"Revelations, Part 1"
Banin - Agent of Gorta Jax
New Republic Commandoes
Lerrah Breijal - Pilot
Cirran Tyris - Pilot

Location: Deep Space, Inter-System
Date: 25 Selene, 5ABY

***

It was a non-descript part of space - no nearby planets, away from the main trade routes, not so much as an asteroid to be seen. It was something where nothing much had happened - perhaps ever. So it was a considerable event for the locality when a shuttle had blinked out of hyperspace without warning to float gently in the void. Despite this being perhaps the most exciting thing that had ever happened in this small patch of the cosmos for the last 20,000 years or so, things weren't exactly hotting up, certainly by the standards of any kind of even the most excitable sentient life. The shuttle simply sat there, holding its position, as quiet and seemingly as devoid of life as the space around it. It may as well have been space debris.

Things went on this way for what was probably half a standard hour, and then four more ships - now this really was unprecedented - winked into roughly the same small area. The ugly, pug-nosed shape of a 2 heavily armoured assault troop transports were flanked by the sleeker shapes of two escorting snub fighters, A-Wing class. Each ship was painted black with no discernible marking. As the fighters flanked out into escort positions, one of the transports sidled up to the immobile shuttle in an ungraceful dance and locked on to it with a hiss, as the other retreated to a reasonable distance. There was a squeal as pressures were equalised, and then the external door to the shuttle was opened inwards.

First through was a humanoid figure in black, features undetectable beneath a full combat suit and mask, repeater rifle raised shoulder high in front of him. Detecting no immediate danger, he threw up a free hand and jerked a finger forward in a stabbing motion. In response to this signal, a similarly dressed companion appeared immediately behind him weapon also raised, alert for any potential trouble.

The shuttle was a small craft, and it didn't take long for the 2 troopers, in cooperation with another pair who had quickly joined them through the door, to move professionally through the ship and establish that it appeared to be empty - apart from an inert droid pilot, and two unconscious and somewhat worse-for-wear looking humans.

"Ship is secure," said the man who had been first through the door just a minute or so later, completing what seemed to be the unnecessary act of slapping a restraining bolt on the immobile droid pilot. "A readout shows there are still 2 hours until detonation. Broad spectrum jammers are in place to prevent possible remote detonation. No secondary devices have been detected anywhere on the ship." Ignoring the other person on the ship, his glance ran over the unconscious form of a tall and pale looking man who, unexpectedly, appeared to have recently been parted from his left hand. "We have the package, and one other. Both are unconscious but stable."

"Excellent," came the reply in his earpiece.

Another ballet was in progress outside the shuttle. Leaving its payload of troops behind to seal the shuttle's access hatch again temporarily, the first transport peeled away and allowed the second to come in and take its place. Again the ritual of connection took place, and when the shuttle door opened inward a second time it was again a figure in black that stepped into the quiet ship. This new visitor however wore not a combat suit, but a long flowing cloak and cowl, and carried no visible weapon. It moved swiftly to the passenger area where the prisoners had been secured, and stared at the wounded man on the floor there for what seemed like a long time.

"We should move on, Banin," said the lead trooper eventually, breaking a long silence. "It would be difficult for them to remote detonate, but if treachery is what they have in mind, an attack is still possible."

"Yes, you're right of course lieutenant," said Banin, finally tearing a hateful gaze away from the prostrate pilot. "Get our prize secured."

Another hand signal from the lieutenant, and two troopers moved swiftly to the side of the unconscious man, and each hoisting under an armpit, dragged him swiftly but carefully out to the waiting transport. That action completed the primary mission objectives of the lieutenant, who left now with only one remaining uncertainty, voiced it.

"What about the girl?"

The figure known as Banin considered the peacefully slumbering woman, looking at her bruised and bloodied face. Under the black hood, the lieutenant watched a face contort into a scowl - but of what? Pity? Contempt? Banin seemed to come to a decision. "New Dawn obviously had no use for her - but if Tyris cares about her at all, Jax might. Bring her along - we can always rid ourselves of her later if we have no use for her."

"Very good, Banin." Motioning to his remaining underling, the lieutenant bent to the task of grabbing the unconscious additional passenger.

Lerrah wasn't quite sure when she'd come awake and aware. It was quite possibly the throbbing of her black eye, or maybe the split lip. Though, the pounding headache could have also been a good indicator. She didn't want to chance opening her eyes. She had no idea who the two men were, and she was fairly certain there were only two, but she didn't like the things they were saying. She recognized New Dawn from the ordeal. Who the hell is Jax? And what does he want with Cirran? What the hell is going on?

As they passed through an accessway, Lerrah gasped in pain as she was jostled through. She froze with fear.

"This one's awake." A terrible pain crashed through her head, and then everything went black.

Behind the two soldiers, the cloaked figure looked on as the defenseless girl was crudely bludgeoned into unconsciousness once more. As their prisoner's body slumped, Banin fixed the soldier who had brought down the butt of his weapon on her with a baleful stare. "I would have trusted New Republic training to include some more subtle method of rendering a defenseless woman quiet for transport," Banin snarled.

"Banin?" the soldier queried, puzzled. The use of force on this anonymous station trash had seemed perfectly reasonable to him.

In a blur of the cloak, Banin crossed the distance between them. A flurry of limbs followed, and in what had seemed like an instant, the offending soldier found himself crashed flat on his back on the steel decking with his rifle pulled uncomfortably across his throat, making breathing unpleasantly difficult. He struggled in vain to try and relieve some of the pressure as the cowl of Banin bent down close to his ear from behind. "We can hardly use her for leverage against Tyris if you've just cracked her skull, can we?" the cloaked figure said quietly.

"N..no, Banin..." the soldier managed to croak. "I apologise..."

"Oh, you'll be sorry all right, if she's dead - very sorry," Banin promised menacingly. A free hand was raised to motion to the lieutenant, who had watched events dispassionately. He knelt swiftly beside the unconscious girl, and checked her pulse. A thumbs up gesture conveyed everything Banin needed to know with minimum fuss. The soldier found the constricting grip on his throat loosened. He began drawing lungfuls of air in again with racking coughs. Above him, eyes burned down at him from beneath the cowl.

"Think before you act next time, or you will not find me so lenient," Banin warned. "And I suggest on future missions you ensure your shoulder strap is tight enough that an enemy at close quarters would find it at least slightly difficult to strangle you with your own weapon." Banin threw a glance at the lieutenant. "I thought your men were supposed to be elite?"

The lieutenant simply gave a shrug, casting a disapproving eye over the still coughing form of his subordinate. "He passed the commando tests, but Bollo is not one of the New Republic's very finest," he admitted, "but in selecting the unit, I had to of course bear in mind not only skill levels, but a certain moral flexibility. I could have picked maybe 20 or 30 men 5 or 10 times as good as him - and any of those men would have gone running straight to New Republic command at the first whisperings of Jax's little enterprise. There has been some compromise to standards, however slight, in building a squad with what we might call a sufficiently practical attitude."

Banin sneered, and this time it was clearly in contempt. "But of course. I sometimes forget how mercenary our little army is. And what about you lieutenant - are you a compromise as well?"

"Why Banin, you wound me," the lieutenant said. Although his combat mask ensured his face gave nothing away, his tone was mocking. "You should know by now that with me, you get what you pay for."

Banin glared at him for a second, and then moved to seal the door to what was now, for all intents and purposes, the empty shuttle behind them. "When this idiot has his breath back, bring the girl up to the main compartment." With a swirl of the cloak Banin turned and was gone, headed towards the cockpit.

The lieutenant watched Banin leave. Hold on to your delusions if you like, but Jax is playing you for a fool he thought. His employer might have Banin thinking otherwise, but the lieutenant knew the one reason Jax - and he and his men - were going through all of this. He reached a hand down to the Bollo to help him up off the ground. He could feel the hateful gaze of the man burning through his combat mask down the corridor that Banin had left.

"I'll fix that b..." Bollo was starting to grumble as he got off the ground, but the lieutenant cut him off in a tone of warning.

"The money, Bollo. Just keep thinking of the money."

Together the two soldiers grabbed their burden and carried her down the corridor after their superior.

***

The last ship winked into hyperspace, and the series of strange events that had transpired, which had certainly been the most interesting thing in the region in many centuries, seemed to be over. Nevertheless, after quiet had been restored, there was a final piece of drama left. It was just under 2 hours later that the shuttle, which had been floating lazily where the visitors had left it, exploded suddenly with a dazzling flash. In other times or places this explosion might have accurately been called spectacular; as no-one was anywhere near it at the time to see it happen however, it could hardly be called a spectacle. The blast flared out, what debris was left drifted away, and things at the location returned to their typical state of tedium.

---

"A Chat"
By: Chun Li - PI
Lorgal - Bodyguard and "Special Services"

Location: Altdorf - En Route to Bothawui
Date: Selene 25, 5 ABY

***

Li was walking around the ship to calm her nerves. When she had woken, Lazslo had gone already. Today she seemed to be more in control and if really necessary, the batteries were recharged. When she passed Lorgal's 'office', she knocked on the door.

"What?" came the gruff reply.

"Hey," she said, "I was wondering if you had managed to get more data out of those pads I gave you."

"No," he said curtly. The tone of his voice said it all. He was a bit put out with her.

"You didn't have a good night sleep tonight," Li asked, "you seem a bit tired."

"That'sss an underssstatement. From the chatter around the shhip, you didn't get much ssleep either." The sound of something heavy being moved came from the other side of the door. "You might asss well come inssside, I don't like to talk through a door."

Li opened the door and entered the room. "So, what's the problem," she asked, "I'd rather have them on the table as soon as possible, before we have it blowing up in our faces."

The office smelt of lizard, a kind of rancid undertone to the air that escaped the scrubbers. Lorgal was seated at his desk in a massive chair obviously designed to accommodate his bulk. A rack of heavy weapons lined the back wall. The workbench he was seated at had bits of electronics strewn across and mingled with various tools. A half-finished scrambler lay on a workmat.

The Barabel's snake-like tongue was hanging out between his lip ridges and his speech patterns included a sibilant hiss. A sure sign that he was agitated about something. "Normally I would have no care who you choosse to breed with, Msss. Li. However there is a certain undertone to thisss ssshhip that you may or may not have noticesssed. That "man", and I usse the term very loossssely, has already informed half the crew of your esscapedss, the other half will probably know in lesssss than an hour. I sssuggesst that you walk the sship armed, from now on, otherwissse thingssssss... might happen."

"Although the offer is tempting," Li said with a grin as she produced a holdout blaster, "I am armed at all times." 'So Lazslo had told other people,' she thought. Well, it wasn't all that unexpected. "I must say I've felt a bit strange the last couple of days," Li admitted, "well, probably just a phase I'm going through."

The massive barabel leaned back in his chair, which gave a warning creak, and cocked his head towards Li. "I have made Humansss a ssstudy in my life. Mosstly different and interessting mays to kill them, alssso your ssstyles and manerissssmsss. I believe that you are beyond the adolescent ssstage of your life, which issss where I would expect sssuch feelingsss. No, thessse feelingsss would not be consssidered normal, essspecially not in the patternsss I have noticed in you. Thisss did not happen until after you met the Bothon."

"Bothan," Li corrected, "but you are right."

Lorgal's brow ridge furrowed in thought briefly. "Hmmmmm, did he perhapsss give you anything? Ssslip ssomething in your drink?"

"I bought my drink before I met him," Li said, "and I keep an eye on that, trust me. The only thing he gave me is a necklace, so the people on Bothawui could recognise me."

"Only a necklace then? Perhaps my imagination isss getting away with me then. But pleassse, for the sssake of my own sssantiy and you own ssssafety, try to control thessse urgesss while on the Altdorf, who knowssss where it may lead? Hmmm?" He reached into a desk drawer and pulled out a red datapad. "Thisss isss all be have been able to retrieve from the datapadsss ssso far. Credit issss working on them ssstill. Everything here appearssss to be a sssstandard intelligence report that any low level Bothan sssspy might sssend out, however there issss a tiny kernal of information that isss locked behind a highly ssssophissticated cryptologic program and tied into a viciousss viral network."

He handed the datapad over to Li so that she could peruse it at her leisure. "Go ahead and take a look, but I couldn't find anything that would aid ussss other than knowing the Carmichael gang isss now at war with the Bloody Mynocksss."

"I'll try to find out more when I deliver them," Li said, looking at the pad again, "it might be easier that way. And I'll have a little chat with Lazslo about advertising."

"Good idea," Lorgal said curtly as he turned back to his work. "By the way, thisss little device is for you the next time you talk to that Bothan. It will allow usss to monitor you in cassse we need to interfere. I do not trussst him that he will let you go after we find out what information we need."

"Okay," Li said, "I only hope they don't scan me or something. Can you make it so that it's only active when I want it to be? That way it won't show up on scans."

"I can guarantee you that it will never show up on a scan. The massson ssssignel that it putssss out can only be detected on a receiver using the exact same frequency and crystalline matrix as the transmitter and the casssing is made of a ssspecial ceramic poly that is completely undetectable, its much like what wealthy smugglers use to line their sssmuggling compartmentss with. The only problem is, that there is no power sssource for it, unless we plant it under your skin and use your body's bioelectrical system." Lorgal was hissing less as he had begun to calm down and especially when he talked about his work. He rarely showed his skills with microelectronics to anyone, but he thoroughly enjoyed doing it.

"You mean like having that thing permanently in me," Li said, "no way. I've managed to get through imperial intel training without them putting stuff in me, and I'm not going to start now."

"Permanently in you? No, Li, it'sss like this is going to be hardwired into your sssystem or anything. No sliding it under the skin of you arm will be fine, and after we get done with the Bothan we'll take it out again,"

"Ah, okay," Li said. It did make sense of course, but Li was a bit weary of devices like this. She rolled up her sleeve. "Let's get it over with then. You do know how to place those things, right?"

Lorgal chuckled, "Anxiousss to get it over with? Yesss, I can place them, but I do not know how to connect it to your neurological pathwaysss. The ssurgical droid in sickbay will do it, and he already has a copy of the device. I assure you Ms. Li that whatever my feelingss for you are, my loyalty is firssst to my boss and the job he hasss ssset me on, I have no wish to harm you becaussse that will jeopardize thisss mission."

"I'll go there then," she said, not adding the 'and what when the mission is over'. She would have to make sure that it was removed, even if she had to go somewhere else to have it done.

"Good." Lorgal said. The inflecting in his voice and the way he concentrated on what he was working on gave the impression to Li that she was dismissed.

Li got the hint and left, going to the medical bay to get the implant. With that done, she went back to her quarters to catch up on some sleep. They would arrive later today, and she needed to be sharp.

---

"Short Stay On Bothawui"
by Chun Li (currently Mya Hiashu) - PI, Escort Pilot
and Tresk Giska'bar- Dirge's Man on Bothawui (NPC)

Location: Tresk's Apartment - Bothawui Capital
Date: Selene 25, 5ABY

***

Li was getting dressed to deliver the datapads. She wouldn't use the clothing she had used to seduce Fenn on Commenor, but she had taken a nice summer dress from the clothes she had bought. While they were still more revealing then was the norm for her, they were more modest then on Commenor. She had however taken the necklace and after a short inspection, she was allowed on the planet. It was near the evening, and the spaceport was not all that busy so she quickly found her way to the exit.

She had gotten an address from Fenn and she simply took a hovercab to that location. She still had the credit chip from Fenn, and putting a cab ride on it would be no problem, if he checked the balance anyway. She arrived ten minutes later at a large apartment building. This was a rich side of town, having doormen in front of the building and Li suspected heavy armed people inside. "What brings you here," one of the doormen, a large Bothan, said.

"I have a message for Mr. Giska'bar," she said, making sure the Bothan could see the necklace. He nodded and went on the comm.

"You can enter," he said to Li one minute later. She walked into the building and escorted by another security man, they rode the elevator to the top floor.

Five minutes later she was in front of Tresk Giska'bar, another prime Bothan male. Li could already feel the stirrings of arousal in her body as she handed him the datapads. She tried to make a mental note to check it out later on, but it was difficult with Tresk so close by.

"You look a bit too thin," Tresk said, "so why don't you join me for dinner. Let's get some meat on those bones."

"Yes, sir," Li said timidly.

They went to the living room, Li staying close to Tresk, and sat down at the table next to each other. Servants brought the plates in. While eating, Li didn't say much, and neither did Tresk. After a while, Li couldn't stop herself from putting a hand on his thigh. The Bothan smiled to her and encouraged by his smile she moved her hand upwards. She stopped eating and faced him, now using both hands to start undoing his pants.

"Just a little while longer, Mya," Tresk said, "first we finish our meal."

"Okay, sir," Li said. She started eating again, but after a while her hands sneaked back to his thigh again.

He put down his fork and took her in his arms.

"Let's go to the bedroom, shall we," he said. Li jumped up and dragged him with her. She was so aroused that she couldn't wait any longer. He laughed as they fell onto the bed and she started getting him out of his clothes. With that done she went down on him immediately, taking him in her mouth.

***A Couple of Hours Later***

Li was lying on Tresk's chest, staring at the ceiling. She liked the way his fur tickled her. After sex she could think coherently again and as Tresk was sleeping, she got up and still naked she went into the living room, in search for information. She quickly found a couple of datapads which she copied on her memcore. As she heard him stir in the bedroom, she quickly put the memcore back in her coat pocket and walked to the refresher.

She had just done when Tresk entered. She ran towards him, jumping in his arms and wrapping her legs around his waist.

"You are really enthusiastic, aren't you Mya," Tresk said.

"You know what I really like," Li said with a giggle, "the smell of wet fur. You joining me?" She put her feet back on the ground and walked to the shower.

"Then I shall give you what you like," Tresk said, following her. They spend almost an hour in the shower, using a maximum amount of time to pleasure each other and a minimum to actually shower. After towelling each other dry they went to Tresk's office, still naked.

Tresk opened a small vault in his office and took out a couple of datapads. "These have to go back to Fenn on Commenor," he said, "you still have enough money?"

The last question was a trick probably, Li thought, as he had to know the balance on the credit chip Fenn gave her, which still was enough to buy a ship. "I have, sir," she said, "and I can probably take the same ship back. The captain had said something about going back to Commenor tomorrow."

"That's for you to decide, Mya" Tresk said.

"One last parting gift," Li said pushing him on his chair and sitting in his lap.

Ten minutes later she walked outside, hailed a cab and drove back to the spaceport. Now she was alone, except for the cabbie, she could control her urges a bit to watch out for followers. She noted at the spaceport that she had a trailer, but in the busy spaceport she could easily loose them. And while they were inspecting all the YT-2400 transports, she was already onboard of the Altdorf. She didn't see Lorgal so she went to her quarters to satisfy herself a couple of times with her new toy. Later she would check the datapads.

---

"New Arozeil"
By: Dani
Raeila Selrid
Ferrig Mullerin

Location: New Plouton
Date: Selene 25, 5 ABY

***

After making certain Zarrak was still asleep, Dani slipped into her halter, miniskirt, and boots, and quietly exited the room. She fixed her choker in place and checked the mirror near the front room of the safe house. She looked like a proper slave girl, that was for certain. She hoped that no one on the street would question why a pleasure slave would be roaming alone, but had already prepared her story.

She stopped long enough to leave a note for Zarrak, promising her return. It ended up being more wordy than she'd intended, but hoped the endearments she left at the end would soothe any hurts caused by her departure. She did care for him, but her love for Raeila was greater. The thought of going to the Jedi, to see Nieme, filled her with a mixture of dread and hope. She was finally able to admit to herself that the dread was in that she knew that her feelings for Raeila rivaled what she felt for Nieme. In her heart, she knew that her love for Nieme had not diminished. Each moment with Raeila, however, caused her love for the Kir'Thana to grow. Strangely, their separation was doing the same thing.

With a sigh, she sealed the message to Zarrak, and slipped out the door.

Getting to the Palace of Stars was simple enough, even on foot. It was early enough that there weren't many people on the street. Thankfully her destination was located in a somewhat affluent section of New Plouton. Dressed as she was, she didn't want to think about passing through the Yallder district.

She saw the enormous bantha from several blocks away and quickened her pace. When she saw the single speeder parked in the lot, she broke into a run. She saw Raeila within the speeder, already scrambling to get out.

"Dani," Raeila breathed once free from the vehicle, mindful of not speaking her name aloud. It seemed Raeila couldn't run fast enough, the distance between them was so unbearable. Finally they collided in a fervent embrace, Raeila burying her face into Dani's hair and laughing tearfully. "You're alive! I was so worried."

Tears spilled down Dani's cheeks as she hugged Raeila fiercely. "I was so scared," she whispered. "I didn't want you to be afraid, and...and I couldn't leave without saying goodbye. The people who captured me had other ideas, but...but Zarrak saved me. I contacted you as soon as I could." She smiled and looked at Rae. "Now that I'm here with you, I don't know if I'm going to be able to leave."

"Then don't. Stay with me." She grinned, hoping to encourage Dani. "No one will find you, not again. We'll...we'll find a better hiding place this time."

"Zarrak found where the Jedi are," Dani said softly, holding herself close to Raeila. "Where would we go? To be safe? Where can we go, Rae?" She gazed into her friend's eyes, searching and easily finding the love that awaited her. "I don't want to leave you again."

"Ferrig will help us find someplace," Rae assured her, stroking Dani's hair. "He's as sneaky as they come. He'll think of something."

Dani looked past Raeila to the speeder. "I don't think Ferrig should know," she whispered. "I don't think it's safe. Rae...I...I don't trust him."

She chuckled. "Come on, Dani...it's not like he'd turn you in. He's always liked you."

"He likes having sex with me," Dani said. "He doesn't like that I occupy a large portion of your heart. I think one of the Feltreys had a hand in turning me in, Rae. They're the only ones who knew I was there, and I was very careful whenever I went out."

"Ferrig...he said it wasn't the Feltreys," Raeila insisted. "He...he wouldn't have planned this. He couldn't have. He knows how it would hurt me."

"I...I think I'd feel safer if he didn't know where I was, Raeila," Dani said. "I don't have proof that he did anything, but I know he's been having some very dark feelings recently. And then what he tried to do to us the other day."

Having always trusted Dani's instincts, Raeila couldn't refute her implications. She lowered her head in dejection. "I...I know. He won't find out where you are. It wouldn't be safe... But he won't let himself be left behind. He'll want to follow."

Dani glanced back at the enormous bantha, then back to Rae. "What if we got him a ticket to the show inside when it opens," she asked. "That would also give us some time to be together alone."

Raeila snorted a laugh. "Well, he certainly won't pass up that offer. And if he doesn't...I'm sure we can outrun him."

Dani laughed, then leaned in and kissed Raeila. It wasn't until their lips met that Dani realized just how much she'd missed Raeila. She smiled blissfully when they finally ended the kiss. "Come on, let's go see if your brother wants to watch a bunch of naked women dancing so we can have some time alone."

"I have no doubt he will," Rae declared with authority. Ferrig ducked out of the speeder upon their approach. "She's fine," Rae announced to him, raising high Dani's hand, which was linked to her own. "We were going to find somewhere private to talk. You know how boring that'll be." She rolled her eyes and smiled. "You want to go off and do something? There's a club here - you might like the entertainment they've got to offer."

"They have dancing in there," Dani said. "They should be opening soon."

"Where will you two be," Ferrig asked. "With...with people trying to get you, the two of you shouldn't be alone."

Dani smiled and brought Rae's hand to her lips. "We'll be fine, Ferrig. Go enjoy the naked, dancing women."

"Naked?"

Dani grinned. "Very."

Ferrig rolled his eyes. "But, I only want Raeila and Aera," he countered.

"It'll keep you occupied while we talk," Dani said. "It'll be boring for you. Trust us."

"Alright," he said with a reluctant sigh. He nodded to Dani. "Nice outfit, by the way."

"I might get one myself." Raeila grinned coquettishly at her brother. "You'd like that, hm? But I'm sure you'll like those naked women more." A nod to Dani signalled she was prepared to leave. "So, we'll meet you back here in a couple hours, Brother?"

"Of course," Ferrig said. "I'll...I'll be inside then. Have fun."

"See you later, Ferrig," Dani said and gave Raeila's hand a squeeze.

With a wave to her brother, Raeila and Dani continued past him to the speeder. Before slipping inside, Raeila called back to him. Upon turning, Ferrig was tossed a credit chit. When he snatched it out of the air, Raeila smiled and explained, "So you can watch the show as many times as you want."

Ferrig laughed. "How long are you going to be gone?"

Dani gave Raeila a sensuous look. "Could be awhile," she said. "Enjoy, Ferrig." Then she slipped inside the speeder.

"You two have fun too," he said. "See you soon, little sister."

A final wave to her brother and Raeila closed the hatch. They were gone within moments, leaving a gust of wind to swirl around Ferrig in their wake.

Ferrig watched them go, curious and not certain if he should be upset at being left. He looked down at the credit chip in his hand and then back to the large building behind him. It looked like they were just opening up so he nodded to himself and strolled toward the entrance. At least he'd get to watch naked women dancing while they were away.

***

"Did you see the look he gave us?" Raeila snickered as she launched herself onto the bed within their rented room. "It's like he's never seen a girl with a female hooker before!"

Dani laughed as she followed Raeila onto the bed. "It is so very strange," she said. "The people of this planet, they insist that their women wear an equadi, a flimsy, revealing garment, yet the actual thought of two people who love each other, or even don't love each other, having sex and they go into a blubbering fit. Such prudes."

"Prudes..." Rae echoed, and watched Dani sidelong alluringly. She covered Dani's hand with hers, asking, "You do still love me, right? We won't be in the category of those having sex in this very room, at this very moment, who don't love each other? Or" --Raeila turned onto her side to lay her free hand delicately upon Dani's bared chest-- "won't we be having sex at all?"

Dani covered Raeila's hand with her own. "Yes, Raeila," she whispered, "we will be having sex, and I love you very much." She leaned in with a kiss to express her deepest feelings and desires for Rae. When she finally pulled back slightly, she found Raeila's gaze. "My heart is yours."

She giggled. "Only mine? You know I can't give you mine whole."

"Well, despite all her faults, I do still love Nieme," Dani said. "And, I'm beginning to love Kael, I think. I don't think I could ever commit to only one, but to those I do love, I will commit to as fully as I am able."

A sadness possessed Rae's features and she wilted into Dani's embrace. "I wish, Dani," she whispered hoarsely, "that you could give me a baby. Tralesha...something happened and..." A sob nearly made her words unintelligible as Rae told her, "The baby's gone. My baby...."

"Oh, Rae," Dani said, her own sadness plain on her face. For a long while, she held Raeila and whispered soothing words. Finally, she pressed her forehead to her friend's. "Whatever I can do, I'll do it. I'll even have a baby with Ferrig if you want."

"Not Ferrig. I...I don't trust him completely. It has to be Kael...that's the only way."

"Alright," Dani said with a tender smile. "As soon as he's back, the three of us are finding a big bed and getting to work making a baby."

Raeila was able to relax again, comforted by the knowledge that her dreams weren't entirely dead. "I wonder where Kael is.... Have you heard anything? Do you think he's alright?"

"Nothing," Dani said with a slightly relieved sigh. "I haven't had a chance to look at any of the news feeds."

"I just wish he wouldn't put himself in danger all the time. I thought he moved to the desert with me so he wouldn't have to." Pouting, Raeila sulked, "Doesn't he care?"

"Of course he does," Dani said. "It's just that...he helped Yelara once, and they needed him to help her again. I'm sure they wouldn't have even come to him if they didn't need his medical skills."

"This is not his mess, though," Raeila complained. "He's too damned noble."

"I guess as a doctor, he feels responsible for helping people," Dani said. "Maybe we'll have to talk to him about his responsibilities to his family when he gets back, and how he can't go running off like this."

Raeila smiled dreamily, nestling her head against Dani's chest. "Family.... You're part of our family now and forever, Dani. It's hard to imagine I ever hated you."

Dani smiled happily. "I don't think you ever did," she said. "Beneath the anger and bad things, you were always fascinated by me, and so very curious. You did hate Nieme though; I could tell that. Considering what happened, I don't think anyone would blame you. But everything is different now. We finally have a chance at happiness, me, you, and Kael."

Hooking her finger under one strap of Dani's leather bra, Raeila dragged it down from her shoulder and smiled enticingly. "Shall we start making some of that happiness right now?"

"Yes," Dani breathed as her deft fingers reached over to help Rae out of her own clothing. "I want to show you how much I've missed you."

"Ferrig will be so jealous. I wouldn't have sex with him tonight."

"I'm glad you chose me instead," Dani said with a mischievous grin. "How did your night out with him go? He wasn't too boorish, was he?"

Raeila smiled cryptically as she lowered her face to Dani's exposed bosom, and murmured, "He was well-behaved. Made me suspicious."

"And rightfully so," Dani said, then gasped softly at Raeila's touch. "Oh you're good. So, do you think he's up to something? Or is it just strange that he's actually seeming to behave? I could tell he feels really guilty and is honestly remorseful. Though, I have-- Oh, Rae! I have...have felt that from him before."

"Before?" Rae paused briefly to frown. "When?"

"After he stole Thiri's panties and tried to make us whores," Dani said. "A few times before too, like when Nieme and I forced him to help us."

"And this time?" she pressed. "Do you think he had something to do with what happened tonight?"

"My guess would be that he did something before he came in, to get me out of the way so he could have you and Aera to himself. And, then after he realized what he did and now deeply regrets it. That's my guess based on what I feel from him."

Raeila was horrified - her crestfallen expression conveyed just that unequivocally. "He lied to me.... He...he was responsible for Tralesha's miscarriage. What else has he lied about?!"

"Probably quite a bit more," Dani said, her own sadness very apparent. "I can't read his mind, but I can tell when he is being dishonest. I don't know if he truly wants to be a better person, or if he's unable to control himself." She took Raeila's hands into her own and kissed them. "I'm so very sorry, Rae. I don't like to make you unhappy, but it's probably for the best in the end to know. I will help you in whatever you choose to do."

She smiled wanly. "None of it's your fault. Don't feel badly. You've never, ever lied to me, not when Ferrig, or even Kael, has. I have to be grateful to you for that. And if you'll let me repay you for that...." Golden hair brushing against Dani's chin, Raeila lowered her head and began trailing kisses down the midline of her chest, ever downwards.

"Oh," Dani purred. "That's very...wonderful." She smiled and closed her eyes as she let the feelings Raeila was stirring within her carry her away. With a giggle, though, she decided she'd be extra loud, just for the prude downstairs.

***

"Nice," Raeila murmured drowsily. Having bestowed immense pleasure upon one another, then sharing a warm shower in which further signs of affection were exchanged, Dani and Raeila had retired in exhaustion to the comforts of their rented bed. Now, snugged beneath the heavy covers with legs entwined and arms holding one to the other, Raeila and Dani enjoyed their intimate proximity, the pleasure of merely embracing. With nose buried in Dani's hair, drinking her natural redolence in deeply, Raeila forgot entirely all that had troubled her. Dani had banished all her worries, and Raeila had welcomed it...twice.

"Are you sure your friend won't be looking for you? You can stay longer?"

"I left him a note, and told him I'd either come back or contact him," Dani said. "I do care for him and he helped me in a time when I really needed it. But, I can stay longer to be with you. If we can find somewhere safe, I want to stay with you forever, Raeila."

She grinned broadly, her cheeks blushing darkly. "I know I've got Kael already...but would you be my arozeil, Dani?"

"Yes," Dani answered breathlessly. "Yes, I will, but only if you're mine too."

"If I make you mine," Raeila snickered, "I have to be yours, too, Dani! That's how it works. But...what can we exchange? I don't have anything to give you."

"The only things I have right now are my skirt, top, and boots," Dani said. "Maybe we could go get something. There have to be shops close that would have something we could exchange."

"It should be something that has meaning for us." Raeila thoughtfully stroked Dani's hair, deep violet with hues of dark brown that she admired. "I want this," Raeila decided, trapping a lock of Dani's hair between her fore and middle fingers. "I want a tress of your hair, so that even if you're far...I can keep a part of you close to me."

"Perhaps we could get something that each of us could keep a lock of our hair in," Dani said. "We could take two, twine them together, and put them into lockets. One for you, and one for me."

Raeila chuckled. "So imaginative...and romantic." She kissed Dani tenderly, slowly, then smiled. "Okay. That's what we'll do. We have to pick up Ferrig...but tomorrow morning we can look for a place."

"That'll be perfect," Dani cooed. "I'll have to tell Zarrak. And, I know he'll want to offer us his protection, if you're alright with that."

"Isn't he that winged creature you told me about?" Raeila asked skeptically. "What could he possibly offer in the way of protection?"

"He's very skilled," Dani said. "He's a bounty hunter, and although he's small, he's good."

"So, why did he rescue you? I mean...what does he want from you in return?"

"They hired him to come get me," Dani said. "I think he felt guilty and got me away from them. He helped Nieme and I get away from the Palace too. Last night, he told me that he thinks he might love me." She grinned happily. "I think, honestly, when he rescued me, it was because he didn't want me to hate him."

Raeila was mildly shocked and asked hesitantly, "Do...do you love him back? You want to be with him?"

"I do care for him," Dani said. "He is a friend and someone I am fairly certain I can trust from now on. But, I want to be with you, Raeila my arozeil. Forever."

"That's quite a commitment. Are you ready to devote yourself only to me?" Raeila smiled teasingly. "Am I all you need? You're a Zeltron - your purpose is to seek and give pleasure to many. You'd be limiting yourself if you settled for just one."

Dani looked perplexed for a moment. Finally, she smiled, assuming Raeila was joking with her. "We both already know that you won't commit to only me," she said, "and we know that I can't commit to only you. But I do promise to love you for now and until I draw my last breath. But, I agreed to be your arozeil when you asked, and I have no intention of changing that now."

"I'm glad. Now" --Raeila sat up reluctantly-- "we'd better go get Ferrig before he gets into trouble."

"I should probably check in with Zarrak," Dani said. "He and I were supposed to go to the Jedi today. I know where they are, but I didn't want to say when Ferrig was around."

"Are they all alright? Master Darr? Master Vorrel?"

"I hope so," Dani said. "I'll find out later. Did you want to come with us?"

She sighed and shook her head regretfully. "Ferrig will want to follow. I don't know what he'd do with the information if he found out where they were. I hate not being able to trust my own brother...but their lives are at stake."

"We can leave Ferrig at the Palace of Stars and go," Dani said. "Then we can go together."

Rae took Dani's hand and looked upon her fondly. "Should we dress first? I personally prefer you as you are, but for decency's sake, perhaps a little clothing..."

"I think clothing would be good," Dani said. She glanced down at hers and laughed. "Though, with or without makes little difference with this outfit."

"You could always wear a coat." Grinning at Dani, Raeila bounded off the bed in all her nude glory and dashed towards their pile of clothing at the foot of the bed. "We could always trade clothes, if you're uncomfortable. I could be the whore again, just as Ferrig wants."

"No," Dani said. "You don't want that, and I don't want that for you. And besides, do you really think I would be uncomfortable being naked? Come on, let's get dressed. I should let Zarrak know what's going on, and then we should go visit the Jedi. I'm sure Ferrig can keep himself busy at the Palace of Stars for a long, long time."

"And go broke in the process," Raeila added dryly. "He's been looking for someone to replace me. Maybe he'll find her there."

"Weibran hires good people," Dani said. "I worked there for a little while. Maybe they'll make him their mascot."

Raeila's snicker was muffled by her shirt as it was pulled over her head. When her face reappeared through the opening she was smiling fondly at Dani. "Get out of bed, my purple arozeil or I'll be tempted to join you in there again."

With a lazy grin, Dani slipped out of bed and started pulling on her clothing. "Very well," she said. "It'll be fun to see the Jedi again. Where do you suppose we'll live now? Do you suppose we'll be able to live in the desert? Or is it too dangerous?"

"I don't know," Rae sighed. "I guess we'll find somewhere temporary until Kael returns...then I'm sure he'll think of something."

Dani smiled, then hugged Rae. "Perfect," she said. "Come on, let's go give that guy a show as we leave."

With a shocked and baffled clerk left behind, Raeila and Dani sauntered from the hotel in a fit of laughter, after having paid him a gratuity in the form of their bared breasts. He was likely not to forget them, though hopefully he would forget Dani if a news report flashed her image. By then, they would be long gone seeking out the Jedi and trying to keep Ferrig from skulking about behind them and discovering their location. The Jedi wouldn't remain in seclusion long if he did, that much Raeila was certain of.

---

"Training in Hiding, Part 1"
By: Eiden
Zari Zathmir

Location: New Plouton
Date: Selene 25, 5 ABY

***

Eiden sat meditating. A long spell of reading the book he had brought with him from the temple had gotten him to wondering about some things.

Meditation had become the best way he could think of to gain clarity when his mind dwelled too long on a subject, and frustration started to set in. In this case it was the construction, or re-construction as it were, of his old lightsaber. The book he had borrowed detailed all he had needed to know, but there were still obstacles preventing him from taking the next step necessary in the completion of the project. He needed more minute control.

He sat on the floor, legs crossed underneath him, and allowed his mind to both flow out into his surroundings while observing those same environs through the lens of the force. The objects in the room took on a newness, his senses taking in new details normally indiscernible to his less attuned eyes and hands. He found himself fixated on a glass globe that sat in a far corner. Normally he saw it as a smooth sphere, no features, seamless. But, now it stood out, there were odd prominences, flaws, micro-cracks, flat spots. He felt all around the object as he began to cradle it, the initial perception of smoothness dashed, he was now fascinated with it.

"Wow!" came a voice snapping Eiden back into his own head, and dropping the sphere to the floor in front of him, shattering it with a great racket.

Eiden looked up after his initial start and saw Zari standing near the large room's entryway.

"What are you-- Oh, you're making a mess." Zari blinked at the shards of the sphere spread over the floor. She looked down at her bare feet and then up to him and grinned. "You're going to have to clean that up yourself, you know. What were you doing in here?"

Eiden got up and went to fetch the sweeper from the nearby closet.

"I was just doing some meditating after a bit of study," he said, pointing at the old book laying on the floor.

He found the sweeper and quickly began picking up the pieces of the shattered globe.

"What was really amazing though," he went on, "is how much easier it's getting to feel the force, and how naturally it comes to me."

He finished cleaning up the broken glass and re-stowed the sweeper. Then he walked over to Zari.

"And what brings my lovely training partner down here this afternoon?" he asked with a smile.

"We just got back from the beach," she said with a grin. She still appeared to be wearing her swimsuit beneath the cover-up she had on. She appeared to have gotten some sun during the day and her skin was reddened slightly. "And, after nearly a day without you around, I had to come down and see how you were. Did Master Brael teach you how to blow up glass spheres today?"

Eiden laughed.

"No," he said, "but I should ask her to put that into the lesson plan somewhere."

He walked back and picked up the book off the floor and placed it on a counter top next to Zari with his robe and lightsabers

"Have you had lunch yet?" he asked, "I'm famished."

"I had a little at the beach, but I'm hungry," Zari said with a grin. She patted her belly that was beginning to show the signs of the baby within. "Eating for two, you know."

"I saw a stand down on the street," Eiden said, "let's go grab something quick, and come back for a little practice."

---

"Training in Hiding, Part 2"
By: Eiden
Zari Zathmir
Talara Sorenne
Jae Dyn Brael
Baen Novix

Location: New Plouton
Date: Selene 25, 5 ABY

***

Silence filled the room save the hum of a lightsaber and the hiss of the remote drone. The blue blade was held steady in a defensive posture as the drone whispered in an arc around the lone figure. It dropped, then sped in the opposite direction. Even as it began to fire off a spattering of energy darts, the blade was moving to intercept. One. Two. Three. All blasts caught and deflected into the target on the other end of the room.

The drone circled again, readying to prepare for another stinging assault. As it moved, the door opened. The sound of two pairs of footsteps entered, one a nearly silent tread on shoeless feet, the other quiet on booted feet, but still an audible echo through the Force. Talara angled her blade to catch the blaster bolts from the remote as it began firing, this time a barrage of four, that she redirected into the target. As each of the crimson blasts hit the target, the two beings attached to the footsteps appeared.

"Talara!" Zari grinned at her friend, then up at her companion. "You finally get to meet her, Eiden. Talara, this is Eiden, he's Master Brael's new student. Eiden, this is Talara Sorenne, my best friend and a fellow Padawan. You can call her Tala, though. Everyone does."

Talara gave him a smile and closed down her lightsaber as she turned to the remote that was readying to fire again. "Off," she said, and it hissed, then began retreating toward the corner of the room where it had been activated to deactivate itself. "Hi, Eiden. It's nice to meet you."

"Likewise," he replied, "taking in some practice time, eh?"

"I figured I'd better before I got rusty," Talara said. "I hope I'm not intruding. I know this is your living space as well, but Master Brael suggested I could do my workouts here in the training area as well."

"It's perfectly fine," Eiden replied, "we were just about to do the same thing."

He walked over to his bundled robes and grabbed his borrowed lightsaber.

"How about we do a little round-robin?"

"Sure," Talara said with a grin. She was wearing a pair of lightweight pants cropped just below the knee and a tank top. Her sandals had been discarded in one corner of the room. Her dark hair had been pulled back into a knot at the back of her head and showed some signs of lightening from the sun she'd been out in earlier that day. Unlike Zari, she was darker complected and showed no sign of the reddening that Zari's pale complexion did.

"I don't think you're going to have time for that," a voice near the door to the apartment said. A moment later, Master Brael appeared. She was dressed in a pair of tight-fitting leather pants and a leather vest. At her side, her oldest daughter toddled along. When she saw Talara, she let out a happy squeal. "Tawwa!"

Talara grinned at the little one, and caught her as she charged forward and hefted her up into her arms.

"You don't have much time to prepare," Jae Dyn said, "but you three are going to be going on a mission. It will get you out of here for awhile, so you should be safe from the Palace troops still looking for the Jedi. I've agreed to help a friend of Keeve and Kimara, and Master Novix will be taking the three of you along to search for a young woman who has gone missing from the Drogen Shipyards."

Eiden was surprised at the suddenness of the assignment, but also understood that it was part of being a Jedi. What concerned him more was the fact that Master Novix would be leading.

Novix was a figure from Eiden's past. Eiden was positive of that. But whenever his thoughts concentrated on trying to remember, his mind clouded, as though something had been done to prevent him from ever really knowing about that time in his life.

"How much time do we have before we leave?" he asked.

"Master Novix is upstairs," Jae Dyn said. "I'd say you have an hour, two at most. He's doing a little bit of research on the Holonet now. Do you think you can be ready? He's already got arrangements for a transport, though getting offworld will be a bit tricky with the lockdown."

"I can be ready in a few minutes," Eiden said, "I'll just need some time to limber up," he added with a smirk that tried to hide his concern.

He walked out into the large training space, and began a short practice session with the remote.

"I'll need to change," Talara said, then glanced at Zari. "And so will you unless you plan on going on this mission in your bikini."

Zari grinned. "I'd thought about it, but alright." She approached where Eiden was practicing. "I'm going upstairs to change into something more fitting for a secret mission. I'll see you in a few minutes."

"You got it," Eiden said with a wink as he ignited his lightsaber for a practice session.

A short time later, Eiden was stepping off the lift into the penthouse where the hastily assembled team was waiting, wearing a fresh set of grey clothes, and carrying his loaner saber on his belt.

He walked into the large common area and sat on the soft couch, trying to keep his nerves under control before he would meet Master Novix for the second time.

Talara was seated on a couch with Yara in her lap. She was wearing a black flight jacket over a snug fitting black top that came down to just below her breasts. Her pants were white and fight snugly as well with a black stripe running down the side and tucking into a pair of thick, black boots. Zari sat beside her wearing a long skirt that was split up the sides to give her good freedom of movement and a sleeveless top that hid the growing bulge of her pregnancy.

Master Novix was standing across the room and nodded at Eiden as he came in. "Good to see you again," he said. "I've got a ship lined up in Thanatos, and we'll be able to take off from there. I can brief you on the way. Pocket your lightsabers or hide them in a bag for now. The public is quite ravenous over the Jedi right now, and seeing a lightsaber could surely inflame them."

Eiden nodded, removing the lightsaber from his belt. He tucked it into his loose tunic and ruffled it around until it didn't show a noticeable bulge.

"When do we leave?" he asked.

"If the three of you are prepared, we may leave now," Novix said. "I have a speeder downstairs. We'll go to the Thanatos port, where the ship waits. It's a small port, and not closely watched. We should be able to get free of the planet from there.

"I'm ready," Eiden said as he got up, then he looked around at the other two padawans.

"We're ready," Zari and Talara said in unison.

Jae Dyn stepped over to the two girls. "This is a big step, and I know the two of you are ready for it," she said softly. "You'll be fine with Master Novix, and I know you'll return with many stories and experiences. Stay safe and don't take risks that will get you hurt or worse. We'll keep an eye on things here, just make sure you both return in one piece."

"Thank you, Master," Zari said with a smile.

"Do you suppose it would be alright if I said bye to Dev," Talara asked softly.

"I don't think you should," Jae Dyn answered. "You'll see him when you return, I'm sure. But it's best you slip off quietly and without notice. Keeve doesn't even know you're going yet."

"I don't envy you, Master," Zari said with a grin.

Jae Dyn laughed. "I'll make sure that Yara is there when I tell him," she said. "Even if he is upset, he'll be powerless against those big brown eyes of hers." She regarded the two and nodded. "May the Force be with you both."

"You too, Master," Talara said. Zari echoed with "May the Force be with you too."

Satisfied there was nothing more that she could say to them, Jae Dyn turned to Eiden. "Perhaps some of the answers that have eluded you so far will find their way into your thoughts on this mission," she said. "I've always found that duty tends to focus me, and perhaps it will for you too."

"Thank you, Master" Eiden said, looking straight at Novix, "I have no doubt that you're right."

---

"Back Home"
by: Rylaa Lyssander

Date: 25 Selene, 5ABY
Location: Bunker located deep underneath New Plouton

***

The fact the service tunnels that spider webbed under New Plouton even existed was a fact known only to those bureaucrats interested with the minutiae of how the city was maintained by legions of droid servitors. The fact that they are connected to the ancient defense tunnel system that ran between New Plouton and Arcadia was known only to the highest ranking members of the Tae'Morad... and to the go-gangs that lived there. When the presence of these gangs became known to the New Dawn, and they were absorbed, the knowledge of both sets of tunnels became the property of criminal organization. A few well placed bribes and threats, and no few murders, ensured that the knowledge became their exclusive right.

Rylaa, having learned of the tunnels, had already concocted several schemes that the tunnels could be used for, including running a smuggling train between Arcadia and New Plouton. The illicit drug known as "Ice" was just becoming popular in the capital and New Dawn was the largest producer and distributor of it. With the recent tighten of security around Tae'karada's capital, the demand, and price, of the drug had grown while the supply had only diminished. Now New Dawn had a way of getting the drug into the city.

In addition, the defense tunnels came equipped with several command bunkers crammed with greatly outdated equipment that was in the process of being replaced with newer stuff from one of Ares' affiliates. These various bunkers would serve as being a kind of secondary command center for New Dawn's Outer Rim activities, augmenting what went on in the asteroid field of Tigris III. The only thing it lacked, compared to the asteroid field, was storage space. Whoever had designed the tunnel system had neglected to include any sort of long term storage for anything other than food. There weren't even any living quarters, only alcoves space in the walls of the many tunnels that could be stuffed with blankets in an attempt to make the cold duracrete comfortable.

"What the hell happened?" Rylaa Lyssander, criminal head of the New Dawn syndicate, demanded of the Twi'lek in charge of his intelligence services. They had taken to calling themselves the "Dawn Seekers" in response to his idea of turning the criminal into a religious organization. Of course, the upper leadership knew it was bullshit, but nobody had to know.

"The government declared the Jedi to be rebels and criminals," his officer replied. "There was a raid on the Temple by palace troops."

"And? Give me the details."

"They lost allot of men..."

"Well of course, they assaulted a Jedi enclave."

"... to one red-haired wild-woman. Or so the report filed said. The official report was, of course, doctored to reflect something other than what can only be called gross incompetence by what are supposed to be elite palace guards."

"Red-haired wild-woman? That could only describe Lani. Did they say what happened to her?"

"Escaped, with another Jedi that arrived on scene a couple days after the attack. Since then the Jedi have gone into hiding and all we have gotten are brief sightings at the most."

"Find them, but when you do make no attempt to contact them at all. Once a Jedi or an apprentice is located, ensure that they are followed electronically to reduce the chance of them noticing. The Jedi have strange powers, and who knows what they can truly do."

"Anything else sir?"

"Yes," Rylaa said as he lit one of his favorite cigars. "In the likely event that one of the Jedi, or one of their apprentices, gets into trouble where they might be discovered, your men are to do everything possible to aid them."

"Sir?" the Twi'lek look confused. "Help the Jedi? Doesn't that sort of go at odds with our long-term goals for this planet?"

"No," the criminal replied after taking several long drags from his pungent smelling treat, "it doesn't. When, and I do mean when, the Jedi get into trouble while in hiding, our seeming act of charity and aid might just swing their ideals towards ours. Who knows, when the time comes, they may just aid us in the achievement of our goals. Besides, if a Jedi gets captured, he may know and reveal the location of Lani, which is something that I do not wish to happen."

"No offense sir, but does the woman really matter that much at this point? Didn't she leave you to join them?"

Rylaa paused from his smoking and fixed his Intel Officer with a glare that could have torn flesh from bones. "Do not ever bring that up again, do you understand me? If you do, you will learn the meaning of pain."

The Twi'lek gulped nervously, instinctively realizing that he had just escaped death. The Boss was not a forgiving man. "Yessir, never again."

"Good. Has Lorgal sent any word about his hunt?"

"Our last communiqué with Lorgal had him mentioning something about Bothawui, but we couldn't get any specifics. His time was extremely short," he said.

"Fine, as long as he is still on the trail, I'm pleased. No get out of here and let me enjoy my cigar. My instinct is telling me that something is about to happen that could change the face of this planet, and over the years I have learned to trust my instincts." The Twi'lek nodded and left, leaving Rylaa to puff away and contemplate what might possible be happening right now to invoke such a feeling within himself.

---

"The Operation, Part 1"
by Vincenzo Lapenta - Neurosurgeon

Location: Surgery 1, New Plouton Institute for Neuroscience
Date: Selene 25, 5ABY

***

Vincenzo was getting dressed. At least, getting changed into his surgery outfit. Today would be the first stage of Yelara's surgery. He had decided to start with a difficult part first, namely replacing the spinal cord with bioneural circuitry. It was both easy and difficult. Easy because it was large, relatively speaking, so it was easy to find. But replacement of the spinal cord was difficult as he had to avoid doing further damage. And they had to stop most of her body functions for it as well.

"All set, doctor," one of the nurses said as she entered the room.

"Good, let's get this done," he said as he went into the surgery room.

A full team was waiting for him, four nurses, the anaesthetist and a full replacement team in case the operation took too long for him. Also a couple of Onebee droids were standing by.

Yel was on her stomach, already sleeping from the anaesthetic.

"Okay," Vince said, "start rerouting heart functions."

The first order of business was to get her on the heart-lung machine, as those functions would stop when he cut the spinal cord. As long as the blood continued to flow, the other organs could go for a while without neurological input, especially since she had been fed by IV for the last couple of days, so the gastro-intestinal system would be out of work anyway. Also most of the organs had been with reduced neurological input due to her disease for some time now.

"Okay," Vince said when it was done, "scalpel."

A nurse handed him the laser scalpel and he made an incision in the neck at the first neck vertebra. There he would have to cut the spinal cord. Carefully he sort of peeled away the skin so the spinal column became visible. Now came the tricky part, as he would have to cut open all the vertebrae to access the nerves running inside of them and to put the replacements in as well.

"Cutter," he said, holding out the scalpel. The nurse took the scalpel and a special cutter was placed in his hand. "Setting?" he asked one of the other nurses.

"10, Doctor," she said.

"Thanks," he said, putting it at the right depth selection. That way he wouldn't cut too deep. He made two parallel cuts, so he could lift out a small section of the vertebra out to reveal the nerves at the bottom. One of the nurses lifted the segment clear on his order and put it aside in a bath of nutrients. They had to keep the cells in the bone alive so they could reattach it after the surgery as it would take too long to let it grow back on its own, and it might not close properly.

Doing one before exposing the entire spinal cord was to see if the scanners were giving the correct depth. He had it happen once before that the scanner hadn't picked up on something and the resulting complications had taken a one hour surgery into a five hour living hell. And this one would already take four to five hours.

Now he knew it would probably work okay, so he asked the scalpel again and started exposing the rest of the spinal column. It took fifteen minutes to get to the small of her back. Now the entire spinal cord was exposed he asked for the cutter again and started exposing the nerves. He was at L3 when he stopped.

"We're not going to do this one," he said to the nurse, "it's too brittle. Have a bionic replacement brought down. We'll replace it fully."

"Yes, doctor," the nurse said, even if she didn't see anything wrong with it.

"Good, next one," Vince said, moving on.

"15, doctor," the other nurse said. Vincenzo started cutting again.

He was about an hour and a half in the procedure when the spinal cord was fully exposed. Now it was time to move to the next stage. Taking a scalpel again, Vince started cutting the spinal cord and all the nerves leading away and to it. That took half an hour before he could start to remove the spinal cord from its protection. When he came to the L3 vertebra he took that out too and indeed it broke in a number of pieces.

"Keep that," he said one of the nurses, "I would like to see why only one is so brittle."

He was just starting to get the bioneural circuitry in when an alarm went off. "ASAT levels are rising," the anaesthetist, who also monitored the vital functions, said, "three times upper normal limit at the moment and still rising."

"Neutralise it," Vince said, "and check on haemolysis."

He had to stop for a while handling this problem, and he called the replacement doctor, his colleague Joachim Rees, over.

"You will have to continue to monitor this," Vince said, "it's probably an artefact from the artificial blood filtering, but I'd rather not take any chances. Try to find out what the problem is."

"Okay Vince," Joachim said. He was also wondering how Vincenzo had seen the problem with the bone of the vertebra. He too hadn't seen anything wrong with it until Vince had taken it out.

While Vincenzo continued to put in the new circuitry and a replacement for the L3 vertebra, Joachim started to search for any possible problems, but he found none. So it was probably some reaction of the patient's blood to the machine. It happened sometimes. While Rees was doing that, Vincenzo continued to put the replacement spinal cord in. That didn't take so long, but attaching all the nerves did. Attaching the nerves was time consuming and they would cut them loose again when they were replaced. But it was simply impossible to do everything in one operation, so this would have to do.

When all the nerves were attached, Vincenzo gave some stimuli to her extremities to see if the signal transduction was going as planned. Somehow he knew that it was going to be that way, but they had to test nevertheless. And indeed, the tests were going okay.

Now came the part to close Yelara up again. First the pieces of vertebra would have to be put back in place, with some bolts to keep them from moving during her healing process. Of course those things were not officially called bolts, but that's exactly what they were and that's what the staff called them. Putting everything back together took about an hour.

"That's all done," Vincenzo said, "she can go to the recovery ward."

While Yelara was moved out, Vincenzo and his team stripped off their surgical garb and after a nice shower they felt human again. Five hours of surgery tired you out.

"Anything about the complication," Vincenzo asked Joachim.

"Nothing special," he said, "it must have been a reaction on the machine."

"I'll put it in her file," Vince said, "we'll need it three more times. That way we know to give counter medication from the start."

"Okay, I'll write something up," Rees said, "see you around."

When Rees was gone Vincenzo also went to his office to write up a report for Vaela's file. Upon arriving there he saw that there was a nurse waiting for him.

"Excuse me, Dr. Lapenta, but can I speak you for a moment?"

"Please, come in," Vincenzo said.

"It's about Vaela Jor," the nurse said when they were seated, "when I prepped her for surgery this morning I noticed something."

There we go, Vincenzo thought. As it was the nurse he had asked to get her identity, it was for the best to tell her and that way he killed two birds with one stone. "Please go on," he said.

"I noticed she closely resembled someone else," the nurse said.

"I know," Vincenzo said, "you told anybody?"

"No, Dr. Lapenta," the nurse said, "but, she was dead, right? It was on the news."

"Clearly she's not," Vincenzo said, "I once caught her awake and she reacted to the correct name. We'll have to keep it a secret."

"But, doctor," the nurse started.

"We have to," Vincenzo said, "they tried to kill her once, and I'm not going to do all that work for them to kill her again. And what do you think they would do to us?"

That got her attention. It would get everybody's attention.

"That also means no more searches for her identity," Vincenzo continued, "you never know who might find out."

"Of course, doctor," the nurse said, "but how are we going to keep others from finding out?"

"The number of people that can see her is limited on my orders," Vincenzo said, "the surgery team will always be the same and you will always prep her. And at the moment she's on her stomach, so not too many people will see her face anyway."

"Okay doctor," she said, standing up, "if there's nothing else?"

"Not at the moment," he said, "but remember, careless talk can cost lives." He didn't have to add that in this case it could mean their lives. With the nurse gone he could start on his reports.

---

"Return to the Fold, Part 1"
By: Dani
Raeila Selrid
Zarrak

Location: Zarrak's Safehouse, New Plouton
Date: Selene 25, 5 ABY

***

Ferrig wasn't happy about being left behind again, though a few more shows at the Palace of Stars seemed to quiet him some. Using Raeila's speeder, they quickly made their way back to Zarrak's safe house. With Raeila holding the chain attached to Dani's collar, they started up the steps to the safe house.

With a glance to Rae, then to the door, Dani opened it and led the way in. She felt nervous and hoped that Zarrak wasn't upset with her.

"Karraz," she called, using his fake name. "Karraz, I'm back."

Zarrak walked around the corner and cocked his head, regarding Dani and the newcomer whose name he did not know.

"Glad to see that you are safe," he replied after a while. He nodded at the other woman. "Who is she?"

"Are we alone," Dani asked with a look around.

Zarrak nodded. "Yeah, we're alone. Grel just left five minutes ago. The wormhead tried to steal the spice he lost in the game."

"Zarrak, this is Raeila," Dani said. "Raeila, meet Zarrak."

"It's nice to meet you," Raeila told him warmly. "I'm so glad you were there to help Dani. What you did for her...we'll never forget it."

Zarrak nodded at her comment. "It was no problem. I did what I thought was right and now I'll be hunted as well." He flashed a roguish grin. "But since I'm a bounty hunter I know all the tricks and how to avoid them.

"But, ah," he started. "Did you tell them what really happened?" He turned to face Dani.

"I left out a few details," Dani said, "but pretty much everything that happened, Raeila knows about." She slipped her hand into Rae's. "Raeila and I have a very special connection and I trust her completely."

"And if Dani trusts you," Raeila added, smiling at Zarrak, "then I trust you, too."

Zarrak merely nodded. "So what's the plan going to be?" he asked, after pausing for a moment to think of something to say.

"I don't think there's anything else we need to do here right now and Ferrig's going to be enjoying himself at the Palace of Stars for awhile," Dani said. "I say we go find the Jedi. I don't think it should take us too long to get to Vendra, and Eacopad said he thought they were just outside of Vendra in a warehouse of some sort. Do you think your speeder could get us there, Zarrak?"

"It probably could," he replied. "Let's just hope we don't attract too much attention though. I can always put on my robes again...even if I can barely move in 'em." He shrugged. "Just to keep up appearances. Whenever you two are ready we'll head out."

Raeila and Dani both nodded. After Zarrak was disguised, they set out to his speeder. Rae studied the Dug closely, gathering the nerve to finally ask, "Who hired you anyway? To nab Dani - who was it?"

Zarrak checked his speeder to make sure everything was okay. He opened the doors for both Dani Raeila to climb in. He looked miserable in his robes, they were uncomfortable and he couldn't move that easily in them but he had to wear them.

"It was a pale woman," Zarrak replied. "She hired three others. One of them, a woman, left ahead of the other two and myself. I joined up with two humans and together we nabbed her. 'Course, I betrayed them and brought her here."

He climbed into his speeder. "Ready?"

"Yes ready," Dani said. She gave Raeila's hand a squeeze. She climbed into the back of the speeder and gestured for Raeila to join them. "It's going to take some time to get to Vendra. An airspeeder would be faster, but I think this will be safer for us."

With Rae settled in, they were off, and silence prevailed over the first minutes of their long trek into Arcadia. Raeila broke the silence by asking innocently, "Are you in love with Dani, Zarrak? Is that why you're doing this?"

The question took Zarrak off guard while he drove. He had been asking himself the same question ever since he helped her out. He risked his career and most importantly his life. Even if he managed to live he'd never get hired again because more than likely he'd be labeled as a hunt saboteur. Often times a hunt saboteur would protect the bounty hunter's quarry and in some very rare cases would team up with the bounty hunter and then double cross the bounty hunter once they found the quarry.

"I guess it would do no good to lie," he replied, "because you women can smell a lie a meter away. I am fond of her, okay? So yeah, I'm in this for good now." He shook his head. "Because now more than likely one of two things will happen to me. I'll either be killed or be labeled as a hunt saboteur and never get hired for another mission again."

A thought then jumped into his head. Did she feel the same way? He wasn't exactly a member of a good-looking species. By Dug standards he'd be a catch (or so he hoped). But by humanoid standards he looked no better than a Hutt or a Whiphid or some other ugly species.

Dani reached forward so her fingers caressed the top of Zarrak's head. "I hope you know that I appreciate everything you've done to help me," she said. "And, whatever happens, I'm sure we can figure out a way to keep you able to work after this. I'll do everything I can."

Zarrak merely nodded. He enjoyed her touch then gave a quick glance to the two women in the seat behind him and tossed Dani a wink.

"How much further?" he asked.

"Another thirty minutes, I'd guess," Dani said. "It's just straight around the sound. Just follow the main road, and it'll get us there."

Zarrak nodded and continued to follow the main road just as Dani suggested. He kept his eyes moving and one of his Scatter Pistols rested near him, just in case.

"Want me to wait in the speeder?" he asked some time later.

"I'm sure you can come in if you'd like," Dani said as she caressed Raeila's hand with her thumb. "If you don't want to be around the Jedi, it'll be fine, I'm sure. Your choice, Zarrak."

They were off the main road now and heading toward a number of warehouses. As Dani looked around, she could see the road beaches back behind them. Someday she'd have to go there, but that wouldn't be today. "There," she said, pointing, "that looks like what Eacopad described. I'm sure they're over there."

"But will they let us in?" Rae asked. "They may not want anyone seeing them."

Zarrak stopped the speeder and climbed out. His Scatter pistols were both resting on the seat next to him. His yellow eyes glanced at the two women that were with him.

"Only one way to find out," he replied. "Let's go say hi then."

As Zarrak was already heading off, Dani and Raeila scrambled out of the speeder to follow. Dani was certain the Jedi wouldn't approve of her attire considering there was very little to it. As they neared the doorway she suspected hid the Jedi, she took Raeila's hand. They stepped up to the door with Zarrak standing to one side. Dani took a deep breath, let it out slowly, then knocked.

Raeila fidgeted nervously, looking about the road behind them for any inquisitive passersby. "They won't answer," she whispered, shaking her head quickly. "They wouldn't dare."

But someone did, activating the door. The entryway was dark and cloaked the one who had responded to their rap. Only a voice confirmed that someone was, indeed, standing before them. "Come in and do so discreetly," came a whisper. "You were expected."

Zarrak glanced at the two women and gulped. He suddenly found himself wishing he had brought his Scatter pistols with them.

"Ladies first," he replied. "Should I come in as well or wait out here?"

"Come in," Dani said softly to Zarrak, then started into the entryway. "We're sorry for intruding. I trust you know at least two of us?"

"I knew you before you knocked at our door." And as the door sealed behind the trio, a light flicked on in the hallway, with Laedra smiling at them. "Welcome. We knew you would come, though it's still nice to see you safe."

"The Palace sent bounty hunters after me," Dani said. She indicated the Dug with them. "Zarrak was one of the ones they sent, but he turned on the others and got me to safety. A friend of his figured out where you were, but is not going to reveal the information to anyone. I had to come." She gave a smile. "I am glad to see you, Master Laedra. And, I am glad you are safe."

Zarrak nodded at the Jedi as Dani explained the events that led to them being here. He seemed more relaxed at the moment but that could change quickly. He then felt a pang of sadness as he wondered if Dani would stay with them or if she would return to his safe house with him.

"Nice to meet you," Zarrak said.

Laedra tipped her head at him. "Welcome. We have your discretion and trust, I hope?"

"Yes," Zarrak replied gruffly. He stepped inside and waited for the negotiations to begin. His feet-like hands had their toes laced together and he seemed to be relaxed.

Rae stepped forward, her eyes pleading as she asked, "Kael.... Is he here? Is he alright?"

Laedra sighed and regretfully shook her head. "He hasn't joined us. But...but I'll explain more once I can get you settled."

Raeila frowned worriedly. "Is something wrong? Where's Kael!"

Master Vorrel halted in the corridor and faced them all. She placed a consoling hand on Raeila's shoulder as she explained, "There was an attempt to rescue Yelara... Liam and Kael...they've been captured."

"No!" Raeila would have staggered away in horror had Laedra's grip not been also restraining the girl. Instead, she spun and collapsed into Dani's embrace to weep hysterically.

"I am sorry," Laedra whispered. "We will attempt to retrieve them when possible...but for now please know that they are still living."

Dani comforted Raeila as much as she could. "I will help," she said. "Retrieving them, I mean. I have to." She paused to kiss the top of Rae's head and whisper some soothing words. "Master, how did you know we were coming? You said we were expected. How did you know?"

Laedra glanced briefly at Zarrak then Rae, before replying evasively, "We just...knew. I'll explain further once we reach the common room and I play the perfect hostess by offering beverages to all." Smiling warmly, she continued to lead them through the hall.

Zarrak glanced over at the woman. A drink sounded good right about now. "If you have any brandy I'll take that," he replied.

Dani followed after Master Laedra, tugging slightly at the hem of her extremely short skirt but knowing the action was fruitless. She wasn't sure if Laedra would disapprove of her scant apparel or if it would even be a concern, but in the end Dani knew there was nothing she could do about it.

When they reached the common room, she continued to comfort Raeila.

"I apologize for my state of dress, Master," Dani said.

"You look fine to me," Zarrak told Dani when she apologized. He gave her a wink and a grin.

"We are all required to take on disguises in this trying time," Laedra assured Dani. While they found seats on the benches there, she poured identical drinks for each of them - water, they discovered when the glasses were in hand. Laedra shrugged and explained, "We can't afford such luxuries as spirits for the time being. We must preserve our safety - that is of the utmost importance."

"Thank you, Master," Dani answered taking a glass for both herself and Raeila. She used some of her pheromones to calm Raeila a little, whispering quiet words of both her love and encouragement to drink some of the water. "I don't know if it's safe for me to return to the desert, but I don't think I can stay here. But...but if Raeila wants to stay here to be here when Kael is rescued, I will gladly stay."

Zarrak took a sip of his water. For a moment he just held the glass in his large and clumsy looking hands and stared at it. He placed it back down on the table and leaned back.

His nostrils flared as he thought hard. He glanced over at Dani. She cared for Raeila in such a way that he almost wondered if she felt that way about him. She reminded him a lot of his sister who he had not seen in several years.

"Whatever needs to be done I'll do it." His eyes were closed. "And I know what the risks are. I betrayed my employer. Maybe a prisoner transfer could be done. Me for this Kael person. Either way blood will be spilled and since I'm scum I think it should be mine instead of a Jedi Knight."

"I don't think they'd go for that, Zarrak," Dani said. "You're very valuable to us, but for as much as they hate the Jedi, I don't believe they would want to trade a Jedi Knight for a non-Jedi Knight. I believe they would accept me for Kael, or one of the Jedi Masters, like Master Laedra or Master Darr. Besides, you're not scum."

"And," Laedra added, "we are not bartering one life for another. No one is expendable." Raeila was looking up now, listening with reddened eyes, and Laedra stressed, "No one." With a wan smile, Raeila nodded. Seating herself on the bench opposite their own, Laedra gestured to them and inquired, "What brings you here? The desert would be a far safer place right now, for everyone."

"That's what I thought, and that's why I was staying there," Dani said. "Somehow the Palace found out where I was, and they sent bounty hunters after me. If it weren't for Zarrak, I'd actually be their prisoner now. Raeila came to New Plouton with me, and Zarrak knows someone who figured out the Jedi were here. And, we came here to hopefully find out more of what was happening." She kissed the top of Raeila's head, a gesture that left no doubt of the strength of her feelings.

Zarrak finished his glass of water and placed it on the table in front of him. His thick fingers were drumming on the table.

He didn't know how the rest felt about him. But at least he knew Dani didn't think he was scum.

"Yeah, what do you have planned?" he asked. "And what is really going on."

"We are in hiding," Laedra explained plainly. "So...here we shall remain until the High Princess sees fit to pardon us. We are not too keen on openly opposing our government. That can only lead to death."

"But the High Princess is dead," Dani said, her voice just above a whisper. "The news was all over the street when I went to meet with Raeila."

"Yes...we had heard, but Jae Dyn Brael has indicated to us that she did not feel Yelara die." Laedra sighed and shook her head. "Until we have confirmation, we can only believe Yelara has died...but we hope she has not, for if she lives, we can perhaps persuade her into pardoning us."

"That's very good news," Dani said with a sigh of relief. "At least it gives us hope. So, Master Brael is safe? What about Zari and Talara? They're alright too, I hope."

"So far, everyone else is fine." She watched Dani and added significantly, "And some in a state that might surprise you. If you don't mind leaving Raeila and Zarrak for a moment, would you care to see what I mean?"

Dani's face lit up and she looked at Raeila. "Do you mind?"

She smiled wanly and shook her head. "I'll be fine. Me and Zarrak here will exchange stories about you."

Dani kissed Raeila tenderly. "I'll see you soon, my beautiful arozeil." With that, she bounced up and turned to Laedra. "I'm ready!"

As Laedra led Dani away, Raeila smiled awkwardly at Zarrak. "So...having wings is fun, huh?"

Zarrak glanced at her and flapped his ears against his skull. "Huh? Wings?" he asked. He watched her carefully for a moment, wondering what she meant by that.

She shrugged and explained, "You're Toydarian, right? You've all got wings, don't you?" Scanning him up and down, Raeila then suggested, "Or did they fall off?"

"No, I'm a Dug," he replied. "Dugs don't have wings." For a moment he just watched her, trying to see if she was kidding. Finally he said, "Look, I promise I'll help get your husband out."

"You will?" Rae smiled curiously. "But...you don't even know him. Why would you want to risk your life? Is it just to make Dani love you?"

Zarrak shrugged. "Because my career as a bounty hunter may be destroyed so I have to do something to make a living don't I? And I don't think Dani will ever truly love me. Hopefully we're just friends."

He poured himself another glass of water.

"At least she considers you a friend." Raeila smile uncertainly and shrugged. "If it's any consolation...if I were still a whore, I'd take your money."

Zarrak coughed and sputtered, water shot out of his mouth and on the table. He began to beat his chest with his large hand until the coughing stopped.

His yellow eyes fell on the woman. "Really. If I knew why it may console me somewhat," he replied. His tone was somewhat light.

"Well..." Raeila gnawed at her lip, thinking of a reason Zarrak would appreciate. With a gasp of revelation, Raeila announced, "You're not a Hutt!"

For a moment Zarrak just watched the human. He actually broke out into laughter and shook his head. He looked at her and nodded.

"Well that's true," he replied. "And thank the gods for that. You know, I'm actually beginning to like you."

She wrinkled her nose at him, wondering if she should take offense. "You hated me before? Is it because I'm not purple?"

Zarrak tried to think of something to say that would sound nice. He wasn't very good with talking to women and now he was going to crash and burn.

"No what I meant about that was that I didn't really get to know you before our conversation now," he said. "So therefore it would not be polite of me to make assumptions. But I did like you then and I'm beginning to like you even more now.

Raeila giggled and scooted closer to Zarrak on the bench. She extended her hand to him and said, "I'm Raeila Selrid. You probably already know that, but since you like me now, I figured I'd reintroduce myself."

Zarrak glanced at her hand for a moment before gently taking it into his large and bulky one. He gently shook it and smiled at her once more. "And since you reintroduced yourself, I'm Zarrak."

Raeila continued tittering as they became re-acquainted. Dani, elsewhere in the abode, was eagerly on her way to do the same.

---

"Return to the Fold, Part 2"
By: Dani
Raeila Selrid
Zarrak
Master Laedra Vorrel
Nieme Yaresh

Location: Jedi Safehouse, Vendra
Date: Selene 25, 5 ABY

***

Dani seemed bright and expectant as Laedra conveyed her through the temporary abode of the condemned Jedi. The young woman had no idea what she was about to encounter, Laedra concluded that much and deemed it necessary to warn her. In the basement, where many of the sleeping quarters were, Laedra stopped Dani at the base of the stairs and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Do you know what this is about, Dani? Have you sensed anything?"

"I believe so, Master," Dani said. She'd been bristling with excitement from shortly after they'd entered. "I didn't want to get too hopeful, but I think I know."

"But you do not know the details - even I am still sorting through those." Laedra smiled briefly as she took a seat upon a step, inviting Dani to join her. She did, allowing Laedra to continue. "It happened the first night of our arrival here - one of the Padawans, Irie, woke me in the night. She hurried me outside, into the rain." Laedra paused, recalling that eventful moment. She had been troubled by it, even then. "She was standing in the midst of it in nothing but her nightclothes. When I approached, she was murmuring gibberish and when I attempted to reach out to her, I was stayed by something.... I could feel something about her had changed. She was...vibrating with life, exuding a calm I've never felt from her before. And in her eyes...." Laedra went silent, attempting to comprehend still the sensation that had emanated from her. She could only shake her head. "You'll have to speak to her to understand."

Dani nodded. "I understand," she said. She couldn't help smiling at the excitement building within her. While she had never given up hope, remaining hopeful had been a trial. "May I see her now?"

"Don't expect too much from her," Laedra warned gently. "She's...not herself."

With another nod, Dani stood. "She hasn't been herself for some time."

Squeezing her shoulder, Laedra motioned her head towards the door straight ahead, the last at the very end of the hallway.

With only a moment's hesitation, Dani started along the hall. When she finally reached the door, she knocked softly as she pushed the door open wide enough for her to see inside. In her chest, her heart was pounding.

Nieme had grown slight in frame, as much as could be noticed beneath the white nightgown draping limply over her, and from her seated position on the bed, with her narrow back to Dani. She was still, not even turning to see who had entered her room. "Nieme."

"No," came the whisper that issued from the unmoving figure within. "Not the same person...but the same. Better... Right. Can't go back.... They warned me not to," she murmured. "Can't...."

"But your name is still Nieme," Dani said as she entered the room, opening her empathic senses. She approached the bed, angling to come around so she'd be able to face the changed woman sitting there. The relief she felt at seeing Nieme awake was palpable, the love she felt more so. "I am so very glad to be here. Since the attack on the Temple, I have been worried that I should never be able to see you again." At last she finally came to be standing in front of Nieme. In her native language, she said. "My heart is yours, as always."

Her eyes remained fixed straight ahead, past Dani, whose presence she'd barely acknowledged. "All this is...inconsequential," she whispered, but to whom she was speaking was not clear, for Nieme continued mouthing words, but inaudibly to Dani, only the movement of her lips indicating speech.

"Is Nieme gone?" Dani asked, uncertain whether this was a product of Nieme's continued dementia, or if perhaps she had been possessed by some entity. "You said that you are not Nieme, even though this is her body. She and I had a very special bond, and...and I had hoped to speak with her again if it is possible."

"You're speaking with her," Nieme assured Dani, without taking her eyes off the empty space over Dani's shoulder that seemed to be occupying Nieme's attention. "I'm still Nieme...but I'm more. I see things more clearly now.... I see everything. They've showed me...and it's impossible to return to the past now."

"I see," Dani said as she watched Nieme. "Do you feel any emotional connection to me at all."

"I...know you." Nieme's eyes finally, sluggishly turned to Dani, but her expression remained vacant. "You haven't experienced what I have. The Force...it's more than what the Masters can possibly teach us. There are things about it that words can't express." Her expression began changing, wonderment and awe lighting her eyes. She smiled now and whispered passionately, "I've seen it all...and it's more wonderful than any worldly sensation - than any physical expression of emotion we can experience. It's so much more...."

A tremor of sadness passed through Dani's emotions, but along with it was a feeling of happiness for Nieme's evolution. "What will you do now?"

Nieme was silent, pensive until she answered plainly, "I will...be. I will explore the Force further, as the Ancients have taught me, and attempt to carry on their traditions." She watched Dani with open curiousity, as a child might, and told her, "You could join me. Would you like to learn, Dani?"

"I would like to," Dani said. "But, I cannot give up my emotions. I can't stop feeling. It's as fundamental a part of my species as breathing. And, I cannot stop loving you or Raeila."

"I still have emotions," Nieme informed her serenely. "But...they cannot endanger me anymore. They are not...distinct emotions any longer. They have melded into one...they are in harmony with one another, and with me. The dark side can never touch me again."

"I am very happy to hear that," Dani said with obvious relief. "I would like to learn as much as I can, Nieme." Her tone was casual and curious as she asked her next question. "Can we continue our relationship or is that even possible now?"

"I am not certain," Nieme admitted. "If it were not to interfere in my unity with the Force and pursuit of full enlightenment, then...." She shook her head. "Do you feel it necessary?"

"For me, to love and be loved is very important," Dani said. "I understand that you have changed and see things differently than before. I do still love you, but will understand if you are no longer able to love me."

Nieme smiled, a noncommittal rejoinder to Dani's wishes. "I believe I must meditate now. You may join me if you desire."

"Of course," Dani said, and sank to the floor in a meditative pose.

Nieme, however, remained where she was, her gaze and mind wandering to planes she could never have hoped to reach before being touched by the Ancients. And with eyes open, unblinking, she re-entered the meditative trance Dani had interrupted with her arrival. Hard times were nearing, and Nieme had to be prepared.

***

Dani came downstairs as Raeila and Zarrak were still chatting. She gave them a smile. "I'm glad to see the two of you getting along so well," she said.

"You were gone long," Raeila noted. "Are we staying the night then?"

Dani smiled a little weakly, then shrugged. "If you'd like to, we can," she said. "I'm sorry I was so long. We were meditating. Do you want to stay the night, or do you want to go home?"

Raeila shrugged. "Either way. Zarrak and I were having the best chat. You should hear about all his adventures!"

Dani's expression took on more life. "I'm so happy the two of you are getting along so well. That's great news. I'm very happy for you both. Why don't we stay here tonight. If that's okay with you Zarrak?"

Zarrak shrugged. He looked around. "We can stay here. I don't mind at all," he said. "I'm a bit tired and could use some sleep."

He jumped off of the chair and landed. He glanced at Dani and Raeila as if asking for one of them to show him where there were some beds.

"Let's find Laedra," Dani said, moving to slip her hand into Raeila's. "She can set us up with places to sleep."

"I hope Ferrig doesn't get worried..." Raeila smiled at Zarrak and sang, "But with Zarrak watching over us, we'll be fine."

Dani leaned in close, her lips brushing against Raeila's ear. "We could ask Laedra to find us one bed," she whispered with a teasing grin.

"With Zarrak left watching?" Reaila snickered.

"Two beds then," Dani answered. "Separate rooms. I can't wait to sleep a whole night with you in my arms, my arozeil."

Zarrak heard whispering although he could not pick up what they were saying. He simply shrugged although he was still grinning about how much faith Raeila placed in his abilities to protect them.

"What are you two whispering about?" he asked, with a grin. "If it's anything about me I hope it's nice things you are saying."

"I don't have anything bad I could ever say about you, Zarrak," Dani said with a grin. "You may be small in stature, but you're a giant in every other way. I was just telling Raeila how much I'm looking forward to sleeping in her arms tonight, that's all."

"A giant in what ways?" Raeila probed, grinning impishly.

"My personality," Zarrak replied. Hoping that his little joke would deter any more comments in which way he was a giant.

"His modesty too," Dani said with a grin. "But, I never thought a Dug would be great in bed, but Zarrak definitely satisfies a girl."

Raeila snickered. "Then maybe you two would like to share the bed tonight. I'll just watch."

Dani grinned. "Well, if you really want to watch, I don't mind. Just as long as when I fall asleep either I have my arms around you or you have yours around me."

"Oh, Laedra wouldn't like that," Raeila giggled.

"I'm sure I wouldn't," Laedra interrupted, appearing at the end of the hall. She was smiling. "I gather you're staying, then?"

"If that is allowable," Dani said with the smile of one caught doing something they shouldn't have. "We would need two rooms. One for Raeila and I, and one for Zarrak."

She bowed her head and turned to lead the way. "I trust your meeting went well," she said to Dani a few moments into their journey.

"What meeting?" Raeila interjected.

"Nieme is awake," Dani said, slipping her hand once again into Raeila's, though this time she needed the contact and comfort Raeila's presence provided. "She's very different. I don't understand all of it, but I believe she somehow melded with the spirits that inhabit the Temple. She's very calm and serene. I wasn't sure if she even knew me at first, but it's because she's communing with the Force." She gave Raeila's hand a squeeze. "The meeting went well, I think, Master. We talked for a little bit, and then meditated for the rest of the time. I felt closer to the Force than I have for a long time, but I am not ready to divest myself of my emotions just yet." She smiled fondly at Rae. "They're too important to me and those I care about."

"As long as the darkness no longer threatens you," Laedra reasoned, "then there is no need to. What happened to Nieme was necessary. The spirits knew that, and gave her this gift."

"So...no more hurting people?" Raeila inquired.

Laedra chuckled. "No...I believe Nieme has transformed. She will not hurt anyone again."

"Her interests are in communing with the Force," Dani said. "No more darkness at all. As sad as I may feel at my personal loss, I am very happy for her."

"I was worried you would be upset," Laedra admitted. "But I'm glad you are able to accept her transformation." Extending her arm towards two adjacent doors, Laedra stepped aside. "These are yours. If you need anything, let me know."

"Thank you, Master," Dani said with a bow. "We appreciate this very much. I don't know if Raeila or Zarrak are hungry, but if they are, is Orn available to fix food?"

"Of course. He'll be overjoyed to know you're here."

"I'll stay with Zarrak," Raeila told Dani, clearly still uncomfortable with being in the same room as the burly man.

"I'm not really hungry, but I thought you two might be," Dani said. "Though, I should say hello." She stepped up to Rae and slipped into an embrace. "I promise I'll be back soon. We can take a shower and curl up in bed together and talk about our future, my arozeil."

Raeila smiled eagerly. "In the meantime, Zarrak and I will chat some more."

Dani grinned and kissed her. "Ask him to take off his robe once you're alone, and then you'll see what I mean about him," she whispered. "He's very impressive for such a small species."

Leaving a giggling Rae with Zarrak, Laedra led Dani to the designated mess hall.

Zarrak was out of his robe and was sitting on a chair in just his leather body armor. He did keep it on under his robe even though it did make him sweat a bit.

The Dug seemed to be deep in thought. His large hand was tucked under his chin while his two hand-like feet were clasped together, resting on the chair was well.

Raeila smiled wanly and plunked herself down onto the bed as she watched Zarrak. "So...you like leather too, huh? It's my favourite."

The Dug turned to face the human woman who was in the same room as he was. "Yeah. It's easy to move around in. In my line of work that's a good thing. It keeps you alive." His feet were now clasped together as he watched Raelia careful. "If you don't mind my asking: why is it that you're spending so much time with me now? We barely know each other and you're putting a lot of trust in me. I'm not sure if I deserve it."

"Deserving or not," Raeila told him, "you're fun company. Why shouldn't I talk to you?" She grinned beamingly. "So, go on. Ask me anything you want about Dani. I promise I'll tell."

Zarrak could only think of one thing he wanted to know about Dani. "How does she feel about me?" he asked.

Raeila could only shrug. "She hasn't talked much about it. I'm sure she likes you well enough and values your friendship.... Do you want her as a mate? Is that it?"

"Our bodies aren't meant to reproduce," Zarrak replied, there was a hint of bitterness in his voice. "I value her friendship and I'm not sure about mating. I mean, it would nice to have someone to welcome me home some days. But, ah, never mind. It's not important."

He could feel himself beginning to change. He wasn't the same Dug he once was. Now he felt like he was about to fight for something he actually believed in instead of actually fighting.

---

"Retrieving Secrets"
by Liam Zaneth, Jedi Master
Magnus Kresk, Interrogator
and Kaylee Soras, Kitari Huntress

Date: Selene 25, 5ABY
Location: "The Dungeon," Royal Palace, Arcadia

***

Magnus Kresk was sitting alone in one of the dungeons with all of his tools out. He was called in to obtain information from a very powerful person: a Jedi Master.

Currently the Hapan had a thick leather glove on while he held what looked like five thin knives over a flame. He was turning it until it was glowing a bright orange color.

He turned to the guards that were watching him. "Get me the captive."

One of the guards grunted a reply and departed to bring back Liam Zaneth, the Jedi Master whose secrets Meer'esh had ordered extracted. A powerful Jedi Master such as Zaneth should certainly know where the Jedi were hiding on the planet. The guard returned a minute later pushing Liam ahead of him.

Chained hand and foot, Liam appeared calm. Some hint of the drugs that had been used on him could be seen in the glassy look to his eyes. He was pushed forward, and then the guard stepped back.

"Put him in the chair," Kresk ordered the guard. He glanced at Liam and mentally cursed. The man was drugged and that would take a lot of the fun out of torturing him.

The guard stepped forward and roughly pushed Liam ahead of him. He turned the Jedi in front of the chair, then gave a shove in the middle of his chest, sending him hard down into the seat. He gave a nod to his partner, who drew up his blaster and pointed it at Liam's head. Once covered, he then unlocked one half of the binder holding Liam's wrists together, then snapped his wrist into the restraint on the chair, then did the other. He did the same for both feet, and once satisfied that the bindings were secured, stepped back. Only then was the blaster lowered.

Magnus pulled out the blades that he was heating up. They were still glowing orange and upon getting a closer glance one would notice that the blades were very thin. In fact they were placed underneath the finger nail where Kresk would push them up slightly.

He nodded for the guard to leave them. He walked over to Liam and held the blades closer to his fingers so the Jedi Master could feel the heat coming from them.

"Now," he began in a cold, emotionless voice. His eyes stood out in sharp contrast to his distant voice. His eyes were dancing with excitement. "There are two ways we can do this. One you just give me the information and I won't have to hurt you. Or I can torture what I want from you." He placed his face close to Liam's. "Where are the Jedi hiding?"

"I know of one Jedi," Liam stated calmly. His ice blue eyes displayed a calm serenity as he gazed at Magnus. "He is in the cell next to mine. Of the others, they fled the Temple when it was attacked, and I have had no contact with them since my return. Torture will gain you no more knowledge than I've already given you.

"When the Jedi went to ground, the locations was kept secret so you couldn't find them." There was a serene calm in the Jedi's ice blue eyes. "I can make up locations if you'd like, but I have no knowledge of where the Jedi are."

Kresk stared at him for a moment. "You're lying," he snarled. He grabbed his wrist and shoved the heated blades underneath Liam's fingernails and began to push on the handle. "I know you can feel the others through what you call the Force. Now tell me where they are! Or perhaps you'd like me to call in your pathetic friend and force you to watch as we kill him...slowly. He'll beg, he's pathetic. And you'll do the same. Now tell me what I want to know and I'll end this. Speak!"

Liam hissed at the pain. Through the Force, he could endure much more than a normal person would, but it still lent strain to his voice when he spoke. "If that is what you believe, then whatever I say is useless. You know nothing. There are some who have the talent to sense those strong with the Force across great distances, but I am not one of them." He glanced down at his hand, then back up at Kresk. "I should advise you that several years ago, I fell to the Dark Side. I just saw my wife murdered before my eyes earlier. Vader preferred to kill a man by crushing his trachea. My preference was just reach into a man's chest with the Force and stop his heart. If I was feeling particularly vengeful, I would crush his heart within his chest." He blinked slowly. "I cannot give you names or locations, and neither will my partner. We don't know them. What you believe me capable of, I am not. But, continue what you're doing, and I may lose control of my carefully moderated emotions. It may sound trite to say so, but you don't want to see me angry."

Kresk actually chuckled. "I've been threatened before, Jedi dog, but I do not fear you one bit. You claim to be able to do these things but you won't. You wouldn't want to disappoint that whore of a wife you had."

He pulled the claws out of Liam's fingernails. He walked over and began to heat them. Once they were glowing again he walked towards the Jedi Master and this time he stabbed the blades through his shoulder.

"Where are the other Jedi!" Kresk roared. His face was turning a bright red as he stared at the Jedi Master.

Under the sounds of his shouting, the door had opened and closed. Unbeknownst to Kresk, a woman in a long skirt and vest now stood near the door. At the sight of the bloody mess made of Liam's shoulder and hand, the woman frowned. "Have you had any answers from him yet," she snapped authoritatively, "or are you just going to stick him with barbaric knives and hope that whatever words eventually spill out of his mouth are what we need to hear, not what he thinks you want to hear to stop the pain?"

Kresk yanked the blades out of Liam's shoulder and faced the woman. He cursed and walked over to her until their faces were mere inches apart.

"This is how I do business," he growled. "If you don't like it then find another interrogator. But I can guarantee you one thing: they won't be as good as me. So far the only answer I've got from him is that the Jedi fled the Temple and he has no idea where they are now." He gazed at Liam. "I'd just kill him if I were you. Or let me finish what I've started."

"If we just kill him," the woman said, "then how do you suppose the other Jedi will be lured into a trap where they could all be eliminated together. Do you find that slicing a man open in this manner gains a more accurate, thorough and truthful interrogation than the typical mind probe?"

Kresk shook the knives at her with a cruel smile on his lips. "Oh, no. It's just a little more interesting. But at times causing physical anguish opens up doors to the truth. They normally beg for me to stop. That is if they don't die first. Now let me continue."

"I'm surprised you get work at all," she said. "You're truly a pathetic interrogator if what you are saying is true. Even so, I do not think I am going to let you continue." With a flick of both wrists, blades dropped down into her hands and she dropped back into a fighting stance.

"It's about time you stopped playing around," Liam rasped.

"Just remember, my dear," Kaylee Soras said with a smile, "you owe me for this. Now, poor little interrogator man, I suggest you put down your knives and let me get this Jedi away from you before the people who hired you find out you're trying to bleed him to death, rather than getting answers and luring in the rest of the Jedi. And, your death is an option, just so you know."

Kresk cursed and reached a hand behind his back to grab the blaster pistol he had there. "I think not," Kresk growled. "If anyone is going to die here today it is going to be you."

He drew his blaster and aimed it at the woman's head. "Now I suggest you drop your knives because your death is also an option."

Her response was only a smile. And then she moved much faster than he could follow. Suddenly, she was behind him, and a blaze of fire seared across the back of his hand and thumb leaving a scarlet trail. "Bringing a blaster into a knife fight. That's going to cost you points, pathetic torture man."

The blaster clattered to the ground from his limp hand. His eyes went wide with anger and with a curse Kresk drove his elbow back, aiming for her nose. He was not going to go down that easily.

His elbow cracked back against something, but it turned out to be her forearm as she brought it up to block. She expertly spun one of the blades in her hand, ready in case he drove his elbow back at her again. Then she kicked him forward away from her while her other hand moved to free Liam from his bonds.

Kresk slammed into the wall and stumbled back. He searched for a weapon and found that the blades he used on Liam were on the ground. He must've dropped them without realizing it. The Hapan quickly rushed towards them, he didn't care if he left himself wide open for an attack.

As one blade was busy freeing Liam from his bonds, Kaylee let the other fly. It took the torturer in the calf, its sharp edge easily slipping through the man's flesh. Just before his hand closed on the knife, it leapt into the air. As Magnus looked up, he saw his blade resting in the Jedi Master's palm. Liam gave him an unreadable smile.

Kresk's knees hit the ground and he cursed in pain as he tried to remove the knife from his leg. He glanced up and noticed Liam holding a knife in his hand and he had a grin on his face...

"Do it, you Jedi coward!" he hissed. "You and your little whore of a friend don't have the courage to end my life!"

"And why should I end your life," Liam asked as he approached. "That's the coward's path, and, to be honest, far too merciful for what you deserve. So you get to live, and I hope you will always remember your failure here. I have a feeling those in charge of the palace won't."

Kresk growled and yanked the knife out of his leg, feeling his own blood spurt against hit hand. He tried to move forward but he ended up falling to the ground, his face near Liam's boot. It seemed that the Hapan had passed out.

Kaylee glanced down at him, and nudged him with her foot. "We have to get out of here," she said. She quickly began pulling off her dress to reveal a modified version of what she'd been wearing when Liam had first met her. The straps covered everything that needed covering but left her movements unrestricted. She pulled a lightsaber from her belt and tossed it to Liam. The other, Kael's, remained firmly attached. She kicked off the high heeled shoes she'd been wearing and moved to the door.

Liam raised an eyebrow, impressed by both her efficiency and the fact that she was nearly naked and not coming on to him. "Clear?"

Kaylee pulled her head back from the door and nodded. "The guards are still gone. Kael's cell is toward the end of the hall. There will be a guard we need to take care of there."

He nodded and checked his torturer. The man was still alive, but losing blood. Perhaps this day would force him to rethink his life. "Let's go."

Together they slipped out of the room and off toward Kael's cell. How they would actually escape the palace and make their way to safety, he wasn't certain. One thing he did know, however, was that he hoped they got there quickly. Magnus Kresk's knives had taken a greater toll on his body than he'd let on. He closed his eyes, and sought the strength within himself and the Force. In his mind, he saw Yelara, healthy and whole, waiting for him. But, for that future to come to pass, he would have to escape the palace to find her.

When Liam Zaneth opened his eyes once more, he moved with greater determination and purpose.

---

"Strange Lights Coming From the Horizon"
By: Kel Deneb

Location: Arcadia
Date: Selene 25, 5 ABY

***

Kel crept towards his old apartment, which housed his personal effects. He had to get them, especially that armor he had spotted. Unfortunately, his latest journey had ended in a dead end. Things weren't going his way at all it seemed. If only there was some clue, something he could remember other than these little foggy bits of memory of killing his sister. Perhaps whomever did this wanted to make sure he never remembered who he was. That was an intriguing possibility.. perhaps he had uncovered something so sinister that they wanted to keep his mind blocked, but when they found out he was starting to learn things, to just kill him instead. Who could be that evil? He had been close, but the person who had the information had been killed by an assassin.

Creeping up to the door, he pushed a thumb button, and the door slid aside. He peered in, and didn't see anything that would cause him alarm. Stepping in, he left the lights off and went by the glow from the doorway and the partially open window shades. Spotting what he wanted, he grabbed his suit of armor, and quickly hurried out, the door sliding shut behind him. That was easy, he thought to himself. He looked around, and started to walk off when someone pointed upwards.

"Hey, look.. there's an odd glow from the horizon," she said.

Kel furrowed his brow, and spotted it. Those looked like ships coming in, a whole bunch of them no less. They appeared to be heading for the capitol building. "This probably isn't good," Kel said to no one in particular. Soon after, he was right. An announcement came over all the displays, talking about the Jau. "Heh, I doubt they're really here to help us," he said snorting. He walked off, wondering what this would mean for his investigation.....

---

"Invasion"
By: Captain Dresh Kano
Captain Rilanna Kir
Cham [NPC+]
Administrator Shrezade Anoran
The Jau

Location: Various, Tae'Karada
Date: Selene 25, 5 ABY

***

The night sky had darkened to a deep indigo. A quiet calm had spread over Arcadia, blanketing the city in a peace that could only be found in the deepest parts of the night.

Within the royal palace, however, the night bustled. Preparations had been underway since the arrival of the new lords of Chimaeria, and tonight would be the culmination of those preparations. Seated upon the throne, Sa'Taka Gal'traq looked out over his assembled advisors. As the time piece centered above the entrance to the throne room ticked to the hour, the sa'taka smiled.

"Taka Mun'daq," his voice boomed, "begin the landing."

***

A network of satellites surrounded the planet of Chimaeria, or Tae'Karada as its natives had named it. The network was designed as a warning system against invasion, but had primarily been used as a ship tracking station for use by the planetary starports. Even so, it was staffed by members of the Planetary Defense Force, the domestic military organization charged with keeping the planet safe.

Monitored around the clock by PDF personnel in four hour shifts, the network had only been used as a warning against invasion once.

Corporal Neggin sipped at his mug of coffee as the final hour of his shift began. He did the quick check-in with the other stations around the globe. That done, he settled into his chair once again to wait for his final hour to end.

As he set the mug back onto the desk, the six screens before him went dark. Neggin checked his mug, but it was clearly nowhere near the controls. Furrows creased his forehead as he ran a diagnostic on the grid. When it came back green, he decided to call it in.

"Command, this is Corporal Neggin, operating number T7-445," he said. "I've got a blackout on the entire planetary grid."

There was a delay on the other end before the captain's voice came on the line. "Situation is normal, Corporal. We were running a test from the main systems, but a flaw in our simulation brought down the grid. It's coming back up. The possibility was planned for and contingencies were taken. Everything's green."

Even as the captain was speaking, the grid was already showing signs of coming back online. By the time Neggin, signed off with Command, three of his six stations were back up again. Sighing to himself, he took another sip from his mug, and returned to watching.

***

"Transport Swift Cloud, what is the contents of your cargo?"

The bulky transport ship hovered just out of range of the Drogen Shipyards tractor beams, readying for a landing once it had clearance.

From the cockpit, a pale hand activated the comm system. "Our cargo is being medicinal supplies. Bacta. Self-setting splints."

"Confirmed, Swift Cloud," the Drogen controller said. "I'm putting you in Berth 45-A. Relinquish navigational controls, and we'll bring you in."

A pale smile formed on the face of the pilot. "We are being at your mercy, Drogen Shipyards."

***

"Give me that security feed again," Dresh Kano said as he stood in the command center of the Republic lunar base that was being partially utilized as an off-world command station for the Tae'Karadan navy.

The holo-tank in front of Dresh shimmered and showed a thin, pale skinned man standing outside of a bulky transport ship.

"...being medicinal supplies," the figure was saying. "Is there a location for supplies are being stored?"

The private who had accepted the shipment pointed down to the end of the landing bay at the large double-doors for supplies. "Just down there," he said. "We've got load lifters if you want."

Dresh shut off the recording. "And you're sure the readings don't match?"

Lieutenant Sanna chewed his lip thoughtfully. "I can't be certain, sir, but I definitely know I'm not reading any bacta in there."

Dresh frowned and rubbed his chin. "And that pilot?"

"Gone," Sanna said.

"Do you know where he was headed?" Dresh asked, bringing up the flightplan database.

"Already checked, sir," the lieutenant said. "He was headed for Drogen."

"And it was all authorized?"

Sanna nodded, and brought up the authorization on the screen. "From the High Princess herself, sir."

"Well, something's not right. Let's go take a look, and get me Drogen on the horn. I want to toss them a warning, just in case."

Sanna was already bringing up the commnet. "Aye, sir."

***

As the Planetary Defense Network came back online, ships were already settling onto their landing struts. They were alien ships, only one ever seen on Tae'Karada before. From the bellies of the ships, thousands of beings poured, their bodies glinting in the sparse moonlight.

They moved quickly and efficiently. Stealth was a priority, and despite their bulk or the sheen of their skin, they seemed to excel at it.

In unison, the doors to every police station within New Plouton, Arcadia, and the various other cities scattered around the globe, opened and revealed a half dozen of the warriors. Within seven minutes, each of the police stations had fallen. Within twenty minutes, the police stations had been converted to command posts.

***

From outside the palace walls, a shadow mixed in with the darkness watching, waiting. She had sensed the arrival, seen the lights falling from the skies. A shudder swept through her body, and her pulse quickened.

"Jau," came the whisper.

Her gaze swept back to the palace, and she knew getting the two confined deep within needed to be freed. Alone, she could never win this war, but with the help of the Jedi Knights, they might stand a chance.

***

"Aye, sir," Sanna said as he brought the commnet online and began to set for a communication with Drogen. The screen flickered and went dark. "Problem..."

As Dresh Kano was turning to respond, the door to the command center exploded inward, showering all within with shrapnel. A tech scrambled to sound the alert, but a line of projectiles stitched up his back and he collapsed to the floor bonelessly.

Kano had his weapon out and was firing, but the blasts seemed to ricochet off the aliens now boiling into the room. One caught Kano with a backhand that lifted him off the ground, and tossed him over the master display in the center of the room.

Before Kano could rise, one of the creatures raised a weapon and fired. Sanno had his own weapon up and fired wildly, the image of Dresh Kano's body jerking under the impacts of the enemy weapons clouding his mind. A long wordless cry filled the room, and he realized it was his own voice making it.

He felt the impact against his own chest. Sanna staggered. The weapon in his hand was no longer firing. He realized he'd emptied the power cell. As his legs crumpled beneath him, his breath was coming in ragged gasps. As black closed in over his vision, the last he saw was Admiral Dresh Kano's body as the aliens dragged him from the room. And finally he was consumed by blackness and saw no more.

***

An explosion rocked the cargo storage area of the Drogen shipyards. As technicians and security raced to assess the situation, they were not prepared for what they found.

Tall, armored bodies were emerging from one of the crates in the storage room. The techs had no chance against the alien weapons. One of the security