"Stand by," Bes'in said.

Taking control of the comm station Bes'in sent a short coded message out on a low band radio frequency, one not used or tracked by most people any more. His clan was not most people. Bes'in stood waiting knowing that all with the exception of Kyan would be in awe of what they were about to see.

The field of snow that surrounded the glacier began to shimmer and dissolve revealing a valley of fertile farmland and one ever conspicuously large structure. All of this was under overlapping domes of several energy shields that could undoubtedly handle a sustained barrage from orbit. In time that too discover away, leaving those on board standing in silence. That silence was only broken when a voice came back over the comms.

"Challenger vessel this is Cuy'val Dar control, We have cleared you to land on pad seven landing lights have been activated. Cuy'val Dar control out."

On cue a ring of lights on the main structure lit up revealing where the Challenger was to land.

Terrin's thoughts were jarred from any wandering thoughts he was having regarding what they were about to do...

...and what Galen was potentially up to that she wasn't telling him about...

...when Bes'in unveiled Kyrimorut to them.

Somehow managing to keep his jaw from hitting the floor, Terrin glanced about a little at the others reactions, noting looks of surprise and awe on their faces as well. Galen, who had been remarkably taciturn and unreadable...

...too much so....

even had a look of surprise on her face.

Terrin turned back to the forward view as Yaoksi began piloting his way towards the ring of lights. He shook his head, again in awe.

Not.

That not-ness jerked me back to reality, and I shivered.

"I think I'll stay home and mind the ship," I muttered as I played around with a few buttons and switches on my boards, and in the doing not only telling Challenger to remain on standby mode but to take off and return to Coruscant, should I, for whatever reason, not program her to do otherwise by the end of a certain time-frame.

I heaved a barely perceptible sigh of satisfaction, the deed having been done, when I thought of something else. It didn't take much to program in the command for the drive to overheat and melt all primary, sensitive circuits and thruster components into less than slag if I didn't key in a particular sequence that only I knew... or didn't at particular time intervals key in portions of that final sequence.

Everyone was so quick to leap to join this warrior bunch, and maybe in the heat of the moment so was I... but now that we're here, and I can see the kind of technology they have, well...

I don't want to be the one to for one reason or another let them have something they just might NOT already have. What is ours, IS OURS.

And we just might be needing her to get the hell out of here in a great big hurry.

Master Kyan was standing in comfortable quiet, as if waiting for all of us to exhale.

Little Link was busy doing something with the boards in front of her, trying to look as though disappearing glaciers were commonplace for her... but I could sense the bit of uncomfortable awe slipping out from behind her tough facade.

Captain Joao at first gawked with the best of us, but then seemed to physically jerk himself away to do something with the myriad controls on the board in front of him. I wasn't sure, but I thought I saw him smile a little then, as if almost in relief.

And Terrin...

Oh dear Khaandon, forgive me, Terrin...

...was standing there, looking awed right alongside Captain Joao, but through that awe I could clearly sense discomfort laced with a tinge of unhappiness.

I knew it was because of me.

I drew in a breath, reached out, took his hand and squeezed it.

Trust me, my love...

I didn't dare say anything. I just let my body drift against his, let my head lay for a moment against the assurety of his strength...

...and then pulled away.

"Master," I then said, turning to the calm and quiet Kyan, giving him the honorific though I suddenly knew we both knew he could not truly teach me; only Someone Else could...

...and the plans he suspected she had and wasn't sharing.

Now's the time to tell what kind of a husband you are going to be after getting a more than simply rare chance at it, Captain, a little voice whispered.

He turned and looked her over as she spoke to Kyan, taking in her dear features, and realizing perhaps now more than he ever had that he loved her for every single one of them.

And more than anything for those which were unseen.

She was strong, determined, and wise beyond her years.

And she is relying on you not only to trust her, but to use your own discretion on when to intervene. The former you were able to do in the past, but the latter...

Terrin shook himself from these thoughts, and quite consciously reached a hand out, placed it on her shoulder, and gave a reassuring squeeze. Then he stepped away, in a motion which he hoped indicated the trust he had in her...

...as well as the intentions he had to always be there, whether nearby or from a bit further off.

This time things would not be the same...

This is not the time to prod, she’s not like your other ad’ika she came into your life as an adult let her make her own decisions.

Not fully satisfied with his own internal justifications Kyan reluctantly pushed them aside to focus on more important matters.

“Ba’vod’ika,” Kyan said. “These people I brought can be trusted and I personally assure you that they will not betray what our clan has worked to achieve. If you can listen to what they have to say and trust that everything they say is the truth.”

Turning to Terrin, Link, and Yaoksi Kyan addressed them next.

“I will also personally vet Bes’in for the Coalition, be honest and truthful with him. You don’t need to hold back when it comes to the Vong or the Sith, he has seen enough to believe anything you have to say about them.”

Kyan turned back to Bes’in and layed a hand on Galen’s shoulder.

“Done Ky’ika,” answered Bes’in. “We have done much since you have been away, we are now ready the Paladins are ready. Take a Tor I’ll have one of my warriors lead you there but first Kani finished the armor before she left. Yours is badly out of date take a little time to see her work while we get the ship ready.”

Bes’in could ready the surprise from Kyan even through his armor at the mention of Kani finishing the armor. Even Bes’in was surprised that Kani succeeded where her own mother and Kyan’s wife had failed in the past. He also didn’t miss the hurt from Kyan at the mention of Kani’s name.

“Don’t worry about Kan’ika,” Bes’in said. “We haven’t forgotten about her, we will do everything to bring her home.”

As Bes’in finished speaking a small group of Mandalorians walked up to the base of the Challenger’s boarding ramp waiting for instructions from Bes’in. He sent them a short message relaying what he told Kyan and received an acknowledgement on his HUD. Then in a move that would surprise anyone not familiar with Mandalorian culture he placed both his hands on Kyan’s shoulders then game him a small head butt helmet to helmet. Then he turned his back to Kyan to address the others while Kyan and Galen left out the back to meet with the warriors outside the vessel.

"Ummm... shall we, then?"

I forced something of a tight-lipped smile across my face, partially so due to the inanity of that statement but more so to keep locked tightly behind it the knowledge of what wheel I might be setting into motion in the next few hours.

I drew a breath and then, as it didn't appear anyone else was going to take the lead, headed to the opened hatch to disembark. There I paused a moment, though, to take in the sight of the hidden city-base stretching out before me, the clean lines of it underscored by the towering peaks which protected its flanks. My gaze was then drawn to the helmeted figures who stood firm and tall at the edge of the ramp, waiting for us to join them. I moved aside as the figure of this Bes'in boarded Challenger and partook of an apparent ritual with Kyan before turning toward the others, even as Kyan joined me and then began heading down to where the warriors waited.

I shrugged inwardly, and trailed a couple steps behind.

In for a credit...

For the moment.

Looking towards Bes'in's t-shaped visor, Terrin opened with what he hoped was the most honest and understandable answer to the question which had been presented.

"Things are happening which we as a group have knowledge of, things which will present a great threat to the galaxy as a whole. We have reason to believe, based on some of our experiences, that the Yuuzhan Vong are returning to our Galaxy...

...and that this time they are combined with Forces who are more than strong enough to destroy us all. There is a Force out there, something Dark and Foreboding, that we cannot identify but which my wife Galen has sensed with the Force and with powers she has that are beyond even the Force," he stated, choosing for the moment to leave explanation of the All for perhaps another time. "It is Dark and Evil, and far more than anything we can really describe or even understand at this point...

...but it is a very powerful entity."

Terrin trailed, feeling suddenly inadequate to really explain clearly what all was occurring. "We have also encountered forces from other Realms, from those of Death, who we also believe may be in league with the Vong."

He paused once more, shaking his head. "And to add to all of this, the Sith who this Galaxy knows are merely Dark Jedi who defeated a race, who are the true Sith...

...who are, like all others, some good and some not so much. Those who are not may also be in league with the Vong and these Darker forces...

...and they have powers and magicks of their own. We need allies who are willing to believe what I will admit is unbelievable, and who are willing to fight against what is incoming and with us if and when the time comes. I can tell you more of what I know, for there is quite a lot to be told...

“When your Ad’ika was captured by the empire we brought her possessions here from Old Kyrimorut. Let us know when you are ready and I’ll take you two to the main hanger where we keep out Tor frigates.”

With that the Mandalorians moved away establishing a perimeter while Kyan and Galen were left to themselves. Kyan knowing how anxious Galen was to leave entered the warehouse with her hitting the lights. The warehouse was mostly empty at one corner was an anvil and a hammer used to forge armor plates another end had a workbench with an assortment of electronics for assembling armor. In the back were racks of weaponry, some firearms, some lightsabers, and various bladed weapons of diverse lengths. Featured prominently in the center of the warehouse were 3 sets of Mandalorian armor, but none Kyan had ever seen.

“Mandalorian Paladin Armor,” Kyan simply said.

He could sense a feeling of curiosity coming from Galen at the vagueness of his statement and the prominently featured armor. In middle was a tall set of armor, black in color with gold colored trim and featuring an insignia of a crossed lightsaber and Mandalorian saber on its breastplate. This set was obviously for Kyan. To its left was a similar set of armor with a green paint job with gold trim and matching insignia, it lacked a helmet but it looked like it was made for someone the size of Prycia his oldest daughter so likely it would fit Kani his granddaughter. The third set of armor was what intrigued him the most.

It was designed for a female human or someone near human species, deep red in color with matching gold trim and insignia. The problem with it was there was no one Kyan could think of that Kani would make a set of armor for in this size for a human. Looking closer he could begin to see the armor had a faint glow to it that his new vision could sense, not just an outline of an inanimate object. Realizing what he was seeing was the effects of the Force that Kani must have unconsciously channeled to make the armor Kyan theorized that Kani made the third set of armor possible as a nudging of the Force.

“Gal’ika,” Kyan said pointing to the red set of armor. “That set is your armor. We are taking it with is, and wear it if you want to. Give me a moment to get in gear.”

“I’ll be upfront,” answered Bes’in. “I believe what you are saying is true, my own sources of information say as much about the vong. And there are enough rumors running about these dark powers you talk about to lend it creditability. But you haven’t answered my question what do you need.”

He gave only a moment for Terrin to think on his words before continuing again.

Bes’in didn’t go into great length of specifics about what he meant by full natural lives, it was fairly common knowledge nowadays that the Kaminoans accelerated their ageing process.

“Kal Skirata used the money to help establish lives here for the clones,” Bes’in continued. “We had to teach many their heritage and culture, many of the commandos he personally trained were adopted into his family. Along with a Jedi who abandoned the Jedi order, even me a droid. In time we began to include many other clones as members of our clan and our numbers grew. Eventually many began to have children; most of us are not biologically related to Kal Skitata but sons of clones. Even Kyan is the son of a clone; his mother is a clone of Arla Fett, the sister of Jango Fett. Now days Clan Skirata numbers in the tens of thousands one of the largest clans.”

“At first we were content to be free of the Empire and the Jedi, but time changed that. We saw countless examples of how our mercenary was detrimental to Mandalorian society. Sure we could defend ourselves from invasion but at heavy cost with each incursion. We needed a change; Kyan, myself, and several other clan members saw the need for a deterrent force. Quietly we reached out to other clans with our plan to train a Mandalorian Special Forces, if you will. That’s what this place is, we are the Mandalorian Paladins.”

Bes’in turned to leave only stopping to call back over his shoulder.

He turned a sidelong glance towards the others who came with him, arching an eyebrow as if to indicate his growing interest in what Bes'in was about to show them, for he most certainly became more and more intrigued with just the little bit that he had already told.

“Go ahead,” called Link. “I have something to take care of real quick. I’ll meet you outside in a minute.”

She waited until she heard the pair descend the boarding ramp, then she turned in her chair to face Yaoksi.

Finally I spoke: "Look, I know I was right there with everybody when we discussed coming here," I began. "But we're here now, it's different, and... well, I dunno."

I turned back to the console, glanced at the display lights. All were green as proverbial grass: Challenger was still quietly settling into standby mode, and if she had any complaints about her potential suicide she wasn't letting me know anything about it.

I swiveled back to Link again, uncrossed my leg and gave her an earnest look.

"Look, these are guys who not only stuck closely to themselves throughout history, but did so during the time the Empire was taking over the Galaxy. Where were they when the Jedi were being killed off? Where were they when the Senate was disbanded, the senators assassinated?

"Where were they when the Resistance needed them most?"

My console dinged quietly at me; still staring Link straight in the eye I reached out and keyed in a code. A blinking yellow light returned to green as Challenger settled down again.

"It's true we weren't aware of this until, well... just now, actually. In fact, I thought they'd died off or dispersed or something; nothing much was known about them to begin with, you know. They've always had a closed door policy, so who the hell ever really knew what was going on with this world? I really thought we'd come here, and would have to aggressively persuade them into helping us; the first red flag started waving when this glacial valley turned into their city. Damn, Link; what the Impys wouldn't give for technology like that! AND they just show it to us!"

I stopped again, drew in a deep breath.

"Look, I know this ship is probably nothing in comparison. But I need a little bit more than words before I just stroll on out of here and leave her alone. For all I know their "closed doors" remain closed because nothing gets out of here. Someone finds this place, be it by accident or design, and wham! The hammer falls, the pieces tidily swept up, and the rest of the Galaxy doesn't have a clue."

I gave her a searching look, hoping to find a semblance of mutual agreement. Fates knew that with the life she's led up until joining in with our little band she's developed the ability to look at all sides of a situation, both sides of the coin, if you will.

If only to simply survive.

Mandalorian armor... for me. But how--?

I didn't know what to think, what to say. Guessing that the smartest thing at this point was to just keep my mouth shut, I moved to the set Kyan had pointed to and stopped before it.

It was the deep, rich color of a gemstone, picked out in shining gold, and just sat there beckoning to me like a siren from the wildest sea ever imagined. I could feel it's pull tugging at me even as part of me wanted with equal intensity to back away from it's mysterious beauty.

I don't need this...

A shiver ran through me as that thought, clearly not one of my normal "hunches," winged violently through me, coming in from right field, so to speak, adding an additional element of surprise to the turmoil of emotions now suddenly flooding my body.

Where did that come from?

I paused, hand still stretched out toward the armor, not touching, just holding back about an arm's length. Time suddenly seemed to expand; my vision tunneled, narrowing down until all I could see was that beautiful, if helmet-less, set. All around was deep, dark, blankness; as if reality was indeed but a dream and if I touched this work of art would simply -- poof! -- disappear and I would wake up to find...

I shivered again; reality returned. The armor sang an even more insidious song. It hit me then, the Flow Walk; the person in that other set of armor had been me. THIS was what I had been wearing, when Kyan faced his death at the hands of...

What? Who?

An army of geese began marching up and down my spine then, raising the flesh into their usual little bumps. I drew in another, deeper breath, and paused to think this thing over. Do I refuse the obvious honor of this armor? For great honor it was indeed, all wrapped up in Kyan's personal clan, his own personal pain, his own emotions. And then to be offered to me, an Outsider -- the Mandalorians had a word for that, damned if I could remember what it was -- well... To refuse it would be more than a slap in the face. But to take it --

Could be part of a series of events set into motion that would culminate in Kyan's death.

I took the tiniest step backward, letting my outstretched hand fall quietly to my side. But then I stopped, thinking further.

Galen, you can accept the honor by accepting this gift. Put it on; it might come in handy some day. But should the time come...

You can always take it off.

Something waned within me. Something I couldn't put a finger on quieted. From off to the side I heard the sound of footsteps; a quick glance out of the corner of my eye confirmed my first thought that it was Kyan heading back to me.

Snorting at myself then, I snatched up the armor and began putting it on. It wasn't as easy as I first thought; there were invisible connections and straps and the like which I assumed when properly affixed would hold this thing of beauty to me like glue. But in my fumbling about, it felt like iron.

Strong hands came from behind me to assist. In moments I was clad in wonder, the expected stiffness fading before the reality of its almost silky-smooth fit against my body. I clenched my hand; it didn't even feel as if it wore a glove. I couldn't help smiling; then turned round to face Kyan.

"That is the issue isn't it," commented Link. "Where were they? I suppose it falls under the same questions I have been asking my entire life. Where was the Republic when I was sold into slavery? Where were the Jedi when corrupt police tried to hunt me down for running away?"

She could see those remarks hurt Yaoksi, Link was the quintessential example of those who the system had failed.

"Everyone has their own priorities and biases." said Link. "Both Bes'in and Kyan told us what the Empire has done to their people, and look at these scans we took coming in."

Link pulled up the sensor data on her terminal pointing out the few settlements that they had detected on their way in. Largely the planet was uninhabited wilderness, and what settlements they saw would only qualify as outlying towns on most rim worlds.

"From what I've seen the defences of this place would be hard to duplicate," continued Link. "The power requirements must be enormous; I doubt that there are multiple sites like this one, maybe two or three others. With that information I can guess that the population of this planet to be around 3 maybe 4 million tops. A core world like Coruscant has a population pushing 1 trillion. Even the best training and equipment couldn't overcome those odds if the Empire really felt the need to take out the Mandalorians."

Link could tell Yaoksi was processing all of this, truth be told she actually agreed with Yaoksi's assessment of the situation. But Links analytical mind gave her a different perspective as well.

"It looks good on you ad'ika," confessed Kyan. "Don't think too hard about the symbolism of the armor, Your heart is mando'a the culture can come latter. Here let me get your helmet working."

Holding out his hand Kyan waited until Galen handed him her helmet. Flipping over so he could access the interior components, Kyan knew from the prototypes that its design did not that different from the older model he had worn before. Because Mandalorians adopted adults into their society they had a need to build make their armor usable by to non-Mandalorians. Opening an access panel he could see a series of switches that controlled the default settings of the armors system.

360 degree view, off... language, basic…

Kyan ran through the settings on Galen's armor setting them to the simplest options for the time being.

"I tried to make this simple as possible," said Kyan. "It will only display basic information at first; armor status, communications, position of friendly units. Your armor has an instruction manual you can access by looking to the bottom left of the HUD and blinking twice. The armor can be controlled with voice commands or eye movement from your helmet but in case your armor loses power you should also learn to use all the systems manually.”

“Some basic things about your armor; once you put on the helmet it will create an environmental seal. The armor will filter the air from your environment, if it detects any dangerous contaminates or sudden changes in pressure it will automatically seal itself off and you will be on a 10-minute backup supply of air. Your visor can switch between infrared, ultraviolet, night vision, and macro binoculars. Short version the armor is much more than protection it is the most advance compact sensor, communications, piece of equipment that could be put into one place. Your armor is more than pieces of metal and wire it is an extension of your body, so wear it how you would want others to see you.”

The helmet was surprisingly easy to put into place. It seemed I just placed it over my head, hands and mind ready to figure out the slight dilemma of seating it when it seemed to pull down of its own accord. A quiet click ensued as it sealed itself against my surroundings, which in turn was followed by a slight hissing sort of hum.

Red flags started waving all over the place; the gaggle of geese burst into quick-time up and down my back, honking and gabbling in panic as they went. I drew in a quick inhalation of breath, and took a quick step backward. Too quick, and a step with my body in reactive defense posture. The armor obliged, enhanced that step... which because I was at a slight backward overage in the angle department proceeded to develop to its logical conclusion.

I hit the dirt with an embarrassing thump, cold sweat springing over my brow.

The suit merely sent forth a little blast of air, evaporating the drops from my face even as it likewise evaporated my momentary terror into hot embarrassment. I sat there for a moment, berating myself for what had happened.

Galen, get a grip! This isn't like... like... well, what could have provoked that?

The answer came flashing into my head as I pulled myself to my feet.

Actar. That horrid, black box of inner hell he'd put me into...

I shook myself, straightened. Galen ol' girl, I told myself, that was in the past. What is done is done. You may have to face him again, but look at who you've got in your corner. You'll be safe, and more than likely he'll believe what you will have to say. If you do go face to face with him again, that is...

I gave myself another shake just to rid myself of all the old shadows. Then with a more cautious approach I began familiarizing myself with the workings of the suit.

It didn't take long until I was not only moving smoothly, but I was able to stop, turn and leap with greater efficiency than before. Little jets seemed to know juuuuust when I needed assistance, or how much; soon I was gamboling over Kyan's head like hawkbats of Coruscant. Part of me realized that perhaps I was taking things a bit to the extreme -- I was positive I could feel Kyan's mounting disapproval -- but the greater majority of my personal brand of logic continued to dictate I press this armor to what limit I could find in it.

So far I didn't find any.

I took a final bounding leap over Kyan, turned in mid-air and was readying a backward somersault into landing when I must have twisted my hand just so. Immediately tangleweb blasted out, enveloping him head to toe and knocking him quite handily to the ground.

I landed lightly, glad for the helmet which was just as handily hiding my red face from him.

Hidden vibroblade, just like my old armor. That probably means that Kani knows my armor preferences.

“Don’t worry about it too much Gal’ika,” Kyan replied. “Pr’ika my oldest did the same thing her first time, only with a flamethrower.”

Together Kyan and Galen managed to cut him loose from the netting. He could see Galen’s little mishap showed her the power the armor had and why it should be respected. Kyan let out a laugh because as far as accidents are concerned it could have been much worse.

“Read those manuals when you have the chance,” Kyan said. “Now excuse me a moment to gather one more thing.”

Kyan walked back to the weapons rack and took his lightsabers hanging them from open pegs on the rack. He then turned to a wooden box at the base of the weapons rack and opened it withdrawing its contents, two matching lightsabers and what most people would call a leather skirt. The lightsabers only different from a normal one by virtue of its handle being 1.5 times the normal length of a standard lightsaber. When Kyan ignited the pair the both flared to life in two white blades, satisfied they were in good order he extinguished the blades and focused his attention to the leather skirt. What looked like a leather skirt or kilt is known as a kama in mando’a, an older accessory to Mandalorian armor that has fallen in and out of style over the years. It provided a measure of defense against the thrusters on a jetpack and extra storage. Many from the Skirata clan chose to wear them to honor the ARC commandos of the Clone Wars, many of whom are descendants of that lineage.

He buckled the kama around his waist, the leather from which hung freely down to his knees. To this he slid lightsabers into holsters fashioned into the kama. Kyan now felt completed in a way. The two lightsabers and kama he now carried were the ones he left with Pria as a promise to one day return. It was a promise he now fulfilled, albeit to late for his daughter to see.

But not for Kan’ika, I won’t lose her, or Gal’ika. Somehow I will find a way to help them both.
Kyan returned to Galen, who would probably have questions about Kyan’s choice in fashion, but that could wait until they were underway.

Terrin: K'kihl, myself, a new friend, and a Sith pilot will be shortly enroute to K'eel Doba to search for Matt via a Sith ship of some variety. I will update you as we progress.

“Secure the landing pad,” Bes’in ordered. “No one enters the vessel without permission of her Captain, if he or any other our guests wish to meet with us escort them to the war room of the alii’gai. Also tell signal the Vanguard and senior staff, have them meet us there.”

The warriors simply nodded and took their posts at the bottom of the boarding ramp. Bes’in knew he didn’t need a security team to guard the ship but it was a sign of respect his guests would appreciate. He started walking towards a turbolift that led off of the landing pads and signaled for Terrin to follow. He waited until the doors of the turbo lift had closed leaving the two alone before he continued their earlier conversation.

“Mandalorian special forces might have been a stretch of words,” said Bes’in. “We are actually more analogous to the Jedi order than anything else. After Kyan became a Jedi Master and his oldest Daughter Pria a Knight we established the Paladins together. The resources of clan Skirata were rolled into the Paladins and most of our first recruits were the descendants of clones who fled here after the Clone Wars. We envisioned an elite warrior culture, independent of the Mandalore, ready to handle scenarios beyond our militia like mentality could handle.”

The turbolift stopped at their floor several stories down, and when its doors opened before them stood a double set of blast doors that looked like an airlock guarded by a team of warriors. With a short hand signal the team leader walked over to a keypad punching in a code, which opened the double set of blast doors. Beyond that was another corridor but instead of the duracrete structure like they had seen so far the structure was made primarily of metal and resembled the corridors of a vessel. He could read from his sensors the moment that Terrin’s bio signs registered as impressed, so he took that moment to weigh how much exactly would he revel to them. He decided to tell them enough that they could understand the scope of their capabilities but not enough to determine their strength of forces.

“From that core group we expanded our operations,” continued Kyan. “Some began to train other at sites like this one, we sent scouts to infiltrated different defense contractors for the New Republic or Empire, others still infiltrated the Empire or New Republic military to learn from them, and some we diverted to our mercenary for hire force to recruit potential outsiders. Since then we have grown considerably using that knowledge to research and manufacture our own weapons, star fighters, the active stealth camo you saw from before. This site use to be a mine for Mandalorian iron we converted into one such base, with more across the Mandalore sector and a few outposts in the unknown regions. We have an extreme training program, but our numbers are sufficient we can conduct prolonged operations away from the Mandalore sector without resupply if required. We still have a few problems because of the level of secrecy we wish to maintain. Capital ship manufacturing presents a problem for us. Our primary mission is the elimination of all threats to the Mandalorian people, even if that threat is the Mandalor. Here we are.”

It was then that the facial recognition from the bases security system gave him the results on his new guest. He could have processed the entirety of the report sent to his armor in a nanosecond if he wanted, but his time with organic beings made him appreciate the pace at which they did things. So he only processed the summary of the report and not its full analysis.

Terrin and Galen Danner, owners of Eagle Enterprises, and merchants… How did Galen end up as Kyan’s daughter? I’ll figure it out later. Yaoksi Joao, smuggler, his ship is different than the one on the report must be a new addition. The Ryn, unknown??? Why are there 25 different profiles linked to this one girl, arrest warrents, bounties, shoot on sight orders... what is going on with her. Never mind Kyan vouched for her that’s all that matters for now.”

They had traveled through a series of corridors passing many warriors going about their duties, moving supplies or with only a passing glance monitoring and maintaining the various systems aboard the installation. Ahead of them lied a security checkpoint flanked my more Mandalorian warriors, these ones all wore armor with gold trim and carried a Mandalorian saber on their belts. As the two approached the warriors moved to the side letting them through the heavy blast doors that lead into a room adorned by many different monitors along its walls. The most prominent feature of this room was its long table with a built in holo projector in its center. Down either side were many chairs that also functioned as holo pads, some had warriors sitting in them others projected a holo feed instead. Some of the projections wore business suits instead of Mandalorian armor, and one human woman was wearing the uniform of an Imperial Vice Admiral. Bes’in took his seat at the head of the table and indicated for Terrin to take a seat next to him.

“Helmets off, conduct speaking in basic for our guest Terrin Danner of Eagle Enterprises.” All those wearing Mandalorian armor with the exception of Bes’in removed their helmets setting them on the table. To someone not familiar with Mandalorians, who only knew of the famous Fett family, they often times assumed all Mandalorians are human. However from looking at this group they would be mistaken, while a majority was human there was also one Verpine, a Wookie and two Chiss present.

“First off, former Supreme Guardian [i]Cab’uir Alor Kyan Jetiis’ad has returned as you may have already heard, however he will not be staying with us or resuming command of the Paladins at this time. I still retain command as Cab’uir Alor with Guardian Cabur’ad Skirata as my second.” Bes’in quickly nodded to the holo of the woman in the vice Admirals uniform for Terrin’s benefit. “He and his daughter Galen have another important mission, likely dealing with the Force knowing him. That being said he is to be treated as if he was me, any orders given by him that do not directly contradict my own or jeopardizes our mission are to be followed run that down to your troops as well. As for his daughter Galen you are to follow her orders as if they are coming from Kyan for sake of convenience I am granting her a field commission of a Colonel Al’verde and all the access and privileges afforded to one. We are now processing the armor data from Kyan’s encounter with the vong, based on what we learn new assignments will be given out soon. In light of this I am authorizing the wide spread implementation of Paladin Armor by all warriors as soon as possible and recall notices are to be expected for all deep cover in the near future. You are all dismissed carry out your duties, Guardian Skirata stand by for additional instructions.”

All the warriors present either signed off by holo or grabbed their helmets and exited the room leaving the three of them Bes’in, Terrin, and Guardian Skirata alone. Bes’in turned to the holo of the vice Admiral. “Just listen for now and then I’ll decide how much to bring before the others.”

...he would easily have been able to answer Bes'in's question. But they were instead talking about going against the Vong, who seemed to somehow be allied with the Sith...

...and possibly even controlled by the Sith if he was going to put any stock into the speculations he and Galen had been making. And then there was the Darker Realms, That Which Is,, and even darker, deeper forces that Galen had sensed in her flow walk...

...and which Terrin believed in entirely simply because Galen had experienced it.

Realizing he had not said a word, and that Bes'in and the one who he called Guardian Skirita were looking at him expectantly, Terrin shook himself from his thoughts, with effort.

"Your forces are quite impressive," he started with, realizing that although that simple statement might sound stupid, that it carried alot of weight. After all, these guys had apparently been around for some time...

...and had kept to themselves, protecting themselves. Were they really going to be wiling to risk themselves for a greater cause that might involve the protection of the entire galaxy? And maybe even the entire Universe? After all, until this point, it seemed their primary objective was to protect Madalore. Which was all well and good, but now...

Terrin pursed his lips thoughtfully. "There is much I know regarding the Sith, however, beginning with the fact that those I am calling Sith are a race of magickal beings, and not Dark Jedi who use the Force for their own betterment. These guys can be good...

...but like many, they have some who are very, very evil. And they have powers I can't even accurately describe, powers well beyond those of a Jedi."

He trailed a moment. "So I guess when we are speaking of the coalition, and of what we want of you...

...we quite simply need allies who are going to be willing to pool their resources for the protection of the galaxy, whatever said resources may be. Because not only do we have reason to believe there are Yuuzhan Vong coming into this galaxy once more...

...we also learned of that little tidbit first via our connections with the Sith race. And at least one of those darker Sith had associations with the Vong...

...if not more. This connection between the Vong and the Sith makes them both even more powerful than you can possibly imagine...

...and it would not be honest for me to sit here and tell you that your forces, as grand as they are, are going to be enough to withstand them together. So before you commit them to any of this...

...I think you should know the truth of this."

And you haven't even mentioned the Darker Realms and what Galen sensed on her flow walk yet, have you, pal? a shoulder devil snorted derisively, although Terrin tried to ignore it....

“Don’t look so surprised,” Bes’in said. “Guardian Skirata is a Vice Admiral in the Imperial Navy, and the Empires Admiralty has been briefed on the blockade that was maintained in this sector until recently. Reports of an incident that transpired in that location are very similar to a previous one on record. During which a single Jedi using the Force to push a fleet of 60+ Victory class Star Destroyers several light years, repelling Grand Admiral Pelleon during an attempted siege of the Jedi Temple on Yavin 4.”

Bes’in grew tired of this subtle negotiating game that Terrin was playing with him. True those skills probably suited Terrin well as a businessman, but Bes’in had little interest in profit. What drove Bes’in was protecting his family, his world, his people’s way of life. Looking across the table to his granddaughter in the holo he could see her growing frustration as well. She was the only one who knew him better that Kyan. Already she could see what he was planning to do and nodded silently that she agreed with his decisions.

“I really do not care about your assessment of these Sith,” Bes’in stated. “By your own admission you lack any detailed analysis of their capabilities or plans. By comparison, after the Clone War ended we of clan Skirata were able to gain access to Emperor Palpatines archives he had on the ancient Sith. after to their incurion by the dark Jedi. Though heavily fragmented and skewed by the dark Jedi they did preserve some of the legends of the people they enslaved. Then on the Vong we are uniquely qualified, I was at the battle of Mandalore when we sacrificed two-thirds of our entire population to hold this system. A move that held up the Vong fleet long enough for the rest of you to prepare an offensive. We posed as double agents during that war seemingly helping the Vong in their conquest. While at the same time feeding the rest of the galaxy what Intel we could to slow their advance, and none of you took them seriously until it was almost too late. The Mandalorian people paid for your slow response. You don’t need to tell me the threat posed by the Vong augmented by what the Empire’s underestimation of the Sith might entail.”

...when it finally dawned on him the reason for this request.

You've implied there is something big n' bad incoming. You've told them about the Vong, and about the Sith not being quite what the Universe in general thinks they are...

...you've talked about their potential connection to the Vong...

...but you haven't yet really told them what you know. Thus the reason Bes'in really doesn't think you KNOW anything about these threats you speak of.

Unconsciously, Terrin shook his head. Soooo hesitant to trust anyone, even after all these years, eh buddy? When are you ever going to get over that?

Realizing he had slipped into thought and again Bes'in and Guardian Skirta were waiting, he snapped alert, turning first to look at Bes'in, then to the Guardian, and back.

"Please, forgive me for my vagueness," Terrin finally responded. "Old habits die hard, and after the past few years and what we've seen and experienced, it's easy to assume that no one will believe."

He paused, his next statement more for himself than the others. "And now is not the time for that."

Terrin then shifted his gaze, and pointed to the cluster of stars still displayed indicating the location of the Sith worlds. "Regarding the blockade you mentioned and what occurred to destroy it...that was of something far greater than just the Force. I don't have specifics...

...but I can tell you it had something to do with Sith magicks...or most likely, with a power they call The All. This power...it's like the Force in that it can be used for good or for bad...

...but it's so much more than the Force." Terrin paused, pursing his lips, trying to decide how to explain it. "Those who can use its power have healing capabilities that are greater than the best Force Healers I know. And more importantly, they can literally move through time and space, taking others along with them. And what's far worse and more threatening is that they can move through dimensions...

...to this place we call the Darker Realms. It sounds unreal, but this is a place of the dead, and a place of dark powers and of things non-living."

Terrin paused once more, his vision now more turned inward than outward. Truthfully, he didn't know if he wanted to see the looks on either of the other two's faces in the room at the moment, anyway. "The Sith are not the only ones capable of using the All. I know of at least three humans who can. And my greater concern is that, with Vong incoming and potentially connected to the Sith, that some of them may learn its use as well. And if that All power is combined with the powers of the Darker Realms, where things seem to be immortal..."

He quited a moment, his look darkening. With effort, he forced himself to look directly at Bes'in. "Galen and I, and most of the people with us, have first-hand knowledge of all of this. We have been to both Sith worlds, and several of us have lived there for a time. In that time we were allied with some of the Sith, to protect my wife from one of them who had allied himself with the Darker Realms, a being by the name of Ankrist Roan."

Terrin again paused, debating with himself on whether or not to reveal what was coming to mind. He decided that, in all fairness, they needed to know just how powerful said being was...

...therefore how powerful any being who was connected with both the Vong and the Realms truly could be. "That foul being, who is now dead and residing in the Darker Realms, was able to us the innate All capablities of some of his offspring to bring the Sith, who were destroyed by the Dark Jedi 4,000 years ago, back to life and into this time to again reside on these worlds you have shown me. This is the reason the Empire moved to blockade these worlds, that suddenly became inhabited out of nowhere...

...because there are those in the Empire who also know full well of the Sith, the All, the Darker Realms, the Vong...

...and of their capabilities."

He paused a final time. "There is much more I can tell you about. Please...ask me whatever you want to know."

To call it that was actually something of an understatement. It was more like a weapons wall, covered from floor to vaulting ceiling with weapons of every conceivable kind, including some I didn't even recognize. I stood before the lethal grandeur of it all, somewhat overwhelmed if truth be known, and considered.

What the heck kind of weapon would I use?

I closed my eyes, let my mind follow an accelerated flashback of all the adventures I'd gone through, starting with being trapped on what I now knew to be one of the Sith worlds, left by my sister to die there; let it range over the times I shared with Sorben, our escapades against Darth Wicked and the other dark jedi lords we'd encountered, from escaping from capture via Jester to being trapped in Force cages, to blowing up an entire moon. Onward: through the trial and tribulations at the hands of Actar, meeting Terrin, falling in love again, losing Darra, finding her again... on and on the images rolled across the landscape of memory until they at last came to a stop, here at this Wall of Weapons.

I realized that throughout it all I'd never really USED a weapon. Oh perhaps I'd borrowed a blaster here and there, but for the most part I'd battled every foe I'd encountered with intuition, stealth, and a helluva lotta good ol' fashioned luck.

Luck indeed... it couldn't last forever.

I drew in a breath and focused on the array once more. Blasters, blast rifles, swords of every shape and length, hammers and clubs and weird things dotted with rancor teeth... the formidable assortment grew even more overwhelming the more I hunted, the more I looked.

Short-term memory waved a hand, and I saw it. A neat little vibro-blade, sitting at the bottom of one row, as if it were ashamed to find itself hanging there with it's glorious brethren. I remembered how Kyan had one suddenly appear, as if by magick, just moments ago when I'd inadvertently entangled him in the netting.

Nice and simple, easy to hide, that will do...

I reached down and plucked it from the wall. Even as I held it in my hand something from somewhere up my sleeve seemed to reach down and snatch it. I stared for a moment at my empty, gloved hand, then smiled with the realization that my lovely new armor had dealt with where I was to put it before the question even had a chance to cross my mind.

"I'm rea-"

The rest of that statement was truncated in mid-word, my turning body froze as I saw it. Just hanging there, with all the other lightsabers Kyan's people had managed to hoard away over time.

It's handle, far from being ornate, was a simple blue-black, like blued steel or the pupils of a rancor. It was turned so as to display the single button upon it, and that was the color of ruby. In fact for all I knew it may well have been ruby; even in the generalized, dispersed white light of this place it managed to grab and refract until it looked like a shining, single droplet of blood.

I was drawn to it like gleeberflies to a torch, not even considering if this thing would be useful to me...

...or burn.

Hesitant at first, my resolve grew and I reached out and took it from its place among the others. It fit into my gloved hand like it was made especially for me. Smiling, I turned away, facing the expanse behind me, and thumbed that ruby button.

A shining blade of energy shot out, furiously ruby in color.

I almost dropped it. Then from somewhere deep inside me, something seemed to whisper:

Yes... for now.

Swallowing, I thumbed the lightsaber into quiet, and affixed it quickly to my side. Then I finished my former, truncated move to leave.

"I'm ready, Kyan, and thank you."

Saying no more I moved to his side, and waited to see where he would take us next.

Her confidence is growing slowly, but it is as our people say “Mishuk gotal'u meshuroke, pako kyor” or in basic, “pressure makes gems, ease makes decay”. Someday these challenges she is facing will make her a great warrior, if only in my lifetime I could see it.

Kyan nodded to Galen and the pair set off exiting the warehouse, and returned to their escort who were waiting outside. The leader approached and with a quick appraisal of Galen nodded approvingly then turned to Kyan.

“Cab’uir Alor Jetiis’ad,” the leader said. “Cab’uir Alor Skirata has restored you to your former rank and offers all our services and resources to your mission. Also take these.”

Their escort produced two shoulder pauldrons. They handed a double sided version to Kyan emblazoned with the Paladin’s Insignia flanked on either side with two stars. Then to Galen they handed a single sided shoulder pauldron, bearing a silhouette of a strill, a Mandalorian hunting creature, grasping a Mandalorian saber in its claws.

“He has also granted Galen Danner a field commission as an Al’verde,” the leader continued. “Now if you follow me to the hanger we have you ship prepped and ready, it’s the prototype Tor assault fighter your daughter developed that our current model is based upon.”

Quickly Kyan took the pauldrons, affixing his own as they moved toward the hanger and hanging on to Galen’s until she had time to don hers… if she even wanted to wear it. The hanger wasn’t too far from the warehouse, but it involved a turbolift descending several levels below the surface. Once on the hanger level they proceeded through a double set of blast doors which opened into an expansive hanger. Several craft were birthed here: mostly Bes'uliik-class Starfighters, Tor-class Heavy assault Starfighters, troop transports, and the occasional freighter, all of which were staged neatly in rows to be ready at a moment’s notice. Sitting out of place in the neat formation of ships was a single Tor assault fighter sitting in a central isle pointed towards a shaft that Kyan guessed led to the surface. This Tor was different, it sacrificed some of the troop transport area to equip duel twin laser cannons on its underside and top side, a feature dropped on the production models. Flanking either side of the Tor was a wing of Bes’uliik Starfighters with their pilots standing by as an escort. As they approached the Tor fighter every man who was in the hanger seemingly appeared to stand in a formation lining either side of the isle.

Their escort suddenly stopped, and all but their leader stepped to the side to join the others in formation. He alone turned around and rendered a salute to Kyan, then all present followed suit holding the salute while the leader spoke.

“Cab’uir Alor Jetiis’ad,” the leader said. “Al’verde Danner, departing. Die Proud.”

Kyan drew one of his lightsabers, ignited its blade and returned the salute.

“Ret'urcye mhi,” Kyan returned, “To your ships.” Kyan led Galen up the ramp of the Tor fighter into its cockpit. It was built to be operated by a crew of two one sitting behind the other, with the rear set sitting higher than the front for a more unobstructed view. Kyan took the front seat, designated for the copilot strapping himself in leaving the rear seat for Galen as its pilot. He called back to her, “Strap yourself in your flying this thing, once you take your place the ship will link with your armor to display any relevant information. Because I already set your armor to display in basic instead of mando’a it will translate automatically. I remember enough about these that I can run some of the secondary systems even without my sight.” Kyan listened silently for a moment as a message came in over his helmet. “Control has cleared us to depart when you’re ready. Take it slow at first this ship is faster and much more maneuverable than others of its size and armament. Also in case you are wondering her name is Cin vheti.”

Flying this baby would be a piece of cake.

Letting that pass, I then settled in for a departure check-list of the more serious nature, separating fore and aft thrusters from firing pins, finding the controls for airfoils and rudder, checking our power consumption, altimeter and air pressure indicators, running a cursory eye over windspeed and temperature displays and all the rest, scoured all that would make her respond to my commands until they were burned into my brain, until I melted into her very being, until I became a part of her... and suddenly and simply felt we'd get along famously, because she and I were One.

No other way to explain it.

I settled in my seat, somehow knowing when to let the armor assist me even though a part of me wanted it off, didn't want to share in being with this beautiful new entity entrusted to my care.

Cin vehti. I wonder if that means "jester" in Mando'a...

Gripping the controls, I wiggled my fingers about them, then barked a sudden announcement.

"Departure protocols in three... two... one, and...

"Now!"

My hands burst into activity, flipping and touching and poking and prodding, all while my new armor relayed a steady stream of information before my eyes. But somehow I didn't need to read it; the ship and I were One, now, after all.

We exploded from the surface like a caged phoenix set free, flaming up and out and away into the Great Night beyond, into the starfield that in turn exploded about us seemingly the moment we left soil. A screen off to one side showed dirt dwindling into a ball, as we entered into the outermost reaches of the Mandalorian atmosphere.

Wow, she IS receptive... and FAST!

"WOO-HOO!"

I couldn't help the cry of sheer joy which flooded from me then, didn't care if it dishonored the armor or not by being undignified. I didn't mean it to be, how could it be? For the armor was given to me, and that cry of joy was me too.

We were away. And we were ONE.

We rolled and turned, swooped and soared; seeking her limitations I aimed straight down only to alter course a seemingly impossible 180 degrees, streaking upward and outward and away into the Night once again.

I didn't know if we still had our escort. All I knew was that I had the second best ship in my hands that I'd ever flown.

"You honor me again, my Master," I at length spoke aloud as, the comforting embrace of the icy stars finally reached I then reached out myself to key in some coordinates. Flipping a final switch, I relaxed against my seat, and removing my helmet turned halfway round to give Kyan a cock of my brow and a grin.

"Course laid in for K'eel Doba, in the Sith Diamond," I announced.

“I can see the ship is in good hands,” said Kyan. “Pria my oldest named her. Cin vheti literally means White Field in basic. It represents a fresh field of snow, it is the moment that one puts on the armor for the first time and becomes a Mandalorian. At that point it no longer matters to our people what you had done before you became one of us, but instead what you have chosen to be. She resurrected this ship design, perfected it, and helped implement it. So like in her own life this ship was given a new beginning. She never wanted to forget how the Mandalorians, how I saved her from that old life.”

Kyan didn’t need to see Galen’s face to read the respect she had for the ship, the armor, the trust he placed in her. That was why he shared so much of his past with her.

The thought flowed in from nowhere as fluidly as my earlier joy flowed out. I blinked, considered saying something, but kept my mouth shut. Niggles and hunches were one thing, but generally something I acted upon the moment they hit. This however, was different somehow... and deserved a greater scrutiny at some later, more private moment.

For now I could only give Kyan an astonished look.

"Don't say that, Master. You're not going to die, not at the hands of your daughter."

That much I somehow knew I could assure him. But whether it was at the hands of someone else... or something else, remained yet to be seen.

Swallowing quickly, I trained my thoughts onto his next astonishing statement. This I could answer quickly and honestly and forthrightly... as well as immediately.

"Should something, ahhh... befall you, I would be honored to act in your stead on behalf of Kani. I know Terrin would be proud to do so as well."

For a moment or two I sat in silence, debating the two ideas I had, neither of which I knew Terrin would be thrilled with. One was to go to Sorben, beg his help. Surely for the sake of what we'd been through together he could put aside his anger at what had happened to his blockade, and join forces with us. Well, perhaps.

And the other wild scheme?

Something about tracking down Ol' Googly by returning to the Caves of Dagobah, seeing if he or she or it or whoever or whatever it was was still hanging about. Figure out a way to get It to aid us, for some strange, deep-down niggle yet insisted that there was another, yet-unknown author of all our woes, a Master Puppeteer if you will...

And for the weirdest reason I couldn't fathom in the slightest, I just knew it wasn't Ol' Chrome-Eyes.

So I sat in silence, chewing upon my thoughts, and finally decided the former would be the safest path to follow.

At least for the moment.

"I want to go to Coruscant, see if I can get in to see Sorben, talk some sense into his thick skull. He's got to know what's going on, that the Vong and the Sith may be in cahoots...

"Or not."

I paused, the silence becoming pregnant with time.

"The Empire has to unite with the Sith, and through the Sith with the Vong. There's something else out there... Some One Other... and the place we've come to call The Darker Realms...

"That's what we must really fear, that's the real enemy, I can't tell Terrin or anyone, they're all so set that it's the Vong and the Sith and I don't know but Khaandon help me I can feel this, Master.

"I know it's crazy, but-- oh, I don't know!"

For probably the third or fourth time in my life I let pure despair rush over me. Where it had come from, hell if I knew. All I knew what that if all of us didn't come together as One, some of the greatest tragedies ever to be inflicted on man or beast would happen in our universe.

“Capabilities of the enemy while important are not the main issue as of this moment for us,” said Bes’in. “Right now I need to know what is the goal of these Sith, I know the Dark Jedi wanted to enslave the Galaxy because they were megalomaniacs. The Vong were religious zealots who hated technology that were on a crusade against us. But these Sith you speak of, what drives them what do they want from us?”

Bes’in turned to the holo of his granddaughter and saw the look of failure her father use to be unable to hide as well on her face.

“Don’t worry about it Ad’ika,” Bes’in said. “This is not your fault; none of our other agents had any clue either. However the lack of trust with this information among the Admiralty is a shock, or possible a sign the Empire may be onto us. After we are done here you need to execute your exit plan, in fact I’m issuing a recall order for all deep cover operatives we can’t afford to lose valuable assets like you.”

Oh, I thought all right... but I doubt it brought forth anything he wanted to hear. I knew it would probably hurt him to say it, but I had to.

"I didn't expect all this..." I waved a hand, indicating Cin vehti, and her attendant escort. "I don't mean to sound ungrateful, but I was really thinking of something, umm... smaller. You know, low and lean and mean and... well, sneaky."

Like Jester. Oh how I missed my little Sith fighter, and all the magickal endowments she bore. If only--

The answer to the former was simple enough to Terrin. But the answer to the latter...

...that was not all that cut and dry. "The Sith, Yuuzhan Vong, and Darker Realm beings in question want one thing alone, I think," Terrin responded. "They want control...of everything."

He paused then, pursing his lips, trying to determine the best way to explain the Coalition and meanwhile considering that there was yet more he had not explained to Bes'in. "As for the Coalition, it serves something far more than just joining our resources and abilities."

Terrin paused a moment, chewing his lip a bit, wondering just how far he should go with his next revelation. He decided that it needed to be said, especially in light of some of the conversations he had recently with Galen. "We must be cautious with who and what we term to be against us, for as with any race...

...there are those who are good, and those who are not. I would and have entrusted my life and the lives of those closest to me to some of the Sith. In fact, I am fairly certain that the Sith, as a whole, have no ill-intent to anyone in the Galaxy. Unfortunately...

...there are some. And regarding those in the Empire who may have knowledge regarding the Sith and their capabilities...

...we may in time need their assistance as well."

Terrin paused, not really believing he had just spoken what he had. "Galen, myself, and some of my commrades have encountered an entity greater than the Force or even the All. We are not certain exactly what it is, other than an Ultimate Game Player of sorts. It is a disembodied thing that we have seen only as large, chrome eyes....we have come to know it as That Which Is. At some point in the recent past, That Which Is was able to somehow literally 'turn off' all supernatural powers anyone had, and those who could use the Force and the All were unable to do so for quite some time. In fact, the magickal capabilities the Sith have--outside of any All capabilities some had--didn't even work."

Again Terrin's look turned inward. Again he didn't really want to see the looks on anyone's face. He didn't think he even had the words to explain that Galen had experienced an even greater disembodied entity messing around with all things in the Universe during her flow-walk with Kyan.

"So to try to explain this all...the Coalition's primary function is to join all of those in the Galaxy together to face a Great Unknown. Galen saw and sensed something very, very dark and evil that we don't even know about while in a flow-walk with master Jettisad, and she didn't beieve it was even this That Which Is I just told you about. I can't and won't claim that all of our resources combined can do a lick of good against whatever it is...

...but divided we will most certainly fall. I haven't got any great military plans and strategies, that is most certainly not something I am capable of. That alone is a reason we would need you."

“I have every intention of living,” Kyan stated. “Do you know that I am not the first Jedi who was stripped of the Force. In the case of the others do you know what they did?”

He paused only long enough for Galen to ponder at the question. “They became hermits, living alone in the most isolated parts of the Galaxy. Mopping about how they lost their connection to the Force and loss of the one thing that defined them. I could have done the same thing, I had just defeated the last Dark Jedi any one would have said that I deserved to be by myself to mourn the loss of my family and my connection with the Force. Instead I wandered the Galaxy not only trying to find a way to restore my powers, but to find a way to protect those I love. Since that time I have lost my daughter, the Empire is controlling my granddaughter, and I have lost my sight. Still I fight, until my last breath I will fight. Even that future we saw together, not the one of me dying, but of that thing your master puppeteer the unspeakable evil that fills your heart with dread and despair I will fight it as well.”

Kyan got out of his chair kneeling at her level watching has her face burned dimly with its blue hue that he saw.

“Truth be told it fills me with despair as well,” Kyan said softly. “For I too can sense it’s overwhelming power, the utter hopelessness that fills my soul when it stares at me. Knowing full well my insignificance compared to it, why I am a mere pebble in its path not even worth acknowledging. But do you know why I still say I will fight, because I cannot no I will not live in a world where I didn’t use all of my abilities, or all of my strength to protect those I love. That is the true source of strength when it comes to the Force, and I suspect this all. I will not let this thing or any thing take my granddaughter away from me. If I have to defy the laws of the universe to do so in the process then so be it. Just as I would do the same for you my daughter.”

He rose and plucked up her helmet from its resting place on her console and held it out to her at face level waiting until she took it.

“Look into that visor, what do you see? Most would see the face of a merciless killer. Very few would say a reassuring face. Neither are the one I see.”

Tapping on the visor to indicate what he was referring to was the reflection of Galen across its surface.

“I maybe blind but even I can see your soul reflected in that armor. It tells me that its owner is a proud Mandalorian that will fight tooth and nail to protect her husband and her daughter. My… no our people have a saying Gar taldin ni jaonyc; gar sa buir, ori'wadaas'la no one cares who your father was, only the father you’ll be. What kind of legacy do you want to leave for your daughter? One of slavery and destruction because we wouldn’t stand up for her. Or one where she could be free to chose her own path. It is your choice, just like it is mine and that is why I am here my daughter.”

There is no strategic value in allying with their coalition, it will be simply be more Mandalorians dying for their war. Even if the Vong and Sith come for us we can deal with them then.

Rising from the table Bes'in couldn't bring himself to tell Terrin that the Paladins would not join in their cause. But the exact reason escaped him isn't this the exact reason why the Paladins were formed to protect the Mandalorian way of life.

“What does it mean to be a warrior?” Bes'in asked.

He didn't expect an answer for it was so out of place. Instead he stared at the holo of his granddaughter in her Imperial Vice Admiral uniform.

We use to be powerful, twenty five thousand years ago we took on the entire galaxy and almost won. What has happened to us that we have to hide among the Empire to aquire knowledge and training to protect our own world our way of life? Is such a way worth protecting?

“Our greatest strength is our unchanging way,” Bes'in said. “It is also our greatest weakness. Once we were a force to be reckoned with, now we can only manage to strike from the shadows. Kal Skirata once envisioned a Mandalore that no longer dies for others wars, but what he wanted to preserve was already a dying people. If we continue down this path then we only prolong our death, the galaxy changes around us we must change to live within it.”

Bes'in sat again focusing on Terrin.

“My answer is no we will not be your military,” Bes'in answered. “We will never become tools for another power ever again.”

Bes'in could see the disappointment of Terrin and his granddaughter.

“However,” Bes'in continued. “We will become your guardians, separate from what will become your military we will deal with those who threaten the citizens of this galaxy. Whether that be the Vong or the Sith, or even unknown powers the Paladins will rise to meet the challenge. We will be to you as the Jedi order was to the Republic, things that fall outside of a traditional military we will handle and in the event you become the tyrants that you wish to combat we will deal with you as well.”

Bes'in turned to his granddaughter.

Terrin at first was a bit disappointed by Bes'in's response. But first and foremost, the salesmanship he had developed over the course of many years with Eagle Enterprises helped him cover this up masterfully...

...and that gave him a few extra moments to understand what, in fact, Bes'in was offering. And its intrinsic value.

The Jedi of old, after all, made no specific alliance to anyone, even to the point that when the Chancellor of the Old Republic was threatening the entire Galaxy, the Jedi stood for the peoples of the entire Republic, despite the fact it cost them their entire Jedi Order.

Bes'in was offering no less. Defenders of the Galaxy, of what was right. Gaurdians of the people; not military forces.

Terrin looked to Bes'in, nodding solemnly. "Absolutely."

After all, something could be incoming to this Galaxy that had nothing to do with what planet you were from, who you were allied with, or anything regarding the Empire or any faction thereof...

...and everything to do with either the domination...or perhaps the annihilation of everything in the Galaxy.

The time to put away any petty differences or concerns for self, if there was going to be any chance for anyone, could very well be now.

We still have the same problems as before though, only magnified. However now we have an ally.

“Very well then,” said Bes'in. “There are somethings to take care of before I can bring the Mandalorian, correction, the Coalition Paladins into the light. I still have a capital ship shortage, what I have is either to old to be much good in the long run or lacking the infrastructure to build new ones fast enough. For that I need a shipyard preferably within this system, something I believe Eagle Enterprises could be commissioned for. As for other allies I suggest looking into the Corellians or the Bothans, they both have the resources and...”

He didn't have a chance to finish his thought, just then a Paladin barged into the room briefly apologized and handed a sealed roll sheet of flimsiplast to Bes'in and left. Bes'in didn't show any worry but the logic algorithms that help govern his main operating system knew that the message was contained information of the utmost importance, so important that it was dedicated to print so all traces of it could be destroyed without leaving a trace. The message Bes'in read shocked him to his core, it came in on the old Jedi escape network set up by Kyan and Pry'ca and read as follows. “Kani Jetiis’ad Mandalorian Protectorate, urgent message to Bes’in Skirata. Empire turncoat, need support of Mandalore, requests alliance, provide further instruction.”

Bes'in didn't betray his surprise, or more accurately his internal calculation at the probability of such a scenario occurring, but he had no doubt about the messages origin or intent so now he had a choice to tell Terrin it's contents and his plans or withhold it for now.

No this is an internal matter for the Paladin's and not the Coalition. Naturally Kyan will need to be brought into this and his new daughter, and due to the danger it posed to Kani the risk she is taking we will keep this information to the smallest number possible.

“We maybe moving forward a little quickly,” said Bes'in. “I know we have come to terms but what about the others, I know I have Kyan's endorsement but what of the other two in your group. I only ask because another matter has arisen internal to the Paladins that requires my attention. Bring up the terms of our allegiance with the other two Yaoksi and Link, then when they are up to speed all of us will meet back up here to discuss further action. Sergeant at Arms.”

At once a warrior in blue armor entered the room waiting for further instruction.”

“Terrin and his friends are now our allies,” said Bes'in. “They are allowed free access to our base up to level 5 and similar access to our database ensure it is taken care of, also escort Terrin back to his companions ship and wait there until I call for you or they wish to move about the base.”

The Sergeant at Arms motioned for Terrin to follow him and if showing a sign of slight annoyance to be cut off during negotiations Terrin complied and followed the Sergeant at Arms out of the room. Once the door to the room closed Bes'in put the room into lockdown.

“Kani has contacted us,” said Bes'in. “She has evidence of an Imperial defector or coup in the works. That is inconsequential for once we have a lead on Kani and I will not waste it.”

Bes'in commed his communications officer having an encrypted commlink raised to the ship Galen and Kyan took. He routed had the link specifically addressed to Galen because of Kyan's apparent blindness.

In a few short minutes Bes'in's guards escorted Terrin back to Yaoksi's ship before leaving him there. Only then did he look down at his commlink to realize he had received a message, which took his primary attention as he boarded the ship via the open hatch. And of course it took his attention because he could only hope it was Galen, who had promised to keep him posted.

For whatever it was she was doing...

That red flag of warning in Terrin's mind's eye came waving once more. With perhaps a flag or two more this time for extra emphasis.

Dammit, he trustedd her. More than life itself. But he'd almost lost her a time or two too many. And her sister, well...

...she seemed to do whatever suited her needs best at the moment.

Dammit.

As he went up the open hatch, he pressed the accept button and received Jasyn's message stating that he, K'kihl, and someone new were headed to K'eel Doba to look for Matt.

Awww, kriffing hell, Matt. His trusted friend and Second in Command. How the hell long had he been missing? What had happened to him?

Terrin knew the Alliance and all that they were trying to do was for the good of everyone in the Galaxy...

...but at what point did they draw the line between what was good for the Galaxy and taking care of friends?

Terrin shook his head, mostly to try to clear his brain of such thoughts, and headed towards the cockpit, where he heard Yaoksi and Link discussing something or other. As he entered, they both seemed to drop what they were doing and swiveled to look at him.

Hmmm....

"Ahhh, they are willing to assist us with protecting the Galaxy when needed, and pretty much that's as far as we got," he said, suddenly realizing how empty that really seemed to sound. Yeah, they were willing to help when the Galaxy was in danger. But as to offering friendship and assistance when the group needed it..

Terrin's eyes defocused again, his thoughts returning to Jasyn, Matt...

...and Galen.

My very face felt hot.

What kind of legacy do I want to leave for my daughter? The words ballooned in my head, expanding outward from a tiny, tight kernel which was nothing more than the epitome of every mother's soul coalesced into one blazing knot.

I would do ANYTHING for her, to protect her, and those I love. But I need him to help us, and by his words he indicates the reverse!

I don't want to disappoint him. Yet, the day will arrive, and soon, where I must. I have to. I will have to turn away from him, take all he has given me and run with it.

Because even after all I've shared with him, he still is thinking in terms entirely too small. And the waters I am planning to take a headlong dive into are not only deep, but very, very dark.

Oh, but I don't want him to get hurt as others I've been with have been...!

I looked at my reflection in the T-visor of my Mandalorian helm, watched it as it fogged from the heat emanating from my body. Fighting against the even greater heat of tears suddenly battling to fill my eyes, I was about to yank it on over my head when my commlink let out a polite burp.

I gulped, and accepted the lifeline for what it was.

"This is Galen," I began, following with standard Mandalorian protocols of ship, number and vector. To my great surprise, the caller was Bes'in, and his call was directed at me.

I listened, nodding as in clipped, precise words he passed along a message that both shocked me to my very core... and yet somehow didn't surprise me in the slightest.

Sorben, you old dog! What in Khaandon's name have you been up to?

Even though no name had passed between us, I knew to my very soul that it was him.

It would be about him!

Striving mightily to remain nonchalant, I nodded and truncated the communication, turned to Kyan, and relayed the information about an Imperial turncoat. My stomach coiled up into a tiny little knot with the sudden realization that I may have to betray my new and suddenly, shyly loved Master much sooner than I'd thought.

It's for Kani... tell him it's for the sake of Kani...

"I think there's been a change of plans," I announced in sudden non sequiteur as with a swift and sure touch I brought the ship 180 degrees about the x-axis, and headed back toward the planet from which we'd just departed.

Terrin! I hadn't contacted him every two standard hours, as I'd promised.

He must be worried sick!

I reached for my verbal commlink, then stopped, cast a glance Kyan's way, noted the state of fugue he seemed to have wrapped himself in. Another guilt-ridden pang yanked at my heart.

Don't dwell on it. Don't even think it. When all is said and done, he'll forgive you, Galen, I tried to assure myself. For isn't that what parents do? Forgive their children, even their adopted ones?

Thus I keyed the Link to emit text rather than audio communication. I thought a moment, debating whether to let him in on what I was planning to do, wondering which would be the greatest of the two battles ahead:

Persuading him into joining me in this little Mandalorian ship, just the two of us, which oh Khaandon I wanted more than anything, or...

Yeah. OR.

Why was it again that you are not telling your new Master everything, Galen ol' girl?

A little sigh escaped me; stiffening, I glanced to Kyan, wondering if he'd noticed. He still sat, staring off as if watching a distant holovid which only he could see.

Nodding, I continued.

"Galen to Terrin," I typed, not bothering with protocol. "Just checking in, love; everything is...

I paused fractionally, debating with myself.

"Just fine. More later."

Sighing a bit more loudly at the deceit, I punched "send," and the brief missive went winging it's way along a particular one of the pathways which connect every nook and cranny in the universe, this one connecting me with my husband.

I sat back then, my mind awhirl with thoughts and ideas of just what in Hell's Seven Circles I was going to do from this point. I mean, it's fine and dandy to have a Big Picture, but if one doesn't have a coherent pathway leading into it one could rapidly find oneself in the kind of trouble that only rancors and hungry dianoga bring.

A tiny bead of sweat popped out on my upper lip; quickly, before he could take notice of it I licked it off, tightening my grip on the controls, aimed Cin vheti in a long spiraling descent that would eventually take us to the same pad from which we had left.

Or, maybe not.

Friction sent flames licking from the nose of the ship, momentarily dimming our view as we entered deepening atmosphere and continued our spiraling entry.

"Applying forward thrusters to slow descent," I announced as, yes, kicking up the starboard forward thruster I simultaneously let go a burst from the aft port one.

Oops...

The beautiful ship showed me just how tough she was as she suddenly found herself pinwheeling about, even as ever thickening atmosphere fed the flames on her nose to a veritable conflagration.

"Port forward thruster is out!" I yelled, jerking my body from side to side purposely to make the "imminent disaster" more believable, twiddling with the controls to jerk the ship in tandem with my movements, wincing and crying inside to see how Kyan was jerked from side to side.

However, I wasn't so stupid as to think he would be injured in any manner, not that I wished that on him. But fully clad in his armor as he was, he was protected from pretty much everything other than the literal explosion or full-bore land impact of Cin vehti.

Now as for me...

I drew in a breath.

Here we go...

Drawing on every ounce of piloting skill I possessed, reaching out with every nuancing sense to make connection with the Mandalorian vessel, I struggled to keep her on her "mayday" path.

Which reminds me...

"Flameout! Sending out universal SOS!"

I pretended to twiddle with the controls, then used them in earnest to jerk the ship into yet another impossible skew. My stomach heaved at the insult; a quick glance at Kyan showed me that he probably was a bit green in the face beneath his stern, T-visored helmet.

On and on I went, jerking the ship one way or another in pretense of trying to save it, each movement exquisitely timed with the jerking of my Master's hands from the control panel the few times he reached for the conn.

Finally the ground suddenly segued from something coming up to meet us into something below and entirely too close. Beneath us too was nothing but rock and desert and a low mesa or dry ravine. I clenched the controls along with my teeth, for by now the ship had seemed to take a mind of it's own and it truly took every bit of knowledge I possessed to keep us from seriously crashing. But at length something bleeped on my console, a little light flashed between red and green.

"Landing pad... passing under us now!"

Thinking of Terrin over whose head I was literally flying, I gritted my teeth in preparation of the coup de grace. The forward viewscreen showed the effects of coming in too hot: the occasional trees we thundered over flailed and thrashed, dust and debris shot up in an enveloping cloud, and here and there small landslides triggered as we skimmed the tops of steep and barren moraines. The ground approached...

I took a breath...

...and aiming just so hit every reverse thruster she had, ok, so maybe a bit more on the starboard side. Cin vehti obliged by careening into the dusty field I had somehow managed to find, plowed onward a kilometer or so, and with a final jerk, came to a crooked stop, keeling somewhat to the starboard.

I put on the biggest show in my life as, prepared for a rough landing, I let my body jerk first forward, and then back. The high back of the pilot's seat prevented me from receiving any real injury, despite the fact that I still hadn't donned my helmet...

But Kyan didn't really know that.

In the confusing aftermath, I shut down the comm. Then I lolled off the side of my chair.

"M-my neck. M-master, my neck. It- it hurts.

"I need help..."

In a flash he was before me, gloved hands reaching to unfasten my harness. I raised a weak hand, waved it.

"C-comm is out. Don't move me, Master. The- the Challenger, behind us a little bit...

"G-get help..."

I let my eyes close and my body go limp.

I held my breath.

Moments later, a soft touch on my arm, a warm voice speaking assurances. Then both removed themselves from me, and a few seconds later I heard the blessed sounds indicative of an opening hatch. Another promise wafted into my ears, and then stumping bootsteps dwindled away into silence.

I waited a heartbeat longer to make certain he had cleared the ship, then jerked myself upright and slammed closed the hatch. Ignoring the myriad aches and pains and twinges I'd received...

OH that's gonna leave a mark!

I torched up the of course still operational thrusters and shot off from the ground like a startled mynock. I flew back over the Challenger, dipped a wing in salute, made a quick course calculation, circled the grounded ship, and then headed off in a particular direction, damn the steepness of the ascent.
Cin vehti can take it, I know she can!

Before I had even left atmosphere I performed a dangerous maneuver, cutting her into hyperdrive and escaping the gravitational clutch of my Master's home.

But not before giving the aft thrusters a big burst, signaling to those on the ground. A concession to common sense, if you will.

I won't have you with me Terrin, I thought as day and the night of space warred with each other before finally blending into the smears of hyper-driven reality.

But here's a clue for you anyway, simply because I DO love you.

His feet began to move, even before his brain was able to think. In moments he'd left the Challenger entirely, just in time to witness the Cin vehti fall out of the sky...

...at least sorta...

Terrin's hackles immediately raised. And even as the ship falling out of the sky went into the distance...

...he knew. For a count of perhaps a few nanoseconds, all went silent...

...but that was, of course, not all she wrote. The same said "falling ship" erupted back into the sky, the work of only what could be a highly skilled pilot...

...thrusters bursting before she exploded into hyperspace, defying gravity altogether.

Better ding than death...

....dammit, Galen...

His heart jumped into his throat, and his mind flashed back to Prinn'chatka...

...and to his own stupidity in how he responded to Galen risking her life.

Not again. Not ever, ever, again.

"Oh bloody Hell," he finally managed to muster, somehow knowing that the others had come with him to witness Galen's light display although he wasn't really that aware of them at all. All he knew was that he couldn't do this anymore. His feet acted once more of their own accord, for his mind was only on her, as he pivoted back on his heel and headed back up the hatch to the inside of the Challenger. His brain was operating enough to at least respect the fact that this was Yaoksi's ship.

"We've gotta get out of here," he said once inside, now certain that there were no Mandolorian ears to hear. And Terrin most certainly hoped that Yaoski and Link would agree with him on the matter.

Cause dammit, if someone didn't take off out of here, he sure as Hell would do so himself.

Or rather, lack thereof.

"Somehow that doesn't surprise me," I began as I untangled my own legs from where I'd propped my feet swiveling forward to face him. Beside me Link's ears pricked up, then seemed to flatten.

Events transpired rapidly after that.

No sooner had I spoken when Challenger took to vibrating suddenly, and a rushing roar sounded from without. Automatically I turned to the console and began bringing the engines out of standby, even as Terrin simultaneously disappeared out the hatch. I could only listen to the hellacious noise as it dwindled in the distance, wondering what the hell was going on when the sound returned, followed soon thereafter by an agitated Terrin.

The question forming on my lips died when I took in his grim expression. Saying nothing, I turned back to the navboard, Link unraveling herself to disappear aft.

With no further ado we simply blasted from this world of warriors and honor, nevermind the fact that we'd come here seeking their help.

Oh yeah. We're not getting that, I remembered as Challenger leapt from the ground and rapidly sought space. The fact that we weren't pursued by anyone only lent further credence to that thought.

Once we'd reached the wide open spaces of wide open space, I let her momentum carry her in a random direction, waiting to hear just what had happened to trigger such a succinct command from a guy who didn't even own this ship.

Well, any longer.

At length I pulled back from the console, turned to face him.

"Mind letting me in on what's going on, Boss?" I attempted, trying to lighten the thundering atmosphere. The look on his face wiped the smile from my own.

I coughed, and waited to hear what else he had to say.

Somehow I knew it was going to be plenty.

...control-crashed on Mandalore and left Kyan behind and took back off."

He paused, his eyes too defocused to even see the puzzled looks he somehow knew were being directed his way as they wondered how he knew what he was saying was true.

He knew because he knew Galen. Knew how much she agonized about anyone getting hurt on her account. And while he loved her dearly for that very fact...

...he wished to all the fates that she wouldn't go off alone and in turn risk her own self. That she could get past it just enough to realize he would do anything for her...

...and with her.

But then again, maybe she did know that...

Terrin tried to collect himself enough to really decide what he thought Galen was truly up to.

"I think she's headed to the Sith planets to try to come to some sort of an Alliance with the Sith...

...or at least with her Sister..."

He trailed, frowning to himself.

Or was that what she was doing at all...?

"...or maybe not. I saw her blast out of here, and I might be able to guess as to the vector of her departure..."

She knew I'd be distracted by the news about Kani, calculated it into her plan... her plan to what.

He opened a channel with the ship knowing that he probably wouldn't get a reply, but he at least had to make an effort to help Galen.

“Gal'ika,” Kyan began. “I choose to believe you have your reasons so I will not hold a grudge. I know you fear your power and the future, but remember that if you remain true to who you are it can never corrupt you. When you need me call to me and I will feel it across our bond. The Force will be with you my daughter.”

I had just gotten my blubbering under control when Kyan's words came across the comm. It was all I could do to prevent myself from enacting a repeat performance; drawing in a shuddering breath I wiped my eyes and reached for the comm.

Toggled replay... listened to my Master's brief and forgiving words. And again, and yet again.

Thought about what I should respond with, if anything at all. Which immediately brought forth further guilt about how my actions were probably hurting Terrin.

My bottom lip trembled.

Tell them. Tell them both...

I knew if I outright told Terrin where I was going, he'd be on my trail like a hunting sandcat. Kyan... well, I'd like to think he would too.

But spilling the beans would reduce my head start... a LOT. Not to mention the little fact that if things soured there'd be no one available to come rushing in all Knight in Shining Armor to aid me.

IF I was still around to be given assistance at all, that is.

My hand trembled as I pulled it back. I fisted it, contemplated it until the trembling finally lessened, until the shakiness I felt within reduced to a dull ache.

But I still felt like all kinds of a heel.

Quickly then, before I could change my mind, I toggled the comm and spoke to Kyan.

"Yes, I fear the future, but not for me. Not for me.

"I fear what those I seek may do, how they may misconstrue what I am attempting, and how they may retaliate against those I love. So I have to do this alone."

I paused a moment, waiting to see if he'd reply. Time stretched forward for a seeming eternity before I decided he was probably waiting for me to continue.

So I did.

"I will call you, my Master, when and if I need you. Your understanding and forgiveness will give me the strength to follow the path I'm creating ahead of me.

"Please help Terrin, and my friends on Challenger. Please don't turn against them on my account."

I paused fractionally... then finished.

"Remember I love you, as a mentor and a f-father."

Quickly then I hit "send," and sat back. Oddly enough, I suddenly felt as if the weight of nations had been lifted from my shoulders. I gave the navboard a fast once-over, just to make certain everything was ship-shape.

Stay stong Ad’ika.

Resigning himself to how to proceed he heard Galen’s challenge to help Terrin and the others reverberate through his mind. True they could use his help and he would offer it if they asked but in the back of his mind he had another concern… Kani.

It only took a few minutes before a speeder arrived from base to take him back. He redirected it to the landing pad where the Challenger was berthed and waited just outside the hatch for a moment. Kyan sent a short message to Bes’in before proceeding up the ramp. No pursuit… will join you soon. He headed up the ramp and found his way to the bridge where Yaoksi and Terrin waited. Turning to Terrin and seeing the fear, anger, and hurt in the man Kyan stood ready to receive it all.

“Blame me all you want, but you know your wife as well as anyone.” Kyan said. “What are your plans?”
OOC: Yeah just realized where the challenger was... didn't read carefully enough what Yaoksi did in his post. My bad. If you need to I can change it Kyan's response to a radio response instead. Sorry.

"Wha--?!"

I blinked at the Mandalorian's completely unexpected entrance, whirled to take a gander at the blackness of space the forward screen was insisting enshrouded Challenger, shot Terrin an incredulous glance and finally brought my focus back to Kyan. He just stood there, waiting.

Considering it wasn't really my affair at this particular moment, since after all the fiery Lil Gal wasn't my wife, I decided it wasn't my prerogative to answer his terse comment. Instead I nodded toward the solidly closed hatch, indicating the very very few hiding places which possibly existed in its vicinity.

"Oh buddy, you're gooood!" I said before falling silent. However, I couldn't help but follow that comment with a silently spoken sequel.

...or if this guy had done something just short of improbable by making it onboard the Challenger before they took off.

Oh bloody hell...

Now regarding the Mandalorian Jedi's comment on him taking the blame....and oh yes, Terrin most certainly did know his wife...

...and that she was just acting out of a deeply ingrained desire to protect her loved ones.

And perhaps Kyan's sudden appearance gave Terrin the precious few minutes he needed clear his head.

Well, at least somewhat.

"Oh, it's no use blaming anyone," he stated then, shaking his head at Kyan. "She doesn't want anyone getting hurt," he then said, stating the obvious, perhaps more for himself than anyone else.

Cause now, Terrin Danner was calculating exactly what his plans in fact were. After all, he knew Galen. And she did give him enough of a light display to calculate her destination with a good bit of certainty based on her exit vector...

...which meant she knew him just as well as he knew her.

She knew he would go after her. But...

...think with your brain and not your blasted heart. Dammit, Danner.

"She knows I'll track her," he then stated out loud to the others. "And I think we should...

...and then lay back and wait, cause if and when she needs us, we're gonna be ready."

Even while the words were coming out of his mouth, they were killing him.

Oh kriffing hell, how he wanted to take off after her right this moment.

Get it together, man.

He turned and regarded Yaoksi, his blue eyes intense. "Mind if I borrow some of your nav equipment for a while? I need to do some calculating..."

...and dammit, later, I'm gonna really need a drink...

I gave him a comradely nod, as if nothing untoward had happened.

Did I... or was it Gal'ika... who know anymore.

Kyan offered a shrug and replied, “Old Mandalorian trick.”

...and then got to work with his calculations, not sure if he could really track her at all as he was claiming. As he worked, he sought to match up what looked like her potential exit vector with the possible destinations. Which may or may not match up. He paused, closing his eyes, his frustration probably an apparent thing to anyone who might be looking on. None of her exit vectors seemed to necessarily align with anything he knew of...

...and Fates knew that perhaps her original hyperspace exit wouldn't indicate where she was going in the least. After all, if he was piloting it and he didn't want someone to know where he was headed, he'd blast off, hyper for a while, drop out, and then change courses.

He sighed, sitting back.

Come on Galen, give me something to run with here, in case you need me...

That little errant thought triggered another.

You could just ask her. You do, after all, still have comm contact with her...

Terrin unconsciously rapped his fingers on the navboard. He couldn't help but wonder if his initial speculation regarding her going to K'eel Doba might be incorrect.

For all he knew she was headed to Coruscant...or something...

He frowned, his blue eyes darkening, recalling then how she had done the flow walk with Kyan, and recalling the conversation he'd had with her after that about Game Players and That Which Is and perhaps Something Even Greater.

He shook his head, trying to clear the fog and frustration. After all, if she wasn't going to the Sith Worlds to ask for help, and she wasn't going to Coruscant to ask for help there either...

...and she had this whole feeling of Something Even Greater on her mind once more, which was very possible, then he'd only seen the Chrome Eyes in two particular locations...

He frowned, and shook his head a bit again, to clear his growing worry. It wsn't working. Then he opened up the comm channel that she had sent her message along just a few brief minutes ago.

Everything's just fine...

"Galen, Kyan's with us aboard the Challenger, he opened with, stalling as he decided exactly what he needed to say while simultaneously attempting to ease any worry she might have regarding what she had done. "I love you...more than life itself...

...and I'm on your heels."

He paused. At least, I will be, somehow...

"Please know that. I'll be ready when you need me.

Count on it.

"And keep me posted on your safety."

Cause sure as Khaandon made 'lil green worts, as Galen was wont to say, If I don't hear from you that'll be all it'll take.

"Be careful."

He paused, pursing his lips, considering his message...

...and then sending it off Galen's way. Only then did he turn to regard Kyan once more, an idea suddenly emerging. "How well can you sense my wife?"

Cause if she doesn't give me more of a lead to go after, and I'm going to see to it she remains safe...

...I may need something more.

I didn't understand its nature before because I took for granted it relied on proximity, I didn't notice until now it remains constant regardless of her distance. I need to be careful this may end up being a trump card in the future... but Gal'ika told me not to turn my back on Terrin, to trust him, to help him.

“The exact nature is difficult to explain,” said Kyan. He turned to face Terrin before continuing. “This isn't your typical Force bond. Whatever Gal'ika did she was the catalyst to restoring everyone's Force powers our bond is a byproduct. The All as you call it anchored my Force Powers through her, so regardless of distance it works as if she was here next to me. The sharing of emotions and thoughts is only diminished because we mutually are suppressing it, me through conscious effort and her unconsciously. As she grows in ability with the Force and the All I suspect she will learn this as well. But to answer your question, I can if I tried I could find where she is and if she was willing I suspect I could use not only my own Force Powers but tap into some of her own abilities. And in time she could do the same.”

Kyan sensed not only relief but a tinge of anger from Terrin as he came to understand that yes Kyan could sense Galen but would only work with them so far.

“I don't mean to hurt you just realize this,” said Kyan. “Even if we can track her she still will always remain ahead of us. That and if she manages to server the bond the backlash to her would probably be fatal. I act as a buffer for her powers, when she gained access it was full access but she doesn't have the training of the ability to handle that raw power, I can shoulder the damage at least for now.”

He could see the fear in Terrin, it was a fear he too shared. He rested a hand on Terrin's shoulder.

The image of dad's face, superimposed on Kyan's...

"The Picture is grander than you think. Feel...

"Come home. Believe in us..."

Believe in... us.

Over and over and over the words and images rumbled in my head, teasing me with the knowledge that if I just tried hard enough an epiphany would burst forth. Understanding would come riding out of confusion on the brilliant white stallion of Logic, and I'd know specifically what was being presented to me... asked of me.

But hard as I tried, it just didn't make sense. Nothing of it made any sense whatsoever.

What in Hell's Seven Circles was Ol' Googly trying to say to me? Was he/she/it trying to send information only, so I could logic it out? Was it a warning?

Was it a trap?

I shook my head, shifting my position to pull my knees up to my chest where I could rest my forehead upon them. I stared into the tiny darkness, seeking answers, and finding none.

Something niggled.

Feel.

FEEL...

All righty then!

Now I lifted my head, let it hang backwards even as I stretched out my legs upon the metal deck beneath my feet. My arms fell limply alongside the pilot's chair, dangling loosely as I let every muscle I owned relax, enticing me into a state of half awareness. I began breathing deeply, in and out, trying to expand this half awareness into something more, an inner awareness, if you will, in which I hoped the answers I sought would fall.

Something niggled a bit more.

Feel...

A sudden cacophony slammed into my quietude like a rampaging ronto, quite effectively yanking me from the zen-like state I had been fast approaching, and nearly caused me to fall out of my seat. I blinked in momentary confusion at the noise, wondering what it meant, this impolite and wild intrusion; after a moment the din lessened and coalesced into the humble bleeps of the communication board, signaling reception.

I coughed, shook my head, and paid attention.

Terrin, oh Terrin I knew I could count on you! And Kyan, too!

There was a whole universe of words I wanted to say to him. I wanted to let him know the trepidation I was feeling, the confusion, the misery I felt knowing how those I loved and cared about were viewing the yet one more "Galen" that I "had pulled..."

Isn't this what you always do? Something dark crept up within me, snickering as it reminded me of my own shortcomings. I shook it away, pondering where I should go from here.

How much have they figured out?

Neither Terrin or Kyan were challenged in the intelligence department; hell's bells, neither were little Link or Captain Joao. This led me to believe that they were indeed hot on my trail; yet I was also certain that, even if the signal I left for them had properly deciphered and followed, I still had a lead on them, with plenty of time to still get to where I was wanting to go once I actually reached my destination.

At least I hoped; oh how I fervently hoped!

Getting to my destination was one thing. Finding the right pathway to follow once there was quite another. Khaandon only knew what would happen at that point; this was where I was happy to hear that they were going to be there for me...

IF I NEEDED THEM

...and weren't simply rushing in all full of puffed-up gallantry, trying to protect the assumed damsel in distress...

Which I most certainly was not yet!

I drew in a breath, and reached to respond.

"Thank you, love. Thank you all for trusting in me.

"My Master. Ni Kelir earn norac gar trust Ni kar'taylir ner action has lost. gar cuyir jii ner buir, bal Ni kar'tayl gar darasuum."

I blinked, wondering how I'd managed that? Oh well, there ARE stranger things than are dreamt of in peoples' philosophies.

I guess that was one of them.

Smiling a little to myself, I hit "send," and checked my navigational section for current position.

Time for a course change...

Warmth filled me as Cin vehti dropped from hyperspace, adjusted her accoutrements, and took off along another vector. I knew what was waiting for me at the end of the roadway she was traveling along, and for the first time actually felt in my heart of hearts that I was doing the right thing.

And Khaandon help us all.

((Follow Galen as she continues her journey in Time and Time Again in the CSWU forums, thank you.))

I knew the ion-cloaking device was inherently built into Challenger, for most Aligned Worlds used such, which was automatically engaged when the ship in question went into hyperdrive.

But the Mandalorians, now there was another wrinkle.

I raised a finger.

"Scuse me, but would this ship be leaving an ion shadow from her hyperdrive engines? I mean, I realize masking engineering is more than likely used on Mandalorian ships as well as ours, but...

"Is it automatically engaged? If not, would Galen know how to employ it? Heck, would she even know she'd have to employ it? She might be assuming that it is automatic, if it really isn't, and just might be out there laying down a crumb-trail only a blind man wouldn't see.

“I'm use to my condition,” remarked Kyan. “Except for reading I probably can see better and further than you. Just took me a while to filter out the information I didn't need. To answer your question, I'm no engineer, and even if I was I'm 25 years removed from the Paladins development. What I do know is that ship Gal'ika is on was designed to deliver troops through heavy fire or deep behind enemy lines, stealth was a factor considered in its conception.”

As they talked a message came in over the comm from Galen, first thanking Terrin then a string of Mando'a directed at Kyan. Upon hearing the message Kyan felt strength leave him temportarily and he sat down in a near by chair and removed his helmet.

I was not expecting that Gal'ika speaking in fluent Mando'a perfect accent, my accent as if she had been speaking it her entire life.

“Vor entye,” said Kyan. “Elek ni kar'tayli gar darasuum ad'ika.”

He didn't send the message over comms but instead through the Force bond knowing Galen would hear and understand its meaning. Kyan then became aware of the others looking on at him baffled by both Galen's message and Kyan's response and tears.

"Exactly where, ahh... I mean, what vector do you propose I take?"

I waved my hand at the forward viewscreen, upon which was brilliantly displayed the local universe in all it's stellar beauty.

“Gal'ika is that way,” answered Kyan. “But as to distance or which way she is heading the scale is just to big to comprehend.”

He smiled then because of the message he overheard from Galen across the bond.

“Nothing [i]Gal'ika responding to my message,” Kyan laughed. “She saw something coming something that that is bigger more important than what we are dealing with. I still don't know what exactly she hopes to prevent it has to do with her sister, my grand daughter, her, myself... I have the knowledge, the images but I'm having trouble making sense of it even with Gal'ika's memories. Something is calling her and it has to do with that future we saw. She's worried that her actions will hurt us. So I plan on minimizing the damage or misfortune I saw, that begins with Kani and the Empire.”

Kyan opened a channel to Bes'in.

“Full disclosure,” said Kyan. “I'm invoking article one of the charter, activate all assets and deploy the fleet. I will address everyone accordingly.”

Kyan closed the commlink and leaned back in the chair, before addressing Yaoksi and Terrin.

Which was all just peachy for Kyan, who was probably worried sick about his Granddaughter....but would, in the end, do little to get them in position to assist Galen if she needed it...

Despite these concerns, Terrin had to remind himself that Galen did trust Kyan, and viewed him as more than just a Master but also as a Father figure. And Terrin also knew he needed more information if he was going to track her effectively, and said information may be gleaned from the Mandalorians, who knew their own ships way more than he did. After all, while he knew quite a bit about the make-up of most ships, Terrin wasn't in the business of selling ships of this variety. At least, not usually. And searching around blindly without anything to go on, compared to hanging back for a few hours to get some help that might pay off when it came to the big picture, was pretty stupid.

And aside from all that, Kyan did have a direct link to Galen. While Terrin really didn't think Kyan truly understood the gravity of what Galen had seen and felt...

...That Which Is, yet another Game Player in control of everything else, the Sith, the Dark Lord, her Sister...

...he also sensed, despite his reservations, that Kyan did truly care about Galen's well being. And quite possibly more than that.

Terrin sighed, hating the choices he was having to make, yearning with every moment that he was with Galen, instead of here, just trying to do the best he could while she risked herself. "All right," he finally said aloud. "We can give you a few hours."

Inwardly, Terrin winced a little at his own words, knowing they were on the short side.

He really hated this.

"And after, we are going to get ourselves in a place where we can be in at least a central location to Galen's potential destinations should she need us, unless something changes."

He paused, chewing his lip a bit in thought, considering which possible destinations Galen might, in fact, have in mind based on the conversations he'd had with her recently and all that had been going on. "She may be headed to Coruscant, to try to get Tarnus and the Empire on our side, or she may be headed to the Sith Worlds, to try to get her Sister, the Dark Lords, or both on our side..."

He trailed, another possibility regarding the latter almost hitting him square between the eyes.

"...or perhaps she's headed to the Sith Worlds to try to get some training from her Sister, who is one of the few who has control of the All." He paused again, his blue eyes turning a bit stormy. "And she's trained another before."

Trailing for a moment, Terrin pursed his lips, considering if Galen might have any other possible destinations. If Galen was thinking of somehow connecting with or bargaining with That Which Is...

...*shudder*....

...they had also seen that particular entity on Degobah before as well.

Oh, Hell no, surely she wasn't headded there...

He stood from the navboard, allowing Yaoski to take back over. "And maybe while you're talking with the Paladins, we ccan get the info on the masking technology regarding the ship Galen's on," he suggested, pretty positive however that a ship designed to do what Kyan stated probably had it. "Still, if she lands somewhere populated..."

...Fat chance...

"I do have some resources to tap in to to potentially find that out."

“Article one,” comment Bes'in. “About time.”

Article one or the primary mission of the Paladins was the preservation of the Mandalorian way of life, and combined with a full mobilization order could only mean one thing. Bes'in turned to face the holo.

“Cabu'ad Skirata,” Bes'in ordered. “A call to mobilize has been issued and confirmed by the Supreme Guardian, I hereby am ending your deep cover mission among the Imperials return to base with whatever assets you deem necessary and assume command of the Fleet.”

The figure saluted and signed off. Bes'in resided the lock down and strode out onto the command deck. All eyes turned to face him sensing the tension. He walked across the command deck and settled into his chair looking into the faces of each member before opening a channel to the entire site.

“This is Cab'uir Alor Skirata,” stated Bes'in. “By order of Cab'uir Alor Jetiis'ad I am authorize full mobilization of all Paladins. In one hour we make out presence known to all Mandalore, commence transfer of all equipment and prepare the Kal Skirata for flight operations.”

Bes'in signed off and immediately those present moved with sudden urgency to carry out a plan they had long trained for. Only once he say opperations were well underway did he open a channel with Kyan.

And with all the attention on me it gives Gal'ika the freedom to do what she needs.

“Understood Skirata,” replied Kyan. “I want a meeting of the Chieftains in an hour and a half, holo will be sufficient. All senior staff available and full broadcast, for now give Terrin and Link full access to our database, and flag anything that may indicate Gal'ika's final destination and intent for their review. Under no circumstances are you to interfere with her. Jetiis'ad out.”

"Seems like we've got ourselves a fleet," I announced brightly, before turning back to the waiting Kyan. I jerked a thumb aft-wards.

"The kid skedaddled back there, probably hacking into something or other; she's pretty good," I offered. Then I went over and seated myself in my pilot's chair.

"I'm ready to sky whenever you guys call it; just give me a destination and we're there. Oh, and something a little bit more definite than 'that way' would be appreciated."

My lips curled in a crooked grin, which I immediately squelched. Now was not the time to be seen as frivolous, not when Terrin's feisty little wife was out there risking herself for the cause.

The crux of that, to be honest, was something I was still trying to get used to. Mandalorian fleet beside us or no, I still couldn't imagine how we were going to really get anywhere in the upcoming fight. Even if the Impys threw their lot in with us; how the hell did anyone expect us to cooperate as one, gigantic unit without squabbling and in-fighting breaking out?

Hell, maybe that's what the Mandalorians were going to prove themselves useful. After all, they did say they were going to "police" us all, and not toss their coins into our collective pot.

Kyan went off and found Link in the galley, and like Yaoksi guessed she was slicing into some system or another.

“Hey galaxy's greatest slicer I have a gift for you and a challenge,” said Kyan. “First I got you unfettered access to the Paladin database, all of it. As for the challenge I need you to use that to slice into the holonet, I plan on making a broadcast and I need every holonet terminal to broadcast it. Every single one in the Galaxy.”

Kyan only waited long enough for Link to nod and get started at her task before returning to the cockpit.

"Hold yer dewbacks," I said as in tandem I held up a detaining palm. "I thought we were going to do our best to follow Galen's tracks, to be in the vicinity of wherever it is she's aiming toward so that if she needs our help we'll be there... and quick! ...to give it.

"But now we're going to Coruscant?! That might be a purty far pace down the road from her position, especially when he already "thinks" she's not going to be headed there."

I nodded significantly aft, where Kyan had just disappeared.

Terrin didn't reply, but I could tell by his visage he was thinking furiously, trying to come up with something concrete, something useful, that we could do. The only time I felt as helpless was that terrible day that demon came and ripped my soul apart with it's hideous attack on Nassy, sending her into shock and near-death induced coma.

We eyed each other in uncomfortable silence until the thump of boots signaled Kyan's joining us. I whirled to face him.

"Can I ask why you think that? I mean, why you're so certain Galen isn't going to Coruscant?"

Unconsciously I took up a somewhat defensive stance, arms crossed over my chest, legs a little bit wide. I mean, Kyan had been truthful with us in the past, and it appeared that Galen trusted him implicitly.

But now it seemed he was grabbing the reins and making the ronto go-!. I wasn't certain I liked the way he was taking charge here, and certainly wasn't happy with his vaguely stated plan of where why were going to Coruscant.

If only I knew where the hell the lil spitfire had taken off too; if Coruscant I'd be hot on her trail in a heartbeat, Impys be damned.

But what if she'd decided to go blasting off to, ohhhh... say Dantooine? Or back to the Sith worlds? They were a touch far from Coruscant; I didn't know if we'd be able to go to her aid if and when she hollered for it. Hell, I didn't even know if the Impys would just up and imprison the lot of us, considering it looked as if we were going there with a fleet of Mandalorian Warriors flanking us.

That's it, isn't it? I just DON'T KNOW...

...but there was one thing I did. Sure as shootin' I didn't want to lose my purty new ship so soon after I'd gotten it, which I felt down to my shoes was what would happen when the Impys caught sight of her and found the chance to do so.

However, putzing around in hidden realms in the Galaxy wasn't helping anyone either. And we did after all come seeking help from Mandalore, the first step in trying to unite all the peoples of the Galaxy into one cohesive unit, to fight against...

What?

Ahh, but THERE'S the crux now, isn't it you ol rancor...

I shook my head at my own reaction. Fat lot of good I'd be, we'd be if we slid as easily into old suspicions and hatreds as I had just done, and I had the advantage of knowing just WHY a pretty little ship would suddenly appear in Coruscant space, with Mandalorian muscle in attendance.

I suddenly wished that Galen had in fact gone to Coruscant.

She's probably the only one in the universe who could sway Tarnus's heart, despite the checkered past they've had with each other.

Here's hoping he'll be as amenable to listening to us, and will see the fleet for what it is.

Not a threat, but a preventative measure. Well, at least I hope it is. I'm sure there's really no love lost between Mandalore and the Impys.

"Hell," I muttered then as I turned and plopped into the pilot's seat again, my hands deftly reaching to this control and that sigil to lay in a course to Coruscant. When preparations had been made I sat quietly for a short moment, before announcing the same to the others.

Then, on the odd chance there'd be some bits of bread floating out there in the freedom of space, I began scanning the area, snipe hunting for the illusion of an ion trail Galen's Mandalorian ship might possibly have created.

Kinda sounded like the Paladins were getting ready to call the Empire's number.

Oh kriffing hell, this wouldn't do.

Not to mention he was all kinds of disturbed by how events were shifting, from them trying to figure out how to best help Galen out if she needed it to....

...to whatever the bloody Hell the Mandalorians were getting ready to do. Instead of going in blazing to ask just what exactly they thought they were doing, Terrin decided on perhaps a different approach. Not one that he liked, considering how he felt about it all...

...but again, trying to use his head rather than his heart in the matter. Cause if his heart had anything to do with it...

He'd be blasting off to the Hornett to do his own recon.

And there were a couple of things: Kyan still by far, had the best link to Galen. And with that and any information on the specs of the Mandalorian ship Galen took off in...

...maybe they'd have a good chance of getting to her when she needed it.

Terrin's blue eyes shot to Kyan. "Just wondering...

...what are the plans of the Paladins, exactly? The fleet, databases, information, and assistance are greatly appreciated...

...but I was kinda hoping we'd make some carefully laid connections and not necesarily go in guns blazing. Cause remember, when it's all said and done, Galen has been continually telling us that this is something greater than what we even know...

...something even more elusive and menacing, that by comparison makes us all minuscule, as though we are just game pieces in a game."

He paused, pursing his lips again. "Big fleets and armies be damned, if there's something even greater out there than That Which Is...

...all those things are not gonna be enough."

And admit it, Danner, the one thing that scares you the most is that Galen has a strength within her that might be key in all this...

...and you might not be able to do a damn thing to help or even protect her in the end...

“Ohh but I have been paying attention,” said Kyan. “The Paladin's yes serve the purpose you stated, that is why I help found them. Ultimately yes an alliance with the Empire could in fact end many of our current problems, even more so if it was someone other than Actar leading the Empire.”

Kyan worked the wrist mounted vibroblade, extending and retracting it as he talked.

“The situation as I see it present a multitude of factors and problems to consider,” contined Kyan. “I conceded that conventional methods will have little direct impact against the That Which Is you speak of. No doubt it still has its own conventional agents otherwise it would already roll over us, my guess is that it arranges its agents to harass and occupy those who can fight back. Those like Gal'ika and her sister. Look at what it has accomplished; the Empire has crushed the New Republic and the Jedi, the Sith remain contained to their Sector by choice or design, and all the other groups are too scared of either to do anything about it. Once these conditions have been fostered it becauses easier for their agents to identify threats to their masters then its up to them to eliminate, isolate, or convert to their cause.”

Kyan didn't exactly know how much of this they were taking in, it was only a theory after all.

But right now this is all I can do, until Gal'ika needs me.

“We then attack the problem on multiple fronts. One the Paladins and whatever future allies we raise will occupy the attention of the conventional agents. Two there was a reason the Jedi were destroyed and the Sith were isolated for a reason part of my plan includes reestablishing the Jedi and hopefully integrating the Sith into the rest of the Galaxy. The third aim is that the first two avenues of attack give Gal'ika the opportunity she needs to develop her powers, to find more information, and to gain effective allies. Our final avenue is to restore hope, you are right we don't know understand how to fight what Gal'ika saw. I choose to believe there is a way, and people like her will be the ones to do so. That is why I want everyone on the same page ready to chip in their lot when we are called.”

He really wasn't sure. And that's when reality hit him square between the eyes.

What's really bothering you about all of this is not what Kyan is saying, necessarily. At least, not exactly. It's really because, in the past, when Galen went off on her own and all was said and done, you were the one calling the lead shots on when to act and where to go and when to go after her. Now, there are the Mandalorians, the Paladins, and Kyan.

"Ok, so maybe you have a point," Terrin finally stated. "And truth be told, fighting battles on large scale isn't my arena. Still, I have experience with the Empire, with the Sith...

...and with That Which Is. And regarding the latter, I have some experience that is entirely too direct. I'm not suree it's quite as cut and dry as you think it may be."

He paused with that, hoping the statement didn't come across as a challenge, because it wasn't meant as that, but instead as a word of caution.

"And I must be honest with you in this now, as well. I came to Mandalore as an ambassador, to try to set up an alliance and to hopefully set in motion a chain of peoples working together instead of fighting, because I trust Galen and when she says there is a threat incoming that is beyond us all I believe it."

He paused.

"But--know this--if and when the time should come that I feel there is a potential threat to Galen, whether she asks for our help or not, she will now and always be my first priority."

Alliances and military plans be damned, came the mental addendum.

"I'm admittedly not sure why you think Galen will need us on Coruscant. Getting in and out of there is risky..."

He trailed, recalling oh so well his time in prison there. "...and believe me, getting out of there once you're caught by the wrong person is no easy task. Unless, of course, you know, or sense something, that you haven't stated?"

Terrin let the last question hang, not intending it as a threat, but merely a simple query, and hoping Kyan would take it as nothing but that.

“I don't know for sure if Gal'ika is or is not going to Coruscant,” answered Kyan. “Before she took off without me we received word that not only confirms Kan'ika is there, but that she believes that something important is happening in the highest levels of the Imperial government. Something that either the Paladins or myself can exploit. I don't see Gal'ika going there without me for that reason. Another possibility is the That Which Is has something to do with Kan'ika, Tarnus, or Actar. Tarnus she probably can handle, Actar is anyone’s guess if I understand her knowledge of him correctly, its Kan'ika I worry about.”

Kyan peered back into the memories of the flow walk and the battle with Kani.

The actions we take now, that we have taken are appearing to lead us away from that future. But in the areas that matter the most [i]Kan'ika is like her mother and that frightens me.[/i]

“Not just Kan'ika's safety I fear more for Gal'ika if those two meet,” said Kyan. “Kan'ika possesses two very unique and powerful bloodline abilities in the Force like her mother. I suspect that is why she wasn't out right killed by Actar and made into an Imperial agent. Even with access to my knowledge and abilities will not help Gal'ika if Actar did something to Kan'ika it possible that knowledge will make put her into even more danger. The point is that meeting has one of the worst possible outcomes when it comes to Gal'ika's safety.”

Kyan removed his helmet, arose from his chair, and stood eye level with Terrin. Even in his physical blindness Kyan's eyes remained focused on something in the distance.

"There are several possibilities. "She could have left you behind because she is going to Coruscant, and she thinks she saw you die at your granddaughter's hand. She wouldn't want that happening if she thought there was any way she could prevent it. As for anything that Actar could have done to your Kani..."

Terrin trailed, his eyes darkening as he recalled what the Admiral did last to Galen, "...I wouldn't put anything past him. Of course she could have gone to either of the Sith worlds...

...in which case the last time we parted from those worlds we didn't necessarily do so in the best of circumstances...

...but then again I have at least one employee there I do have contact with...

...and I hopefully have two, although last I heard one was imprisoned there. If Galen is headed there, she may be after anything...she's got good knowledge of both worlds and may know of a weapon or tool that I don't...and could be going on a scouting expedition and doesn't want anyone getting hurt. Or she could be doing what would be the most obvious, at least to me, and could be headed to her sister in hopes she could enlist her aid."

Terrin trailed, then continued with, "It's also possible she is seeking training there...her sister has done the teacher thing before and is a Dark Lady of the Sith. Those connections would be valuable with something so dark and deadly as Galen has seen. Still...we did see That Which Is on Degobah, and people did get hurt in the process of interacting with or being trapped by that entity...

...I don't know how likely it is but maybe she's headed there."

Terrin shook his head. "I just can't be sure. And I'm absolutely not sure what the best course of action is here. I just know I want to be ready and available whenever I need to be."

(((OCC: Sorry for the posting delay. It's been a long. very sad end of the week; we had a student in the department I work in pass away in transit to the hospital from our school.)))

“What I am about to reveal to you does not leave this vessel,” said Kyan. “I can actively hide some knowledge from Gal'ika and vice versa. I am hiding this ability from her for now because if she can't reveal it to her enemies they cannot prepare for it. So before I explain it, I need you, Yaoksi, and Link to understand this never leaves our group that I can do what I am about to show you.”

Kyan waited for a nod from the two men before unclipping a lightsaber from his belt and handed it to Terrin.

“Hold this,” said Kyan. He moved to the far side of the door way but remained within their sight before turning his back on them. Raising his had up into the air above his head Kyan made a grasping motion as if to hold something before tapping into his Force band to access his powers anchored through Galen. In one moment the lightsaber remained grasped in Terrin's hands in the next it was in Kyan's. He walked back into the room and read the stunned faces of the pair.

And had been trying to say to him all along.

Terrin shook his head a bit and sighed, probably to the surprise and even possible alarm of those around him. But it wasn't directed in any way towards them...

...but instead, towards himself.

Old habits die hard. And shoulder devils were obnoxious, persistent beings. Here he thought he'd gotten past his, and it had been sitting there, snickering in his ear, trying to tell him that Kyan didn't care about Galen or anything she had been saying.

Kriffing hell, what an idiot you are sometimes, Danner.

Shaking his head once more to clear his thoughts and his own self-reprimand, Terrin knew now was the time to start setting things right. Lifting a hand, he ran it from his forehead down the side of his face til at length his thumb rested under his chin, fingers curled over. Then he directed his blue eyes Kyan's way. "Look, I think we've gotten off on the wrong foot here...

...or at least, I have."

He sighed, letting his hand drop. "I've been so wrapped up in Galen going off on her own that I haven't really been hearing a damn thing you're telling me. And that won't help her at all...

...or anyone else."

He paused. "So until we get more intel from Galen's ship via your connections...or she gives us a lead somehow...

...maybe we ought to really sit down as friends and talk about what we're going to do here. After all, no one just visits Coruscant anymore...

...and the last time I was there I was spending time in a nasty little prison block with a good friend."

Terrin paused, scowling, then his look darkening to entirely something else as he recalled how Actar had lead him to believe Galen was dead when he was there. With effort, he put such thoughts aside and continued. "And technically, I should still be in said prison."

Quieting once more, Terrin pursed his lips, forcing himself to think instead of focusing on his concern for Galen, where she was going, and her safety and instead to what he could do to help until he knew more.

"We need to decide our approach into Coruscant, if that's in fact where we are going," he began, ticing off points with his fingers, "decide how you want to get to your Kani..."

"...and you mentioned something about a database that might help us track Galen's destination...?"

He arched an eyebrow. "Yeah, I'd love to have a look at that."

Yeah, and after that, dammit, I'd really like a drink, came an urestrained thought.

The three of them proceeded to the Galley joining Link at the table. Kyan took his helmet and set the commlink to speaker keying in Bes'in and Bes'in's granddaughter.

“I'm brining Bes'in and his granddaughter into the conversation because Bes'in represents the Paladins the public face of this operation and his Granddaughter the strategic commander of the Paladin fleet both have and important parts to play.” said Kyan. “The Paladins will deal with the physical agents of the That Which Is by extension the Vong, Empire, and Sith. All of this will in essense be a smokescreen one that will conceal our movements and if it goes according to plan help Gal'ika and let us track her. Now my announcement will likely make most of the major power blocks reposition themselves. While the Paladins work to strengthen our coalition we here in this ship move in secret.”

Kyan motioned to encompass the room.

....and realizing what his gut was telling him.

You know her Danner, better than anyone else here. And you know what she said to you after her flow walk with Kyan, about what was happening, and about how small she felt, and how big it all really was...

...so would she then really head off to Coruscant and try to stop the future she saw where Kyan was killed by his granddaughter...

...or would she see things in a larger spectrum than that?

You know the answer.

"Look, I think you're thinking of all of this on too small a scale," Terrin then said flatly. "What the Empire...or rather, Actar...is up to may be the immediate threat, but I remember what Galen said to me after she flow walked with you."

He paused, pursing his lips. "I don't think she'd go after your Kani at all." Terriin hoped the statement didn't sound as uncaring as he thought it might. "At least, not now," he then added, hoping to soften his previous statement "She's been saying all along, before she blasted out of here, that we were small, small pieces of what is going on. That there may not be anything we can do to stop it...

...and believe me, after the experiences I've had with Galen since I've known her, that is a huge possibility...

...and we therefore need to start thinking outside of the box. So what would our objective for going to Coruscant really be? To pull Kani out? How is that going to help Galen...

...or anyone in the long run? You said yourself the Paladins would handle the Empire, and I'm afraid if we head that way we are going to get ourselves stuck in a situation that won't allow us to move when we need to for either Kani or Galen.

And if and when the time comes, we need that freedom of movement. Or at least, I do."

Terrin paused then, realizing with a jolt what was really bothering him about all of this. "We've got good plans to start handling our concerns with the Empire, and with Actar, in letting the Paladins do their thing. I think the real issue here is that you are torn between how we can help Kani, and how we can help Galen. We know where Kani is, ad we have a modicum of contact with her. We can head in her direction...

...or maybe, since she has established some contact, direct her our way some how. After all...didn't she already establish contact with your peoples? And if she did, wouldn't us blasting in there to save the day blow her cover just as much as us trying to blast in and head after Galen without her needing it yet would?"

Quieting again, Terrin pursed his lips, his thoughts straying once more to Galen, hoping for a sign, anything. And hoping like hell that he made the right choices in the meantime...

Ter'ika has more experiences with Gal'ika, and she told me to trust him.

"I will leave Kani and the Empire to the Paladins," said Kyan. "You are right, for now Gal'ika would not go after her. Not unless she knew for sure there was a way to stop her without either of our deaths. Bes'in I leave both in your charge. What I need then is any information on how to track the vessel Gal'ika took. I know it would be optimistic to think a homing beacon would have been installed but if you or even Link can find something in the database that would be a start."

"Also keep our scouts on alert for Gal'ika," said Kyan. "They are still to provide aid if she asks but pass on any relevant information."

Kyan shifted in his seat scanning those present at the table.

It would help if we weren't flying so blind. If Kani is not the betrayal Gal'ika alluded to then what.

Terrin paused frowning. "I'm honestly not sure how she intends to approach That Which Is, if in fact that is what she's doing at all...

...but I also know she felt like there might be a Player even bigger than That Which Is....

...which is, quite frankly, a terrifying thought. I can tell you That Which Is likes rules, and things to fit in a Natural Order, and powers to be used as they were given and not amplified...

...and at one point it got so mad it, for lack of any other way to explain it, simply turned all supernatural powers such as the Force and the All completely off."

Terrin's eyes defocused, and he sighed. "We can speculate away as to what she may be doing and why she thinks in this she has betrayed anyone...but my gut tells me this is the most likely thing. I would, however, love to have more verification, cause she might still be counting on us to be one step behind her if something goes awry."

He paused again, the first hints of doubt in his beliefs regarding Galen's potential destination creeping forth. "Of course, she could still be headed to a Sith world, to her Sister...

...or there for something else entirely. She does have quite a knowledge of the Sith and of their devices, and maybe there's something she knows about that she thinks will help us. Still, I have at least one man I have contact with in the Sith worlds, and I can put him on the lookout."

There was a long pause with no one saying anything. Kyan took the opportunity to explore what Galen told him about his own potential. He tried to find something, in his mind he imagined the galaxy looking for someone in all that vastness was beyond impossible; there were too many beings to filter through. Kyan sighed at the futility of it all. Then from the Core Region, Coruscant, came an incredibly bright beacon within the Force. It didn’t take him long to identify that beacon.

“Kani,” Kyan said.

He continued to watch that beacon wanting to help for he could see her struggle and pain. Then another beacon joined the first, another Jedi he thought. The struggle continued and when it all appeared to be lost he felt a familiar presence within him reach out and lend aid to Kani. Briefly he could see Pria somehow stand next to her daughter and lend her the power she needed. In than moment the Galaxy lit up as all the Force sensitive across the galaxy all reacted to the beacon on Coruscant. Kyan noticed how there were very few with the ability to consciously observe what happened most responded out of reflex. Of those that could respond there were those in the area known as the Sith Diamond, a few scattered about the Empire, and one on a minor swamp world which held great importance to the Jedi.

“Dagobah,” Kyan exclaimed. “There is a powerful Force user on Dagobah.”

Kyan tried to read if this presence was Galen, he got nothing. Next he see if anything Galen was feeling corresponded with the characteristics of Dagobah, and again nothing.

That could be nothing; Gal’ika is hiding much of her senses from me. It is the best lead we have so far though.

But then, why wouldn't she want you with her to do something as risky as approaching That Which Is?

Unconciously, Terrin frowned, his eyes still clouded as he continued to think. An annoying shoulder devil...wretched beasties!!!...popped up on his shoulder.

Uhhhh...maybe because the last time you were around it was angered because you were unnaturally brought back to life...???

Terrin's blue eyes defocused, and he tried his damnedest to think logically. He had a strong suspicion that if they'd encountered That Which Is once on Degobah, that Galen could be successful with a second encounter, especially considering the questions she had. He didn't know what he could do to help her, outside of falling in behind her to be there should she need it...

...but then so far they hadn't even done that much. Instead they were sitting around debating things back and forth as if that was going to do anything to help anyone.

No wonder Galen got on the move. This back and forth stuff was for the birds...

With that, Terrin's eyes snapped alert, and his mind was suddenly made up. "Ok, so the Paladins and company are going to keep an eye out for Kani and this other Force user...."

He paused for just a moment. Who was with Kani that was a Force user..?

"...and we'll head out towards Degobah, which is a long trip, so we've got no time to lose. In the meantime I'm also going to touch base with my man in the Sith worlds, give him an update, and see what's happening there."

Terrin paused, pursing his lips and taking another moment to think, hoping that he wasn't overstepping too much but feeling like someone needed to make some decisions. Then he realized something, someething that hadn't been said just yet that he really thought needed to be. His blue eyes refocused. "And look, whatever Galen is doing out on Degobah, with That Which Is and the Sith being part of any of the possibilities, I just want everyone to know, up front, that I understand if you want to step out of this. We'll be crossing over multiple trade routes on our way from this side of the galaxy over towards Degobah...

...and this isn't my ship..."

Jasyn, Terrin here. I don't have the time to explain all of it, but I am shortly on my way to go to Galen, who has gone back to Degobah to do some...

He paused, searching for the right word.

Investigation.

He paused again, wincing at his last words...at the understatement in them. He knew Jasyn would be able to figure out what wasn't being said. He'd been on Degobah too, after all.

There is still some possibility she could also be headed to the Sith worlds, so keep an eye out for her...

He trailed again, wishing he had the time to explain further. There's a lot going on, and I can't get into it all. But be vigilant. You are safe where you are...

A pause. Or at least, he thought so.

...and hopefully we'll be able to reunite soon and catch up...

Kriffing hell, how long had it been...???

Let me know how things are progressing where you are and if you've had any luck finding Matt.

Finishing up the message, Terrin sent it off along a highly encrypted link to Jasyn, and then headed back to the others. He glanced at Kyan, his blue eyes clouding with worry.

"Can you sense anything further from Galen?" he asked.

Jasyn pressed the reply button.

We should arrive at K'eel Doba soon. Hopefully we'll be recieved well and can find Matt.

"I can't give you a definitive answer," Kyan replied. "Dagobah has such wild unchecked Force energies that make it difficult to sort through, from what I felt earlier it is more unlikely she is anywhere else. I do sense that she is safe, but that's the extent of my abilities for the moment."

Kyan wanted to think of more he could do to help but even with his enhanced abilities he remained physically blind. Then he thought of something he might be able to help with.

"Hey, of course I'm going to Dagobah! We're a committed group here, pal; I kinda thought you were part of it too!"

The continued hints of Force this, flow-walk that, and Kyan's weird way of knowing what was happening to who where... well at least in the case of his daughter but surprise, surprise, not in that of Captain Danner's feisty little wife, just set my teeth on edge. I forced a smile around them.

"You just contact your fleet that I thought we had, and go make sure your daughter is fine. I mean, I'm not meaning to sound begrudging or anything, it's your daughter after all. But there's something big and bad galloping somewhere out there over the horizon, pal. That kinda takes precedence in my book.

"And Captain Danner's wife seems to know something about it."

That was about all I was willing to allude to, knowing the bits and pieces that I did of her past experiences with Sith and evil and all that. Not to mention Ol' Google-Eyes, who Kyan still seemed a bit... hesitant to believe in.

I shrugged mentally, and continued.

"I'm laying in course to Dagobah, Terrin; I'll hang here for another twenty standard minutes, but then we're outta here."

Giving my head an imperious nod, I turned to my navigation console and began inputting course parameters.

Finally... we had an explicit destination!

I just hoped it would lead us to something fruitful... like the hot-headed whiz-bang pilot and sister to one of the spookiest ladies I'd ever laid my eyes on in my whole, entire life.

...and truthfully knowing down deep before anyone asked that they would. He couldn't help but feel on edge, not knowing for certain if Galen was safe but knowing for damn sure that if she said something was going down that was all kinds of significant that she was right.

He couldn't get the haunted look she had on her face after she'd been through that flow-walk with Kyan out of his head...

With effort, Terrin forced his mind to focus and looked Kyan's direction.

Did he get just how important this all was?

Then he looked to Yaoksi, who was now busying himself with getting the Challenger set to head to Degobah. Now there was someone who got it. Yaoksi not only got it, he'd been there, he'd seen it...

Then something Yaoksi had said to Kyan registered in Terrin's mind.

When Galen was taken by Tarnus and Shawn Petrolu had been with them helping, he was in constant meditation, trying to keep tabs on Galen to help find her. This guy....

...he'd supposedly connected so well with Galen during their flow walk together he could tap in to some of her abilities...but he couldn't sense her? Unless something was somehow shielding her presence wherever she was...

...which was certainly possible, of course...

...shouldn't he be more certain...?

"My employee and good friend Jasyn Lancaster is on one of the Sith Worlds, and will keep a lookout for Galen where he is. I trust him implicitly to do so and keep me posted should we be wrong as to Galen's destination."

He paused, his eyes defocusing a moment then refocusing on Kyan. "I know you are leaving Kani's needs to the Paladins...but can they assist us somehow if our speculation on Galen's whereabouts is incorrect as well?"

He paused, an obnoxious shoulder devil popping up. They sure as hell should be able to...

"Just seems logical to me," he finished with, waiting for Kyan's response...

...and for his actions....

I cannot explain what I don’t understand. It’s not an intelligence knowing but feeling I have felt before.

Feeling the eyes of everyone watching him waiting for a response. He let out a clearing breath centering his thoughts.

“I take it Gal’ika told you what we saw in the flow-walk,” asked Kyan. After a long pause he knew this to be the case. “That future we say is the most likely one but not one set is stone. I saw my own death and it is my granddaughter Kan’ika who kills me. Her pain at seeing me again, and future Galen’s pain. The terrible tragedy that future Galen had to endure and the cryptic warning. I won’t even attempt to understand everything I saw or how to prevent it. But then I also saw Kani alive, Galen alive, a generation of Jedi living in safety at a new Academy.”

“That future is also a possibility, perhaps it can come about without my death or Kani having to kill her grandfather. Galen has more potential than most give her credit for, and a gentle heart that few others can match. And I know that for now she is safe and while I can’t explain in any certain words she is on Degobah. And I made a promise to Galen as my apprentice and member of my family one that also includes you Terrin, and even you Captain Joao and Link to help where I can. What I know is I am needed here and Kani, well I’m leaving Kani to the toughest and most loyal people I know, present company excluded.”

Kyan looked across their faces with his other sight, seeing some recognition and agreement with what he said.

“But you are right even with their mission the Paladin’s can help in other ways,” Kyan agreed. “Uncle Bes’in these three present with me are to be given honorary rank of Colonel and access to our resources where it doesn’t detract from the Paladin’s primary missions. I also suggest we share our technology not requiring Mandalorian Iron with Eagle Enterprises perhaps we can even utilize some of their infrastructure for our own needs, we can work on that in the future. Once we're setup with access I’m sue Link or any of Terrin’s technicians can work out how to relay our needs to the Paladin’s, that is unless there is something specific you can think of?”

"Link can set anything we need up between us and the Paladins," he stated, knowing that was well more than true. "In regards to any specifics...

...I don't have anything just yet." He paused, pursing his lips, thinking. "What I do know is while Galen may be safe at the moment, that can change in less than a moment, too."

He paused again, memories of Sith demons and disembodied eyes popping out of nowhere playing about in his mind's eye.

"Besides, I'm pretty sure Degobah is not her final destination, but maybe just a stop along the way. That may be where both Eagle Enterprises and the Paladins could be of help."

If she doesn't run into Ole' Googly on Degobah first, the shoulder devil snorted. Or worse...you do remember what she related to you about the flow walk...and how she struggled with it...

"And regarding what she saw in the flow walk, yes, Galen related what she saw and felt to me. And while she talked about your death and Kani and also seeing her Sister and Stargazer and other Sith...

...what terrified her most was some grand Otherness that she saw and sensed, something entirely evil and apathetic, that made everything else small and minute."

Terrin paused, his eyes defocusing, his mind troubled.

Did Kyan see what Galen had seen?

His eyes snapped alert, and he looked to Kyan. "As for Galen's heart and her abilities, I've seen both in action, more times than I can count, and I have full trust in both. She's seen something that has terrified her so much that, as much as it scares the hell out of me, she's gone out on her own to try to figure it out and protect us all from something that frightened her to her very core. I trust her with my life, and if she says it's that serious...

I believe her."

He paused, pursing his lips again. "This is about more than our small, fragile lives."

Bloody kriffing hell, they needed to get out of here. Galen was counting on them....

...counting on him.

Terrin took a deep breath, trying to clear his increasing worry concerning her safety.

It didn't work. For a brief moment he wondered how the hell he sat back in his office and simply sold ships here and there...

...not caring about anyone or anything when he knew deep down there was more to life. That Terrin was long gone.

"Well," he said, tired of the silence and hoping saying something would distract him from his concerns, "I'm certain Link can set up any connections that we may need whether we are here or on the move," he stated. "And knowing Galen, if she wants us at her back she's left us some bread crumbs...

...and I don't want to wait around too long and miss them."

Terrin paused, turning Yaoksi's way, sensing the pilot was more than ready to be on the move. "Captain Joao, let's get the Hell out of here."

And it's about time, too!

Unraveling myself from the comfy position I'd assumed in my flight seat...

...assuming, after all, that the twenty standard minutes I'd specified would more than likely segue into hours, the way those two kept at it with Paladins this and Kani that...

...I faced forward, front and center. My hands flew across the controls, toggled a lever and flipped a switch.

Challenger let forth a deep and visceral sort of thrum, and burst off into hyperspace. Behind us lay...

What? Intrigues? Confusion, chaos, uncertainty. The coming of Mandalore, back into the Grand Galactic Scheme of Things. And lucky, lucky us, we wouldn't be there when the sand hit the props.

Nope, we'd be too busy facing something far worse. This I knew down to the very depth of my soul of souls.

Bloody kriffing hell, he didn't know what he'd do if something happened to her. She had been so terrified after the flow walk...

Terrin's blue eyes slid to rest on Kyan, who had remained remarkably quiet considering all that was falling into place. Or rather, perhaps, out of place. A shoulder angel--annoying beastie--popped up to point out that the Jedi Master was no doubt trying to do his best to both please them and try to gain answers on where Galen possibly was and how she was.

A devil popped up almost unbidden. He better damn well be.

Terrin closed his eyes and sighed, reaching up to pinch the bridge of his nose with his fingers, trying to shake the feelings of worry in his psyche.

"Master Kyan, I trust you will let us know if you feel anything else regarding Galen."

The statement was nothing more than that. Or at least Terrin didn't think it was, not consciously at least.

I was back in Cin vehti, heaped on the floor. Beside me lay my armor in a tidy pile. Emergency lighting was on, my nav-board glared a terrible darkness of it's own, sparked only by one tiny, insistently blinking red light.

Universal SOS.

I sighed and clambered shakily to my feet, one hand reaching out to grasp the back of my nav-chair as my reeling body tried to give into the vagaries of gravity and dump me unceremoniously back onto the deck. Waiting for dizziness to depart, I shook my head to relieve the ringing still occupying my ears. In that I was marginally successful, for that ringing slowly disappeared.

Only to be replace with a final taunting word:

Entropy.

That brought me down to the floor with a thump. I could only sit, wondering at the strangeness of it all, wondering if indeed I had experienced what I thought I just had...

And wondering if anyone was going to ever find me, stranded wherever in Hell's Seven Circles I was, all by myself in a mysteriously crippled ship.

All I knew, for I could feel it, was that there was nothing more to surround me than space, deep and cold.

But strangely enough, it somehow seemed no longer quite as lonely.

“I won’t lie,” said Kyan. “I can’t understand what is going on around Gal’ika at the moment. It might be because she doesn’t grasp the entirety of the situation herself. There is too much I don’t know how to put into words, the way it speaks past you. I can’t help but feel like we are being toyed with by all of this.”

He stopped. Looking out across the galaxy and feeling Galen, Pop back into reality

Cautiously he reached out, not probing for a location but offering reassurance at the same time. Then across the void with his thoughts and softly Kyan spoke aloud, “Gal’ika. I what happened, I sensed...”

Kyan stopped, while he may be able to know Galen was not in any immediate danger, he did not want the others jumping to any conclusions.

“No that doesn’t matter,” Kyan continued. “Are you alright and what do you need from us?”

I about fell out of my chair.

In fact, I did fall out of my chair.

Scrambling to my knees, I instinctively reached for the comm, only to quickly yank back my hand.

Damn, but that was cold!

Not to mention still as useless as a third tail on a womprat.

Rising to my feet then, I closed my eyes and focused, trying to marshall my wildly fluctuating thoughts in order to send something more cohesive back into the mind of my surrogate Father.

"I am alive, Father!" I sent forth, not knowing if he would receive my thoughts or not. "But I am unsure of where I am. I went to Dagobah, but due to, circumstances there..."

Although I tried to keep the thought from my head, it popped in anyway. The last thing I wanted to do was to alarm Master Kyan, but I simply couldn't help it. I swore with the realization that an extremely clear image of Roan, enlarged and looming, eyes of violet and chrome, and shadowed with a mere wisp of something black, had traveled along the link between us, menacingly ominous in its portent.

With an inward shake of my head, I went on quickly, this time trying a slightly different tack, one that was much easier to focus upon.

"So far I am well, but cin Vehti is dead. It is doubtful I bring any of his systems back online. However the emergency SOS beacon appears to be working; I'm sure that if you get close enough to my current location you will be able to pick up on it."

With that I plopped back into my seat, letting my head fall back as a great rush of relief flooded my being. I was going to be found, or at least I had the hope now of being found, and would just as hopefully be reunited with my new father and Teacher at least. If lucky, I could hold out until he managed to find me.

With that I reached for my armor, and began donning it. The cloud of frosted breath forced from my lips as I grunted with my task only underscored what I already knew from the moment I'd reached for the comm system. It was beginning to get pretty damned cold in here, the onboard temperature dropping by the minute. In fact, delicate crystals of ice had already begun to sublimate from the ship's atmosphere, and were now developing a beautiful if deadly coating on the console and the bulkheads around me. Warmth from my armor's built-in heating system was a much-needed commodity at the moment, and one for which I gave fervent thanks.

For all I knew I was sitting at the opposite side of the Galaxy from where he was. Communication bandwidths were carried along by energy, which was light. And light's energy not only dissipated with distance, but at a faster and faster rate the farther and farther one was from the source.

Khaandon alone knew how long it would take for the ship bearing Kyan to find me, wherever in Hell that actually was.

“Drop the ship out of hyperspace,” Kyan stated. “Dead stop, then meet me in the galley. Gal’ika is not in immediate danger but I need a holo projector, have Link set one up with a current map of the galaxy.”

He didn’t wait for Terrin and the others to comply he walked off to the galley and returned to his conversation with Galen.

"I'll go look," I sent back, wondering what in Khaandon's universe that reactor would look like.

I mean, it was Mandalorian, wasn't it?

Then I brightened: maybe Master Kyan would be able to somehow see through my eyes, and would in that way let me know not only what the thing looked like, but how the hell to connect it to the armor.

I hastened aft, and started rummaging around in the lockers, moving items aside items which quite obviously were small storage containers, digging and scrounging to find something that looked closest to being...

Well... a big honkin' battery.

Link slid out of her co-pilots chair and followed Kyan to the galley. There was no need to find a holo projector, while Link knew Yaoksi probably had the flight systems all memorized to the most minute detail Link prided herself in understanding how all the other systems interacted within the computer core. She had already memorized most of the features, like how the main circular table in the galley doubled as a very high end holoprojector.

She sat opposite of Kyan, still uncomfortable around the Jedi.

Kriffing hell, not just that, but of her safety.

The fact Kyan said Galen was not in any imeidate danger did little to reassure Terrin of anything. Damn Jedi, always choosing their words so very carefully, this really seemed to mean that danger was still on the horizon even though it wasn't necessarily happening at the moment. Shawn was pretty wont to do the same sort of thing...

...and you trusted him, Terrin, a shoulder angel whispered in his ear. Or at least, you did eventually...

Shaking himself from darkening thoughts, he heard Kyan's final request and turned marginally, arching his eyebrow in Yaoksi's general direction, not certain what to make of what the Jedi was asking for but knowing it was the first real potential lead they had. Then he headed to the galley, where Link and Kyan already were seated and Link asked her more than reasonable question.

"I'm assuming the holoprojector isn't for him exactly," Terrin suggested, wondering just what Kyan might want with it himself.

Whatever they were going to do, they needed to do it quickly.

"We can project a good galaxy map from my wristcomm," Terrin then said aloud. Being the owner of a ship industry had its perks--they constantly kept their galaxy maps updated and every employee had immediate access to one, just in case a buy/sell exchange popped up or something in regards to shipyards and new technical specs happened. It took seconds for him to access said galaxy map before he removed his wristcomm entirely and connecting it to the galley table. The moment the connection was secure the galaxy map popped to full color life on the table right in front of them.

Terrin shifted his gaze to Kyan, arching an eyebrow. "Ok, now what?"

Even as he asked, Terrin couldn't help but start to mentally calculate what he might be able to do to get someone out to Galen, just in case the time aspect didn't work out in their favor...

He set the shot glasses in front of Link, holding back two for himself.

“Between you and Terrin place one as close to the locations I give you,” Kyan continued. “Coruscant, Corellia, Yavin 4, Mandalore, Dagobah, Bastion, Sith Empire.”

Kyan started reaching in the same way he tried to find Kani and Galen earlier. He could see the galaxy in his mind, the many lives creating a map for him. The places he had listed off either being the most populated or anomalies in the Force he could focus on. Once he heard the last glass being placed Kyan overlaid he own vision with his sensation of the table. He studied it for a moment and placed a glass down along the path between Mandalore and Dagobah. He turned to the others observing his work.

Typical Mandalorian design... yeah, right...

The problem was that cin Vehti was a Mandalorian ship, and everything aboard her was of Mandalorian design. But I didn't let that deter me. I knew somewhere in the wealth of storage cubbies I would find what Master Kyan assured that I would.

And at length I did.

And it did look all the world like a standard battery. I suppose that some things are just universal. Divergent evolution and all that.

The thing was much smaller than I expected it to be, thank Khaandon and his creation of little green worrts. For I had been entertaining ideas that the device to which I needed to be hooked up would have been large and bulky. Portability was a nice perk.

I took it from it's compartment and moved it around in my hands a bit to study it. About the size of my shoulder plate, it was more cylindrical in shape than I'd assumed. A flexible line snaked from one end of it, which had an obvious male connector on the end. Coming from the middle there extended a quite obvious belt-like strap, with which I was visually instructed to put around my waist.

I did so, scowling a little at the fit. For one thing, it did not adhere to me with the glove-like grace of my armor; obviously this was something of a "one size fits all" sort of thing. The straps only shortened so much, which made it just enough too long to be an annoyance.

But who was I to look a gift ronto in the mouth?

Reaching one hand around my back I quickly located the port of which Kyan had spoken, and with the other plugged in the snaking line.

At least that fitted perfectly! It would not do to have a loose connection!

Still supporting the small but weightily bulky power pack with my hand, I then bent over so it would remain balanced. Quickly, I snapped the belt around myself and then straightened up.

The thing made quite the annoying slap against my hinder parts, which after allotting it a brief scowl I then dismissed.

Gift ronto, Galen...

A few moment's of fumbling around and I managed to get the power flowing. Then I began fiddling with the belt, testing the length of the power conduit to see if I could at least get the device moved around, if not to my front, then at least more to one side.

I didn't know how long it was going to take everyone to find me, and sure as Khaandon made those aforementioned little green worrts it would be nice to be able to sit while I waited.

Terrin nodded, then spoke up. "Based on the speed capabilities of this ship, the minimal amount of travel time we’ve had in hyperspace, and the most logical flight pattern, that looks about right to me.”

He paused then, unable to stop himself from wondering if they would get to Galen in time to help her, even knowing her probable location.

Kriffing hell, even if they could get there, it’d probably be cutting things close.

He then said as much to the others. “I’ve got some resources we can tap into to get to her if we can’t make it in time,” he then stated.

At least one rather ahhhhh... large resource too, eh Danner???

“Or-“ here he paused once more, glancing over to Kyan, “Maybe your Paladins can help? She is in a Mandolorian ship after all, and while my Eagle Enterprises guys would be all over it, they aren’t going to have a clue how to fix it.”

And Galen might want to have the ship fixed and keep going on her own, right pal? a shoulder devil snorted.

Quite surprisingly--or perhaps maybe not, after all they had been through together--Terrin was able to answer the thought easily. And if that’s what she decides to do, I’m going to trust her and do what she needs me to do, until such a time as she is in danger…

..and then I know what I’ll do, and so does she…

“There is no harm with preparing contingencies,” Kyan answered. “I believe we should first find where Gal’ika is then we can best use our available resources. Now I think I can help Gal’ika find out where she is but for that I do need quiet. If something happens I will let you know.”

First Kyan set a chair at one end of the table and sat in a chair oposite to it. He was still clutching the remaining shot glass in his hand. Reaching back out to Galen he calmed his mind focusing on her.

“Gal’ika,” Kyan conveyed. “I’m ready on my end, I believe I can help you find out where you are. If you can sit at one end of the room you are in and envision me sitting just as I am doing for you.

He peered across the table in his mind he could fashion an apparition of Galen sitting opposite of him in the empty chair.

Beskar iron! Impressive...

Finding no need for the waist straps any longer, I then quickly unsnapped the connecting buckle, and almost had my fingers smacked as they quickly re-wound and disappeared into a hidden compartment on the chemical reactor. This little bit of excitement over, I then moved back to the pilot's seat and sat down, squirming around a bit before finally getting comfortable.

I was thus in the middle of settling in for the duration when Master Kyan's voice came into my ears, as solid and assuring as if he was sitting there next to me.

Which was what he wanted me to envision. Okay then...

I glanced to the seat next to me, squinted, swallowed and stared. Nothing.

Shaking my head, I rolled it around, bending my neck from side to side to stretch out the muscles, pursed my lips and tried again, pinning an intense look on that empty chair. It remained empty.

Ok, Galen, this obviously isn't going to work. Maybe you're trying too hard...

Drawing in a deep breath, I closed my eyes. Focused on a spot just behind my lids, a spot revealed by a little dancing black blotch, which floated and moved and danced like a fairy sprite in springtime. I let my breathing slow, followed that little splotch, didn't even realize that by doing so not only was my breathing slowing but my heart rate as well. Thoughts of Ol' Googly, of what I'd just experienced slowly segued into my experience when Flow-walking with Master Kyan. I let those images come, noticing somewhat vaguely now that the little dancing dot was getting more and more noticeable.

Not that it was getting bigger, but rather darker by comparison to my inner lids, which for some strange reason were lightening up from deepest bloody-black through shades of rust and ochre to a strange sort of tan to the purest white, the white only seen in the heart of a star.

The black mote danced a jig, wriggled a mysterious visual spell, and disappeared.

I opened my eyes to find nothing but The White.

Well, not quite nothing...

"Hello, Master," I greeted Kyan, before sheepishly dropping my eyes from his white-staring ones.

"Forgive me for deceiving you but..."

But what? What could I say? In fact, did I need to say anything at all?

A warm feeling suddenly flooded my being; I reached out and took up his virtual hand in mine. It felt solid and warm in turn, which was rather strange since I was fully armored at this point and truly did not expect to find such a distinct feeling of flesh against flesh as I just did.

“Forgiveness for what?” Kyan asked. “Was your intent to hurt me, Terrin, or the others? Did you abandon your own sense of self? You acted as you thought best, not out of malicious intent. The way the Force speaks to me is not the way it may speak to you. So I recognize you need to do things your own way from time to time. You know this to bf true as well, and that is the mark of a true Mandalorian.”

He released his hand and clenching it into a fist lightly rapped his knuckles against her shoulder.

She is starting to know the world and how she fits in it.

“I can see your trust in your own abilities has grown,” said Kyan. “It is strange circumstances to have a lesson like this, however we take what we are given at times. Now by comparison to what you are doing now this is the same principle.

Kyan motioned in front of him to where there was a physical star map, and in his own mind his Force Perception of the galaxy.

In the movement, something that was as much a part of me as the heart that beat in my chest now travelled through Cin vheti’s navigational console, passed between the very molecules of the forward viewscreen, through the very plating of the hull itself. I/it did not stop there, but continued ”onward”, one strangely seeking step after another after another after another.

At length I/it came to a position where time did not merely halt, it did not suddenly cease to exist, but rather…

Never had been.

The penultimate Non.

There I paused, stretched out, seeking those brilliant white lines which once had linked me to the flow of the very universe, that which gives life exactly that, that thing without which nothing could occur, nothing could ever happen. Nothing could grow, beginning individual journeys that started as a tiny bud before blossoming forth, seeking and finding potentialities unguessable, only to finally wither and die and in the process offering bits of itself back into the cycle to keep it smoothly running, day after day, year after year, eon after eon.

Time.

I looked this way, peered that. Gyrated slowly, my virtual eyes peeled, my itself reaching out for what exists.For That Which Is.

There was nothing. Only The White.

I did not allow myself one lick of disappointment, for my failure was not for the lacking of any capability in this quest…This I knew into my very soul of souls…

But for lacking the patience necessary in seeking it.

And so, in this place of not-Time I merely paused, striving to simply let it be, waiting until something within me would be recognized by what I certainly did not know, but recognized all the same, and let what I unconsciously felt to be millennia pass.

Somewhere.

At length something happened.

A strange sort of ripple marred the perfection of The White. It was as if something immense had taken it up, and me along with it, crumpled it into a ball of unknowable proportions, and let it go. The White immediately sprang into it’s normal self, bursting with the most beautiful Black I had ever seen in my life.

Deep that black was, cold and void. Screaming and crying out in a pain so agonizingly profound it could only be springing from utter loneliness, The Black seemed to stretch itself forward.

Ah. There was forward

In fact, Now had meaning…

Little by little, bit by bit, in this place and in that, tiny white dots blossomed. They grew in number, forming in not hundreds or thousands or millions, but in billions! Seeking each other, they joined together in jaw-droppingly beautiful pin-wheeling communities, held together by the social ties of gravity.

I/it suddenly found myself racing Forward, approaching a particular pinwheel. It rotated majestically against The Black, it’s cousins dotting the background, dotting The Black now stretching into infinity all around me, even as a good chunk of that grew brighter and brighter, filled with growing dots of every conceivable color.

My Brothers.

I raised my virtual arms to them, stretched out to them, yearning not just to be amidst them but to BE them…

Not… yet.

And found myself surrounded by stars.

Blinking my virtual eyes, eyes now filled with flowing tears for the grandeur of it all I dared the mundanity of communication.

”I think I am here, Master Kyan,” I breathed, sending that whisper of direction across the connection I now knew in my heart to be one created not by our mere and laughable efforts, but by something much MUCH bigger.

Why? came immediately to mind, immediately squelched.

Who are we?

“Good,” Kyan replied. “I am seeing it as well, this is close to what it is like for me to see. For now this will serve our purposes. Among all the points of light one of them is me, another is you, and when you learn how to look carefully you may be able to identify even those that have a less of a connection with the Force.”

Kyan turned his attention briefly back to the Challenger. He selected Terrin and focusing on him Kyan began to direct the Force to surround Terrin. It was similar to healing but Kyan kept the effect low enough that Terrin shouldn’t have been able to notice even if he was Force sensitive. What it did do was cause the light that represented Terrin to glow ever so brighter in his perception and should correspond to Galen’s as well.

He does not understand; can he ever understand? And if not, how can he truthfully teach me?

The little doubt niggled, grew from a tiny kernel into a nit-sized bud, then dissolved away into my very being. Now set aside, for there were other things more worrisome I feared, I drew in a deep breath, struggled to find a commonality by which he would be able to discern my position.

I wasn't certain as to how he was interpreting those brilliant motes, but sure as there's Treasure on Roon it wasn't as the blazing stellar bodies I knew into my soul of souls that they were.

A small noise escaped me as I sighed.

"Master Kyan," I sent back in communication. "I do not understand what you mean.

"For surely what I have just felt, just... seen, is nothing more than the beauty of galaxies and the untold billions of stars within them.

"I'm sending you that which is outside Cin vheti" I finished, stifling the addendum which tried to follow along the
forceful pathway.

I hope...

"Hey, while Master Kyan is doing what he's doing to help Galen, I need to touch base with some resources of my own because they may be able to get to Galen faster than we can. My wristcomm is hooked up to the holoprojector giving Kyan a galaxy map, so I'd like to use your comm while we're in reealspace, if you wouldn't mind..."

Yeah, while we're sitting here in realspace, and time is ticking... came a damnable mental rejoinder.

"Sure pal," I rejoined, stepping a bit sideways and waving a hand toward the console. "The comm's all yours."

Then trusting him completely to not drop us out of hyperspace or ram us through a nearby star, I continued aft, secure in the knowledge that we were at last doing something, even if that something was heading off to the dismal swamp world of Dagobah.

"Aaron it's Terrin aboard the Challenger, Yaoksi Joao's ship. We've been to Mandolore and spoken with some leaders there about a potential alliance, but in the meantime some things came up and Galen went on her own in a Mandolorian ship to take care of some things.

Here he paused. He could imagine what Aaron would be thinking at this point. But he also knew that with his next words, whatever Aaron might be thinking wouldn't matter.

Her ship has fallen into some trouble, and she has been thrown into deep space, potentially near Degobah, with her systems dead. If the Hornett is where I think she is. or anywhere nearby, we are probably going to need your help. Please let me know you've received my message and of your current location. It could very well be the best shot we've got of getting to her.

Sending off the message, Terrin decided to wait a few minutes, knowing that Aaron would no doubt respond as soon as possible after receiving a message on his personal comm frequency.

Aaron Barnes had been sitting in his plush office aboard the recently serviced Hornett when Terrin's call came through. Not having heard from his partner in quite some time, Aaron immediately opened up the message and listened, an admixture of thoughts and feelings coming to his mind as he did.

Mandalore? An Alliance? And Galen had gone off on her own on a Mandolorian ship?

Hmmm.

Sounds like we need to catch up, Aaron said as he began his response. An Alliance? He fell silent, letting the question hang for a moment. After all, although Terrin was the primary owner of Eagle Enterprises, he did have a penchant for moving from one activity to another, having enough wealth to pursue what he was interested in at the time. That was how he'd helped Shayla Stargazer create her information smuggling agency, then moved on to activities which crossed him with the Empire and a Moff and creating Eagle Enterprises..

And now to doing whatever it took to protect his wife, whose background Aaron was now knowledgeable of. And Aaron was quite settled being the one that the majority of EE business rested on while Terrin did what he needed to do, still checking in and keeping tabs on the business himself more than some might suppose.

And your ship is close to right where you left her last, Aaron continued[/i] knowing that if and when Terrin wanted specifics, he'd ask. I'm sure we have some employees in various areas who can help out if need be. Just keep me posted, I'll keep my wristcomm close in case you have any updates.

Closing with that, Aaron sent the message along his encrypted frequency back to the one that Terrin had sent his initial one.

That call, that voice it still beckons no promises so much. The Force spoke with its calm reassurance this had an air of seduction. When I take that step its as if the eyes beyond it suddenly notice me, evaluating whether I can see them, daring me to step into their arena. And I can’t do it.

He knew it was there, the answers or at least he thought he was meant to believe that idea.

No Gal’ika first, regret and self deprecation can come later. The important thing is Gal’ika is showing you something.

He felt himself moving out of the Cin Vheti, looking around He tried to identify what exactly he was looking at. There was a field of stars just out side and more than that something that held beauty, knowledge, power. Kyan didn’t know how to describe it when he tried to form it into words one phrase came to mind The White. It was a bit of irony that this was a rough translation of Cin Vheti.

No Kyan focus. There is Coruscant, Mandalore, Corrilia.

“I’m not sure if I understand this,” Kyan gestured. “But we can work with it, give me a moment”

Kyan released the shot glass he was holding allowing it to fall. Before it actually hit the ground the glass slowed, stopped, then began to rise. Darting back and forth among the other glasses eventually it came to a rest, above the galactic plane it hovered same where between what he guessed was Yavin and the Sith Diamond.

“I’ll get the other,” Link said. “Just don’t teleport us while I’m gone.”

Heading over to the cockpit she found Yaoksi and Terrnin over near one of the comm pannels.

"If Galen's located somewere in the area where the glass is hovering," Terrin then said, knowing that whether or not Kyan had a basic knowledge of the galaxy map that he probably didn't know every single planet on the map, "She's potentially more within the mid to outer rim to unknown regions."

Here he paused, actually somewhat relieved that she might not be quite as far away from them as he had originally thought. "Based on the map we've got some good points of contact for her, and to get to her, especially if she's been thrown more mid-rim. Ord Mantell is in the vicinity, and I've certainly got some contacts there with it being a commercial hub, and there's Bilbringi nearby. Dorin is also in the path, and I've got some contacts there due to some technologies they have available. But if she was thrown more to the outer rim and closer to the Sith Diamond..."

Terrin paused, frowning. "...I've got at least one employee out that way, but I'm not sure if he'll be able to get to her, at least not quickly."

Terrin quieted and sighed, wishing for all the worlds that there was more he could do to clearly ascertain Galen's location. He knew that Kyan was trying everything he coud to find her, but Kyan and Galen were speaking in terms which he didn't...of the Force and the All...and he spoke in terms of numbers and coordinates.

"This is a good start," Terrin said, "And we can at least get headed in the right direction towards her...

...but in the meantime, I need the impossible. I need a way to pinpoint Galen's exact location." He paused, for just a moment. "And we need to get headed in what we at least think is the right direction."

Having said that, Terrin took a few steps back to the Challenger's cabin, quickly filling Yaoksi Joao in on what Kyan had found out and letting him know they needed to stop and reroute. Then he headed back to the galley, his mind still spinning on any options they had. He stared at the map as if Galen's location would magically just appear there, chewing his lower lip once more. Something clicked.

"You said the ship is operating on emergency power, and her armor's life support is being supplemented so it's still operational. Two questions....will that ship, in emergency mode, emit any distress signal? And does her armor have any communications ability?"

I spun on my heels, my brief caf-seeking sojourn nipped in the proverbial bud, and shot back to the cabin. My hands were reaching for the controls even as I threw myself into the pilot's seat again.

Mere seconds later, and we had dropped from hyperspace and had ground to a proverbial halt whilst I applied myself to gathering what information I needed to quite literally tell me where in the universe we were.

Well, at least where in the Galaxy...

I flipped on a switch, and a small holo-projection of the Galactic map popped into view in front of me. It rotated majestically, slowly enough that I could finally find the tiny blue dot which differentiated our presence from the wealth of colorful jewels displayed there.

OK, so we're somewhere fairly deserted, in the Expansion Area, fast approaching the famous Correllian Run Corridor. That’s good, there shouldn’t be anyone around to notice us then.

The smile that was developing on my lips quickly faded with the realization that although we needed to turn around, where was it that we needed to turn around to? In what specific vector?

I pursed my lips, then straightened.

This is why they pay you the Big Bucks, pal! I admonished myself as with now steady hands I laid in the most logical course I could think of. For if Galen was somewhere between Yavin space and that of the Sith worlds, the best place to use as sort of a “space base” from which to spring in order to get to her quickly should be somewhere right in the middle. Or at least as close as I could come to it.

Thus our first trajectory would follow a vector leading in a bit of an arc above the plane of the galaxy, so as to minimize chances of flying through a star or planet as we traversed the Galactic Core, coming down to a spot near the Bright Jewel Cluster north of Ord Mantell and west of Phaeda. Located there was another nice and fairly empty spot where we could hunker, and one from which it would be fairly easy to head either east toward Yavin, or west into the Wild Regions and the Sith worlds.

I shuddered a little, hoping we wouldn’t have to be taking the latter of those two options. Then, knowing every second was of the essence, I tapped a sigil on the navigational console and made it so.

Challenger once more let out that deep thrum, oriented herself against the background of twinkling stars, and shot off into hyperspace. I let out a chuff of breath, punched in auto-pilot and rose to my feet.

Now to go get me some caf!

Kriffing hell. Never tell me The Odds...not these kinds of odds...

Terrin's eyes defocused, knowing he could call Bes'in and the Paladins all day long for help, but uncertain if finding out that they could get a signal from any kind of SOS or from Galen's armor would help them in the long run, especially still having quite a large chunk of galaxy to find her in even with Kyan's narrowing it down to a quadrant.

After all, even with the best sensor range out there...

His blue eyes clouded over a bit more, troubled. He'd been here before, several times. He'd been able get to Galen too, but each time was with a combination of technology, alliances...

...and pretty much always involved either the Sith, Jedi, or both. After all, Shawn Petrolu had been able to help him find and track Galen when Tarnus had taken her....

So why, with the connection that Kyan had to Galen, couldn't he? Especially since Galen had also been able to connect with Kyan? And since she had a connection with something far beyond the Force? He was sure of it.

Couldn't Kyan see that? Use that?

"Can't you use the Force to track her somehow?" Terrin then said aloud. "I mean I've seen it done before..."

With Galen, no less.

"...and you do have a connection with her, far beyond most that I've had help me find her when she's gotten herself in a bind before."

He THINKS he can work with this? muttered in the back of my head as the strange connection between me and Master Kyan wavered for a moment, as if he was directing his attention away from me to speak with someone else.

WHICH he's more than likely doing. Calm down, Galen!

The self-admonition sent the rising flock of geese to settle quietly on my back, where they nestled down to take a nap. Meanwhile, shoving down my errant temper as I just had allowed that bit of logic residing within me a chance to raise up and wave a hand. It was an unusual feeling, for admittedly I hadn't been much of one for logic, but I'd learned throughout the recent years that when this particular little Red Flag sat up and waved, I'd better pay attention.

I did, much to my discomfiture, for it was telling me that Master Kyan didn't have a womprat's chance in a sandcat's nest of finding me.

Who am I kidding? came directly on the heels of that. He's lost connection with the Force, remember? I don't know how we managed the Flow Walk, maybe it was something else in me that made that happen, maybe not. But something happened, sure as there's Treasure on Roon!

Maybe that something will jolly along now and help us...

I drew in a breath, snuggled more comfortably in my seat, adjusted the power pack a bit more to the front of my body, and concentrated. Just as before when I tried, absolutely nothing happened.

Very well, I'll not try.

Again I drew in a breath, letting my clenched lids loosen now while yet remaining closed, letting my head loll back against the seat, letting everything around me simply go, letting myself simply be...

Cricket noises.

My eyes popped open. I checked the chrono.

OK, so about an hour has gone by, I told myself. Plenty of power left. Plenty of time to...

To do what? Sit and fret while I waited?

Not this Little Red Hen.

I nodded my virtual head, sought back along the tenuous connection that I knew down into my very soul Kyan was still maintaining with me.

"Whatever you're trying, keep it up!" I forced false cheer into my mental voice. "But I'm going to poke around a bit here, see if I can come up with something on this end to help you find me."

In my bones of bones I knew the star image I'd sent hadn't been enough. Good gravy; how could it be? Constellations only appear as they do from a particular viewpoint. The arrangement of stars I'd shown them more than likely looked much, much different from their end of the galaxy, wherever that was.

Oh I didn't deny the skill set of the people aboard that ship. Terrin was no slouch with a star map, and Captain Joao had knocked around the Galaxy plenty. But I knew it would take time, and that was a commodity I really didn't have much of. Even the best nav-puter would need...

Time.

SO I drew in the third deep breath in about as many minutes, and now turned my thoughts to what I could do to help on this end. I ran through what was working aboard Cin vheti...

Not much!

...as well as what was not.

Everything but the distress signal.

Something niggled. My eyes popped open, and I quickly sat upright.

That distress signal. If only I could augment it somehow, make it reach farther, be "louder."

I plopped back in my chair, sighed. What did I have to work with? There was my chemical power pack, to be sure, but that was the only thing keeping me from a most uncomfortable death before my time, judging by the size of ice crystals that covered the nav-console and practically everything else. I didn't dare use--

Wait, what? Crystals...

My heart started pounding faster; I forced it to slow. Don't put the cart before the ronto! I told myself firmly as my searching eyes found that which was once attached to my armor, which was what I first took off before setting off on Dagobah...

And which was still positioned exactly where I had laid it, seemingly years ago.

My brand spankin' new lightsaber.

The small knife I had chosen, still hidden up the sleeve of my armor, made quick work of the connectors along it's shining handle. I winced as I removed one section, fiddling around in it's small but intricate innards, silently apologizing to Master Kyan and his...

You mean, "our?"

...family, and clan, and to the very Force in general for the hash I was making of the beautifully elegant weapon once belonging to Kyan's daughter. Gulping, hoping my silent thoughts had spewn out into the Void and into the Force and by that into some semblance of apologies to anything or anyone involved in it, I finally laid the little blade aside and flopped back against the seat.

Between my fingers I held the delicate beauty of a kyber crystal.

Maybe I can do something with this, I thought even as those thoughts turned to the intricacies of wiring and energies, of Ohms and amperages and light which was energy itself.

Maybe I can enhance that energy with this crystal. These things focus things, right?

I knew in my gut the hypothesis was correct.

Now if I could only implement it's correct experimentation.

All doubts cast aside, I put myself to work.

“You are not wrong,” Kyan agreed. “I understand how it should work through the Force, but this thing this The All. Its brilliance its beauty is blinding and I know, I can feel it just beyond my grasp waiting for me to take hold of it. And for Gal’ika’s sake I am trying to figure this out as fast as I can. Pr’ika gave me this ability for a reason, it has to help someho… one moment, Gal’ika is trying something.”

Kyan refocused on his distant apparition. On that distant ship he knew where Galen was in the room but had his visage turn its head to follow her.

“I’m back Gal’ika,” said Kyan. “It looks like you have an idea, on the Challenges the others are working on heading to a point between Yavin and the Sith Diamond. When I looked beyond something I still don’t know how to describe it that is where It tells me you are.”

He read the currents around Galen and felt a familiar sensation.

“Flow Walking… that allows you to view the past or the future. But you would still be trapped on this ship when you return.”

Was that strictly true, forget what you know and instead what could be. Didn’t you say as much to Gal’ika.

At least the real Kyrimorut homestead remains hidden.

Bes’in watched as his people, his Paladins did their work. If he could smile the Paladins would no doubt see the pride he bore at their hardwork in preparation of this day. A fully independent and self sufficient Mandalorian Tribe. While continuing to oversee the work he turned to Kyan’s earlier request, it was a simple task to give those four Kyan had mentioned access, well mostly full, he kept back the location of the true Kyrimorut homestead and the technical information on Mandalorian Iron smelting. In everything else he gave them mostly unfettered access. With that in place he encrypted the credentials and sent them to the Challengers comm frequency. Finishing up he saw his crew was ready. He opened a ship wide comm and looped in every public comm planet wide as well. Time to put on a show.

“Attention crew of the Kal Skirata,” said Bes’in. “Mandalorian Paladins, clan Skirata, and the people of Mandalore this is Bes’in Skirata Supreme Commander of the Mandalorian Paladin Order. I am sure many of you heard the rumors of clan Skirata over the decades and our relationship with the Jedi order, but to those of you who have know us whose sons and daughters have joined us know that in our hearts we are true Mandalorians. Long in our history we have been the dogs of the Republic, dogs of the New Republic, and dogs of the Imperials. Those days have ended, today we Paladins renounce the leadership of our puppet Chief Mandalore, and the Imperial government they represent. Decide now who you wish to serve, yourselves or the Empire. Die Proud.”

He closed comm channel and directed his attention to the Captain of Kal Skirata.

“Take us out,” Bes’in ordered. “Set course for staging point one.”

What did I know of this thing called The All...?

Well now, let's just pause for a moment to take a li'l ol' trip down Memory Lane, shall we?

I pulled myself out from underneath the console, thwacking my head on it's underside as I did so. All that did was set up a momentary dull ringing in my ears, as the helmet to my wonderful armor took the brunt of the blow. Now sitting back, I considered Master Kyan's words carefully, choosing my responding ones with even greater care.

I seriously don't have time for this, Master, I frowned slightly to myself, before then settling down on my knees and sending back a reply:

"The All is..."

I paused fractionally, as the horrible day Jharmeen was transformed from fun-loving sister into Something I as yet did not fully understand flooded into my thoughts. Closing my eyes, I simply let those thoughts continue, trying to find the answers which up until now I had not, hoping that maybe this time I would notice something I'd missed, ANYTHING that would give a clue as to what this thing was.

This Thing that might be in you too, Galen...

Now shaking my head to myself with even greater vehemence, I shoved that thought down and away, turning my focus back to seeking the answers. But nothing new was to be found. Those answers remained stubbornly elusive, if indeed they were anywhere I might find them at all.

Easily I remembered she had gone into the excavation Dad had been working on, deep in that little cave on that dismal Sith world, a world I knew was now beyond the reach of everyone and everything. That she came forth from whatever mystery she found therein, not only completely transformed but consumed by it as well was something just shy of the Understatement of All Time, no pun intended.

That she tried to kill me and left me for dead, my groggy awakening and stumbling into the cave, finding my little Jester, all segued into a rush of images of my recent life and inter-twinings with Jharmeen and the Sith and Sorben and Terrin and life and death and strange worlds and even stranger realms which stood outside the dimension that men term real...

I stopped, shaking my head a third time, instinctively reaching a gloved hand up to move stray tendrils of hair from my face, but of course being halted in that act by the helmet I was wearing. The slightly metallic clang brought me back to my senses, reminded me that Master Kyan was patiently waiting.

"The All is something far greater than the Force. From what I can understand of it, you do not find it.

"Rather, it finds you. And you just cannot grab it by the horns and run with it, either."

The metaphor made me wince. For what was the only other people I knew of in this entire Galaxy, one I had been wrapped up with in one way or another ever since Sissy left me to die on that desert world?

The Sith. The TRUE Sith.

They were magic. They knew magic, and commanded it, and wove it into their lives.

But there were only a select few who seemed to have this other immense power, this All responding to their command.

If a magical people could not as a whole reach out and use that incredible strength, it stood to reason that it simply could not be easily commanded. IT CHOSE. And those chosen by it were chosen for a reason, and set upon a some kind of destiny, perhaps.

But not given the power automatically. This they had to learn, or maybe even EARN somehow...

I sent my suppositions to Master Kyan, finishing with:

"The planet where my Sister was transformed, where I found my Sith Fighter, is gone, Master Kyan. It is in a place beyond our reality, something called The Elseness.

"I know this because I helped to place it there. But I have absolutely no idea how I did it.

"That was controlled by someone other than me."

I sighed, wishing I could have been of more assistance, before turning back to the task at hand. While I'd kept the connectors that had been used to join the Kyber crystal to the innards of the lightsaber, I still had to figure out not only how to connect them to the wiring of the communication/distress transmitter...

But to figure out just which wire or computer relay that actually was.

Unconsciously blowing that errant tendril of hair off of my face, I set back to work upon my self-imposed task.

And may Khaandon help me.

I joined her without preamble.

"Well Kiddo," I began brightly. "We're heading back in the general direction we came from. We should pop out of hyperspace close enough to where they think..."

I gave Terrin and Kyan a nod of my head, waggling my brows as I did so.

"...Galen might be. It shouldn't take long to find her from there, I hope. So I wanted to ask you: you're a whiz at slicing and hacking; do you understand anything else about wiring or enhancing hard components?

"Do you think there's any way we can enhance our communications receiver and make it more sensitive, to maybe give it the capability of capturing much fainter, more disperse signals coming from farther away than it ordinarily would?"

I took a drink from my steaming cup, set it quietly down on the table.

"And if you do, can you do it?"

The Motherboard of the Command Console.

I glared at it, willing it to give up its secrets to me. Oh I was aware of which chip plugged in where, which of the few wires attached to what component. I could easily put it all back together again, that was not the issue.

The issue was finding just what I was supposed to hook the Kyber crystal into, and more importantly...

HOW.

I sighed and stretched, wondering if something as simple as logic might provide an answer. Perhaps the solution was nothing more than proximity. Perhaps the components nearest to their corresponding console command switches and sigils would give me a clue as how to continue.

I pursed my lips, sniffed, and concentrated.

All righty then. Let's give this some thought. Remember the university classes Dad made you take? He always said that with my talent, if I was going to fly a ship I'd better know exactly just what makes it tick...

Input, THERE is one!, brings commands into the central processing unit, which I think I remember being something that accesses memory programs in order to respond to the command, and then sends the response out via output devices. SO: input is the console, where I manipulate the communication keys. OR trigger the distress signal, which in reality is accessing a side program of the communications transmitter...

It made my head swim. But of greatest concern was the fact that spread out all around me were computer components. Sitting off to one side was my possible enhancement device in all its innocent beauty: the Kyber crystal.

But how to make the connection between electronic and mechanical objects...

A quick flash of memory.

Pin connections! There's got to be pin connections somewhere; it's how power is sent into the Motherboard components...!

I picked up the Motherboard, thanking Khaandon for the skills of the Mandalorians when it comes to making armor. For even though my hands were gloved, said gloves were as sensitive and supple as a second skin. I could actually feel the cold metal in my hands.

I turned it about, thinking, remembering how it had been placed beneath the console, mentally linking the board's placement to the position of the command inputs on the physical board itself, and in that positioning seeing what component, now removed, connected where.

There, THAT one...

The raw, empty portal just sat there, looking entirely too innocent for all the potential it was capable of carrying.

That has to be communications...

Quickly then, I found the component I had pulled from that exact spot, and carefully laid the Motherboard down on the deck. I raised the component to my face, scanning it's surface from all angles until I found...

An even smaller component, still plugged into it. And to the side of the main component, the absolutely wonderful beauty of a pin connector...

THAT IS IT.

It didn't take me long to snatch up the Kyber crystal, which I had already re-connected to the hard wiring by which it communicated with the rest of the lightsaber. It did, however, take longer to fiddle with it, wiring it to that little pin...

Solder would be better but hey, gift rontos and all that...

...then finding a way for the entire thing to plug back into the Motherboard itself. But by carefully wedging the crystal between the slightly raised edges of those components, which in turn served to hold it against a flat part of the Motherboard, I was finally able to make it stay put.

Quickly then I reassembled the remainder, set it back where I had found it, hooked up the remaining connectors and replaced the panel. I didn't bother to get to my feet, but stretched up on my knees, my gloved hand reaching for the switch which would reboot the system...

Well, at least the part that was still working...

And re-engage the distress signal again.

I held my breath... and the little red light blinked into existence.

I melted to the deck from sheer relief.

It still worked!

BUT--

But there was something somehow different now. The red seemed deeper, somehow brighter, and the intervals between blinks were obviously slowed. At first I frowned, but leapt to my feet when the obvious answer came crashing into every cell of my being.

Not only is it working again... but IT WAS AUGMENTED!

That was the only possible explanation. A bit of logic, some memories from university days long past, and tons and tons of luck had all converged in that steadily if slowly blinking light. I had managed to use the Kyber crystal to focus the distress beam, something like a laser. Now instead of broadcasting in a sphere all about me, said signal to disperse at a faster and faster rate the larger and larger the "sphere of space" around me grew...

It was behaving more like a laser. A direct beam of light, stronger, focused, and slowly blinking.

I could have cried. In fact I did.

Then, after taking the time to quickly remove my helmet and dry those happy tears, I put it back on and turned toward the aft of the ship.

On to Phase Two...

“I can increase our sensitivity to a degree,” Link answered. “Fundamentally its a limitation of comms as a whole. Talking to someone even a few systems away is impossible in real space, it takes the signal years to travel that distance. Even intersystem traffic would have several minutes of lag if not for the holonet relay system, that is what gives us true faster than light communication.”

She got up and poured herself her own cup of caf before returning to her chair.

“We either need to already be in system,” Link continued speaking in between sips of caf. “Her ship is out of range of a holonet relay, or her emergency beacon is not operating properly.”

There was something Link thought they were missing, talking about the holonet relay got her thinking about the weird anomalies in the comm logs. She pulled them up on her datapad, looking at all the transmission to and from Galen’s ship. Then she looked at all of the ones to and from any Paladin source. She looked at the signal path and every time the incoming transmission came from some random relay in the galaxy, transmissions she knew could have not originated their.

They couldn’t have, but its the only thing that makes sense. Hold on where is Galen’s traffic… they may all originate at some random location in the network but they all have the same hardware encode.

But his perception of the All...

Terrin frowned, a shoulder devil popping up. Someone should tell him that's not how the All works, it snorted.

For once, Terrin had to agree. And suddenly feeling like he was standing there doing absolutely nothing...

...and that's kinda what you are doing, right...?

...he detached his wristcomm and replaced it on his arm, proceeding then to key in Aaron's frequency once more. Not wanting to distract Kyan's focus from whatever was going on between he and Galen, he chose to text instead of send a voice message.

Galen is not in the area we originally thought. She is stranded somewhere between Yavin and the Sith Diamond, and that's all we've been able to deduce. I know we have contacts at Bilbringi, Dorin, and Ord Mantell, all in that vicinity. We may need them.

Sending the message off, Terrin turned and tuned in to the conversation going on between Yaoksi and Cel. He pursed his lips thoughtfully. "Bes'in Skirata did tell us...or maybe that was just me he told...that he'd give us Level 5 clearance to their Base and databases. I'd hope whatever that is means giving us access to their communications. And as far as boosting our receiver...

...I can get details on how we might do that considering I own a ship industry."

He paused then, chewing his lip, his blue eyes defocusing as he considered. "While we're getting in contact with Skirata to request those things--

--we should have his contact frequency on the Challeger from when we first spoke to him before we landed on Mandalore---

--I'd like to also get the specs on the ship Galen is flying and on her armor and its technologies."

I hadn't been in the least surprised coming across these articles. In fact I would have been greatly surprised to have not. Every sane ship should and would be equipped with some means of going EVA, for one never really knew what one would run across in the darker side of the spacelanes, and there might be a darned good reason why one of the crew might have to go out and entertain themselves with a little spacewalk.

Or space dance, as the case might be.

I came to a stop in front of the emergency airlock, pausing only long enough to affix the jetpack into the built-in niche inset on the back of the suit, making sure the straps and connections holding it there were secure. Looking down at my waist, I gave a few yanks on the metallic half-ring I found there, then connected one end of the safety tether I held in my hands.

I presume there are rings similar to this along the hull, I mused, allowing myself a somewhat green-tinged grin to bolster courage which was beginning to bounce and prance like a skittish colt. The strap does have connectors on both ends, after all.

A deeper breath pushed all rising trepidation down.

In for a credit, Galen...

With no further ado I opened the inner hatch. It slid smoothly up into the bulkhead, gliding into place with a barely audible snik. I entered, closed the inner hatch behind me and checked my helmet for the umpteenth time.

It was still securely affixed. As were my gloves, my boots, and the jetpack. Every joint hermatically sealed. Every dial on my chestplate glowed an assuring green.

A green which matched my face, for deep down I didn't believe any of it. But faint heart never won the surprise in the box of cereal, or whatever it was...

Before I could change my mind I hit the button which controlled the airlock, and held my breath as it slowly swung open, revealing me stars in colors and quantities no view screen could ever truly portray.

For a moment I simply held that breath, stricken by nothing more than simple awe. Then I let it out even as one foot stepped through the hatch proper, the magnetic soles seeking the security of the metal of the ship's hull, and finding it. I took a step, and another...

And was outside. If one could call it that.

Again I simply stood quietly, gazing at the starfield all around Cin vehti, but not merely in awe. It was instead an orientation, getting acquainted if you will. And seeing if they moved or remained still in all their splendor. Perhaps I'd be lucky...

But no. The beauty of the surrounding stars blazed all around me, in unguessable reds and blues, whites and golds, dotted with surprising oranges and teals here and there. It was as if the Emperor of the Universe had opened up his Treasure box and dumped every jewel he owned into the Void which stretched around me, there to lay claim to whatever spot they fell into, staying there shining with multi-chromatic light.

Staying there. It just figures.

I'd hoped I'd find that starfield moving about Cin vehti, but no. Why should I be that lucky? For the magnificence of the blazing, unmoving stars only proved that Cin vehti was dead in the proverbial water, completely unmoving.

WHICH of course meant that the focused, lasered distress beam was slowly and steadily pulsing along only one solitary vector in space. I really hadn't any idea how far it extended, but it stood to reason the it should punch out of any mere system, hopefully by-passing the holo-projectors that provided ship-to-ship communication within stellar systems themselves.

I had a sneaky feeling those bandwidths weren't as strong as what that Kyber crystal had ramped up. BUT hopefully incredible strength or not was moot if the signal only pierced one miniscule position in space.

Position nothing, I snorted to myself as with the greatest care I've ever used in my life I took one magnetic step after another along the ship's hull, aiming for his nose. It's more like a point...

I swallowed roughly with the realization that I had come to the nose of Cin vehti, for quite suddenly it seemed as if I only need take one more step, and I would fall into the abyss all around me. Every instinct screamed at me to fling myself upon the hull, to grab it and never let go, and if I waited long enough someone would come along and find me, for that's how things go, right? Happily ever after?

The army of geese marching up and down my spine raised the flesh over my entire body, informing me that THAT was the most idiotic statement I'd ever made, and sure as there's Treasure on Roon it was a good thing Terrin hadn't been here to hear it or I'd never live it down.

Terrin. Master Kyan...

A part of me knew there was a connection. The rest of me knew that if I split off my attention in that manner, focusing on ANYTHING other than the task at hand...

I would die.

SO I mentally shoved the possibility of further communication via Master Kyan into the recesses of my mind, shoved the image of Terrin's dear face in there right along with it, and focused.

There. Near the actual nose tip, perhaps two meters down-hull, was an attachment ring. Treading as if I were wading through dianoga-infested swamp shallows, I inched the remaining distance and hooked the other end of my tether to that ring.

Then, carefully, OH so carefully, I lowered myself, let the magnetic boots skitter out behind, the toes keeping a tenacious hold upon the hull along which my body was lying fully prone. Reaching forward, I grasped the ring as tightly as I could with one hand.

Not looking forward to inertia...

With the other hand I quickly ignited the jetpack, then hung on for dear life. At length I was able to scoot my prone form around the axis of the hull, where I hit the jetpack's ignition again and repeated my death grip on the ring.

I repeated this maneuver, doing my best to manually move the ship along all axes, trying to get him to roll and yaw and pitch, all at the same time. It wasn't very fast, although the resultant inertial jerks made me feel as if we were approaching one quarter lightspeed.

But the bare momentum provided to the ship in four different directions obtained the result I wanted. Cin vehti remained in relatively the same spatial position, perhaps skewing off along one particular vector, but hey, details details, we're talking meters here...

...all the while slowly gyrating along the X, Y and Z axes.

Now the signal was slewing wildly out, slicing through all manner of positions in space.

I could only hope and pray that it reached far enough for someone to pick up on it.

Making certain my death's grip upon the tethering ring was exactly that, I slowly inched my knees upward until I'd managed to get my feet planted beneath me. A final great, fortifying breath and I hauled myself, albeit somewhat shakily, to my feet.

Retracing my steps, I came seemingly years later to the welcoming open hatch. I fell in, slamming the "CLOSE THIS DOOR THE HELL NOW!!" button, and simply lay there as Cin vehti obediently obliged me.

It was some time before I could gather myself enough to enter the ship proper, but even as I lay there like a pile of wet noodles a great rush of pride welled up in my chest.

I yanked off the helmet, let my head roll to one side, and gave myself over to tears.

It sounded RIGHT.

"I know boosting receivers is something that we probably can do, but the problem there is whether or not we have anyone in the vicinity of normal relays," I recounted the little gal's words, turning now to face Terrin.

"But what if Link is right? What if those Mandalorians do have their own holo relay network out there? Who knows what they might have... if they have it. But Mandalorian space is awfully close to where we think your wife is stranded; maybe they can lend us a hand in finding her.

"It's certainly worth asking."

I cast a look from Link to Terrin and back again, all the while waggling my eyebrows and giving what I hoped were surreptitious nods in the direction of our Jedi, who for all intents and purposes was just sitting there.

I let out an annoyed chuff of air.

“You can leave him alone now,” Link said. “The Paladins just gave us the access they had promised. Besides having the guy who can’t read acting as the go between would take forever, one minute.”

Link dug around in her vest and withdrew a few blank data cards and fed them one at a time into her data pad. She wrote the information sent over to her from the Paladins. When that was completed she gave a data card to both Yaoksi and Terrin, keeping one for herself as well.

“These are part of how you access their database,” Link began to explain. “Take the datacard and put in in any comm accessible terminal like so.” Link inserted the card into her datapad. “It will automatically establish a connection, and then prompt you for verification. The database if keyed to your bio-metrics, I have no idea how they got those. I’m using the ships sensors to broadcast those. After that you have access. I’ll start with their communications network, seeing if its picking up anything and how we can use it.”

Before she got to that, Link took a cursory look at the information she had access to.

Tech manuals, ship schematics, areas of influence, intelligence files, I can access those. The specifics of Mandalorian Iron, exact location of military assets, names of organizations infiltrated or under Paladin influence those appear to be off limits with my access. I can still work with this.

Brushing that aside, she pulled up the material on what she assumed was their holonet relay. Her theory about how it all functioned was close enough to reality that Link put her idea to the test. She knew the ID of whatever holonet beacon that Galen was using. She used that to track its location based off known transmissions, and it confirmed what she knew.

"Are you saying the relay beacon Galen used, or that is to say, her ship's communication system used, on all the occasions you mentioned is one and the same?" I asked, now turning my attention which had been moving between Terrin and Link solely to the latter. She sat there, studying her datapad, but I didn't let her reply.

Not just yet. I had other questions to ask. Like maybe What the hell kind of knowledge did those Mandalorians possess? What technical wizardry did they own that could relay a signal from literally one end of the galaxy to the other using but a single relay beacon?

That, which I was dying to understand but which on the other hand we did not need to know at this moment, while phenomenal wasn't entirely what we needed at this point in time. What we needed was a bit more mundane in nature.

"Look," I went on, now going back to the little bit I'd learned in my younger days as the son of two of the most respected employees of the Jaemus Shipyards. For in the business of shipbuilding, one needed to know not just the mechanical aspects but the technical ones as well. I wasn't well versed in this field, but I did know that ships spoke with each other via the wonder that was the Holonet Relay system, that universal marvel which by the use of beacons grabbed transmissions sent from ships and moved them from source to recipient. As simple as that, instantaneous conversation could be held between ships and systems that were thousands of parsecs apart.

For one such beacon to be able to move a transmission literally from one end of the Galaxy to the other staggered the mind.

And just HOW again was it these peoples were purportedly erased from our history? I couldn't help but briefly wonder.Unless they weren't, but rather simply chose to disappear...

I shook my head, put my weight on the forearm now laying on the table, said forearm's hand clenching my cuppa joe. I leaned forward.

"Look, I'm no expert here, but isn't this how the system works? If so, and if what you're saying is fact, and Galen's transmissions have only been transferred using one relay beacon, well...

"It seems to me the important bit of information we need to know is where the hell is that beacon physically located? I mean, where in the Galaxy is it?"

An image of the holomap I had recently used in changing our course popped into my mind. Indeed, Mandalorian Space was practically a Galaxy's length away from Dagobah.

That was a helluva beacon, but where was it?

"And," I went on, shoving that little bit of speculation off to one side for the moment. "If Galen is somewhere out there, somewhere in the space in the relative vicinity of the Sith Worlds and Yavin, how the hell is she going to activate that beacon to emit it's own little distress call?

"Seems to me we're still at Square One, unless I'm totally misreading what you're saying here. But last I heard was that her ship was crippled, and the only thing we do know is still working is its automatic distress signal.

"We need the location of that relay to find that relay to turn it's error signal on, and we need that error signal in order to find where it's located. Seems we're still a little stymied, unless someone knows something I don't.

"Not to mention this only gives us the location of the beacon itself. Even if she could somehow trigger it into revealing its location, that still won't tell us where she is.

"It really has nothing to do with Galen's location, does it?

"But hey, like I said, this isn't my forte."

I sat back and cup in hand lifted to my lips. The contents were quite cold; with another frown I began rising to my feet to go fetch a refill when the obvious struck.

"Unless by doing this its to just get in contact with her! If her emergency distress signal is working, then at least a part of her communication system is functioning.

"And if that is indeed the case, and we do manage to get a communication link established, maybe together we can figure out a way she can send a map or something of her surroundings, which I could then apply to the one I use to navigate.

"And figure out where she is."

I plopped back into my seat, all thought of fresh java out the proverbial window. Excitement rose briefly within me, only to be squelched.

"But how is she to trigger that relay? Anyone have any ideas?"

It appeared everyone was following Link so far so she continued.

“My trick with the transceiver on board the Eagle Enterprises to access the Datapad we left on the Sith world utilized a similar loophole in the system. I found the hardcoded diagnostics mode of the relay, come to think of it maybe it was the Paladin’s who hired me to do that, questions for later. My transmissions appear at navigation update data until it reaches its destination. Since my overall traffic is virtually insignificant against the sheer number of transmissions going on any second nothing gets flagged. Once you start doing it on a scale of a small merchant fleet people would look closer. That’s where a portable beacon comes in, and by portable I mean the size of this table.”

Link pulled up a galactic map and overlaid it with the locations of the beacons within the holonet relay. That she highlighted blue. Then using the database now they had access to she added the beacons that the Paladins had in red. Here and there interspersed within the massive network were smaller more isolated networks though still plentiful.

"I haven't the foggiest, kid! She's on a Mandalorian ship, right? As well as being one brand new to her. That ship just might have the portable beacon you're talking about, since apparently this is a bit of Mandalorian tech. BUT be that as it may, that ship is still one we can't contact since apparently the only thing working is the damned distress signal. Or at least that's to the best of our knowledge. Otherwise, if that beacon was working we'd find her, right?

"I mean, if it's there at all. We're assuming an awful lot here."

I let a puff of air escape my lips, sent her a softer look in apology. Damn, but everywhere I looked all I could see was circles and more circles. It just didn't seem like we were getting anywhere.

"For answers to your question, you're going to have to ask him. He's the one who's in contact with her."

I jerked my chin toward the still-silent Jedi, annoyed with him for that silence.

"Meantime, I think we need to come up with a Plan B. I mean, we all know communications travel not only through the HoloNet, but through subspace as well. BUT the best Imperial Star Destroyer subspace tranceivers can only reach out about 100 light years."

Oh, the things a successful smuggler needs to know...!

"I don't think ours reach out quite that far. If she doesn't have that portable beacon aboard, or she does but we can't figure out how to get it going, we're going to have to get somewhere within subspace range from wherever the hell she is, and that's worse than looking for a needle in a haystack."

Then I did finally rise, and went off quickly for that refill.

"We do have access to a Holonet transceiver aboard the Hornett, since she's got her own, and she's got the best range of any ship out there to receive signals. Last we knew Galen's ship was sending out some kind of an SOS, and I know from the industry that those things usually have their own power source separate from the ship. I think we have the beginnings of a Plan B."

Saying nothing more than that, he sent off a quick message to Aaron indicating that he wanted the Hornett to head towards where he'd told him they had deduced Galen was. Knowing Aaron would follow through and respond shortly, he turned his attentins back to the group and the conversation at hand.

What Link said made a good bit of sense as well regarding the portable gnerator and Galen's ship, and as Yaoksi said, the missing piece was communicating to her what they had been brainstorming. And as to anything else she might have on the ship that might have power....

"I'd think maybe there might be some additional power lurking on that ship in emergency medical equipment, maybe gear to for any extravehicular activities, or maybe even some potential weaponry that might be stashed somewhere on the ship?"

He paused, considering, then looking to Kyan, whom Yaoksi had just indicated had the contact with Galen that they all needed.

Terrin at first shared the pilot's annoyance that he had been so quiet, but then he frowned, wondering if the reason for his silence was something happening between him and Galen. That particular thought reminded Terrin of something that Kyan had said just before he went so silent. "Hey, he did say that Galen was trying something," he then stated, moving closer to him. "I wonder what's going on..."

He trailed. And what she's up to?

Terrin pushed away any downward sloping thoughts that something might be amiss, at least for the moment. After all, he knew Galen was smart, and wouldn't just sit around like a damsel in distress waiting for rescue. Maybe she'd come up with something...

"Master Kyan?" he asked then, taking another step towards the Mandalorian and carefully putting a hand on his shoulder. "Is everything allright with Galen? You said she was trying something...."

He trailed and waited, hoping for a response, knowing that he was in fact the only means of communication they had with Galen at the moment.

Making a call to navigation, for in fact the Hornett was still sitting in realspace anyway, Aaron talked with his navigational techs and they decided upon a location "between" the planets of Ord Candre and Kril'Dor, in a nice pocket of less occupied space, for their destination. In a few minutes more, the course was laid in, and the Super Star Destroyer burst forward into starlines that lead to hyperspace.

I took a quick sip, set the cup down on the table. ALMOST got to my feet to go over and give his shoulder a good shake, but refrained. After all, what did I know of all this Force hoo-doo, other than it did weird things, and that only certain people seemed to have the privilege of using it to implement those weird things.

Give me a good blaster!

For all I knew the strange connection held between this guy and Terrin's wife might evaporate into the ether, and that was something I certainly did NOT want to risk happening by something as mundane as simply trying to shake him out of his state of utter incommunicado.

SO, fighting down the instinct to do just that, I heaved a breath.

"Look," I said. "It's just great that a nice big SSD is going to come help us. Yeah, it's got a com-range that's 100 light years in subspace, and instantaneous in hyperspace.

"Now, Galen is obviously in realspace now, right? The primary issue is how the hell to contact her and have her try to turn on this portable beacon supposedly onboard, since if it was working one of the Mandalorians would have intercepted that distress signal along their HoloNet by now and hopefully would have contacted us.

"Ergo, I think we can presume that as Link suggests, the beacon is NOT turned on, or isn't working correctly. SO what do we have to work with?"

I paused, shot a slow look around the table. Sat there a moment, giving those present a moment to respond if they'd like. When no one did anything other than cast quick glances at each other, and even more pointedly to the seemingly frozen Jedi, I let out the breath I had been holding and went on.

"We know her distress signal is working. It's transmitting. But...

"Maybe just not in hyperspace. Maybe it's functioning but in realspace, hopefully in subspace, but in either scenario we're going to have to literally seek it out. This means not only trying to boost the sensitivity of our own receivers, but getting within range of that of her transmitter's.

"We're going to have to get more than just your SD, Terrin," I said, now turning my attention solely upon him. "We need to cover space, to overlap our reception fields.

"Yeah her signal is probably meant for the HoloNet, but that doesn't mean that's the only place it can travel. Signals are energy, and that exists in realspace. AND can be directed into sub and hyper.

But it is still there in realspace. It has to be. I'm not a holo-tech, but I'm pretty sure that while simple communications travel via the HoloNet alone now, okay and subspace too...

"Distress signals are sent in all space, so there's a greater chance of being picked up. Or to act as a fall-back should something happen to their HoloNet or subspace beacons/tranceiver.

"SO again, we have to cover a large area of space... REALLY large. BUT if we can pick up a signal with three different ships, in three different areas, we can triangulate back to the source. Which of course is her."

"Link's idea is great, and would be by far the easiest. But the problem with that is having to contact Galen to try it, and as long as this guy is out of commission..."

I nudged my chin at Kyan again, went on.

"...we just don't have the means to do that. It can't hurt to not only come up with a Plan B, but to put it in motion. If something happens to change the parameters, then we can drop it and go with something else. But right now, dammitall, this gal is running out of time.

"So what do you think?"

Occam's Razor...

"I can get the fleet on it, now, and they are all about the galaxy since that's how we do business, which means some may already be closer to her than we are, what with planets like Dorin and Ord Mantell in that area. There are about 20 capital ships and a myriad of smaller class ships. I can code my request to seek, find, and report back to me via the Eagle Enterprises encrypted owner frequency to all vessels."

He paused, chewing his lip thoughtfully, turning to the others and away from Kyan. "Hopefully in the meantime Kyan will be able to help us out more," he then continued, frowning.

What if whatever was going on with him did have something to do with Galen...

His blue eyes darkened a shade, worry rising...

...and then he forced it aside, knowing what he had to do. Keying in the owner frequency for EE. "This is Captain Terrin Danner, requesting all fleet ships to engage in the immediate search and find of a unique crippled Mandalorian vessel- a class unknown but most likely assualt - emitting an SOS. All should report back immediately with location of any SOS find within the area which is designated to this owner encrypted frequency."

Having finished the message, he tagged it with high importance, giving the scope of the area in which they were seeking the SOS via an attached map-"between" Yavin and the Sith Diamond- and sent it on its way, then looking back to the others.

"I wonder if we should also let the Paladians know about Galen's ship being disabled. Maybe they can help us find her as well. After all they have ships of their own, and they know the ship she is on the best anyway."

"Galen left us on a Mandalorian assault vessel, and for reasons I'm not certain of it's been damaged and she's currently stranded with emergency power only, emitting a distress beacon. The map attached to my priority message indicates where we've narrowed down her location to be."

He paused, frowning, knowing how large that area was, in fact.

"I'll keep you posted if we find out anything further, and if we are able to get to her. I know you're not in a good place to help at the moment, but keep me posted should that change. And let me know how all goes in regards to Matt."

Sending off his message, Terrin turned back to the others.

"It's a shot in the dark at this point, but if Jasyn comes in to contact with some of our Sith allies..."

He trailed, knowing how insane that sounded. Sith allies. Yeah, from time to time, there had been a few of those. And on at least one occasion, they had literally helped him save Galen's life.

That doesn’t preclude me from helping Gal’ika understand it.

Kyan watched and listened as Galen relived her memories as she worked. When she recounted them Kyan seemingly experienced them as well, but not from Galen’s perspective as he would have expected but from that of an outside observer in it all.

This is not memory sharing, I know what that is like. Is she flow walking me, or making me flow walk myself?

Realizing that regardless of the method he was simply along for the ride at this point Kyan brushed his uneasiness aside to focus on what he was being shown. He did see those memories as Galen described them: the excavation site with her father, what her sister had done, the cave with the ship, and the others she shared. Kyan first accepted these as events that happened, but noticed some strange occurrences. Whenever someone who Galen described as a The All user was outside memory Galen’s field of view within the memory their gaze fixed upon Kyan. He would turn away from that view only to find another memory unfolding and again those same people watching him, but resuming their part when called for of when memory Galen returned her attention to them. To say it was unsettling would be an understatement. Paralyzing both physically and mentally would be the sensation Kyan would have used to describe it, if he wasn’t paralyzed physically and mentally.

Get it together Kyan, if this is a flow walk you need to end it before you lose yourself.

Recalling the flow walk with Galen, his first and only one, he remembered how it ended with Galen’s rather abrupt command. He instead took in all of those memories being shared and acknowledged each ones significance and impact on Galen. One by one again he put away his unease and watched them replay again and stood as the silent observer he was called to play this time. Then one by one after each one played out it would fade away eventually leaving him alone in what seemed to be a brick courtyard. This was the one memory he did know, he was their this memory had yet to happen for Galen, or the Galen he knew. There stood someone who resembled Galen, older, but still with that fire and beauty Galen carried. That Galen simply nodded and faded like the rest. With no one watching him Kyan could once again move. Realizing it was over Kyan brought himself back into the correct flow and on the ship. He took a minute to respond for where Galen was before, now was an empty spot, and instead she was near the airlock resting against a bulkhead crying.

To hell with what everyone tells me is possible she needs me, she needs us.

Kyan moved his projection across the room over to her before kneeling down and resting a hand on each of her shoulders. He didn’t care if he wasn’t physically there and there could be no actual contact, he would be here for her and that was all that mattered to him. Kyan radiated warmth through his presences, not only his but what he saw as the connections of the other people who cared for Galen willing it to encompass her.

“Good work Gal’ika,” Kyan said. “And thank you for sharing those events with me.”

"You're welcome, Mas-" I began in reply when it hit me.

What experiences? Was he talking about the memories that had flooded me so heatedly when I tried to get what I knew about that creepy All-power whatever in Hell's Seven Circles it was across to him? Or had he been quietly lurking, observing my little EVA escapade as I did what I thought would best help my friends in finding me?

Probably not the latter, I chided myself as I got to my feet, now heading to the small galley for something to wash the space-induced dryness from my throat. I mean, I'd like to think he'd say something other than, "Gee whiz, what an experience, thanks for sharing! NOW who's next for Show n' Tell!"

More than likely, he wasn't quite aware of what I'd just gone through. Shoving down the responsive shudder now trying to replace the warm fuzzies I was feeling, I took a breath and let my thoughts flow back into his mind.

"I'm sorry, Master Kyan. I dismantled the lightsaber you gave me..."

Insert twinge of guilt here...

"...and used the Kyber crystal to focus the distress signal by re-wiring it into the communication and distress signal motherboard components. It should be stronger now, and travel farther; I wish I could tell you the exact frequency, but Cin vehti is really dead, and I have no idea how to do it.

"But I did manage to... ummm... to, ah, get the ship slewing about, so that signal, now something like a coherent laser beam, is covering as much space I could possibly get it to do. A jet pack doesn't really give all that much momentum to this amount of mass."

I stopped a moment, working now to suppress the involuntary images of what I saw standing practically at the very tip of the little ship's nose: that beautifully awful image of ETERNITY which stretched out and away and all around. Even locked in that horrid mind-box of Actar's didn't produce such innate terror in me, such absolute knowledge of how infinitesimal we all really are in the Grand Scheme of Things as did that mind-numbingly sweeping view.

And we're going to save the Galaxy.

Yeah, right.

I shoved the images and feeling aside as best I could, found and drank an entire glass of water in seemingly one gulp.

"I don't know how far my signal is reaching, or how long it's going to take to find it, Master," I finally found the wherewithal to continue.

"Is there any other source of power on this ship I could use to keep my suit powered, should the need arise?"

I didn't say anything else, just let the implications hang there as I now focused on the ice crystals liberally covering practically every surface of Cin vehti. I hated to think how cold it was inside my trusty little ship.

What the kriffing Hell was going on in that guy's head? What was going on with Galen? Bloody hell, he hoped she was all right...

...but then, she isn't all right, is she buddy? She's lost, on a crippled ship operating on emergency power only, and time is ticking...

Terrin tried to shake himself from his darkening thoughts, but it wasn't working. Not in the least. And while he knew Jasyn would try his best to get something done, he knew deep down he couldn't rely on that happening in time to prevent the worst, if it worked at all. Unconsciously Terrin sighed, closing his eyes a moment as he tried his damnedest to calculate another way to find Galen, logically, and quickly.

Kyan wasn't able to find her, and now he wasn't even responding. Scratch that idea. The Sith may or may not help, and you have absolutely no way to contact Graysith or Shayla if they even would help either, so move past that one too. JhinDarra is on the Hornett, and has an innate All ability and no doubt has a connection with her mother...but can you put that kind of pressure on her knowing she may not have the training to help and that this has to do with her mother's life? You don't even have contact with Shawn...

Terrin's eyes snapped open with that, his final thought bringing him up short. "So, if we can't get Kyan responding to communicate with Galen that we need her to restart her portable beacon and how...."

He paused, chewing his lip, still collecting his thoughts before continuing, "Maybe we need to start thinking way outside the box. I mean, as fast as we're trying to figure this out and make something happen, we haven't even gotten in the area we need to maybe pick up a signal from the distress signal that Galen indicated is working...

...and it'll still take time if we did pick it up. We don't have a lot of that. But then maybe we have some other ways to get in contact with Galen even if Kyan stays silent. We were able to contact Jedi Shawn Petrolu and Kyan's granddaughter, so maybe there's an avenue there. And there is my daughter aboard the Hornett..."

Terrin trailed, biting his lip once more. "I don't know if she's got the training to talk with her mother via the innate connection I know she and Galen have, and I don't know if I want to put that kind of stress on her....but then again, I don't know if I can keep her out of the loop if she might possibly be able to help us."

Falling silent for a moment, Terrin began to entertain one final idea, one that was just beginning to surface. "Still, Link is an amazing Slicer. If Galen's portable beacon isn't working correctly, so the Paladin network isn't getting her location from it for us to use, she does at least have an SOS that is working, which would at least get us a lot closer to where she might be located. We all know the Empire has their fingers entangled throughout networks all across the Galaxy...

...I wonder if it's even possible to hack into said networks from the planets in the area we have narrowed Galen's location down to and find any receipt of that distress signal.” He paused one final time, knowing that his last idea might include trying to reason with the last person in the Universe he’d think would ever want to speak with him. But this had everything to do with Galen’s safety, and nothing to do with him, so he’d stop at nothing. “Or we could go straight to the source and see if Tarnus would have it in his heart to tap into his large array of resources to help Galen."

But Imperial forces were everywhere...

I sighed, removed my hand from over my mouth where it had planted itself as I strove to think of something, anything that would work only to come up empty.

"I think you're right," I blurted.

At least I fervently hoped.

"I think we should approach Tarnus, see if he would help us. BUT maybe not physically; how about we try contacting the Impys? I mean, a simple hail? Maybe they'll answer, and we can always keep moving, change our position so they won't have a chance to triangulate back on us.

"Maybe he would be willing to help. I mean, didn't he used to have a thing for Galen or something?

"ANNND..." I went on, waggling a finger as if for emphasis but which really was just me trying to marshall my thoughts. "We DO have a bargaining chip.

"That Mandalorian ship of hers that isn't working. Maybe we could use that as a last resort to entice them into helping us...?"

Terrin sighed, running a hand across his face and up through his hair, considering what Yaoksi was saying. "Yeah, he had a thing for her..."

Terrin trailed. Hell, he probably still has a thing for her, if the truth was known.

"He is JhinDarra's biological father, after all." Terrin quieted a moment, shaking his head, but mostly to clear his own thoughts, before continuing. "We're gonna have to give it a shot. We do have the frequency on the Challenger from before, when we spoke with Tarnus and Kyan's granddaughter, so we do have a contact point."

Pausing, he pursed his lips, considering. "We could start out with a simple hail, telling him that Galen is off in a crippled ship that is emitting only a simple SOS and that we don't have any other way to reach her to help. At the very least, Shawn Petrolu is there, and I'd trust him with my life...

...and I have trusted him with Galen's before. Maybe if Tarnus is hesitant because it's me, and he doesn't feel about Galen the way I think he still does, Petrolu can at least bridge the gap for us. That is, assuming, that the Jedi and Kyan's granddaughter are still with Tarnus."

What was it his feisty li'l wife always would say? "In for a credit...?"

I rose to my feet, planted my hands on the tabletop.

"Let's do it."

With that I returned to the control cabin, and waved a hand toward the communications console, by that gesture letting Terrin know that since it was his wife who was in such dire straits, the honor was his.

BUT I wasn't just going to hang around like a gandyrak in headlights. I quickly went to my seat and keyed in an escape vector, just in case the Empire sounded like they would much rather keep us on the line with small talk, talk calculated to be juuuust uninformative enough where they could then triangulate on our own position.

...and paused for a moment, pursing his lips and drumming fingers on the console of the ship. What the kriffing Hell was he going to say? How was he going to even begin...?

Terrin's eyes defocused a little and he frowned to himself.. Just say what needs to be said, Danner, and let the chips fall where they may. Galen is out there, stranded, and every second counts...

With no further hesitation Terrin reached out and flipped the "record" switch. "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, pursing his lips. "I know with your resources you are my best shot at finding her safely. I'm hoping we can work together to do so."

“Unfortunately no,” Kyan answered. “This vessel was designed after I took my leave of absence from the Paladins, the power source you are using is standard equipment on most Mandalorian ships. It wouldn’t suprise me if there are another two or three lying around. I’ll get the others to check with the Paladins and see about sending over the specs to the Challenger. Oh and don’t worry about the Lightsaber, it yours to do with as you see fit. It can take more abuse than what you just put it through. I’m still listening in if you need anything else.”

He pulled himself back from connection, it wasn’t until that moment that he realized how deep he was in. During his foray he had lost track of events going on aboard the Challenger. Settling back into the same reality as those physically present, Kyan noticed himself slumping forward in his chair before he caught himself on the tables edge. The sound must have startled every one as well because all eyes were on him. Before they could barrage him with questions he held up a hand pleading for a moment to collect himself before filling them in on what he had been doing.

“Gal’ika is still fine as the situation can be,” Kyan began. “She rigged up a way to use her Lightsabers kyber crystal to focus her distress signal into what she is calling a laser beam, that along with the ships roll is causing that beam to sweep across space. As far as either of us can tell her ship is completely drained of power, the source that feeds her armor is in essence a chemical battery it was likely spared because it doesn’t generate power until the physical barrier that separates the two compounds is breached. I asked her to search for more.”

Kyan could guess from the looks he observed, or more accurately felt, that he was out of contact with them longer than he had perceived he was.

Best leave out the parts of Gal’ika’s unintended flow walk she sent you on for the moment. And the physical strain this is putting on me.

He still felt uneasy in his physical body, this circuitous route of using his Force abilities was unnatural to say the least. But if it helped Galen, no if it helped his family he would bear it.

This is cutting your limited time shorter though… no do what you can.

“Once we are clear of the gravity well take us to lightspeed.” Bes’in ordered. Their was an acknowledgment among the crew as they prepared for the jump. Among the crew as well Bes’in could hear what he know was the beginning of a popular Mandalorian drinking song, Brothers All, being hummed among the crew. He took this as a cue and began rhythmically rapping his hand on his armored chest like the others.

“Kote!
Kandosii sa ka'rta, Vode an.
Manda’yaim a'den mhi, Vode an.
Bal kote, darasuum kote,
Jorso'ran kando a tome.
Sa kyr'am nau tracyn kad, Vode an.
Kandosii sa ka'rta, Vode an.
Manda’yaim a'den mhi, Vode an.
Bal...
Motir ca'tra nau tracinya.
Gra'tua cuun hett su dralshy'a.
Aruetyc talyc runi'la solus cet o'r.
Motir ca'tra nau tracinya.
Gra'tua cuun hett su dralshy'a.
Aruetyc talyc runi'la trattok'o.
Sa kyr'am nau tracyn kad, Vode an!

It was good to see them interact like family Bes’in thought. This originally started to give the Clone Troopers and their descendants what the Republic and Empire stole from them, a family. It grew to encompass anyone who wanted a place to belong and the iron will to fight for it.

And now one of those descendants needs us, and as Mandalorians we will respond.

...but with minimal effort, even to his own surprise, Terrin was able to ignore all of them.

"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.”

"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."

Lots of Imperial ships...

But Terrin pushed those particular thoughts as far in the back of his head as possible.

There was still a sincerity level there that he was reading pretty clearly. And all hesitations aside, Galen being pulled in by an Imperial ship meant her being pulled in alive. That's all that mattered at the moment.

Terrin pulled up a Galaxy Map on the Challenger's computer then, marking where Kyan had positioned her somewhere between Yavin and the Sith Diamond. Then he flipped the 'record" switch on the comm once more.

"Map incoming." He paused. "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..." He trailed a moment. "...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--"

Terrin trailed a final moment. "Thank you in advance. Please keep me posted."

Terrin sent the message off, along with the marked map, praying to every god in the universe that this would work.

(((OCC: Message sent to Sorben Tarnus in Back Into the Fire in the Empire and New Republic.)))

No way in Hell was he leaving the comm. Not unless someone back in the galley had news that involved pinpointing exactly where Galen was. Still...

Flipping the ship-wide comm open, Terrin did figure he'd fill in the others at least on what they were doing now. "Hey guys, we've contacted the Empire and got in touch with Sorben Tarnus, who's going to help us locate Galen's SOS and ship. So here's hoping they can do something, cause they've got way more resources than we do."

The impressive armada popped out of hyperspace just to the galactic plane north and a bit east of the Bright Jewel Cluster. Although they were a bit close to some of the galaxy's more populated worlds, the fact that immense grouping of ships had popped out of nowhere didn't concern the Captain leading this contingent the least little bit. They were the Empire, after all, and those who wished not to cross with them by necessity simply turned a blind eye to their activities, sometimes even when said activities were being implemented right beneath their very noses.

Aboard the Tarnus's flagship ISSD "Relentless," Captain Boryl Landarian rose from his seat, his steely eyes pinned on the forward viewscreen which mere seconds ago had spatially confirmed their targeted destination. He didn't need to bark any order to have that vocally confirmed by his navigator.

"Good," he allowed the compliment to slip from his lips. Turning from the screen he then paced the command deck, barking orders that all ships were to disperse, all fighters and the like to disperse from their carriers, and the lot to send out seeker probes alerted to distress signals only. No fool he, was likewise ordered some of their the more heavily armed interceptors to remain a short but protective hyper-jump away from their mother ships, relying on those mother ships to provide widespread bases of operation from which the greatest area of space would be covered.

They'd find this mysterious Mandalorian ship, of that he had no doubt. Something that did approximate doubt, however, did niggle in the back of his mind, prompting him to wonder where in all the Galaxy Actar had ever managed to procure one. But the fact that his Admiral had was enough answer for him, and pushed that little niggle down deep into his gut, replacing it instead with something coming awfully close to excitement for the grizzled if somewhat young war horse that he was.

He looked forward with great anticipation to uncovering the technological secrets that ship would potentially provide them. This sort of thing was his favorite past-time, as much as was his service to the Empire itself.

I about fell out of my seat in my haste to attend the nav console, my fingers now playing a frantic Tatooine Tarantelle upon it as I tried to gather as much information as I could, as quickly as I could.

"Holy Mother of Mynocks, there's an SSD out there!"

My fingers flew faster, my eyes everywhere at once as they busied themselves with interpreting the numbers now scrolling across my screens.

"Heavy armor, way too many cannons for my liking, and I'm reading one, no wait! Two gravity field generators..."

I shot a fast look Terrin's way.

"I don't think it's Hornett out there, pal."

No sooner had the words left my lips than others followed in their wake. These, however, weren't coming from anyone about our ship.

"This is ISSD Relentless to unidentified craft. You will respond with your identification codes, as well as with whatever business it is you have in this region of space."

Not so much as a polite "over."

I blinked, pushed myself back from the control panel a little.

"Uh, Terrin...?"

Terrin leaned forward from where he'd been sitting half dazed, waiting for anything via the comm, his eyes fully alert and rather wide. He shot a look back at Yaoksi, who looked as though he'd seen a ghost...

...or several thousand at once, for that matter. Meanwhile he tried to think...

...as logically as one could, anyway, in the face of the hulking ISSD that had just popped right into the same area that they were, right after he'd just sought the assistance of one of the head honchos of the Empire to find his wife....

..in the same area.

"Let's hope like bloody hell they're just here to carry out Tarnus's orders to look for Galen's ship in this area," Terrin practically whispered, as if speaking in a regular tone alone would bring the guns of the ginormous ship ahead to bear on them. Then, with effort, he added at a normal voice level, "We'd better at least respond to them, or it's not gonna get any better...

...cause I'm pretty sure we're already in their gravity well and tractor beam range."

Terrin toggled the comm. "This is Captain Terrin Danner aboard the Challenger," he answered, sending the requested identification codes. Then, making a choice to at least at the moment be a little bit vague, he proceeded with, "Just in the area doing some business for my company, Eagle Enterprises."

Well, it wasn't a lie, and there were some nearby planets EE would do business on...

Then he sent off the message, praying to all the fates that it was in fact enough and something untoward was not in fact going to ensue as he yet again held his breath.

Admiral Actar. And this guy just happens to have "business" in the area...

Captain Boryl Landarian didn't rise to his position at the ripe old age of 45 by being stupid. Nosirree. Commendation after commendation, not to mention the award of several Imperial Black Stars liberally strewn about his military record proved his mental capabilities to be quite the opposite. Not to mention his knack of putting two and two togther and coming up with the square root of 144...

His eyes hooded, and he frowned. Then uttered a single command.

"Tractor them in."

The order was carried out in less time than it took for him to speak the words. The hapless Challenger quite suddenly found herself not only caught in a grip of durasteel, but being drawn directly toward a hanger bay in the port side of the immensely ominous SSD.

Once again I was practically knocked from my seat, but this time by the sudden, inertia-pounding jolt as what could only be a tractor beam took hold of us with all the genteel aplomb of a rabid rancor.

"Dammit, they've got us in a tractor beam!"

There was nothing I could do but power down and await the inevitable. No way in hell could my purty little ship take on a Super Star Destroyer of this class.

Dammit! I cursed to myself again as I plopped in my seat, arms and legs crossed, seething.

I'd just gotten her, too...

"Oh hell," Terrin said, casting a blue-eyed gaze Yaoksi's way. He shook his head. "I'm sorry I got you all into this."

He trailed then, trying to clear the rising worry for the others...

...and much more so for Galen. For while he didn't really have much control to possibly find her at the moment...

...he certainly wouldn't have any now. All he could hope for, per the moment, was that Tarnus would follow through on his end and that his trust hadn't been placed incorrectly. But until then...

"I should have told them we were looking for her ship," he then said, feeling seven kinds of a fool for not having been totally truthful, but really not certain it would have made a worrt's worth of difference in the end.

After all, who knew what Tarnus had told who when he deployed ships to go find Galen's? And oh gods, what if Actar got a hold of the info that Galen was out there stranded somewhere? Still, that particular nasty had been quiet for some time. Strange, really...

"I don't know where Admiral Actar is, but he used to be constantly after Galen. I might be willing to trust Tarnus for the moment...

...but not the Empire in general. Maybe they'll just check out our ship and cargo then let us be on our way."

You hope, snorted a shoulder devil. But fat chance of that happening...

"Ummm... yeah, you'd maybe be able to trust Tarnus, right? But not the Empire in general. BUT it was Tarnus who said he'd send out the armada, not Actar. I mean, seems that means you hopefully can trust him.

"Well, at least when it comes to your wife you can. Apparently, that is."

I paused a moment, wasting a precious few more seconds before finally voicing the only thing I could think of.

"Look, you asked him for help, and he obviously complied... and fast, too. I mean, they're here, aren't they?"

I waved at the viewscreen, which didn't show diddly but stars. The enormous SSD had us by our aft section. However, I knew the gesture only proved what I was trying to say.

"Seems to me you should be able to do it again, right?"

If nothing else at least our relationship with Mister Lieutenant General Sorben Tarnus would be cemented solidly, one way or the other.

I sighed, knowing there wasn't much else I could actually do, and I'd run dry of ideas.

"I guess I'd better go aft and let Link and our Jedi friend in on our, ahh... current circumstances," I said. Then rising from my seat altogether, I went to make it so.

____________________________________________

I hastened into the galley where lo and behold, what did I find but our silent Jedi staring into a spot somewhere between the bridge of his nose and infinity. I didn't know if he'd explode or anything if I touched him, so I turned to Link instead. She was sitting morosely off to one side, looking for all the world as if she'd lost her best friend.

"Hey, Terrin got Tarnus to send out an armada to help find Galen..."

Might as well start out on a bright note.

"...BUT we, ahh... we seem to have gotten ourselves in a bit of a sticky wicket. They're tractoring us aboard their flagship, haven't a spice-miner's clue as to why."

…then turned back to the comm, toggling a reply switch that would send a transmission back to the frequency he’d used not all that long ago to speak with Tarnus.

”Fast response of armada appreciated…” he started out, chewing is lip a bit as he tried to choose the best wording he could for the obvious request he was about to make, “…but apparently your flagship the Relentless is not thrilled with us coming into its area and is tractoring us in. Any chance you can communicate with them that we’re friendlies?”

Or perhaps maybe you finally have me where you’d like me…

Terrin tried to ignore that little black thought, and sent the message off.
(((OCC: Message sent to Back Into the Fire in the Empire and New Republic forum.)))

****
Even as Terrin sent the message off to Tarnus, another problem surfaced in his mind. Now opening a highly secured and encrypted frequency to Aaron Barnes, he prepped another message to send. "Aaron, I need you to divert the Hornett and all fleet away from the location I gave you for Galen's potential whereabouts, at least for now. I called in the big guns and asked Lt.General Tarnus for assistance to find Galen, but now we are being tractored in by one of the Empire's ISSDs. I'm not sure what's going to happen from here...

...but I need you to divert all fleet."

Before this potentially gets worse... came the final, errant thought.

Bloody Hell, Terrin, what have you gotten yourself into?

Still, Aaron quickly commed navigation to divert the Hornett towards Mon Calamari space. No sooner had he finished speaking with them did he then switch frequencies to the owner frequency for Eagle Enterprises, calling off the search for Galen's Mandalorian ship. Ever the frequent space traveller, Aaron could literally feel the Hornett drop out of hyperspace, reorient, then pull the blankets of hyperspace back around her, headed a completely different direction than she was before.

Aaron sighed, shaking his head to himself, and then turned to respond to his partner. "It's done, Terrin," he responded. "And if I don't hear from you really soon, I'm going to assume there is trouble...

...and you know I won't leave you or Galen hanging."

Isn’t Tarnus that Imperial General we had on comm earlier. Which if his people are out there searching and we ran onto one of them.

“I cannot catch a break,” Link groaned. She pulled up the ships sensors on her datapad and would have gone white if she didn’t already possess white fur.

“A Super Star Destroyer, I don’t have time to deal with this.”

Link quickly executed a program forcing the datapad to erase itself, luckily that was the only piece of incriminating evidence of her slicer career. Her planned upgrades and modifications were still on the back burner with all the side requests everyone had given her. For once all that extra work paid off.

"Should we, umm... scruffy you up or something?"

Hell's Bells, what do I know about owning slaves?!

“No I am not playing the part of a slave,” Link whimpered. “Not now, not in the future, never again.”

Her hands were trembling and she wiped at the tears forming in her eyes. She looked up and could see what she thought was Yaoksi’s regret for the misinterpretation. She shoved her feeling of the matter aside the best she was able to at moment because of their lack of time. There was also the logical reason for her to strike down that idea one that would only be known to her because of her past life as a slave. Removing her glove and rolling up her sleeve she showed him her prosthetic limb.

“It may be shiny and unnatural, but its still a top of the line product. No slave owner would get an arm of this quality for their slave, and a mutilated Ryn slave would be taken out back and shot. A story closer to the truth, I lost my arm in an accident and fled from my master because of knowing the implications. Somehow I ended up in front of you who being the nice guy you are offered my pursuers the cost of the ammo to buy me and they accepted. You got me the new arm, unofficially adopted me because no one would bother to do the paper work, and now we are here.”

Realizing this was a bit much to take in Link moved on to giving her exact reasoning.

“You still get to act the same as you always do since you know next to nothing about being an actual slave owner. I get to act like I’m scarred of everyone else and have no knowledge of how anything works. I don’t like the idea of playing the scarred former slave, but its leagues above playing an actual one and I am just as familiar with how that actually works.”

"I mean, I didn't- umm, what I meant was-" I stammered, then just knelt down on her level.

"Look kiddo, I'm sorry. I just wasn't thinking; blame me, blame the fact that at the moment we're being tractored into an Impy SSD and the Universe only knows if they know who we are. Judging by the fact that this is happening, probably not.

"SO-!" I regained my feet. "Your plan is good." I held her datapad out toward her.

"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.

...and sat back in the copilot's chair where he'd been waiting on pins and needles, his blue eyes defocusing.

Oh bloody Hell...

He spared but a moment to try to collect himself, raising a hand to his chin as his blue eyes grew darker, more distant. He closed them for a second, fighting the onslaught of concern for everyone with him and and for Galen. He had to hope that Tarnus would stay true to his word, at least in that he'd find Galen safely. Still, Terrin didn't give trust out easily.

And maybe this time he'd given it when he shouldn't have.

Dammit.

Sighing to himself then, Terrin opened his eyes, stood, and took a final moment to collect himself before heading aft, knowing he'd have to face the music and that he at least needed to update the others on what Tarnus had said. He made it back in time to see Yaoksi and Link having a brief exchange...

...and to see Kyan still sitting there staring into space. Terrin's blue eyes darkened a bit more as he looked at him, and with effort he then turned to Link and Yaoski.

"So Tarnus says he can't do anything for us just yet, but that we should cooperate fully and he'll make sure that troopers don't harm us when they board the ship." He paused then, his eyes growing impossibly darker. "He says we might be in for a bit of a wait in detention..."

Terrin paused, trailing, as something of days past resurfaced in his brain, of the time he'd spent in Imperial Prison on Coruscant.

Where he'd been given Galen's locket, with a picture of her and Darra with an X across both their faces, those faces that he loved so very dearly.

Dammit.

But that memory gave Terrin an idea, as horrible as it was, and as much as he couldn't stomach the thought of Galen and JhinDarra dead..

"Look, I'm technically supposed to be sitting in an Imperial prison on Coruscant still, but I was released by Graysith."

He paused then, biting his lower lip. "I'm the half-owner of Eagle Enterprises, and they have to have somewhere in their records that I mysteriously disappeared from my prison cell." He paused, his mind made up on how he wanted to play things. "Maybe if I give myself up, they'll let you go."

And maybe then if Tarnus isn't true to his word, there will still be someone left to help Galen out, as slim of a chance as it might be...

“Gal’ika,” Kyan transmitted. “We came out of hyperspace near where we believe you to be. Unfortunately the others contacted you friend Sorben Tarnus as well. We came out on top of a Super Star Destroyer that is searching for your ship. At the moment Tarnus is asking us to play dumb about your situation and go along. I will need to pull back my presence to a minimum but if you need me I will respond when I can, if you keep trying to get my attention I’ll take it as an emergency.”

Kyan withdrew back to the physical world taking a moment to steady himself.

"You...warned Galen...?" Terrin asked Kyan first, looking at Kyan bit incredulously. "Of the fact that the Empire is looking for her cause I'm short of any other options that are plausible and nothing more, I hope."

He paused, his stormy blues defocusing a bit. As if she needed anything else to worry about, stranded out gods knew where in an inoperable ship...

Terrin's look refocused on Kyan then. "I don't think anyone here is intending on any elaborate covers," he then said. "If you think you can act as an intermediary, be my guest...

...but I am an owner of Eagle Enterprises, and as I mentioned, I'm supposed to still be rotting in Imperial prison on Coruscant. The Empire will know that. And, as much as I hate to say it, I think the most logical thing for us all to do is to follow along with what Tarnus has told us to do. There's some reason he doesn't want the rest of the Empire to know he's been in contact with us...

...and that's a bit strange, considering he's got an armada out looking for Galen's ship as we speak. There should be no reason for secrecy in that, I'd think....

...unless something else is going on here. I don't know that I trust him, but I do know there has been a level of sincerity in my recent communications with him that I haven't expected. And I do believe he'll do what it takes to get to Galen's ship."

Terrin paused, chewing his lip. "I think we need to play this straight...

...at least for the time being."

He quieted for a moment, his blue eyes deepening in thought. "Something is up..."

“My past does sting, but your ignorance of how slavery works helps me. I can forget I was a slave when I’m with you, because even to this day I still have those reflexive responses to certain things. You don’t notice them but I do when it happens, and in those moments the others and your lack of action to treat those reflexes as bizarre or avoid them helps remind me that you see me as a real person.”

Link loosened the gun belt that contained her blaster and vibroblade ant set it on the table with the datapad Yaoksi returned.

“If I had to pretend that I was a slave again and you were my master I could never unsee that. To even consider in the furthest reaches of my thoughts that even as a pretend cover you were capable of those thing that were done to the other slaves, that they did to me. I don’t want to entertain the possibility that even for an instant that was possible I want my mental image of you to be forever in capable of such actions.”

Suddenly Link leaped at Yaoksi hugging him around the neck with her tail waving happily back and forth.

“I don’t think I will be the best daughter. I’m stubborn, get way in over my head, kinda a smart mouth, had extensive run-ins with the law, and I don’t know what a family is yet. If you are willing to put up with that then yes those words will make me very happy.”

It was dysfunctional, exasperated by the ever approaching Super Star Destroyer in the background but in this place with Yaoksi Link for the first time knew she had a home. And if anyone was able to pull her away from him they would see from the ear to ear grin Link finally understood what it meant to be happy.”

I frowned, waffled a moment before favoring the kid's dignity over anything else. Gently unraveling her from my neck, I rose to my feet, setting her down on her own pair as I did so. For the moment I simply ignored the proffered datapad still held in her hand, thinking that the apparent ownership of one would perhaps further the ruse of her being my adopted daughter.

I turned to Terrin, cutting a quick side-long glance toward Kyan in the process.

"Oh... wonderful!" was all I could manage to sputter, before turning back to Cel again.

"Kid, if there's anything you need to have hidden, and hidden well, now's the time to do it before we're hauled entirely inside that big SSD out there," I cautioned, not really knowing anything else to offer that might be useful other than a general:

I've got a bad feeling about this...

“Sure thing,” Link answered.

Scooping up her pile of things she quickly took them back to her quarters where she stashed them in a locker still containing the conspicuous dent from an earlier conversation. She returned to the others, still with a spring in her step and datapad in hand. Link didn’t know she ever wanted to have a family until Yaoksi offered, and now she wasn’t going to let some Super Star Destroyer ruin her happy moment.

“I put my weapons away but didn’t hide them,” Link explained. “They are not illegal or anything so they shouldn’t draw to much attention if they search the ship. Our computer core should be clean since the Challenger is so new. There is not much else I can do at the moment unless there is anything else you can think of.”

Link moved closer and grabbed onto one of Yaoksi’s free hands with her tail.

My happiness was immediately squelched when his words took on a life of their own and started traipsing around inside my head.

Terrin, what in Hell's Seven Circles are you doing!? I couldn't help but wonder... only to find that immediate reaction overshadowed by an even more ominous note. I mean, it was really obvious to most of my former traveling companions that Admiral Actar had been chasing after me for what seemed to be since the Big Bang first popped; now here's a big ol' SSD just conveniently helping in the search for me?

Sorben, whose side are you on anyway...? I couldn't help but snort, for after what my loving "ex" and I had shared lo these past few years showed me quite clearly where his loyalties lay, thank you very much!

I unraveled myself from the seat to start pacing aimlessly about the rather cramped area, power usage be damned. Every so often my foot would slip a bit; damn, but those ice crystals were growing! Worry chased it's tail round and round, keeping time with my friends the geese who were now marching in urgent cadence up and down my back. I wished to hell I had decent view of what was going on out there, but the only forward view I had was the rather stomach-roiling one of stars swooping and spiraling as Cin vehti rolled and pitched and yawed. The few times I actually tried to take a good look didn't show me anything but that, making me wonder if everyone involved was really where Master Kyan claimed they were.

Somehow my Gut was niggling that they weren't.

"Umm, Master Kyan, are you sure you're in my vicinity? I mean, wouldn't someone have picked up on me by now?"

What else could I ask? What else could I do, but pace and mutter, worry and pace. I never felt so frustrated in my entire life, even if the possibility of rescue was in my immediate future.

I never did believe in the cavalry charging over the hill.

...and the Empire going over it....and possibly that said computer system....with a fine toothed comb. "I don't guess we have the time to delete those conversations I had with Tarnus before we go into the belly of the whale," Terrin then mentioned, frowning. "Of course, I'm certain deleting said messages would leave a damning fingerprint of its own kind, and nothing is ever truly deleted anyway. Maybe we should leave it be."

Trailing then, Terrin's blues shifted to Kyan, who had fallen silent again. His lack of response regarding what he had communicated to Galen did little for Terrin's nerves.

She's gonna think you've lost your kriffing mind, he couldn't help but think. And if and when the Impys do pick her up--dear gods, it's the only hope he really had left unless Jasyn was able to finagle his way into helping via the Sith somehow--she was probably going to do everything to cut and run from them. And you wouldn't really blame her in that, would you, Danner? After all, Actar has captured her more times than you'd like to count...

And Tarnus is Actar's Third-in-Command. Is his sudden desire to help a sign that he was no longer in agreement with the Admiral's ways?

Terrin's blue eyes turned a bit more distant.

You sure as kriffing hell better hope so, Danner.

Terrin had to shake himself from such darkening thoughts, knowing what his gut was telling him, and deciding to rely on those instincts over the pressing shoulder demons within.

"Galen needs to know that this is the best option we have because we're running out of time," Terrin then said flatly to Kyan, whether he was listening to him or not. "I will find her no matter who does the initial picking up...

...and Admiral Actar is going to get to her over my dead body," he added, his blue eyes growing a shade darker. "I think it's best you stay in contact with her as best you can and keep tabs on how she is, and let me handle things with the Empire. She's the love of my life, dammit...

...and you're the only connection I have left with her at the moment. I need you to be letting her know we're not gonna stop until she's safe. No matter what it takes."

“To hell with it all, come with me.”

Leading Terrin across the room away from the others Kyan didn’t offer an explanation as he removed both his gloves and tripped the release for his helmet. With a small hiss of air the pressure equalized and Kyan removed his helmet and set it aside as well. He let out a slow breath, steadying himself.

“Trust me, this is for Gal’ika’s sake.”

Not giving Terrin a chance to protest or question what he was doing Kyan took a quick step forward and clasped either side of Terrin’s head in his hands. Opening his eyes he stared down and into Terrin with his eyes that could no longer see the physical world. He met some initial resistance, but even out of practice Kyan was still a Jedi Master.

Kyan reached back out to Galen as he had before projecting an image of himself before her, this time he also added the likeness of Terrin off to one side. Back in the physical place where Terrin and Kyan were still standing he fed Terrin’s mind a hallucination of what was occurring on Galen’s ship. Galen, for her part, had grown use to Kyan popping in and out like that, but the addition to the fray appeared to startle her slightly. Likewise Terrin tried to jerk back but Kyan held him tightly in place.

“Ohh no you don’t,” Kyan projected into Terrin and Galen’s minds. “Calm down and listen to me for a moment. Gal’ika we came out on top of a SSD, I think it might have used its interdiction capabilities. It immediately began to tractor us in and because of that we haven’t been able to use our sensors. Now as to this.”

Kyan’s apparition motioned to the apparition of Terrin next to him.

“Lets just call it a Master level Jedi mind trick with me acting as the relay between the two of you. At best you have around two minutes before I have to cut this off, make them count.”

"TERRIN!" I managed, before slithering back to my pilot's seat and tumbling into it. Staring out the forward window I took a precious few seconds to marshal my thoughts, all the while wondering what in Hell's Seven Circles Kyan meant by "make them count."

With a bit of effort, I calmed myself, still staring forward, hoping my husband, my love and best friend, could glean some kind of useful information from those slewing stars. On one hand I was only too keenly aware that they were thus receiving only bits and pieces of directional information. But with me sitting squarely in the middle of said bits and pieces the possibility existed that they could be assimilated and analyzed by shipboard navigational computers, and these could then hopefully determine if not my exact location, then somewhere close enough to where my "distress laser" could be triangulated.

Maybe the cavalry DOES exist...

"Did you get this, Terrin?" I thought back, now raising a gloved hand toward the forward view for emphasis. "Cin vehti is somewhere in the middle of these stars; I used the Kyber crystal in the lightsaber that Kyan gave me to focus the general distress beacon into something like a laser. I, uh..."

I paused briefly shoving the horrific image of stepping into the Void as deeply into my Gut as I could, and then continued:

"...managed to get the ship pitching and yawing and rolling, so the signal is kind of sweeping around. But I think it should reach farther now than the general distress signal would; Terrin, for some reason this is the only thing working on this ship. This and the power pack which has...

I checked quickly, winced even faster.

"Ummm... maybe another 13 standard hours of power left. I'm in my Mandalorian suit, and it's keeping me powered and warm for the time being. But my sensors are telling me it's getting mighty cold in here; I'm all for the beauty of Nature, but I'm not enjoying the sight of the ice crystals that are growing on everything."

I stopped again; stared at the image, then reached both hands out to virtually cup his dear face.

"Please hurry, Terrin."

While Terrin wanted nothing more to swim in Galen's baby browns and reassure her he would do everything in his power to find her, he also knew that this time was precious as far as potentially coming up with anything that could narrow down her location enough so that someone could find her.

"I will," he said simply to her last words, trying his damnedest to keep the rising worry from clouding his eyes, knowing she'd know regardless.

His mind turned back to the image of the slewing stars she'd indicated in in her forward view, trying his best to commit them to memory, knowing that without computer analysis the likely hood of him figuring out her location was next to impossible. After all, if it were that simple, Galen was the best pilot he'd seen and he knew she would have already done it. Typically in an operational ship, said stars would be interpreted by the navcomputer to determine the ship's location. Only Galen's ship had fallen out of hyperspace and gone completely keerflooey....

...leaving her potentially anywhere in the galaxy with only emergency power. At least if her ship had some operating systems...

What the hell had happened to it to cause such widespread malfunction anyway...???

...and her engine was just toast, she would be able to transmit navcomputer information to someone onboard another ship, who could then determine location via their own computer systems.

Too bad he was only a virtual presence here, and couldn’t interact with anything to at least get an image of what was going on in her forward viewport, or something…

"I wonder what caused your ship to malfunction like it did, that nothing at all is operational excepting the SOS," Terrin said then in seeming non sequitur. "Link says you have some kind of portable beacon somewhere on the ship--or at least she is pretty sure of it--that could help us find your location if you rebooted it and let it run for even a couple of minutes. But I know nothing of it and how works or looks other than it's about the size of a small table...

...and you'd need to power it up somehow. Maybe there's some medical equipment or something lurking around here so you can get more power to your Mandalorian suit somehow, if nothing else…"

He trailed, not wanting to linger on the thought of her only having half a day's worth of power left for said suit for too long.

They were running out of time…

“Could there be anything in your Mandalorian suit even that might have extra power? Or communications? Anything to give us a more ways to triangulate where you are…”

He paused again, his blues deepening with something. “I’m going to do everything in my power to get to you….”

No matter how insane said everything ended up being…

”And you don’t give up either.”

Terrin quieted on that, letting his blue eyes rest in her browns, something unspoken swimming in their depths. Memories of how they’d beaten the odds over and over again splayed across his mind’s eye as he reached for her chin, mimicking her own virtual action towards him only moments before. He still believed there was something within Galen that was truly special, some part of whatever had happened when Lord Aelvedaar had stretched to her sister years ago that had impacted her as well. Save any other practical way of finding her, he couldn’t help but pray that whatever was within Galen—something far more than simply the Force--could somehow help them now. Aside from that, all he could hope was that something he’d already set in motion, or something of his ramblings of ideas, would, in fact, help determine her current location.

The layout is inefficient as a Heavy Assault Fighter or Troop Transport. Spaces normally reserved for a latter role have been converted or modified to serve at living quarters and uses.

That tidbit nagged at him, if it was different that the production models that followed. The information Link found might be more related to those instead of this iteration. He decided to quickly “scan” these “inefficient spaces” for a quick feel to their configuration so they could formulate a better plan. After seeing what they were Kyan wanted to bash his head into the bulkhead for not thinking to do so sooner.

Two larger than average sleeping quarters, and open space for training, and even miniature forge for armor repair and maintenance. This wasn’t my daughters ship, this was her home. She raised Kan’ika here on this very ship. There is one person who can help.

Kyan moved back next to Terrin, he needed to explain his findings quickly.

“Sorry to interrupt, but I need to cut you off. This is more than my daughters ship, Pr’ika’s ship. This was her home while she was part of the Jedi Order, her daughter Kan’ika was born here, raised here. The crew quarters contain some of their belongings and even a functioning forge for armor repair. I imagine there are spare parts for armor, lightsabers, even training material for Jedi along with personal items. Check those spaces, they should contain more of those power supplies, heck the forge may have its own separate power source that was unaffected by virtue of it being powered off most of the time. The Imperials will be boarding us soon, I am keeping tabs will contact you again when I can. The Force is with you ad’ika.”

Whatever protest either Terrin or Galen would have directed at him for the abrupt end of their reunion didn’t have the opportunity to come to fruition. Kyan pulled mind back into the Challenger, followed by easing off his projected hallucination on Terrin. He released his grip on Terrin and staggered back a step, his hands visibly trembling and at the tips of his fingers appeared to show early signs of cold exposure. Kyan glanced over Terrin and seeing that the worse he was dealing with was shaking off the brief after effect of Kyan’s intrusion on Terrin’s mind. Not wasting any more time than necessary he grabbed Terrin by the shoulder and shook the man back into reality.

“Focus Terrin, we are back on the Challenger. Now quickly if you didn’t tell Tarnus, you need to tell him the name of the ship Gal’ika is on the Cin Vehti and it is where Kani was raised. She knows more about that ship than anyone else.”

He shoved Terrin over toward the cockpit.

“Go.”

Kyan felt a brief coughing spell come on, he covered his mouth with a free hand and when he pulled it away there were flecks of a what he could only interpret as a warm thick liquid, the same one he sensed flowed through his body.

Terrin considered the wisdom in contacting Tarnus once more after unspoken implications of their last communication. As he did so, he went to the navboard and pulled up a mapping program on the Challenger and quickly entered all he could remember from what he’d observed in Galen’s forward view, thankful for his attuned piloting abilities. When he was finished he saved the file, then turned to the comm. while he questioned the wisdom of contacting Tarnus at the moment, he did indeed have a couple of “backdoors” to get the information he had into the hands of those who might be able to do something with it. He keyed in a text only message:

Master Kyan has communicated the inoperable ship Galen is stranded on is his daughter’s, the Cin Vheti. His granddaughter knows the ship and how to help us. Galen has modified her SOS by using a kyber crystal to focus it and getting the ship to slew and yaw to help give the signal more range and detail. Aaron, I’m sending you this message to you so you can use our computers to interpret the star map spec attached and also send the information to the Empire to use. I’ve been in contact with Tarnus but he wants to keep our interactions under wraps for now; while I’m not sure why my gut says it has something to do with Actar, which makes this move wise. I’m also sending this to our Mandalorian contact, Bes’in Skirata. I need you to look at the map as well and transmit the information to Kani, who may or may not be with Tarnus along with Shawn Petrolu. I’m not sure when and if I’ll be able to do anything with the information I have myself or when I’ll be back in contact, so I’m counting on you all.

"Yes soldier?" He asked as he cast a fast glance at the datapadd he was signing before handing it over to the even younger ensign who was standing in likewise immobility off to his side. That worthy nodded quickly, click-turned in place and headed off to place said report amidst the myriad Landarian, as Captain of Relentless, was obliged to sign every day.

The lieutenant in front of him finally had is full attention, and snapping to attention informed him simply that the little ship which had popped into realspace practically on top of them had successfully tractored into Number 14 landing bay, and did the Captain have any further orders as to the status of those aboard and what was to be done with them, Sir? After all, said ship had managed to squirt off a message before the immense docking bay doors enclosed them into the the bulk of the huge Super Star Destroyer.... Sir.

Landarian nodded fractionally, settled into his command chair.

"The usual. Determine who captains that craft, and remove them all to separate detention cells until they may be investigated and proper...disposition be allocated.

"AND, of course. Trace that signal... Major?"

This latter was spoken in a louder tone of voice, aimed at the Major who occupied the position of Communications Officer aboard Relentless, who in turn immediately set to work.

Landarian turned back to the lieutenant.

"That is all."

In one smooth and much practiced movement, he then turned to the appearance of yet another ensign who seemed as if by magic to materialize at his left hand, holding out yet another infernal datapadd toward him. Shaking his head to himself in mild amusement, he took the datapadd even as the lieutenant left the bridge to carry out his order.

"Please, Terrin. I- I miss you, there is so much to tell you, to tell everyone! You don't know, I went to Dagobah and then when I was there I--"

It was as if a door slammed shut. Something snipped the fragility of the connection maintained between us. Boom.

Just. Like. That.

"No!"

My cry reverberated in my ears, causing me to wince for how loudly the word had instinctively left my lips. Another heartbeat thumped by, and then yet another... until I finally realized I was indeed once again alone in the tiny cockpit of my wonderful little ship.

Despair fought to overwhelm me. I fought it down. Those impertinent geese started once again to march up and down my back, spready their bumpy flesh down my arms and inside my skin as they headed to roost upon the knot my stomach had coiled itself into.

But something niggled...

I concentrated, let out a chuff of air as a whisper of something Master Kyan had seemed to be telling Terrin managed to emerge from a lower level of my consciousness.

Something about more power packs...

Well, at least it's something to do!

I drew in another fortifying breath and set off to poke about in every single nook and cranny and cabinet and drawer Cin vehti possessed in order to see if there was anything, anywhere I could use to maintain my life while I waited for rescue with the only three things at my disposal. The distress signal, now focused into a tight, far-reaching beam; the ability of others to use what information I had managed to send up until this point; and...

Hope.

I turned to Cel, placed my hand on the fur of her tail, which instinctively tightened even as I touched it. Trying my best to comfort her in that manner, I then shot a look to all others present.

"Here we go," was all I could manage before my attention was drawn to a rather demanding light blinking on the communications board. Somehow I managed to reach out and open the connection without my hand revealing the degree of trepidation filling me.

"This is ISS "Relentless,," came a stomach-knotting rasp.

"You will open your hatch for immediate boarding."

I sighed, shot a final glance around, and obeyed, hoping to all the ghods of the Universe that these men would not harm my new baby...

And that by some miracle we'd be able to see her again.

A fairly rough grasp yanked me to my feet and I felt Cel's furry grasp unravel rather brusquely, as with no further ado I was escorted from Challenger and into a shining and extremely impersonal-looking hangar deck. I didn't have much of a chance to really take a good look around, but was hustled here, taken there, a seeming army of gleaming white armor materializing around me which finally deposited me where else but into the detention cell I expected it would.

“This is the ISS Relentless. You will open your hatch for immediate boarding.”

Kyan drew himself up to his full height drawing on the Force for strength, adopting a posture that he kept from showing around the others. That of a cold menacing Mandalorian warrior. The stormtroopers boarded quickly whisking Yaoksi and Link away, it was then one of the troopers noticed the Mandalorian both lightsabers dangling from hit hip. That trooper raised an alarm and leveled his blaster on Kyan, soon more followed and Kyan had a small squad of Stormtroopers pointing weapons at him. None wanted to be the first to draw attention to themselves or move closer to disarm him. The tension was broken when one Stormtrooper jerked his weapon away motioning toward the ramp. Slowly Kyan crossed his arms then nodded, he took one slow step, then another, then started moving in a slow walk as indicated by the lead Stormtrooper.

Outside the ship was phalanx of Stormtroopers who maneuvered themselves around Kyan, none daring to approach what they thought was his range. Slowly that phalanx manuvered him through corridors to a detention block and motioned to a cell that looked as if designed for something much bigger than he was. The mag sealed door slid open as the guards out side began bolting tripods for their heavy repeaters to the deck and leveled them at the door entrance.

These guys don’t want to take any chances.

His musings were interrupted quite abruptly as a signal on his board demanded to be acknowledged. An armored hand reached out, a toggle switched.

"Phr'mm eln'a frzzna, grppl sk'tsschk."

Ahh. Seeker droid 17 had found something...

Quickly he flipped a switch, allowing the droid-garble to be immediately translated into Basic.

"--n Sector 87, coordinates +5216, 32247, 1822. Signal strength 88%, duration .098 standard seconds. Repeat, possible signal located in Sector 87, coordinates +5216, 32247, 1822. Signal strength 88%, duration .098 standard seconds..."

Edgar's smile broadened. This might be it! he thought, sobering as the location hit him square in the face.

Wow, that's off in the hinterlands, too!

Quickly he shot off this message to his command destroyer, that it not only could be relayed on up the line to their flagship but possibly be put to good use if it had been picked up by any other ship or fighter or droid.

Promotion to Major, here I come...! he thought, as he sent a command to the probe to remain absolutely still relative to space, that it would serve as one of the three reception positions needed to triangulate and finally locate the object it was they were seeking.

Link looked around, the cell could have been 3 meters square. To her it was an uncomfortable one meter and slowly closing in on her. She did not do well in closed spaces she couldn’t escape from, Link curled up in a corner rocking herself back and forth on the verge of sobbing.

"OWWW!" I yelled at no one in particular, the words escaping my lips in yet another instinctive response. A smile something of a cross between wryness and soul-wrenching fear laced liberally with happiness and hope plastered itself upon my face as, quickly scrambling backwards I rose to my feet and took a quick and yet again instinctive gander about myself.

Nothing. Absolutely nada.

A nearby bulkhead chortled quietly at the spectacle I was making of myself. Frowning a bit, I did a quick 360, my eyes everywhere at once. Not seeing anything more inspiring than the little side-cabin I had found, I moved through it's entrance and into the main corridor proper, which I followed as fast as I dared, considering the slickness of the deck, back to the forward command area of Cin vehti.

Nothing but silent systems, whirling stars, encroaching darkness, and ice.

I sighed, plopped into my seat, grouched into the slow whirligig of light outside the little ship...

WHAM! It hit again.

Not only did it hit, but it seemed with at least twice the impact as moments before. Only this time the odd feeling was accompanied by the faintest whisper of an image. I froze, trying to clear my thoughts, trying not to think of a single thing, but simply let whatever it was permission into my mind.

Was Master Kyan's touch with the Force returning? I FINALLY wondered, for throughout our equally weird connection prior to this I had been so damned happy to have it I never really gave the oddity much more than transient thought. Is he connecting with me again?

Slowly a ghostly form materialized in front of my eyes, which was truly a strange sight to see as at the moment I had been staring vaguely forward in the direction of the starfield skewing in front of the ship. Little by little it managed to become more and more substantial, never actually gaining the clarity I'd had with Master Kyan but obtaining form enough to where I could finally recognize apparently floating there amid the stars...

"Cel?!" Who looked beyond forlorn and well into the realm of deepest and darkest despair.

With that the connection vanished, leaving me with the silent laughter of the whirling and twirling stars.

Dammit...

Before he knew it Terrin was himself surrounded, a Stormtrooper at each side, and at least a squad behind him. At a t-intersection, Yaoksi was "lead" in one direction, Cel another, and himself another.

These guys seem rather tense. Imperials always seemed so very...stiff, but there was something more here. Something was definitely up...

At length he was finally pushed into a detention cell, its door sliding closed behind him in a certain sort of damning finality. Only then, taking a seat on the metal cot at the other side of the very small cell, did Terrin even dare to stop and analyze all that had just happened, trying for the life of him to not wonder if he'd in fact done enough.

Oh Hell, Galen, I wish we'd had more time...

In his mind's eye he kept seeing those big brown eyes of hers, reading the trust therein...

...and wanting for all the worlds to validate said trust and find her...

...but at the moment, he was at the mercy of the Empire and that of Sorben Tarnus.

Maybe that had been a miscalculation, no matter how sincere Tarnus was. Because, after all, he was still a part of the Empire. And the Empire, quite frankly, didn't give a damn. And now he'd dragged everyone on the Challenger into this...

Terrin sighed, cupping his chin with one hand, his eyes defocusing.

There just wasn't anything else for it. The slamming of my cell door behind the departing interrogator droid only made me feel worse, knowing that I had told it much more than I really really wanted to.

I am Yaoksi Joao, captain of Challenger. My compatriots are Terrin Danner, Kyan Jeti'isad, and my adopted Ryn daughter, Cel...

At least I'd managed to stick to my guns on that one!

We are searching for a disabled Mandalorian ship, to find Terrin's wife Galen Danner, last known to be piloting said ship. I obtained this knowledge from the Jedi who travels with us, who as far as I know has lost his connection to the Force but who seems to be able to connect somehow with Galen.

We had a connection with her...

Thank the ghods my fortitude had all but utterly vanished about then, or I'm sure I would have gone blabbing on about everything I knew concerning Sith and tales of spiders and Darker Realms and other such Boogeymen lurking in the deepest recesses of my memories. The droid had obligingly withdrawn with what I shuddered to think was just the first round of interrogations.

Trying to blink away the sweat that was dripping from my eyes, I tottered in the direction of the metal shelf the Empire laughingly passed off as a cot, but never gained it. I'd only managed two stumbling steps before the sweet, sweet arms of Lethe gathered me up, to then deposit me with a not so gentle thump on the decking of the cell.

Before he really analyzed anythig else Terrin had said, Aaron squirted off Terrin's attachment, along with the quadrant map he'd initially sent, to navigation, indicating that he wanted them to run a full analysis on what Terrin had just sent against the quadrant indicated for any similarities and patterns.

Only after this was done did Aaron turn to what else Terrin had said. With what his partner had said about Actar, he pondered the wisdom of ccontacting Tarnus at all, at least for the moment. After all, the wrong person or persons in the Empire might get a hold of that information. And Aaron had the joy of dealing with Actar in the past before, and had seen what that particular worthy had done to Galen.

Hopefully this Mandalorian, Bes'in Skirata could do something to help. Galen was, after all, on one of their ships. f

Still, Aaron did have one other idea, so he turned back to his comm unit, opening a channel and a highly encrypted frequency out to Stargazer Corporation.

"Aaron Barnes here. I've worked with you all in the past, and I'm hoping we can do so again. If Erik Kartan is with you all, please ask him to get in contact with me. In the meantime, I'm sending you a map of a quadrant of the galaxy that a ship, of Mandalorian origin, has fallen inoperable in, along with a star map spec that may help refine its location. My guys are running an analysis on it, but if you could do so as well, I'd appreciate it. The ship that is lost is currently sending off an SOS that has been focused with a kyber crystal. The ship is yawing and slewing, giving that SOS more range. If you have any finds on your analysis, please let me know.

Also, if you can get me in contact with Shawn Petrolu, and forward the information I'm attaching to him somehow, I'd greatly appreciate it.

Aaron Barnes of Eagle Enterprises, over ad out.

Prisoner Report it informed him in simple red on black text. After saluting the ensign about his duties, he settled back to have a read. His eyes grew more and more glacial the further and further he perused.

Captain, Yaoksi Joao. In accompaniment with a...somehow broken Jedi..., an... adopted Ryn... and, WELL now isn't this interesting.

Captain Terrin Danner. Now, where had he heard that name before?

Frowning a bit, he keyed some of the buttons on the arm of his command chair, his eyes hooding further as words popped up to inform him exactly who this man named Terrin Danner was.

"Hmmph," he let the monosyllable escape him softly and returned to the report.

These people were searching for a... Mandalorian ship, said to be disabled somewhere in this quadrant.

Well now, isn't that even more interesting! After all, what were the odds-?

He was just about to key up a personal, scrambled line to Coruscant HQ, General Tarnus Eyes Only, when yet another signal demanded his immediate attention. Pausing a moment, he flipped it's waiting toggle, opening up yet another transmission coming in from the Destroyer, ISD "Rabid", which informed him there was a good possibility Actar's ship had been found.

Over regular channels he sent a personal message back to the effect that the probe droid and its dispensing ship freeze, then turned back to his original communication, which he typed so that none on the bridge of the great ship would overhear.

"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."

He paused a moment longer, then typed a final line.

"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.

"Awaiting further orders. Landarian, out."

A simple press of a button, and the scrambled and coded message was off, winging in impossible seconds via the wonders of the Holonet, and directly into General Tarnus's eyes.

((OOC: Message goes off into Back Into The Fire in the Empire/New Republic forums, thank you.))

Abruptly Link’s cell door flew open and a group of junior officers poured into the opening. She felt one grabbing her prosthetic arm forcing her to stand, when she tried to protest one threw a fist into her gut causing her to double over. Another jammed a stun baton into her throat and activating the controls sent a short but powerful arc across her larynx. She crumpled to the mouth agape as if to scream in pain but not sound could come forth. Link knew of the xenophobia of the Empire, especially among its most junior ranks who had almost no contact with non-humans, and there she was a helpless xeno of a species no one cared about.

There were no questions.

They hoisted her up again using a cutting tool they removed her jacket and sweater, only leaving her baggy pants and halter top. Forcing open a compartment on her arm they ripped out the power cell and at once it went limp. The intruders fashioned bindings from her shredded coat and tied her arms above her head to a grate in the ceiling, leaving her hanging above the floor. All the while laughing they took turns zapping her with the stun baton and lashing at her with a whip they fashioned. It was as if her wordless screams and silent pleads for mercy drove them to continue on with the exercise.

There were no questions.

After some amount of time that Link had lost track of, they grew bored with their sadistic beating seeing that the only response it elicited was her wordless crying. Those wannabee interrogators merely shrugged to one another, picked up their stun baton and straightened out their uniforms as if this all was their lunch time entertainment. They departed slamming the door and not bothering to even cut her down, they left her there hanging from the bindings on her wrists; bruised, burned, and broken. Link had been beaten before, more severely even, it was the suddenness of it along with the sadistic joy they took that brought Link back to that dark place. And all she could do now was silently plead for anyone, anything to make it stop.

They had been looking for his wife, who had gotten stranded in the area on a Mandalorian ship that was inoperable. The Mandalorian with them was a Jedi who had been helping them try to locate the ship...

...Captain Joao and his adoptive daughter had been helping him as well. They were just good friends trying to help him out...

Then the questions came that Terrin knew would come.

Yes, he'd been placed in prison for some sort of attack on Coruscant that resulted in an earthquake. No, he hadn't been part of it.

The last question, however, Terrin had absolutely no idea how to answer.

How he'd gotten away. And where his cell mate Jasyn Lancaster was at this time.

Graysith secured their release, by simply following her connection with him and opening a portal. How do you explain that????

Terrin knew the answer was going to cause a problem, cause there was no way he couldd tell them about Galen's sister. Or explain what she could do. No way...

But he couldn't explain it.

The Imperial interrogators practically snorted in derision. One of them even said, "Oh, sure you can't!" Then they left the detention cell, leaving him then to his own thoughts and fears.

But not fears for himself; for unless someone intervened, he had a sneaking suspicion he was going right back to an Imperial holding cell on Coruscant. Instead he had fears for Galen, who he hadn't been able to find, fears that he had failed her. Fears for Cel and Yaoksi, who were only hear as friends, to help him out...

Terrin leaned forward where he was sitting, placing his elbows on his knees and putting his head in his hands. He tried his damnedest to hope that Aaron woud be able to make some sense of the information he'd sent, and that Sorben Tarnus would prove true to his word. Trust was not an easy thing for Terrin, not at all.

But at the moment, it's all he had...

Trying to clear the mistrust that tried to eat at him even so, Terrin turned inward, to the mental image of Galen, of her beautiful brown eyes and her dear face, of her warm essence.

You have to believe there is time, and that this will all work out somehow, or you're gonna go mad...

At once the Captain, a rather cheery man, began to gush out his awe at Kyan. How as a young man on the outer rim he admired the Jedi and was fascinated by tales of their adventures. He had used Kyan’s Jedi title and even knew his name, which Kyan deduced he was likely the last one to be interviewed. There was a request to demonstrate his Force powers, Kyan politely declined explaining his expertise were more mundane and harder for average people to understand what was going on.

How do you demonstrate that your powers only semi work in relation to a bizarre Force connection to one specific person.

That slightly saddened the Captain but he moved on. If Kyan let him go on he would have talked Kyan’s ear off about the honor it was to meet a Jedi Master and his kids would never believe him otherwise. The man made a request for a holo with Kyan, which he also entertained, if it was some ruse there were simpler ways to go about it. Then the conversation changed gears.

Who were the other members of Kyan’s party? What was their relationship with him, the Mandalorians, the Jedi Order? What were they doing out here? What was this Mandalorian ship they were also looking for?

Kyan briefly answered the questions posed. There was Captain Joao and his young ward Cel, Terrin was the owner of Eagle Enterprises. They were helping in the search for the Mandalorian vessel and as a Mandalorian he did have more experience in the region close to Mandalorian space and was asked to assist.

All of it is true, from a certain point of view.

The Captain nodded along asked a few minor clarifying questions then picked up the recording equipment. A halfhearted apology was made for Kyan’s confinement but counterpointed with how a Mandalorian Jedi Master would catch anyone off guard. There was assurances made that better accommodations would be arranged when possible, something both men knew was a lie. The man bowed slightly asking for understanding in the mean time and indicated Kyan help himself to the contents of the beverage cart and departed with a final call back over his shoulder thanking the “Master Jedi”. The door opened, the man exited, the door closed. Kyan leaned back into the provided chair and cocked his head to one side.

“Well that was odd.” He said to no one in particular.

(((OOC: I think this is slightly better, let me know if it needs something else.)))

"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."

...and Terrin had asked him to do something, something that was on the surface of it insane, but something that needed to be done if finding Galen on that inoperable Mandalorian ship was gong to be a possibility. And while Terrin might trust his new Mandalorian allies to deliver other information to whomever he'd requested, that didn't mean that Aaron trusted them to do so.

As he continued to think, sitting in his little "home office" within his quarters, some data from navigation came through on his computer monitor. They had crossed the little star map Terrin had created and sent along with the quadrant of space that he'd sent earlier. Results indicated approximately 50 possible locations, give or take.

Aaron pursed his lips. Any other time, he'd have ships of his own to send out to assess the results. But with what Terrin had said about the Empire out looking for Galen's ship too, and not being entirely thrilled with another ship popping up in the same area looking for a ship, well...

Oh Sithspit, to hell with it. He'd been an ally of Admrial Palleaon of the Empire and worked on his very own flagship till he had passed, and he'd even given up all of his "rebel allies," including the aforementioned Admiral, to Admiral Actar in exchange for Galen being removed from some crazy mind cage Actar had created and for a "truce" between him and Eagle Enterprises. Granted, Actar had later turned around and imprisoned Terrin and Jasyn when Terrin had refused to work for the Empire...

...but if you call up the right person, in the right way, maybe...

Aaron shook his head, and raised a hand to his chin, chewing his lower lip once more.

He still had contact with Palleaon's old flagship and its new captain, but contacting them and then asking them to in turn deliver information was adding too many middle men...

Lowering his hand from his chin, Aaron reached out and opened a general frequency to Imperial HQ on Coruscant.

"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."

He paused then, making a face at his own vagueness. But there was no way he was going to air the information he had to tell Tarnus over a general Imperial comm, even with his own frequency being highly encrypted.
So let's see if the Empire's secretaries push your message through...
(((OCC: Message goes out to Sorben Tarnus in Into the Fire in the Empire and New Republic forum.)))

"Imperial Command to Eagle Enterprises. Advise you to please stand by.

"End transmission."

Flow-walking with a Jedi disconnected from the Force! I might add!

WHICH I promptly did, tossing that rather major discrepancy onto the steadily growing pile of mysteries I seemed to be collecting. Chewing my lip in thought, I went back to my search, knowing that sitting around pondering wasn't going to do anything but use up the limited power I had, and that was something I couldn't afford. If the chance existed that there were more power packs, or other items aboard my icicle-bound ship useful to my immediate survival, then of course my first priority was to that.

In spite of how awful I was feeling about poor little Cel.

Of whose apparent predicament I was given tantalizing hints exactly how?

Focusing on my search, I allowed a part of my mind to wander to that little mystery.

Just what had happened there? I was clueless, but I couldn't help but bring up those moments in my recent past when something had flashed from me, something I'd never experience ever until after that horrible day when I lost Jharmeen to whatever it was that had taken her. The thing that had lashed out from me wasn't nearly as powerful as what she had... but...

But! Was it the same?

I know I'd entertained this thought before, only to shove it away each time, scoffing. But perhaps in those past cases that knee-jerk reaction on my part wasn't so much the result of me denying the possibility that whatever lurked inside Jharmeen had managed to find shelter in my body too, but was instead an unconscious acceptance of the sheer improbability of it's truth.

Maybe I did have this, this All thing inside me too...

For all the damned good it did me.

Just to make sure, I stopped searching the container I had uncovered, sat back on my hiney right there on the ice-covered deck, and crossed my legs. Closing my eyes, I calmed myself, steadied my self, quieted my thoughts, opened my mind, let nothing enter but the merest whisper of...

Cel. Are you there?

Waiting... waiting... feeling suddenly very foolish, for all that had managed to pass was even yet more time, and time was of the essence and flying by entirely too fast now, even though I was most assuredly not having fun.

So Link hung there, hopeful that the door would open and someone would at last cut her down, on the other hand she was filled with terror that it would be much much worse than the situation that brought her here. If Link was in a rational frame of mind that facilitated logical thinking she might have questioned the strange occurrence or her own sanity by responding to it. Neither in her right frame of mind or thinking rationally Link did not question that faint voice she was hearing from somewhere in the room.

Cel… Are… ..ere?

To Link it sounded vaguely like Galen’s voice yet different. She couldn’t identify the source, to her it felt as if it was faintly vibrating into her skull. Link slowly worked her tongue in her mouth shaking off the dryness she felt.

“...ha ...hha… ...ha..llenn...” came from Link in a painful exhale. The exertion brought on another round of painful coughing. After all of that she still couldn’t even say Galen’s name. She silently cursed at herself at pathetic attempt, shutting her eyes tightly to at least eliminate the sight of the room as a constant reminder and she resumed mouthing her silent pleads.

Oh kriffing hell, Terrin, I don't know this Kani you are trying to get a message to, nor do I know these Mandolorians...

As he sat and thought, another message popped up one his monitor:

Captain Barnes, this is Katrina from Stargazer Corporation. We’ve run the information you sent through our databases and best navcomputers and come up with 55 potential locations. I’m transmitting that information back to you, along with this message. I also wanted to let you know that, as far as we know, Shawn Petrolu has no known comm frequency; I am supposing this is the Jedi way. The last I heard from Captain Kartan—which was some time ago, actually—he had asked for the coordinates to Kamino and the Guild Worlds. He said he was going to get back into running Stargazer Corporation, but there has been nothing further. In his absence business remains as usual with small jobs here or there. I have not attempted to contact him myself; he seemed rather adamant he had some things he had to do before he returned to us fully; but his personal comm frequency is 111248. Maybe if he has been on the Guild World he can help you. If not, please let me know if there is any further way Stargazer Corporation may assist you.

As Aaron read the message, he chewed his lip a bit more, also reading underlying dissatisfaction in what was being said. Erik had been gone and hadn’t been in charge of his company in the least. While Aaron himself had owned the company and knew little of information smuggling, he had kept in contact with them….

…and had used them as a platform to help create the beginnings of a rebellion that had seemingly fizzled out since Admiral Pallaeon’s death. Aaron frowned at the thought, then with efforts put those thoughts aside to return to the matter at hand and pulled up the information Katrina had sent him from their computer findings regarding Terrin’s information. He then keyed in the frequency for navigation, requesting they compare Stargazer Corporation’s results with those of their own. Knowing this would take only a few minutes, he asked navigation to contact him immediately once the results came in. Then he keyed in the personal comm frequency Katrina had given to him, to contact one Erik Kartan. He typed in a message as follows:

Erik, this is Captain Aaron Barnes of Eagle Enterprises. I attempted to find you via your company, but was notified you had been gone for some time, and may have had some interations on the Guild World. I was hoping I could utilize your company to help determine the location of Galen Danner, who has had some ship trouble and is currently stranded. If you receive this message, please respond.

(((OCC: Message outgoing to A Rose So Sweet in the Jedi Praxeum and Sith Temple forums.)))

...but would it be enough?

Terrin frowned to himself, his eyes darkening along with his thoughts. For not only was there the very real concern for the fact that time was ticking for Galen, but also that others had been dragged into this with him.

Captain Joao....a person who had quickly become a friend. Cel, who was clever, had just found a home and a father in Yaoksi, and just a kid. And Master Kyan...?

Terrin's frown deepened.

What of him? He clearly wasn't able to use the Force and track others, not like Terrin had seen other Jedi do...

...but what was he doing now? And what of their supposed Mandalorian allies? They'd promised to help be protectors, and Terrin had sent out a message to them calling for help in finding Galen...

...but were they?

Terrin really couldn't stand it. For even when he'd made the alliance with the Sith, he'd never been separated from those who were with him. And he'd been included as part of figuring out what to do to help find Galen then, so he was never out of the loop. And here he had information that might help narrow the search this time, and he couldn't do a thing with it. But the worst part about it was that here he was on an Imperial Star Destroyer that was supposedly here looking for Galen's ship per Tarnus's orders, or at least that was what they'd all assumed when they'd popped up with the ginormous ISSD arleady in the territory, right in the middle of where Kyan had projected Galen was located.

So why the hell were they not releasing he and the others who had clearly stated that they were here looking for the same ship, and not doing anything other?

So maybe Tarnus hadn't told the Empire exactly who they were looking for on the Mandalorian ship when he'd sent out his request? That seemed to be logical if he didn't want to tell the Empire Galen was on that ship because, Bloody Hell, Actar was the Empire.

Or at least that was what Terrin sincerely hoped was going on here...

...but then what had Tarnus told them instead?

All of those incongruities aside, the fact was that the Empire was most definitely looking for that Mandalorian ship, for one reason or another. And if anyone was going to find Galen, whether because Tarnus was helping them out or because of something entirely too dark to even think, he wasn't going to be able to change that, not now.

But he, Terrin Danner, had more information about that Mandalorian ship and its location than the Empire currently had.

Terrin froze and whirled, looking for a certain something, keenly aware that someone was watching him in his little detention cell.

"Hey, I have more information about the location of that Mandalorian ship you're looking for," he said simply, remaining in place and waiting to see if anyone was going to respond to him at all.

His world was neat and tidy and orderly, as one would expect military life to be. Not only that, but also filled with growing expectations of the path he was sure to trod, one leading to a future where he would not only be rapidly promoted to Major at the very least, but one with his own field command of several squadrons of Night Whisperers. The fact that he'd entered this cell completely unobserved substantiated his own pride in himself and his assured future; it did take the prisoner some time to realize he was even there watching him after all.

He straightened when the man suddenly spoke to him, then moved to the far corner of the little cell and plopped the tray down on a small durasteel shelf.

Then he turned and faced Terrin directly.

"What information?" he asked succinctly, broadening his stance a bit and letting his body turn just the slightest, even as his right hand hovered about the butt of the hand blaster he wore on his hip.

...or if he would believe him. Even so, he had to try. After all....

What was it that Galen was so wont to say? In for a credit...

...if he didn’t at least try he’d never know. And the information he’d gleaned while “virtually” aboard the Mandalorian ship with Galen may perhaps be of absolutely no use.

Terrin regarded the other man then,, deciding that being straightforward and to the point was going to be the best approach. Perhaps the only approach.

“My Jedi friend was able to help me get more information about the Mandalorian ship’s SOS and location while we were looking for it, before you tractorred us in. It has an amplified SOS signal, one focused by a kyber crystal. The ship is also not completely stationary in space, yawing a bit so that the SOS signal has more range and detail.” He paused. “Also I can draw you a star map of what is outside of that Mandalorian ship’s forward viewport at this time; with the Jedi’s help, I was able to see it.”

Falling silent at that, Terrin simply looked at the other man, willing him to believe him....

"This is General Tarnus.

He sat back a moment, chewing his lower lip a bit, a hand going to his chin. Terrin obviously needed him to communicate the information he'd sent to Tarnus, and Terrin was at least for the moment trusting Tarnus with this. Still, Aaron had no idea where exactly the General stood on things such as the Empire...

..and Actar. And oh yes, Aaron clearly remembered his interactions with the Admiral...

...and how he'd promised a truce in exchange for Aaron's allies, only to later throw Terrin and Jasyn in prison for an offense neither one was involved in. This needed to be done carefully.

But again, Terrin was trusting Tarnus...

...and the fact that he was meant two things: he was running out of options, and he believed Tarnus would do everything he could to find Galen. Or perhaps it only meant one of those two things...

Aaron frowned, chewing his lip for a moment longer. Then he made a final judgement call, and dropped his hand to the reply button. "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."

Since Terrin obviously cannot now, came an errant, darkening thought.

Then, attaching the file he'd mentioned, Aaron then sent his reply off along his own highly encrypted frequency and waited to see if the General would have anything further to say.

(((OCC: Message going out to Sorben Tarnus in Back Into the Fire in the Empire and New Republic forum)))

"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."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"This is General Tarnus. Information regarding the Mandalorian ship we are seeking has... come into my hands.

"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."

“We proceed as planned with some alterations,” Bes’in announced. “The Ultimate and Indomitable are to assigned to the Kuat Drive Yards. Destroyer and Rebuilder are to depart to the Corellia system. The Vhett will join us at Coruscant. All ships are to emerge at their assigned locations outside of any blockades or system fleets. Once they notice you jump away to secondary positions. The Vhett and I will remain outside weapons range of the Coruscant blockade to gauge their response before making contact with the Empire. All other ships are to return to Mandalorian space under the command of the Redeemer until Guardian Skirata can take command. Do not engage the Empire, but also defend Mandalore if need be. If the Empire does intend to invade work with the other clan chieftains who pledge their loyalty to Manda’yaim.”

One by one the various Captains answered with simple acknowledgments. It was a gamble to deploy most of the fleet in such a manner. Compared to the Empire or the now defunct New Republic his ships constituted a small battle group at best. The fall of the New Republic did bring in a fresh infusion of disillusioned Officers who instead of laying down arms headed out to wage their own wars against the Empire. Most were easy to convince to throw in their lot with him the rest soon got snuffed out by the Empire. Those new troops while fanatic in their devotion to hurt the Empire still needed time to integrate and understand Paladin Tactics. Which was why the ships deployed were his more experienced Mandalorian born and raised forces.

The information that Kyan and his allies provided on the Vong will give those new troops all the opportunity for proper seasoning soon yet.

“Helm take us to Coruscant rally point one,” Bes’in ordered.

...but in fact, what he was not saying at the same time. After all, Aaron had spent quite some time building a rebellion against the Empire that was Actar; a rebellion which had only been cut short due to his main supporter’s untimely death, though Pellaeon was quite advanced in years.

Aaron nodded to himself then, feeling confident that the information Terrin needed to be passed along was in good, reliable hands. And Aaron admittedly felt a little unconscious tinge of eagerness to get back to the business of rebellion.

After all, this Empire that Admiral Actar had created was of the variety of the one that had been ruled by the Emperor and Darth Vader. Possibly worse.

“Captain Aaron Barnes, over and out,” Aaron said then aloud, seemingly to no one in particular, for he most certainly did not feel the need to send a return reply to Tarnus. In fact, he was reading between the lines that he most certainly shouldn’t...

...and that all things would come back around at the right time, and in due time.

"Sir, incoming transmissions sent by General Tarnus have been analyzed. Resulting data in combination with that sent by ISD Rabid show new possible location of target vessel as somewhere in Sector 86, approximately neg2217 by +0246 by neg 0304 from interceptor Sly's coordinates.

"May I have your orders, sir?"

Landarian swiveled his chair, a genuine smile lighting his features. While Actar wasn't known for his friendliness to officers beneath him, he did reward them well and often for missions well accomplished.

"Send data to all ships in armada. Instructions are as follows: Using data analyses, deploy all fighters, drones, and ships into a logistical sphere about the centerpoint given. All ships are to be alerted to an intermittant signal rather than a steady one.

"It sounds as if the Admiral is experiencing more difficulties with his ship than expected, and that his signal has dropped entirely off of both subspace and the HoloNet. Look for old radio-type realspace signal; however keep in mind the intensity may be stronger than mere radio wavelengths.

"Make it so."

With no further ado he then turned to the yeoman who had materialized seemingly from thin air, holding out yet more datapadds for him to peruse. The top one referred to their new prisoners.

He took that one in hand, quickly scribbled an order and after signing it handed it back to the Yeoman.

"See that the Officer in charge of them personally visits each and every one, seeing to their wants and needs. We have it from General Tarnus himself that they are not to be harmed... and if they have come to some discomfort their needs are to be met immediately.

"I shall be coming along shortly to personally attend to their condition."

With that he returned to his busy-work, going through the pile of padds in his hands, waiting for the signal from the Communications Major that Actar's ship had finally been found.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Landarian was just about ready to make good on his intentions of visiting their prisoners when he was sidetracked yet again by his Communications Officer.

"Sir, we have a transmission coming in from ISS Todthund.

"Shall I forward to you?"

Landarian merely nodded. "I'll take this one in my Ready Room," he said as he rose from his seat and hastened there. Once seated, he reached out to engage the message a pretty blinking green light was informing him that he had waiting.

"This is Captain Jissel of ISS Todthund," came a deep, grating rasp. "Now in orbit about planet Mandalore; sensors indicate no human or humanoid life signs present.

"However, sensors did pick up a shadow-signal of indeterminate origin; we sent out a probe-droid which indicated a fairly large grouping of ships currently exiting Mandalorian space, traveling along a bearing of--" Values were rattled off "-- which would place them on a heading straight for Coruscant.

"We believe them to be Mandalorian. Sir.

"Orders?"

Landarian frowned at this.

Mandalorian? First a mission to find Admiral Actar, said to be in somewhere in Sector 87 of the galactic NW quadrant, flying a Mandalorian ship. Next, detaining a group of people in the prime staging area, people claiming to be hunting a Mandalorian ship, said to be defunct and piloted by the wife of one of the detainees.

And now this.

His frown deepened. Every instinct was screaming at him to return home, to assist what he couldn't help but think could very easily be some sort of attack on the Empire's very heart. True, Coruscant was well protected by a double blockade, but the dead race of Mandalore lived on in millions of whispers yet today. Their prowess as warriors was practically legendary.

He thought a moment longer before issuing his order to Captain Jissel.

"Shadow them, but do not engage. Let me know immediately if there is any change in the status quo, or if anything happens that makes you so much as burp in reply.

"Landarian, out."

Now drumming his fingers upon his desk, he eased one over and opened an encrypted channel to Coruscant HQ.

"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.

"Landarian, out."

Rising, he returned to the bridge proper, heading over to the Communications Major before taking his command seat once again.

"Any progress on tracing that signal from Challenger?" he asked, frowning yet again when his query was met with a simple, "Negative, Sir."

He sighed, regained his seat, and proceeded to count seconds... seconds which were dragging by entirely too slowly for his liking.

((OOC: Landarian's message goes out to General Tarnus in Back Into The Fire in the Empire/New Republic forums, thank you.))

Thus it was that, beginning with the one proclaiming himself as being Captain Terrin Danner, then proceeding with Captain Yaoksi Joao, the adopted Ryn Link, and lastly the Jedi, he and his men removed each one singly and escorted them into some more bearable "living quarters."

At least these had a tiny head, a sonic 'fresher, and a bunk and chairs possessing real honest-to-goodness cushions.

In the case of Captain Joao and the Ryn, a far less "austere" version of med-droid came to call, providing them with medical care for their injuries and even going so far as to administer pain killers. While that care wasn't quite the same that they would have received in a good ol' bacta tank, it did approximate 96% of the job of bringing them back to a state resembling a normal healthy one.

As far as their emotional state, well... that was left up to the varying strengths of each individual.

The timing and placement of them all in their new "quarters" was impeccable; none were able at any time to communicate with another, and when finally installed found themselves to be in cells which alternated across the yawning corridor from each other, each one separated by four rooms. Thus Captain Joao's little room was separated by four from that of Link, who in addition was across the corridor, and four cells away from that of Terrin. Thus the two captains were separated on one side by eight rooms, far enough for conversation to be an impossibility. Likewise the width of the huge corridor precluded any possible discourse between the two humans and the Ryn.

As for the Jedi... he was placed at the very last cell on the block, well away from the others, and in a cell designed especially for Force users in that it was equipped with a Force cage type of device. Though he hadn't made any outward motion to harm or escape or even speak, Landarian's soldiers were not stupid. A Jedi was a Jedi was a Jedi; and so they made certain he was far, far away from the other three, and that the device was engaged so as to infringe upon his Force-using abilities.

Satisfied that he had followed his orders to the best of his ability, the Officer in Charge contacted the bridge, to inform Captain Landarian that the prisoners were ready for his inspection.

Sir.

While his new living space for the time being was far from posh, he couldn’t help but note that while he sat here, unable to do a thing, Galen was stuck on an inoperable ship with ice condensation everywhere. And time was ticking.

Dammit. Dammit, dammit, dammit!

And what of Yaoksi and little Link? Hopefully they’d been moved to better situations as well, and were in good shape....

Terrin shook his head, and closed his eyes for a moment, thinking of them, and seeing Galen there. In all actuality they hadn’t been tractored in all that long ago, not really, but to Terrin it seemed like an eternity. His mind flashed to another image then, to some of Galen’s last words to him:

”Hurry, Terrin.”

He raised a hand to his mouth, resting it there as his eyes grew impossibly more distant.

Soon, love....

Terrin then simply himself over to the only two things he had left at the moment: Trust in his partner and friend and in One Lt. General Sorben Tarnus, and hope. Trying to think of nothing else but that, and of her, he leaned forward and rested his head in his hands...

First the med droid administered to the superficial burns caused by the repeated stun baton blasts, along with the bruised from where they struck her with it. It injected something into her larynx, along with a burning feeling was the sensation of breathing through wet clay being replaced by breathing through a tube. It was easier, but her vocal chords struggled to work correctly. Then a liberal if not overzealous amount of pain killers was applied leaving her mind swimming. She tried to call out but between the stubborn vocal chords and the haze of the drugs she could only weakly moan out.

“Ahh… hhaa…” She intended to call for Yaoksi. But nothing seemed to work correctly.

Clutching the newly found power pack as though my life depended upon it...

Since, hey! Guess what? It did!

...I scooted carefully backwards out of the storage compartment I had found in the aft deck. Rather a strange place to hide something so vital as this pack, but who was I to question the Mandalorians in their wisdom? I'm sure they had a reason.

What further reason I wished to Hell's Seven Circles that I had was a reason for joy, said joy being created by a further communication with Master Kyan so I could tell them all of my discovery. I'm sure Terrin had probably paced a meter-deep track in Captain Joao's brand-spankin' new ship by now, worrying about my fate. After all, my current power was slated to poop out in...

Gads. Only five more standard hours?!

I sighed with relief, knowing I held another 48 hours of power in my hands, but that relief was tainted with pain.

Terrin, oh how I miss you! I wish I could touch your sweet, sweet face, feel your lips on mine, make your pain go away, pain I know I've caused, pain that...

I stopped that pity train right there with the sudden realization that yes Terrin was probably in anguish, and that yes I loved him and thus empathized fully, but...

No. The pain I was suddenly feeling was quite different from personal sorrow, feeling instead as if it was the real honest-to-credits ouch kind, a pain I realized to my great consternation was actually and physically coursing into my body from nowhere with such emphasis that it set my old friends the geese marching up and down my spine in acknowledgment.

I plopped down on the deck, power pack now held loosely in my hand, wondering what this pain was all about, where it was coming from, when I saw her.

Again.

The Ryn, the one I knew as Cel. She looked more woebegone than ever, only this time she had good reason.

Her arm was gone.

My jaw dropped.

"Cel-?" I couldn't help the word from bursting from my lips. Moisture from the vocalization condensed on the inside of my helmet lenses; frowning at my gaffe, I pursed my lips together tightly and waited for my body heat to evaporate the moisture.

"Cel?"

This time I tried a new tack, merely thinking the name, trying to remain calm in the face of her all too apparent distress, but heartened by the fact that this time when I tried reaching out...

...she did not disappear.

Link bolted upright, this time she knew she heard something. Acting in such haste was not the thing Link needed at the moment. As if on cue the hazy drug influenced world around Link accelerated to the speed of a gravitation in an instant. Not at all handling it well she scrambled over to the small head managing to keep the meager contents of her stomach down long enough to ensure they made it into said head. After that ordeal she leaned back against a nearby wall, moving to brush her hair aside Link was confused why the left side remained stubbornly put. Looking down the lack of something became clear in her mind.

Kriffin hell… not again.

She hung her head in defeat wondering how it was possible to go from the best day she had ever known to one of the worst.

“Cel?”

There it is again.

“…aaatttt…” Link rasped.

That sent her into yet another round of coughing and regret as the experience Link compared to trying to speak with a mouth full of cotton, in a typhoon, under the ocean, if the ocean was also syrup. She recovered enough to regain a measure of composure. Slowly she exhaled attempting to center her thoughts, this was more successful than her previous attempts. Closing her eyes, this time Link thought about and mouthed the words.

Not only could I somehow see her, but I could hear her as well!

Which was really weird when considering that those pesky tears that were so thoroughly wetting my face should be blurring my vision as well. But nope, there she was, half laying on the floor, her big bright eyes flicking everywhere as she sought...

Me.

I allowed myself a gulp, afraid that she would vanish. To my extreme relief the vision stayed put. Which then brought forth a major question.
"Cel," I began carefully. "How is this, ahh... connection being maintained? Is Master Kyan there? And what happened to your arm?

"And... Papa?!"

Squelching an absurd urge to finish with a simple "Over," I merely quieted my mind as much as I could under the circumstances, waiting to see what the little gal would reply.

“Papa… Yaoski...” Link mouthed while thinking about the words. “I don’t know where everyone else is at, I don’t even know if the voice I’m hearing is real or if I’m going insane.”

Link swung her remaining arm hitting the wall out of frustration. The pain from her hand was a reminder that this actually was happening. She looked at that hand and for the first time saw the crudely placed bandages from where the stun button caused the electrical burns and felt the gauze wrapped around her neck from that one particular injury.

“We got taken by a SSD,” Link continued. “They separated us, and threw me into a cell. Then some others came with stun batons, they used them to fry my arm and took away my voice and tied me up and then they kept shocking me over and over and over.”

Her words kept getting fast and faster almost slurring into one another. Her breathing quickened and she suddenly realized that she was having a hard time breathing. What Link was experiencing was a panic attack, she fell over hyperventilating and gasping for air. To Link, hours appeared to whiz by, but in the land of physical time it only amounted to fifteen or so seconds before her body jolted itself back to a normal state. With her pulse still racing Link now consciously took deep breaths slowing herself a little with each one. After a moment or two she still was experiencing mild signs of panic but felt she wasn’t going to relapse to what she was like only a few minutes prior.

“I’m fine… Your fine Link,” She relayed. “When they… finished… I was left hanging there. Next thing I know I’m here, my arm is gone, and it is one of the worse pains I have ever felt to try and speak.”

She pushed herself up and clung to the empty receptacle that once connected her arm to her body.

“And do you know the worse part?” Link asked. “They never asked me any questions, the only thing the Ryn is good for is entertainment beatings.”

"Your house and family are in safe hands, old friend. 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... 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.

Harshly.

He had come to be friends with Sorben Tarnus in the relatively short time the man had been with Imperial forces, and instinctively knew this wasn't going to sit well with him at all. It wasn't that the General would try to fly in the face of the Empire, holding them secretly in disfavor for methods they used. Rather it was that he thought many of such methods to be... inefficient. There was often a much better way to gain information other than trying to torture it out of prisoners.

Landarian understood this at a level he didn't believe General Tarnus quite attributed to him. Perhaps one day he would; now he could only wince, appeasing himself with the fact that the torture endured by little Ryn had fallen upon her before the General's in-coming order to belay that sort of thing had been issued. He only hoped that her injuries and discomfort were duly addressed, and that she was, if not still a detainee, then at least more comfortable in the more than likely meager holding room assigned to her.

He sat down at his desk, waiting until the door swooshed closed before reaching out to send Tarnus an answer.

"Affirmative, General," he began simply enough. "All detainees have been actively questioned with the sole exception of the Ryn."

He paused momentarily, wondering if that omission would be taken as an error on the part of his men. However, knowing what he would next say pushed his momentary unease away and he continued.

"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."

He paused a moment then, pondering his next words, wanting to state them precisely but without the slightest hint of anything that might be misconstrued as insubordination.

"My friend," he began carefully. "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?"

Pursing his lips, he sent the transmission on its way before he could change his mind and delete or at least greatly word it's final few statements.

He sat at his desk for quite some time afterward, eyed staring to a fixed point perhaps 56 parsecs in front of him, waiting for the reply he was sure would come.

((OOC: Message goes off to General Tarnus in Back Into The Fire, in the Empire/New Republic forums, thank you.))

"Begin Phase Two. 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.

"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.

Sorben... what in Hell's Seven Circles are you doing?! The words now branded themselves across my brain, adding their own heat and flame and fire and anguish to that which I was already experiencing coming from the hapless little Ryn. It took me a few moments for me to realize all these things, that my breathing had tripled, that the heat of outrage was flooding my body, that tears were springing to overflow my eyes, leaving a trail of salty water my body simply could not afford to waste.

With great effort I brought myself under control. I thought of Terrin, that helped. I thought of Darra, that helped even further. And as I slowly calmed it came to me that the image of Cel, while still there, didn't seem to be as... brilliant, as enhanced as it had been when I was in full-fledged affronted mode.

Her image wavered into a bit more contrast as I realized there wasn't one damned thing I could do for her. All I could do was to think of me holding her hand, of putting my arms about her trembling little body...

And suddenly I was. Weirdly enough, I was there.

With her.

In her little cell.

My jaw hit the floor, then bounced back to a position of normalcy so I would be able to speak.

"C-cel? Wha-?" was all I could manage before her image faded from view, and I came to awareness back aboard Cin vehti, my arms wrapped around thin and very cold air.

I’m no Jedi, I don’t have any fancy powers, I’m just want to be a normal person.

She so much wanted to believe it that Link thought it was her imagination when she felt cold metal arms embrace her. Looking up through watery eyes Link could make out fiery red Mandalorian Armor. Her mind did a double take as she processed yet another impossibility which made her seriously question her sanity. It quickly ended when that specter too faded away but not before a departing message was let hanging in the air.

“C-cel? Wha-?”

Link would have laughed at herself if she didn’t suspect it would induce another round of coughing and pain.

I must be going crazy, completely insane.

Hanging her head in defeat it was then a glimmer caught her eye.

Ice Crystals?

Yes Link was sure of it, on the deck surrounding her form in a sort of a ring was remnants of ice crystals rapidly thawing into tiny puddles. In fact on her fur clung a few stubborn ice crystals as well. This at first frightened her. Did her prison have internal cameras in each room, if so did her captors see that as well, also if they did was another beating coming her way. Then it filled her with excitement, Link wasn’t going crazy, in fact though she didn’t understand how it all worked she was in position to help. She closed her eyes giving serious credence now that the voice she was hearing did indeed belong to a very real Galen.

“Galen,” Link thought as she mouthed the word.

No response. Link took a breath readying herself for what she knew would be an ordeal.

“He-he gha-len,” came a weak rasp.

She fell to the desk throat racked with pain Link likened the experience to breathing burning razor blades.

No Link, you can do this. You have been through worse.

Propping herself back up she braced her body against the wall holding her steady as she took in a deeper breath.

“Ga- Galen I’m… he-he here,” Link wheezed out.

As she slumped back down to the deck as recompense to forcing herself into such an action Link could only hope that her efforts would be the ticket they were looking for.

And quite suddenly just LET. IT. ALL. GO.

Scrambling to my feet now, slipping on the ever thickening ice, I whirled. Now I did raise my fists against the darkness, against the Night which I could almost palpably feel was descending to cover me in a smothering, mesmerizing blanket of...

"NO!"

The word shot out as if I thought it would actually hear me, as if I thought it was actually out there watching, calculating, considering its next moves in the game I most certainly did not wish to be playing.

"This is ENOUGH! ENOUGH!"

I whirled about, in counterpoint to the moving stars, my eyes everywhere, seeking shadows I just knew were there, just beyond my peripheral vision.

Just... there...

Nothing.

No big eyes, no sudden soul-wrenching epiphanies. Not so much as the distant sound of metal pinging and snapping as it grew colder and colder in my beautiful little ship.

Just silence.

Silence filled with the sound of my own heavy breathing, of the gritting of my own teeth, a sense of sound as the vibrations my now-moving booted feet produced were sent skirling up my legs, through my very bones. I paced back and forth, growing madder and madder by the minute.

"This just isn't FAIR! I suddenly burst out with, falling once again into silence, this time hearing the sound of my own blood pounding in my ears, the pulsing of my heart, the sound of...

What was that?

I froze like a gandyrak in headlights, not daring to so much as squeak, holding my breath, straining my ears... no, it wasn't... now anguish was growing but it wasn't alone, for it had come galloping along hand in hand with even greater anger, anger so fierce that it squelched down my ever-present goosey-army, quieting them enough so that...

YES. There...!

A small distant "I'm he..here..."

I whirled, instinctively reaching out a hand, my fingers making a weird hook-like pattern, nothing I was consciously aware of but there ya have it...

Just as I suddenly had in front of my eyes the impossible sight of space itself turning into...

Something.

I didn't think. I just took a single step forward, and suddenly found myself back where I had been only moments ago, standing in utter shock in front of an equally shocked Ryn. I gulped, she tried to gulp...

And nothing untoward occurred.

I ripped off my helmet even as the sound of something ripping all around me faded away into an improbable sort of memory, and even as it did I was tearing off my gloves, so the little tortured kid could see a kind face and feel flesh against her aching body.

I held her firmly, but gingerly, for the moment not even wondering what in Hell's Seven Circles had just happened. All I knew what that Cel needed someone, and somehow I was able to come to her aid.

It worked, it kriffing worked! Galen did it, no we did it! Take that smug Mandalorian Jedi.

Her celebratory mood was briefly deflated as Galen scooped her up and Link gasped in protest.

“Too tight too tight too TIGHT,” she both thought and mouthed at Galen.

The grip slackened slightly as Link caught a glance relating a sorry expression. The pain killer administered by the med droid Link suspected was dosed for a human of her mass and suspected age. So the overall effect did alleviate some of the pain she was in but left her more loopy than anything else. Not wanting Galen to take offense and genuinely seeking physical contact at the moment Link did hug her back with her one arm and tail in a much gentler fashion. It was then those unbidden tears came welling to the surface.

“I- I- was so…” Link couldn’t think of the words at the moment.

"Sorry!" I whispered as I loosened my grip, smiling then to feel her tail wrap loosely about me. The smile soon faded, though, as with the steady reduction of adrenalin that had bolstered me throughout this amazing event I was now able to take a quick gander about myself.

My heart sank, even though I told it sternly not to do so.

"Well, I see you... I mean, we're exactly where I thought," I said. Granted the statement was a tad bit on the obvious side, but it had been stated simply so Cel could hear my voice. I was still trying to make her feel as good as I possibly could even while trying to figure out just what in Hell's Seven Circles I was going to do next.

For something deep inside my Gut was whispering ghoulishly that the weird whatever-it-was that had yanked me from Cin vehti wasn't going to trot obligingly to our rescue.

At least not until I could truly ascertain what it was... and what I'd done to call it. I knew the probability was more than likely that it was indeed the same thing Sissy had been exposed to. In her case, she got the brunt force of it.

But in mine, perhaps something of a backlash. At least that's what made the most sense.

But what had happened to her in that period of time when she left me for dead with our father, dead by her hand, and disappeared only to come back wielding this... this thing like some kind of Uber-jedi, I hadn't the foggiest notion. All I pretty much knew, or at least highly suspected, was that she was whammied, disappeared, and came back with apparently total command of this strange power.

Me, I'd been hit with backlash. And that was it. Period. Ever since the only thing to have happened, maybe in response and maybe now, was that those hunches I've always had seemed somehow to strengthen, to become more accurate. But control this? Make it come on command?

How the hell did Sissy do it?!

I shook my wandering thought back to our current situation.

"So!" I began brightly, untangling Cel's tail and depositing her as gently as I could upon the little bunk provided. "I see we're in the SSD mentioned earlier to me. I can see we don't have exactly their best guest accommodations; SO I'm pretty sure someone will be coming along at one time or another to visit. Or at least check on your condition?"

I paced about the little cell, noting every feature, noting there was nothing I could possibly reach, or at least that no one could possibly reach simply standing there unless said person was Kaminoan...

A Kaminoan could reach the air duct up high against one bulkhead, far removed from the bunk, or head or sink. I was pretty sure that said Kaminoan would not have been detained in this particular cell, but it would be fine n' dandy for a diminutive Ryn.

Even more fine and dandy for a Ryn having a sudden friend who was more than willing to help...

I studied the grating, then looked back to Cel. She looked awful, and I'm sure she felt even worse. However, I'd come to know a bit about her and knew that within that furry little chest there beat an extremely stalwart heart.

If there was anything I knew it was that if anything was going to go wrong with a plan, it more than likely would happen at the very outset. I knew this would seem fast and furious, but my Gut was screaming again to hurry the hell up!

I didn't even bother to ask her anything. I simply replaced my gloves and helmet, so at least if someone should burst in the door I would be masked, and more importantly, totally armed. Then I carefully picked Cel up from the bunk I'd so recently laid her upon, and extending my arms held her carefully up to the grating.

"If you can manage to unscrew that grating and remove it, I can boost you into the air ductwork. Maybe you can crawl around until you find where everyone else is detained; if I know the Impys they loooove to separate the prisoners they take so as to demoralize them.

"Hopefully then you can at least let them know that I'm here, and working on... well, something to get us all out of here."

I knew the idea was crazy, half-cocked and thought up on the fly. But those were what tended to work best for me; my carefully thought out ideas never seemed to hold water, while those made up on the spur of the moment seemed to do so.

At least that's what my Gut was screaming at me as well.

No no no no no no no...

She did calm down slightly when the realization came either being found in a cell with an extra occupant or outside in an air duct the subsequent punishment she thought she would be on the receiving end on would be about the same. Feeling herself being lowered down Link quickly reached up and grabbed the grate then turned to look back at Galen.

“Wait, I’ll do it.” Link relayed.

Link waited as she was hoisted back up then she studied the grate. The grate itself was flush with the wall and the screw holes themselves recessed into the grate. Galen’s and Link’s saving grace however was substandard maintenance. These screws at least had not been properly tightened down, Link could get a grip on them and worked three out of their place. For the fourth screw, this one belonging to the lower right, Link loosened it part way then pulled the grate out partway letting it pivot on its remaining fastener.

“Higher,” Link indicated.

Briefly Link felt the hold on her being repositioned as she was boosted up higher. Scrambling to gain a better foothold Link worked herself inside. She realized that speed was the game here, one that the mentally perceived shrinking confines of the space reinforced in her mind. Moving was more of an awkward shuffle with only one arm and two legs to propel her, when she reached the central vent that from Link’s recollection of a SSD wiring schematics ran parallel to the detention level central corridor. Link made the decision to head deeper then work herself back to the entrance. Meandering her way down to the end, there was a shimmer in the air, reaching out to touch it and an electrical discharge arched out striking her hand. She tightly clamped her mouth shut, for once reflexively glad that she gotten use to not speaking.

Kriffing force shield, stupid Imperial paranoia for extending it into a vent that no one else can fit into.

She waved her hand briefly, the shock wasn’t nearly as bad as any of those stun batons. Turning around Link worked her way back checking into each side vent, every cell she came across was empty. Link was beginning to question this plan when she saw an occupied cell. From her estimation it was four cells deeper into the detention block than her own and across the corridor as well. Cautiously she peered through the grating and saw Terrin hunched over in a chair. From her angle she could make out most of the inside of the cell and by all indications he appeared to be alone.

“Galen I found Terrin,” Link tried to relay like before, not entirely sure if that ‘thing’ was still working.

Not waiting for a response Link began to lightly tap on her side of the grate.

Tap… Tap Tap… Tap… Tap Tap Tap…

C’mon Terrin notice me.

...seconds that he was losing in finding Galen. Seconds that all of the people that had thrown their lot into this with him were in dire straits. He leaned over, head in his hands again, trying to ignore the screaming logic that he wasn’t going to be getting any of them out of this any time soon...

...when he heard it.

Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.

Terrin looked up, frowning. Being the owner of an SSD himself, he knew this sound was not typical. And while perhaps someone was working on something nearby, the likelyhood of that was minimal. After all, the Empire...or at least, the Imperial officers aboard this ship...clearly wanted all of them detained and alone as much as possible.

The tapping continued.

Furrowing his brow, puzzled, Terrin began scanning the room, and looked in the general direction of the tapping sound. At first he didn’t see anything...

...but then his eyes caught something: in the grating to the air duct above, an eager, furry white face.

Terrin’s eyes widened.

Cel?!

Terrin really wanted to blurt the kid’s name out and head over to the air duct to find out just what the hell was going on, but he also had a sneaking suspicion there might be survelience of some sort around. He had no idea how Cel had managed what she had but he knew he didn’t have time to question it, nor did he care at the moment.

He took a precious few seconds to analyze how to communicate best with Cel without looking like he was communicating with anyone. He noticed the air duct was positioned juuuust above the bed.

Yep, that’ll do nicely....

He let his blue eyes stay on Cel for a moment, hoping she understood that he knew she was there, and very minimally raised a finger as if and in fact nonverbally asking her to wait just a moment.

Then, striving to look as though he was still in the same state of mind as he had been before to any outward observer, he raised a hand to rub across his face, taking a long breath. Then he stood, ambling over to the bed, sat on it, then turned and put his feet on it, laying down so that he was in a position to see the air duct above him and mouth words in Cel’s direction if and when the time came.

He hoped she was a good lip reader, cause who knew if there were any listening devices here or not...

For the moment, however, Terrin didn’t say anything, but instead let his blue eyes speak for themselves as he sent a curious and questioning look in her direction.

Bloody kriffing hell, he didn’t know how she’d managed to get up there, but however she had, she was good...

They are probably monitoring the others more closely than me. I’m guessing the Imperials think I’m dosed out of my mind or cowering in a corner.

Until recently those Imperials would have been right on the second assumption. She shook her head driving that thought away, this wasn’t the time to have another breakdown. Opening her mouth to speak she paused before she could say anything.

We never did go over what the plan was, well what is the worse that can happen at this point.

Link took one more moment to think on the exact words she wanted to use and hopefully that could be understood by her mouthing them to Terrin as well.

“Try… not… to… be… excited…” Link mouthed in an exaggerated manner.

She waited for what she thought was enough time to process that statement, and then she dropped the bombshell.

“Galen… came… back… she… is… in… my… cell…” Link relayed.

...but then he thought to Hell with it all. Because if this was in fact real...

”Galen?!?!?!?” he mouthed, his eyes probably widening even further.

Cel nodded in confirmation. A myriad of additional questions floated into Terrin’s mind: How? Had the Empire found her ship? But why would they have put her with Cel?

Had something else happened?!?

Mentally, Terrin scratched his head. He very much doubted it had anything to do with Jedi Jetiis’ad, dammit, but maybe something else...

He also knew they didn’t have time to communicate all that back and forth. In fact, if the Impys were keeping tabs on them like Terrin pretty much figured they were, there wasn’t time for much.

”We gotta get out of here!” he then mouthed Cel’s way.

Internally, a little sholder devil snorted. Well, duh, like she couldn’t figure that out, genious....

He didn’t know how they were going to get out of this, but he did know his ships, and that might help, especially since he sold capital ships and owned an SSD. If they could get to it....

He mouthed two final words at Cel, knowing the little gal would be smart enough to figure out what he was thinking. ”Yaoksi...Challenger....”

He quirked a brow minimally in Cel’s direction.

Bloody hell, if the stories of Han Solo and Princess Leia escaping a Death Star were true, then surely with what their little team knew they could get the Hell off this ISSD...

“Be ready.”

She began to work her way back towards her own cell checking the ones in between as she went. When she reached her own and discovered that they all remained unoccupied Link grasped the pattern. Bypassing the others she headed four cells down the opposite direction from hers and across the way. Once again cautiously peering through the grate Link saw Yaoksi laying face up on his bunk. He looked like they put him through the ringer, not as bad as Link but still something that Link didn’t want to see. Her tears began to well up as she began to frantically tap at the grate.

This time I'm sure that under the tender auspices of the Interrogator Droid Mark Seven I blabbed everything from demons in secret hidey holes to towering horned people having weird powers to my Aunt Betsy's secret recipe for birthday cake icing. It is, after, the icing that makes the cake... and the icing coming from nowhere to "make" my personal one came wafting into my tired ears in the form of...

Tap... tap tap... tap-tap... tap...?

I groaned, certain I was hearing things, that I was affected more than I thought by the last bout of Imperial questioning I'd endured. For a moment I just lay there before wasting precious energy to lift and plop one arm over my face, and tried to go to sleep when that weird tapping grew impossibly louder.

Either the methods used to gain access to that icing recipe had left me with a weird and permanent kind of tinnitis, or...

I raised a cautious elbow, peeped around the room. Nothing untoward to be seen other than a few drops of blood on the decking, which spoke volumes, in a language and pitch that almost overcame...

Tap-tap-tap-tap...TAP.