"Seeing Purple"
By: Kael Selrid
Dani
Raeila Selrid
Koran Darr
Laedra Vorrel

Location: Jedi Temple
Date: Selene 13, 5 ABY

***

Jedi Knight Kael Selrid enjoyed the days when he wasn't required to save the galaxy. Though, since the peace on Tae'Karada was restored, the Jedi had not been called up to do much. Today, he and Raeila had returned to the Temple to check in on things. Though, the visit was also partially to give Raeila time to spend with Dani, who was still effectively confined to the Temple.

Down near the waterfall and lake by the Temple, the trio sat together in a small circle. Raeila and Dani, as was usual, sat close and somewhat facing Kael, who seemed amused as was usually the case when they were together.

"It's really not so bad," Dani was saying. "The Jedi do treat me fairly, but I can see something in the eyes of some. I think without Masters Darr and Vorrel, we'd probably have to flee. If that had to happen, I don't know what would happen with Nieme. It seems like one day she's better, and then next she's gone again. I don't know what to do. I don't know what can be done." She shrugged and smiled at Raeila. "At least I still have good friends."

"Then you should come with us," Raeila insisted. "Why won't you join us in the desert? You'd be safe there, and we could be together all the time."

"When the Jedi allow me to leave the Temple unsupervised, I plan to," Dani said with a soft sigh. "For now, the best help Nieme can get is here. And a lot of the time, you are too. And, Ferrig's always content to come here since this is where he can meet with Tralesha. I still find it funny that they meet here because Orinth Neerou doesn't approve of him."

Raeila frowned sourly at her brother's behaviour. "I think that's why he does it. He's acted so differently lately.... I haven't seen him this way since we were running together with the Feltreys."

"He certainly seems a bit rough around the edges these days," Dani said with a nod of agreement.

"I've noticed it," Kael said, and then glanced at Raeila. "Do you suppose we should talk to him next time we can get him alone?"

Watching her fingers absently twining blades of grass around them, Raeila shrugged. "He's not really doing anything wrong. If we confront him about it, he might feel betrayed. I don't want to hurt him for no reason."

Kael reached out and brushed his fingers over the back of her hand. "Maybe he's just feeling a little left out. Wants some attention, from someone special."

"Then why doesn't he come to me?" She sighed harshly and jerked her hand away from Kael's caresses. "I'm not going to offer him sex whenever he's feeling down. If he wants time with me, then he knows where I am."

"I'm sorry," Kael said. "I guess until he's ready to come to us, we'll just have to...wait for him to come to us."

Raeila was silent, her eyes focusing hard on badly trembling hands. Tearing up a fistful of grass, she tossed it aside in a flurry of verdant blades and rose. "I need to go for a walk. Sitting too long makes me restless."

"You want me to come with you," Kael and Dani asked at the same time.

"Only if you promise not to mention anything depressing," she cautioned them both.

"Promise," Kael said, and Dani nodded.

"If you're not brave enough for both of us, Kael can go train in the Temple." Dani gave him a teasing grin. "We just want you to be happy, so whatever you're comfortable with Rae."

"I'm not a child," she informed them both with an impatient laugh. "I'm not as fragile as you appear to think. Walk with me, or don't. Either way, I'll be just fine." And smiling simperingly, Rae began her afternoon stroll, with or without Dani and Kael.

Kael and Dani had a brief conversation, and a few moments after Raeila had started off on her walk, Dani caught up with her. They walked in silence for several minutes before she finally spoke. "I don't think I'd be able to get through this without you, Raeila," she said. "I want to thank you for being here. And, as you've been the best friend I could ever hope to have, I hope to be for you as well. I don't know when the Jedi will release me from my captivity, but whatever happens, whenever that may be, I want to be with you. That is, if your offer to join you in the desert still stands."

"It will always stand. Besides, I'm sure they'll release you sooner or later. It's gotten so cramped in here with all the new arrivals that I'm sure the Masters would be glad for one less mouth to feed."

"Perhaps I can talk to Master Vorrel," Dani said. "I hope the Jedi will continue to try to help Nieme. If only they can figure out what's causing her nightmares. I'm sure they will. They're compassionate and do want to help. We did terrible things, I know, but they want to help us back onto the right path." She smiled at Rae. "I know I'm on the right path already."

She slipped her hand into Dani's as she prepared to say, "You know...it might be that Nieme can never be saved. Would you ever think of...well...letting her go?"

"Never in my heart," Dani answered. "But, there may come a time when I will have to move on. I do not believe she would want for me to spend my life living in the past, and I wouldn't want it for her. If it looked like this would be how the rest of her life would be...then I would. It's very difficult...not knowing." She gave Rae's hand a gentle squeeze.

"It...it was partially my fault," Rae whispered. "Ferrig and I both. I'll never forgive myself for what we did to you. I know it was a different time...but I was so wrong to do what I did."

"It's in the past," Dani said. "I think Nieme may still blame you, but I don't. The culture of the desert is so different, and it was practically a means of survival. I fell in love with you in that time, and that love will never waver. If you weren't married already, I'd ask for your hand myself. I don't know if they'll join two women, but I would love for us to be."

Raeila laughed in surprise and stared incredulously at Dani. "You don't mean that! You fall in love with everyone, Dani. I think you'd be married to the entire planet if they would let you."

Dani laughed as well. "Maybe," she said. "If I had to choose one, it would be you though. Except for maybe Nieme, I do love you more than any of the others. And, I feel so guilty admitting it, after all that's happened with Nieme, I feel happier when I'm with you. Maybe I love you more than anyone else now."

"You shouldn't," Rae insisted morosely. "I'm still trying to keep things together with Kael. He loves me so much...." She sighed. "I know he wants a baby, Dani. I think, now, I'll never be able to give him that. Everyday is easier...but it still eats at me, and I don't think that will ever end."

Dani nodded. "I don't ever want to come between the two of you," she said. "You seem so perfect for each other, and even when things aren't perfect, your relationship is so...solid. He is hesitant to be with me, I know. He never wants to be with me without you present. He does love you very much, Rae. I hope, through the Force, he can find a way for you to have a baby. I know I'll do whatever I can to help him."

"I...I think I know of a way." Raeila stopped among the towering trees and lush grasses, then faced Dani expectantly and with a dose of anxiety. She took both of her friend's hands. "You could...you could have our baby for us, Dani. If I can't do it, you can! We could raise this baby together - all of us. It's the next best thing, and Kael doesn't mind being with you, so it wouldn't be very awkward, would it?"

Dani stared off into the distant nothingness. Finally, she turned back to Raeila, a smile touching her lips. "Yes," she said. "I mean, no it wouldn't. I will happily have your baby for you and Kael, Raeila." Her smiled broadened and she gave both of Rae's hands a squeeze. "It's a perfect idea. I know Zeltrons and humans are compatible, so we shouldn't have to worry at all. It will be perfect. If this is what you truly want, then I will do it gladly."

"I have no other choice," she answered with a tearful laugh. "I want a baby...I need a baby, Dani. And I know any child that comes from you will be the most adorable, most caring person in this universe. I wouldn't dare choose anyone else, Dani."

"Thank you," Dani whispered as she leaned in to brush her lips over Rae's cheek. "When I have the baby, Raeila, we'll find someone in the city, or maybe in Thanatos, who will make it so you and Kael can adopt the baby. That way everything is official too."

"Dani," Raeila breathed, overcome with joy and unable to express it in any other way but embracing Dani, and bestowing upon her a full-mouthed kiss. A laugh of pure elation echoed in their surroundings as Raeila pulled back. "This is going to be wonderful! Oh, Thana, I hope Kael agrees...."

"We can go find him," Dani said. "See if he agrees. I can't see why he would refuse. He loves you so deeply, and this would give you the family you both want. We should go find him. He's in the room you and he stay in while you're in the Temple."

"Dani...thank you! I've been wanting to ask you for so long...I was so afraid...."

"You never have to be afraid with me," Dani said with a grin. "Come on, let's go find Kael. We may spoil his surprise, so act surprised anyway. And, this will make things even more perfect."

Giggling ecstatically, both girls frolicked back towards the Temple, and as apprehensive as Rae was about broaching the subject with Kael, nothing could put a damper on her happiness.

***

The expectant looks on both faces as they stared at him, grins brimming with excitement and elation, were almost too much for Kael Selrid to take. He blinked and looked between them, still uncertain what to say. He knew what he had to say, for Raeila. For himself, he did not know. He cared for Dani, cared for her very much. To have a child with her, that was something he had not yet contemplated...had never thought he would need to contemplate. But, it would be for Raeila, and since that night in the desert, Dani had essentially become a part of their family. It was a lot to ask, but he could only give one answer. "Of course," he said. "If this is what you want, Rae, then yes." He smiled and reached his hand out to take hers. "Definitely yes. I imagine you'll want to start right away, but I was hoping that perhaps we could put it off until after... While the two of you were off plotting our new family, I was making some plans here for a night out on the town. At first, it was you and me, but I think perhaps that should be changed. You, me and Dani, out for dinner and dancing in New Plouton, and then we can come back here and try to make a baby."

"You're sure the Jedi Masters will be okay with this?" Raeila asked, though her grin refused to vanish.

"We'll have to find out," Kael said. "We can go talk to Master Vorrel now if you'd like. Dani's behaviour has been perfect since coming back. Shall we?"

Her response was a brisk nod, and inquisitive glance Dani's way. "You up for it, Dani? I swear, Kael and I will defend you all the way. You've been really good - she can't refuse us!"

Dani grinned. "Thank you," she said. "And, I'm up for it. Some time away from here, just being a person again, would be wonderful."

"Then it's settled," Kael said, holding out a hand to each of them. "We'll go talk to Master Vorrel."

And that they did, navigating the Temple's numerous corridors in search of the Jedi Master. She was found puzzling over ledgers in the conference room. Her engrossed frown only deepened when Kael, Dani, and Raeila made their request. Laedra immediately pushed aside the book and sat back to study them all at once.

"Well...this is highly unconventional," was her first comment. "And likely not the wisest decision at this time. You may not realize it, but we have had much pressure put upon us to banish both Dani and Nieme. If they are expelled from this temple as enemies, you know any association with them will be forbidden, Kael. What, then, will you do if she's carrying your child?"

"If I am forced to disassociate with Dani for political reasons, I will leave the Temple," Kael answered. "I will not let public opinion dictate who I may associate with, especially since that opinion is misinformed about the entirety of the situation. Under the circumstances, it is the best hope Raeila and I will be able to have a child of our own...at least until I can figure out what Nieme did to her. Nieme is comatose and not a threat, especially since we have people watching her at every hour of the day. And, do you still have any lingering doubts about Dani?"

"I do not," Laedra replied, "but I do not comprise the entirety of our Jedi Council. I would never wish to deny you this opportunity, Kael, Raeila, but my opinion may not carry much weight." She paused, and in her countenance was a detectable trace of empathy. "I want this for you - I want you to experience this joy...but I may not be the right person to speak to. Master Darr holds far more sway than I do. If anyone is better qualified to condone or condemn this decision, it is he."

"Then we'll just ask Koran Darr," Raeila announced with unnecessary irreverence in her tone.

"Thank you, Master," Kael said and bowed to Laedra.

Echoing Kael's words, Dani did the same, though her bow was lower and more respectful. "Thank you, Master. I know that, if we are allowed to do this, I will need a disguise. A cloak to hide my features should be sufficient, and I know there are others of Zeltros here on the planet, so I should not arouse too much suspicion."

Kael nodded. "We can take care of that if Master Darr gives his approval," he said. "Will you be accompanying us to meet with him, Master?"

"You'll need my help," she sighed, rising from her chair. "I'd better come with you." And with a show of approval, Laedra smiled faintly at the three young lovers. "He'll be in the library, no doubt. Follow me." The Jedi Master led the way, wondering at what Koran would think of it all. As intimately as she knew him, even Laedra had no idea.

True to her word, Laedra led them to Koran Darr who was seated in the library poring over an old, dusty tome that contained all of the secrets of the Temple's previous occupants. He looked up at the sound of their approach, and greeted them amiably. He glanced at Laedra curiously and bid them all to take seats if they wished. Raeila and Dani sat close together, and Kael joined them.

"I hadn't expected visitors," he said with a chuckle as he marked his place in the book and closed it. "How may I help?"

"Master, I'm sure you're aware of what Nieme did to Raeila, and because of that Raeila and I are unable to have children, at least not until I can find a way to reverse it. I'm not sure how much you know about the rest of this. Raeila and Dani are very close, and because of my marriage to Raeila, I have grown close to Dani as well. Dani has agreed to have a child, for Raeila and I. And, the three of us will raise it together. It may be the only chance we have for a baby, and we are going to do it. We love each other enough that we know it will work."

Koran raised an eyebrow and nodded. "It sounds like you've made up your mind," he said. "But, I assume there is more."

"Yes, sir," Kael said. "Originally, I had intended to take Raeila into the city tonight to just have a nice night together being normal people. It was to cheer her up, though I quickly realized she no longer required cheering. Instead, it will be a trip to celebrate the chance to finally have the child we've been hoping for."

Koran nodded again, and gestured to permit Kael to continue.

"Because Dani is a part of this, we would like for her to come with us and be part of our celebration."

Koran nodded again, finally seeing the dilemma. "I see," he said. "The times are still unsettled, and we will need your service as a Jedi Knight and keeper of the peace. Are you still able to continue with your duties to the Order?"

"As long as I am not asked to give up on someone and something I believe in for political motives," Kael answered. "I am a Jedi, and while I also have a loyalty to my wife and our unborn child, as well as...Dani, I am still loyal to the Jedi."

"Good," Koran said. "Given the political climate, it will be dangerous. You and your family could be placed in danger if a fanatic came to know the details of your relationship or the circumstances of your child's birth. And, please, don't take that as a threat; the Jedi will never reveal the nature of your union. While the Council may be divided on what to do with Dani and Nieme, I have no plans to see them turned over to the authorities. I only want you to be aware that there could be a danger. Is this a risk you are willing to accept?"

"It is," Raeila answered for them emphatically. "I would do anything for a baby, Master Darr. I would sacrifice everything. Is that answer enough for you?"

Koran smiled. "It is," he said. "My concern is your safety and your happiness. If there is anything the Order can do to help, you need only ask. When you are out together, enjoy yourselves. If you encounter any trouble, I trust Kael to be able to handle it. I ask that you use your best judgement in the matter. If something does arise from any disturbance by the public, we'll address the matter if it happens." He fixed his gaze on Raeila. "Is that acceptable enough for you?"

Raeila tittered and agreed. "Thank you, Master Darr. Perhaps we'll even name the child after you."

Master Laedra Vorrel bit back a laugh, but still grinned Koran's way.

Koran gave her a wink. "I would be honoured," he said. "One other thing I'm hesitant to mention, because I do not want you to feel it is a condition or to feel pressured to do so: I would hope that you might consider allowing your child to train here in the Temple. Being born from Kael and Dani, both strong in the Force, your baby will likely be strong in the Force as well. But again, it is neither a condition or demand, just a hope."

Kael bowed to Koran, not wishing to speak of such things until he and Raeila had discussed them.

Dani grinned and squeezed Rae's hand.

"We'll think about it," Raeila assured Koran. "But for now, we have some shopping and dancing to do." With a nod to her lovers, Raeila led Dani and Kael towards the door, the immense happiness they were all feeling radiating from them visibly through the Force.

Laedra sighed gently when they had gone and watched Koran with a raised eyebrow that was slightly disapproving. "You do know the council won't like this."

"No, they won't," Koran said. "They won't be happy until Nieme and Dani are turned over to the politicians. You and I both know that there is a tremendous amount of good in Dani. Nieme is still a mystery we have yet to unravel. I don't know if we'll ever be able to pull her from the depths she has fallen to. It's as if she's fighting a battle with the Force itself. I will not turn her over like that; I can't."

"And neither can I," she reminded him, "but our visiting Jedi Masters seem to have settled into their roles of authority. They do enjoy having a say in our affairs...and they currently outnumber us."

"At least we haven't given Dani her lightsaber back," Koran said with a half-smile. "It would be unwise for the rest of the Council to vote to turn them over, and at least they've been holding off the vote. If it ever does come to a vote, I would not want to be the one to have to approach Nieme or Dani about it. I do not believe that Dani would allow herself to be turned over without a fight, and I think that, especially now, Kael would stand at her side." A smile slowly crept over his lips. "You don't suppose we might be able to give Dani a training saber to spar with Kael, do you?"

Laedra shrugged, though sharing Koran's mildly devious glee. "I think we can arrange that. She might just need it if we let the other Masters exile she and Nieme...which, if I may add, I won't allow to happen, no matter what they vote."

"I don't like plotting against the rest of the Council, but before their fall I trained those girls. I know what they're capable of, and I know what's in their hearts. I know that they deserve the chance we can give them. And, I think we just gave them all a chance at happiness. Our good deed for the day is done."

Laedra chuckled. "Then are we off-duty and free to spend the day together ourselves?"

"We are," Koran said. "The rest of the day will be for you and I. If there's an emergency, they can go to Master Novix."

"I just love it when we shirk our duty," Laedra joked and held out a hand for Koran. "Shall we go and be daring, Koran Senior?"

"Oh indeed," Koran said as he took her hand. "Wouldn't it be funny if we also went into the city and ran into that young trio of lovers. I bet we could show them a thing or two."

"Master Darr," Laedra chided playfully as they started off, "who are you implying is old, hm?"

"I'm practically ancient," Koran said with a grin. "Though, I may not look it."

"Nor do you act it," Laedra added meaningfully as her eyes flicked towards his lower regions. "That carbonite is amazing stuff, isn't it?"

"Truly," Koran said. "Though, I don't believe I'd really recommend continued use. Why don't we go back to our room, slip into something comfortable, and pretend the rest of the universe doesn't exist."

She smiled. "So...the usual?"

"You make it sound like a bad thing," Koran said with a laugh. "Very well, this time, you decide. Sky's the limit."

---

"Broken Nest, Part 1"
By: Master Koran Darr
Master Laedra Vorrel
Padawan Talara Sorenne
Padawan Zari Zathmir
Ferrig Mullerin
Tralesha Zibel

Location: Jedi Temple
Date: Selene 13, 5 ABY

***

They had settled in the room, chatting about things not related to the Jedi, giving to one another the love they allowed themselves only when they had the time for it. Their lives were dedicated to the Jedi Order, and the love could only ever come after that. Yet, when they had the time available, it was cherished. While many would consider Jedi Masters Koran Darr and Laedra Vorrel's love to be unorthodox, they felt it was the perfect arrangement to complement their already complicated lives.

They had only been in their shared room for a short time, not quite enough for their activities to see them fully undressed. Her head was thrown back, savouring his touch, as his lips trailed along her shoulder. As he worked back up toward her jaw, and then on toward her lips, it was as if someone gripped his jaw in their hand and yanked it sharply toward the door. Had he looked, he would have seen the same of Laedra.

At her assurance that she too felt the eerie sensation that seemed to ripple through the Force, they both sprung from the bed, grabbing what they'd shed of their robes. By the time they had passed through the doorway, both were dressed again and quickly moving down the hallway that led to the room that Ferrig Mullerin used in the Temple.

As they reached the room, half a lightsaber lay on the threshold of the door, and just beyond lying next to the other half was Talara Sorenne. Though the Force they could feel that she still lived. The doorway and walls of the room were scored by cuts that could have only come from a lightsaber. Over the bed, a shattered window let in the night breeze on the moonlight. Something dark and dangerous had happened here.

"Damn," Koran muttered. He started for the window sensing that Laedra was already moving to her fallen Padawan.

"Talara?" she called, hoping her voice would rouse the unconscious girl. She dared not shake her awake, not yet certain what the extent of her injuries were other than a wet, matted patch of hair darkened with blood. Laedra laid a hand on her Padawan's brow to both feed her healing energies, as well as express some deep matronly concern. She glanced back at Koran. "I don't know what happened here, but we must find out."

"I think someone actually went through this window," Koran said with a frown. "We'll need to search below." He turned back, putting whoever had gone out the window out of his mind for a moment. He was about to ask on Talara's condition when the girl stirred.

Her eyes fluttered open and it took a brief moment for Talara to gain her bearings. "He's gone," she whispered. "He...it was terrible...he wanted to kill him, and...and I couldn't let him."

"Who?" Laedra asked softly. "Don't push yourself...but tell us who, Talara."

As they both watched Talara as the girl cleared her head, it suddenly came to Koran. "Cole," he rasped.

Talara looked up at him and nodded. "Yes," she said. "Masters, something terrible has happened. Ferrig Mullerin has been forcing himself on Zari for the last four months, and now she's pregnant with his baby. I came here to bring him to you before he slipped away to the desert. Cole must have found out from her. Just as I was about to go find Zari so we could find you, Cole barged in. He wanted to kill Ferrig...I defended him, Ferrig, and wouldn't let Cole at him. Cole got through my defenses and I hit my head on the wall. Before I passed out, I remember pushing him through the window." She looked around and frowned. "And Ferrig got away too."

Shaken as she was, Laedra retained her calm to keep Talara from losing hers. "We'll find him, but first we need to find Cole and Zari. Though, not before we get you to the infirmary. Can you stand?"

"I'm a little shaken, but alright, Master," Talara said as she stood. She took a breath and seemed steady. "I would like to help find them, if I may. I will be alright. I asked Zari to wait in my room for me; we should be able to find her there."

"I'll go to her," Laedra said with finality. "Talara, you will go to the infirmary and undergo an examination. Zari's my Padawan; although I've been remiss in my duty lately, it seems, I will remedy that now." Giving no allowance for Koran to change her mind, Laedra strode out of the room to find her Padawan.

As Talara started off, Koran turned to Laedra. "While you see to your Padawan, I will go see to mine," he said. "Though, I believe this does explain some things. I'll see you soon."

Too disappointed in herself to look at Koran, Laedra waved her acknowledgement and turned the corner at a brisk pace. The singular thought in her mind was why Zari hadn't come to her...and how she could have missed the signs. Her own Padawan, a girl she spent hours a day with, and she hadn't even realized the suffering she was experiencing.

And then, as she neared Talara's room, Laedra sensed what she had so blindly missed before: Zari's immense sorrow, and her fear. Then came Laedra's overwhelming need to console her Padawan as she flung open Talara's door and scanned the room hastily for Zari.

Zari was seated atop the bed, her knees pulled up to her chin with her arms wrapped around herself. Her feet were hidden beneath the voluminous cloak that was also wrapped around herself. Her eyes were tearstained as she met Laedra's gaze. The single look that passed between Master and Padawan broke down all the walls that had been built up between them over the last several months. Tears filled Zari's eyes once more, but she was already off the bed and into the comforting embrace of Laedra's arms. "I'm so sorry, Master," she whispered, and the words repeated several times, though muffled between them. "I...I was so afraid...I didn't want to be put out of the Temple... I...I'm a bad Jedi...I...I was too scared..."

She took a step back and looked up into Laedra's face, seeing the love and compassion there, and knew that she wouldn't be put out. She may have failed, but the failure was not yet irreversible. The tears in her eyes were gone, and she managed to stand a little straighter. "I'm pregnant by Ferrig, Master. He forced me to be with him, and said that if you found out I was having sex again, that I'd be sent away. So...so I had to be quiet. I was so afraid. I didn't want to be sent away." Panic and fear still dominated Zari's emotions, but a deep thankfulness at Laedra's presence was building. "I don't want to be sent away..."

"Zari," Laedra whispered ruefully, "why would you ever think I'd send you away? Have I been so strict with you that you were too afraid to seek my help?" She cradled Zari's wet cheek with one hand, and in her smile was regret mingled with affection. "I haven't been a very good teacher and mentor if I've made you believe you couldn't confide in me."

"I know that the Padawans who can't become Jedi, who aren't good enough, they can get sent away," Zari said. "I...I know I'm not very good, and...and after you and Master Darr told me that I couldn't be with Cole anymore, I...I was scared for what would happen because of what Ferrig...what he was doing. He said that since I wasn't supposed to, I'd get in trouble. I didn't want to get in trouble again. I...I was scared to be in trouble again. I didn't want to be a bad Padawan."

"You didn't do anything wrong," Laedra insisted gently. "Ferrig did. He's the only one who would've been banished, Zari. I just...I didn't realize I'd frightened you so. Please don't ever be again."

"I'm sorry, Master," Zari whispered and hugged herself to Laedra once more. "I promise I will not keep anything from you from now on. I won't be afraid to come to you whenever I am worried...or...or whenever something happens that shouldn't. Thank you, Master. I...I feel so stupid now...but I am glad it's not a secret. I don't want any more secrets."

"Well, perhaps," Laedra reminded her slowly, "we should keep just one until Koran and I can decide what to do about it...." She watched Zari knowingly and added, "Don't tell anyone about the child, Zari. If you don't wish to keep it, then the solution is simple."

Zari's hand went to her belly, where the small life was growing within her. "I...I don't know yet, Master," she said. "It...it would seem wrong...not to keep it. The baby will be part of the Force, and...and even if Ferrig is evil, the baby can be good. Talara and Cole know. I don't know if Ferrig does."

"He shouldn't," Laedra decided firmly. "And it will be a difficult decision to make...but you are young, Zari, and you must consider what this will mean for the rest of your life." She sighed, and assured Zari, "But whatever you decide, I will support you."

"I...I'll need time to think about it, I think," Zari said softly. "I...I think I still have time...to decide."

"You do...but don't delay too long, Zari or you may be forced into a decision you might not have chosen yourself by the course of reproductive development," Laedra warned. Then, she smiled assuringly and wrapped an arm about Zari's shoulders. "We'll go to your room, and you can rest. Then, when you're feeling better, we can discuss this further."

"Master, if I do...do decide to have the baby," Zari said as she leaned into the warmth her Master's body provided, the safety and comfort she'd lacked for so long, "will I still be able to be a Padawan?"

"We don't need to think about that now," Laedra told her, "but...it's possible the council will expel you. I'll protect you as much as I can, Zari, but it may not be up to myself alone. Do you understand?"

Zari nodded. "I do, Master," she said. "I...I guess...I think I want to know if I can have the baby and still be a Jedi soon...it...it will help me decide, I think." She sighed and looked up at Laedra. "I wish I came to you before, Master. I'm sorry I didn't."

Laedra answered, with a wan smile, "I do, too. But never again, Zari. Never again."

"Never again," Zari echoed as they started off for her room so she could finally get some peaceful sleep.

***

When Koran Darr returned to the Temple, he was alone. He found Laedra immediately and shook his head. "I cannot find him," he said. "I followed the path, but about a kilometer off, he seemed to just disappear. I don't believe he wanted to be found. I don't know what all transpired in there, but with those cuts to the walls and the damage done to Talara's lightsaber, I can see where he wouldn't. After all that's happened, all the progress he'd been making, and now this." Koran shook his head. "I've failed."

"You haven't," she countered, squeezing his shoulder insistently. "Neither of us have. I think...we have just been going about things the wrong way. We give these Padawans too much freedom when some restrictions are necessary. And," Laedra added with a sigh, "we have allowed too many outsiders to roam these Temples and influence these children. Ferrig Mullerin should never have been accepted within these walls. And neither should anyone else not training as a Jedi."

"While I agree," Koran said, "there are some within the Temple that I have to wonder how we would survive without, such as Orn. And, what of those, such as Dani, who are not currently training to become Jedi." He shook his head. "It is a difficult position we are in; yet, you are right, we will need to make changes. Certain areas of the Temple will need to be made off-limits to anyone who is not either training to become a Jedi or who has our approval. I definitely agree, the safety of the children must be one of our highest priorities."

"Despite what's happened, it may not be too late for that," Laedra pointed out gravely. "But Zari.... We cannot let her have that child, Koran, not if she wishes to continue training. The other Padawans must not think we condone intimacy and romantic attachments."

"I doubt the circumstances leading to her pregnancy were either intimate or romantic," Koran said. "But, perhaps you are right. She is too young to be going through something like this, and given the last several months, far too vulnerable. Not just for the Jedi Order, but for herself as well. She's just a child." He shook his head. "Do you suspect she wishes to have the child?"

Laedra nodded regretfully. "If she can remain in the Order and continue training, she will carry the child. I just don't see how that's possible."

"Once she's rested, perhaps a more lengthy talk is in order," Koran said. "She will need to know that having a child and remaining as a Padawan, let alone continuing on as a Jedi, will be extremely difficult. We only need to look at Master Brael to see that. Perhaps the doctor who assisted Jae Dyn can be of some help to Zari."

"I think her physical condition is less a problem than her emotional state. All this time, Koran," Laedra whispered, "she's been suffering. She was so alone, trying to deal with this on her own. It must have been agony for her."

"And, she's a long way from the family she left behind on Agarra," Koran said. "Perhaps we can partially fill in that role for her, if she will let us. There was also a family here, in the city. Or close friends, Jae Dyn's friends. Do you suppose they may be able to help her through this emotionally?"

Laedra nodded uncertainly. "If they are willing to support her. It may even be best that she stays with them for the duration of her pregnancy, if she chooses to have the child. That might make it possible to continue her training away from the Temple...though it would mean my spending some time away from here to do so."

"We should present that to her as an option," Koran said. "And, is that something you would wish to do, Laedra? If she decides she wishes to have the baby, would you want to do this?"

"I can't let her down again. I will do this for her, Koran, to redeem myself in her eyes, if anything."

"We have come a long way, haven't we," he asked with a gentle smile. "For now, let's locate Ferrig and see about removing his presence from the Temple permanently. I never thought we would banish someone from the Temple, but I can see no other way."

Laedra frowned as she said, "He won't be the last, either, when we find Cole."

"Hopefully Talara will be able to give us a more detailed account of what happened when she's had some rest," Koran said.

Watching Talara sleeping comfortably in the medical ward, Laedra told Koran, "I don't plan on waiting that long. We need to find Ferrig. It can't be difficult. Perhaps contacting Kael will help. He must know where Ferrig may have gone to hide out."

"Let's trust to the Force first," Koran said. "It may lead us to Ferrig. If so, we won't need to involve Kael and most likely disrupt his time away with Dani and Raeila. Let's check Tralesha's room, and then the training rooms."

Agreeing, Laedra joined Koran in the tense journey to Tralesha's quarters. Laedra doubted the woman knew of Ferrig's forced relations with Zari, but she was about to find out, and Laedra had no compunctions about delivering the news herself.

***

"Just five more minutes," Tralesha Zibel said. "I can't just run off to the desert without letting Orinth know. And, I have to know when we'll be back so I can let him know."

"You can contact him from the desert, you know," Ferrig said with a forced laugh. He didn't feel like laughing, that much was certain. "We're not completely backward you know?" Trying to get her to leave without rousing her suspicions was getting more difficult, especially since she had not yet packed a bag for the trip.

"I know, but I'm already halfway done. It's just five minutes, Ferrig. You didn't steal more beebleberry tarts from Orn again did you?"

"I did not steal those," he protested. "I'm just anxious, you know. I mean, it's not every day a man brings his bride-to-be home to the desert."

Tralesha's eyes widened with surprise and she turned to him. "Bride-to-? Are you...Ferrig, are you--?"

He nodded and came forward. He truly hoped he didn't regret this. "That is, if you'll have me. You will marry me, won't you Tralesha?"

"Oh Ferrig...I...I didn't...this is so sudden."

Ferrig sighed, hoping it wasn't too dramatic. "I understand," he said. "It is sudden, but we can wait longer...or...just keep on as we are."

"No, Ferrig...it's...it's a shock, that's all. Yes. Yes, Ferrig." She grinned at him, then flung herself into his arms. The kiss that stole his breath lasted for too long, but finally she was out of his arms and gathering things for her bag. "Just...just a minute, and we can...only a minute..."

And so Ferrig sighed a very relieved sigh of relief. At the moment, he didn't realize that it was premature by just a minute. A pair of shadows appeared in the door, unseen by him. A scant moment later, those shadows became a pair of Jedi Masters.

---

"Broken Nest, Part 2"
By: Master Koran Darr
Master Laedra Vorrel
Padawan Zari Zathmir
Ferrig Mullerin
Tralesha Zibel

Location: Jedi Temple
Date: Selene 13, 5 ABY

***

"Master Darr, Master Vorrel," Tralesha said with a happy smile for both. "You almost just missed us. We're about to head to the desert...and...and we're going to get married." She noticed that neither Master was smiling, and her experiences with Raxis kicked in. "What's the matter?"

Master Darr's attention was focused on Ferrig. "We need to speak with Mr. Mullerin," he said. "You should remain here for this, Tralesha."

Ferrig turned. His face had gone pale but otherwise seemed calm. "Master Darr, Master Vorrel, what a surprise. It's good you're here. I just wanted to let you know, I won't be needing my room here in the Temple any longer. We'll be moving permanently to Thanatos."

"Coincidentally," Laedra replied with a flat, ironic smile, "we were just about to ask you to leave."

"What a coincidence then," Ferrig said. They knew, he was certain. He had to play this carefully. "I guess we should be going then."

Koran remained in the doorway. "Not quite yet," he said.

Laedra's unfaltering, stern gaze fixed on Ferrig and indicated she had no intention of showing mercy. "If you'd rather confess and retain what little pride you still have, you may. Otherwise, Tralesha will hear from us what you've done and see you for the vile wretch you truly are."

Tralesha's smile was long gone now as she stared at Ferrig. "What are they talking about?"

"So, I confess or you do it for me?" Ferrig asked. "Fine. I've been having secret sex with Zari for the last four months, and the girl never complained once. She was a little hesitant at first, maybe, but she was trained well by Nieme and Dani. How are they, by the way? They aren't quite the world leaders they were before, but they seem to have it quite comfortable here. Would be a shame for the news to find out about that, wouldn't it? So, anyway, I guess Zari finally broke down and told someone she'd been behaving in a very un-Jedi-like way with me, and now they've got their robes in a twist."

Koran Darr's hand almost twitched toward his lightsaber, but he managed to keep himself calm and centered within the Force. "We are prepared to deal with the fallout of the public learning of the amnesty we've granted to Nieme and Dani. That, however, is not the issue. I believe Zari's side of the story doesn't quite match yours, Ferrig. She is extremely distraught over what has happened. You used her and preyed upon her fear of being put out of the Temple to your advantage. We don't care where you go after this, but we are giving you a chance to walk away. Return here to the Temple or attempt to approach any Padawan for any reason, and we will not be so generous."

Ferrig glanced at Tralesha and found her eyes narrowed and shining with an angry glint. "You pig," she growled. The resulting slap was loud enough to be heard down the hallway.

Ferrig frowned at her and touched his cheek. "I guess this means the wedding is off?"

She raised a fist to hit him again, but stopped herself and turned away from him.

"I don't even know why you remained," Laedra continued, shaking her head at Ferrig. "Your behaviour is better suited for the desert, where rape and lying is accepted. But not for this place." Her verbal assault didn't cease as she added, "What would Raeila think of you? And what, when you truly fathom what you have done, will you think of yourself, Ferrig Mullerin? You have just cost yourself everything."

Ferrig looked around. "There are a few things I'll be glad to be rid of," he said. "Though, I guess I will have some regrets. I imagine no one will believe me when I say I truly do love Tralesha--"

"You've got that right," the young woman added.

"And, I love Talara," he said. "Though, you took her from me, and so I had to turn to other means. I'll miss Zari too. If she doesn't make it as a Jedi, I'm sure she could definitely outwhore Raeila in the desert. She really does know how to put out. Girl's got a gift and it's being wasted here."

Tralesha let out a sound of pure frustration. "You are a disgusting human being," she spat. "I can't believe you've been hiding--" she sputtered for words for a moment, before just gesturing at him "--this inside you the entire time. I can't believe I gave myself to you, that I agreed to marry you. You're a pig!"

"You already said that," Ferrig said with a hint of true sadness in his voice. "And, you had no arguments last night. Does it really all change, all that we've had, all that we've shared, because I may be a little rough around the edges?"

Tral's eyes narrowed. "Everything changes. If I ever see you again, Ferrig, I'm going to blast you to vapour."

"I guess the wedding really is off then," he said with a roll of his eyes.

"I suggest you leave," Laedra advised him, the warning clear in her voice's low timbre, "for it would seem there are those who wish to take your life...and I am inclined not to stand in their way."

Ferrig gave her a smile that never touched his eyes. "Give my best to Zari," he said, then started toward the door.

Koran stepped aside to let him pass, and then watched him swagger down the hall. "He's going to come to a bad end," the Jedi Master said as he glanced at Laedra.

"It would be very un-Jedi of me to say," she replied coolly, "but I should hope so."

"Perhaps, but we are all human," Koran said. "Tralesha, we do apologize that you had to find out this way."

"Thank you," the young woman said. "I think I would prefer this way, than a few weeks from now when I would have been married to the bastard."

"I know you have just been through much," Laedra interjected with as much delicacy as she could muster in the situation, "but we must ask you to continue packing. I'm afraid the Jedi must close their doors to non-Force sensitives. We cannot have this happening again."

Tralesha sighed and nodded. "I understand," she said. "I don't have much left here, so I should be able to get it all in one trip."

Laedra softened enough to offer the young woman a smile. "You may visit, of course, Tralesha, so even if you require a second trip, you're welcome to it."

Tralesha smiled and nodded. "Thank you very much," she said. "I don't think I'll need it, but I appreciate the offer. And, I don't know what service I could ever be to the Jedi, but if you ever need me, all you need to do is ask. It's the least I can do for all you've done for me."

Laedra bowed, displaying her respect for the noble, if somewhat misguided, woman. However, in no mood for pleasantries, Laedra was already proceeding down the corridor once she'd straightened to ensure Ferrig had left the premises. There were no risks to be taken now.

"Thought you might be following me," Ferrig said as Laedra came in sight of the front doors of the Temple. "I don't know where my sister went to, but could you pass on word that I'll be at the house in Thanatos? I'm sure she'll be worried as to my whereabouts."

"If she were to discover what has happened, I doubt she would be," was her curt response. "But...I will not be the one to tell her. I'll leave that to you. Though" --Laedra stepped towards him, despite the roiling in her gut at his fetor-- "can you answer for her why you did this, as you have not for us yet?"

"Because I am who I am," Ferrig said. "I'm Kir'Thana, and this place is just feeling a little too wet. But, I'll tell her everything, you can be sure of that."

"Just as I can be certain you will never apologize to Zari?" she ventured.

"I don't know what she told you," Ferrig said with a shake of his head, "but she loved every minute of it. We almost got caught a few times because she gets very loud when she has an orgasm."

Laedra restrained none of her disgust as she rasped, "You're deluded, Ferrig Mullerin, and damned for what you've done. Go to the desert knowing you will one day have to answer for this, so live in fear, for vengeance will find you in one form or another." With a hard, lingering glare, Laedra stepped back into the Palace and closed the door behind her, officially shutting Ferrig out forever.

When she took another step back, Koran was there. "Sometimes, I wish there wasn't a code we had to live by," he whispered. "Those like him, they are just predators. They serve no purpose but to hurt those who don't deserve it. They have no place."

"And because we cannot do anything, he will simply move on to prey upon another." Laedra turned to Koran, sighed dishearteningly. "No word on Cole yet?"

"He appears to have disappeared," Koran said. "He has to know we will not take this lightly and that he will have to face the Council for his actions. Perhaps when he's cooled off and thought this through, he'll return to us. Though, in the meantime, I'll have our agents in the city be on the lookout for him."

"The last thing we need is a hotheaded Padawan rampaging in the city. I think," she suggested, "we should contact Kael. If he's out there, he has a better chance of running into Cole and restraining him if necessary."

"I agree," Koran said with a nod. "Did you want to check in on Zari and Talara while I contact Kael?"

Laedra tipped her head briefly. "I will do so. It's about time I took proper care of my Padawans," she said, her smile faintly bitter.

"I think we have definitely reached a turning point for the Jedi," Koran said. "In the end, I think it will be better for the Jedi Order."

"What will?" Laedra asked. "The absence of outside influence? We've now been forced to create a divide between the Jedi and the people of Tae'Karada - the people we are supposed to aid. How is that better, Koran?"

"We've been forced to make it so they cannot live among us, not that they cannot come here," Koran said. "It will provide a more safe and stable environment for the children to learn, to attune themselves to the Force. We're still finding our way through this, and this will give us a place of safety and security where we can find the path before us."

Laedra's doubt leaked into her wan smile. She was not so optimistic as Koran, and would not be until she could explore the night's revelations through meditation. But only after she ensured her Padawans were coping well with what had transpired. Meditation would be worth their while as well, but Laedra held no delusions that it would solve everything. Not all traumas could be repaired without a little support from outside the realm of the Force, and that meant a hand to hold from the girls' master.

Grasping Koran's hand for a short moment, Laedra said, "I'm going to look in on them. I may not return to bed this evening."

"I understand," Koran said. "I will not wait up. I don't know how much sleep I will be getting tonight. I had begun to think that we were through these trials, but apparently we still have some more to get through."

"There will always be trials," Laedra reminded him. "Progress is limited by treading on paths that are free of obstacles. But, I'd prefer if the obstacles didn't involve rape and violence." And squeezing his hand briefly, Laedra departed to seek out her Padawans. She had far too much work to continue discussing the night's events. It was time to restore her Padawans' faith in her.

Koran watched her go before turning and starting toward the communication center. It was time to interrupt Kael Selrid's evening of celebration with news that would certainly spoil any joy he and his unorthodox family were having.

***

When Laedra found Zari after having peeked in on Talara, she was curled up on her bed asleep. She looked at peace as she lay, still curled in her robes. Still, within the mind of the girl, there could be no doubt of the wounds she'd been forced to endure. In the silence, as Laedra watched from the doorway, through the glow of the Force surrounding the girl, her potential could be seen. She only needed the right hand to shape that potential: Laedra's hand. But, could Zari achieve that and mother a child?

Laedra sighed and crept soundlessly into the room, towards the bed, where she seated herself upon the edge. She hadn't disturbed the mattress, but Zari still flinched and whimpered in her sleep. Laedra suspected that fitful dreams now haunted the girl. Placing a hand lightly upon her shoulder, Laedra offered silent comfort through the faint contact.

Zari calmed at Laedra's touch. Several moments after her breathing calmed and her body relaxed, her eyes slowly opened. She sensed Laedra there, though didn't know it was Laedra until she'd looked to where her Master was sitting. She smiled. "Hi Master Laedra," she said softly as she shifted slightly on the bed. "I think I was sleeping a little better than before...it's nice not to be afraid now. I...I still have dreams though..."

"I wouldn't expect you not to," she answered tenderly. Willing to explore her nurturing instincts further, Laedra smiled inquiringly as she drew her legs up onto the bed. "Do you mind? I haven't had a moment to lay down all day."

"Oh, it's fine," Zari said and shifted enough to give Laedra more room. "I feel like all I've done today is cry. It's not very Jedi-like to cry, is it?"

"It isn't," Laedra allowed, curling up beside Zari and resting her cheek upon the girl's shoulder as she embraced her with a single arm. She exuded motherly affection and hoped to finally create a bond with the girl she had failed to initially. "I want you to know, Zari," Laedra whispered, "that I've always been proud of you. I may not have said it much, but I've felt it...and I regret not telling you before. I regret making it difficult for you to get close to me, or giving you the impression that Jedi must be detached emotionally from those close to them, because it doesn't have to be so."

"I...I should have talked to you...about what was happening," Zari said. "I...shouldn't have let him do that to me. It wasn't... And, he said that because of before...even if I told you, that you wouldn't believe me. You'd...you'd think I was...that I liked it. It...it felt good sometimes, but it was wrong...and...and I knew you would believe me, but I was so scared..."

"I'm sorry," Laedra told her. "But you do realize none of this was your fault, don't you? I want you to believe that."

"I think I do," Zari said. "It's...it's easier to say than to make my brain believe it. I'm believing it more now though. Ferrig was bad...and...and I was too scared to stop him. Master, if I have the baby, can I name him or her after you?"

Laedra chuckled lightly and gave Zari a gentle, fond squeeze. "It would be an honour...if you truly do wish to carry the child. But think long and hard about this, Zari. This is a decision that will affect your entire life."

Zari nodded. "If...if I do, the baby might be able to be a Jedi," she said softly. "I think that would be fitting, don't you? Something so wrong, but it's turned into something good? I will think about it, Master, but...but right now I think that even though what Ferrig did was wrong, not having the baby would be worse. I...I should find a doctor...to be sure."

"I'll help you, whatever you decide," Laedra pledged. She kissed the side of Zari's head and began stroking the girl's hair soothingly. "Even with a baby, Zari...I've discussed with Koran the possibility of continuing your training away from the Temple. We...we can't allow you to bear the child here. We can't expose the other Padawans to that."

Zari nodded her understanding. "I could probably live with Keeve," she said. "And...after, I could be a Padawan again...and my baby could come to the Temple too, once he's old enough to be a Youngling."

"He?" Laedra echoed in amusement. "Can you be so sure?"

Zari grinned. "No," she said. "It just didn't feel right saying it or he-or-she, so I decided on he for now. Could be a baby girl too...which I guess would make naming her Laedra more appropriate."

"That could get confusing," she warned. "Though it's a very flattering prospect...." Allowing Zari's pleasant musings to linger for a moment longer, Laedra forced herself to deliver some not so joyful news. "But, Zari...you mustn't tell Ferrig. He can't know...and won't because we've banished him. He's...he's gone."

"I don't ever want to see him again," Zari said softly. "He's evil. I don't want him to ever be near the baby, not for anything. If he's banished and the baby comes to the Temple to become a Jedi, he won't be able to see her."

"Or him," Laedra reminded to lighten the mood. "But, you are making the right decision, Zari. I didn't know such evil could exist in a single person...but Ferrig has shown me otherwise. He cannot know the child. Not ever."

"He won't ever from me," Zari answered fervently. "Only a few people will know, I guess. I guess when I start getting big, I'll have to go for awhile? Then after I have the baby I can come back?"

Laedra nodded, her cheek rubbing comfortingly against Zari's in the process. "For a while, but you won't be alone, and I won't abandon you. But, while you may not be able to physically enhance your abilities, I would like you to continue training, but with a focus on your mental and emotional control. If you are to return to training following your child's birth, you must be able to master your feelings, Zari, and keep them from controlling you. As a mother, you will be far more sensitive, and it will be a struggle for you to reign in your emotions. But a Jedi must be capable of doing so, and that will be your challenge."

Zari nodded. "They definitely controlled me," she said. "I should probably talk to Keeve soon and make sure it's alright if I stay with them. He has a lot of money, so maybe he'll have a place where we can meet, Master."

"We'll meet with him tomorrow, if you like." Sliding her hand into Zari's, Laedra smiled and whispered, "Together."

Zari smiled at their hands joined together and nodded. "Together," she said. "Thank you, Master. I feel a lot better now. I'm very glad that you're my teacher...I just hope I can be a good student."

"A student is only as good as her teacher," Laedra stated eruditely. "So...I'd better shape up, hm?"

Zari smiled. "If you say so, Master," she said.

Laughing gently, Laedra embraced her student closer in sheltering arms and laid her cheek upon the pillow. Zari's head fit perfectly into the curve of Laedra's neck, where it remained as her master whispered, "Rest. Tomorrow, we'll get everything in place."

Feeling safe and comfortable like she hadn't for months, Zari fell quickly to sleep. And, her dreams that night were peaceful and hopeful, with not a nightmare to be found.

---

"Getting Started"
by Dresh Kano - Chief of the Navy
and Chun Li - Escort Pilot

Location: Kano's office, New Republic Base
Date: Selene 13, 5ABY

***

Dresh Kano turned his attention from the message that still lingered on the screen built into his desktop. His gaze fixed to the system map dominating the wall to his side, focusing on the region roughly twelve parsecs from Riga. Report after report had come in recently regarding the attacks on in-system transit, mostly courier and cargo ships.

He turned back to his desk and tabbed open a message. The content was simple and to the point: an arrangement for a meeting at Chun Li's, the woman who had brought his attention to the apparent pirate base's secret location, earliest convenience. Perhaps the pirate problem would be eliminated sooner than Dresh had expected.

"I don't think anyone would complain about that," Dresh muttered to himself as he sent the message off.

***

Li was surprised to get the message. She hadn't expected a reaction this fast. Well, no sense in letting them wait. So she went to the building of the navy, where she gave her name and was escorted to the commander's office by another officer.

The room Li was led to was spartanly furnished. A bank of monitors filled one wall: a large central monitor, currently depicting the Tae'Remok system, surrounded by a number of smaller monitors each scrolling with data or images from around the planet and system.

Seated behind the desk the desk was a human in his mid-thirties who seemed to be watching Li's entrance while perusing the contents of a datapad. He nodded his thanks to the guard who had led her in, and then indicated the seat across from him. "Please, Ms. Li, have a seat," he said. "I'm sure you're anxious to tell me all about this pirate base you've discovered."

"Well, I haven't really seen the base up close," Li said, "there are better ways to commit suicide. But I have noticed a few gaps in their defences which I haven't put in the message, in case it was intercepted. If I may?" She pointed at the monitor.

Dresh nodded for her to continue.

"Here's the system they are in," she said, calling up the specs of an inhabited system at the edge of Tae'Remok space. "As I explained in my message, they are using holed out asteroids, probably from a mining operation a long time ago. The galaxy is full of those things. They also use asteroids as natural interdictors, but their defences lie in secrecy. While that is fine, you should provide backup in case you are found."

She indicated a couple of points in the system. "There they have put sensors," she said, "but if you jump from asteroid to asteroid, you can stay in their blind spot. At least, I didn't get any reaction when I tried."

"I'm going to assume you weren't going in using capital ships," Dresh said. "We might be able to sneak in with some smaller ships, though the larger the force going in, the more likely they'll spot us. I'll begin working with my tacticians to work up a plan on going in and cleaning them out of there. I don't think it will be a walk in the park, but we can block their escape routes and send a team in to flush them out. Thank you for bringing this to our attention, Ms. Li."

"I don't know what you have in the way of small ships, so if you need some extra firepower," Li said, "I have a modified missile gunboat."

"While the Tae'Karada fleet isn't as extensive as the New Republic fleet, we do have a fair number of ships. However, if you'd like to be in on the operation, the assistance would not be unappreciated. For security's sake, we'll need to run a background check, if that's alright with you."

"Run whatever you want," Li simply said, "you won't find anything that imperial intelligence didn't find before when they recruited me all these years ago. But don't worry, I quit after Alderaan."

"Be ready to head out tomorrow morning then," Dresh said. "We'll have a staff meeting at 06h00, then the convoy will make for the pirate haven. I expect the meeting to take no more than an hour."

"I'll be there," Li said. She had done these kind of meetings before. "Anything else," she asked.

"That's all for now," Kano said. "Be here for the meeting in the morning and we'll have all the details of the run finalized. If you have any questions before now and then, contact my office and I'll get back to you."

"Okay, admiral," Li said, standing up. She gave him a salute before heading out.

---

"A New Life"
Introducing Kylen Muston - Tech/Smuggler

Location: Drogen Shipyards
Date: Selene 13 & 14, 5 ABY

***

Stranded. He could barely believe it. Here he was, stranded. And in the Drogen Shipyards, of all places in the galaxy. He slowly walked over and collected his bag from the cargo area. "I can't believe my luck. First that fiasco with the tainted bacta, then having to sell the Sprinter to pay off my debt, and now I'm stuck in the Drogen Shipyards," he thought to himself.

He found an open room on 192 and worked out a deal to pay for it by working as a tech in a private docking bay on level 401. Since that kind of work is obviously worth more than just a room, they threw in scrap rights and 200 credits a week. "At least I've got someplace to sleep and now I won't starve either. Maybe it won't be that bad here." he tried to convince himself. He unpacked his bag and settled in a bit, only a bit because that was all the settling he could do. After he was done, he could have gone out and seen the area or tried to meet people, but he just fell asleep instead.

***

He was up remarkably early the next morning. Well, not remarkably, but surprisingly considering how he had felt the night before. He was full of a kind of nervous energy; it was almost as if his body just wanted to work out his emotional problems by exhausting itself. They wanted him in the bay by 8, but he reported in at 7:30. He immediately dove in to a project; they were rebuilding an ion drive for a shipping company's freighter. He surprised his supervisor by manually bypassing one line's entry into a certain circuit and instead put it in a seemingly unimportant area. But he had done it on a few other crafts and showed his supervisor on a diagnostic that he has increased the ship's energy output to the engine by 5%, which he knew translated to a 2.5% increase in top speed. During the lunch hour, which he was shocked to find was a true hour, he slipped into the cockpit to see what kind of gear the freighter sported. His eyes immediately alighted on the very model of navcomputer that he had first learned to program. Within minutes, he had programmed in a small file that would record flight vectors and set up a data dump that would let him see exactly the freighter had gone between its visits to the Shipyards.

They finished their work on the ion drive 20 minutes before their shift ended that evening, a whole day ahead of schedule, thanks to his expertise. His supervisor was so happy, most likely because he'd get a bonus, that he let them off early and told them all to meet at Dirg's Descent on 236 for dinner and drinks at 7. For some reason, he actually wanted to go, rather than just mope around like he had the night before. In fact, he wanted to go so badly, that he found himself there at 6:40, before anyone else in his group. He settled into a spot leaning against the bar and sipped his Andoan ale while scanning the crowd. "Not nearly as bad as the majority of the places I've been," passed a quick thought through his mind. As he paid for his second round, another man came up to the bar and leaned in next to him, trying to buy a drink. The stranger pulled out a credchip to pay, but it fell to the floor. As the man reached for the chip on the floor, he felt the man's hand through his boot and knew that the vibroblade he kept concealed there had been discovered.

The man stood back up, paid for the drink, and leaned in toward him to say, "Hello there friend. Expecting some trouble?"

The response back was, "Not expecting, just ready for it. Trouble and I always seem to find each other, no matter how hard I try to stay away."

"Well, then you and I have that in common. You can call me Heelan."

"I'm Kylen Muston, pleasure to meet you Heelan."

Kylen paused an took a better look at Heelan now. He was slightly bigger than Kylen, not so much in height, but in width. "That blaster he's carrying looks like it's been getting quite a bit of use."

"Well Kylen, I'm normally not wrong about these kinds of things, but I'd say you were looking for work."

"It's funny you should say that. I just started work today as a tech in Bay 401," came Kylen's response.

"No, I meant real work. Man's work," he leaned in even closer as his voice dropped to a whisper, "Smuggling. That's what you do, isn't it?"

Kylen answered him even softer, "I have yes. I've tried not to make a career out of it. But now you've got my attention. What have you got? What do you need?"

"Well, I saw you in the Docking Bay today; my ship was in the next slot over. I have a cache of goods stored on a planet not too far from here. I'm sure you'll forgive me for not telling you which one, or coordinates or anything, but I'm going to be making a run to it to switch out some goods and reload for another run. I want you to come with me and give my ship some of those tweaks, like you did today, to boost its performance. And after that, I'd like you to come on a run with me. I might need to make a quick getaway, and that's much easier to do with a copilot. You'd be gone 6 days, 7 tops. And I'll pay you 2000 creds for it. 1000 for the ship work and 1000 for the run. You won't find a better offer," Heelan finished.

"This is too good to pass up," Kylen thought. "Okay, I'll do it. When do you want to leave?" He was already concocting a story about his grandmother dying on Corellia to get out of work.

Heelan passed him a comlink. "I'm already loaded for another run now. But I'll be back in a few days. Call me on this in one week, and we'll leave the day after that." And with that, he picked up his drink and disappeared into the crowd of Kylen's fellow techs, who had all just arrived. Kylen had been in a fairly good mood already, but now he felt great. He celebrated harder than any of his coworkers that night, even though he knew he'd pay for it tomorrow morning.

---

"Father and Daughter"
By Amii'a Va'lor (PC)
Narissa Va'lor (NPC)
Qristoff Va'lor (NPC)

Location: New Plouton
Date: Selene 13th, 5ABY

***

Breathe! Breathe! Amii'a thought to herself as she looked upon her father, face to face in the first time in many years.

Older, a bit worse for wear, she still thought him the handsome man she remembered growing up. Feelings of love and sorrow flooded her heart as she fought to not cry and to find her voice.

Finally she drew in a breath and exhaled with nervous anticipation.

"PaPa," she said with uncertainty.

Qristoff stood before his daughter, his own feelings a turbulent storm of self grief, misguided anger, and joyous relief at seeing the daughter he had shunned. His face slightly scowled as he fought for the words to say, an internal battle between his heart and stubborn pride.

A long moment passed, as long as the past years Amii'a thought.

"I..." he began, looking to his feet. "I don't know what to say," he sighed as he too choked back tears. He felt ashamed; for showing his weakness, for knowing he was in the wrong, for being a slave to his own stupid pride.

Amii'a hesitantly stepped closer, he was a tall man, she could see his welling eyes though he looked to the floor. She opened her arms to him and embraced him.

He stood for there for a moment, arms half raised, not sure what to do as his daughter hugged him tightly.

His wife, her mother, smacked him upside the head.

"Qris," she hissed.

Amii'a backed away slightly, uncertain of what was going to happen. She knew her mother was afraid for her marriage in all this, however her attitude and actions suggested that something had changed.

Qris huffed a nervous laugh and embraced her daughter, "Oh Amii'a! How can I ever forgive my self. I...so...sorry, I'm...so...sorry," he barely managed as his emotions flooded over.

"It's alright!" she said with half of a laugh and half of a cry. "It's okay."

He pulled her away at arms length, "No, Amii'a. It really isn't. Your mother has shown me my sins. I...I have been such an ass! I just...I just don't know what to say, I...have been a fool! So much time wasted! How can you forgive me? How can you?"

Amii'a smiled through tears that dripped down her cheeks as she looked from her father to her mother and back again.

"MaMa has told me a lot these past months," she said as she looked to her mother. "I understand more now. It has hurt, it still hurts, but your my father, my family. You have no idea how good it is to see you, to look into your eyes and to touch you! I just want my family back...we can work through it, can't we?"

Narissa stepped to her husbands side. Amii'a could see the pride in her eyes at her husbands accomplishment and to have her daughter back in her life. She too was crying.

Qris brought his wife in close, and then his daughter too. The three embraced closely for a long moment.

***

After a time Amii'a and her parents had ordered drinks. They sat for a time quietly, letting their feelings calm.

"Your mother," Qris said as he looked to his wife. "Has put up with a lot, but she is a strong woman, it is what I love about her. Among many other things. All this time...well, I know it has been hard for her. But, she stood by me even though I have made some terrible mistakes. I don't deserve it, I know. I was angry and felt betrayed when I found out she had been seeing you. But there was something inside, something I buried deep down and have turned away from for so long that she helped to bring to the surface. I don't expect you to trust me Amii'a, but perhaps one day, in time, you will look upon me as you once did. I'll spend the rest of my life trying to make it up to you, to both of you."

"Oh Qris," her mother said.

"No...no," he said. "I see it in both of your eyes. I've been a fool, but I'm not such the fool. I've wrecked my family, brought misery."

"All we can do is start anew Papa," Amii'a said. "No more talk of foolishness and blame...of mistakes. All that is in the past. Sure, it will take some time, we have wounds to heal. But we can do it together, that is what family is about. There is so much I want to say, so much I feel, so much I want to share with you, with you both!"

"I know it is hard to find where to start," he said with a laugh.

Amii'a could tell he was still apprehensive, but that he also genuinely wanted to make amends and start over.

"I don't want you to feel like you have to make up for anything Papa. It shouldn't be that way. We can't change the past, we can only..." she was saying before he cut her off.

"...We can only move forward to a better future with the lessons of the past to guide us and help prevent us from enduring the same mistakes and misfortunes," he quoted her from a speech she had made a month back.

Amii'a didn't know what to think when she heard her own words and thoughts come from her father's mouth.

"I have followed your career since the end of the...Empire," he said.

She sat back, not sure what to expect, after all the Empire was a very touchy subject. It was what drove them apart to begin with.

"It's alright my dear," he reassured. "I had known for sometime that I had made such an erroneous mistake in my loyalties. I was just to full of pride, to wrapped up in my success and the life we were able to live. A life founded on the tragedy of others, I'm sorry to say. It was a dark time, I should have been braver and should have done the right thing. But I didn't and it cost me my family. It isn't an excuse, but I was afraid for us. I was afraid that with your decision to join the Rebellion that we would be targeted as supporters. After all, I had condemned many a family my self in the prosecution of such...traitors."

"I was young and head strong," Amii'a said.

"So much like your father in fact," her mother said with a smile and a queer look to Qris.

"I didn't think of such consequences, and I am sorry. I cannot say that it was the wrong choice, and I won't. It wouldn't matter anyway of course. I never intended or thought to put either of you in danger, I just had to do what I felt was right."

"In that you were stronger than I," Qris said with admiration for his daughter. "I don't know what it must have been like, until news of the Battle of Endor, and the defeat of Tarkin here...I was still too afraid and full of pride to even acknowledge I had a daughter, I didn't want to know. I was scared of knowing. Everyday I thought the Empire would be at my door to drag us away. I wasn't ever really angry or ashamed of you my dear. I was just angry at myself, ashamed at myself! My little girl defied and fought the Empire while I refused the truth, refused to take action...and worse of all, took it out on my own family."

"Papa, please..." Amii'a said comfortingly.

"I know, I know...the past. I shall try, but I feel so much inside that needs to be rectified. I just need you to know and understand, I think it helps me, I hope it helps you to, Amii'a. Because...I do love you, never stopped. I'm so very proud of you, my daughter," he said with a smile and watery eyes.

"Oh Papa..."

"Everything you have done here, the changes...I'm so proud," he said.

Amii'a blushed slightly, "I haven't done so much, Papa. I try, but it isn't like I'm making all the decisions."

"I know, but you give yourself little credit. The things you have done, it has really helped people. I know, I have heard people talking. It always pained me to not be able to stand and say, that is my daughter! She is a Va'lor!"

They all shared a healthy and healing laugh.

Amii'a's comlink beeped. She looked at it, and then to her parents.

"I have to take this, I am sorry," she said.

"It's alright dear, we know you have responsibilities," her mother said.

"I'll be right back," she said as she left the table to take her call in private.

"This is Val'or," she said to the comlink.

After a few moments she arrived back to her parents.

"Everything alright?" her father asked.

"Yes, I suppose..." she said. "I have to go, it is urgent, I'm sorry."

"Nonsense, you have your duties," her father said.

"Really, it is fine," her mother said. "Besides, it is getting late and we still have to pick up Ro. I think this has been quite a good start for one day, hmm?"

"Oh, Ro," Amii'a said. "I would so love to meet her."

"When you have the time, come by the house Amii'a," her father said. "I mean it, come back home, anytime, any hour."

"Oh Papa," she said.

They exchanged heartfelt good-byes, and Amii'a departed her parents. She was so joyful for what the day brought, it still made her cry as she hailed a speeder taxi.

As she got in she turned to look at her parents, smiling she waved good bye.

"Destination please." the droid driver asked.

"The Jedi Temple, and hurry up."

---

"Drinks and Jobs"
By: Brenna Hennely - Smuggler
Kaina Koto - Smuggler

Location: New Plouton Yelldon, Random Cantina
Date: Selene 13, 5ABY

***

Brenna entered the bar first and looked around. It wasn't the best joint to drink in but it would be the perfect place to look for information. She scanned the bar for the pirates she had tangled with earlier or any sign of any other troubles that could arise. She spotted nothing. Feeling cocky she sat down at the bar and waited for the bartender to ask for her drink. After lunch Marsar had headed back to the ship to do some more work on the engine. The bartender looked at her. "What will it be cutie?" he asked. She looked at him and nodded

"Corellian Ale in a clean glass, make sure it's cold," she replied, "and don't call me cutie." She heard laughter from the stool next to her and looked over. "Figured I'd run into you here."

Kaina smiled as she took the seat next to Brenna and spoke to the barman "I'll have the same." Kaina handed over her empty glass and turned back to Brenna "You're buying," she said in a joking tone.

She smiled slightly and placed the credits on the table when there drinks arrived. "Thank you." Brenna looked at Kaina and smiled. "How did the meeting with the tech go?" she asked taking a sip of her drink.

Kaina shook her head. "The worm tried to rip me off, but I made it clear that he was only getting what we agreed to." Kaina took a sip of her drink. "What about you, the Jada Butterfly all fixed?"

Brenna shook her head and looked around. "There was some damage to the hyperdrive and to the hull, she isn't going to be space worthy for a few days maybe a week." She looked around the cantina again her free hand keeping a firm grip on the holdout blaster shoved in the waist band of her pants. After a few seconds she leaned back and took another sip. "There were some other complications but nothing big."

Kaina nodded. "Good, well Soran is making final checks in the Mercury Raven now, we still need a job though, so we might be here a few days as well." She took another sip and looked around the cantina.

Brenna was scanning the cantina as well, looking for any sign that would indicate a job. "So tell me, what kind of job are you looking for next, something legal," she joked.

Kaina laughed a little. "That's not likely Brenna, no I'm looking for anything that pays, and I mean anything." She took another sip and looked back at Brenna. "What about you?"

"Just a job, possibly a good paying one," she looked around the room once again for some kind of a sign of trouble before she released her grip on her blaster. She had dealt with pirates dozens of time face to face, some times they were even her clients but the group she ran into today was not the kind of group she was looking for. "Well see any hopefuls yet?" she asked slightly worried.

"Not really, these people are not the type he would need our services." Kaina took a sip and then put her glass down, "I might just have to head somewhere else to get a job."

"No hold on, you've been in the business how much longer than I have?" Brenna asked

"Well let's see, I have been smuggling about 6 or 7 years I guess, why do you ask Brenna?" Kaina was not expecting that question.

"Well I can tell you for certain I see a handful of hopefuls in this place." She looked over at one such figure. He was in a fancy suit and was sitting alone. That just screamed contract. "With that you have to excuse me for a moment," with that she stood up and headed over to the man.

Kaina smiled and watched as Brenna walked over and joined the man. She ordered another drink as a man came over a sat beside her and smiled "Hey, mind if I join you?" Kaina smiled and stared at the man, he wasn't bad, and he certainly looked like he had money to go around as he flashed it while paying for his drink.

"Sure, why not." Kaina smiled and started to talk to the man.

"Hey but out, this is my contract," she replied, "get your own." Kaina just smiled at her and went on talking with the man. She stood up. "You know there are some days that I really hate you," she said walking back over to the bar. "Hey bartender refill," she called. The Bartender refilled her drink and handed it to her. She paid the credits she owed for the drink and listened in on the conversation that her rival was having with the man.

"So what do you do for a living?" the man asked her. Kaina smiled.

"I take jobs that pay good credits." The man grinned.

"You are a smuggler you mean?" Kaina looked around and moved her head closer.

"Yes I am, one of the best." The man nodded.

"I employ smugglers to get things that are very valuable and I pay well." Kaina smiled. "Do have any jobs just now?"

Brenna just shook her head and looked around. She walked by the man and Kaina one last time and nodded in their direction. "I'll catch you later I have to go and check on Marsar and my ship," she said.

Kaina smiled. "Yeah see you Brenna." Kaina turned for a sec and then back to the man.

"No I don't need any smugglers, I have enough." Kaina smiled and leaned her head forward closer to his and then there lips almost touched.

"I would be very grateful if you helped me out from time to time with jobs."

The man stammered, "Ehh....well I might have a job for you, come back in a few hours."

Brenna stepped outside and smiled. Tonight hadn't been a total waste of time at the cantina. She removed a slip of paper from her jacket pocket and looked over the contents. It was a simple message, "Head to Arcadia for further instructions."

"Sure hope this is worth it," she said heading for the starport and to her ship.

---

"Collusion"
By Oneron Jel'vre (NPC+ written by Amii'a Val'or)
Ro'namon (NPC+ written by Amii'a Val'or)

Location: New Republic Embassy, New Plouton
Date: Selene 13th, 5ABY

***

The Bothan stood overlooking the cityscape of New Plouton. He had made himself quite at home in the office of Theen Fida in but a days time. He stroked his beard as he thought of all the world had to offer up to his ambitions.

"He must not return," the older woman croaked from behind. Oneron didn't even move.

Ro'namon sat in a plush chair behind Fida's mammoth stone desk. She cracked a sly smile as she thought of the meetings that took place here just months before. Though she wasn't present, there were those under her charge that did. And now Theen was soon to be eliminated, replaced by someone that would turn the other cheek when the time came.

"It is being taken care of, I assure you," the Bothan said with a bit of a growl in his tone. "I may be many things, but I am a man of my word, it is a matter of honor of course. We Bothan hold to our honor."

Ro'namon rolled her eyes. Always were they so full of themselves, so sure of their role, so unwittingly not in control of the lives they thought they mastered. Ro'namon had argued against the use of this Bothan. They were too crafty and self absorbed, hard headed and suspicious. Oneron had proved to be a valuable asset, and thus far he had been true to his word. However, Ro'namon knew well that a Bothan's words were as lethal as a double edged blade.

"I want this co-op destroyed Oneron," she ordered with authority. "Its resources have grown vast, they must be eliminated."

"We had a deal, the co-op would come under my control, just as will this embassy," the Bothan sneered, not afraid of the woman or her mystery employers.

"Your too concerned about wealth and power of your current life Bothan," Ro'namon snapped back, meaning to put the Bothan right back in his place. "When the lives of those you claim to love are in my hands," she said with a softer, yet mocking tone.

Oneron snorted as his fur rippled with anger and worry. He almost desired to take his own life out of shame for having gotten himself mixed up in all that he had, and he was still mystified to it all. It was one thing that he disgraced himself, but he allowed his family to become pawns, their life in danger. He knew he didn't deserve to live, not after all the treachery he had wrought, the backs he stabbed, the schemes he put into motion that resulted in his being right where he was that day. His family was another story, he had dishonored them and put them in mortal danger.

"Do you take pleasure in reminding me so?" he asked sourly.

"You do it to yourself. Now focus. Do as you are required and your family will not be harmed. You will get your just rewards when all is said and done. You're not the only one with honor, Bothan."

---

"Choices"
By Gideon Kherris, Jedi (PC)
Ving, Smuggler (NPC+)

Location: Pink Monda, New Plouton
Date: Selene 13th, 5ABY

***

"What'syer poison?" asked the barkeep, his words slurred and running into one another, poison sounding like pissin.

Gideon could tell, without the Force, that the Arconan was salted quite well that evening. Most people knew that an Arconan with dull yellow eyes was a salt addict. Not an illegal substance by far, it was a common culinary spice, but to the Arconan it was as addictive and corrupt as glitterstim was to Humans and most other species.

"Whatever the locals favor will do," Gideon replied as he eyed a flickering video feed within the Pink Monda.

The barkeep slid Gideon a small glass. He sniffed at it before taking a sip. It was mild and had a pleasing taste.

"What is this?" Gideon asked.

"Tarkayze Ale," the Arcona griped as walked away to take more orders.

Gideon took a hearty swill, which didn't leave much left, so he finished the last of his drink and swung around on the bar stool. The patronage began to dwindle as the wee hours of the new day grew closer to sunrise. A loud thumping from behind gave him reason to turn back around. The Arcona stared him in the face.

"If yar not gowin to git nuffin else, time tago," he slurred. "Ben shittin her alnigh, nyu hat un dink!"

"Actually, I've only been here a few moments. If you'd lay of the salt you might have a better recollection of time," Gideon replied calmly and with a smile.

"Gowan, gitout," the alien spat with a motion of his lanky arm.

"You no longer desire salt," Gideon said firmly and with a slight wave of his hand.

"I...n'longa...'esire salt," the Arconan repeated as best he could, but with less temperament than a moment before.

"When you crave the salt," Gideon continued. "You will desire gooberberries," he told him.

"Gooberberries," the alien managed.

Gooberberries were well known for the anti-toxicity properties, they could be eaten fresh, dried or as juice to help clean ones system of impurities. In an Arconan, its very sugary make-up would help alleviate his withdrawal of salt, though it would make him hyper.

"That's right," Gideon said. "And try to be a little nicer to people from now on, you are awfully rude."

"Try be nicer, awful rude," he replied as he walked away.

"So you got bored waiting on me, decided to play mind games with the locals?" a familiar voice said from behind.

"My good deed for the day," Gideon said without turning around. "Punctuality has never been your strong suit, that's why I got here late, by the way."

A gruff looking man of quite some many years took a seat next to him.

"So what in the blazes are you doing all the way out here in the Tae'Remok system?" the older man asked. "You should have taken that Skywanderer's offer, solitude does you no good my young friend."

"Skywalker."

"Eh? Whatever."

"The Force has led me here, and I have found her, Ving," Gideon said.

"You don't say? How did it go? I bet she was happy to see your ugly face!" Ving huffed.

"I haven't talked to her, she doesn't know I am here."

"What in blazes are you talking about?" Ving said with smack upside Gideon's head. "Some Jedi you are if you couldn't see that one coming!"

"I saw it, I just know how much you like to do that."

"You've been wanting to track her down all this time, hells you've been on this planet for four months. What is your problem?"

"She seems to have been well taken care of, she felt happy. I'm not sure I should interfere with what she has found here," Gideon said.

"I told you there were Jedi here. So what are you planning to do? You've had plenty of time to meditate. What has the all knowing Force told you now?"

"You really don't believe in the Force after all this time, after all you have seen?" Gideon said.

"I believe in what I can see, what I know and what I can do. But, sure, I believe that you believe," Ving said. "I think you all put too much stock in this Force being the guiding light of your destiny. Shit happens kid, some things you can prevent, others you can't, and still more you bring upon yourself."

"You're such the sage, old man."

"I thought you gained some perspective in your travels, your not acting like yourself. What's really on your mind?"

"There is something elusive out there," Gideon said.

"Outside?"

"No, its not like a person. Its just a feeling...maybe an event, I don't know. It gives me a bad feeling, and whatever it is, I think that is why I have come. Not for Vaya."

"So what, your just going to hang around and not even say high? Don't you think she will find out your here? Can't she feel your presence?"

"You seem to know a lot for someone who dismisses hokey religions," Gideon said with grin.

"I've been around, kid. Don't forget it was me who ferried your sorry asses around when the whole Empire was trying to hunt you down. I know you all have this sense of duty and honor, but sometimes you need to take a little piece of this galaxy for yourself. All your friends are gone Gideon, the galaxy is moving on. That girl is all you have in this universe."

"Things are more complicated than that, Ving."

"Yeah, because you all make them complicated. Just go to the Temple. They are Jedi after all. And if you feel this...whatever it is that is out-there, you should probably talk to them."

"I know. I just don't know if I did a good enough job for her. And after what happened on the ship... If she has found a new life here, a new path... I don't want to come in between that."

"Well, it's not just your decision you know. She has a right to know your still alive. Besides, this isn't such a bad system. Just had a regime change as a matter of fact. A fellow could retire here if he found a pretty local who could cook and put up with an old smugglers antics."

"I doubt you would ever retire," Gideon said.

"Hmm, see that in your crystal ball did you?"

"I don't need the Force to tell me that. I've known you nearly my whole life. You'rer like a father to me, you know."

"Well then do an old man a favor and go on. Matter of fact I'll take you myself, wouldn't mind seeing how she's grown. I always liked her, you know."

"I know, she was quite fond of you as well, and Leeca," Gideon said.

Ving smiled and patted Gideon on the back, "She was one in a million, my Leeca. Now come along, be a good Jedi. Let's go see what has become of our Vaya."

---

"Reunited Friends/Rivals"
By: Brenna Hennely - Smuggler
Kaina Kota - Smuggler

Location: New Plouton Yelldon District Starport
Date: Selene 13, 5ABY

***

Kaina walked through the starport, heading towards her ship to check the upgrades. The technician she hired was standing in front of the ramp leading inside. Kaina stopped. "How did the upgrades go? I want a list of Technical Specs on everything you have done, clear?" The technician nodded nervously.

"Yes of course, right a way." The technician went to the nearby console and started on that list Kaina heard a ship landing nearby and looked up and recognized the ship. "That's the Jade Butterfly, Brenna is here?" Kaina spoke to herself as she headed for the next landing bay shouting back at the Technician, "I want the list ready by the time I get back."

Aboard the Jade Butterfly Brenna and her copilot scanned over the interments and displays one last time before she called the hanger. "Starport do you read this is YT-2400 Freighter Jade Butterfly requesting approach vector." She looked at her copilot and long time friend Marsar and pat her on the shoulder. "Just breathe, Marsar, you're doing great," she insisted. After a few seconds the starport gave a response.

"Roger that Butterfly welcome back to New Plouton, where uploading the information to your ship now, just let the autopilot bring you in." After a few seconds the ship started to glide towards its destination. She looked at Marsar and smiled.

"When we I'm going to run a damage report on the ship, can you see that the cargo is delivered?" She asked. Marsar nodded then headed back to the cargo bay to check on the cargo. Brenna looked out the view port at the city. It had been a long two months but finally the ship and her crew were back to there home away from home. "Touching down now."

Kaina bumped into her co-pilot Soran. "Soran can you make sure that little technician makes the list accurately and he doesn't take anything of my ship." Soran nodded.

"Sure Kaina I will, where are you going?" Kaina smiled and watched as the Jade Butterfly descended.

"I'm just going to see a friend." Kaina nodded. "See you back at the ship." Kaina walked off towards the landing spot of the Jade Butterfly.

Brenna cracked her neck as she walked down the ramp of her ship to the landing bay floor to check out the damage they had received while in route with their cargo. "Pirates," she said aloud. "The Remnant is bad enough but space pirates in Cloakshape fighters is a pain," she said looking at the carbon scoring on the side of the ship. Marsar walked out around the ship pulling her maroon and gray jacket on as she stepped out.

"By the Force, I thought you said the shields protected that?" she whined. Brenna looked at her copilot shaking her head.

"I'll take care of this Marsar you just see that we get the 6000 credits that are owed to us OK?" She asked. Marsar nodded and walked along side the repulsor loaded with their cargo blaster out and at the ready. Brenna nodded then went back to checking for damage. "This may cost a little to fix," she groaned.

Kaina wandered in the landing bay where the Jade Butterfly landed and saw Brenna looking at the damage to her ship. Kaina smiled and shook her head and shouted, "Another close encounter Brenna?" Kaina said in a sarcastic tone.

Brenna turned to face the speaker and shrugged. "No closer than the last one," she replied in the same tone "If I had know you were here I would have delivered the Cargo and let Marsar do damage checks." The two glared at each other and then Brenna burst out laughing. "Kaina!" she called out walking forward extending her hand. "It's been awhile."

Kaina laughed and took her hand. "It has, good to see you again." Kaina looked at the Jada Butterfly and then back at Brenna. "So what happened this time?" Kaina smiled happy to see Brenna.

"Pirates," she stated flatly. "We were in route with some medical supplies for a clinic and next thing we know a group of pirates show up," she pointed to the blast marks on the ship "As far as I can tell they were aiming for the engines," she looked at Kaina. "What about you, we rarely hear from you anymore."

Kaina nodded and looked at the blast damage. "They were going after the engines, you're right. That would have made you easy prey." Kaina turned back to Brenna. "You know me Brenna, always keeping myself busy and getting myself into trouble." Kaina looked at the damage. "Do you need any help with repairs?"

Brenna shook her head. Even though the two were friends Brenna and Kaina were also rivals when the business. "Marsar and I are good," she insisted. "So how's the Mercury Raven treating you, is that rust bucket still in once piece?"

Kaina smiled. "Rusty bucket? The Mercury Raven is in fine condition now, with these upgrades I had installed."

Brenna laughed. "Upgrades, look Kaina ever head of a Black Market?" she asked running a hand through her fire red hair.

Kaina smiled. "Listen Brenna, my ship is as good as that thing you fly in." Kaina was joking around.

Brenna however wasn't taking that as a joke. "Hey you want to…" She stopped in mid sentence remembering what happened last time she took up that gamble with Kaina. The two of them had to shoot there way out of a Imperial Ambush. "...Well I guess everyone has their own opinion," she replied.

"Relax I was only joking, Brenna, you have done good with this ship. So how long do you expect the repairs to take?"

"Hey I'm not the engineer so I don't know." She looked in the direction that Marsar had gone. "Marsar would know, she fixes everything on the ship as it is," she explained.

"Well my co-pilot isn't good with repairs but is good in fights, which as you know comes in handy for me."

Brenna wasn't one for violence ever since that day. "If you say so," she started, "but you know me, I'm not one for violence." She glanced down at her belt and the blaster pistol clipped to it. Kaina was looking at it too.

Kaina looked down at Brenna's blaster and then back up at Brenna. "I don't like to use mine Brenna but in our line of work, we do need them."

"Right." She glanced over at Marsar as she approached with there pay. "Aww you're back." She looked over at Kaina. "Kaina you remember Marsar right?" she asked.

Kaina nodded and smiled and offered her hand. "Of course, good to see you again, Marsar."

Marsar nodded and smiled. "So is that tin can of yours still in one piece?" She asked. Brenna smiled then looked to her copilot.

"Marsar, sweetie I think now's not the time," she said. "Can you check if everything else is ok?" she asked. Marsar nodded and headed on board. Brenna smiled at Kaina. "She never changes, does she."

Kaina nodded. "I can see that." Kaina looked at Brenna and then realized that Soran was with the technician. "Sorry Brenna but I have to see my technician about all the upgrades he made. I'll be in the local cantina later so stop by if you get the chance."

"Yeah I could use a drink myself," she replied. She walked onboard the her ship. "See you later."

"Sure, but you're buying." Kaina joked as she left and headed back to her ship.

---

"Learning of Himself"
By: Kel Denab
Laedra Vorrel

Locations: Various
Date: Selene 13, 5 ABY

***

"So, let me ask for clarification," a perplexed Laedra Vorrel stated from the vidcom. "You...don't have any idea who you are? Rather," she corrected immediately, "you do...but you don't remember being Mr. Kel Deneb?"

Kel nodded to her. "That's right, Ms. Vorrel," he said to her. "Apparently I was attacked in an alleyway, was in a coma for 4 months, and when I woke up, I had no clue who I was, why I was in the hospital, or anything," he told her, frustration etched in his face.

She nodded slowly, digesting his story enough to ask, "Who would attack you? Did you have any enemies...that you remember?"

"I remember nothing," Kel said. "I don't even know what I did for a living!"

"I don't know if you were completely honest with me at the time," Laedra informed him with a nostalgic smile, "but you were an information seeker, and a good one. It's possible you were delving into matters someone didn't wish to be uncovered."

"I see," he said. "But, if I was an information seeker, then what is this for?" Kel asked, raising up the rather imposing armor suit he had found. "Perhaps we should meet in person?" he told her.

By Laedra's arched brow, it was apparent she had discovered how little she had known of Kel's true nature. "I believe that would be a good idea," she answered. "It would seem we both have much to learn about the mysterious Kel Deneb."

"You want to meet here?" he asked, "or somewhere else?" Kel said, wanting to know more about his past.

"I think, considering what has happened to you, it's best if you don't yet show yourself in public," Laedra suggested. "Whoever's done this to you could still be out there. I will come to you as soon as I can."

"Ok, thanks..." Kel said. "I look forward to seeing you," he added with a slight smile.

"As am I." With a slight tip of her head, Laedra closed the channel, leaving Kel to await her arrival. She was at his door in a dark cloak draped over her Jedi attire of slate tunic and full-length skirt, belted at the waist with a brown leather sash. Her lightsaber was clipped to it, as was a portable comm device. She bowed to Kel when he opened his door. "You look pale and haggard," was her first comment, not quite the most favourable greeting.

"Nice to meet you too," Kel said, closing the door as she came in. He furrowed his brow a little. He should recognize her, but for some reason, who she was stood on the edge of his memory. He closed his eyes, drawing in a breath. The moment was gone, she was yet another new face to him. "I suppose you would look this way too if you had been bedridden for four months, and were trying to figure out who you were," he said, being sarcastic.

"Perhaps," she allowed, and took the liberty of seating herself on one of the rickety chairs in Kel's makeshift living area. She gestured to the vacant stool across the way. "If you have questions, I may have answers...but I did not know you very well before. Is there anything you do remember?"

Kel sat down, and shook his head. "No, I don't. The only thing I remember is, apparently, how to talk, computers I seem to be quite adept at, and I could fly my ship very easily. Only thing I remember is waking up in that bed, not knowing who I was or where I was," Kel said, closing his eyes momentarily, then opening them back up. "Every so often, it's like there's a hint of a memory, or a whisper, that I should know something. Like when I first saw you outside the door, it's as if I should have known you, but I did not."

"We were acquaintances," she told him. "You helped the Jedi Order, provided information. In return," Laedra added, "the only information I can provide you with is that approximately four months ago you were declared a fugitive for whatever reason. Following that, there was no other news. I had tried to contact you a few days later, returning a message you had left me, but there was no response. Dropping by your apartment, I was still unable to reach you. You seemed to have just...disappeared."

"A fugitive?! What did I do?" Kel asked, furrowing his brow. Not to mention where did that leave him now? "What should I do..." he said, going through a few things in his mind.

Laedra sighed. "I am not certain. All I do know is that it cannot be safe for you to stay here, not until you can regain some sense of who you are and what is happening..." She glanced aside to where his armour lay strewn upon the floor. "And why you own that, although that may very well be the most promising clue we have right now." Smiling flatly at him, nearly admonishingly, Laedra said, "Mr. Deneb...I do believe you are a bounty hunter."

Kel furrowed his brow. "A bounty hunter? That might explain my bank account then... I have more credits in there than I could possibly dream of," he said to her. "But I wonder what I did that made me a fugitive? I mean...if after all that time I had never been, I must have been a legit 'hunter...now I'm really confused," Kel said, letting out a sigh. "Obviously the authorities don't know where I live, or else I would not be sitting here." Standing up, Kel went over to the computer console, and keyed in his name in the police lookup. After a moment, his name appeared, but his face was just the helmet. Apparently they did not know what he looked like, other than with his suit on. Reading it quickly, he sat down heavily. "Murder...of his sister? What the hell kind of monster am I?" Kel said, his mind starting to spin.

"You don't know that's true," Laedra told him gently. "It's possible you're being framed by whoever's done this to you. You can't afford to jump to conclusions, Mr. Deneb. You need to focus first on regaining your memories and get to the root of why you were attacked; worry about the rest later."

"I'm sorry, this is just...a lot of information all at once," Kel said, shaking his head. "I'm not sure if there's anything you can do, but this is what the doctors told me," he said, and gave her an info pad with his diagnosis on it.

Laedra reviewed the information, and once she had done so, her comment to Kel was, "I'm no doctor...but this suggests the injury to your brain will heal...but it is this chemical that is impeding the recovery of your memory." Her lips stretched into an encouraging smile. "This is good news. It means we simply need to dissolve this chemical barrier and you can retrieve your past. It may require some research and a trip to Tae'karada's medical facilities, but there is hope."

"Well, the other hospital couldn't get it to dissolve, they said, so I don't hold any hope about that," he said, shaking his head. "Plus, if I'm wanted, isn't going into very public places a bad idea?"

Laedra nodded pensively. "There may be someone at the Temple who has the knowledge and ability to help you. If you're willing to risk travelling there, perhaps this is a viable solution."

"Sure, that might be a first step..." Kel said, shrugging to her. "I have nothing here that's going to help," he added, shoving the suit of armor slightly with his foot.

"Then" --Laedra rose and smiled-- "shall we?"

"Sure," Kel said, standing up with her.

"If they cannot help you," Laedra mentioned as they made for the door, "what will you do next?"

"Start over, I guess..." Kel said, shrugging. "What else is there to do after someone loses their entire life?" he asked her, walking with Laedra down the sidewalk.

"Nothing much," Laedra admitted. "You could keep searching for what has been stolen from you, or put your efforts to better use by picking up the pieces and moving on. Many people before you have been forced to do the same. I'm sure you will have no trouble."

"I know...but whatever friends I had, I don't know anymore...and they think I have forgotten about them," Kel said, shaking his head. "Again, a lot to sort out...hell, I don't even know what I can do."

"Well...how did you find me?" Laedra asked. "Could you not find your friends the same way?"

"Sheer luck that the message was still in the outbox," Kel said, shrugging. "Yours was the only one, other than messages from a Marta," he added.

Laedra smiled optimistically. "Then let's start with her. Any bit of information she can provide will undoubtedly be helpful in some way. Have you contacted her?"

"I don't think I knew her that well," he said. "Seemed more like a relationship just starting, from the messages she left," he said, still walking with Laedra. Kel shrugged slightly.

Watching him with a measured stared, Laedra told him, "I think you're afraid. If you speak with her, she might reveal things about you you're not prepared to hear. Even if she's nearly a stranger, there must be something she could tell you. Isn't that worth anything to you?"

"Of course it is, but if even you did not know I was a bounty hunter, who's to say anyone else really knew who I was? Perhaps I was a giant enigma," he commented.

Laedra gestured Kel towards her hovercar and said eloquently, "Then let us be on our way and hopefully we can both unravel the mystery of your existence, Mr. Deneb."

Kel nodded, and hopped in. Hopefully they would be able to get to the bottom of this somehow.

***

Laedra Vorrel handed Kel a glass of cool nectar as they sat adjacent one another in the medward's waiting area. She had taken her leave a short while ago to ostensibly retrieve him a beverage, but Laedra was more interested in giving Kel time alone to think than to display proper hospitality. Now, she had returned, and still he appeared pensive.

Their resident healer had produced no answers, simply stating to Kel everything other physicians had already uncovered about his condition. She smiled consolingly, yet her words were meant to inspire some hope in the disappointed man. "You know, we still have many clues to go by, Mr. Deneb. With a little research, I believe we can uncover more."

"I know," he said, turning the glass in his hands, looking at the contents swirl in it. "It's just...I've lost everything that I ever knew, Laedra," Kel said to her, not looking up. "It's not easy to come to terms with."

"What will you do next?" she asked softly. "I wish I could help more, but you were always the one with the resources."

"I don't really know," Kel said, shaking his head. "I guess I'll have to think of something, won't I?" he added, smiling a little.

"I believe so," Laedra replied apologetically. "I'm not certain how else I can help you. Have you searched for any family? Anyone sharing your surname? Perhaps the census registry will have a listing."

"No, no...haven't tried any of that yet. But, it would stand to reason that if I did have any, they would have come looking for me, or at least left a message wondering where I had been," Kel said, letting out a sigh. "Perhaps it's best if I mull things over..."

Laedra bowed her head in agreement. "Would you like me to drive you home?"

"Yeah, thanks," he said, smiling a bit. He was not completely sure where to go from here, but he would figure out something.

"If it's any consolation," Laedra told him as she collected his empty glass, "one thing we do know is that someone had to have planted that chemical blocker in your brain. That's something to go on. You may choose to perform further research on that."

"Yep, see if anyone else has a blocker in their brain," he said, getting a little sarcastic. "I'm sorry..."

She shrugged. "You're allowed to be frustrated. But, if you take a moment to clear your mind and meditate upon the matter, you might see something there you never considered before." Allowing an instance of playfulness to penetrate her stoic, Jedi exterior, Laedra winked amiably and teased, "It might teach you to ponder a while before admitting defeat, hm?"

He gave her a half smile. "Perhaps, I'll try to do it, might be hard with my mind filled with questions, however," Kel told her as they started walking out again.

"Questions," Laedra declared sagely, "are what keeps us going. Without them, we lose purpose, so it may not be such a curse, Kel Deneb...if you'd like to take the optimistic approach to things."

"There's not much optimism left in me these days," he said to her, letting out a long sigh as he boarded her vehicle.

Once inside, Laedra laid a hand on Kel's shoulder and gave it a companionable squeeze. "We'll figure this out. You can contact me at any time, no matter the hour. You need friends right now, and I will fill that role however I'm able."

"Thanks," he said with a slight smile, and leaned back into the chair, taking a brief nap as they flew off towards his home.

---

"Deja Vu"
By: Cirran Tyris

Location: Tyrena, scenic river city, Corellia
Date: Selene 13, 5ABY

***

Cirran sighed and lugged the crate he was carrying into place on top of one of its 397 fellows. His ship was now officially full of Corellian Reserve, whiskey to the elite - or so its advertising claimed. Its advertising however, to Cirran's knowledge, mentioned nothing about how backbreaking the task of manually loading 398 crates of the stuff up a ramp and onto a freighter would be, even with the aid of a repulsor driven lifter he had hired from the small spaceport where he was berthed. Still, the job was done now - or the hard part, anyway - and now he just needed to fly to his destination and collect his fee. Or you could probably take it to some religious world with a prohibition law, find some dodgy types to deliver to in a forest or a swamp somewhere and make probably 20 times that amount, came an unbidden thought. He sighed again.

Even after 4 months of legitimate work, Cirran seemingly couldn't stop himself thinking like a criminal. He didn't know why this was, since his criminal career, such as it was, had been pretty short up until this point, and spectacularly unsuccessful in terms of monetary reward as well. What it had contained though was actual interest, - a factor entirely lacking on a big, important and seemingly very strait-laced world like Corellia. Take this job - he wasn't even going to need to leave the system, just fly the booze out for a couple of hours to a super freighter that couldn't wait for the currently overloaded skyhook system to make a delivery. It wasn't exactly the Death Star trench run.

It was more than that, of course. The only reason Cirran had entered any kind of illegitimate life at all was to look for his sister, and he had made what felt like progress fairly steadily for a time after his desertion - then the trail had led to the Tae Raemok system, and from there to a hole under a mountain on Gallor - and from there, nothing. An interesting nothing to be sure, but still nothing, and he had felt frustration at his helplessness, and the way events had seemed to sweep him along non-stop since his arrival at Drogen Station. But nothing there had been as frustrating as this. At least he had been in roughly the right place then - maybe. Now he was halfway across the side of the galaxy making bunny hops around the Core, his hold full of a surplus shipment of booze one day, a few urgently couriered machine parts the next. And after 4 months, he'd had enough - almost.

Despite his impatience to return to Drogen station to see if he could somehow pick up the by-now probably frozen cold trail again, Cirran didn't have to think too hard to remind himself why he was skulking around in the Core making milk-runs for small businessmen and busy corporates - the 'interest' on the Outer Rim had largely stemmed from various people trying to kill him. He'd crashed his ship, been shot at, bashed, imprisoned, sliced, and participated in a large-scale space battle - in his ship, for Gods' sakes - since he had arrived at what he had first thought was a quiet, backwater system - and now to top it all off, he could almost be sure his name was registered with the Bounty Hunter's Guild, and not as a paying client.

There had been a couple of near misses with the mercenaries on his journey to the Core. Cirran had left one over-eager assailant, who, confident in his own piloting skills, had made the mistake of thinking Cirran would be an easy catch in his beaten up old freighter, floating powerless in space, and two or three more had been right behind his hyperspace trail. By now anyway it was pretty clear to Cirran that whoever the people behind Ares Macrotech were, they hadn't been too impressed with his choice of their shipment as target practice for the redoubtable Tasia Harough. Reasoning that he wouldn't get far finding Kemma if he was dead, he'd high-tailed it out of Drogen with a hastily invented new name to head for the Core Worlds, where, with increased central order and policing, bounty hunters held less sway than out on the Rim. So far, after being on his trail for a week or two there, all the bounty hunters had disappeared, and the time after his arrival in the Core had been without incident. If this struck Cirran as slightly strange, he had simply come to the conclusion that the universe was cutting him a break for once. Besides, Walker had managed to tell him, through the fairly complicated communication channels that they were infrequently using as Cirran tried to avoid detection, that discreet 'inquries', although falling off in frequency, were still being made about him on the Outer Rim station. While things might be quiet for him here, if he headed back to Tae' Raemok, it would likely be into serious trouble. He only hoped that Lerrah and Tasia's part in the whole debacle remained anonymous, or they might be in danger too.

That he had avoided that kind of danger himself so far for as long as 4 months, even in the Core, had surely been a minor miracle in itself - he still cringed about the scene last week when someone in a bar had made him as Cirran Tyris, one-time Alliance hero, despite Cirran's muttered denials. The guy had been loud enough for the entire place to hear, and was still insisting he wanted to buy Cirran a drink as Cirran tried to slip out of the place as fast as possible. Right now he needed that kind of publicity like he needed a hole in the head - and indeed, if he got more of the former, the latter would probably not be too far behind.

Still, he reflected, as he moved through the cargo hold making sure the crates of spirit were secure for transit, there were a couple of bright spots - a regular income being one of them. Commerce was booming now the harsh restrictions and tariffs of the Empire were no longer in place, and there was plenty of work around for a pilot with his own ship, especially one willing to work any hours, as testified to by the quiet spaceport around Cirran right now. Cirran had even earned enough to make improvements to his ship, completing the hull cladding replacements started on the station some time ago by Chief Harough all the way around his ship, so that to an observer in the busy spaceport where Cirran was now docked, the 'Fool's Hope' gleamed a silver-white, making the old workhorse look almost respectable. Cirran himself had been surprised at how well the ship had scrubbed up once he kept it out of firefights for a week or two. He had also used his legitimate earnings to upgrade the ship's shielding and one or two other minor systems as well, as on Corellia, the home of the YT 2000's design and construction, parts were pretty cheap. The old girl's running pretty well, he thought as he fed some parameters into the recently installed cargo hold climatisation system, which began lowering the temperature in the hold to meet the optimum conditions for transport of the whiskey. The improvements he had made to the ship hadn't left much money for well, anything - but his ship was pretty much his flying house anyway. He remembered his father making jokes about the Corellian shipyards, but he had to admit they could put a pretty durable freighter together.

Cirran knew that one thing his father would still laugh at though, if he were alive to see it, was his ship's entry system, which still remained as random as ever. Try as he might, Cirran could not iron out the seemingly unique combination of hardware problems and computer glitches that made it so idiosyncratic. Today's shipment, for example, was technically supposed to consist not of 398 but 400 crates of the distiller's product, except that Cirran had made the mistake of leaving two crates at the top of the ramp, and their contents had not survived when the ship's ramp had decided it was time for one of its sudden descents. Cirran was already conjuring a deep space gas-pocket impact incident in his head to explain the loss at the receiving end. Actually... he thought, realising he hadn't actually had the chance to try the product himself yet, ...perhaps that accident's going to end up destroying three crates.

The other good news was that on the way into the Core he had heard that Durga the Hutt had apparently ended up as lunch for Luya lizards back in the Tri-System - along with most of the colonists in the town he had ruled. Word on the rumour mill was that the place had evidently been overrun after unexplained sonic emitter failures, there had been very few survivors, and the southern colony had been ruled uneconomical to replace. While Cirran wouldn't shed a tear at the demise of the Hutt, he felt bad for the colonists who had lost their lives amid the carnage of the town's destruction. From what Cirran had seen when he worked for Durga, most of them had simply been desperate folks in over their heads in a savage place.

Cirran started to strap the last crate in securely, and then jumped as a deafening clang indicated the ramp had once again dropped to the deck below it. Swearing to himself, he turned to angrily stab the controls that would raise it again, but was brought up short by the sight of the end of some kind of wicked-looking projectile weapon coming up the ramp at him. When he forced himself to look beyond the blaster to its wielder, he saw a slender Twi'lek female with heavily tattooed lekku wearing a light figure-hugging combat suit, strolling up the ramp that had happily opened to receive her. Cirran swore at his ship again, this time more pointedly, while mentally noting never to have any more fond thoughts about it..

"Such language!" his visitor admonished him mockingly in an accented Basic. "You know, people with 4000 credit price tags on their head should really lock their doors," she sneered..

Cirran shrugged. "I did," he explained weakly, his breath frosting in the suddenly chillier air. He realised that the sudden cold he felt was probably only partially a result of the ship's refrigeration system.

The bounty hunter, for that's what Cirran had decided she surely was, gestured with her weapon, suggesting that he should move out from behind the crates he was partially obscured behind. Seeing little other choice, Cirran did so, raising his hands.

"Now, my friend," she said, "You're worth twice as much to me alive, but 2,000 is still a very tidy sum for your detached head, so I wouldn't so anything foolish, if I were you. Where's your blaster?"

"I'm not sure, actually," said Cirran honestly, indicating the general mess that typically represented the interior of his ship.

The bounty hunter looked the pilot up and down and saw that as he said, he didn't seem to be carrying a sidearm. "Well, it wouldn't do you any good anyway, human. Those are remotes in your hip pouch, yes?"

"Yeah," Cirran acknowledged. "I can roll them across to you, if you like..."

"You must think I am very stupid, Mr. Tyris," growled the alien woman, sounding like she was offended. "Don't. Move." she said, raising her weapon slightly.

"Uh, worthmorealiveremember..." Cirran babbled rapidly before the weapon coughed slightly. Cirran flinched as he saw a silver flash, and then there was an acute but brief pain in his left thigh. He crumpled slightly and then straightened up to assess the apparently not-immediately-fatal damage. Looking down he saw a 15 centimetre metal flechette impaling not one, but both of the small but potentially dangerous remotes on the belt at his hip, and apparently leaving him untouched - it took him a moment to realise the pain he had felt must have been from one or both of the stricken remotes discharging their small self-contained power supplies into his leg.

"OW, Ooooookaaaaaay then," he said, breathing out carefully and being glad to be doing it. "I seem to be picking up on a 'don't mess with me' vibe you've got going on here."

"Very astute, Mr. Tyris. You'd be well advised to pay attention to that instinct. Now we're going to take your ship and..." However, whatever the bounty hunter's plans for Cirran and his ship were remained a mystery, for even as the Twi'Lek spun at a sound behind her, there that was a report and the bounty hunter hit the deck in a soft blue glow. Coming up the ramp behind her felled but twitching form were 2 - no, 4 - troopers wearing the green armour of CorSec.

"Secure the prisoner, corporal," barked their leader, and at this command one of the troopers bent low to grab the fallen bounty hunter's weapon and pull her arms behind her back to attach a pair of binder cuffs. "You OK, Mr. Tyris?" he asked a bewildered Cirran.

"Uh, yeah," Cirran managed, keeping his hands up. "Mind if I ask what's going on here?"

"CorSec is the law on Corellia," stated the officer matter-of-factly. "If bounty hunters like this scum want to come tracking wanted out-system criminals, that's fine - but if they're looking to hunt law-abiding galactic citizens - and your record turned up clean, sir - then that just makes them kidnappers or murderers as far as we're concerned." The corporal, having secured the stunned Twi'lek, was now arranging on a hand held commlink for prisoner transport to arrive.

"Yeah, I suppose it does," Cirran said, grateful that he'd recently been pardoned for the only criminal act he actually showed up on record making - deserting the Alliance. "But how did you know this was going down?"

"A combination of factors, sir. We had word from a former sergeant of ours some months ago that you were in system and might be being targeted, and then a short time ago we received a tip-off, sir," the officer replied. "It suggested that this would happen within the hour. We've run your record and seen it was clean - more or less." Here he gave Cirran something of a smirk. "From there it was just a matter of upholding the law."

Cirran remembered Walker mentioning his time in CorSec - evidently the big man still had a few friends here. He was a handy friend to have. He watched the unconscious form of his would be kidnapper being dragged unceremoniously down the ramp out of his ship to the waiting CorSec landspeeder, and decided it might be safe to put his hands down. "Well you've certainly managed that in an efficient fashion" he suggested. "So old Walker tipped you off, eh?"

"No sir, the tip-off was made anonymously."

Anonymously? That's weird, thought Cirran. But then, how would Walker have known that this was going to happen when it did from across the galaxy? And this wasn't the first time this sort of thing had happened either he remembered, thinking back to the Drogen prison level. A question occurred to him. "How did you know where to find me? I haven't been using my real name."

"That obviously didn't stop her," the officer said, jerking his thumb behind him to indicate the bounty hunter now being bundled into the speeder, "but the tip-off had all the info we needed. You want to operate under an assumed name, that's fine - you're still entitled to our legal protection. And besides, we love to throw bounty hunters in a cell - acts as an example to the rest of the vermin."

"Here's hoping," Cirran said, gingerly fingering the sharp point at the end of the metal bolt lodged in the remotes at his waist, and wondering who it was who had made sure it had only been his equipment and not him who had been thus perforated. For the second time, although an unknown benefactor's actions had saved him, he couldn't help feeling a deep sense of unease.

***

Not far away, a long distance communication was taking place. Crouched down behind some durasteel crates discarded casually behind a restaurant, a cloaked figure was conversing with a holographic version of a stern-looking man in a New Republic officer's uniform, being projected from a handheld unit.

"...he blunders around like a bantha in a minefield," the cloaked figure was complaining. "It's a miracle he's survived this long. Covering his tracks has been difficult, and at times impossible. I'm going to take all this effort out of his hide later, rest assured."

"But you've succeeded in keeping him out of harm's way for now?" the officer asked.

"Barely," his operative replied. "I've done what I could to keep him off the radar, dealt with his electronic trail, but there are still a few mercs who have nearly got through to him."

"And?" the officer queried.

"There's a couple of them I was forced to take direct action against - they won't be missed," the figure shrugged. "Tyris dealt with one in space himself on the way here - or nearly did, I finished the job. And I just set CorSec on another one that was resourceful enough to find him in the Core and bold enough to try and take off with him today."

"Ah yes, very enterprising. CorSec's dislike of bounty hunters is reputedly that strong that they might well do your job for you."

"Yes, that attitude helps as long as he stays on Corellia, but he's shipping stuff all around the Core, and even I can't watch him all the time. The fact that we need him alive is extremely tiresome. Can't we deal with this latest threat directly at the source, as we did with the Hutt?"

The officer looked slightly pained. "Probably not, unfortunately. I've looked into it, and Tyris seems to have angered a man a good deal more powerful than Durga the Hutt ever was, and what's worse, he's locally based. He seems to have arrived from nowhere and muscled his way into control of half the criminal organisations in the system. We could eliminate him - maybe - but it's far from certain, and even success would undoubtedly prove extremely untidy - and too close to home, with a lot of questions asked. It's an unacceptable risk."

"A payoff?" the operative suggested.

"Perhaps," the officer replied thoughtfully. "I'm looking into it. Any man that achieves that position in so short a time must be open to reason, but there are one or two stories floating around to suggest he brings, shall we say, a personal aspect into some of his dealings. His, shall we say, dispute with Tyris may be beyond a matter of money or materials to him."

"A psychopath," sighed the cloaked figure.

"Well, he's no Durga the Hutt, that's for sure, but as I say, there are stories. It's of no consequence right now though, because we need Tyris back in Tae' Raemok now."

"Now?" the operative replied, surprised. "But I thought..."

"I said now. Would you like to dispute that?" the officer barked curtly.

"N...No," his underling replied more meekly. "But what about the ongoing threat to him? And how are you planning to get him there? Do you want me to subdue him?"

"That won't be necessary," the officer said. "It's been 4 months - the local threat to Tyris has died down to where we now have more than enough resources to deal with it. If you've now dealt with the last immediate threat to our asset there in the Core, you can head for home immediately."

"And what, he'll follow me?" the figure asked incredulously.

The hologram smiled. "But of course. I can send Cirran Tyris anywhere I want to in the galaxy anytime I like - I merely need to alert him that I happen to know of the whereabouts of something he's looking for."

***

CorSec had made Tyrena a safe city, and its citizens generally felt safe to walk its streets at night. Yet as one such citizen, Kyp Baros, walked to a prearranged meeting with his girlfriend, he nevertheless shuddered slightly and crossed the street, hurrying away from the mouth of an alleyway that emanated the faint but distinctly eerie sound of a harsh laughter.

---

"Revenge is Sweet"
By: Kusna Coalb
Zarrak
and Chun Li

Location: Arcadia
Date: Selene 13, 5ABY

***

Kusna had set up a lot of informants back in Arcadia. Many of them were in the cantina and the former CorSec officer had to promise to pay them. They weren't exactly willing to go against a bounty hunter, especially one with Zarrak's temper.

He had gotten a call earlier that day. It seemed Zarrak was up to his old tricks again. He had already been at the cantina for two days. Kusna smiled, this time he was going to get that damned Dug.

He grabbed his comlink and sent Li a message, "Meet me at Arcadia. Zarrak's up to his old tricks again. I'll see you at the starport."

He pulled on his jacket and grabbed his pistols. He quickly made his way to the starport. Revenge could only wait for so long...

Li had just come in from a test flight when the call came in. Sighing, she first did take a shower, before heading towards Arcadia spaceport. Coalb was of course already waiting when she landed.

Kusna walked over to Li and nodded at her slowly. "Zarrak's at the cantina. If we leave now and set up position we should be able to take the Dug by surprise. This time I won't mess it up."

"Okay," Li said, "but I'll take the first shot. Don't worry, mine is set on stun. But that way I'm sure he doesn't get away this time."

"Fine," Kusna replied, he did feel a small pang of disappointment that he wouldn't be shooting at the Dug first. "Well let's head for the cantina."

***

Zarrak was sitting at his typical spot drinking a Jawa beer. He felt a bit guilty that he wasn't with the Empresses at the moment but he figured they'd be safe at the Jedi temple.

He figured he should be heading back soon. He slowly got to his feet and paid the bartender and headed for the door.

***

Li didn't shoot at once. No sense in alarming his friends in the cantina. She waited until he was a bit further, and then shot him straight in the back.

Zarrak went limp and hit the ground hard as the stun bolt hit him in his back.

Kusna rushed over to him and removed the Scatter pistols from their holsters. He took out a pair of stun cuffs and slapped them on the Dug's thick wrists.

He picked the Dug up using the cuffs and he walked out of the cantina and started for the hotel he was staying at.

"Nice shot," he told Li. "You can either come with me or if you have other business to attend to you can take of that."

"I pass," Li said, "I don't want to know what you have in mind. My contract was also only to capture him."

"Thank you," was all Kusna had to say. "The credits will be wired to your account shortly." He gave her a smile and nod of thanks. He placed the stunned Zarrak none to gently on the ground and held his hand out for her to shake.

Li shook his hand, before getting back to the spaceport.

Once inside his hotel room Kusna untied Zarrak and placed him on a chair and stared coldly at him. The Dug opened one yellow eye and stirred.

"Hello, Zarrak," Kusna responded, glaring at the bounty hunter with outright hatred.

"The hell do you want?" Zarrak licked his dry lips. He noticed he was unbound but he felt dizzy.

"I already told you and now I'm going to get that revenge."

Zarrak leapt at the human and caught him hard in the chest, doubling him over. The Dug searched for his Scatter pistol and another punch dropped Coalb down hard to the ground.

He found his weapons laying near the Corellian's own. Zarrak grabbed both weapons and turned to face Kusna just as he charged at him.

The Dug squeezed off two shots from both pistols and both bolts hit Kusna. The human was dead before he hit the ground. Zarrak coughed as he was hit by the stink of cooked flesh.

He holstered his pistols and calmly left the room, leaving Kusna's body on the floor.

---

"Attempted Rip Off"
By: Kaina Koto
Random NPCs (Technician and men)

Location: New Plouton Yelldon District Starport
Date: Selene 13, 5ABY

***

Kaina headed back through the starport after talking to her old friend Brenna. She arrived back at her ship and noticed Soran and the technician arguing. "What is going on?" Kaina stood beside them as Soran explained that the technician has overcharged for the upgrades. The technician argued that he hasn't and that the price is reasonable. Kaina snatched the data pad and read through the list of upgrades and then looked at the price and she smiled. "You are overcharging us."

The technician shook his head. "No I am not, that is a fair price, your ship has been greatly upgraded for the class of ship she is."

Kaina smiled. "So you thought you'd charge extra?"

The technician: "No not that, the systems I installed were not easy, so I charged more for the installation."

Kaina threw the data pad back at the technician. "Well we aren't paying more than we agreed." Kaina made sure her tone expressed her anger.

The technician gulped. "Ahhh....I'm sorry, but my boss wants me to collect this amount."

Kaina moved forward and leaned her face closer. "Well tell your boss, that he will get what he is owed and no more." Kaina leaned up straight again and smiled. "Now here is the credits we agreed to, now tell your boss thanks." Kaina tossed the credits to the technician and walked up the ramp into her ship. She removed her leather jacket and tossed it on the seat and entered the cockpit.

Soran followed her into the cockpit. "Kaina, you really scared that technician, but what if his boss comes along with a couple of his henchmen?" Soran took a seat in next to Kaina

Kaina flipped some switches. "Well let them come, I will tell him in person, that he won't rip me off." Kaina and Soran did a system check and then realized that everything was ready

"Good, we are ready, all we need now is a job. I am going to hit the cantina's and look for work." Kaina and Soran headed for the ramp and as they descended they noticed a few men with the technician. "Sorry but I told you, my boss won't take anything less than this." The technician waved the pad.

Kaina smiled. "Boys, you really don't want to fight us do you." Kaina revealed her blaster with a grin.

The men smiled. "You are out numbered."

"True, but my friend here is an excellent shot, and well I love a good fight so, it is up to you."

The men got twitchy as they hesitated. Kaina kept a straight face and made there stand clear. The men moved back. "Alright, how about you hand the money you owe and we will be gone."

One man headed for Kaina as she extended her hand with some credits inside, she quickly kicked the man and punched him out and then drew her blaster and pointed it at the other three. Soran also drew his blaster.

Kaina grinned. "Sorry boys but your not quick enough, now we can either continue this where you will be at a disadvantage or you can all go home, so what's it going to be?" Kaina said it with confidence.

The men realized that they couldn't win. "We will be back later, and we will get those credits." They walked of out the landing bay.

Kaina holstered her blaster. "Soran, stay here with the ship, I'm going to get us a job." Kaina headed through the spaceport and entered the local cantina. She took a seat and ordered a drink. Kaina noticed a few men staring at her. She normally used that to find jobs. She was also hoping that Brenna would turn up.

---

"Dark Discoveries"
By: Talara Sorenne
Zari Zathmir
Cole Slaton
and Ferrig Mullerin

Location: The Jedi Temple, Tae'Karada
Date: Selene 13th, 5ABY

***

The sound of her boots echoed through the hallway as Talara Sorenne left Master Vorrel's office and returned toward her own. She had given her report on her latest progress, both at Master Novix's side and alone. While she was still officially Master Vorrel's Padawan, the additional guidance by the new Jedi Master had given her time to work with Vaya, and for Talara to experience the teachings of another Jedi Master.

Overall, it was a suitable arrangement to all involved. Talara was happy that all communication with her Master was not cut off. She and Laedra Vorrel still spoke daily, and she trained under Master Vorrel's guidance when possible. Her master kept herself distant, but over the last four months, Talara had been able to grow closer to her master. At some level, she considered Master Vorrel a friend.

Talara was well-liked at the Temple, and she made a point of at least getting to know everyone else a little. Still, she considered Zari Zathmir her best friend, even more so than Master Vorrel. Yet, she could feel herself growing further from Zari as her friend closed deeper upon herself. They still saw one another each day, but talked very little. She knew her friend was hurting, but Zari would never talk about it.

As Talara turned the corner that would lead her to her room, it was as if the Force were guiding her. Perhaps it was. Part way down the hall ahead of her was Zari, coming toward her. Her eyes were red and puffy, her robes a rumpled mess, and she quickly wiped away at a tear that slipped down her cheek. She looked pale, so very pale. To be so near her, Tala could feel the pain like waves crashing against the seashore.

"Zari," she called out and her friend looked up. "We really should--"

Whatever she had been about to say vanished off her tongue as her awareness through the Force seemed to kick her in the gut. When she felt for her friend through the Force, she found her and all of her pain, but she found a resonance there. The shock was so much that Talara stood there gaping for nearly a minute before her senses reengaged.

"Zari...you...you're pregnant..."

The tears she'd been holding at bay broke through and fell freely down Zari's cheek. She hid her face from her friend, trying to avoid the truth that she'd been denying herself. Slowly, she nodded.

"How long? Who? You...we're not supposed to..."

"I know," she sobbed. "I didn't want to...but he said that...he said that we had to keep it secret or people would know and I'd be in trouble. I didn't want to but I couldn't get in trouble again. I don't want to leave...I want to be a Jedi..."

"Who was it," Talara asked softly, though her intuition already provided her the answer. "It was Ferrig, wasn't it?"

Zari looked up, shock and fear in her eyes, but in Talara's she only found concern and care. The change that came over her face was dramatic as she understood from the look in Tala's eyes.

"You did nothing wrong," Talara said. "In the future, you will know not to give into your fears, and that you can always trust the Masters and me. I'm your best friend, Zeezee. I always will be, and you can always count on me. We need to talk to Master Laedra." She pulled Zari into her arms and hugged her close, kissing her on top of her head. "I'm going to go find Ferrig and make sure he doesn't leave for the desert. Wait for me in my room, Zee, and once I know he's not going to get away, I'll come back and we'll go talk to Master Laedra."

Zari nodded and returned Talara's hug. "I've been so stupid," she whispered. "I don't deserve to be a Jedi."

"Of course you do," Tala said. "And, you were scared. You don't have to be anymore. Go wait in my room, and I'll come right back and get you."

Zari nodded once more, and shuffled off toward Talara's room.

***

Talara Sorenne didn't need to look for Ferrig. The Force led her straight to him.

Ferrig was in his old room from gathering some things and changing out others. He had a duffel set out on the bed as he was tossing some pants and shirts into it. His back was to the door and he was whistling to himself.

"Ferrig."

Ferrig stopped whistling and turned around. "Talara," he said, a grin appearing on his face. "Baby, it's great to see you. Raeila, Tralesha and I were just heading to the desert for a night. Hey, you're not still upset about me and Tral are you? I know we said we'd put our relationship on hold, but...I didn't think we'd ever be able to get back together, not with you and the Jedi."

"Ferrig, I want you to tell me about Zari," Talara said, her voice devoid of emotion.

"She's a nice girl," Ferrig said. Talara could feel him grasping for excuses, a way out. She saw the ploy he'd use before he did. "Why don't you come with us, Tala. Maybe we can recapture some of what we had before. It'd be fantastic." He stepped forward, arms opening to her.

With a snap-hiss a blue bar of crackling energy separated them. Had he taken another step, it would have pierced this throat. Instead, he took a step quickly back.

"What in the hells, what are you doing?" He was looking for a way out of the small room.

With her lightsaber still aimed at him, a humming threat of what might happen should he not comply, she met his gaze steadily. "I want you to tell me everything that has happened between you and Talara over the last four months. And, believe me, I'll know if you are lying,...baby."

With a sigh, Ferrig had no choice but to relate the whole thing.

***

As Zari padded down the hall, she glanced back to see Talara disappear around the corner, off in search of Ferrig. She felt better, at least somewhat. She still couldn't stop the feelings of guilt within her. She knew it was wrong, and now she had a baby. She paused, and a figure emerged from a room ahead.

A mixture of guilt and happiness came over her and Zari hurried forward. She knew that Talara wanted her to wait in her room, but she'd do that after.

"Cole," she shouted. "Cole, wait!" Her bare feet made barely a sound against the floor as she caught up with him.

The young man recognised the voice instantly. His heart seemed to flutter at her words; he remembered when she called his name out as they made love behind the waterfall. Their special cave. Blinking away the images he stopped turning to the small woman, and she was a woman. "Zee..." he said with a smile. It faded as he felt something, emotions from Zari. "Something wrong?"

Zari squeezed her eyes shut before more tears could come out. "I...I'm pregnant, Cole. It was Ferrig. He made me and he said if I said a word, they'd throw me out of the Temple. I couldn't disappoint Master Vorrel again. I...oh Cole, it was so horrible. I was so scared, but...but Talara sensed it. We're going to talk to Master Vorrel. I'm so sorry, Cole. I...I wanted my baby to be yours."

The joy at seeing her vanished in an instant. How? How could she? A single word came to the surface bathed in anger, in rage. Ferrig. Biting down he tried to force the pain he felt inside out, to quench the anger he knew was wrong. He was a Jedi! But it felt impossible. Stepping up to Zari Cole wrapped his arms around her pulling her close against him.

Zari sank into Cole's embrace, murmuring apologies amongst her sobs. She held him tight, hoping that he wasn't angry with her. She hadn't wanted any of it, except with him. At least now it was over. Now, she could end her fear and become a Jedi. And, once she was a Jedi, they would be able to be together.

In the back of his mind, as if from a distance, he heard her cries. He felt her tears against his cheek. In the numbness of shock Cole's hands reached up her back hugging her tight, but his right hand slipped down silently unclipping her lightsaber. ~Two weapons were better than one~ Was that his thought? What was he planning to do? ~Go after Ferrig!~

"Do not... worry Zee..." Cole forced the words out as he pulled back from Zari, her weapon vanishing up his sleeve. Some skills you never lose. "I will help find Master Vorrel, Ferrig must pay for what he has done. But your safe now..."

"Okay," Zari whispered. "I'll...I'll wait in Talara's room like she said."

Nodding Cole's hand brushed against Zari's cheek, his thumb rubbing under her eye catching on her tears. "It'll be alright..."

Kissing her cheek he stepped away from her. Not actually running, though moving with a purpose, Cole moved along the stone corridors of the temple in search of one man. One soon to be dead man.

Streaks of light came in through the dirty pains of glass that made the six windows equally spaced along the corridor. The night was cold outside, already the ground had a light coating of frost, not a single cloud was in the sky and because of this fog was moving in slowly from the East carried on a light, yet cold, breeze.

A shape stepped out at the far end of the corridor. It watched them for several seconds. It didn't move apart from the steady rise and fall of his chest with each life giving breath. Stepping forward he moved into the light allowing its raze to catch him.

The doorway revealed the pair standing near a bed upon which an open duffel rested; the smaller of the two was clearly in control of the situation in the room. Facing the young man before her, she was undaunted by his height or the aggression that seemed so natural to him, for she had the Force on her side. There was anger on his part, but that anger was tempered by the knowledge that she was fully aware of his crime and seemingly immune to his charm. He had no control here.

"Stop trying to get out of this," Talara Sorenne said. "Come on, we're going to go see Master Vorrel." She didn't need to turn to sense the figure coming into the light, though fully shrouded in shadow. She sensed danger. "Cole, I have this situation under control. Step aside so that I can take the prisoner to my Master."

He didn't answer her, he hardly even noticed her voice. His eyes were on Ferrig standing a half step behind Talara. His thumb found the buttons of the lightsabers in his hands. Even they sounded angry as they came to life bathing the corridor in their bright colours.

The tip of his lightsaber scrapped along the wall cutting into the stone, a blackened trail was left in its wake with molten stone dripping to the floor. The sabers were set to maximum. He went for Ferrig both lightsabers twisting in the air, he would have been sliced in three if they had struck, Cole could almost see it in his mind. Ferrig lying on the floor, that insufferable smile he always wore wiped clean.

But both weapons came to an abrupt halt. So close. Inches of tasting flesh and blood. Cole's eyes looked from Ferrig to Talara, her lonely lightsaber held across cutting off his path to justice. "Stay out of this Tala," he whispered. "He's not worth it!"

"And turning to the dark side is," Talara asked, her voice incredulous. With Force-enhanced strength, she gave a push with her blade and put more distance between Cole and Ferrig. "I won't let you kill him, Cole. I'm taking him to Master Vorrel. The Jedi Council will decide his fate. What he did was terrible, but it's not worth losing yourself to darkness for. Trust me, Cole, I've been there."

Chuckling Cole shook his head. "The council... like they decided Dani's fate, and Nieme? How many atrocities have they committed? Are they locked in a cell? Imprisoned? Have they received any sort of justice for what they've done? NO!" Cole shouted lashing out. Talara of course was there pushing him back away from Ferrig, every attempt was blocked, deflected and pushed away. "Ferrig will not escape... He deserves what's coming to him!"

"Perhaps," Talara answered. "But, he will not be getting it from you." There wasn't enough room either in Ferrig's room or in the hallway where they fought. Fortunately, the style in which Talara had focused her energies did not require much room. The strength of Soresu was in the small, precision movements it used for defense. Talara only needed enough room to place her blade between Cole's weapon and her body. Or Ferrig's.

Cole came right back at Talara, in his determination he saw if he wanted to implement justice he would have to go through Talara. The corridor was narrow, too narrow for the moves Cole wanted to do, the Force was all around him and through him, using it he pushed what advantage he had. Slashing with his right hand, Talara's blade was there in an instant. He used his greater strength to push her aside, slamming her into the wall, then spun toward Ferrig once more. With Talara distracted, he spun and threw Zari's ignited blade at Ferrig.

The weapon spun end over end, hurtling towards Ferrig. Cole felt the weapon's path as it homed in on its target while he fought to keep Talara back. She was quick to counter-attack -- seeking to disarm him -- and Cole had to dig deep to keep her attacks at bay. This time his footing remained solid. No sweat to hamper his movement. He was not going to fail. Slaton could see Zari's face, her silent words of encouragement wanting Ferrig's death.

Twin bars of pure energy clashed as Cole Slaton sought to remove the obstacle coming between himself and his revenge. The Force infused Talara's body, nudging her movements and keeping her blade always between Cole and the destruction he sought. Even as she did so, she could feel the lightsaber racing toward Ferrig's body. With a downward parry that pushed Cole's weapon into the wall of the room, she reached into the Force and found the activator plate for the other weapon and triggered it. Just as Zari's blade would have sunk into Ferrig Mullerin's chest, the spear of blue flame vanished, and instead the hilt of the weapon merely bounced harmlessly off of his chest to clatter to the floor.

"It isn't worth it, Cole," she managed to say through clenched teeth. She caught Cole's weapon on her blade, turning with it in an attempt to reverse their positions. Even in the instant her back was to him as she maneuvered for position. Her blade was still guarding her body. If nothing else, their fight was going to destroy this wing of the Temple. "The dark side, it isn't worth it."

"So everyone keeps saying!" Cole cursed. The more everyone pushed him to stay away from something, the more he wanted it. Twisting his and Talara's weapons, he forced Talara forward into the wall. If he'd had another weapon, he could have finished it then and there, but in his hesitation an elbow came into sight. It struck him in the face catching his nose whipping his head back and around.

Cole had to fight back the dizziness stumbling, though he managed to keep his lightsaber up. He felt the impact before seeing it with his unfocused eyes, the impact sent him down to his knees. With Talara pushing down he was effectively pinned, if he moved he would leave himself open and with the narrowness of the corridor there was only one way he could move - back.

Talara could feel a trickle of sweat working its way down her back. She had to find a way to disarm Cole and end the fight. She couldn't attack to kill or maim. Unfortunately, she didn't think she could afford the luxury of just remaining on the defensive until Cole wore himself out. She knew that the longer they fought, the greater chance she'd have to win, but there was a shadow clouding the situation now. The future was uncertain, and if she was not careful, Cole could find an opening toward Ferrig.

Eyes looking in all directions hoping for something, anything, to help him. Then he saw it.

"It's never over..."

Cole managed before reaching out with his left hand. His right shook with the effort to keep Talara back, but it only had to last a few seconds. Reaching with the Force, he wrapped it around the inactive hilt of Zari's lightsaber. It twitched at Ferrig's feet before shooting up into the air.

Grabbing the lightsaber, it instantly came to life, the blue haze adding to the already bright light. The saber came up in an arc catching Talara's knocking it up to the side, it freed his own and instinctively he cut upwards.

Fighting in close quarters as they were, maneuvering was difficult. Talara saw the attack coming, and even though she managed to get her blade in place before their sabers connected, the power of Cole's attack was jarring. Elbow against the wall was all it took to give Cole the advantage he needed. His other blade swept in, a move she'd used on him just the other day. When the blade would have sliced through Talara's wrist, however, her wrist and hand were no longer there. The Force nudged her hand away just far enough to save her flesh from damage. Her own lightsaber, however, was not spared. Cole's blade sheered through the hilt of her lightsaber. Half of it tumbled to the floor while the other remained uselessly within Talara's hand. Her training in Ta'Sae'Kordo, a martial art commonly used by an unarmed fighter against an armed opponent, was of no use in the tight quarters in which they fought.

She saw the attack coming before he'd even started. Her own defense was in place as his spin kick came around. His booted foot glanced off of her forearm and hammered into her chin. The blow lifted her off the ground and slammed her into the wall against her back. Talara Sorrene crumpled to the ground.

"Finally." Cole spat the word out his eyes looking from Talara's motionless form. Ferrig stood before him. No one stood between them. There were no obstacles. Nothing could stop him now. "Justice..."

"Justice would be what your Council decides," Ferrig said as he watched the Jedi Padawan. "The dirty word you're looking for is revenge."

"Revenge?" Cole asked repeating Ferrig's word. "Perhaps. In fact, I believe you're right." Cole smiled and stepped forward closing the gap. He crossed his blades before Ferrig's throat, watching the man's eyes and seeing the knowledge of what was to come next reflected there. "I'd make peace with whatever god you look to, but then I'm sure he'd not waste the time."

Without warning, a shiver swept through the Force and Cole's lightsabers deactivated. As he spun, Talara was on her feet, though didn't appear entirely steady as she stood.

"You first," she whispered.

Talara's hand snapped up, palm open toward Cole. With what felt like the force of a moving speeder, Cole was lifted off his feet and thrown backward. The glass panes of the windows shattered outward as his body was flung through and into the forest beyond. As she watched him disappear, Talara sank to her knees.

***

He fell. How? Why? No answers came to him. He struck a branch as he fell through a tree, the branch snapped under the impact, which was lighter than he expected. Yet it was nothing compared to the next. Smashing into the thick branch, which hardly even swayed in response, sent him spinning through the air. Three more broke his inevitable landing.

Lying on the ground his eyes slowly blinked once more coming to focus. The swaying branches of the huge tree above him, the leave rustling as they moved. There was no pain, yet he knew if he moved he would find more pain than he cared to.

With screams muffled through clenched teeth Cole rose. A rib was broken, possibly two with others badly bruised. Cuts and bruises. Yet that was nothing compared to his head. His nose bled uncontrollably. Blood even seeped from his ear. All muffled within the dizziness of his mind. He couldn't focus, even on the large objects that past. Sounds were distorted, distant.

Memories of the fight, of being thrown from the Temple window, of the fall and his flight from the Temple after that came to him as he tried to move. He had to get further away. He staggered on.

Unable to walk in a straight line, unable to even walk, Cole finally collapsed. The dim light of the forest. The fog faded until only darkness. A darkness he welcomed.

---

"Uncovered"
By: Kael Selrid
Dani
Raeila Selrid

Location: New Plouton
Date: Selene 13, 5 ABY

***

The trio piled out of the speeder and started off toward the club where they would spend the first part of their night, at least until hunger drew them to one of the many restaurants along the boulevard. With Dani to his left and Raeila to his right, Kael was still a little uncertain what to think of their new arrangement. It was unorthodox to say the least. Still, he and Raeila would finally have a baby. He gave his wife's hand a gentle squeeze and looked over at her. She was still beaming, the joy she felt at the hope of a family making her radiant even without the help of the Force.

"Do you remember that time we came to Trancemania," Dani asked. "That was a wild night I'll never forget."

"Wasn't that the night you did it with that guy in the shadows?" Raeila teased.

Dani grinned and laughed. "Yes, it was," she said. "That was fun. I've always had a thing for sex in public, I think. The very first time I ever had sex, I had an audience. Things are very open on Zeltros."

Rae giggled. "Well...no more of that until after Kael's knocked you up. We can't take any risks!"

"Well, for now, Kael's the only man for me," she said, then swept a hand up to her brow with an airy sigh and gave a good approximation of the melodramatic pose of the besot ingenue. "Though, I think we should probably stick to the bedroom for our lovemaking, and maybe the lake. As nice as a secret tryst here may be, if we get caught it would be extremely bad."

"And, I was so looking forward to getting you alone in one of those dark, shadowy corners," Kael said with a laugh. "I was going to ask Rae to stand guard for us."

"Hey!" she protested, "If making Dani a surrogate mother also means she gains sole rights to my husband, then I really need to rethink this whole thing."

Dani laughed and reached around to take Raeila's hand. "Oh, I definitely plan on sharing," she said. "So you don't have to worry at all. If you want me to stand guard for you and Kael, I'll happily do it."

Raeila shook her head and smiled demurely. "We don't do that sort of thing anymore. Kael and I are adults now."

"Just because you're an adult doesn't mean you're not allowed to have fun," Dani said with a grin. "Look at Merrick and Analesse. Have you ever seen a more gorgeous couple? Well, other than the three of us, I mean."

"Oh! So glamorous," Raeila gushed, sighing dreamily. "To think he had his wife murdered just to be with her. That's a love that knows no bounds!"

"Oh! Did you hear the latest? They now think he had her shipped off to Kessel. To the spice mines. It's so wicked. But, you see the two of them together. I heard she was a real witch."

Slipping her arm around Kael's, Raeila leaned against him and asked, eyelashes batting, "You won't do that to me, will you, Kael? Not ever?"

"You're already the most perfect woman I could ever want," Kael said. "Even if I had it in me to do something like that, there is no one who could ever replace you in my heart."

She shifted her eyes towards Dani, and grinned as she asked, "Not even Dani?"

"Dani is very special, and I do love her, but even she couldn't take your place. Though, for you I am happy to allow her into my heart and into our family. Still, I will always be yours."

Dani laughed softly. "He is very sweet," she said. "You're very lucky, Rae."

"You will be too once we get home." Laughing boisterously, Raeila urged them along into the club, where the pounding music immediately throbbed within them, reviving their love of dancing and merriment, which had faded during their recent struggles.

"Oh, I've missed this," Dani purred as they worked their way through the crowd. She wore a short dress that showed off her shapely legs with a corseted top that accentuated her bosom. Over the outfit, however, she wore a cloak to hide her features. In the dark club, only Raeila and Kael would be able to see any of her features when they were dancing. At least, that was their plan. Anyone observing them would only see the two Kir'Thana dancing with a woman who was covered by her cloak and thick boots.

Raeila, embracing her far more tamed attitude, was in straight-legged pants topped with a bustier that supported her insubstantial bosom. Her long hair hung loose about her shoulders, leaving only her chest and arms bare, which she now slung around both Dani and Kael's waist. "So, Dani, shall we loosen up this stiff Jedi?"

"Oh, this Jedi will be showing the two of you a thing or two, this night," Kael said as he first kissed Raeila, then Dani. "A dance first, then we'll get some drinks and claim a table. How does that sound?"

"Sounds perfect," Dani said.

As they worked their way out onto the dance floor, Dani leaned in closer to Raeila. "I'm not sure how comfortable or forward I should be, but...if I go too far, please tell me. I know I'll be having your baby for you, but if I end up acting too much like a second wife...just tell me to stop."

"Don't worry," she whispered, brushing her lips against Dani's ear, "get as close to him as you need. We're all in this together." Then, to reassure her friend and lover, Rae framed Dani's face in both hands and kissed her deeply.

"Mm," Dani murmured when the kiss ended, "yes we are. And, with all of the focus on Kael, I just want you to know that I do love you, Raeila. I deeply love you, and I am so happy to be able to be doing this for you."

"With us," Rae corrected. Gesturing her head towards a free table, Rae began backing further into the club. "Let's have some drinks...then we can let loose!"

"Okay," Dani said. "Drinks first, then we can go crazy."

"Sounds like a good idea to me," Kael said. "Drinks for my wife, and my wife's wife."

Raeila scowled playfully at her husband. "Don't give us ideas or you could be out a wife." Dani and Rae snickered to one another as they scampered to their table arm-in-arm.

Their linked arms nearly separated as Dani was knocked aside by a drunken reveller who staggered into her path. Raeila hollered at him to watch his step. He stopped to bow his apologies, and nearly keeled over doing so. "Pretty ladies...I didn' mean ta touch ya there," he slurred.

Dani, who had managed to catch her hood before it had fallen completely back onto her back, was in the process of pulling it back up. "It's alright," she murmured. "There was no harm done. Though, I could really use that drink now." Her hood had gotten caught up in her hair, and it took a moment to untangle it. In the end, too much time.

"Purple..." the man was murmuring, his eyes narrowed as his befuddled mind struggled for recognition. "You...I know you...." He was pointing his finger at Dani, waggling it absently in his bout with forgetfulness.

"Let's keep moving," Raeila whispered to her friend.

"Good idea," Dani said as she shifted closer to Raeila and pulled the hood down to further shade her face.

"Sorry for the trouble friend," Kael said, stepping in behind. "Let me buy you a drink."

All but ignoring Kael's offer, the inebriated patron jabbed his extended finger triumphantly in the air and hollered, "Tha's it! You're tha' witch...that royal witch!" He spat at the floor, further drawing attention to himself from the other revellers. "Whad're you doing here, you...you whore!"

"You have no interest in that woman," came a hypnotic voice from behind the man. "You want to find a quiet corner and have a drink."

But even as the man murmured back Kael Selrid's words, another had come up behind Dani and pulled her hood off. "Hey, it is one of the witches," he cried, calling even more attention in their direction. "Pretty thing screwed us over...I think it's time we returned the favour!"

"Leave her alone!" Raeila shouted, pushing the stout man ineffectively. He grinned viciously and shoved back, landing Raeila on her backside upon the hard, sticky ground. His partner lunged for Dani's arm, of which his bleary eyes saw four, and only managed to graze her flesh with rough fingers. More irate, slightly intoxicated patrons jostled closer, meaning to participate in the scuffle.

"Let's get out of here," Dani called to Kael and Raeila.

"Right," Kael answered. He moved so that he was between the women and the door, and started slowly toward it, clearing a path with fists and feet as he moved.

Right behind him, Dani started forward. She feinted to one side of the man blocking her way to Raeila, and then spun around to the other side. Turned around and off balance, when she swept his feet from beneath him, he never saw it coming. It was only two steps from there before Dani was offering a hand to help Raeila back on her feet.

"I think we've overstayed our welcome here," Dani said. "Let's go disappear outside, then find someplace where we can have some food."

"And if they follow?" Raeila asked, rubbing at her sore rear. "This was a bad idea!"

"If they follow, we'll get away," Dani said. "It's only bad because someone saw. It would have been fine otherwise."

Ahead of them, Kael was already by the door, and most there hovered back away, unwilling to get close enough to him. Had they known he was, in fact, a Jedi Knight, perhaps they would not have felt compelled to attack him in the first place.

"I think enough are dissuaded that we can slip out," he said when they reached him. He took Rae into his arms briefly. "Are you alright?"

She nodded, brushing back hair that had been tousled during the confrontation. "Let's just leave. Let's go home. That's the safest place, it seems."

"Alright," Kael said. "We'll see if Orn can make us something special for the night, a celebratory dinner."

As the trio slipped through the door at the riot that had somehow started in their wake. In the distant corner of the bar, a dark and secluded corner, he saw a lone figure not participating in the fight. With a content smile on his face and a glass raised to his lips, one man remained in his quiet corner having a drink.

"I'm really sorry about tonight," Kael said as they walked together toward the speeder. Each would occasionally glance behind to see if they were being followed, but so far none had proven brave enough to do so. "Maybe, for a celebration, we can find a place that doesn't know what happened here and can have no issue with us."

"And Dani has to hide under a hood the entire time?" Raeila shook her head disgustedly. "This isn't fair. Don't they know she helped seize the throne from Nieme? Don't they know she's a hero?"

"They don't know that yet," Kael said. "The information was never made public so the public who only wants to see a villain doesn't storm the Temple demanding Dani and Nieme's heads. Wherever we go, if we do go somewhere, it'll be somewhere Dani doesn't have to hide. It's a shame to hide so much beauty, especially someone who--despite what happened--is still a good person."

"This would never happen in the desert," Raeila muttered bitterly, her comment quickly followed by the chirping of a comm. Dani and Rae both looked to Kael.

With a sigh, Kael pulled the comlink out. "This is Jedi Kael Selrid," he said into it.

"Kael, it's Koran," came the voice from the other end of the comlink. "We have a situation at the Temple. Is Raeila with you?"

"Yes, sir, she is."

"She may not want to hear what I'm about to say," Koran said, then continued: "For the last four months, Ferrig has been having sex with Padawan Zari Zathmir against her will. It was discovered tonight, and due to his actions, Ferrig Mullerin has been banished from the Temple. Cole Slaton was one of those who was involved in finding out, and went after Ferrig with the intent to kill him. Talara stopped him before he could, but Cole is gone now. For now, we're considering him dangerous. We need for you to find him and bring him back to the Temple. I'm sorry to disrupt your evening, but you're the best person for the task under the circumstances."

"I understand, Master," Kael said. "I will begin my search right away."

"Do what you need to, Kael."

"Of course, Master," Kael said. "Selrid out."

Kael turned to Raeila and Dani and sighed. Raeila was pale and motionless, until her body began trembling horribly and her composure could been seen shattering in her tearful eyes. "I...I have to find him," she whispered, backing away from Dani and Kael. "He's in trouble and I have to find him!"

"Dani, you should go with her," Kael said.

"Kael, I--" Dani began, but was quickly overridden by Kael.

"You should go with her," Kael said. "Keep them both safe." He dug into his jacket and pulled out a lightsaber and tossed it to her. She caught it deftly and looked at him. "Trust me."

"Of course, Kael," Dani said as she moved again to Raeila.

"Take the speeder," Kael said to Raeila. "It'll get you to him fastest."

"But...where will I find him?" she asked in a strangled whisper. "Kael...what if something's already happened to him?"

"The desert," Kael said. "Thanatos is where he'd go first. He's still safe for now...he's still alive. My guess is the house or at the Feltrey house. I don't think Cole would have the resources to get to the desert yet, but Ferrig does in that speeder he and Tralesha have been riding around in. Cole would have to steal something at least...and it'd take him some time to get to somewhere where he could steal one." He moved closer to Raeila and folded her into his arms. "I don't know what he's done or what he was thinking when he did it. We'll figure it out, Rae. For now, go to him, and Dani will keep you both safe if Cole shows up. Call me if he's not there, or anything happens. It'll be alright."

She nodded unsteadily and eased out of Kael's embrace. "Thank you," she whispered ardently, and following a brief kiss, she dashed for the speeder, with Dani in quick pursuit. They hopped into the vehicle and shortly after it was screaming down the street, towards Thanatos.

As he watched the speeder disappear out of sight, Kael turned toward his own task: locating and bringing Cole Slaton back to the Jedi Temple, where he would quite possibly be expelled from the Jedi Order.

---