in him on our ride from Tatooine, only sincerity. I can of course hope that, when all Hell broke lose and you disappeared, that maybe he went somewhere to protect himself...

...but I really don't think so. That just doesn't make sense."

Shawn chewed his lip a bit, his hand unconsciously wandering to the pocket of the nerfskin jacket he wore, the pocket that he'd stowed away his lightsaber. "I've met Thoran's Master before too, the one who is Lord Phalomir's father...

...and the one who's made deals with the Darker Realms to somehow strengthen the Sith. He's able to open portals too, and never seems to be on anyone's side in particular but his own. I think now is a good time to be seeking out some allies...

...and perhaps making some that have better knowledge than I do of such things. The Jedi, for all their supposed knowledge of the Universe and the Force, haven't the faintest idea regarding what might be incoming."

"This is Captain Aaron Barnes of Eagle Enterprises, requesting permission to speak with Lt. General Tarnus regarding some information I've obtained about a ship for him."

Dammit, it never rained but it poured...

My finger reached out to hit the switch to transmit a return, when I paused fractionally, taking a second inner look at the apparent serendipity of this one.

Strange, wasn't it, that he would now be contacting me about that ship? Was there something else afoot?

Just who had talked to who else about what out there? Damn, but on one hand I wanted as many frying pans in this particular fire as possible...

But just not now.

Truth be known, but as a Hunter I'd been used to the Lone Sandcat style of life. Trusting in no one but myself, operating only on my own. And when coming up with a plan of my own making sticking to it like glue.

And holding the reins even tighter.

Granted it took Galen to discombobulate me off of my normal modus operandi, but she wasn't here... nor was she with Aaron. Or at least to my knowledge she wasn't.

I pondered the myriad words between those rather few and entirely too vague ones the man had spoken, assessing them and just how they had been spoken, reading all the subtle nuances they carried upon their backs and comparing the lot to what I knew of the man.

It didn't take me long to decide that discretion was the greater part of valor. After all, if he had Galen, why would he be contacting the Empire with the information? After all, to my knowledge the only two privy to my "change of heart" were my hotheaded little Twi'lek lieutenant, and the Jedi Petrolu. How and why they would run the risk of getting that highly dangerous intelligence off-planet to their friends was beyond me; in fact, it stood to reason that neither had done so. For if they had wouldn't I be sitting in an Imperial detention center myself, with them occupying similar cells elsewhere?

I flipped another switch, opening up a communication to HQ.

"Please tell him to stand by," was all I said, before settling back in my seat to think.

((OOC: Message goes off via THE EMPIRE to Tales of Strength, Life of Honor in the CSWU forums, thank you.))

...a reply that was simple enough, and something one would expect from a person of Sorben's rank and position...

...gave Shawn pause.

What in the name of all that was Good in the Force could be going on now?

"Put me through to Captain Barnes," I said, noting how Shawn's eyes widened a bit at the mention of his name. I waggled my brows at him, then turned back to my console when the return came that channels were open for communication. I leaned forward a bit, made sure my reply was properly encoded and scrambled, and finally spoke.

"This is General Tarnus," I began simply enough, before then continuing.

"I'm all ears about that ship, my friend."

((OOC: Message goes off to Aaron Barnes in Tales of Strength, Life of Honor in the CSWU forums, thank you.))

"General, my business partner has communicated with me that the ship has an SOS signal that is amplified with a kyber crystal to give it focus and that the ship itself is yawing to give that signal more range. He's also sent me a star map of what can be seen from the forward viewport. He's a well-trained pilot with a good eye, so it should be fairly reliable, if lacking in scope since it's two dimensional. I am acting on his behalf, to transmit this information to you, and will send the map from the forward viewport along with our analysis of it to you as well."

Then, attaching the file he'd mentioned along his own highly encrypted frequency, Aaron then sent his reply off and waited to see if the General would have anything further to say.

...after all, he was one of probably the few that Shawn could count on one hand that Terrin trusted implicitly. What surprised him instead was that Aaron was now contacting Sorben too.

But then again, Aaron had done things like this for Terrin before, so it really wasn't that surprising.

Shawn looked across to Sorben, nodding once. While he knew Terrin better of the two EE owners, he'd still spent quite some time assisting Aaron with one thing or another, and had on one occasion healed the man.

"He's trustworthy," Shawn said simply then. "And he's kept a few really dark secrets over the past few years," he ended with, somehow knowing that Sorben would be able to read between the lines what he meant. For Aaron knew well of the Sith, the incoming Yuuzhan Vong, and of the Darker Realms.

For although I knew Actar would have the most iron-fisted possible security when it came to sending the few transmissions that he did, I wasn't anybody's fool. Blithely trusting that I would be allowed the same level of secrecy was what got the womprat in trouble with the sandcat; there were big ears everywhere, and anyone who chose to ignore that little fact would soon find himself between the claws of the aforementioned kitty.

I thought a moment, figuring just how to proceed in such a manner as to get my point across to Barnes while simultaneously keeping the Empire off the trail.

It's not what I know, or what so very few do, but rather they don't know what we know, and we all know what they don't know, after all!

I allowed a semblance of a smile curl my lip at that thought, then opened the channel again.

"General Tarnus to Captain Barnes. The information you have sent should prove useful to us; you have the full appreciation of the Empire. Your abilities in this matter are much regarded, and it is my personal hope to be able to utilize those abilities again at some future date.

"General Tarnus, out."

I focused my gaze at Shawn with this, raising my brows in the silent hope that everyone listening to the return transmission took it in the exact manner that I wished them to. For as a Hunter I had become quite adept in the application of experience relative to human and humanoid behavior, and was using said experience for all it was worth at this particular moment.

It's funny how people read into other people's statements, generally from a subjective viewpoint so that they only hear what they want to hear.

With that I sent off a return, then switched rontos and opened a connection to Landarian aboard Relentless.

"This is General Tarnus. Information regarding the Mandalorian ship we are seeking has... come into my hands."

I really, really hated being so vague to one of the very few Imperial officers I had come to view not only as a friendly but as a friend as well. Grimacing a bit to myself, I went on.

"I think this should be more than enough to utilize in finding Admiral Actar's ship. Analyze, and let me know what you find.

"General Tarnus, out."

I sent the message, then sat back with a quick exhalation of breath.

"Well my friend, the poo-doo is more than likely about to hit the fan. Time to determine how to play all this when they find that Mandalorian ship and realize it's sole occupant most certainly is not our dearly departed Admiral."

((OOC: Messages go off to Aaron Barnes and Captain Landarian, both in the Tales of Strength, Life of Honor thread in CSWU forums, thank you.))

Kani had been asleep, the first true rest she had the opportunity to enjoy in what felt like an eternity. It could then be dismissed that Kani didn’t respond at first because of fatigue then it hit her. Officialy on Imperial records she was still Lyra Kanti not Kani Jetiis’ad. This was something Kani intended to rectify but for the moment it could wait. Opening her eyes that med droid or one just like it was still there but was now flanked by two rather built human males in medical scrubs.

Interesting lets see where this is leading.

The hum of repulsors filled the tank as she was gently lifted out of the tank then lowered down to be held aloft just in front of the pair. They moved with towels in hand dabbing away the lingering bacta. Kani would have protested, but recognized her own condition. Still wiped for energy and a hint of double vision she allowed them to proceed. As they worked the droid explained what the results of the first immersion was and subsequent treatment. In short she would make a full recovery minus her right eye without replacement. There was one more immersion they needed to run but first they wanted her to rest and see if any other problems arose. To that end the two men were some of the finest masseuses the Empire had to offer.

They have more of the body builder look than I would like but if they have good hands it would be rude of me to refuse, besides if this is what it takes to get back into shape I’m only following Tarnus’s orders.

They helped her into a robe before offering her a mirror. The green pigment was mostly gone, the starburst scarring around her right eye still was a vivid green contrasting with her deep aqua skin. It was explained that somehow the scar tissue absorbed the color and would not release it, the effect might fade overtime or not they were unsure. She returned the mirror as they grabbed her belongings and headed off to a private room. It was more luxurious than most hospitals she had seen, she surmised this wing was intended for VIP’s instead of the common solider. With a gentle touch they helped Kani face down on a nearby table and began to work her muscles. One let out an audible gasp of shock at her build, instead of toned muscle Kani had what they described as high tension cables. She let out a chuckle and responded with a short explanation.

“Night Whispered.”

"General Tarnus eyes only; Sir. Please be informed a small fleet of possible Mandalorian ships is currently en route to Coruscant. The maps and information you have sent regarding Admiral Actar and his Mandalorian ship has been analyzed; we expect to be locating his position within the hour.

"Sorben, take care, old friend. Don't let my home get blown up in my absence.

....and the obvious group of persons that would be on the chopping block were Galen, Terrin, and all the parties with him that had been out looking for her. And for that matter, Eagle Enterprises would be on the potential chopping block as well. Shawn frowned.

“The people the Rentless picked up, and perhaps Eagle Enterprises itself, will probably be the first that will be up for suspicion when it comes to the Admiral not being on that ship,” Shawn said simply. “I don’t see how this is going to play out any other way...

...unless we can figure out some way to divert the potential blame from them. I mean, how do you explain Galen popping up on a ship of Mandalorian origin that Captain Danner and all the parties on the Challenger were looking for? How do you explain that the Admiral is not there? Especially considering that Terrin is an escaped prisoner and both EE owners have had various less-than-stellar interactions with the Admiral? Unless you somehow play it out that EE was trying to help him out this time, and they got duped by someone or something...”

Shawn paused, shaking his head, not at Sorben but at his spiraling thoughts. “Of course, that ship Galen is on is not an Eagle Enterprises ship....or at least I highly doubt it. And it might be to our advantage that Terrin and whatever crew he has honestly has no idea that you’ve stated Actar is on that ship...”

Shawn trailed once more, an idea of sorts niggling at the corners of his brain. “You know, maybe that’s just it: Maybe their lack of knowledge concerning that someone said Actar was on that ship is their saving grace. They’ve already been detained and questioned...

...and if questioned later about Actar being on the ship none of them are gonna have a damned clue what anyone is talking about. But, in the meantime...”

Quieting a moment, Shawn arched a brow in Sorben’s direction, “All things considered, do you want them detained on the Relentless, where loose lips might sink ships? Despite what he’s been told by you, I don’t know if Terrin has it in him to shut up and sit this one out for any extended length of time. Quite frankly, it’d probably be better for us all at the moment if someone temporarily put him out of the misery he’s probably in, having to sit on his hands and just wait. After all, he’s already clearly communicated information to his business partner.”

Shawn mentally cringed at what he was saying, but he knew it was true from past experience mucking throughout the galaxy with Terrin, looking for Galen.

“After all, right now the Empire believes that those people aboard the Relentless somehow know about a ship that is out there damaged and lost with Admiral Actar aboard. Shouldn’t you, as the current leader of the Empire, want them right under your thumb? At least then that might give us more time to figure out just who we can blame for the fact that the Admiral is in fact not on that ship, or at least why he’s not there any longer.”

"First of all, you have to remember...

"I AM the Empire. In lieu of actual orders given by Admiral Actar himself, which of course are not going to be coming any time soon, what I say, goes.

"Plus we don't need to go off running around like a nek with it's head cut off; speculations are one thing, but facts are another. Perhaps it's time to obtain a few."

With that I opened up a channel to Landarian once again.

"Your house and family are in safe hands, old friend," I began in reply to his last transmission. "I will guard them all with my life.

"And speaking of such things, how goes the life of those aboard that little ship which was... stupid enough to pop out of hyperspace so close to you? Let's see, it was a Captain Danner, I believe; and another Captain, Joao wasn't it? Along with..." I paused to give my next words non-verbal inflection. "...a Ryn and a Jedi, who doesn't seem to be doing much in defense of himself or his party, if I recall your report correctly.

"I presume these... detainees have been properly interrogated. It has come to my attention that the results of those interrogations have yet to come to me.

"Please forward, and keep attending to them. I'm sure Admiral Actar has plans for them of his own, and we all know he prefers a clean plate when it comes to such things.

"General Tarnus, out."

I sent the encrypted transmission winging along the Holonet, knowing it would be less than a second before Captain Landarian would be reading and pondering upon them.

In the meanwhile, I turned my attention back to Shawn.

"Ya know, pal?" I began before slugging back my Walkn'Fall double.

"You worry too much. For a Jedi, that is."

I rose to refill my glass, then raising the half-emptied bottle of Whyrene's with a waggle of my brows Shawn's direction.

((OOC: Message goes off to Captain Landarian in Tales of Strength, Life of Honor in the CSWU forums, thank you.))

....for us all.” Leaving it at that, Shawn simply took the bottle of Whyrene’s reserve and gave his glass a good refill, taking a good long drink after he did so. “Then again maybe it’s this damn costume I’m in that’s throwing me off my game.”

The smirk returned...but then shifted to a curious look as something Sorben said registered; something that he’d probably said before but Shawn had missed entirely.

Sithspit, it had been a long few days.

"Affirmative, General. All detainees have been actively questioned with the sole exception of the Ryn.

"To clarify, Captain Joao, Captain Danner and the Jedi Kyan Jeti'isad, and the Ryn have been subject to interrogation strategies, each with the implementation of varying stressors. Per new trial policies in this regard, the Ryn was treated the harshest, and asked no questions. It did not offer pre-emptive answers in any attempt to stop the procedure.

"However, interrogation was successful in some regards with the remaining three. All three adhered to the same story, that they were searching for a Mandalorian ship, known somehow by them to be completely powerless and with only a general distress beacon still operating. Just how exactly this was known had yet to be divulged; my men were ready to begin Phase Two when your order to maintain their health for the sake of Admiral Actar came through.

"To continue, the pilot of this ship is still claimed to be the wife of Captain Danner, one Galen Danner. Just how she came into possession of a Mandalorian ship is just as much of a mystery as the Admiral's procurement of one; methods used up until orders to cease did not entice any of the four to divulge this information. If indeed they were telling the truth about this to begin with.

"Additionally, Captain Danner, escapee from Imperial detention on Coruscant, alluded by his silence the exact methodology employed leading to his, ahh... unexpected release. Again, Phase Two truncation eliminated the chance to determine the answer to this quandary; I trust the good Admiral will not look upon this ship as not carrying out her full duties in this regard.

"My friend, there is a commonality here that I find to be... distressing at the very least. Oddly enough, Captain Danner offered up the same map and coordinates that you recently sent, all to help find this ship. One he and the others claim to be holding his wife, and that our orders state as being piloted by our beloved Admiral.

"This is quite a discrepency, General. It can only imply there is indeed something afoot pertaining to the Mandalorian people, especially since we have now found a group of what appears to be Mandalorian ships leaving that sector of space and heading on a bearing toward Coruscant.

"Further orders, Sir?"

Damn, damn DAMN!

It was all I could do to keep from slamming my fist as hard as I could upon the gleaming greelwood.

So close! I had been so... damned... CLOSE.

I had been preparing to order Landarian to send the little group to Imperial HQ via a prison shuttle, when he just had to connect the dots that were being laid out all around him, noticing the one little oddity I had been praying to myself he would overlook. Landarian and I had indeed come to be as close to being friends as any two men could call themselves, and I thought I knew him well.

Apparently not well enough.

I had been betting on his simple dismissal of just how certain information had been obtained by all parties in this strange little dance we were all attending, hoping he would put it down as something they could find by reading Challenger's transmission logs and was therefore something to delegate to another, giving me the time to logically state the order I wanted to give.

But now... Now an order of that nature would certainly raise his eyebrows further, for in the light of what he'd learned, and more importantly not learned, it would look as if I was actively trying to save these prisoners.

Which of course I was. It's just that I couldn't show that I was.

I shot an uncomfortable glance Shawn's way, noting his returning look of growing dismay.

Giving him an imperceptible nod, I opened the encrypted channel again.

"Begin Phase Two," I said simply, and was about to send the message on when I interrupted myself.

"Except for the Ryn. A Ryn is a Ryn; if no information has been gleaned from that one as yet, it is more than likely none is forthcoming. Especially since it is adopted by Joao. It will know nothing."

I was suddenly inspired.

"Not to mention that keeping that one from further harm might entice the good Captain into being a bit more forthcoming. Be sure he is notified of this.

"General Tarnus, out."

I sent it off, turning now to the Jedi, and just sat there a moment letting my Walkn'Fall laughingly tell me that Sorben ol' hunter, there are just some things in this galaxy your favorite drink can't fix.

They were way past that now.

“I have a very bad feeling about all this,” he said then, making a face at the overused Jedi adage but having nothing better to say than that. He took a good long swallow of his Whyrene’s Reserve, then chewed his lip thoughtfully. “We’re gonna have to nip this in the bud somehow, before interrogation turns out honest answers that connect you with them.”

Not to mention how it may destroy needed alliances, came the mental addendum.

Shawn paused then, unhappy with the obviousness of what he had just said, knowing that Sorben already knew as much, and suspecting that he also knew how this could in turn destroy alliance needed to face what was incoming. But then something that Landarian said registered with Shawn.

“Hey wait, did he just say that there is a Jedi Kyan Jetiis’ad with them?” He paused then, raising an eyebrow. “Sorben, that’s Kani’s grandfather...

...and all this may very well explain some of the sudden Mandalorian activity we’re seeing...

...and possibly give a reasonable explanation for Actar’s disappearance and acquisition of a Mandalorian ship,” he said, making quotation marks with his free hand, and really hating what was about to come out of his mouth.

“Terrin got the information he has about Galen’s location via either the Mandalorians or Kani’s grandfather, I could almost bet on it. I can also almost bet that Terrin and Galen acquired the ship she is on from a Mandalorian source, possibly Jedi Jetiis’ad himself. And realistically, Terrin’s primary business is the sell of ships. Either way, any further interrogation is going to verify that...

...so the problem is now going to be how to explain that you acquired information stating Actar was on a Mandalorian ship with the same map and coordinates to the one Captain Danner has given. So what if someone gave you that map as a distraction, knowing good and well Actar is not on that ship?”

Shawn paused, arching an eyebrow again, and taking another drink. “I know it’s not a very “Jedi-like” solution, but it is certainly logical, I think. And you did say you are the Empire. There’s all this Mandalorian activity in the Galaxy all the sudden, not to menton a system full of Sith that weren’t here at all until recently. Both of whom could have given you nonfactual information to throw you off a trail, both who have potential reasons to not like Actar or the Empire very much.”

Shawn took the final swig of his Whyrene’s reserve, cocking a brow once more in Sorben’s direction for a long moment before looking down at the now empty bottle in his hand. “Sithspawn, but I think I need something that’s a little stronger to drink.”

Neuron-Conductivity test, Muscular response times, skeletal calcification, blah blah blah...

When the droid eventually made it to the segment of its speech that consisted of the prognosis and treatment Kani did wave off the two men so she could properly take it all in. She was expected to make a full recovery and able to return to full duty in a day or two, her right eye though was irreparable and once again the droid recommended a replacement.

No, if partial vision loss is the price I had to pay to be free of that thing, then so be it. Besides I have a non surgical idea that I want to try, thank you Twilek biology and Jedi concentration.

She made it clear that there was to be no replacement of her eye however she would require an eye patch for now, something green, she indicated the green highlights of the starburst like scar on the right side of her face. The droid briefly acknowledged her orders then moved onto the treatment, after assessment she would go back into the bacta tank. Previously it was used to stabilize her condition so she could be assessed now it would be tuned to her exact physical ailments. Kani nodded in agreement giving a go ahead for the droid and two men trio to proceed.

"I agree, we are at possible loggerheads here. You see, from my viewpoint I can state that per my wish to keep my source protected, I reached out privately, gained said information, and then deleted all traces of said transmission. This is not unusual; Actar did the very same quite often. And my information is viewed as gold... as it came from my own lips.

"This, however, does indeed put Danner in a bit of a sticky wicket. For quite certainly it would appear that he was seeking the Admiral's ship himself; indeed, that unknown allies to him managed to partially disable it but then lost it when it fell out of hyperspace, and he was en route to finish the job. The transmission seeking my aid was then merely a ruse, and is indeed how the Empire would view things. And when that ship is found and Galen is the one aboard and not Actar, well...

"This will of course only raise more eyebrows. It just might be taken as that somehow your team managed to disable that ship enough to capture or kill Actar, and got Galen and others aboard. Actar is overcome; perhaps found unconscious aboardship, placed in a portable Force Cage, and spirited away. Meanwhile Galen remains behind to pilot the ship to whomever was behind this plot to assassinate Actar, only for reasons of her own decided on a different course. Those who know Galen know she is forever taking off at a moment's notice, refusing to reveal her plans to anyone for the simple reason of protection by giving them plausible deniability."

I paused, rising to return to the sideboard there to visit my old friend Walkn'Fall yet another time. Finding the bottle depleted, I switched rontos and poured myself a Whyrene's instead. I didn't want anyone coming into my ready room at an inconvenient moment simply to bring me more of my signature beverage.

I didn't bother to return to my seat, but rather stood at the sideboard, leaning an elbow upon it. Seeing a logical rebuttal rising in Shawn's eyes, I raised a pre-emptive finger.

"Why would Terrin come to me? Because he honestly trusts that I would help him rescue Galen, since she was my wife dammit, and we have a daughter together. And as for my responding assistance in this?

"Admiral Actar was forever chasing after her, for reasons known only to him.

"I don't think I have to worry about myself, Shawn. But we do have to worry about Terrin and Yaoksi and the Ryn, and yes, Kani's grandfather as well. In fact I'm beginning to become more than just a bit concerned about Kani's Mandalorian background, now that there appears to be a group of Mandalorian ships headed directly here.

"These were supposed to be an extinct people, yet suddenly we seem to be up to our ears in Mandalorian ships. Which brings me to another wrinkle: It may be said that Lt. Jeti'saad's sudden appearance on Tatooine as my new assistant is highly suspect in and of itself.

"Look at the dots, Shawn. Admiral Actar stated to be piloting a Mandalorian ship... which I stated prior to knowing that there are others out there! I would have used another excuse to find Galen's ship had I known, but that's water under the bridge now.

"SO we have that. We have the fact that Galen will be discovered in said ship instead of Actar. We have the fact that I suddenly have a new assistant in the form of a Night Whisperer with Mandalorian roots. And we have the 98% positively assured fact that a group of Mandalorian ships are currently en route to Coruscant.

"What would you think? I'm thinking the same thing they will be thinking: that the Mandalorian people have been hiding, biding their time, and are quietly attempting to enact a military coup against the Empire. Remember, General Swatzi was assassinated too, but no one knows by whom."

I shot the Whyrene's down my throat, then set the glass on the sideboard with a resounding clink. Returning to my desk I remained standing and opened a channel to my acting assistant, to then order a second bottle of Walkn'Fall.

My finger still on the communications toggle, I looked up from under my brows at the quietly listening Jedi.

"I don't think I have to fear for myself, Shawn. But rather, I have to fear for your friends, as well as for Kani. I can only protect so much without beginning to look like traitor to the Empire. And unfortunately, as things now stand it is looking more and more like your friends have sided with the Mandalorians to engage in traitorous actions themselves."

"General Tarnus, this is Commander Jissel aboard ISD Todthund. Hyperspace tracking droid confirms presence of two Mandalorian vessels, possibly warships, on current heading to Coruscant. We assume them to be thus as their profiles do not exactly fit those known to us at this time.

"Furthermore, a secondary probe discovered another larger group of Mandalorian ships, coming along a bearing originating--" He rattled off a series of coordinates "--heading in the direction of known Mandalorian space; we believe Todthund's retrieval of the two droids and our departure from orbit and insertion into hyperspace was implemented before this group was close enough to pick up our signatures.

"End report.

"Awaiting further orders, Commander Jissel, over."

I gave him a waggle of brows that could only be interpreted as, "It never rains but it pours..." before opening up a return channel, likewise coded and encrypted and the whole damned nine yards.

Khaandon's Ghost, but I yearned for the simplicity of my Hunter days!

"Todthund, General Tarnus. Deploy a hyperspace tracking droid in high altitude orbit of planet, just to keep an eye on things. There is to be no military action at this time; our greatest weapon is knowledge. Keep me apprised if the status of this droid changes at any time, for any reason.

"As for you and your gallant men, return to--" I rattled off the coordinates "--to assist Landarian and Relentless in locating..."

I paused a brief moment for the sheer improbability of my next words.

"...another Mandalorian ship, this one reported by trusted sources to be occupied by Admiral Actar himself. Captain Landarian can fill you in on the details.

"Good work, Commander. It is duly logged and noted; there may be a commendation in this for you.

"General Tarnus, out."

A flip of a switch, and the transmission winged off to Todthund.

I plopped in my seat with an exhalation of breath.

"This is really not my cuppa caff," I muttered darkly, wondering now just what dianoga was going come sneaking along next to bite me in the butt... which of course one did in the form of yet another message. This one originated in-house, merely informing me of the current status of Lieutenant Jeti'saad.

I looked to Shawn, determining the best course of action.

"Perhaps there is wisdom in the old adage, Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer. Bringing the young lieutenant fully onboard with us can easily be manipulated as me doing precisely this, should the need arise at some future date.

"Meanwhile just how much we do reveal to her depends on her being one hundred percent onboard with us. There is some concern with where her absolute gut loyalties lie; while I trust she trusts that I trust her superficially, can she remain trusting in me, in what I may have to do so future goals may be reached, and not revert to planting her loyalties squarely back with her Grandfather and people, especially when I may have to act against them for the sake of our future goals?

"This hesitancy on my part may be simple paranoia, but the Mandalorians have never been known to be a chatty people, or to wear their emotions on their sleeves. Believe me, I know this from firsthand experience.

"And," I finished emphatically. "There is one thing that is certain, and that is the Empire's hyperspace tracking abilities absolutely does not leave this room.

"Am I understood?"

I paused a heartbeat to give Shawn a look even more emphatic.

"This will come out, and be distributed to our assured allies. You have to trust me in this.

"But not now. There are simply too many ears everywhere; we cannot afford this information falling into the hands of the Vong, as improbable as that possibility might be. It's improbable that not only are they coming again, but that we know about it. Hyperspace tracking is one thing, but knowing they are coming while in intergalactic hyperspace? That is still beyond reach.

"Yet we doknow!" And how we know is something I just cannot pop up and state, "Oh hey, magic is everywhere!" You know as well as I do that this would lead to panic on a scale I don't even want to imagine.

"So! Much information needs to remain hush-hush, other information guarded jealously, and if we have collateral damage along the way, well...

"That's just something I'm going to have to live with. I just hope I'm able to get all our womprats in a row before anything as drastic as that happens.

"At least anymore," I finished, wincing to think of what was probably happening to Captains Danner and Joao and Kani's broken Jedi grandfather.

It wasn’t working.

“I am very worried about my friends captured aboard the Relentless, and for Galen. These people are all friends of mine that I’ve helped time and time again. Good friends..”

He paused then, pursing his lips a bit in thought before continuing. “Terrin will probably go down swinging, to do whatever he thinks he can to save Galen, Captain Joao, and the Ryn; that I’m certain of. What does disturb me, however, is the apparent lack of action on Jedi Jetii’sad;s part. From what I know of him he’’s got a brother who turned to the dark side that he killed...

...but on his way out the brother took Kyan’s connection from the Force. Even so, I’d think he’d be doing something, anything to help protect his fellow shipmates, ones that have obviously put their trust in him.”

Shawn trailed then, frowning. “I don’t like it. It does in fact look like Terrin may have made some kind of alliance with the Mandalorians, or at the very least he had some sort of interactions with them that somehow ended with Galen gaining a Mandalorian ship. What doesn’t make sense to me is why he wouldn’t have sought their help in this matter to begin with...

"You're as insightful as I'd expect any Jedi to be, Shawn, and those insights serve both you and I well.

"The apparent inaction on the part of this Jedi with them is extremely worrisome. Even more so when one considers he is Lt. Jeti'saad's grandfather... Kani, who was pissed as hell at the Jedi when being erroneously told they were the ones who brought about her mother's death.

"But now it's come out that apparently we, the Imperials, were the ones to blame... and now she is pissed more than ever.

"At us. Or rather, them.

"Which reminds me; I've not yet heard anything back regarding her request that I dig up her mother's effects. I believe I should delve a little into this personally; it may help seal her trust in us, and perhaps further cement her alliance with us when the poo-doo hits the fan. At least I hope it will.

"In the meantime..."

Now I played with my console, drawing up a menu of HQ's posh "mess hall" frequented by only the top brass in the Empire. Choosing a meal for myself, I waved Shawn over to my side.

“She is pissed as hell,” Shawn agreed in reference to Kani. “And these Mandalorians...”

Shawn trailed, frowning. ”Oh hell,” he then said suddenly, looking across the greelwood desk at Sorben. “Maybe I have had too much to drink without food myself. Between escaping from potential Imperial capture with her and setting ourselves up to go undercover depending upon what had happened to you when you were taken away, I’d forgotten Kani mentioned communicating with her people that there was a potential Imperial shake-up in the works; she just didn’t know quite how they’d respond to her message.”

Shawn quieted for a moment, scowling at himself for not thinking of this sooner, scowling even further at the apparent lack of discretion in how the potential news was being responded to by the Mandalorians. For certainly they had quite a few ships out there, one incoming right on top of Coruscant.

“Apparently discretion is not the better part of valor when it comes to whatever they are doing. Nor is there concern for the apparent collateral damage we’ve already been referencing, if in fact Captain Danner, Galen, and the others had some sort of interactions with the Mandalorians themselves in the meantime.”

Shawn shook his head, his dismay clearly evident. “Terrin’s tangled with the Sith, and his business partner has had rebel alliances against the Empire of his own. I don’t know if there is any way to disentangle the Challenger team from this utter fiasco...

"And I'm sure those involved with these as yet unknown civilizations believe they either have some kind of protection against the Empire... or, should things make a rapid about-face, will be able to so easily assist in implementing an alliance between us all.

"Nothing but visions of grandeur if you ask me; they simply do not know how the Empire acts. Oh, they're fully aware of the power and the super star destroyers and the technology and the terror... but they know absolutely nothing about the politics!

"They had, and indeed have absolutely no idea of what Actar was about. Not that I condone his actions in any way shape or form, but the man was a bit more politician than terrorist, and I did learn a little bit from him, you know."

I ended my pacing standing at my desk again. For a moment I simply stared down the my reflection shining there, before slamming my fist smack on top of the image of my own nose.

"Damn loose lips and sinking ships anyway; what the Hell did Kani think she was doing? I mean, yes I asked if she could arrange a meeting with me and her grandfather... but to go beyond that simple request and hint that something big was coming down the spacelanes was not in the mission plans at that time! No one, and I do mean no one was to have even a smidgeon of a hint of a whisper that something was going on with the Imperials, let alone 'some kind of shake down!'"

I snorted away from the desk, paced around a bit longer before whirling back to face Shawn again.

"If I didn't know you and the people of your acquaintance, I'd be tossing you in detention simply because you know. But I feel that your Jedi honor would preclude you from letting anything slip other than what we decide should be slipped, and where, and to whom, and when.

"Am I right, Shawn?"

“You have my word that what has been said in confidence here, stays in confidence,” he then replied simply. “After all, it’s all fun and games and taking care of one another until you’ve got to think about what might be best for the entire galaxy.”

Pausing then, Shawn’s eyes defocused a little bit as he thought of what he had in fact done as a Jedi to protect a larger portion of people while not doing the one thing that perhaps some had never forgiven him for.

“You are talking to the Jedi who stayed on his mission while his twin sister was kidnapped from the Jedi Praxeum, after all. And the same Jedi that was on yet another mission that held import even the Jedi weren’t aware of yet when the Praxeum on Yavin IV was taken over.”

Shawn shook his head then, but at his own thoughts, and not at Sorben. “Kani’s decision was a knee-jerk one that was made before we really had enough information to know how to react. And now this...”

Here he trailed, raising his hands, palms upward, as if indicating the invisible set of circumstances like they were really tangible.

And as it stood, they were becoming more and more tangible by each passing moment.

"Her decision... and perhaps mine in letting her in on my change of heart. That my friend might come back to bite me."

I walked around the table now, letting him know my trust in him by placing one hand on his shoulder. Then I let it drop,.

"Unfortunately, I don't believe I can fully trust the young and entirely too hot-headed lieutenant, not after this. Now there are two Mandalorian ships headed our way; on one hand, they may be expecting to be welcomed with open arms, while on the other old suspicions might be skewing their rising hope and or trust, if indeed they are capable of entertaining these feelings at all. The slightest wrong blink at those ships, and they'll be out of the picture entirely, if not actively tossing in their lot with another upstart of a rebellion should that ever arise again."

I rubbed my face with my hand, suddenly weary to the bone.

And this isn't even the Prelude to the Suite...

A sudden and rather genteel chime announced the arrival of our meals. My aides and assistants were nothing if not thorough; I opened the door to reveal a heavily laden rolling table, chock full of good things to eat and better things to drink and gleaming silver and rising steam and the heady aroma of nerf steak l'flange. My watering mouth and rumbling stomach reminded me at that point just how hungry I was; I flipped another toggle and a hidden panel in the wall slid smoothly up, revealing a small, personal dining area.

White linen, gleaming silver, shining Alderaanian porcelain, the whole shebang.

I waved the porter, hidden but there behind the load he was pushing, toward the little niche, following that with another wave in Shawn's direction. I waited as he seated himself before taking my own, noting with a little smile that not one but two bottles of both Walkn'Fall and Whyrene's adorned the feast, accompanied by three bottles of our finest red blend.

I let the porter serve us, waited while he ferried the whiskeys to the sideboard, and with a stiff little bow trundled his table from the room. The door closed with a quiet whoosh in his wake, inviting us to begin.

I picked up the already uncorked wine, poured both Shawn and I a good glassful, then picked up my fork.

"I'm really not liking what I'm thinking I might have to do with Kani," I began, trying to pick up somewhere in the vicinity where we had left off.

"But she really does have a bad tendency toward jumping the gun, not to mention being the owner of a temper even hotter than Galen's ever was."

At least Galen's hot-headedness was tempered with an even measure of humor, combined with a good dose of logic, and sprinkled quite liberally with those amazing gut feelings she always seemed to have.

"No, I'm not liking it at all."

I put a hefty chunk of steak in my mouth, and chewed slowly, thoughtfully, giving Shawn time to think as well and hopefully provide me with another one of those Jedi insights of his.

“Kani’s been misguided, over and over again,” he observed once he took his first swallow and a sip of wine. “She’s been grappling between whether she should trust the Empire, the Jedi...or for that matter anyone in general, especially in the past few days. You’ve definitely won some of that trust, of that I am certain; I’ve ‘been in her head’ after all.”

Shawn paused then, taking another bite, his look deepening. “She does have some intense Force abilities. With that and the Night Whisperer training she has had I’m afraid she’s leaning to the dark side of things. She’s been trained to hate and mistrust; programmed to do so, even. The only things that are going to undo that are time and training; while I know I’ve gained her trust to some extent as well I don’t know if she’d trust me further with that. She has stated she was trained to almost a full Jedi Knight...

...but now I’m not even sure if the memories she has are truth or planted.”

Pausing to consider this, Shawn’s eyes turned a bit vague, concern clouding them. “She’s very confident in her skills, and proud of her heritage. This is going to be a slippery slope, and I don’t know if she’s ready to face that she might not be as invincible as she thinks.”

"Which," I waved my fork for emphasis. "She most certainly has not. In fact, while on Tatooine I had to demote her from her former rank of Major, and removed her from being my active aide because of her stepping entirely beyond her bounds in attacking you on Tatooine. I don't care what universe you come from, that behavior was totally non-befitting of an officer, especially a Major, and even less so for a Jedi. You saw.

"I'm telling you, Shawn, that young lady is a loose cannon. Yes, I realize she's been through personal hell... but if she's been trained to the near-Master level of Jedi as you suggest, shouldn't she be a bit more, ahhh... level-headed about things? Shouldn't it have gotten pounded into her head to look before she leaps?

"To think?

"No, I think you're right. I think that for whatever reason she's had some mighty nasty memories planted inside. By whom, and for what purpose, I haven't the slightest idea; any suggestions in this area would be welcomed so we could address that as well.

"As long as we're addressing everything else that we are.

"But, does this mean I should still give her the leeway I started giving her? Loose lips sink ships, as I briefly alluded earlier... but loose cannons blow them up altogether.

"Boom."

I took a drink of wine, and followed that with some Nabooan olives that were just sitting there, begging to be eaten.

Frowning a bit at this, Shawn then took another bite of nerfsteak, chewing it seriously as he considered who in fact would have done this to Kani. “As for who might have potentially planted memories in Kani, I can tell you she believes the Empire, or rather Actar, did it. I know that’s certainly possible, and I think you do too. After all, Actar managed to put Galen in some sort of mind cage at one point, a mind cage that only he was able to break. And I know this based on my first hand involvement at the time; I was there.”

Shawn shook his head, recalling that time, and not with any sort of fondness. “Still, I’m not certain why Actar, or anyone else for that matter, would have done this...”

He trailed, taking a bite of some sort of root vegetable as a possibility dawned on him. “...unless it’s because of the uniqueness of Kani’s Force ability. She’s a Force “siphon,” and is able to harness the abilities that one Jedi has to use for herself. For example, my primary Force gift is Healing, as is my sister’s. Kani is able to drain that ability from me and use it for herself; but the drain in turn can weaken whoever she siphons from. It’s a valuable asset, and a rare skill. And if used in a specific way, it can be deadly.”

Shawn looked across the table at Sorben, the look in his eyes shifting slightly. Knowing what he knew from his experience over the past few years, he had to point out another possibility.

“Now I have serious reservations regarding anything Actar has done, and he’s done some pretty abhorrent things. But I also know he’s not the only one who could have done something like this. After all, mind conditioning is about as old of a tactic when it comes to war as the galaxy is itself, and it doesn’t necessarily take any Force ability or magical power to do, just the right set of circumstances and skills to condition.”

Quieting at this, Shawn took a sip of wine as his eyes darkened, the very idea of it all disturbing him to his very core.

Nodding in general to what Shawn had said, I lifted my wine glass to take another sip even as I flipped the toggle next to the little light...

...only to freeze as words began scrolling across my screen. They remained there a moment, pulsing slightly as though to imprint them into every synapse my brain possessed before the words not only disappeared but the entire screen went black as well.

After a moment it returned to normal mode. After a couple abortive attempts, I finally managed to reach a hand to certain switches and toggles, flipped them in this sequence and that.

Nope. That particular message was dead and gone.

Except for where it was still burning across every aforementioned synapse in my brain.

"Holy Mother of Mynocks!"

The words just burst from my lips. I could not have stopped them any more than I could stop the suns from rising on Tatooine. Or the one here on Coruscant, even if we could see it for all the pollutants in the atmosphere.

I turned wide eyes Shawn's way.

"Khani's mother is... alive!" was all I could manage at the moment before trying to bring my shocked system into a semblance of normalcy in the pretty much chugging of the entirety of my glass of wine.

Which was immediately followed by a refill.

I raised the glass with shaking hand when a sudden thought struck me.

Shawn and I had been talking about a lot of things in this room that would easily have been interpreted; hell, outright seen to be treasonous. I had already told him that there were big ears everywhere.

Even, perhaps, here...

I held a hand up to Shawn, the other first placing a finger to my lips before waving it about in a manner encouraging idle chit-chat. He obliged, yammering about the quality of the wine, the flavor of the steak... all while I began a stealthy perusal of my very own ready room.

I found it hidden in the framework of the door to the dining area... on the inside.

Pulling it carefully away so not to disturb it in any fashion, I scrutinized the little thing closely, trying to determine which kind of...

"Stealth bug. Utilized by Night Whisper."

I sighed, then poked around more carefully. Thankfully, the thing proved to be only a simple recording device, not anything containing an active transmitter. I tossed it up in the air, let it fall, and then crushed it beneath my boot.

"And now, my Jedi friend," I went on, giving the room in its entirety an extremely thorough, final sweep before deeming it clean and regaining my seat. I took hold of my glass, and raised it to him.

"You must pardon the distractions. You were saying?"

...but now he sat there, practically frozen, his wine glass mid way between the table and his lips.

”Sithspawn!” he muttered, the look in his eyes dark. Were it not for the brown contacts in his eyes, his greeny-blues would have been encroaching on a storm in their depths.

“Not to be overly suspicious— although now, of all times, I think it’s most certainly warranted— but are you certain of your source?”

Shawn trailed for a moment, taking a long drink of wine, the glass now empty. “Oh Bloody Hell, who could have done this...

..and why? There are the obvious answers, of course: Actar or the Night Whispers themselves, who are clearly set to infiltrate and control the Jedi, per the Admiral’s orders as far as we know...”

Shawn fell silent again, an altogether troubling possibility coming to mind. “But then, I still don’t know why they would have told Kani her mother was dead and not have just done the deed if in fact it’s nothing more than they hate the Jedi, and simply wanted Kani’s skill as an asset to do their work.” He looked across the way at Sorben, not liking what he was about to say in the least. “I really, really hate to suggest this...

...but could the Mandalorians have set Kani up as a plant? I mean, if her mother is alive, and is a Force user as is Kani...”

Shawn paused, something of the Force niggling within in warning. Or perhaps in confirmation. “Kani’s mother has to know of this...”

He fell silent, a final mental addendum slamming home.

And she could very well be a part of it...

"Wait, wait, wait my friend," I said in a vain attempt to stem the flood of concern and speculation coming from the man. "I didn't get a chance to finish; I'm sorry, but the thought of being bugged crossing my mind tossed everything else into the ether."

I drew in a breath.

"Kani's mother has been found to be incarcerated... on Ambria. Records show she is alive, but in some kind of odd... coma."

I let that sink in, well recalling the words Shawn had spoken mere moments before concerning Actar's treatment of Galen.

My wife.

No.

No longer...

I pushed that aside, and went on. "My guess is that it's the same thing he did to Galen; since of course there is no one other than Actar who could possibly have done this sort of thing to Kani's mother. His reasoning behind it eludes me; I was never made privy to this information before now, but it simply had to have been him. Why he did this to Galen too, why he continued to pursue her so relentlessly eludes me further yet."

Not QUITE the entire truth, but enough of it for the moment.

"Suffice it to say that it happened... and somewhere in Actar's stronghold on Ambria, I believe the mother of an extremely angry young woman is laying in the same horrific mental confines Actar imposed upon Galen.

"Retrieving her is one thing. But removing this force... thing of Actar's is something that to my knowledge only Actar himself can do."

I sighed.

Indeed, it never rained but it poured.

“You know, back when I first started helping Terrin out, well before matters got complicated by alliances with the Sith that later seemed to fall by the wayside, he and I had this theory that was somewhat later confirmed,” he said, seemingly floating off topic. “Whatever happened the day that Jharmeen Jhin’Dar became Graysith, Galen was impacted as well by whatever changed her sister. This in turn gave her the “ability,” so to speak, to have babies that at the time Terrin and I simply thought were Force inherent.”

Shawn paused then, sending a meaningful look in Sorben’s direction. “I think you know as well as the rest of us do now that it’s far more than that. Actar, along with other nasties of either your aquantaince or mine or both, know the power potential of having access to someone who can have children like that...

...and also access to those children in order to train them up in the way they should go, so to speak.”

Shawn trailed, making a final connection then. “Kani is a Force siphon, another rare Force talent....

...and a deadly one. And here Actar has her mother on Ambria and in some sort of coma too; her mother who is also a Jedi and very capable of having more children of the same stock, for such skills in Force users, like traits in anyone else, are genetically linked.”

It made sense. It made total, complete and utter sense.

Actar's plan, to breed children able to siphon inherent strengths, to perhaps use Galen as mother of the children bred whose talent could then be siphoned off to...

To do what?

I nodded, emptying the first bottle of blend and then reaching for the second.

"This makes sense. But why the intermediary? If he can just use Galen as some sort of... breeding stock, why bother with using Kani's mother's possible siphoning genetics? Unless..."

The thought made me freeze.

"Unless he was planning on breeding a new kind of 'Force' user able to siphon off any attacker's possible abilities to thus strengthen their own. That one, using what power Galen's sister has, and what might be in Galen herself, would be invincible."

I paused, sending a steadying look Shawn's way.

"We can thank Khaandon that Actar never had the chance to complete this plan, if indeed it was his plan. He is... gone now.

"But..."

I froze, then voiced the one final speculation that was suddenly starting to grow to worrisome proportions.

"You don't suppose that he had a group under is command in this arena, do you? A group who might still be following his orders, even if he disappeared for days or weeks on end? He has been known to do so; Shawn.

"Do you think this might possibly be going on even as we speak... and do you think this group might be the Night Whisperers?

"AND what better reason to... plant Kani as my aide. I was, after all, married to Galen."

Shawn paused. Still love her, even...

He let his spoken statement rest a moment, again hoping he hadn’t crossed a line. Then he continued with, “As for Actar having a group out still doing his bidding in regards to whatever he was plotting with people like Kani’s mother and Galen, I’d bet a lot of money that is in fact the case. And that the Night Whispers could be the ones, as well. After all...”

He quieted again, waving a hand expansively around the room, and then pointing down to the floor in the direction of the crunched survelliance bug. “And to add to all this darkening speculation, how convenient is it that Galen is off on a Mandalorian ship, one that was probably acquired by her somehow through Kani’s grandfather...

...and one that is now stranded out somewhere inoperable in space. Is this merely a cocincidence...

....or is something else far darker at work here?” He frowned then, the look in his eye clearly concerned. “I don’t really believe in coincidence, but either way it means an Imperial ship is hopefully at some point soon going to find that ship...

...but it’ll leave Galen in harm’s way, should there be an active group out there still trying to do what we think Actar may have been trying to do...

..delivering her potentially right into their hands, Night Whisperers or not.”

Shawn’s look darkened. This was getting worse all the time. His final thought escaped his lips before he could stop it. “If anything like that happens, and Terrin finds out I even suspected something, he’ll never forgive me.”

"Galen is not going to be delivered to Night Whisperers, if indeed they are involved to the degree we think they may be. After all, we are operating on some fact and a lot of speculation; but of one thing you can rest assured, and that is Galen's safety.

"And that of the crew of Challenger as well, should push come to shove. I'm going to do everything in my power to make certain they don't become the collateral damage I spoke of earlier.

"I need them as friends and allies; I can only hope that they will one day be able to realize the reasons I was following the course circumstances demanded I follow."

“I can act as a buffer, if need be,” he then said, pausing a moment to raise a hand to ward off any rising concern, “I know, I know. Again, what has been stated here, stays here. I’ve kept my share of secrets over the past few years. I am a person of mutual trust, however,” he then added.

Letting that statement speak for itself for a few moments- for in fact, Shawn Petrolu had kept his share of secrets regarding the Sith, the Darker Realms, and abilities far greater than his to tap into the Force- he finally reached out to refill his wine glass, taking another sip then along with another bite of food. Only then did he continue.

“But regarding Kani and how to handle the current situation with her? I am a Jedi Master, and I can help ascertain what is truth and what has been planted within her. And with what we now know regarding her mother, I’m certain she’s going to need facts and guidance. If her anger and tendency towards acting before she thinks is going to be dealt with, I do believe that will start with nothing more than the truth, from those that she has developing trust in.”

Shawn paused then, taking a bite of food, considering the potential best course of action with Kani as he did so. “Still, the information we now have could certainly set her off the deep end, and that we most certainly do not need right now. I’m afraid timing, at least until we ascertain exactly what the Mandalorians are up to and how involved Kani may potentially be, is going to be key.”

Kani’s eyes shot open, she had been in a meditative trance almost akin to a Jedi healing trance. Because she was still not in full control of her abilities, she didn’t dare enter that state of semi consciousness. If her unique abilities ran amok without her having the proper mental barriers in place to prevent her from harming innocent people, well she didn’t want to think of that. The voice she heard she thought it came from the mask itself but then she realized it was coming from within her mind. Scanning the room it appeared oddly vacant of activity, no people milling about, no droids monitoring patients, even the patients… That was until Kani reached out with the Force and found them all there, but they were frozen in place, some one, no something had stopped their movement. Kani tried to open a comm to well anyone and found the controls to be dead.

That won’t work. We wanted this meeting to be private NW-1154 or should we all you Harbinger.

She knew that name, she had heard it several times in the past but for the life of her she couldn’t place it. From behind one of the bacta tanks emerged a figure, one she also knew from somewhere. Though in armor of a sort the figure look human or near human in silhouette but when she reached out to get a better feel she found she was blocked from reading him. Though he was masked somehow Kani knew that it was smirking at thwarting her attempt to read him. It raised a finger and offered her a wagging motion in mocking chastisement, the hand then opened palm out and Kani was slammed into the back of the tank pinned by an invisible force.

What the hell is this, how can he use the Force on me and I can’t see it?

Again she knew that the man before her had the biggest grin behind the mask at the bewilderment building in Kani. Every tactic she tried was suppressed, no canceled out Kani saw. To every attempt an exact and equally opposite effect was employed effectively nullify her powers. Through this ever fruitless attempt of tug-of-war Force powers Kani realized the top seal of the tank opened and a pair of hands descending into the bacta and grasping her by the temples. With iron like grip they clamped on compelling her to look ahead at the first figure while she felt pressure building in the back of her mind.

“While impressive that you broke free it is most unfortunate that we lose such an asset… for now. Its funny to tell you any of this considering that soon you won’t remember any of it but alas orders are orders. Harbinger they are lying to you, and we, well we still have plans for you.

He retreated toward the door way resting his hand on an alarm klaxon before nodding. A wave of pain washed over Kani as she felt something boring into her mind rummaging through her thoughts and ransacking the place. As quick as it began it ended with Kani being dropped back into the tank her vision slowly fading to black. The first figure now joined by the second and together the pair exited the room tripping the klaxon as they left. Every one else began moving again as if nothing happened but turned their heads toward the now blaring klaxons, and preparations to evacuate their patients. Kani meanwhile kept on sinking and before the black overtook her she reached out to any mind that could listen to her mental call.

“Harbinger…”

The lights in my ready room immediately dimmed from their normal illumination to red, while digital readouts inset along the walls both top and bottom flared into flaming life, the top ones pulsing red-to-black-to-red, the bottom remaining steady to provide an easily seen escape route to the doorway. Simultaneously, the alarm klaxon filled the air with its teeth-gritting, stomach-coiling, warning blare.

I shot Shawn a look as intense as the ice field suddenly forming in my gut, then shot to my feet.

"Come with me," I said tersely, about to make tracks toward the door when with a final electronic burp the klaxons shut the hell up, followed nanoseconds later by the flaming lights. Lighting returned to normal and relative silence resumed.

Other than the continued alarm blasts still ringing in my ears, that is; altering my vector now I moved with alacrity to my desk, slammed open the comm channel to HQ.

He wasn't in error. The first transmission, coming on the very heels of the initial alert, was from General Tarnus.

The lieutenant took a nanosecond to study his board.

"Current situation accounted for to a degree that we can return to general quarters per standard protocols, Sir. What we have been able to ascertain at this time is that the alarm was triggered in Imperial Medical Center 1A, deep intensive care unit."

"Troops are currently investigating, Sir, but it appears that there is nothing untoward going on at this time. It is possible the alarm was triggered by a power surge of unknown origin; Engineers are currently engaged in following up on this angle.

"Sir."

He was about to send off the reply to General Tarnus when one of the replies coming in to HQ triggered a blinking red light, indicating something was definitely not status quo. He opened it, read the words scrolling across the screen, took a look at the image which followed, and attached it to the reply he was readying for the general.

"New information has come in from deep intensive care room 115; images taken by security cameras show that room was entered by two unknowns. Patient visitor logs show no such entry being acknowledged there.

"I am sending this to you now, Sir."

With that he sent the transmission, then immediately returned to his boards, checking to see if any other supplemental, pertinent information would be forthcoming from elsewhere within the hulking base, information which he would have on immediate hand to give to General Tarnus when the man responded to his reply. Which he knew he would.

But so far, all other incoming transmissions were continuing in lock-step agreement with each other:

All clear.

I read the reply quickly, then pushed another switch. Immediately the words on my screen disappeared, only to be replaced by a photo image of room 115 of the Deep Intensive Care unit in Imperial HQ Hospital section 1A.

Just off-center and to the right was a bacta tank. Hanging quietly within was the nearly-silhouetted form of my young, hot-headed Twi'lek assistant, Kani Jetii'sad. Scattered about portions of the periphery were the feet of hospital beds, all occupied.

I frowned, for nothing seemed to be worrisome at all in that photo. I pushed the same button; now that image disappeared only to be replaced with another taken a short period of time afterward. Now I was shown a dark foot coming in from at about 345 degrees relative to the center of the image. Other than that, nothing.

I pressed the button, and was obliged again. Now said foot was clearly seen to be attached to a dark, shadowy humanoid, who clearly seemed to be on a bearing heading straight to Kani's bacta tank. I frowned, punched the button again.

On and on, each time the images shown at a few seconds interval. I watched as this unknown approached the bacta tank, winced in sudden and completely unexpected empathy as Kani's already beaten body was shown apparently slammed brutally against the back of the tank, then shown up higher against its back wall, frowned with both consternation and absolute fury as in yet another photo gloved hands were shown reaching inside the tank and grasping her by the head.

The next image showed two shadows, now heading for the door. The final one, nothing but the limp form of Lt. Kani Jetii'sad now sunk down a bit more deeply in the tank, still apparently unconscious.

I quickly opened a little drawer, took out a small but portable drive, and copied the series of images directly to it. I repeated this with another drive, this one which I handed to Shawn.

"Guard that with your life, my friend," I said tersely before with a flick of my finger erased the message in its entirety, following with a deep cleanse I sure even Night Whisper couldn't overcome.

I then opened another channel to Control.

"Keep me apprised. General Tarnus, out."

I then turned to Shawn.

"The game suddenly got more complex, my friend, but it certainly does look like Night Whisper is up to something. Unless there's another deep security spy department I'm unaware of.

"I'm not liking this at all. Kani's mother alive. General Swatzi assassinated, but perhaps now not at Actar's hand. Those two were like this," I held up a fist, two fingers crossed. "It really doesn't make any sense for him to kill Swatzi at all. Actar did have plans for the Galaxy; for as long as I knew him I knew that in his own way he wanted what was best for the people. He wasn't acting like the stereotyped Emperors of old, who were under the auspices of the 'Sith,' a people we now know were not true Sith but rogue Jedi gone bad."

I rubbed a tired hand down my face.

"There might be another connection between them and the Night Whisperers. I know for a fact that there were those calling themselves 'Darths' adhering to the old ways scattered about here and there, remaining relatively quiet but all seemingly trying to bring things back to the way they were in the days of Palpatine. One 'Darth Wicked' stands out in particular, one of personal acquaintance to me. The only difference was that in the days of Palpatine the 'Sith' went by stiff adherence to operating only in pairs. It may be that they have changed their modus operandi, my friend. I don't know if this speculation is correct or off in left field.

"What I do know now, more than ever, is that I don't dare give Kani the opportunity to run rogue. I think she has already unwillingly given out the very thing I'm trying to keep under tabs; Shawn I may have to reveal what's happening sooner than planned. I had hoped to use the discovery of Galen being in that Mandalorian ship as reasoning behind me taking control. I may not have the luxury of time any longer; damn, but I hope they find that ship soon!

I straightened, motioned Shawn come with me.

"Hot-headed or not, Kani needs to be with us. She needs to know that I trust her. I was annoyed as hell at her blabbing a bit more to the Mandalorians when all she was ordered to do was set up a meeting between them and us. However, this now can more than likely be used to our advantage.

"I want to be there when she regains consciousness. Let's go."

With no further ado, I opened the door to my ready room and nodded to the pair of guards standing there. Standard protocol would have had more guarding my room during a base-wide emergency; I approached the gold-pauldroned one and ordered him to recall his men.

They hadn't gone far; soon the sound of booted footsteps announced the arrival of a squad of them.

"I want this door guarded!" I barked. "As well as the entirety of my ready room. And the dining niche as well.

"Absolutely no one is to enter; keep me apprised if anyone approaches with the slightest excuse to do so."

The leader nodded, then barked orders in turn to his men. The door opened, and at least twelve honest and loyal stormtroopers entered, aligning themselves about the room in a pattern meant to keep every single millimeter of it under constant watch, while simultaneously watching each other's backs. The door to the dining niche slid open, to be guarded jealously by yet another pair.

Satisfied that my ready room would be safe in my absence, I hastened along under the protection of yet four more, hurrying Shawn along with me.

Shawn Petrolu, Jedi Master, trained in the use of the Force since he was barely older than a toddler, heard the call. While Sorben tended to what was needed in regards to securing the safety of the Imperial base, Shawn sensed outward, easily identifying the call’s source, more confirmation coming as Sorben went through the images sent from the intensive care unit. Shawn took the the drive that the other man handed him, placing it safely within a pocket of the nerfskin coat he wore...

...not far from the lightsaber he yet carried on his person. All the while he was yet listening intently to Sorben’s words. The “Sith” that Sorben was referencing...

....Shawn knew well of them. And although Shawn couldn’t be sure, there was something somewhat familiar about those two shadowy figures.

And considering what he and Sorben had speculated could be going on in relation to Kani and her mother...

Hurrying along beside Sorben to the intensive care unit, Shawn took a moment to stretch out to Kani. Even in her unconsciousness, he could feel the inward turmoil and confusion. Despite his now apparent calm and collected exterior, Shawn frowned slightly at this, troubled.

The frown didn’t last long, however, as his face shifted into utter, impassive composure. In transit, he would say nothing anyway since at the moment it was still speculation and, as Sorben had been so wont to say in the past couple of hours, there were too many eyes and ears around them.

Besides, what they really needed at the moment were facts. In not too long a span of time, Shawn and Sorben entered the med center, proceeding along then until they came to a specific area and the intensive care unit with a bacta tank in its center. Within its bubbling depths was the somehow weighted down and unconscious form of Kani Jetiis’ad.

Shawn’s eyes darkened with empathy, his senses keenly attuned to not only what was going on in that bacta tank, but also to all that was going on around them.

Nothing untoward outward. But within Kani...

Shawn outwardly maintained total composure, turning marginally to Sorben. Cocking a brow in the other man’s direction, Shawn raised one pointer finger, just barely touching it against the side of his own forehead before minimallly pointing it towards the unconscious Kani, and then back to his forehead once more before smoothly moving his hand back to his side with a waggle of his brow as he did so.

"Please state the nature of your inquiry," it asked politely enough.

I turned to face it directly, now indicating Kani's bacta tank with a wave of my hand.

"It had been reported that Phase One of Lt. Jetii'sad's therapy had been completed," I began easily, then letting my hand drop. "This lieutenant is my... aide; I need to know how soon I might expect her to be recovered enough to report back for active duty."

The unit gave me an electronic stare, then moved to a small keyboard on the side of the tank. His jointed, mechanical fingers moved like lightning, and soon a virtual monitor appeared upon the glassine, glowing a beautiful shade of teal. Everything about it was that beautiful shade of teal other than one small dot which was blinking fiery red to draw as much attention to itself as it possibly could.

The droid reached out and touched the dot; script began scrolling beside it too fast for either Shawn or me or any human for that matter to follow along. At length it stopped, the dot disappeared, and the monitor returned to its beautiful and quite uniform shade of teal once again.

The A-1 unit turned to me.

"Lt. Jetii'sad is recuperating nicely during this second, but longer phase. Her injuries were severe, but not incurable other than a loss of vision in one eye."

I shot Shawn a somewhat surprised glance at this, raised an eyebrow and waggled it right back at him, indicating clearly that this little wrinkle needed greater explanation than what the med-droid was currently supplying. Just not at this particular moment.

The med-droid had been going on about this nerve bundle stimulation and that muscular ligament reattachment when the quite singular words he was now stating caught my ear, and I focused completely on him again.

"There is indication of something I cannot exactly describe as anything other than being some sort of direct cortical stimulation. This stimulation, of unknown origins for it certainly is not in her recovery prescription, occurred approximately 6 standard minutes ago. That is what the alert sigil you more than likely noted was all about; I have given her current EKG full scans, and have found nothing out of the ordinary at this moment in time, other than some increased activity in the pain centers of her parietal lobe, which is to be expected considering the extent of damage she received and the length of treatment she needs for her recovery."

It paused then, and cocked its metal head to one side. Damn but someone had programmed this thing well!

"I expect her to be recovered enough for active duty in two more standard days." It paused a moment more.

"However, this portion of Phase Two implementation ends in another five standard minutes," it finished helpfully before falling into robotic silence.

I shot Shawn a glance, resisting the urge to cross my arms.

"We'll wait," I said.

Direct cortical stimulation? Not part of the treatment? Oh Fates...

Shawn pursed his lips a bit as he considered this, not liking the way things sounded in the slightest. He couldn’t help but look over to Kani’s bacta tank, his eyes growing a bit distant as he mentally assessed her physical state as best he could without looking too...

...Jedi.

Shawn was keenly aware that she was per the moment unconscious, and felt that she might be for a little while yet. He was also keenly aware that, although there was nothing seemingly untoward now, that she had recently been distressed, to the point of calling out in the Force.

Harbringer...

It was the sensation of weightlessness that she first remembered that and a viscous fluid flowing off of her skin. She had no frame of reference for what was happening just a pounding headache as she tried to make sense of the hazy world around her. Kani was vaguely aware of thing moving around her, one removing the electrodes fitted to her body another taking away the mask that still clung to her face. Once free of all the medical contraptions and probes she drew in a series of steadying breaths to center herself.

“What… where…” Kani asked in Mando’a.

The world began to transform, blurry shapes regained their sharp edges. Incoherent sound began to take the form of speech. It was difficult to make out at first but slowly she recognized it as Galactic Basic.

More, she needed more information.

She stretched out her awareness, feeling the two lifeforms in front of her. Both familiar but also escaping her as to why, and from one she felt a strong connection to the Force. The weightless sensation began to vanish as she went horizontal being placed onto some flat surface. More figures moved about applying different sensors, different leads still without answering her in a way she understood.

My head is on fire, what just happened.

Kani raised both of her hand to her face rubbing at her eyes in a vain attempt to will away the throbbing pain at the back of her skull. Little by little the world came into focus as she blinked away the haze, with a final shake of her head enough of the proverbial cobwebs in her mind cleared away that she could finally get a clear look at the room. It was a medical facility of some kind, of that much Kani was certain. She felt that she should know the place but something was missing, context for how she knew that fact. The droid which she could now make out continued to move about, clearly staying out of the way of the two humans that Kani now recognized. Or at least she thought she did until she couldn’t place them into any frame of reference. All of this made her head hurt even more than before.

For I didn't like the way Kani was regaining consciousness. Not one bit.

It wasn't supposed to happen like this...

I thought to what the Class 1 med-droid had said about cortical stimulation, about how her pain centers had been triggered into suddenly increased activity, and my frown deepened. It didn't take a rocket scientist to know that something was rotten in Dantooine.

Laying a reassuring hand on the young gal's arm, I gave the fussing nurse even more to squawk about. I didn't acknowledge the mechanical minion in the slightest, but simply stood there quietly, looking down into Kani's now opened eyes. Which were suddenly wide and wondering and in a very uncomfortable way...

Vacant.

I squeezed her arm again, then let my hand drop. "Easy, soldier," I said, trying to make my voice as soothing as I could. I was never much of a mother nek, of course, but I tried.

"You've been though..." I paused, remembering what the droid had rattled off so blithely as if reading me the morning's newscast.

"Hell. But you're on the road to recovery now. Can you tell me what happened, Lt. Jet- that is, Kani?"

Taking a moment to shoot Shawn a shushing glance, I then fell quiet myself, giving Kani a chance to speak.

“I was in… I mean was doing… or was it…”

The confidence she displayed earlier suddenly vanished as she struggled to answer the question. She was absolutely certain that she had the answer, that she should have known the answer. Her expression began to fill with horror as she turned to the speaker then to the mans companion. Kani couldn’t place how she knew them, the knowledge wasn’t there that should have been. However on an emotional level she had, did know these people, she trusted them. A sinking feeling began to grow in the pit of her stomach as the mental pain continued to throb.

“Who… Where…” Kani asked.

She looked between the pair back and forth scanning for a hint of a clue to what was happening. Their stoic responses betrayed little for her to go on and the growing silence was becoming more unsettling. It wasn’t the fact she didn’t know that began to frighten her. It was the fact that she knew, She Knew that she should.