Star Wars - Tales from the Outer Rim

"Triangle, Part 1"
By: Koran Darr
Dani
Nieme Yaresh-Selrid
Laedra Vorrel
Liam Zaneth

Location: Jedi Temple
Date: Eos 1, 4ABY

***

The moment she felt the gentle lurch made by the landing struts touching down, Laedra Vorrel emerged from her cabin and sought escape from the oppressive confines of the ship. In her efforts to secure Liam for herself, she had lost him completely, and now she was trapped in a lie of her own creation that had not had the effect she'd anticipated. If Liam was still around that long, in three months he would know it for the fabrication it was, and she for the pernicious, vile creature desperation had made her.

She stood anxiously by, waiting for the landing ramp to extend, and hoping she could make a hasty retreat without coming into contact with Liam, or shedding the tears ready to fall from her eyes. How could she possibly continue without him? The Temple would be cold and desolate, and her bed the same without him lying at her side. But his love for Yelara was greater and when presented with an ultimatum, he chose that person to whom his heart truly belonged. Much to Laedra's dismay, it was not she. That thought alone caused the tears to roll down her cheeks, but as quickly as they came, she wiped them away with the sleeve of her cloak. She'd pined enough for Ina and her heart wasn't strong enough to withstand grieving for Liam now. Laedra knew it was prepared to break once again.

"We're here," Liam said as he strode toward the exit hatch. "From the cockpit, it looks like things have intensified in the desert." He looked at her for a moment and sighed. "Laedra...oh gods, Laedra. I don't want it to be like this, but I do love her and I have to do what I can to get her back. Please understand that, and please understand that it doesn't mean that I love you less."

"And what of me?" Laedra stared down at her feet to hide the tears, but if he truly did still love her, he'd no doubt feel the despair they signified. "If Yelara returns, what will become of us, Liam? Do you really believe she would be willing to share her husband with me? Do you imagine all three of us will be sharing a single bed together? If you find her, it will be over between us, Liam. She will make certain of that."

"I don't know," Liam said softly. "I don't know what to do, but I can't give up on her, Laedra. I have to do what I can to save her. I love her, Lae. Just like I love you. I couldn't leave you out there, either. Please understand that."

"But if she asked you to, you would." Laedra shifted her gaze to Liam's eyes, and the sight of them alone stimulated more tears. "Go to her if you have to, but know that you chose her over me. That changes everything, Liam. How do you expect me to ever trust you completely after that? I gave you my heart entirely, and you are leaving me with nothing in return but anguish and a child who I will no doubt despise. Is that your way of proving your love to me?"

"You are forcing this choice," Liam said. "You are giving me the ultimatum. You are the one who has stated it's her or you. My plan is to do everything I can to keep both of you. I can't give her up, Laedra. She's my wife, the mother of my child, and I love her. I can't give up on that no matter how much I love you. And, I do love you, Laedra. Please don't force me to do this. Please don't try to make me forget about her."

"How could you possibly?" she sneered. "You're destroying us to search the galaxy for her. I imagine when we make love, you even think of her. How could you forget about her when she's always on your mind!"

"This isn't going to work," Liam said. "Not like this. I can't stop loving her, Laedra, any more than I could stop loving you."

"So, this is it then?" Laedra turned away from Liam and braced the bulkhead with one hand to keep herself upright. All she could think of then was the day Master Ina and she had parted ways. The sudden emptiness she felt was the same, as was the overpowering urge to fall onto her ignited lightsaber. She was a fool to let herself love another, and yet again, she would suffer interminably for it. "Open the door," she said quietly. "Open it and let me go."

"Do you see any way for us to go on? I can't stop loving her, Lae. I have to find her. But you're forcing me. You're making me choose. I have to save her and my son. They're being held by Dargus Kandran, and you want me to leave them there. You're forcing me by trying to force me to leave her. I can't do that. But you can't see that, can you? You only want me for yourself and you don't want it any other way, even to let me go save her life."

"Why shouldn't I have you for myself?" Laedra shrieked. She whirled around to face him and choked on a sob. "Have I not earned it? Have I not been hurt enough in my life that yet another man I love must leave me? You stayed behind for me! You left her for me! You said you'd stay with me. You said!"

"I didn't leave her, Laedra," Liam snapped. "I couldn't leave her. She's my wife. I love her. But, I love you too, and I wanted time with you. I couldn't have stayed away from her forever. I'd have to go to her eventually. Watching her get onto that ship was one of the most difficult moments of my life. I couldn't stay away. But that doesn't mean that I don't love you, or don't want you. I love you, Laedra. And, I love her. I need her in my life as much as I need you. I can't make that kind of choice. I can't."

"You keep saying that!" she hollered, any restraint she had maintained quickly fleeing. "You say you love me, you say you need me, but what will it all matter when you find her? We won't be able to be together! I'll see you everyday and know I cannot have you!" Laedra took a step forward with her balled up hands at her side. Displays of aggression and unprovoked violence certainly were not actions of a Jedi, but Laedra was unable to prevent herself from battering Liam's chest furiously and screaming in anguish. "You never should have stayed! You should have left me behind the first time! Why did you do this to me? Why?!"

Liam caught Laedra's hands and pulled them quickly down to her sides. "Because I love you," he said. "Because I do want to be with you. I want to be with both of you, Laedra. I don't want to choose. I'll do everything I can to allow for that, but I have to find her. I have to rescue her. Don't do this to me, Laedra. Don't push me. Don't force me."

"I have no other choice," she whispered. Her forehead fell against Liam's chest and quietly, she wept. "I'm so scared you'll never come back to me. I'm afraid you'll stop loving me if you go to her."

"I'll never stop loving you," Liam whispered as he wrapped his arms around her. "And, I'll do everything I can to get us time together. Please believe me, Lae. I love you, and I don't want to lose you. But, I have to go after Yelara. I have to get her away from that psychopath. And, then I have to convince her that allowing me to be with you too is a good thing."

"Liam," she groaned. "I'll worry about you too much. I won't be able to bear it." She clutched at his cloak and sobbed into his chest. "You can't go. You can't do this alone... Please. He'll kill you, Liam. My love, I don't want you to die."

"I'll be safe," he said. "I promise. I won't go after him without backup. I won't do anything to get myself killed." He kissed her gently. "I promise, Laedra. I'll always come back."

"But what am I going to do until then?" She looked up at him through a haze of tears and shook her head piteously. "I won't be able to think about anything else. I need to hear your voice at least once a day or I'll go crazy. I need your touch, your scent... Liam, I won't survive without you."

"Then come with me," he whispered. "Come with me to find them. We'll save Yelara together. We'll make sure we're safe, and we can be together until then. Come with me, Laedra."

"But...Koran Darr. Liam, I'm his Padawan. There's no way he'd allow me to do this." Laedra wrapped her arms around Liam's neck and pressed her body to his. She couldn't let this man slip away from her, not with how wonderful simply touching him made her feel. "I want to be with you, Liam, but if he refuses my request..." Slowly, Laedra looked up at Liam with firm resolve and determination glowing in her eyes. "He can expel me from the Order. I don't care, Liam. If he denies me leave, I'll turn my back on the Jedi and come with you. I'll do it if I have to. I can't be away from you, Liam."

Liam smiled and kissed her again. "He won't deny you," he said with a smile. "The Order needs us now, Laedra. And, he knows that I won't be able to think straight until Yelara, Kallia, and Leshie are safe. And, you're the perfect person to keep an eye on me until they're back with us and safe."

Laedra smiled as the suffocating weight lifted from her chest. She excitedly kissed Liam with her fingers tangled in his hair, and suddenly felt her body tingling with the desire to reconcile in the best way she knew how. "We have to let him know now," she said breathlessly. "Then I want us to lock ourselves away in the cabin to show you how sorry I am."

He kissed her passionately, and then slapped open the hatch. "Let's rent a speeder, get out to the Temple, and talk to Koran at once. And, then we can get back out and start searching for Yelara in earnest." He kissed her again. "After a long make-up session in the cabin."

Laedra laughed and hugged Liam close to her as they descended the ramp. Things hadn't gone completely as she would have liked them to - namely, Liam abandoning the search for Yelara to be exclusively with her, but at least now she would have more time alone with him to convince Liam that he needed only her. She would give him everything he needed and wanted in a woman, and would prove a more than adequate replacement for Yelara.

Once again, her thoughts turned dark and grim as she prayed to the gods for Yelara's death at Kandran's hands. Liam would be fragile and vulnerable, and she would save him from his despair. He'd be hers completely then, as she'd always dreamed he would be, and once that happened, she would safeguard him with all the powers at hand, even if it meant locking him away like a caged animal. Anything to make him hers forever. Anything at all.

***

"I hope he's here," Liam said as he swung their rented speeder around a bend in the road. "With all the trouble down here, he could be anywhere right now. I don't want to have to take this to either Quinlan Vos or Kal'Aran. We'll find him though. He's the one who'll understand."

"I fear he may be disappointed. In fact, I almost feel disappointed in myself for leaving the Jedi during such a strenuous time." Laedra sighed and kissed Liam's hand tenderly. "But, I doubt I'd be any use to them pining away for you."

"Then it's perfect for us to be away," Liam said. "We won't be of much use here, so we might as well be where we can be of use." He rounded the final bend of the path to the Temple, and suddenly the ancient structure loomed above them. "It's an amazing building. I'll never get used to that."

"If all this weren't happening now, I imagine Master Darr and I would be closer to discovering its mystery than we are now." Laedra looked down at her hand gently stroking Liam's knee, and was all at once filled with anxiety. "What if this never ends, Liam? There's so much going on... It's all so daunting."

"It will end," he said calmly. "It has to reach that point eventually Laedra. And, if not, we'll get through it together. Trust in the Force, it'll get us where we need to be." He leaned over and kissed her as he brought the speeder to a stop.

"Trust in the Force," Laedra repeated. "If it could bring us together to fall in love with one another, Liam, then I believe it can accomplish anything."

He took her hand into his. "Yes it can," he whispered. "Yes indeed it can."

"I'm glad I didn't lose you, Liam," she said softly as her face drew nearer to his. "I don't know how I would have gone on." Their lips lightly touched and sent a shiver completely through Laedra's body. She didn't care that they were sitting just outside the Temple and anyone was liable to see them, she needed to remind herself that Liam was still there with her and always would be.

"You won't ever have to find out the answer to that question," Liam said softly. He gave her another kiss, longer and lingering. He couldn't wait until they were back on the ship, not for this part. He needed to have her close, to kiss her, to show her his love for her. They needed this.

As much as she hated to, Laedra was pulled away from Liam's kiss by a series of brisk, loud knocks on the canopy, followed by familiar, boisterous giggles that could only have come from two sources. Laedra slowly, grudgingly turned towards the two culprits who waved at her rigorously and once again erupted into laughter. Dani and Nieme...of course. Laedra found she could do nothing but sigh. "It would appear we've been caught, Liam."

Liam looked up at the two girls and laughed. "It would appear so," he said. "Should we deny it? I was just helping you with something you had in your eye? Or you were choking and I was trying to resuscitate you? Do you think they'll buy it?"

Laedra scrutinized the girls for a moment, then turned to Liam again with a playfully grave expression. "I fear they'll see through any lie, Liam. But something tells me the truth would please them greatly."

"I think you're right," he said with a grin. "I have a feeling when they sneak into the city, it's to buy those trashy romance holos they make on Ryloth. That is when they're not writing trashy romance holos of their own. Shall we go say hello to our adoring fans?"

Laedra chuckled and pushed open the passenger side hatch. Dani and Nieme's giggles were even louder when there wasn't a thin layer of transparisteel between them. Straightening out her robes, then pushing back any loose strands of hair, Laedra waited an uncomfortably long time staring at the girls in silence while they too said nothing and simply laughed with apparent glee. Once Liam was beside her, she gratefully took his hand and squeezed it for support. "Padawans," she greeted awkwardly. "A...uh...fine day today, isn't it?"

Dani glanced at Nieme, and then leaned forward to Liam and Laedra. "You were kissing," she said in a sing-song voice. "You like each other. You were touching and kissing and being naughty." She giggled. "And, it's a very fine day today." She looked at Nieme again and they nodded. "If you want you can borrow our room. It's really nice...and we have toys too."

Laedra felt her face growing warm and her mouth failing her as she stammered nervously. Nieme, on the other hand, took a step closer to Liam and smiled sweetly at him. "Me and Dani always knew you two couldn't keep your hands off each other." She motioned her eyes to their linked hands and giggled again. "Like now."

"They have definitely caught us," Liam finally managed to say. "Don't you two have something else you should be doing?"

Another exchanged look between the girls, followed by a giggle, and Dani looked up. "Nope."

"No training?" Laedra asked.

Nieme shook her head. "All done."

"Meditating?"

"None." Nieme stuck her tongue out at Laedra, then laughed exuberantly.

Liam sighed. "Wouldn't you rather go down to the waterfall right now? I'm sure you could run around naked together or something."

"Not if you're up here," Dani said. "We can't go away and miss a moment of you two together. You're so so so so cute!"

Laedra turned her face into Liam's arm and groaned miserably. The teasing and pestering would never end, not when Nieme and Dani were involved. She now knew what it felt like to want to die of embarrassment.

"Nieme and Dani," Koran said as he emerged from the forest. "I think you should go inside and help Orn prepare the midday meal."

"But, Master Darr, we were just talking to Liam and Laedra. They're so cute together."

"That they may be," Koran said, trying unsuccessfully to hide a smile. "However, there are some things I must discuss with them. You can admire their cuteness later."

Nieme pouted and had the urge to stick out her tongue at Koran as well. "But they'll hide. If they do though," she said with a knowing smile, "I bet I know where they'll be and what they'll be doing."

Dani grabbed Nieme's hand and they rushed toward the entrance of the Temple, giggling all the way.

Koran stepped closer to Liam and Laedra, no longer hiding his smile. "They shall be your punishment for choosing to form an attachment against the rules of the Jedi Order," he said, though by the smile it was obvious he was far from serious.

"Well, we deserve it for showing such lack of discretion." Laedra detached her hand from Liam's and gave Koran a dutiful bow. "Did we miss anything interesting while we were gone?"

"I had a meeting with Admiral Tarkin. The man is not only narrow-minded, but he thinks he's doing what's best for the people. And, I met with Raxis L'Ygr. Interesting man. It appears that the New Republic is here to help."

"So you've been quite busy then?" Laedra gathered. "I'm sorry I missed all the excitement."

Koran chuckled. "I have been," he said. "I thought Tarkin was going to tell his men to shoot me for questioning his vision of the galaxy. However, there is still plenty of excitement to be had."

All cheerfulness vanished from Laedra's face as she glanced aside at Liam. "Master?" she said hesitantly. "That's what we've planning to speak to you about. Our trip to Corellia didn't go as well as planned."

Koran nodded. "I had surmised that may be the case," he said. "And, you both intend to go out and keep searching."

Laedra gnawed at her lower lip, and although searching for Yelara was the last thing she wanted to do, she too nodded. "We believe Dargus Kandran may have them. Liam wishes to scour the Corellian system for them, then go on from there." She gazed up into her master's eyes almost apologetically. "I wish to accompany him."

"And, I am going to assume that in this situation neither of you will be of much use to me here," he said. "Very well. Laedra, I will need to speak with you before you leave. There are some things we must discuss."

"I expected there would be." She sought Liam's gaze for courage and resolve, and found both in his smile. "Why don't you go inside and pack your things? I'll join you later."

Liam nodded, reached out and squeezed her hand once, and then started inside, hoping against fate that he wouldn't run into Dani and Nieme.

Once Liam was gone, Koran studied Laedra for a moment, and then motioned her away from the Temple. "Come walk with me," he said. "We need to discuss your training among other things."

Laedra trepidly, but obediently fell into step beside Koran. She had no idea what was coming, but she knew it wouldn't be pleasant. "Before you say anything, I'm sorry, Master. It's complicated though. I have to go with Liam. He needs me. We need each other and if I don't go with him..." She sighed.

"I understand that part," Koran said with a smile. "I'm just concerned about your training. Continue to meditate as often as you can, and contact me whenever time and the comm network permits. Perhaps we can conduct some lessons over the holonet. Though, I don't think you need lessons. I think it's a matter of taking the code and making it your own. I have a text I'd like you to bring with you and read, if there is time."

"I'd appreciate that," Laedra said. "But, what kind of text?"

"It's an old Jedi text that Liam had. It was in the library here," he said. "Most of it is teachings from way back and a lot of it is still appropriate to the life of a Jedi today. A lot of it is rubbish. I imagine you'll have no problems separating the two though." He smiled at her. "I don't like not having you around here, Laedra, but I understand."

"Oh, I'm sure you can live without me for a while," she teased. "In fact, you might just find things more peaceful without your unruly Padawan driving you insane."

"You're not just my Padawan, Laedra," Koran said. "You're also my friend. And, it's my friend I'll miss. It's the person I've been working to solve the mystery of this Temple with. I'll get by, but I'll still miss having you around to talk to."

Laedra grinned bashfully and looked away from Koran to ostensibly observe the vegetation, but to really hide her blushing cheeks from him. "You've helped me much lately, Master. You mean a lot to me as well. I wish I could remain here and help in whatever measures you plan to take in freeing Thanatos." She regarded Koran again solemnly. "And I know I'll miss your guidance. I really could use it on this trip."

"If you can get through to me, I'm here," Koran said. "And, know that a part of me does go with you." He tapped at her chest gently. "The Force is strong in you, Laedra. When you need guidance and I'm not there to give it, rely on the Force. And, if you can get a call through from your ship to Tae'Karada, nothing is more important than me talking to you."

Laedra gazed down curiously at where Koran had touched her, as if there laid her very potential and power, locked away and waiting for her to tap into it. Koran was her key to doing that, and now she was turning her back on him. "I'll make an effort to contact you everyday," she said quietly. She looked up at her master and smiled gently. "While I'm meditating, I'll listen for your voice, listen to what it's telling me. I won't forget that you're still there with me in the knowledge you've granted me and the confidence."

"Good," Koran said with a smile. "I know you'll make me proud, Laedra. As your friend and as your teacher. And, when you return to me, we'll see what we can do about getting your knighthood restored. I think it should be a fairly simple matter."

Laedra lowered her eyes guiltily and shook her head. "No, I think I still have a long way to go, Master. I have strayed and faltered... That's why I need your guidance during this mission. I'm afraid it'll happen again, and I'm afraid of where I'll end up if I do stray again."

Koran nodded slowly. "Then I will be available to you whenever you need me, Laedra," he said. "You'll get through this. I promise."

Laedra smiled at Koran. "You know, whenever you assure me like that, I always feel as if everything really will be alright. How do you do it?"

"It's part confidence, and part Jedi wisdom, and part willingness to do everything I can to help make it alright. You're a good woman, Laedra, and you have the potential to be an exceptional Jedi, and I want to do what I can to help you get to that point. I think a big part of it is that I am your friend, and I wouldn't say something like that unless I believed it."

Once again flustered by the sincerity and warmth of Koran's comments, Laedra looked away. She'd be gone so long from Koran, away from his inspiring words, from his encouragement and faith in her...away from her friend. Laedra turned back towards Koran and impulsively threw her arms around him, holding him close and gathering as much comfort as she could salvage from him before she was forced to depart. "I'll miss you, Koran," she whispered. "I truly will."

Koran wrapped his arms around her to return the embrace. "I will see you soon," he said. "And, we'll not be out of communication. It'll be alright, Laedra. Everything will work out for the best." He found that he didn't want to let go...not until he could sense her comfort, and his.

Laedra was ashamed of the tears welling up in her eyes, and surprised at the same time. She hadn't realized how close she felt to Koran as a friend, but perhaps it was because she'd never had one until she arrived at the Temple. Embracing Koran as she was and the strength she was deriving from him, she now knew the benefits of friendship, even if theirs was a rather complex one as Master and Padawan.

Laedra swallowed down the knot in her throat as best she could manage, but a new one merely replaced the old and made speaking difficult. The last thing she wanted was for Koran to realize she was crying.

Sensing the emotions boiling within Laedra, he held her closer. "It's going to be alright," he said, not knowing anything else to say in this situation. "I know you have to go, and if I weren't needed here I would request to come along to continue your training. But, we'll make a way, Laedra. We'll make a way for all this to work."

Laedra nodded slightly, considering the difficulty of doing so with her body pressed so tightly to Koran's. "I will train every day using what you have taught me," she whispered. "And when I return, I will be a Padawan you can be proud of."

"I already am proud," Koran whispered in response. "And, when you return, I'll help you become a Jedi Knight I can be proud of too."

Laedra peered up at Koran with tears still trickling down her cheeks, and she smiled. "No one's ever said that to me before, not Master Ina, not my parents... But I won't make you regret saying it, Koran. I will become a Jedi Knight again, and you'll see, then, that I'm deserving of the title. I won't let you down. I promise I won't."

Koran smiled. "I know you won't," he said. "You're a good person, Laedra. I know you'll make me proud. And, I know that we'll have a very long, enduring friendship."

The comfort she had sought, Laedra found in Koran's smile and the warmth of his green eyes. She was confident now that Koran could do for her what Ina couldn't, what he had miserably failed to do. Koran Darr could make her a true Jedi Knight, and perhaps even help her banish forever the traumas of her youth. They had made her the woman she was today, however, and that she wouldn't change for anything, but they had also left her with failings in her character she knew she could live without. Koran would help her shed them.

"Thank you," she whispered, in advance of what he would eventually do for her. Laedra lightly placed a kiss upon Koran's cheek, then channelled as much gratitude into a smile as she could manage. "I will come back a new woman, Koran." She laughed and added, "You might not even recognize me."

"Oh, I'm certain I'll recognize you, but you may knock me out of my boots with how focused and calm you are. And, maybe in the midst of your meditations, the Force may open to you and indulge you with a secret or two. I will miss you, Laedra. And, who else will I have to comment on my state of dress early in the morning?"

Laedra chuckled and made show of passing an appraising eye over the length of his body. "I rather liked the sheet. It really brought out your chest."

"Perhaps I'll have to talk to Liam to find out what you look like in a sheet," Koran said with a smile.

"What are you implying, Koran?" Laedra asked playfully. "Do you mean to indicate I would look much better in a sheet than I did completely bereft of clothing?"

"That was a good day," Koran said absently, and then grinned. "And, there is something much more tantalizing about a woman barely clothed than one completely unclothed."

"I've only seen Liam naked," Laedra began, blushing slightly, "but I believe the same is true for men. At least it is of you." She laughed bashfully and lowered her eyes, then flushed even more profusely at the combined effect of having this particular conversation while she was still in Koran's embrace.

Koran held on to Laedra a moment longer, and then slowly pulled his arms away, hating each moment of letting go. She felt comfortable there. Far too comfortable, he mused.

Laedra cleared her throat to ease away the sudden awkwardness of the moment. It didn't dissipate completely, but once again Laedra was able to hold Koran's gaze and she smiled ruefully. "Be careful while you single-handedly free the desert, Master." She laughed and waggled her finger at him. "Now, I don't want to return to Tae'Karada and have to chastise you for being reckless, young man."

"As you command," Koran said, and bowed to her. "I will try to be good in your absence. And, I promise to have the planet still standing when you get back."

"Not entirely necessary, but always a plus," Laedra quipped. She sighed wistfully as her eyes shifted to the surrounding forest, one she would not be seeing again for an indeterminate period of time. To her, even a minute would be too long. "I hate leaving all this behind. It's going to be difficult."

Koran sighed softly and nodded. "I don't know if I'd want to leave this either. It's really quite amazing. Though, it will be less so with my star pupil absent. Contact me as often as you can. We'll conduct whatever lessons we can that way. And, perhaps I can make missing this place less difficult for you."

"I'm certain you can, Master." Laedra bowed to Koran, and when she faced him again, she gave him her most reassuring smile. "Don't worry for a moment about me. Liam will make sure I'm well protected, and I, him. I can give you regular updates on our progress when I contact you."

"I look forward to the reports. And, I feel no reason to worry. I trust you, Laedra. And, I trust Liam. I know the two of you will do what you can to get Yelara back, and then return here. And, then perhaps the Jedi can do our part to liberate this world from Tarkin's grip."

Laedra nodded slowly, grudgingly, knowing that anymore trivial smalltalk was meant only to prolong the conversation and delay her departure. As much as she wanted to go with Liam, be with him, she was reluctant to leave her friend and master behind. But, this was a decision she had already been forced to make at the risk of losing Liam. It was wrong of her to choose love over the Order, but she wasn't disciplined enough yet to resist what her heart dictated to her. Perhaps she would soon be able to.

"I must go," Laedra said finally. "Liam and I have a very arduous journey ahead of us. We may be gone a very long time, Master, but if the Order needs us direly, you can call upon us."

"We will do so should it come to that," he said. "While you are away, keep your eyes and ears open for any Imperial activity. I know that Tarkin's only goal isn't Tae'Karada. He's got more loyal to him elsewhere, and we'll want to know what he's planning and where his troops are."

"We will give you any news we find, Master." Laedra reluctantly began backing away from Koran, knowing it was the only way she was ever going to leave. "I should pack. You can give me the text at the speeder before Liam and I depart. And any final advice you have for me along with it."

"I'll see you soon then," Koran said with a smile. "Now, you should go before...before." He smiled. "If we're here together much longer, I may not be able to let you go."

"My charm is not that endearing, is it?" Laedra laughed and waved to Koran as she continued making her way to the Temple...backwards. "Don't miss your Padawan too much, Master, and if you do, I'm sure that when I return, I can make your life miserable enough that you'll think yourself crazy for doing so."

"I look forward to that moment," Koran said, and waved to Laedra. "I'll meet you at your speeder."

Giving her master a final, sparkling smile Laedra turned and with light, jovial steps set off towards the clearing.

"Triangle, Part 2"
By: Koran Darr
Raeila Mullerin
Kael Selrid
Laedra Vorrel
Liam Zaneth

Location: Jedi Temple
Date: Eos 1, 4ABY

***

When she reached the inside of the Temple again, she found Liam in the bedroom he had formerly shared with Yelara, before Yelara had left the Temple. He held a small case in his hands, staring at it and nearly oblivious to her presence. Finally he looked up. "I don't know what we're going to run into out there, so I want to make sure we're prepared." He held up the case. "Focusing crystals."

Laedra leaned against the doorframe and hugged her arms around herself. "I hadn't thought about that," she said quietly. "I mean, I know we'll have a fight ahead of us. I just...I haven't prepared for that possibility yet. I don't even know how much aid I can provide you in a battle."

Liam approached her slowly. "I'll make sure you're as prepared as you can be, my love," he said. "We'll get through this; I promise. I just want some added protection, and some backups in case I lose another lightsaber. It's mainly precautions."

"Precautions that are only unnerving me," Laedra admitted. "I'm not a very good fighter, Liam. I don't want to get in the way. In a fight, I don't want you jeopardizing your own safety to ensure mine."

"It'll be alright," Liam said. "And, I'm not going to skip precautions because they might unnerve you, Lae. I'm making them so we'll both get out of this alive. I do want our child to have a future, and there won't be much of one if one of us isn't around."

Laedra could feel the blood draining from her face and a twisting of her stomach that nearly made her sick. At least if she was, it would add authenticity to the ruse of her pregnancy. She stepped forward to meet Liam in the centre of the room, then sank gratefully into his arms. "We'll train everyday. I'll push myself and I'll become as adept in combat as you are."

"Most of it is confidence," he said softly. "But, we'll make you one of the best lightsaber duelists since...whoever a great, famous lightsaber duelist is. It'll be alright, my love. Everything will be alright." He brought his hand down to her abdomen and brushed a hand over it gently. He looked up at her and grinned. "I love you."

Laedra forced a shaky smile onto her lips and closed her eyes to shut out the image of the pride and expectant joy in his eyes. Oh gods...what have I done? "I love you too, Liam," she replied.

"Should we just gather our things and go, or do we have time for a detour through the bed?"

"We should be on our way. Koran is probably waiting for us at the speeder. He wanted to give me something before we departed." She opened her green eyes again and instead of sorrow, there was now only unbridled desire in them. "I think we can hold off until we reach the ship, don't you?"

"I think I can manage." Liam slipped his hand into hers. "I've already got everything else I wanted to get." He indicated a duffel next to the door. "Did you need to stop by your room for anything?"

"I did. I'll do that now. You can wait for me by the speeder if you wish and keep Koran company. I imagine he has a few words for the man who's stealing away his Padawan."

Liam grinned, and then kissed her. "Then I'll see you really soon, my dearest," he said. "I just hope he's not disappointed or upset with me."

"Never," she whispered fervently. She kissed him again, then together they left behind his room. "I should say goodbye to Kael on my way out. It's a good thing I'm no longer his master. I can only imagine how my departure would have affected him if I was."

He pulled her into an embrace. "I'll see you soon, my love," he said. "And, watch out for Nieme and Dani. I'm sure they're still lurking around here somewhere."

"They're probably watching us right now." She kissed Liam briefly then detached from him and started off in the opposite direction. "I won't be long."

"No," he said as he started in the other direction. "You'd hear their giggling if they were. I'll see you soon." Then, he turned and started off toward the Temple's exit with his duffel in tow.

***

Not having found Kael in the training room, Laedra sought her former Padawan through the Force. They hadn't trained together very long, but in that short time she had grown close to the young man and even now there still remained a connection between them she could sense vaguely.

That connection brought her to the door of Kael's room. She raised her fist to gently rap upon the wooden door, but an unexpected sound from within stopped her short. Was that--? Laedra raised an eyebrow and smiled slowly. "So, young Padawan, which lovely female is it this time?"

Another peal of the same boisterous giggling she'd heard sounded again and Laedra found herself laughing softly. How could she leave a place so full of life and happiness behind to go on a mission she had no desire to complete? The answer was simple, though: to be with Liam. Laedra's mood soured quickly and finally she knocked upon the door. The face of the person standing on the other side, however, sparked amusement within her. "Hello... And you are?"

Raeila wrapped the bedsheet tighter around herself and smiled sheepishly at Laedra. "Um...Raeila Mullerin."

"A new Padawan?" Laedra narrowed her eyes inquisitively at the girl, but sensed nothing of the Force in her. "No...no you're not. Is Kael in there?"

"I'm here," Kael called out. "Sorry about that, Master Laedra. We were...uh, well..." He laughed. "Um, we're sorry." The smile on his face said that he wasn't really sorry. "How may I help you?"

"Kael," Raeila chided, along with a precisely placed elbow into his side. "You're not even going to introduce me, are you?"

Kael grinned. "Jedi Master Laedra Vorrel," he began, "this is my arozeil, Raeila Mullerin, soon to be Raeila Selrid. She's staying here at the Temple with us now."

Laedra bowed her head at Raeila, dismissing the momentary pause she would have otherwise taken upon seeing the pillow Kael was inadequately using to cover himself with. Instead, she simply cleared her throat and smiled as casually as she could manage. "It's a pleasure--" The sudden recognition of who was standing before her, however, did make Laedra stop short. Her gaze slowly shifted towards Kael, and at once she was filled with confusion, bewilderment, and disappointment. "She's the girl from the desert, isn't she?"

"She is," Kael said. "But she's not here to hurt anyone. Things are getting better between us and Nieme and Dani. We're all gonna be friends again. She thought she was going to lose me to Nieme, and that's why she did what she did. She's not malicious or any of that. She just didn't want to lose her man." He grinned and leaned close to kiss Raeila's throat.

Laedra demurely averted her eyes from the scene. The Temple truly was sinking into the depths of depravity, even though she and Liam were contributing in some respect to it. But it was not her place to judge. It was Nieme and Dani's place to forgive or condemn Raeila, and Laedra was satisfied that the girl would not be here if Nieme and Dani had protested against it.

"Well..." Laedra looked up again, focusing on Raeila this time who was smiling almost bashfully at her and had moved partially behind Kael for security and concealment. She didn't know the girl, and most likely wouldn't get the opportunity to for a while, but her almost meek demeanour now wasn't reinforcing the first impression she had given Laedra in the desert. Now, Raeila seemed almost...sweet. "Welcome to the Temple, Raeila."

"Thank you, ma'am," Raeila replied softly. "I like it here a lot. Everyone's so nice to me and it's so pretty here... I'm glad I was allowed to stay."

Laedra nodded slowly and smiled genially at the girl. "It is a lovely place. I'm very sorry to be leaving it."

Kael looked up. "You're leaving already? You just returned, didn't you? Did you find them? Are they alright?"

"That's what we intend to find out," Laedra replied. "Liam is certain that Dargus Kandran has abducted them. We are going in search, and hopefully we can find and rescue them. We simply returned to gather some supplies and inform the Temple of our intentions."

Kael nodded. "May the Force be with you," he said. "And, bring them back. They don't deserve to be with that psychopath."

"We will do our best, Padawan Selrid." Laedra bowed to Kael, then gazed at Raeila and did the same to her. "It was a pleasure meeting you under these better circumstances, Ms. Mullerin."

"You too, Master Vorrel," Raeila replied timorously. "Good luck on your mission. I hope you come back safely."

"I trust we will." She smiled at the two, Raeila trying her best to become invisible behind Kael, and he hugging her lovingly to him. Adolescent love with far less complicated and burdensome than the love of two adults. Laedra yearned for her youth again so she too could experience such pure, carefree love, but that time was long passed, and Ina had stolen it from her. Yet still, she wouldn't give up what she had with Liam for anything.

"Well, then," Laedra said finally. "This is goodbye. You two feel free to return to whatever it was you were doing before I interrupted." Laedra gave them a warm smile, and without further ado, took her leave.

Raeila watched after her and after a few moments, kissed Kael quickly upon the cheek. "She's nice. A little stiff, but nice."

"She's still feeling her way through a lot of this," he said. "She was separated and on her own for a very long time. She's just rediscovered what it's like to be around people." Kael took her hand and pulled her back into the room, tossing the pillow on the bed as he did. "And, I believe, my love, we were occupied before she interrupted."

***

Liam Zaneth and Koran Darr stood leaning against the speeder as they waited for Laedra to return. They'd been speaking quietly since Koran arrived.

"Just don't hurt her," Koran Darr said. "She's at a fragile stage, and one wrong moment could bring it all crashing down."

"That's my fear as well." Liam scratched at his jaw and sighed. "The difficult part is that I love both of them, and neither wants the other around. They want me all to themselves."

"Not every man finds himself in this tragic dilemma," Koran said with a smile. "I'm sure you'll work your way through it, or one of them will force your decision. Just...be careful."

"I will be," Liam said. "I have to be. I do love them both, and I do need them both in my life."

"I've had a vision." Koran looked away to let the news sink in. "Be careful, Liam."

"If you know something..."

Koran shook his head. "I can't. Not with this information. But, be careful. If you emerge from this with your life, I think you will be able to safely call yourself a Jedi Knight. This will probably be the most difficult trial of your life. Just make sure you emerge in the Light."

Liam sighed. He knew he wouldn't get anymore information. "I will do what I can," he said. "Thank you for what you have told me."

"I wish I could say more. Keep her safe, Liam. She is my student, my friend..."

"And, something more."

Koran nodded. "But I can't, not yet."

"What about--?"

"The Code? The times are changing. I can see that. The Order will never be what it once was. We must adapt with the times, and make what concessions are necessary. And, in these times, perhaps Jedi in relationships with other Jedi isn't such a bad thing. Or even non-Jedi."

Liam nodded, understanding. "If we can't find them..."

"Exactly. We have to keep looking, but our numbers are too few. Of course, taking some of us out of action for part of nine months will not help our numbers any. We must find more of our kind." He sighed, and continued. "I don't know what help we can be with the New Republic. But, I intend to do all we can. I missed the first dark time, and I don't intend to catch this one to make up for it. We will stop Tarkin, and the New Republic will govern uncontested. It must be that way. We have to leave this behind if the galaxy is to survive."

"I'll keep her safe," Liam said again. "You have my word."

Koran nodded his thanks. "Contact me regularly."

"We will," Liam said, and then looked up as Laedra emerged from the Temple. He smiled as she approached. "All set?"

She raised the pack she carried into view and returned his smile. "It's not as if I had much to bring with me, but I couldn't go anywhere without what I do own." She came up beside Liam and slung her arm across his waist as she regarded Koran. "Is that for me?" she asked, motioning her eyes to the book he held in his hands.

Koran nodded. "It is," he said. "It's already been translated, so your work won't be too difficult." He held the leather bound tome out to her.

Laedra took a step forward and smoothed her hand across the top cover of the book. "I know it could never replace the knowledge you could give me, Master, but I think it will have to do in your absence." She took the book into both her hands and reverently hugged it to her chest. "Thank you, Master."

"You're welcome, my Padawan," Koran said, and then bowed to her. "There will be a test when you return." His lips quirked up into a smile.

Laedra wrinkled her nose at Koran. "You're a wicked man, Koran Darr. But I will take your test and I will impress you with how well I do on it." She gave him a bow, with the book still clutched to her chest, then returned to Liam's side.

Koran stepped forward to face them both. "May the Force be with you. Should you require anything of us, don't hesitate to mention it. Were the situation not so desperate here, more of us would be accompanying you." He gave them a malicious grin. "If you'd like, I can send Dani and Nieme with you."

"You mean to punish us, don't you?" Laedra said. "You really are a cruel Master."

Koran laughed and patted both Liam and Laedra on the shoulder. "I would do no such thing," he said. "Besides, they have much to learn here. I will talk to you soon, and know that while I'm not there in person, my thoughts will be on you."

"Thank you," Liam said, and covered Koran's hand with his own. "May the Force be with you, Koran. We'll keep in touch." He looked at Laedra and raised an eyebrow to ask the question, "Ready?"

"Of course," she replied with more certainty than she felt. She moved to her side of the speeder and pulled open the hatch as Liam made his way to the driver's side. "You know, Koran Darr," Laedra mused while setting her belongings into the speeder, "I think the time away will do me good. Perhaps while Liam and I are travelling in space with no real distractions, I can better discover my purpose as a Jedi. Do you not think so?"

"I definitely think so," Koran said with a nod. "The time will be good for you, without a doubt. You will do fine, Laedra. I trust you, and I have faith in your abilities."

"And when I return, perhaps I will as well." Laedra slipped inside of the speeder and gripped the handhold on the hatch. Before closing it, she looked up curiously at Koran and said, "This is strange, but I think I've learned more from you in two weeks than I did with Ina in twelve years. Very strange." With a short chuckle and a wink for her master, Laedra sealed the hatch.

Koran only smiled and then stepped back away from the speeder.

Liam closed his hatch and fired up the engine. He took a look at Laedra, smiled and covered her hand with his, and then backed the speeder away from the Temple. He swung the small craft around and paused long enough for one more wave to Koran, and then blasted down the path toward New Plouton.

Laedra watched Liam's face as they wended their way through the forest almost urgently. She brought his hand to her lips and kissed it gently, hoping to grab his attention for but a moment. "What are you thinking, my love?"

He smiled. "Just some things that Koran said," he answered. "He wants me to watch out for you. He needs his Padawan back in one piece. However, I think it's more important to have his friend back in one piece. He likes you, Lae." He looked at her. "He's a good man, and a great friend. I think we can both learn much from him."

"I know. I hope to do so once we return." She gazed down at the book on her lap and lightly caressed the leather surface. "I have to learn a lot now, though, Liam. I have to be able to fight by your side. But I know I can do it. I know I can be the Jedi I am meant to be."

Liam smiled. "We both can," he said. "Koran also alluded that what we do here...rescuing Yelara...will be my Trial. When this is over, I could very well be a Jedi Knight."

Laedra smiled at Liam with both envy and joy. "And you'll have earned it too. You've come such a long way, Liam. You deserve to finally be recognized for your accomplishments."

Liam operated the speeder one-handed while he held her hand with his other one. "You've helped me to get here," he said. "At least part of the way. I love you for that, and for everything else. As soon as we get our ship into hyperspace, I'm going to show you just how much I love you."

"But I already know that," Laedra assured him. "I wouldn't mind another demonstration, though."

As the speeder broke out of the trees and started toward the city, Liam gave her a wink. "Oh, and a demonstration you will get."

Laedra smiled dreamily and laid her head upon Liam's shoulder while they made their way through the city. She had proven herself worthy of his love by postponing her training to follow him to the edges of the galaxy, if that's where he needed her to be. She only hoped he saw it that way.

Upon arrival at the spaceport, they deposited their speeder in the rental area and started for the ship with their luggage. She would have him all to herself for a good long while, and hopefully endear him to her far more than Yelara was. It would be her goal.

Once they were in the ship, Liam quickly got it prepared to head for space. It didn't take long to get the engines heated up, and soon they were blasting up through the atmosphere. It was funny how this time as they were taking off, Laedra hadn't led him on a little dance around the ship while she stripped off all her clothes, but it wouldn't be long before they were dancing together.

They had to wait a few minutes for the Imps, but getting to the edge of the system proved easier than expected. Once there, Liam pulled back the toggles, and the ship jumped to lightspeed. Once that was done, he turned to Laedra sitting next to him with an expectant smile on her face. "Now, my love," he said. "I think I have a demonstration to perform."

"Looking For A Contact"
By Jack Black

Location: Thanatos
Date: Eos 1, 4ABY

***

Jack Black passed one look around the new bar. It was the fifth one he had visited in the city and still there was no luck. The gang leaders were clearly too busy to step into bars for refreshment. Jack was annoyed by the lack of proper organization. He was about to give up and return to his brother when he stepped into the last bar.

The bartender, an odd looking human, looked up. Jack was the only customer. The bar seemed to be undergoing some sort of renovation. Jack hobbled up to the man at the bar. He looked through small piggish eyes at Jack.

"Can you tell me where I can find someone interested in the purchasing of some military hardware?" Jack had given up mincing his words two bars back.

The pig-eyed barkeep looked up with a frown on his face. He could tell Jack's frustration. His brow furrowed deep. "Yeah I may be able to help you. What's in it for me as a contact?" he asked,

Jack was used to this. He had known many barkeepers who were like this: in for a cut for themselves. Jack knew how much he would give. "You can get three percent of a sale no more." Jack muttered, "I'm only using you to save myself time."

The barman frowned. He was about to argue with Jack to try to get a better cut but Jack's look stopped him in his tracks. "If you want to know who to look for, go to a man named Ferrig. He'll be interested. He heads the strongest gang around here and he'll be able to probably pay quite handsomely, however he's a suspicious man and probably wouldn't be comfortable with meeting with a stranger alone."

"If you can get a meeting arranged, it will earn you three percent. I'm going to stay in town for the day. by the end of which I want to have talked to him and I'm coming after you if I haven't. I'll be waiting at the caf� across the street." Jack looked around. "There would be no way I would stay in this piss hole." Jack turned on his heel and stalked out.

"Yes sir," mumbled the barkeep. "Ranul!" called the barkeep. "Go see Mullerin and tell him I've got an interesting proposal he might be interested in." A small boy darted out of the back and out the front door in search of the gang leader.

Jack moved to a secluded area. He pulled his robe aside, and fiddling around in one of his pouches he found his communicator. "Black 1 to Black base. You receiving me?"

"Got you loud and clear, bro. Any luck with a buyer?"

"Yes. I've got a man who is interested. How's the ship looking?" Jack asked

"She's taken hefty damage but I'll be able to bring all systems back up in a week. I've already re-initialized the hyper drive and fixed a lot of the weapon systems."

"Good we may need them. Anyway I'm going to hang around and see if I can make contact with this gang leader. Get sensors up as soon as you can. I would like to have a warning if something was creeping up on the ship."

"I'll try but a fire damaged that area quite badly."

"Well fix it," Jack ordered and cut communications. Some times his brother seemed so slow minded.

Jack looked at an attractive woman passing. It was odd, he thought to himself. He could see she was pretty, beautiful even stunning yet he didn't get the heart pulsing feel that most other humans got. He mused over that point for a moment then sat at the caf� and ordered supper.

"Dark Deals"
by Jack Black
Ferrig Mullerin
Pack [NPC]
Robin Black [NPC]
and the Feltreys [NPC]

Location: Thanatos
Date: Eos 1, 4ABY

***

The wind whistled down the darkened ally. Jack couldn't say he felt comfortable however he could sense...no feel the gang leader coming. Then they came, six of them all armed with light blasters. Nothing strong, at least not as strong as the blaster Jack had concealed under his cloak. However they were still strong enough to kill. Jack pushed his staff off wide to give him more balance. In reality, he didn't need his staff anymore; however, force of habit and deception made him realize that having it helped tremendously.

The figures walked with their eyes fixed on Jack. Jack's black eyes fixed on them all. He could tell who the leader was straight off. He was the one with the dark hair whose subtle hand movements gave orders to his men around him. With a twitch of his wrist, everyone stopped about five meters from Jack. They looked over at Jack with malice in their eyes.

Ferrig Mullerin looked over the gun runner. Not much to look at. It was a surprise that the man hadn't dropped dead in the desert heat. He'd have to be tied down in the next sandstorm, because looking as frail as he did, he'd certainly get blown away. There was no doubt that this was an outsider (not a wetter, there wasn't enough of him to be wet...and even if he were, he'd probably fall over with the weight). "I'm Ferrig," he said. "These are the Feltrys, and I understand you've got something to help us in our fight against the Empire."

Jack calmly listened to the man speak. He wasn't too interested in pleasantries. He wanted the cash so he could leave this place. He pulled his hands away from his cloak. "I've got some thing you'll be interested in: five crates of Imperial blasters, thirty-six thermal detonators, and military grade Stormtrooper-style armor, about twenty suits," he said, giving the inventory before he was asked. "Two speeder bikes, undamaged; and a lot of calmesite ore...however I doubt you're interested in that." Jack smiled. He knew the men he was dealing with. The hundred odd rifles and detonators would be what this man was interested in. He probably wouldn't even buy the armor.

"That'll do," Ferrig said with a nod. "Where are they?"

Jack considered the question for a moment. "They're out of town at the moment, not too far from here on my ship. I'm willing to take you there to view the wares; however, I'm not alone on my ship...so any funny business, like trying to run off without paying or attacking us and taking it, and you will live to regret it." Jack smiled at that. He twitched aside his cloak, showing the blaster. He raised his hands to show his intent wasn't violent and pulled the blaster out by the grip. He then handed it to the closest lackey.

The young man handed the blaster to Ferrig. He looked the weapon over and nodded. It'd do. If he had others like that, they wouldn't be so bad off. He offered the blaster back to the gun runner.

"Keep it as a gesture of my good will," Jack offered graciously. "Here are the coordinates where you will meet us. A droid will meet you and escort you to our ship. Imperial credits will be fine, if not then what do you trade with out here?"

"We've got our own form of credit here in the desert," Ferrig said. "Credits will work, but it's better to use the thirad. We can pay you in either."

Jack smiled at the man. "I'll keep things local if that's ok. So what's the exchange rate? Never mind I'll find out before I leave town. It's probably best we do the trade at night. How about eight hours? Would that be ok for you?" Jack asked.

"Eight hours is fine," Ferrig said with a nod. "I guess I'll meet your droid, and then we'll make the exchange." With that, Ferrig turned and started back with the Feltreys falling in to flank him.

Jack watched the man leave out of the alley.

As soon as he was around the corner, Jack straightened up. His black eyes closed briefly; the man was quite intimidating, not intimidating enough to shake Jack up but he could easily imagine his brother being shaken.

Jack made his way out of town inquiring on an exchange rate on the way out at a small caf� that was just closing.

Jack made his way out to the dune where he had parked the speeder bike. He was grateful that both the bike and the droid were still there. He didn't arrive at the ship until the sun had just settled on the horizon and the cold of the night was settling in. He saw his brother working on a hole in the hull of the transport. He slowed to a stop. His brother nodded at Jack.

"Is the communications array ready yet?" Jack asked his brother.

"Short range only," his brother said, holding up the hand held communicator. "Long range is still out and inter planetary is completely shot, but I've got weapons and shields up and sensors are running at medium range."

Jack then went on to tell his brother what the type of person they were dealing with was like. Robin seemed worried but trusted his brother's opinion and started to make preparations for the trade.

***

Once they were clear of the alley, Ferrig turned to Pack. "Looks like the help we were looking for just arrived," he said with a grin. He held up the blaster and admired it. "Nice piece."

"Where we gonna get the thirads to pay for weapons, Ferrig?"

The Feltrey leader grinned. "We still have eight hours, my friend. I'm sure we'll be able to find enough around town to buy our freedom."

They laughed together as the two of them and the four others they brought along headed back towards their home. Though, a short stop on the way would be necessary. There were some Wetter businesses that had moved in over the last several months, and they had far too much money. A feral grin spread his lips as he envisioned the fall of the Empire, and Raeila's return to the desert.

"The Perfect Test"
By: Syan Daywalker - Bounty Hunter
Prince Shin Qhan [NPC] - Journeyman
& Tal Sythe [NPC] - Grey Jedi

Location: Cloakship Hand of Asura en route to planet Siroth
Date: Eos 1, 4ABY

***

In vivid green lines, the planet Siroth hung in wireframe above a humming holographic projector. A ragged line of shattered asteroids valiantly vying for the status of moons moved around Siroth in lazy elliptical orbits that brought shards into contact with the planet's atmosphere twice a year, resulting in a violent and predictable meteor shower. Even now, the faint pinkish yellow scars drew swift lines across Siroth's sky and winked out of existence not long after.

Hazel eyes looked through the green wireframe and armored viewport to where the real Siroth turned in space. From where he stood, the real and holographic Siroth spun in tandem, wrapping the blues and dark greens of life with patterned squares of bright green that seemed to carve the surface of the world up. A red light blinked on in the hologram, indicating an area near the coast of the planet's larger continents.

"That's the main population center," Shin Qhan informed him. "If he's not there, we should be able to find leads."

The bounty hunter nodded at the fallen prince and kept his eyes on the world. There was little more for him to do. He'd checked and rechecked his equipment to the point of it becoming obsessive-compulsive and he decided against further checks. The Asura was smaller in space than his own Aesir and trips along the lone corridor forward had lost what little luster they had in the last two days. Since the Seinar Star Courier was rigged for a single pilot, Syan couldn't even wile away his boredom helping the man fly the sleek craft. The ship's computer warbled in a dialect of Basic Syan didn't understand and Qhan answered the queries. "Coming in for landing, Mister Daywalker. You might want to take a seat and strap yourself in."

Syan frowned, but acquiesced. "Sure."

Where the passenger seats were on the Asura, at the very rear of the ship's spherical cockpit, Syan felt cut off from the action and watched Qhan's movements even more carefully.

Qhan looked over his shoulder and smiled. "Don't worry, I can fly," the prince assured his lone passenger. A quick look at his instruments confirmed he was approaching the planet's atmosphere. He reached for and depressed a glowing orange button. At once the cockpit cabin was filled with the sounds of high power servos. "Folding radiator fins."

Syan listened as the large curved fins on either side of the ship that gave it an almost TIE-like profile folded in and snapped into place against the ship's wings. As with all of Raith Seinar's early inventions, the modified Star Courier showed marks of what would later become his signatures. The ball cockpit and perpendicular wing structure could be found in the TIE Starfighter, Infiltrator, and Bombers.

The slight jostling of hitting solid atmosphere jolted the bounty hunter from his philosophizing. A beeping coming from ahead made him look up. "What's happening?"

Qhan answered without looking up, hands busy, and his voice unconcerned, "That was the collision alarm. A ship drifted into our descent path. Adjusting to compensate." From the viewport, Qhan saw the cloud-filled sky turn and move away to his left as he side-slipped the Asura to get out of the way of the lumbering draybeast of a ship choking and coughing its way into the upper atmosphere.

"An old Kuat Bulk Cruiser," Syan offered.

Qhan nodded. "Yes it is. It's quite a piece of junk, belching out rads near the danger levels from the engine compartment. I hope the crew has been inoculated."

Syan didn't really care, but didn't bother to tell Qhan so. The prince wasn't exactly chatty, but Syan had heard enough from him to understand that Qhan had a failing in that he cared a lot about the innocents around him, and he was an aficionado of classic spacecraft.

The spires of Siroth's largest spaceport loomed ahead, grew as they approached, and disappeared in the blink of an eye on either side of the viewport. Before he could ask, Qhan said, "Taking Asura to a private hanger complex a bit out of town. This ship isn't as well respected as I'm sure yours is and I don't want to expend the power of cloaking if I don't have to."

"All right."

Qhan slowed the ship and slewed it around, watching the instruments as much as the real world outside. The landing gear extended and lowered, clicking in place over the charged and lubricant-stained indoor tarmac. Asura slipped under the circular walls of the private hanger and landed softly, bow pointing up slightly.

Flicking off switches, the signatory howl of the ship's twin ion engines died outside. Qhan waited a moment until he felt it quiet enough before walking rearward and hitting the release for the ramp.

Syan got up and grabbed his equipment case. "You go down first. It's your ship. If shooting starts, you get the first shot."

Qhan wasn't the least bit unnerved by the bounty hunter's feral grin and smiled back in return. "That sounds fair."

Clad in white, Qhan was a difficult target to miss in the dim hangar as he descended the ramp. Daywalker, in black, was harder to see but got to the bottom with as little problem.

The bounty hunter followed the fallen prince as they walked under the ship toward the forward underslung hold. Qhan stopped and reached for a device on his wrist, a control band, and gave the command for the bay to open.

The bounty hunter stepped out of the way first, Qhan right behind, as the large section of hull slid down, out, and lowered itself, coming to a stop half a meter from the floor. "You understand that we're not here to drug, poison, or bludgeon this Jedi Sythe into submission do you not?" Qhan asked his question as he climbed up on the cargo tray and loosened his speeder bike from its restraints. The Aratech-101 military speeder came to life with a shriek of high-tuned repulsors. Qhan sat astride it and meticulously folded up the arms of his tunic before easing the bike forward off the cargo tray.

Syan climbed up after and unlatched his own silvery speeder bike he'd retrieved from Aesir before joining Shin Qhan on his ship. "I'm here to get him and bring him back." The bike's repulsors came on and he gripped the control bars. "Whatever it takes."

The silver bike drove off the ramp and revved as it moved toward the hangar's large accordioned cargo doors.

Qhan sighed and worked his control band to close the cargo tray and rear ramp.

Moments later the two speeder bikes were leaving a twin trail of dust plumes as they made their way into the city.

***

He felt them. Even before they landed, he knew they were coming. He had the time to get to the highest spire he could find, and as he stepped out onto the open roof, he saw them. Two speeders, coming in fast. A man in white, and one in black. The Dark Man had a sense of humor indeed. All his life he ran from the light and the dark, striving to stay in the middle. He refused to make the mistakes of the Jedi's of the past. Never learning to appreciate the gray are in between. But now the man that wished to be his master sent him two opposites to fight him. This should be interesting.

He stepped off the ledge, letting gravity pull him down. He hit the ledge ten stories down with his toes, flipped forward and repeated till he hit the busy street below. The long charcoal cloak settled into place and he took to a quick pace. If this was his test, he would make it harder.

***

Four triangular twenty-credit coins tumbled out of Syan Daywalker's hand and into a pair so grubby they looked as paws to walk on. The owner of the hands grinned at the bounty hunter with twisted, stained teeth and clutched the credits possessively. His hands slid into the dirty robe he wore to secure them before skulking away.

Watching the informant for a moment, Syan turned and started back toward the main street where Qhan waited with the speeder bikes.

In his peripheral vision, the bounty hunter saw a hand come up. His first reaction was a surreptitious moving of his hand toward the blaster strapped to his thigh.

The street urchin saw the movement too and held both hands up in mock surrender. "Hold, gentle! I mean you no harm." When Syan took his hand away from his gun, the old crone in the dirty robe dropped her wizened appendages. "You are a bounty hunter, yes? Looking for someone I think, heh?" Her laugh was wheezing, obviously just on the right-side of death. Since the bounty hunter showed no acknowledgement of her teasing, she went on.

"I couldn't help but overhear--"

"You listened in," Syan countered.

"--only for a moment. I know something of this man you seek. He moves in the shadows. Shadows we are the queens of." Proudly, and with no regard for the rags she wore like torn strips of cloth thrown over an old chair, the crone stretched her arms toward either end along the length of the alleyway.

"He is like the others," she told him. "Content to hide in the shadows, because it hides his passing from those outside. Always forgetting that it does not hide it from us. But he is like the others, and consider us of no consequence, invisible."

"Why are you telling me this?" Syan asked, finally deigning to speak.

The crone smiled, a sight like a dark slice in her otherwise painless face. "For more of what you gave him," she replied, glancing in the direction of Syan's grubby informant. "For more of what you gave him, I will tell you where I last saw him. Not two hours ago."

Syan took a step closer to the woman, letting his body cast a shadow over her. "You tell me what you know, old woman, and I'll pay you what I think it's worth."

The cocksure grin of hers faltered some, but returned without much hesitation. She was old, and not all old people were easy to intimidate. "He was headed west, toward the Admin Tower. It is the only thing in that direction."

"Less than two hours ago?" Syan asked, confirming. She nodded and filthy hair fell down around her face like spider webs.

He dug in a waist pouch and pulled out a large, octagonal credit chit of 100 credits, and pressed it into her skeletal hand. "I give you this because I think this information is worth a lot to me. If it turns out you lied to me, I'll be back to retrieve it." She couldn't see his eyes behind the black visors he wore, but he could see hers. Hazel, striated with bloodshot vessels from disease, or malnutrition. Or both. He also saw in her eyes that she believed he was serious.

Syan stepped away, glad to be free of the reek of street and death that permeated the old woman. The alleyway gave way to light near its end and he slipped back on to the main street, walking up to, and straddling his speeder bike.

Qhan was sitting sideways on his bike when Syan returned and slipped his leg over to sit properly on the saddle. "You were rather free with those credits, bounty hunter," the prince said, amused. He'd watched Syan shovelling out money for information at a rate that surprised him.

A shrugging motion was all that came from under Syan's coat. "It's worth it, depending on the prey. For some, it's best they know you're coming. You run them to ground and they hide out, make mistakes. And once word spreads, all the guttertrash in that alley will be looking for him. They'll make my job easier." Syan reached out and gripped the handlebars, slipping his feet up on the throttle pedals. "Besides, it's not my money."

The bike started with a chirrup-vroom of repulsors and he swung it around off the sidewalk, and into the main traffic lane, followed by Qhan. Together, they headed west.

***

They were getting closer. He could feel it, like a pressure on his back, constantly pushing him. It was actually comforting to feel so attuned to the Force again. His daily mediations helped, but actively using it always felt good. He pulled himself into an alley walking to its end. With a quick glance around to make sure no one was looking, he jumped onto an eave and repeated. He did so until he was fifty stories above the street and looked around. Two speeders inbound.

He unhooked his lightsaber, letting himself feel the cool grip of the shaft in his hand. It comforted him to feel the simple design in his hands. He thumbed it on, and let the amber beam ignite with a familiar snap-hiss he hadn't heard for so long. With a leap, Tal Sythe met his destiny head on.

"Ugnnh!"

The impact threw the bounty hunter off his speeder like a flea off a bantha's back. The quick flash of danger was all that kept him from taking it full in the back where his spine would likely have snapped. Instead, it caught him half-turning, veering, where he flew from the bike in a trail of flapping leather coat and scraping body armor.

Syan's speeder went on perhaps another five meters and finally kicked in the kill switch and slowed, coming to a hover.

Shin Qhan slowed dangerously fast, stopping his own speeder bike in front of the bounty hunter, making a quick check. The angry groan and shifting inside the heavy leather confirmed the hunter was all right. "Looks like your tactic worked, Mister Daywalker. I think we've found Tal Sythe."

"Yes. You have," Tal said, now facing both of them. His lightsaber hovered in his hand, waiting to be used once more. "So you are the two the dark one has sent to face me. How interesting?"

Prince Shin Qhan had climbed off his speeder and was about to say something when the bounty hunter stood up behind him.

"What's interesting is how you're going to be of use to the Dark Man when I cut your hands off."

Qhan spun, sidestepping slightly into the path between Daywalker and Sythe. "Hold a moment, Daywalker." Still keeping himself between them, Qhan turned back to Sythe and sketched a small bow, opening his hands to either side to show that they were empty. "We're not here to 'face' you, Jedi Sythe. We were merely sent to bring you to our employer. I believe he and we, as well as yourself, would prefer we do it without trying to kill each other."

Behind him, Qhan heard a low electric hum. When he looked back, Daywalker's katana was unsheathed and draped in a sheet of vibrating, iridescent blue energy.

Qhan sighed.

"We have transportation for you." Qhan returned to his futile attempt to end this peacefully.

Tal Sythe shook his head, but still smiled. "You don't understand. The Dark Man sent you to fight me. To show me what he was capable of. Therefore we will fight. To the death or not, well that's your choice not mine."

"Don't get me wrong. I don't want to hurt you. But I will not join the Dark One unless I can see what he has to offer. You two must be his best, or he wouldn't have sent you. So come, let us duel. Let me see what you are made of."

Qhan opened his mouth to seek peace again when a hard shove nearly knocked him off his feet. Regaining his balance, Shin Qhan saw Syan Daywalker facing off against Tal Sythe. Though Daywalker was not looking at Qhan, he must have noticed the prince's glance. "Enough talk, blueblood. Can't you see he's right? If the Jedi here was willing to come peacefully he would never have sent me with you."

Shifting in his stance, Syan changed his grip on the singing katana to one-handed. "The Dark Man knows I only do one thing. And I do it very, very well."

With a flick of the wrist, Syan brought the katana's blade down and under, beginning the battle.

Tal quickly parried, letting the blade be pushed to one side. The bounty hunter struck faster, but again Tal simply blocked his advances. The bounty hunter struck harder, but Tal did let his lightsaber be pushed down. With a gesture, the hunter known as Daywalker was pushed back and off his feet.

"Good, but aggressive." Sythe said. He turned to the fallen prince, and deactivated his lightsaber. "Now you."

The Prince, who had been watching the short fight with interest, nodded graciously to the Jedi and spared a moment to check on his partner. Daywalker was back on his feet, and with a flick of his thumb, he deactivated the shield on his katana and resheathed it. There was no sign of anger on his face and he gestured for Qhan to step forward. "Your turn."

"Thank you."

Not exactly the ideal situation, Qhan thought. By choice, Shin Qhan fought without weapons even though he was trained with them. Circling, Qhan watched the Jedi keep a track on him, blade in guard position. Qhan wasn't worried about having a mind-trick done on him, since he was far from the 'weak mind' category, but he had to prevent being sliced to smoking ribbons by that lightsaber.

And speaking of light. Keeping his eye on the wall behind Sythe, Shin Qhan had circled around to the east, with Sythe tracking him.

Falling into a low mantis stance, the prince rolled his left shoulder back and brought his hands up in guard position. Once he had shifted, the bounty hunter's gleaming silver speeder bike's chrome caught the last rays of the setting sun, reflecting them into the Jedi's eyes.

He timed the attack perfectly, moving at the same moment he saw Sythe's eyes start to narrow at the reflection. Humans were the same all around. The movement triggered an autonomic response to widen the eyes and open the pupils for better motion tracking. An uttered "ahh!" and a slashing hum of lightsaber was what he heard from above.

A quick strike to the knee pushed Sythe's leg back, allowing Qhan inside the inner defensive circle of the lightsaber.

A lightsaber was a spectacular weapon, and not for the faint of heart or lacker of skill. A weapon as dangerous to the wielder as to the opponent, there were immense risks to wielding it imperfectly, especially close to the body. Qhan bodychecked Sythe, staying close, rabbiting him with small punches to keep him unbalanced.

Not much longer, Qhan thought. And he knew he wouldn't be able to keep it up for much longer without getting sliced.

Sidestepping again, Shin Qhan raked his guard arm on the inside of Sythe's arm, keeping the blade out of the way. The move forced him to roll his left shoulder back, making him back step to keep his stance. At the same time, he put that force and momentum into a right-handed punch that caught Sythe in the upper abdomen, forcing him back. Quickly, Shin Qhan hopped back to the outer defensive circle of the lightsaber.

Syan was behind Qhan this time, waiting.

Tal winced slightly at the man, but channeled it throughout and away from his body. The small man hit like a raging Dewback, but he was completely controlled, unlike his partner who was chaos incarnate. He swung low with his lightsaber, forcing the other man to jump. With a focus he hadn't felt in ages, he turned with speed he hadn't tapped into in just as long. He kicked the man in the side, sending him sprawling to the ground, not in pain but in sheer surprise. Tal deactivated his lightsaber and clipped it back under his cloak.

"You both fight well, and equally opposite. The Dark Man is very wise in his choosings. I will go with you."