"Wealth vs. Pleasure"
by Zion "The Worm" Xandler
Jadda the Hutt
and Raeila Mullerin

Location: Jadda's Palace, New Plouton
Date: Vadris 5, 4 ABY

***

The doors to the Hutt's Palace were large and they reminded Zion of the last time he had come to this same place. He hadn't liked it then, and he wasn't enjoying himself now either... Still, he knew that what laid inside was good enough to come by even if it displeased him.

The sentry droid popped out of a small orifice. It was like a long metallic arm with a big yellow cybernetic eye at the end, and it spoke to Zion in a language that he could not understand. However, his earpiece was able to pick up the language and translated it for him at the very same instant.

"I am here to see Jadda and present him with an offer. A profitable one," he told the sentry droid. His words were enough to make the large doors open and let him inside. He looked around and could see the very same large corridor that led inside, as it made some sort of a curve. Music could be heard and there were also some guards standing by, overlooking Zion. Finally he was greeted by the Hutt's Majordomo. A female Twi'lek.

"Welcome," she nodded. "I understand you have an offer to present to Jadda? Let's hear it," she said straight to the point.

"My offer I will present to Jadda himself, if you don't mind!" Zion answered.

"Well, I do mind. You haven't an appointment with him, so you're lucky enough to come inside. You will talk to me and I shall see what I can do!" she stated.

"Sorry... Like I said, I'm here to present Jadda with an offer. Now, I can assure you that this offer he will be most interested in. But if you don't want to let me speak to him, then I can go sell it to someone else... Some competitor perhaps..." Zion said.

"I can have you killed here and take it from you, thus not making it possible for you to sell it to someone else..." she grinned.

Zion swallowed dry. The idea of a life threat wasn't something he liked talking about. "Alas, I'm just representing my employer, meaning the real deal isn't with me. Killing me would get you nothing, but letting me in can make Jadda an even more rich Hutt!"

The female Twi'lek frowned and then smiled. "I admire your persistence. I will grant you your visit. Follow me!" she told him before leading him into the room where the large Hutt was.

There were dancers and musicians, as well as the nasty scoundrels that always seemed to lurk nearby a Hutt in the chance of making some sort of profit or getting a bounty deal or something. The female Twi'lek motioned for Zion to wait and went up to the Hutt, whispering near him.

Jadda motioned for the musicians to stop and looked at Zion. "Haku ha chuba hochoy?" Jadda asked. The droid was about to translate when Zion lifted his hand.

"I'm here to strike a deal with you. A very profitable deal!" Zion answered. It was then that he noticed the girl next to Jadda. He could scarcely believe his eyes when he saw it was Raeila. She was Jadda's slave now? How did that happen?

Her eyes were downcast, and once brilliantly golden hair hung limply around her bare shoulders and gaunt face. She was hardly the vibrant beauty she had been when Zion had first met her - her bronze skin had gone pallid and her body was now sickly thin; the links of the slack chain leading from her neck were far thicker than the width of her arm now, and seemed to be weighing her down judging by the stoop of her shoulders.

The scandalous outfit she was attired in looked in need of a tailor for adjusting, now appearing two sizes too large for the emaciated young woman. Her body trembled as if struck by a persistent chill, though it was likely her lack of proper clothing and kneeling upon a cold, stone dais all day contributing to that.

When Jadda asked his next question of the visitor, who failed to respond, Raeila's head rose and her eyes met Zion's. Her gaze was blank and lifeless, but recognition soon filled them. Their light returned, one conveying hope. Her cracked lips curled into a quivering smile. "Zion," she whispered.

"Haku chuba wata che?" Jadda asked, somewhat impatient to find out what this stranger was here for and what he had to offer.

The droid was going to translate but Zion's device had picked it up and he spoke before the droid began to tell him what Jadda had said. "Jabba the Hutt has been killed, quite a long time ago as you know, but there are still parts of his Hutt Empire that have not yet been discovered as to location... What if I told you that I have the exact location of his spice containers and of one of his weapons deposits?"

The Hutt opened his eyes widely and moved about for a while, and there was a general whispering from the others who stood in the room as they reacted to what Zion had just said. "Uba dwana che copah?" Jadda asked.

Zion thought for a while. He had to name his price. Initially he had come over to get money out of it, but there stood Raeila. He looked at her and back at the Hutt. "My employer wants that girl!" he pointed out.

Raeila nearly gasped aloud, but knew it might ruin Zion's chances of bargaining successfully for her. Still, she could hardly suppress a smile.

Jadda laughed out loud. "Porko makacheesa! Uba wanga chik youngee niboba!" Jadda answered.

"I'm afraid my employer doesn't want another girl. He wants that girl!" Zion persisted. "He was very clear on the price. That girl or nothing."

Jadda shouted and the guards pointed their weapons on Zion. It was clear that Jadda was forcing him to one other decision other than Raeila. "Baatu baatu bukee! Kayfoundo chuba bo! Doompa che copah!" he demanded.

"I am not a hungry fool for credits..." Zion answered calmly. "I am here because I was paid to come make a deal with you. Now, I can't lower the price. It is what it is, and I can't change that. You can either accept it, or I can deal with someone else!"

"Chuba nopa pus chik youngee..." Jadda argued.

"Yes, he wouldn't get the girl," Zion nodded. "There are other things he can get from other crimelords. But the real issue is that from you he only wants that girl and nothing else you can offer!"

"Creeda!" Jadda said.

"No. No credits!" Zion said. "The girl. And there is no point in killing me. Do that and I promise you that you will never get the information I'm offering. And I want your word that you will never again try to get her back for whatever reason!"

The crowd was restless once more. They moved about and whispered as Jadda thought about it for a moment. While he did so, his female twi'lek majordomo went up to him and once more whispered in his ear, granting him some advice. "Okey-okey..." Jadda nodded.

"Good!" Zion grinned. "As soon as I leave you will be delivered information on what you have paid for. And I trust you will stick to your agreement."

Jadda looked at the girl and back at his majordomo who nodded. "Okey-okey!" He then looked at Raeila and waved her off. The chains were taken off her and she was let free. The female twi'lek took her hand and pushed her down towards Zion.

It had all happened so fast that Raeila was stunned to look up and see only Zion staring down at her. The surreptitious wink he shot her filled her with warmth and hope.

"Thank you, great Jadda. You have become a wealthy Hutt," Zion bowed before he left the room after the twi'lek with Raeila by his side.

Once out near the entrance to the palace the female twi'lek turned to Raeila. "I told you to wait for the right moment. You are free to go. Never return!" she told Raeila.

"Oh trust me," she told the Twi'lek, "I don't plan to." With a grin that lit up her face and banished all signs of weariness and despair, Raeila slid her hand into Zion's. "Let's go," she sighed and leaned heavily against him.

"Yes, let's..." he smiled. "I'm not sure what you said to Jadda, but he did seem to change his mind, so I guess I ought to thank you as well," he told the female twi'lek.

"I told Raeila that I'd get her out of here when the time came... Guess what? The time came!" the twi'lek answered sarcastically. "And don't worry. You will not be followed or hunted down. Jadda will not give out any orders to regain Raeila or have his revenge for losing her, provided he gets his share of the deal you made."

"Don't worry!" Zion grinned. "The Worm never fails to do what he says he can do!" he grinned. And with that said he moved out of the Hutt's Palace with Raeila. He turned to her and held her hands, looking into her eyes. "Maybe I should take you to my place first? You can have a bath there, and on the way we can stop and get you some clothes..." he offered.

Raeila's lips trembled as she attempted to maintain a smile while fighting back a sob. In the end it didn't matter as she threw her arms around Zion and embraced him tightly. "Thank you," she breathed. "Anywhere but here...just...just take me away from here."

"Of course..." he promised with a whisper as he held her tight. He led her to his swoop bike and they both left the area. Soon enough, the Hutt's Palace wasn't even visible from far away.

---

"A Resourceful Target"
Quistis Knox
Akesha Valerious - NPC

Location: Yesdol District, New Plouton
Date: Vadris 5, 4 ABY

***

Quistis opened the doors of Akesha's room and saw that Akesha was still asleep. Quistis knew that this was much of bigger news. "Akesha! Wake up, you got to see this!"

Akesha opened her eyes and looked to Quistis. "What is it?" She rubbed her eyes has Akesha sat on her bed. Quistis turned up the holoprojector.

The sound of the holoprojector: "The Regent Duke Yu of Gallor, died yesterday by what authorities reported has heart problems. The burial of the Duke was a private one for the family. The common people are somewhat revolted about the quickness of the burial. The march of protest was done earlier this morning and things calmed down when the new Regent Duke Regi succeeded the previous Duke, by speaking to the people. He says it was his brother's wish to be buried right away. He apologizes to the Gallorians for not proceeding as tradition dictates, but it was his wish. Also the Regent Duke Regi says that he will continue his brother's work to make Gallor a glorious planet." Quistis turned off the holoprojector and turned to Akesha.

"We received a communication from our representative from Gallor. It seems the Regent Duke wants to renegotiate our contract. He says that if we don't negotiate we must leave Gallor; if not, everyone that works for us, will be arrested and will be charged with conspiracy," Quistis said as she looked to Akesha.

"That is absurd!" Akesha said as she got up. "We do have a contract for five years and the percentage of profit was appointed by the Duke Yu. Now this bastard wants to change!"

Quistis got closer to Akesha. "That is not all. The other outside enterprises that had a contract with the former Duke are going to be negotiated and that means everyone."

Akesha stopped for moment and then it hit her head. "Wait a minute. What kind of enterprise does the Cooperate Sector have?"

"Well, they have many enterprises, but they are specialized in anything that involves technology, directly or indirectly. Why?" Quistis nodded towards Akesha, not knowing what she had in mind.

"Well because in Iridonia they did exactly the same thing." Akesha then turned to the window. "We need that planet to continue to mine the Cartosis Ore. We have to resolve this. If not the Triumvirate will not be happy..." Akesha turned towards Quistis. "If it wasn't for those bastards those news weren't going to be a problem, because personally I'm not interested in that planet."

Quistis saw. "Well your best option is to resolve this situation as soon as possible. I know you can come up with something."

"Yes..." Akesha stopped and glanced to Quistis and smiled. "Didn't I tell you to take a few days off?"

"Yes you did. I was on my way out when I saw the news and I thought to tell you," Quistis explained.

"Thank you, now go. I don't want you to appear here in the next couple of days. Go see some sightseeing or explore some ruins or something. Something that can take your mind of these things."

"Ok." Quistis smiled and exited the room, leaving Akesha alone with her thoughts.

Quistis rolled down in the streets of New Plouton, taking a chance to know this city that she hated so much. The people seemed nicer than before, Quistis didn't know why. Maybe it was her, the way her eyes looked in the new brown color. She didn't look so menacing as before. That made her wonder why after all this time she was cured from a disease that she had for ever since she was born. Why her heart beat raised suddenly that made Darius scared like that. She was scared why this was happening and then again she never felt knowing herself better, to be more in contact with her inner self, to have her spirit more at... peace. She remembered she was always tired like her body had suffered too much pain. Of course lately she had been twice on the verge of death.

Quistis continued to walk through the streets and she continued to have some unanswered questions. She even questioned if she was still a good fighter as his master once told her. Master I'm lost! I wish you were alive to guide me, Quistis thought. Then she felt strange like a small pain in her chest. She didn't know what was happening to her. The pain slowly disappeared and then slowly started to emerge. Seconds later the pain was gone. What the hell is happening to me? Quistis thought, for a moment, but no explanation was heard.

Quistis entered her speeder and sat for a moment. She took out a datapad and glanced to the picture of her family. She missed her parents so much and she realized that everyone she loved died one way or another. Quistis wondered if she was to be alone for the rest of her life. She had some friends, but that took more than just meeting them to love as a brother or sister. She felt she was cursed or something.

Out of nothing a man passed by with a hover skate and snatched the datapad. "Hey, that is mine!" Quistis screamed as she exited the speeder and tried to run after the man, but luckily a local authority saw what happening and was able to grab the thief.

"Is this yours, Miss?"

"Yes. Thank you," Quistis responded as the thief delivered the datapad to its rightful owner. She walked away towards her speeder and then the speeder exploded. Quistis sat on the floor because of the bright light. She looked a second later saw that the explosion luckily didn't hurt the people that were passing by, because the force of the explosion went upwards instead of to the sides. Quistis saw it was the work of professionals and his or her intention was to kill her.

She looked around and saw a strange man placing his sun glasses on and walk away, but Quistis was a good judge of character and she knew that he was that professional. She glanced at him as he sat on his speeder. Quistis decided to stop a swoop that was passing by and she, on the spot, bought it with all the money she had. She was not going to let that pro escape before he could tell her why he wanted to kill her.

Quistis followed the man for long minutes. He stopped in an abandoned warehouse. Quistis parked her swoop next to the man's and saw that he was a rich pro, because his swoop was top of the line. She looked at the entrance and decided to follow. She entered the warehouse and took her blaster. She glanced everywhere, but all she could see was a pile of rubble. She continued to walk step by step, trying to localize the pro. There was no sign of him, it was like he disappeared. She then approached a mirror that she could see herself.

As she was about to take a step a green laser hit the mirror, smashing it. Quistis ran for cover for the nearby shelter as the green laser flew around Quistis' body. She cut herself on her arm and her leg. She hid behind a small piece of machinery that she had to be lied down. Quistis' blaster flew out of protection and was now in the line of the shooter. She grabbed her hurt arm and tried to think has the shooter hit the machinery, but luckily it protected her. She was now trapped there without any weapons of any sort to fight back.

Quistis knew that her situation was bad, really bad. There was only one way. "Hey, you with gun. Can you hear me?"

There was absolute silence and then minutes later the shooter spoke. "Yes, I can hear you."

"Good." Quistis stopped and thought. How can this be good? I'm trapped and I can barely move and there is a maniac shooting at me. "Why are you doing this? Is this some kind of revenge."

"It is no revenge, it is a job."

Ok, Quistis, this is no revenge, so there has got to be a reason, Quistis thought. It was strange but his voice was trustworthy enough. "So who hired you?"

The man laughed. "I was not hired."

"So you are one of those that try to kill anyone for fun, huh?" Quistis tried to piece him off so he could give his position, but it didn't worked.

"Like I said it is only a job."

"Ok. I hope your comfortable because we are going to be here for while," Quistis said, trying to play with his mind.

"Oh I'm more comfortable than you..." He fired again, trying to make Quistis make a mistake.

"Oh, please keep trying that and you will be out of rounds." Quistis paused and she took out a string that she felt with her left hand on the ground. "So tell me why you want to kill me. If I didn't piss no one off and you're not doing it for fun, why?"

The man laughed again. "You know that is the common question that my victims ask. 'Oh, why?' It's pathetic."

Quistis took a pin from one of her pockets and tied it with the string. "Pathetic is that you area pro and you missed your target twice in one day."

"True enough, because you're a formidable adversary and I like that in my targets, but I always do kill my targets."

Quistis threw the pin and tried to grab the blaster, but missed. She pulled it again and threw it again, but missed again.

The man looked through his telescope and saw what she was doing. "You are a very resourceful person. You should be worthy to kill."

"Why, thank you!" She threw it again and was able to grab it, but as the blaster came closer the man shot the string. "Shit!" Quistis cursed to herself. "You're quite the shooter!"

"Thank you!" the man said. "You are impressing me. I wonder what will you think of next?"

Quistis tried to breathe and calm down. The situation looked bad enough. She had to think of something and quick. She then saw a mirror not far enough, but that meant that she had to extend her arm to the open. Quistis picked up a small rock, threw it to the opposite side. The man fired towards the rock, while Quistis grabbed the large mirror piece and she pushed to hide, but the man fired to the piece of mirror, breaking it.

A piece stabbed the hand between her fingers. She felt pain and contained the screamed not to let her foe realize that her hand was wounded. She looked at it and blood rolled down her hand. She, with the other hand, grabbed it and pulled it out. Only then she screamed because the pain was too big to bear.

"Well I guess I hit you!" the man said with irony.

"Not much, you only wounded it. You will have to take more than that to beat me." She glanced to the bloody piece of mirror and cleaned it. She grabbed it and elevated it a little to see where exactly her foe was, but he was nowhere to be seen. Quistis then grabbed another piece of rock and threw it. The man fired again, hitting the rock. Quistis saw that he was inside an air conduit entrance. Excellent hiding place! But you just gave up your position, Quistis thought. "Can I ask you a question? What happens if I throw a grenade towards you?"

"Well before the grenade hits the floor I blow it up near you and luckily I will probably kill you."

"Well that is not my point of view." Quistis then noticed a ray of light hitting her chest. Lucky me, Quistis thought. "You momentarily will loose sight and that takes enough time to..." Quistis placed the mirror in the ray of light that projected the ray of light to the entrance of the conduit. Quistis exited as quickly as possible, rolling on the floor, grabbing her blaster and hiding behind some big boxes.

When the man noticed it was too late, she was already with a gun. He tried to hit her, but it was impossible, she was too fast. He continued to fire at her new position, not making time for her to fire back.

Quistis was counting the time that the man fired between each shot. She adjusted her blaster to fire as many as possible in a window of three seconds. She prepared and when the green energy passed her she exited and fired towards the entrance two to three shots, but the man didn't fire back. Quistis continued to fire at the entrance of the conduit. She opened the grid and he was not there. She fired up the conduit but the sound of a body falling wasn't heard. She fired to the other conduits but it was already too late, her foe was gone through one of the many conduits.

Quistis walked to the exit and saw that both swoops were still there. She climbed to the top of the line swoop and hot wired it. She then wrote on a piece of paper and placed it on the other swoop and she flew off.

Minutes later the man reached to the swoop and saw his swoop was gone. She picked up the piece of paper that had written: "Thank you for the swoop. I thought it was the payment for the wonderful time you made me spend inside the warehouse. Your target. PS: I hope next time I have a chance to meet you." The man smiled as he threw the paper to the floor. "Next time..." and he smiled.

---

"The First Day of the Rest of Her Life, Part 1"
By Vaya Bek, Padawan (PC)
Kal'Aran
and Aurra Sgall
Koran Darr
Laedra Vorrel

Location: Jedi Temple
Date: Vadris 5th, 4 ABY

***

Vaya awoke in the med-lab of the Jedi Temple a bit disoriented. She sat up in her bed, groggy and unclear as to where she was. Then she remembered that she was at the Jedi Temple. Master Laedra and her Padawan, Talara, had brought her here. She had fallen out in the forest and had hit her head on a rock. Vaya felt her head, it was a little tender, but it didn't hurt.

Vaya slid out of the bed onto the cold floor. She looked around the room for her bag and found it. She retrieved her Padawan robes that Kherris had given her. She went to the refresher to clean up and help her to wake up.

After she had cleaned she felt much better and more awake. Vaya dressed herself in her robes. They were traditional Jedi Padawan robes, a creme colored white with a darker toned belt, cloak and boots. She decided then she would seek the Jedi out and see what the day had in store for her.

Aurra was walking down the corridor when she heard a door opening up just a little bit ahead. She tilted her head to peek inside and found a new face. With a warm smile, Aurra bowed to this new girl. "You must be the new girl that Master Vorrel found in the forest. I couldn't help to overhear about you," she smiled. "I am Aurra Sgall."

Vaya was taken by surprise at the face of the Twi'lek female before her.

"Hi, yes, I am Vaya," she replied with a big smile, half out of her embarrassment and surprise. "Nice to meet you, Aurra. I just woke up and wanted to find someone...anyone I guess," she laughed.

"Is there something you require, Vaya? Food, or water perhaps?" Aurra asked. "I was on my way to see Master Kal'Aran, with whom I have training, but I can show you the kitchen first... Or maybe you'd like to come with me? I'm sure Master Kal'Aran would like to meet you as well."

"Sure, I'll go with you to meet Master Kal'Aran," Vaya said. "Masters Vorrel and Darr said they wanted to speak with me though, when I was up to it," she said thoughtfully. "But I guess there would be no harm in it, I would like to meet other Jedi and see some more of the Temple besides the med-lab!"

"It's quite beautiful around here," Aurra smiled. "I personally like it a lot. There's a lot of wildlife and the waterfalls and lakes are very peaceful!" she told Vaya as she walked her down the corridor.

"Yes, I've heard of the waterfalls. Talara had told me of them," she replied with a smile as she continued to take in all that she could see on her way with Aurra.

A few moments later they entered a room. It was large and didn't have much furniture at all, as it was one of the training rooms.

Kal'Aran felt Aurra come along with someone else, but it wasn't Taran. He turned and saw a young girl whom he hadn't come to meet, but he could tell that she was in touch with the Force, even though not fully trained in the Jedi ways. Perhaps a Force addict or a Padawan who had come to join them? "Aurra..." he bowed. "I see we have a guest."

"Yes, Master Kal'Aran. This is Vaya. She was found in the forest earlier, by Master Vorrel," Aurra explained.

"Ahh..." Kal'Aran smiled. "Pleased to meet you, Vaya. I am Kal'Aran, one of the Jedi Masters here at the Temple. Have you come to join us?"

"Greetings, Master Kal'Aran," Vaya said with a respectful bow. "I have indeed come here in hopes of continued training. I am waiting to speak with Masters Laedra and Darr again. I imagine they are curious of me," she explained.

Vaya grinned. "Master Darr did say, however," she started, then using her natural Lorddian talent for mimicry, "I'm sure we have room for you here at the Temple, but first we must confer upon the Council and we would like to ask you some questions," she finished in a near flawless imitation of Master Darr's voice, though she couldn't have mastered his Taghezan Basic dialect, as she had never met someone from his home system, nor had she any knowledge of that system to begin with.

Kal'Aran laughed shortly. "Impressive imitation," he smiled. "But what he told you is true. As much as we enjoy teaching others and helping out people to have a home here with us and develop their skills in the ways of the Jedi, we must first unite in counsel to discuss it..." he explained. "But you said that you wish to continue your training? How long have you been under tutelage, and by whom, if I may ask?"

"I have trained for five years under Master Kherris, he was my former Master," she explained. "Kherris and a small group of Jedi had had a secret enclave here in the Outer Rim, a place for Jedi and Padawans to hide, train, and work against the Empire just after the Purge. It was all before I met Kherris, before he took me as his Padawan. But I used to enjoy his stories of the School, and after they disbanded I accompanied my Master and several other Jedi and a couple of their Padawans on missions to help drive the Empire from these parts...for so long Kherris and his friends were in hiding, I remember how joyous he was when the Rebellion defeated the Empire at Endor, and the galaxy became a place for Jedi to come out from hiding...I lost my Master on one such mission; he saved me from being taken prisoner by the Empire...since then I have been lead here, to Tae'Karada to seek the Jedi and hopefully resume my training, Master Kal'Aran."

"I see..." Kal'Aran nodded. "Well, I can assure you that you are always welcome here at the Temple. As for your training, we shall convene shortly and decide on that matter, but so far we haven't denied any padawans who have come here," he told her with a warm smile as to grant her hope of a probable future.

"It will be great to share and practice with you if you get to stay!" Aurra said. "I can't say for sure, but I think I am the Padawan who has been in training for the longest time. Or maybe that's Talara..."

Vaya was feeling very welcomed. Laedra and Koran seemed nice enough, and Talara was friendly, and now she had met Aurra and her Master Kal'Aran, both seemed nice as well.

I sure do hope I can stay, Vaya thought as she smiled at both the Master and the Padawan. I don't have anywhere else to go, I have no one...

"I would look forward to joining you in some training, Aurra," she replied with the same warm smile. "You and Talara have both been very friendly, as you have, Master Kal'Aran, and of course Masters Vorrel and Darr. I would love to see more of your Temple and meet more people whenever I may. Shall I be talking to the Council soon, Master Kal'Aran?"

"Vaya," said Koran as he entered the room with Laedra just behind him. "Ah good, you've met Master Kal'Aran, and Aurra. We were just on our way here to discuss the matter of your presence here with Master Kal'Aran, and then off to seek you out again. But, it appears you've saved us some time. Whenever Master Kal'Aran is ready, the Council will be meeting in the Council Chambers to discuss your continued training."

Vaya nodded, "Greetings, Master Darr, and to you Master Vorrel." She turned back to Master Kal'Aran. "Well I shall not take up any of your time, Master Kal'Aran."

"In that case I leave you with Aurra. I'm sure she can show you the Temple while we gather in the Counsel Chambers," Kal'Aran said. "We shall call upon you later on," he added with a slight bow to Vaya. He then turned to face Koran Darr and Laedra Vorrel. "Whenever you are ready..." he motioned.

---

"Letters from the Past"
By: Kel Deneb - Bounty Hunter and all around Nice Guy

Location: Kel's Place, Arcadia
Date: Vadris 5, 4 ABY

***

Kel woke up from his sleep, another dreamless one. People would say that is the mark of a troubled mind, but Kel preferred to think of himself as someone with no regrets, and nothing that his mind needed to work out. Well, there were some things, but old wounds die hard.

Rousing himself out of bed, he walked over to the computer terminal in his place and pulled up the camera he had installed in the Hutt's place. Luckily, it was stealthed from scanning equipment, a little thing he snagged from the Empire before it fell. He looked in the main room where Jadda always was, and noticed that the Jedi was gone. Shit, he thought to himself. Quickly, he rewound the images to figure out when she had vanished, and noticed that someone came in. He turned on the audio, and listened to the exchange.

He sighed. Not only had he failed the Jedi, but he failed himself. He sent off a message to Laedra, telling her that Rae had been taken by someone named Zion, and she appeared willing to go with him. Running his hand through his hair, he shut off the computer screen, and walked over to get a drink of juice. He drank it quickly, and got dressed. Kel checked his messages, and noticed one from someone he did not recognize right away. Opening it, he saw a very familiar face on it, someone he had not seen since leaving the service of the Empire...his sister.

"Kel, I wanted to let you know that I finally found you. It's been years, and I wanted to see you again, or at least make contact. I know you're probably busy, but let me tell you what has happened since you last saw me....

"As you know, I fled Corellia when the Empire fell 4 years ago. Beyond that, I know we lost contact, you out bounty hunting on the Rim, and me...well, I too came out to the Rim. I found my way to a planet called Tatooine initially. After a few months on that forsaken planet, I made it to Alzok III. It was here that I managed to find a suitable life working with children, doing things that I love. While here, and it's probably why you didn't recognize the last name, I found someone that I fell in love with and got married. Afterwards, I was determined to find you again, Kel. It's been a long time. Do you remember the fun we had before you ran off? How we did things together, and how much of a family we were? I want to come and see you, out there on Chimaeria. Or, you can come here, it doesn't matter to me.

"I realize you probably thought I was dead, Kel, or just didn't care anymore, but I do care, and I'm here again. I know how much pain you were in when she was killed before your eyes, and knew why you had to run off, but I hope since then, you have closed that chapter in your life. It's been nearly 7 years since it happened. Please reply back as soon as you get this. I'll be waiting," Jordan said, and signed off.

Kel sat back, and thought about the message that had just come across his screen. Jordan was actually alive and well, and now married? Interesting... most interesting. He always thought she was independent, and would never settle down with someone. How much he was wrong, or how much she had changed...he wasn't sure which it was. He stood up, and paced around his place for a minute, thinking. After a few moments, he sat down, and started recording a message in reply.

"Jordan, it was great to hear from you again after these years. As you can probably see, I've changed a bit, probably look a hell of a lot older than 27," he said with a smile, a genuine one he had not had in years. "I would love to have you and your husband come here and visit. Things are going fairly well, I think. Sometimes I wonder if I should not just become lost in the core worlds, fall away from everything I was. It seems at times that I am continuing blind and lost. Seeing you might do a world of good," he added. "I missed you, Jordan, and look forward to seeing you again."

Kel sent the message, and stood up, heading outside into the sunlight. He put on his sunglasses, and walked among the population, heading in no particular direction, just wanting to sort out his thoughts and feelings.

---

"Falling In Love"
By Tidus Highwind
Elina Kasn

Location: New Plouton
Date: Vadris 5, 4 ABY

***

Tidus woke up the next day and he couldn't see Elina anyhere inside the room. He found a note on top of his computer that she took the liberty to find a new house for him, since it was a rough neighbourhood he was living, especially with that kind of cash he had around. Also the note said she was going to pick up two or three houses for him to choose since it was his money not hers.

Tidus took the liberty to sit in front of his computer and start to make some research about the temple that he was going to retrieve the sword. Tidus thought that for this job he had to have help. One of that help Elina was going to get a person to join the mission. Tidus needed a linguistic of death languages, since they will probably find some writings there. He had to find the right person since the man or woman had to be very interested in that particular temple, someone that knew more than he was probably going to find on the holonet.

Tidus found that the temple in Dathomir was a very ancient temple that once belonged to a man named Nagori. Legend said that he was one of the legendaries that defeated the Riders of Darkness whoever they were, but how he died was never exactly sure or where he was buried. One of the burial sites was where that temple was supposed to be built to secure one of his swords.

"Wait. Wait a minute," Tidus said out loud. "They built a massive temple to secure a sword? That is absurd."

He realised that this was only speculation, that they were talking. No one had ever entered the temple or seen any kind of entrance. Tidus saw the images of the temple and saw that part of the temple was destroyed; another part was under tonnes of snow. That was the only information that he could find. "Great."

"Talking alone are we?" Elina said as she put a bag over the chair and smiled.

Tidus smiled and was somewhat embarrassed. "Hi. I always think out loud. So did you find anything special?"

"Well I found three small apartments, one in Yade District and another two in Yesdol District. Where are the holoprojections of the apartments." Elina sat by Tidus' side and smiled. "So what were you doing?"

"I was trying to find any useful information about that temple! Of course there wasn't any... Is there really a sword inside that massive temple?" Tidus gazed to Elina's face.

"Yes, there is, if the information I got is correct. The sword is said to have belonged to Nagori himself. Since my contractor is a collector of ancient artifacts she wants it, badly." Elina smiled, feeling a little embarrassed the way Tidus looked at her.

"You know, I can't do this job with only the help of that person you said was going to help me." Tidus gazed to her beautiful face.

"Yes I know, that is why there are going to be three persons with you."

"Really? Who?"

"Well..." Elina paused as her face came near him. "A girl and eccentric little man and me..."

"You?" Tidus admired. He stopped a few centimetres from her face.

"Yes, someone has to watch your back..." Elina kissed him and Tidus kissed back. They were kissing passionately then Tidus started to undress Elina.

Elina woke up a few hours later and she got up and wrapped the sheet of the bed around her naked body. She walked to the far end of the room and placed her hands over her face. "What in the hell did I do?" she spoke - not too loud, only to herself.

Elina gazed to Tidus who was still sleeping. It happened so quickly like she had no control of the moment. That never had happened to her - she had sex few times, but not like that, not so... so wonderful. Elina realised that she loved that man. That was the reason why she had no control and why it was more wonderful than the previous times.

She was facing a problem. She had to choose between a life that she always knew was about blood and death, or a life that she barely knew anything about with the man she loved. Now she understood her sister, why she walked away from her monotonous life to live with the man she loved. Elina knew that it was a very risky choice, but she knew that at least she was going to be happy even if that meant for a few hours or days. She walked towards the bed and sat next to Tidus. He opened his eyes and smiled towards Elina.

"Hi," Tidus said as he kissed her on her lips. "I'm sorry for... I don't know what..."

"No need to apologise. Tidus... did you mean what you said when we were making love?" Elina asked.

Tidus sat on the bed and kissed one of her lips and placing his hands on her soft skin. "Yes, Elina. I did."

Elina smiled and she wanted to scream with happiness, but she contained herself. "Say it one more time."

Tidus smiled and he approached her face. "I love you."

Those words came like some sort of good news. She smiled and kissed him. "I love you too."

Tidus looked at her eyes. "So, what do you want to do now?"

Elina smiled. "Well, there is a sword waiting for us. So let's get the people we need and get the job done."

Tidus kissed her one more time on the throat. "What's the worry?"

"Well once the job is done you will be filthy rich and you can afford a new home and I want to test every place of your new house." Elina smiled and kissed Tidus. He laid on the bed as Elina continued to kiss him.

---

"Leaving the Past Behind"
by Zion "The Worm" Xandler
and Raeila Mullerin

Date: Vadris 5, 4 ABY
Location: Yuarteira District, New Plouton

***

Zion stopped his swoop bike right outside the most fashionable clothing store there was to offer. The whole place looked more like it was unreal, with a red carpet going on the pavement until the entrance, where double glass doors shone. Zion grinned and got off the swoop, giving his hand to help Raeila off it as well. "Come on, you can't go around looking like that!" he winked as he led her inside.

Once inside the store, five stories could be seen, and they were filled with every single fabric, every single colour, every single shape there was to offer. There were several clerks standing by, and a rather small man came forward, rubbing his hands. He wore light brown pants and a pearl coloured silk shirt. He smiled as he approach. "Welcome. Is there anything I can do for you?" he asked.

"Depends..." Zion said, not paying too much attention to the small man as he looked around. "Do you have anything as beautiful as this lady here?" he asked.

"Yes, we do!" the man answered. Only when Zion looked down at him and he saw his expression did he shake his head nervously. "I mean... No, we don't! We have things as beautiful as she would want them to be! That's what I was getting at!" he corrected.

"Good. I think we need your assistants' help. We need at least five of them!" Zion said. "She can have whatever she wants, so don't hold back."

"Of course!" the man smiled. He then clapped twice and forth came four women to help Raeila.

Zion grabbed her hand and smiled to her. "Go with them and choose whatever you like, and as much as you want!" he told her.

She looked around nervously at all the women hovering bout her. Rae cowered into Zion. "You're not going to leave me...are you?"

"I'll never leave you!" Zion smiled. "But you ought to go with them and see what they've got if you're going to choose anything... I'll be right here."

Raeila watched them hesitantly, then sighed and allowed them to lead her away. Before she disappeared around the corner, Rae gave Zion a warm smile.

The store manager turned to Zion and nodded with a smile. "If I may be allowed to say so, I believe you have done the right choice to bring her here. We have a most wonderful collection, and she will be overwhelmed with what we have to offer!"

Zion turned to the man and raised an eyebrow. "Suck up to her, not me! She's the one buying! I'm just the one who pays for whatever she buys!" he said.

The store manager looked at Zion and was hesitant at what to do. Finally he decided to go and see to it that everything went perfect with Raeila.

With the store manager gone after Raeila, Zion gave a small laugh and walked into another section. He took only a few minutes, and came back, sitting down as he waited for Raeila to finish up.

It was almost two hours later that Raeila emerged again, her slave attire gone and exchanged for a long skirt and a sleeveless top that bared her abdomen. Over it was a long, black trenchcoat, much like Zion's. Her hair had been cleaned and brushed to a magnificent shine, one to match her gleaming smile. With a laugh, she spun for Zion. "We could be twins!"

Zion got up, a wide grin on his face as he looked at Raeila. Behind her were some of the women who had been showing Raeila all she wanted, holding her other bags. "You look wonderful!" Zion told her. "But you still miss something..." he added as he took a small velvet case. As he opened it he showed her a diamond and white silver necklace that seemed to shine with its own light. "Here... Let me put this on you..." he said as he placed his hands gently across he neck. Once it was done he took another look at her. "Now you look perfect!" he grinned.

The store manager came up and smiled at them both, obviously content with the sale that had been made. He bowed his head at both. "Ahem... How will you be paying, sir?"

"Here..." Zion said as he handed the manager a credit chip card. It only took a few seconds for the manager to hand it back over to Zion. "Oh, and send those to my apartment. Here's the address," Zion added as he handed over a digital card to the manager.

Upon leaving the store, Zion turned to Raeila. "You know, things could be this way all the time for you and me!" he told her. "But tell you what. I've got one more surprise for you!"

She giggled. "Another? Is it the Temple? Are you taking me to see the Jedi?"

Zion raised an eyebrow. "Actually it was something else. I have tickets to take you to Beach Paradise. It's a resort in the Spira System. I thought you could use the vacations after what you went through with Jadda the Hutt, and I know I could use them as well!" he smiled. "But, if you prefer to go to the Jedi Temple..."

Raeila's smile waned. "I...they'll be wondering about me. But I'm not sure if I'm ready yet...." She sighed and turned away from Zion to contemplate her options. With Zion, she could take some time to heal, emotionally and physically. If she returned to the Temple so soon, she might not be ready to face Kael. "Alright," she whispered, facing Zion again. "I'll go with you. But...we should at least let them know I'm safe."

"We can still go by the Temple, if you want. The trip is set up for tomorrow, really..." he told her.

"I don't know...." Rae smiled weakly. "Everything's happened so fast today. Can-- Can we just go to your place for now? I need time to think."

"Sure!" Zion smiled. "Let's go..."

***

Once in his apartment, Zion tossed his coat on the chair near the entrance. "You remember the place. Make yourself comfortable. Is there anything I can get you? Anything you need?"

"No," Rae sighed, strolling into the living area and peeling off her own coat. "Well...maybe you could share a drink with me." She draped it over the chairback and smiled across the room at Zion. "Like old times?"

Zion grinned and clapped his hands and out of the blue appeared Cylo, Zion's holographic housemaid. She smiled at Raeila. "Raeila Mullerin, nice to see you again. You last came four months and twenty-three days ago," she bowed. "How may I be of service?"

"Get us some Corellian ale with a twist of Corulag grape fruit juice, and ice shards," Zion told Cylo, then turning to Raeila. "You'll like it. It's rather sweet!"

It only took Cylo a few minutes to get an astromech unit to bring them a tray with two drinks. Yellow at the bottom and reddish at the top in colour, they were quite fresh with the ice shards inside them. Zion took the glasses and offered one to Raeila. "So, what do we drink to?"

She accepted the glass, pondering the dual-hued liquid. "To freedom...and old friends reuniting." Smiling, she tapped the brim of her glass to his. "I'm indebted to you, Zion. I really am."

"Well, I wouldn't consider having you owe me anything really..." Zion said. "To tell you the truth, I think you're the only person I feel I can really trust! In reality, you might be my only true friend, really... And I'd do anything for you."

Smiling in disbelief, Rae sank down beside him on the couch. "You would? I mean, I always knew we were friends...but I didn't know how close we were." She blushed slightly. "We've been very close in the past...but that was physically. Are we close emotionally, Zion?"

"Well... I like to think so!" he smiled. "I always feel great when I'm with you! Even if we are in real crappy places like Nar Shaddaa. But hey, I realise you feel different, right?"

She smiled inquisitively. "About what? About you?" Rae dropped her eyes to the glass, following a drop of condensation as it trickled down the side. "You're a good man...and we had some fun times together. You treated me kindly, Zion, so...I feel...comfortable with you." Her gaze shifted to his again. "Really comfortable."

"Well..." Zion sighed. "From my perspective, what it seems to me is that no one seems to treat you like you ought to be treated. If you were mine..." he said then stopping himself from saying it. "Well, I just hope you know that you can count on me and that I will always be there for you whenever you call."

She smiled fondly and reached across to cover his hand with hers. "I know you are...and I know you'd be faithful, too. Not like--" Rae halted herself and looked away sullenly. "Not like Kael," she whispered.

"He wronged you?" Zion asked with a raised eyebrow.

"I...I think he did," she answered quietly. "Nieme said that they...." Rae sighed and shook her head. "I don't know what to believe. Could he really have done that to me?"

"It is possible..." Zion sighed. He knew that him saying so wouldn't help Raeila at all, but he couldn't lie to her. "Besides, she's been after him for a very long time. She loves him, in a truly obsessed way and she's not willing to give up on him. She told me so in the very day you married him. But...what do you think happened?"

"I think," Rae said slowly, "that I need to talk to Kael. I-I don't know what to believe..." She sighed and lay her head on Zion's shoulder. "Things are so bad, Zion. I hate this...."

Zion caressed her hair and moved down to her cheek, as he held her close. "Shhh..." he whispered. "I think what you really need is a vacation now. So, if you want to, we can go to the Temple, so you can talk to Kael. But, to be honest, I think you need some time apart to think through on what you really want to do, because I haven't seen you very happy along with him. You always seem to be in some kind of trouble. And if it's not you then it's him... And that's no life to have. You should be having fun, not crying all the time and having worries about things..." he told her. He then looked into her eyes. "But I'll only take you there if you want to go. We can always go later, after we get back from our trip."

"A trip..." Rae whispered. She sighed and snuggled closer to Zion until she was resting against his chest in a half-embrace. "I...you should let them know I'm safe first. Then...." She smiled wanly and looked up at him. "A trip sounds great."

"We'll do that, then!" Zion smiled. "We'll contact the Jedi and tell them you're safe, and then we'll go on a trip. Just you and me, and we'll leave all our worries and troubles behind us!" he told her as he caressed her shoulder with his hand.

"And it'll give me time to think of some way to repay you." Rae raised her glass before Zion and watched him do the same. With a giggle, she tapped the brims of each together. "To Raeila and Zion's reunion," she toasted.

"To us!" he nodded before taking a sip. "May we never be apart for such long periods of time ever again!"

"And definitely not because of a stupid Hutt!" she added and tossed back her drink. She sighed as it slid down her throat, nestling her cheek against Zion's chest and closing her eyes. "I think just one nap before we start packing..." she murmured.

Zion touched a side control on the couch to make it slowly have its back go down and a feet resting area come up. Soon it was much more comfortable. He then touched another portable console and the windows had shades pulled down to make the light more dim. "There. Now we can rest then..." he whispered to Raeila as he placed his arm around her and kissed her forehead.

"Rest..." she sighed. Her lips turned up to brush his chin. "Thank you for saving me. I hope it didn't cost you a lot of credits."

"It might..." Zion admitted. "But I'd rather save you than get more credits out of some info I'd sell. It was a good thing that Hutts are greedy for money and power!" he smirked. "But that doesn't matter any more now. You're safe, and that's all that counts."

Rae relaxed further into his embrace. She did feel safe with him and knew she could fall asleep without jerking awake at the slightest sound, unlike her time at Jadda's Palace. She could hardly close her eyes there without flinching and creeping further under the covers; any unwelcome sound usually preceded Jadda entering her room for a night together. Rae whimpered and clutched Zion tighter. "Let's just go to bed," she murmured. "I don't want to remember anymore."

Zion got up and took Raeila's hand. As she got up, he placed his arm around her before going to the bedroom and gave her a smile. "Tomorrow will be a brand new day."

Raeila grinned to herself. "No, Zion," she whispered. "It already is...."

---

"The First Day of the Rest of Her Life, Part 2"
By Koran Darr, Jedi Master
Laedra Vorrel, Jedi Master
Kal'Aran, Jedi Master
Vaya Bek, Padawan
Aurra Sgall, Padawan
and Alisson Blair, Jedi Master

Location: Jedi Temple
Date: Vadris 5th, 4 ABY

***

Laedra and Koran tipped their heads at the elder Master as he passed, then in deference followed behind him. "Before we meet with the rest," Laedra said to Kal'Aran once they were a good distance from the training room, "what is your opinion of the girl?"

"She seems to be quite balanced..." Kal'Aran commented as he walked side by side with Laedra. "She is polite and humble. On first impressions, it appears that she was well trained and that she commits to what she has learned so far without abusing the skills she learned, even though she still has a long way to go."

Koran chuckled softly. "Well, I believe that's where we come in," he said. "Once we talk to the rest of the Council, we should be able to place her with one of us and continue her training."

"Yes, I believe so," Kal'Aran concurred. "After all, she sought us out because she too wishes to complete her training."

"Are we so certain that is her true intention?" Laedra asked. "Perhaps she is simply looking for companionship, for a home...."

"Perhaps... But I'm sure that we all seek a certain level of companionship, wouldn't you agree? I believe it to be part of humanity," Kal'Aran commented. "I can only speak for myself, but I'd rather live with some sort of company than alone and isolated. Her intention in coming here seems righteous enough. But perhaps it wouldn't be unwise to have some trials set out for her and see how she manages. Bring her before the Council and ask some questions to try and assess her..." he suggested.

"I agree," Laedra said. "My concern is that we are reaching our limit. The number of Masters to Padawans is greatly uneven. It would be negligence on our part to continue taking on students when we cannot give them each the attention they deserve."

"Indeed. Two Padawans is quite the limit for any Jedi to teach," Kal'Aran nodded. "However, with given time our numbers shall increase as Padawans pass the trials and become Jedi themselves. Until then, however, it shall not be an easy task. Which brings me to wonder, who would take on Vaya's training, should she stay with us?"

***Meanwhile***

Aurra turned back to Vaya. The girl seemed nice enough and there wasn't the chance to mingle with younger ones all the time, since most of the time she was in training, and the other padawans were older. It struck Aurra as an almost irony that the two Padawans who had been in training for the longest time were also the youngest of them all...

"Perhaps you'd like to see the Temple?" Aurra offered with a warm smile.

"Well then lead the way, Aurra, I look forward to seeing some more of your Temple," Vaya said to Aurra as the Jedi Masters left the training room.

"Well then, come along. You've seen the medical room and this is one of the common rooms, in this part of the temple. They're all basically alike. But come this way..." the blue twi'lek girl said as she walked out of the room with Vaya and down the corridor.

Vaya was very pleased to have been left in the company of the Twi'lek girl; she seemed very nice and genuinely friendly. Vaya thought she was quite attractive, her blue skin tone was aesthetically pleasing. Vaya noted that she was well fit, obviously she trained hard, from a physical aspect. Vaya respected that. She herself was very fit and exercised regularly, having becoming quite adept in her gymnastic and aerobatics training.

Soon they were entering a very large room with tall but thin windows that let the sun inside. The walls were simple and made of dark sand coloured stones, but it had an air to it that inspired peace and calm, while the ceiling stood very tall. There was also a big wood table with a few boxes on it in the far wall. Both girls walked inside.

"This is one of the largest rooms. We use it for both training, but also for meditation sometimes..." Aurra explained, as her voice propelled itself softly in an echo.

Vaya was very impressed with the room. It was simple, yet pleasing. Vaya knew that sometimes less could be better, and in respect to this place being a Jedi Temple, she didn't expect garishness and clutter.

"It is very nice, Aurra," Vaya replied. "How long have you trained here?" she asked. "Master Kal'Aran seems like a nice man. I wonder who will train me if I am permitted to stay."

***

"I would be willing," Laedra volunteered. "I have but one Padawan and I feel I am up to the challenge of fostering another...if the Council agrees, of course."

"I have received word from Master Vos. He is still in pursuit of Daemor'rah, although last time he contacted he was getting close. He mentioned coming soon could be a possibility, although he couldn't tell whether he would bring Daemor'rah back with him or not," Kal'Aran commented. "If he does not, then he is left without a Padawan, which would make him a likely candidate. But I also feel that it wouldn't be long before we have more Padawans here anyway, so I believe that Vaya would be most fortunate to learn from your experience, Master Vorrel."

Laedra quirked an eyebrow at Kal'Aran's unexpected compliment. Considering her past indiscretions, she was not prepared for such easy assent. "Thank you, Master Kal'Aran. It would be my honour to serve the Order in this way."

Kal'Aran saw Laedra's surprise and smiled. "I know you must think I don't hold you with much consideration, Master Vorrel. It is no secret that your teachings do differ a lot from my own, but I expect that there will always be a clash of generations... However, I have always believed you to act on what you think is right, and I hold you in great consideration for your role at the Temple. I hope Vaya can learn that determination and dedication as well..."

Laedra smiled in gratitude. "And I hope to teach it to her."

"I am quite certain she will," Koran said. "And, I'm certain that whomever of us takes on Vaya as their Padawan---though, it sounds as if Laedra intends to take her on as a second Padawan already---she will do well for the experience we can grant her. And, perhaps someday soon Kael will be ready to become a teacher as well."

"Yes, surely it won't be long before Kael too will be given a Padawan to train. Although I must express that I am somewhat reluctant as to do it before things in his life become more...shall we say, stable," Kal'Aran said. "He will surely become a great Jedi Master once he manages to do so, I'm sure. And he has proven his value countless times," he then added.

"I agree," Laedra said, smiling slightly at Koran. "He has had a formidable teacher."

"Or teachers," Kal'Aran corrected Laedra. "If I'm not mistaken, Kael was trained by Liam Zaneth first, and later by Alisson and even had a few hints from you and Master Darr. But he was always a fast learner."

"Hopefully this Vaya will be as well," Laedra added. "But that will be of little consequence if the Council does not agree to her acceptance." She smiled as they came upon the council chambers. "But...we shall see soon enough."

"That we shall..." Kal'Aran nodded.

***

"I'm not sure," Aurra replied to Vaya's question. "That will be for the Council to decide. But I wouldn't worry too much. Most Jedi Masters here are very nice," Aurra smiled. She then took a couple of steps and looked around. She enjoyed this room they were in very much. "I have been here for almost a year now, although I have been training since I was four. Master Kal'Aran wasn't always my teacher. I've just been under his tutelage for about a year... That's when I came here. But I've learned very much since I came."

"I see," Vaya said. "I was not trained until I was fourteen, but I have tried to train hard and live by the lessons my former master has taught me. I guess I'm a quick study, I don't know. When I was found, and taken in to be trained, I had nothing else in life, my training and my life to become a Jedi has been my sole dedication."

"So..." Aurra sighed. "Apart from what you've seen, there's not much else to see. There are a few more rooms like this one, only smaller that we use for our training as well, and then there's the kitchen... Wait until you meet Orn. He's the cook and he's wonderful at that!" she laughed. "Other than that, there are the nearby grounds. Most of it is forest, but there is a river stream and some cascade waterfalls and a lake as well. I really like it there!"

Vaya laughed. "I have heard about this waterfall, I would love to visit there. I really appreciate your taking the time to show me around, Aurra. Everyone has been very nice and welcoming. I must admit, I had some anxiety about what it would be like, a stranger amongst all of you. But I feel a lot better about things this day."

---

"Extended Family"
By: Tralesha Zibel
Orinth Neerou
Orn [NPC+]

Location: Jedi Temple
Date: Vadris 5, 4 ABY

***

The Burgundy Rose dropped through the atmosphere of Tae'Karada, flipping easily over to line up for a descent into the forest beyond the city. There wasn't a lot of room for ships out there, but there was enough. It was a lonely several months out in space, hauling freight, and it felt good to be coming home to stay for more than a few days. She sat alone in the cockpit, flying the ship as effortlessly as she always did. Tralesha Zibel was coming home to what was the closest to home she had.

She missed Orinth, and was looking forward to seeing him again. She never really got to know any of the other Jedi, but it would be nice to see them again as well. Now that the Empire had fallen, she looked forward to spending time on a free Tae'Karada. As she banked the ship to come in low over the forest, she wondered what Shaza was up to. She imagined she was still gone, off with Liam somewhere.

As the Temple came into view, Tral backed off the thrusters and cut the ship's speed. When she was over the clearing just south of the Temple, she pulled the Rose to a stop, and eased back on the repulsors. The ship settled gently to the ground. When the landing struts touched dirt, she grinned. She slipped out of her chair and started back to the main cabin.

She stopped to pull her boots on, tramping in place for a moment to get her feet settled. Dressed all in black, she imagined she would make for an imposing sight, were it not for her rather small frame, her impish features, and the fact that she really didn't look all that imposing. Her flightsuit clung to her body, accentuating every curve. The zip on the front of the suit was pulled down to reveal an ample amount of cleavage on her buxom chest.

Tralesha dropped the ramp and started down, duffel slung over one shoulder as she inhaled the fresh forest air. It was good to be back, though it would be better when she'd had a chance to catch up with her friends...if any were still around. She smiled to herself as she started toward the Temple. Orinth would be here, and the smile he'd have for her when she came in brightened her smile even more.

After a few quick checks to make sure she was herself and not some rogue Dark Jedi, she was allowed access to the rest of the Temple. Once inside, she headed directly toward her room, though that room wasn't her destination. The room next to hers was her goal, and Orinth Neerou, the father she should have always had.

She stopped outside his door and knocked.

Shuffling within was the first comforting sound that emerged from the room - the sound of Orinth's familiar gait. It hadn't changed at all, ample encouragement that time had not weathered him further. He was still slow in arriving, but when the door pulled open, his clear blue eyes still lit up with their usual vibrancy and his warm smile showed only a few more wrinkles around his mouth. "Tralesha?" A rich, gentle laugh followed as Orinth opened his arms for her. "Oh, it's been too long, my girl."

"Far too long," Tralesha said as she slipped into his embrace and held herself to him as she'd never been able to do with her own biological father. Orinth's love for her, and she firmly believed that it had developed into love because she felt the same for him, washed away all the loneliness of time in space. "You're looking wonderful, Orinth. I'm sorry I was away so long, but this time I'm back for much longer. I missed talking with you, but now we'll have lots of time to catch up."

He patted her back soothingly, then pulled back to openly appraise her. "You look healthy," he commented. "You're well?"

She smiled at him. "Very well," she said. "Though, I've been sorely missing contact with other people...especially people that don't usually hang out in spaceports. You wouldn't believe the rowdy bunch of braggarts and hooligans that occupy your typical spacer hangout." She shook her head and laughed. "It's a good thing I know how to defend myself because some of them have trouble hearing the word no." She leaned in close and reached up to kiss his cheek. "But, I am feeling very good."

"And you look just as well." Orinth grinned fondly and cupped her cheek. "You look thinner, though. You should eat. Come" --he slipped an arm across her shoulders and steered her away from his room-- "we'll have Orn make you something very special."

"Oh, that sounds fabulous," Tral said with a grin. "It's been so long since I've had a good meal. Since the last time I was here, I think. So, is there any news? I've been so completely out of touch lately."

Orinth shrugged his thin shoulders. "More Padawans coming and going, with some trouble along the way." His eyes twinkled. "You know how children will be, don't you now."

Tralesha laughed. "Keeping the boys away from the girls," she said with a knowing smile. "Well, I'm certain the Jedi will do their best to keep order, that's their way."

"They do alright," he allowed. "Though, they could never master unruly, headstrong children unless they raise a litter of their own. That's the trouble with these Jedi," Orinth mused. "All theory, not enough practice." He chuckled with mirth.

"Well, I hear you have quite a lot of experience with headstrong children," she said with a grin. "With both of your headstrong and willful girls; that is, if I'm still allowed to be your daughter."

Orinth squeezed her arm tenderly and said, "When did you ever stop?"

"I never did," she said. "But, I just thought I'd make sure I was still welcome...not that I should have ever had any doubts." She stopped and sniffed the air, then grinned. "Oh, Orn is definitely here alright, I smell that cooking and my stomach starts rumbling. It's good to be home."

"And it's good to have you home. An old man certainly gets lonely without his favourite girl to speak with. Next time," he mused, "you must consider taking me with you. I may not be entertaining, but I do believe I can help you pass the time somehow." Tapping his forehead with one gnarled finger, he confided, "I may be slow, but the gears are still in good shape."

"I was actually thinking that about halfway out," she said with a big grin. "You'd be a perfect co-pilot and partner. Maybe in a few weeks, we could go on a test run. I may need to run out-system to pick up a new set of hyperdrive coils for the Rose, I'd love to have you along."

"We could do that," he responded with a thoughtful nod. "But first...." Smiling, he led Tralesha into the dining hall, empty now since it wasn't yet lunch for the Padawans. Although every chair was vacant, the room was filled with Orn's robust, off-tune singing. "I don't believe his throat ever gets sore," Orinth sighed. "And I can't decide whether that's a shame or not."

Tralesha laughed. "It's cute in its own way," she said. "But, I'm glad there's a lot of thick stone walls between us and here."

The two shared a soft chuckle as they found a seat nearest the kitchen. Orn must have heard the scraping of chair legs, for he ceased his whistling mid-tune and poked his head through the door. He laughed loudly and with surprise. "Ms. Zibel! It's been a long time." Orn gave her a quick once-over. "You look hungry."

She brushed a hand over her stomach and nodded vigourously. "I've been living off of ship's rations and cantina food for the last six weeks. I could really use something right about now."

"I'll give you one better," Orn told her. "I'll make you a meal you won't forget like you did your good friends at the Temple." He chortled raucously, then disappeared in the kitchen once more.

Orinth patted her hand resting upon the table. "Many have missed you, dear girl," he said. "But, you'll rectify that, won't you?"

"Oh definitely," Tralesha said with a grin. "I plan on remaining here for awhile. Let people get to know me again, and show them how much I've missed them."

"And when you are not flying, what will you do?" he asked. "There is a garden I've been meaning to plant, but have just been waiting for the right kind of help." His cheerful smile indicated she was just that person.

"I'm not sure how green my thumbs are," Tralesha said, "but I would love to help."

"Then after a meal and a nap, we shall." Again he patted her hand, then clasped it gently.

Singing a loud tune, Orn shouldered his way through the kitchen door and swung to present a tray of steaming food balanced on one, large hand. "In celebration of our wayward child's return," he began ceremoniously, "I present the best damned dish on this planet!" He set down the heavy tray with a thunk, then clapped his hands together. "Enjoy!"

Tralesha laughed. "Oh, thank you, Orn," she said as she gathered her plate in preparation of the succulent meal he'd prepared. "It smells so good. You keep this up, and I'll probably never leave this place again."

"Then I must make sure," Orinth quipped, "that he keeps you fed at all times." Patting the old man congenially on the shoulder, Orn chuckled heartily then lumbered back towards the kitchen. "A good man that one is," Orinth commented when he was out of earshot.

"He is," Tralesha said with a grin. "He's a real gem. It was some big act of fortune that brought him here. It really feels like home here, Orinth."

"I understand," he told her wistfully. "It would seem this Temple is a sanctuary for those who have lost their way. The Jedi truly are a noble bunch. I wish they were more venerated by the people of Tae'Karada."

"They're wonderful people doing wonderful things, but after so much Imperial propaganda mixed with near eradication...I think many people are having trouble accepting them. Plus, I don't believe they have much of a public image here."

"They're not very extroverted people, though. It isn't in their nature to go out and seek attention. But," he added with a knowing smile, "I believe they prefer working in the background. It makes them more effective."

Tralesha nodded, lost in thought for a moment before she grinned. "Perhaps they need someone who can be their public face, someone who can go out and let people know they're here to help."

Orinth nodded thoughtfully, though his eyes were filled with secret amusement. "And who might that be, dear Tralesha?"

"Well, I'm a fairly outgoing person," she said. "I imagine I could, if the Jedi accepted me for it, sort of be someone like that. Go out, meet and greet, and see where the Jedi's help is needed most. I thought Raeila and Ferrig were doing something similar."

"They were," he answered solemnly, "but...there has been trouble. Ferrig has returned, but Raeila is still missing. The Jedi have not abandoned hope of retrieving her."

Tralesha gave a nod of understanding. "Well, I guess until they return, the Jedi need someone out there the people can go to. I guess if I want to do that, I'll have to talk to them. I imagine I'd have to spend some time in the city, and I might need a place to stay there. And, I may need someone to help me out, especially if I end up in a place that has a little plot for gardening."

Orinth's wizened face seemed to lose years as he smiled. "I think," he whispered, patting her hand lightly, "I know just the person."

"I thought you might," Tralesha said with a bright grin, then turned to the food Orn had placed before her. It was good to be home.

---

"Fugitive, Part 2"
by Daemor'rah
Quinlan Vos
Xora [NPC]

Location: Nar Shaddaa Spaceport
Date: Vadris 5, 4 ABY

***

"You've come a long way to this place, Daemor'rah. Why must you meet me here?" a Duro asked.

"Nar Shaddaa is run by the Hutts. The Hutts aren't aligned with the New Republic or the Imperial Remnants -- They sell to everyone. I'm freer to make business here, so long as they get their fees," she explained. And fewer problems with Jedi, she told herself.

"Maybe so, maybe no. You carry a lightsaber. It is the weapon of a Jedi. I hear they are coming back in small numbers..." the Duro commented.

"Got it off a dead Jedi. Same place I got the stones I have to deliver..." she lied. "You got the creds I'm here for?"

"Yes... If you truly have the gems," the Duro nodded.

"Got them right--" Daemor'rah was saying just before the doors slammed open.

There were three New Republic troopers standing there with their blaster rifles pointed at their direction.

"FREEZE!" one of the guard's shouted. Of course it didn't work, only having made the Duro and both his guards that had come along pull their own blasters out and start shooting.

"Daemor'rah! Who are these creeps?!" the Duro asked as he met her behind a now tipped over table in the cargo room they stood in.

"Don't know. Don't really care! When I give the signal, run for the speeder outside and get out of here!" Daemor'rah told the Duro, knowing that he was an important asset for the deal. "Go!" she said as she jumped out behind the table with both her blasters in hand.

With a few shots she covered the Duro's escape as he got out of the room, but suddenly she was pushed back even though she wasn't touched. She fell on some crates, and as soon as she looked up she saw Jedi Master Quinlan Vos, his lightsaber pointed straight at her.

"Daemor'rah, in the name of the Jedi Council, I have been sent to bring you back to the Temple on Tae'Karada. I urge you, as your former teacher, not to resist," Vos said. "Secure her with manacles," he added, as the New Republic troopers did so.

"Have you gone mad?!" she hissed. "I have made my own choice by leaving. You have no right to make me do this! Besides, I'm working for the Hutts. Do you really want to defy them?!"

"I will not have you go through this path!" Quinlan stated. "Believe me, this way leads to nothing but destruction of your own self..."

"What about that Duro who escaped?" one of the troopers asked Quinlan.

"He's unimportant. We need to get off Nar Shaddaa before the Hutts are aware we are here."

***

She was in a speeder, being carried to the docking bays. "You have no right! It is true that I undergo this path, but this is who I am. I will never be a Jedi, but do you think I'd betray my former fellow Jedi?"

"That is for the Council to decide, Daemor'rah," Quinlan replied. "I find it hard to believe any Jedi would betray another. I thought you loyal. Your actions lately, however, have been very critical..."

"I have seen things in recent times. Makes me wonder if we walk the correct path..." Daemor'rah admitted. "Do you think a Jedi can serve and always grant forgiveness to those who wish it and still be a Jedi. Or perhaps choose to go another way and act on free will... Without going to the Dark Side?" she asked with a certain tone of sorrow in her voice.

"I too have had these questions you ask yourself," Vos told Daemor'rah. "I have found the answers to be that the Council always does what seems the best course of action. I respect its wisdom."

"Did you ever consider that the Council may be wrong?" Daemor'rah asked as she looked directly at Quinlan.

"No."

"I wish I had your certainty," she sighed.

At that point, a Speeder crashed sideways into the one in which the Jedi Master and his former Padawan cruised in. The crash was somewhat violent and Daemor'rah took the chance to get up quickly and kick one of the New Republic troopers in the face and then jump off the speeder, while avoiding Master Vos' lightsaber.

Guiding the other speeder was the Duro who Quinlan had provided an escape for. He fired a blaster shot at Quinlan Vos, but the Jedi easily fended the shot off with his lightsaber. They then moved out of the way, with Daemor'rah having her own lightsaber jump into her hands and deflecting any blaster shot that came their way. Alas, there were a few that hit the speeder itself.

"Cease fire!" Quinlan demanded. "I want Daemor'rah alive."

"I need to get back to my ship," Daemor'rah told the Duro. "Can you shake our pursuit?"

"I'm not sure how much longer I can keep us aloft!" the Duro replied as the speeder began a descent. "Next chance you get, bail out! I'll meet you later!"

Daemor'rah didn't reply. Instead she jumped off and went into a drainage system. "See you, Vos!" she whispered, confidant that she had lost him.

Aboard the other speeder, Quinlan looked to the side. "Slow down. Daemor'rah is no longer on that speeder. Stop the speeder and try and locate me. I'm going after her," he said as he jumped off the speeder and went after Daemor'rah.

Daemor'rah ran and jumped from conduit to conduit. But as soon as she got down to the main pipe, she found Quinlan Vos standing there, his lightsaber in hand and ignited.

"Running does not inspire confidence in your beliefs, Daemor'rah," Quinlan told the girl. "You are a Jedi Padawan, and the Council has summoned you. Your duty is to obey. Just as is mine to make sure you come. Willing, or not."

"I am not surrendering!" Daemor'rah grunted as she took her lightsaber from her belt and ignited it. She jumped forward to kick Quinlan Vos, while pushing his lightsaber to the side, but Vos was faster and dodged, kicking her in the face instead.

She stumbled and was forced to kneel down, her back towards Quinlan. But she wouldn't give in and spun her lightsaber backwards. He defended her strike and with a swift twist had her lightsaber taken out of her hands.

"Yield, Daemor'rah. You are a Jedi Padawan and I do not want to harm you. But you must yield," Quinlan told her. "I know what's happened to you. You have played your part among the shadows for so long that you've forgotten the feel of the light. You have lost your way. We need not be -- we should not be -- enemies. Surrender, Daemor'rah. Come back to the light."

"No!" Daemor'rah said as she had her lightsaber pulled back from the ground and struck at Quinlan. Alas, once more she only managed to find his lightsaber's blade.

The Jedi Master twisted his lightsaber and barely touched her arm, cutting through her short sleeve. "That could have easily been your arm. Yield," Vos told her again. "This is not a debate. This is not a discussion. You are coming back to Tae'Karada."

"No!" she shouted. And with that she cut off a few pipes and let the steam come out of them. With the low visibility, she took the chance to run off, while Quinlan was left slightly behind. She managed to get to a local cantina, but as she reached the doors that led outside, Quinlan caught up with her, just as she was about to jump down below the small path that was at the entrance.

"Don't try it," Quinlan said as he approached her, his lightsaber ignited. "There's no place to run. No way to escape. You're out of options."

At that point, there was a noise, and soon there were about five different alien species pointing their blasters at Quinlan Vos. They were obviously the worst kind of scum, that could easily be found on Nar Shaddaa.

"Don't know what's up with your grunt... But she's one of us. You're not!" a large nikto said. "You've got no business here!"

Alas, with a single movement of his hand, Vos had all the blasters pulled out of their hands and passed out the door. "This is a Jedi matter and none of your concern," he said simply.

The nikto became furiously enraged. "You think you're smart, Jedi?! You think that's funny?! Who do you think you are, huh?! GET HIM!"

Quinlan safeguarded his lightsaber. "If you attack me, I cannot be responsible for what happens to you. I suggest you mind your own business."

Daemor'rah grinned. "Always the diplomat, Master Vos..."

As the cantina thugs came forward, Quinlan Force pushed three of them back against the wall and then moved and kicked one of them with admirable strength in the chin. Only the Nikto remained, but as Quinlan dodged his punch and grabbed him, preparing to throw him someone shouted for him to stop. It was a large Hutt, who now stood there with a male twi'lek.

"Stop fighting in the name of his eminence, Aruk the Hutt!" the twi'lek demanded.

Quinlan stopped and let go of the nikto. As for Daemor'rah, she managed to escape at the same exact moment, simply slipping out the door.

"Why is it that every time a Jedi comes by my cantina, you break something?" the Hutt asked. "This time it is my customers..."

"I'm here on Jedi business, Aruk. That is of no concern to Hutt interests," Quinlan replied simply.

"This is not New Republic space, Jedi. This is Hutt territory -- neutral space -- and you are intruding. If the Hutts have something you want, let them negotiate like everyone else. Otherwise, you're leaving now!" the Hutt said.

"And if I refuse?" Quinlan asked with a frown.

"Blood will flow. Diplomacy is not your strong point, I see. But tell me this, is that what a Jedi would want?" the Hutt asked.

"No."

"Then go back to your ship. I want no further... incidents," the Hutt said as Quinlan started to walk out the door.

***

Back at the Spaceport where Quinlan had his ship, was Xora, who waited for him to return. Quinlan showed up and sighed. "I almost had her... But she slipped through with Hutt protection. There's nothing I can do. But I can feel the turmoil in her. She won't harm us..." he said.

"Let us hope so, Jedi Master..." Xora answered. "I find that hard to believe."

"She is a known assassin!" one of the New Republic guards who had aided Quinlan Vos agreed.

"I know her. Trust me," Quinlan nodded.

It was then that a small silver coloured sphere landed nearby them. The explosion had a lot of light but almost no sound at all. However, it had an interesting property. It rendered people unconscious. Only seconds later, Daemor'rah appeared and took them all from the ground. Took them all away with her.

---

"Information"
By: Laedra Vorrel
Kael Selrid
Kel Deneb

Location: Arcadia, Tae'Karada
Date: Vadris 5, 4 ABY

***

The remotes hung in the air as Kael Selrid moved fluidly between them. His lightsaber was held high, a defensive stance that would allow him to protect himself from all directions. The remote behind him flared, sending out a bright shaft of low-powered energy. He snapped his blade back to absorb the shot. Just as he did so, the forward remote fired. He deftly swung his blade around, just in time to catch the blast. As if the dam had been unleashed, both remotes began sputtering out energy blasts, but each one was neatly caught by his blade.

Then all was silent. He watched as the remotes finished their cycles and powered down, settling to the floor. Dripping with sweat, he shut down his blade and returned it to his belt. As he was about to retrieve the remotes, a presence in the room washed over him. He turned and smiled. "Laedra," he said. "Just thought I'd get in some technique work before I needed to look over some of the city reports."

"The reports should probably wait," Laedra told him with uncertain joy. She seated herself on one of the benches lining the walls and motioned Kael to join her. "May we speak?"

"Of course," Kael said, and moved to sit beside her on the bench.

"You have been very focused lately," she commended. "Especially with all that has happened. You should be very pleased with yourself."

"Thank you," Kael said. Then added, "It keeps me from focusing on other things."

Laedra bowed her head in acknowledgement. "Other things I wish to now discuss with you." She smiled again, though seemed unsure if the news was good or would cause Kael distress. "Raeila...she has been freed from Jadda's imprisonment."

"That's great news," Kael answered, though it was clear that Laedra's mood did not match the occasion. Something wasn't right. "There is more..."

"Yes," she answered. "An...informant, of sorts, I am acquainted with has sent me a message regarding her. I was not sure how to interpret the news, for we should have heard from her by now...." Knowing something of the history between Kael and the man Raeila was currently with, Laedra clasped his hand gently to prepare him. "She is with Mr. Zion Xandler. Now, perhaps she is resting, waiting until she is recovered before contacting us...."

Somehow Kael managed to remain calm. Perhaps it was the Jedi training, perhaps it was something else. "Or," he said, "perhaps he is using this chance as his opportunity to woo her and make her his own. He seems to have an obsession for her, and seems to care little for her feelings for me or our marriage. My guess is that he will use this chance, as her saviour, to try to win her over."

"But Raeila would not so easily forget her love for you, Kael," Laedra reminded him. "At any rate, you know where she is now - you can go to her, no matter what Zion intends to do."

"Thank you for coming to me with this information, Laedra," he said with a smile. "It means very much to me."

"And what do you plan on doing with it?" she inquired.

"I plan to go to her," Kael said. "I am her husband and if I didn't go to her now, knowing she was free..."

Laedra smiled approvingly. "If you would like me to accompany you..."

Kael smiled. "I would appreciate that," he said. "Thank you."

"Good." She patted his hand and rose. "The speeder's already waiting out front."

"You've thought of everything," Kael said as he got to his feet as well. "Come on then. Let's go see Raeila and make certain she's alright."

As she watched him leave the room before her, Laedra murmured, "It's not Raeila I'm worried about...."

***

Kael hopped out of the speeder as they reached Zion's apartment. "Here we are," he said as he waited for Laedra to join him. "Hopefully we'll find him in this one. It'd save a lot of running around."

"Reach out for Raeila's life Force," Laedra advised. "I know you are eager to see her...but that doesn't mean you should forget the most basic of techniques."

Kael did so, then frowned. "She's not here," he said. "They've gone somewhere else."

Laedra sighed. "Then it would appear we require some help." She turned back to the speeder and slipped inside. After inputting coordinates into the comm device, she gestured Kael closer. "We are not all knowing, Padawan. It should never bring shame to seek help once in a while."

Kael nodded his understanding and waited. "At this point, any help is welcome."

***

Kel studied a picture for a moment, and then stood up from his chair, walking over and getting some water. His sister would be here in a week, at least according to her message. He was nervous and excited at the same time, and was just trying to keep himself busy. Hopefully something would come up.

As if someone had been listening, his comm beeped on the computer console. Pushing the button, he answered it. "Yeah? Oh, Laedra," he said with a smile. "Haven't heard from you in a while, thought you had forgotten about me. What's up?"

"The Jedi never forget good friends," Laedra chided him gently, her green eyes twinkling. "I'm very grateful for the information you provided me with today," she went on. "But I fear I require more."

"More?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. "There's not a whole lot more about her I can give," Kel said, shrugging.

Laedra, unseen to Kel, raised a hand to stay Kael, sensing his preparedness to push his way into the conversation and ask the questions himself. Her expression remained unchanged as she focused on Kel. "You are a resourceful man, Mr. Deneb," she continued. "As is this Mr. Xandler - he owns many residences; we simply don't know which he has gone to. That is where you, hopefully, come in."

Kel thought for a moment. "Ok, come to my place. I'll try a few things that I know. I don't want to explain over the comm, in case either one of ours is tapped for some reason," he said, looking over at his desk for a moment, then turning back. "Ok?"

Laedra lifted an eyebrow curiously at his almost unwarranted paranoia and nodded. "Expect us in ten minutes. And...thank you, Mr. Deneb. We are indebted to you."

"I've heard that before..." he said with a wink. "Ok, I'll see you in 10 minutes then," Kel said, hitting a few buttons, and shutting off the link.

"Well..." Laedra sighed and nodded for Kael to take the driver's seat. "Let's go find Raeila, then."

Kael took the driver's seat and nodded. "The quicker the better, I think," he said, then smiled. "You might want to buckle in." And then, once she was secure in her seat, he punched it.

***

Kel heard the chime on the door, and walked over, knowing who it was already. He opened it, and smiled to the two. "Laedra, nice to see you again," he said to her. "Please, come in," Kel added, letting them in as he shut the door.

She tipped her head at him and did so. "This is Kael Selrid, a fellow Jedi. It was his wife you were keeping an eye on."

"Nice to meet you, Kael," he said, indicating some seats around the computer. "Have a seat. I'll explain what I'm going to do."

"Nice meeting you," Kael said as he took the offered seat. "And, thank you for helping us like this."

Kel waved him off. "No problem, I just want to go along on one of these little searching things sometime," he said with a chuckle. "I mean, I find the info, then someone else runs off to go do something about it. So anyway," he added, sitting down in front of the computer terminal. "One thing I found when I got to this planet was that the security cams in the city aren't exactly the most secure. I figured some day it might come in handy. The nice thing with the cams is that you can input a certain set of parameters, and it can search for that match, or come up with a few, over the course of a few days' time. Any farther back, and the system is purged, roughly every 2 to 3 days. Now, when I found out Raelia had been taken, that was a day ago, so luckily, we're within the time parameters," Kel said, punching in a long string of numbers. "And, here we are in the camera system. Now, I'll just take the parameters from the image I got from Jadda's palace," he said, and input a few more sets of variables. "And let the system do its thing."

Laedra nodded thoughtfully, waiting in silence with the three as the computer performed its function. She chuckled after a time, drawing the attention of both men. "Mr. Deneb, do not think I missed your veiled hint. I would be glad to show you some adventure...but truly, the Jedi don't experience that much. I'm afraid we would only bore you."

"Well, anything is better than sitting around," Kel said as the computer beeped. "Ok, here we go...looks like they went into some sort of department store...came out a bit later, then headed off. Lose track while they traveled, and they re-appear...here," he said. "Do you recognize this place?"

"I do not," Laedra told him. "What is it?"

"Hell if I know, that's why I was asking," Kel said, looking to the two. "Doesn't appear they've left since entering, however."

"Looks like an apartment," Kael suggested. "My guess is if you check the city records, you'll find that it's owned by Zion Xandler."

"Can you give us the coordinates?" Laedra asked. "We wish to pay them a visit."

"Details, details," Kel said, typing a few things out. "Yea, here they are," he said to Laedra, putting them onto a pad. "About a 5 minute speeder ride."

"Five minutes?" Laedra seemed irritated by the revelation. "At such a short distance, we should have been able to detect her."

Kel pulled up a list of tenants. "There's one person by the name of Zion Xandler who is a tenant, here's the room number," he said, adding it to the list. "Well, this place is messed up, Laedra, I wouldn't worry too much about it."

There was a moment of curious amusement at his use of her first name, but it quickly passed as she tucked away the padd he'd provided. "We will investigate. Thank you, Mr. Deneb and do remember that if you are ever in need, the Jedi are at your disposal."

"As always..." he said. "I'll return to sitting on my rear. Hopefully you find her," Kel added to the both of them.

"Thank you for your assistance," Kael said. "It means very much to me that you are willing to assist us. Any time you require our help, please don't hesitate to ask."

"I won't," Kel said with a slight smile. "Seems you guys need my help more than I need yours, though," he added a little kiddingly.

"If positions are one day reversed, however, the offer will still stand." Laedra inclined her head at Kel, smiling faintly, then led the way out with Kael following behind.

"Be careful," Kel said to the two as they exited.

---

"Contract Contact"
by Akesha Valerious
Alicia Ashantee Garden
Dumah Garden
and Kaede Aoki

Location: Yesdol District, New Plouton
Date: Vadris 5, 4 ABY

***

Akesha stepped into the entrance of her mansion as she saw the air limousine speeder stopped there. Out came Alicia, Dumah, and another person. She noticed that they were dressed somewhat formal to this meeting, and so was Akesha. This was a business meeting, and, hopefully, if it went smoothly, Akesha could be seeing two new partners for many things.

"Welcome to my humble home, Miss and Mr. Gardan. I'm Akesha Valerious, Administrative President of B.I.G and President of Ix Technologies," Akesha said as she nodded towards them.

Alicia gave an elegant bow with her head. "Thank you, Miss Valerious. Both my brother and I thank you for your invitation. I have heard much of B.I.G. and of Ix Technologies."

"And I heard much of you and the Gardan Cooperation," Akesha smiled as she still had her mask on her face.

"Funny that nobody mentioned your beauty, my lady..." Dumah smiled. "A trait that I shall consider a bonus, if I'm allowed?"

"You are, Mr. Dumah. I was told that you were a hunk, but I think rumors were wrong, since hunk is far from what I call cute." Akesha winked an eye towards Dumah and thought to herself that if Alicia wasn't there she would want to possess him right there where they stood. Akesha was really attracted by Dumah's looks, but then so were many other girls.

"My Lady," Dumah bowed with a grin as he perceived the look on Akesha's eyes. "But tell me, why did you ask us to join you?"

"Well, the recent events of Gallor are leaving B.I.G somewhat nervous. I wanted to talk with you because I have a few projects that you might be interested in." Akesha walked near the table and took a crystal with the shape of a pyramid and placed it in a prepared entrance. The image appeared, and it looked like a fighter, a strange one. It had wings in front and another set of wings high above. While the front wings were plain the backward ones curved down.

"Seems a single, possibly double man fighter. Capacity for regular cannons, ion cannons and launchers that can be set for either missiles or torpedoes," Alicia said as she viewed the image. She had acquired the expertise after having dealt with other starship engineering companies. "Interesting shape. It should be able to provide a good amount of speed. Who are the designers, if I may ask?"

"Kartin and Lorva. They say that they worked for the Hapes project of Grand Admiral Tarkin. I offered them a job when they wanted to run from the Empire and they came up with this design. This ship is basically formed as was the Hapes fighter. Of course, we made a few improvements. The very first fighter with a cortosis hull..." Akesha said as she punched on the keyboard a more specific detail of the fighter appeared.

"Should be able to withstand better against regular hulls used, but I doubt that you can arrange for the cortosis to be delivered in sufficient amount for a large scale production..." Alicia commented. "I was asked to trade in this rare raw material, but delivery was never prompt."

Dumah crossed his arms as he regarded the ship. "Tell me, what does this have to do with us? What's our part in this project?"

"Well, last week we got our hands on over fifty thousand tons of the material from a prison we found in Gallor. We still don't have the ability to use this cortosis, and I heard that the Gardan Corporation found a way... I mean, you hired someone who can work with the mineral," Akesha said as she looked at Alicia.

"True..." Alicia nodded. "Cortosis has been used in the past. It has been used for thousands of years... Through a specific and special method, weapons were forged. Blades mostly. Cortosis is known to withstand even a Jedi lightsaber," she commented. "Alas, the art of working with cortosis has been somewhat lost. But not entirely. I have knowledge of someone who knows how to use the rare material, but I cannot assure you that it is possible to use it for a starship."

Dumah looked somewhat intrigued. He had not known that his own sister could manage to find someone capable of using cortosis to wield it. He grinned. "Well, in any case, how much cortosis would a regular ship use? You see, fifty thousand tons may seem a lot, but a regular X-Wing can use up to fifty tons. If we're talking the same amounts, more or less, then you can produce just about one thousand fighters..."

"Actually, cortosis is known to be light. So maybe you can produce almost the double of that, brother. But we don't know how much the hull plates will need to carry in order to prove efficient," Alicia commented.

"Well, we found a way in theory that makes it possible to insert the cortosis ore in other materials to make them stronger. Like the prototype that the Empire had for storm shields." Akesha sighed. "But that didn't work, although I know it's possible to insert it in other raw materials to make them stronger. An entire ship made of cortosis will be extremely light for pilots to fly it."

"Maneuverability is not an issue. We have enough of that on regular fighters already," Alicia dismissed with a hand. "However, they would be light, meaning easier to transport. Still, neither I nor the Gardan Corporation holds a starship factory, so before we are able to produce this, we'd have need for someone with the means to build it for us..."

"Or to build ourselves the means to do it..." Dumah added.

Alicia turned to look at her brother. "Do you really know the costs to build a factory and produce ships? You'd have to sell ten fold what you could produce with this amount of cortosis! Besides, do you really want to compete with the Mon Calamari or the Gallofree Yards? Or even the Naboo Theed Palace Space Vessel Engineering Corps? I don't think so..."

"Maybe we can sell the goods to them..." Dumah said as a suggestion. "But then, I see little reason for us to make part of this deal."

Akesha was amused the way that brother and sister talked, but she stood there silent. "There is much you can gain in this deal, I'm sure, Dumah. We have many shipyards that will want to manufacture these models. The issue is that we are competing with many other enterprises, and some of them are well ahead of us. To assure that our fighter is successful we must certify that it is superior to any previously made models. That may seem impossible, but I will tell you that nothing is impossible."

"Not while you have enough money to make it come true, I'm sure..." Dumah grinned.

"I do have one question," Alicia intervened. "If we are to make these starfighters, then who will buy them from us? I will not agree to anything until we have a commitment with a buyer, and for a reasonable price."

Akesha smiled. "I have already talked with the New Republic and they agree to test twelve fighters of these. If we please their CO with the test squadron, they will forge a contract with us. But we need the cortosis for the hull, and without you we both lose this deal, that can be quite profitable."

"I see no reason to acquiesce your request," Dumah said with a nod. "We shall discuss this in private and let you know."

"Please do!" Akesha said as she got up. "I need to take care of something, so you can discuss freely. Please, excuse me." Akesha walked away from the room leaving Alicia and Dumah alone.

"Come, brother..." Alicia said as she started to walk out of the room. "After we discuss this with father, we shall grant Miss Valerious an answer."

"Of course," Dumah nodded as he took his sister's side and walked with her. "I'm sure he will be interested, however..."

"Interested, yes. So am I. But we shall see what is to come off that interest, brother. If it proves the deal Miss Valerious seems to believe in..." Alicia nodded.

"Then that ought to be quite profitable!" Dumah said with a grin. "Let us go then. Perhaps I can offer you dinner tonight?" he asked.

"Very well..." she smiled.

Akesha looked with one eye and saw him leaving. She took a moment to smile. "Good."

"How is that good, mistress?" a bald man who was seated asked.

"My friend Sain, for Vice-President of IX Technologies you tend to get pretty nervous. My intent today was not to have their signatures on the contract, but to make them interested on the deal."

"It seems you succeeded!" Sain laughed.

---

"The First Day of the Rest of Her Life, Part 3"
By Koran Darr, Jedi Master
Laedra Vorrel, Jedi Master
Kal'Aran, Jedi Master
Vaya Bek, Padawan
Aurra Sgall, Padawan
and Alisson Blair

Location: Jedi Temple
Date: Vadris 5th, 4 ABY

***

The Jedi Masters were sitting down at the room that served as Council Chambers. Kal'Aran, Koran Darr, Laedra Vorrel and Alisson Blair sat in a circle as to face everyone. Master Quinlan Vos was missing as he was not currently present at the time.

"I believe it has been discussed that Master Vorrel is the most likely candidate to take up Vaya's training here at the Temple, should she stay..." Kal'Aran said softly. "I concur and accept her volunteering. But maybe we ought to call upon Vaya first? Or discuss the type of trials that we are to bestow upon her before we make the choice of having her stay or not."

"I believe we should speak with Vaya as well," Koran answered. "Also, with Cole as my student, I believe I also have the time and energy to teach Vaya. Though, I will defer to Master Laedra Vorrel if it is her desire to take on Vaya's training."

"It is not an absolute desire, Master Darr," she replied with a gentle smile. "It is simply that I'm not opposed to taking on her training if the task is appointed to me."

Koran grinned. "Well, we can decide that after we've spoken with her. Does anyone object to bringing Vaya in now to determine her readiness to join us?"

"Not at all," Alisson nodded.

"I concur," Laedra added. "A test would definitely be in order...especially for one who has already experienced some training."

"Then we shall call upon her..." Kal'Aran said.

It took but a few moments to get Vaya in the room. She now stood in the middle of the circle and faced each Jedi as they regarded her.

Vaya looked upon each of the Jedi Masters. It was almost second nature for her to try and discern the mood of those she spoke with and that she was in company with. But Vaya learned early on that Jedi were not always easy to read, especially those who were Masters in the Force. While with the Imperial Moff, Vaya had to learn to always be wary of his moods, and since being alone, and not fully trained in the Force, she also had to be wary of strangers. Vaya had already felt pretty positive about the situation, and thought it best to take things as they were, and to trust in the Force and in herself.

"Vaya, thank you for being here so promptly. We called upon you because we wanted to talk to you before we reach any decision," Kal'Aran explained to the young girl. "Tell us, why do you want to become a Jedi?" he asked. It seemed the obvious and most regular question, but nonetheless one of the most important ones.

Vaya stood firmly, taking a calming breath to relax. She cleared her mind and minded her emotions as best she could. "In all honesty, Masters, it began from my fascination of the stories and lore of the Jedi when I was much younger, before I ever knew that I had the ability to be in touch and to use the Force," Vaya began. "When I was offered to be trained, to find refuge from the horrible life I was made to live, I took it, to have a better life, to explore new things and just feel like I belonged, to have meaning and purpose in my life. I learned that with the abilities one gains through the Force comes responsibility. I loved the stories of old, of Jedi being the guardians of peace and justice in the galaxy. I learned first hand what it was like, knew full well how much people in the galaxy are in need of help from those whose powers and abilities can help them, when there are so many who choose to abuse their powers at the expense of others and for their own gains. My life has been much like that in the past. I want a life that has meaning, not just for myself, but a life that can help others. I know I am strong in the Force, the Force has guided me in more ways I may never even know. I believe it has lead me here, and in turn, I wish to fulfill becoming a Jedi so that I may in turn help others for the gift and life I may receive by becoming a Jedi."

Kal'Aran was somewhat surprised by the young girl's answer. He had not read anything other than pure and honest sincerity in her words. "I must warn you, Vaya, that even though the life of a Jedi may seem wondrous and kind-hearted, that it is not an easy life. Many many times you would find yourself in dire situations with people trying to manipulate you, to use you and your skills for their own gain, as would you cross those who wish to stop you at any given cost... Not to mention that it is a life of sacrifice in many ways. Are you aware of these situations?"

"I was taken from my home when I was a small child, I was basically a street urchin. I had no knowledge of my Force skills, but as a Lorddian I had other abilities. The man who took me used me, for my abilities, and it was not a very memorable experience. I know that people will try to use others. I have been taught that the Jedi must hold the deepest commitment, that with awesome powers comes awesome responsibilities," Vaya replied. "I have much to learn, of that I am sure, but I think that I have learned a great deal thus far. I am disciplined, and I feel that I am somewhat older and more experienced than my years, Master Kal'Aran. I have traveled to many places in this galaxy with my former Master. He and those like him wished freedom for the galaxy, justice for those who had none. He was a good man, a very good man, he has taught me much, about the Force, the Jedi, about life in general..."

"A very in-depth response," Laedra noted. "And if this were a job interview, I would be inclined to hire you." She smiled to take some of the harshness from her words. "However, what do you truly know of the Force, Vaya? Of what it means to be a Jedi?"

"I like to think of the Force as a reflection of what life is like," Vaya replied with thought. "The earliest lessons of the Force is that it is an energy field created by all living things, binding and penetrating, it can be manipulated and it can manipulate. Such is true of people in general. Though not very many people are attuned to the Force, Master Vorrel, each person has the power about them to do good or evil, to affect the lives of others even if they don't even realise it by their actions. The Jedi are Jedi because they choose to do good and to use their training and abilities offered from the Force to do good and to thwart those who choose to do wrong. The Force is the Jedi's allie, as any other person's knowledge, weapons, laws and such are theirs. From the Force the Jedi gain knowledge, strength, nourishment, and insight. As Master Kal'Aran says, it is a heavy burden, but it can offer so much to those who follow and trust in the Force, and choose to do good."

"I'm sure that you'd want justice to be made, but even that may come in various forms and ways. And even a Jedi can make mistakes, for to commit them is only human..." he commented. "But let me ask you this. Say you're going on a street and a woman cries out to you for help. It seems that she is being attacked by two thugs. What would you do? Ignore her plea?... Help her and go after the thugs to teach them a lesson?... Or perhaps try to know why they want to beat her up and what the real situation is all about?"

"I would first be sure that the woman is alright, and yes, to find out what the real situation is about, Master," Vaya replied.

"You assume the woman is the one in need of help?" the Jedi Master said with a raised eyebrow. "Not all that seems is, Vaya. This was a well known trap to lure people and then steal from them in dark alleys. But as a Jedi you would be required to help anyone in need. However, even considering the situation true and with no scheme, you might never get to that point, and you would probably have to choose between facing the thugs or let them get away with it."

"I see. I understand that things are not always what they seem. One should always be mindful of any situation," Vaya replied, slightly dismayed at the Master's shrewdness. "I believe sometimes, in this example anyway, were the situation true, then I believe the woman to be the first priority and the thugs a later concern."

"The preservation of life is always our main concern," Laedra informed the girl. "Do you not agree?"

"Of course, Master Vorrel," Vaya replied.

"Sometimes, in order to do more you must see less..." Alisson stated. "I'm sure Master Kal'Aran intended to show you that the life we lead is not an easy one. I realise it may seem to you that life was never easy for yourself, but we are peace keepers. We preserve all forms of life as much as possible. Even that of those who wish us harm. Does this not coincide with that which you have been previously taught?"

"Yes, Master, of course," Vaya replied to Allison.

Laedra Vorrel glanced at each of her council members, each giving her a subtle nod. "The only thing left to ask, then," she told Vaya, "is: Do you wish to continue your training here at the Temple?"

Vaya bowed before the Jedi Council of the Tae'Karadan Jedi. She knelt down before them in submission. "I do wish to continue my training here at the Temple, Masters."

"Then we welcome you to your new home," Kal'Aran said with a bow. "Do you want to ask any questions?"

Vaya could not contain her smile. "I cannot think of anything of importance at the moment, other than to enquire as to who might take me as their Padawan?"

Koran smiled and glanced around. "Well, that hasn't quite been decided yet," he said. "Though, at the current time, I believe it is between either myself or Master Laedra Vorrel."

Vaya nodded. "It would be my honor to have either of you, Masters," she said.

Vaya stood before the Masters. She didn't know what to expect next, she certainly didn't know what else to say. So she stood awaiting instruction or further questions from the Jedi.

Laedra smiled. "Well...that will be a discussion for us, Vaya. You're free to go."

"Once we have decided, you shall know," Kal'Aran told the girl with a smile.

***

Vaya felt as if she was walking on air. She was truly going to be allowed to stay at the Temple and to resume her training under one of the Tae'Karadan Masters. As she rounded the corner from the Council chambers she ran into the two Padawans she had met earlier.

"Hey, Aurra, hey, Talara! The Council has permitted me to stay!" she said with an ear to ear grin.

"That's great!" Aurra smiled. "You'll like it here! And we can practice together every now and then..."

***

Once the girl left the room, and only the Jedi sat at the council, Alisson took a few seconds to think as she folded her hands in her lap. "The girl seems very balanced. Whatever training she has received, she's obviously in a good path. But who will take upon her training? We all have padawans at this point... All save for Master Vos, who has contacted us this very afternoon. He is enroute back here and should arrive in the next couple of days. Apparently he has found Daemor'rah and feels that she will come back on her own time. I couldn't understand it, but he was quite confident that she was ok now. I did understand that he was not returning with her, however."

"It is good that Quinlan is safe," Koran said with a nod to Alisson. "Though, at this time, either myself or Laedra will begin teaching Vaya. And considering that Laedra is currently teaching Padawan Sorenne, perhaps it would be best if she began as Vaya's teacher as well."

"I agree," Kal'Aran stated. "Besides, at the current increasing rate of padawans, Quinlan is bound to have a new pupil sometime soon."

"Very well," Koran said. "Are there any objections to Laedra Vorrel taking on Vaya as a Padawan Learner?"

Laedra kept her eyes forward, smiling faintly, for she was confident no one would reject her as the girl's master. From the utter silence, it was clear a decision had been reached.

"Then it is decided," Kal'Aran confirmed. "Padawan Vaya Bek shall have her Jedi training instruction by Master Vorrel."

"I believe that concludes our business here," Koran Darr said. "Thank you all for coming so quickly. We will meet again soon to discuss other pressing matters." As all the masters filed out of the room, he turned to Laedra. "Congratulations. I'm certain you will do well with her."

"I'm certain if I don't, you'll be the first to tell me so," she countered with a fond smile. "But thank you at any rate."

Koran chuckled. "Just keep the deathtraps to a minimum and everything will be fine."

Laedra shrugged as she swept past him. "It's the deathtraps that keep them in line," she mused.

"Oh, is that the story now," Koran said with a laugh as he followed. "Well, good luck with her, and if you ever need anything, don't hesitate to ask."

Laedra chuckled. "I won't," and turned down an adjacent corridor to seek out her new Padawan.

---

"The Rescue, Part 1"
By Strider Ixion
Raydan Leviathan - NPC
Rita Kaeres - NPC
Regent Duke Regi Gellar - NPC
Vula Kairn - NPC
Hel Akinolan - NPC

Location: Royal Palace & Midgar
Date: Vadris 5, 4 ABY

***

Raydan jumped out the first floor window and landed on the street pavement. He looked up and saw a man looking out the window and cursing. He took out the blaster and started to fire, but someone pulled him in.

Raydan looked every where and saw that his speeder was probably apprehended or something. He had to get to the palace as fast as he could before things got out of hand. He ran through the streets looking for any useful speeder he could find. A swoop would be faster, but Raydan was a sitting duck to any potential snipers in the area. He also realised that a speeder wouldn't do any good for him.

He looked behind and saw two men with black clothes chasing him. He saw that it was about a matter of time that Raydan was eventually caught. The men chased him and Raydan looked to a nearby swoop. He tried hot wire it as quickly as he could. They were getting near and Raydan's time was running out and fast. Just before the men almost grabbed him, the swoop came to life and Raydan punched the gas of the swoop. The swoop climbed the speeder that was in front of the swoop and landed on the street. It hit hard on the ground that sparks were made, but Raydan was able to get out without being caught.

Minutes later he arrived at the square where the main entrance of the palace was. He saw those same men in black clothes. Regi had placed men of his confidence to guard the Palace, which meant that the guards were fired. Regi doesn't want so much bad publicity, Raydan thought. Probably they were locked inside their rooms. He needed to find a way to get in fast. But how? Raydan thought.

He took time to think and what it would take to find detailed intel about the new guards' schedule, but Raydan didn't have that kind of time. Then he realised what the Imperial spy told him a couple of days ago, that he entered from an underwater entrance a few miles from the palace. Raydan only saw that it was probably an ancient conduit that took water from the River Flaiken. The only river that divided Midgar in two and connected the north and south of the city. Luckily Raydan on that day he investigated by himself which was the entrance, so that the entrance eventually could be closed. Raydan didn't have time to file his report so the entrance was still open. He moved his swoop back the way he came and made way to the Midgar River district.

Minutes later he arrived to Midgar River and saw that he saw nobody on the streets because it was very late in the night. Raydan's swoop rolled down as he saw the many stores were closed; only the bars that didn't close were functioning, there were a few people in it, but it didn't pass for those that wanted to get drunk.

Raydan stopped his swoop on the left side of the street near one of the river shores. The water was black and he couldn't see the entrance. Raydan turn off the swoop and walked to the shore as he slid to one of the walls of the river as he entered the water.

The water was ice cold and Raydan felt the river stream pushing him. He gave a few big breaths and entered the water. He had to tap the wall until he found the entrance. He continued towards the inside of the entrance. He swam, but his breath was beginning to short out. He needed to find a pocket of air and quick or he would drown there.

As he was short of air, he began swimming barely in panic, when he found finally a pocket of air. The pocket of air had space only to fit his head. He looked to the darkness and tried to calm down. "Great, I'm in a fucking old water conduit. What the hell were you thinking, Raydan?" He gave a few breaths and dived under and proceeded to swim through the water conduit.

It didn't last long to reach inside an inner chamber. Raydan glanced to the surroundings and climbed to the rock. He noticed that he was in some kind of cave, there was little light, but Raydan barely could see. He walked to the only entrance he could find and continued to walk. As he rolled down the cave he stumbled in something. He didn't know what it was and got up again and continued to move, where he reached another room. This room had some light in it, not much. , He saw the door. He opened it and lights lit up, revealing an irregular staircase.

He started to climb up the stairs for ten minutes before he reached an entrance. He opened it and put his head and saw that he was on the garden. He could see the same way that the Imperial spy used to enter inside the palace. Great now I'm the intruder. Life can really change drastically, Raydan thought. He looked around and saw that no one was there. He exited and closed the entrance so that none of Regi's man could discover it. He ran fast near by the palace wall, not caring about the garden that was there. He looked a way up, but Raydan knew he was putting in the mouth of the Dragon.

He knew that somewhere there was an entrance to the seller that Duke Yu once told him. Raydan knew it was here somewhere, but where exactly he didn't know. He remembered that he could see the Statue of Lekvin The Great that was in that part of the palace, he could see his face.

***Inside the Palace***

Vula stroll through the throne room where Regi was. Vula approached and kneeled before Regi. "My Liege, we successfully apprehended the rebellious councilors. Do you want me to kill them?"

Regi glanced and Regi smiled. "No, I want them charged with conspiracy. This is the perfect opportunity to dissolve the councils and put all power in me. You have done well, Vula."

"Thank you, my liege, but one of the councilors was able to escape. He was the youngest of them. He has brown hair and look like he was the devil. When we entered..."

"Raydan! He is very skilled indeed, Vula. And probably is on his way here to rescue his beloved bride and Strider." Regi looked heavily. He knew that Raydan wasn't going to make this easy. "Kill Strider and Rita, Vula and capture Raydan for me. My plan is to accuse him of their murder." He saw Vula bow and walk out of the throne room.

***Outside the Palace***

Raydan approached and saw the statue in the distance. He moved carefully, placing it in the exact place that he remembered when he saw it was in place. He looked to the area where he was standing. He found an entrance that could fit just barely. He opened it and slid inside.

Raydan was finally inside the palace, but he would need help to rescue Rita and Strider out of the palace. He had to find Duke Yu's guards that were locked somewhere in the palace.

Rita was watching over the window of Strider's bedroom and she was beginning to be worried about Raydan. He said that it would take two hours tops and it had been almost four hours and Raydan didn't used to arrive so late.

She looked to young Strider who was fast asleep. Rita knew that the time of Rita kept that promise that she made for Duke Yu, was coming to fulfill it. A sound of the door opening was a sound that frightened Rita. She glanced and saw Vula entering the room. "What do you want?" Rita said abruptly. "You really choose bad times to visit Strider."

Vula smiled. "Sorry to wake you, but the Regent Duke Regi wants you to do something."

"What is so important?" Rita slid slowly to stand between Vula and Strider.

"He wants you and the boy dead. Sorry, nothing personel..." Vula took a blaster and pointed towards Rita.

"You will not touch Strider, Vula. I will make sure you will not touch him," Rita said as she showed she was not afraid of the blaster.

"Such conviction... Sorry but I have to kill you and Strider. It is nothing personel," Vula said as she pointed the blaster towards Rita's head.

Out of nothing a woman with a hood on her head entered Strider's room. She moved fast and kicked with her left foot right in Vula's throat that made her step back.

Vula was caught by surprise. She tried to fire at the mystery woman, but the woman had kicked the blaster, throwing it towards Rita's direction. Vula tried to punch her, but the woman moved to the side grabbed Vula's arm and throw her towards one of the walls. The woman grabbed Vula's head and slammed it into the wall.

Vula slid from the wall, falling unconscious to the floor. The woman turn to Rita and took the hood off. "Hi. I'm Hel Akinolan, you must be Rita!"

Rita nodded and raised an eyebrow. "Thanks for the help, Miss Akinolan..." Rita stopped for a moment and realised who the woman was. "You're the mystery woman that Raydan told me about. The one that was going to give hiding places for the councilors and their families. What are you doing here?"

"Well, Regi found out about today's meeting and all the councilors were captured. They will be executed tomorrow," the Hel said as she got a bag that was visible in the far room and started to put some clothes of Strider's in it.

"Raydan...! Is he...?" Rita said as she was putting her hands over her mouth.

"I saw him jumping from the first floor window. He was the only one that got away." Hel put another suit case on the ground and started to put some of Rita's clothes in it. "When I saw what happened I thought that Regi might kill you and Strider, since there was no people protecting you... Can we leave the explanation for once we are out of here. Regi will know that something's up and we need to find a way out, while we can. Do you know a way out?" She closed Rita's bag and picked up both bags.

"Yeah one exit that leads to outside the Palace walls, it is located in the kitchen," Rita said as she dressed in a warm coat. She approached Strider and picked him up. "Strider, honey. We are going play a little game, that's called hide and seek. We are playing the hide. Do you understand?"

Strider was so sleepy that he nodded affirmatively just to please anyone.

"Ok let's go," Rita said as she followed Hel.

Hel opened the door and looked both ways of the corridor and there was no one. "Once we are outside we must borrow a speeder. Ok? Let's go. Just follow my lead," Hel said as Rita followed her.

---

"The Rescue, Part 2"
By Strider Ixion
Raydan Levaithan - NPC
Rita Keares - NPC
Regent Duke Regi Gellar - NPC
Vula Kairn - NPC
Hel Akinolan - NPC

Location: Royal Palace In Midgar, Gallor
Date: Vadris 5, 4 ABY

***

Raydan lit up the seller that he was in. There was nothing useful there that could help rescue his companions.

He went to the door and opened it and saw that it lead into the kitchen. There was no cooks there, but the fire was set and a pot was over it. The steam that came from inside was a good smell.

Raydan knew that it wasn't time to think about food so he strolled to the knives and took a few of the knives with him, because they were pretty handy if used correctly. He opened the door of the kitchen and strolled to the corridors, making his way to where the guards of Duke Yu were located.

Rita strolled behind Hel, carrying Strider. Hel moved at the corner and saw two of Regi's guards and pointed their guns to Hel. Rita looked and saw them. She held Strider, putting her hand over Strider's ears and eyes.

"Hey! Stay where you are! Put your hands up and kneel yourselves!" one of the guards said, moving forward in their direction.

Hel looked to Rita. "When I drop the bags you step back as fast as you can." Hel saw Rita nodding and prepared to move backwards. The next few seconds seemed like taking hours to pass. When Hel dropped the bags Rita stepped backwards as fast as she could and saw Hel taking two swords under her trench coat. Rita saw that the swords were strange ones since the weapon was a huge blade where it was held on one of the sides. Hel could flip the blade facing the guards or not.

The guards started to fire against Hel, but she defended each shot with two blades. She seemed like a Jedi using the lightsaber that made the shot go back to the ones who shot, but the swords seemed to absorb the shots of the two guards. Rita concluded that Hel's blades were made from material that was strong enough to sustain blaster laser.

Hel moved forward and accelerating the defence of every shot. The blaster rifles ran out of ammo and the tried to replace. Hel took the chance to move against them. Hel waved her left blade towards the nearest guard. She had cut his head off, but Rita only knew that long after she moved to the second guard. The second guard took his sword off as fast as he could and attacked Hel with a blow towards her head. Hel moved her left blade, stopping the guard's blow. She moved through his defence, putting her blade under her arm and used his tiny tip to stab the guard's chest, but not once, she stabbed him many times in a row that Rita lost count. The guard supported his chin on Hel's right shoulder.

Rita saw the guard spilling blood from his mouth. Rita looked in his eyes and Rita didn't feel sorry for him.

"That is what happens when you ally with a lunatic," Rita said as she approached Hel. She pushed the guard away from her. The guard fell to the ground lifeless, while Hel put her blades where she took them out.

"Come on! Time is wasting," Hel said as she picked up the bags and walked over the dead bodies and Rita followed.

***Sleeping rooms of the Royal Guards***

Raydan walked near the entrance of the corridor and saw there were two guards standing there. He had a few knifes on his belt. He entered the corridor and threw two knifes that hit one of the guards in the throat and another right in his heart.

Raydan ran and approached the door. He opened it and there was the guards, some in their pajamas others suited up. "Raydan, thank Gemini that you're alright."

"Me too. I need help to rescue Rita and Strider. So you two come with me. The rest of you get out. Lelon knows a secret exit, just follow him."

The guards exited the room while the two suited up guards went with Raydan to rescue Strider and Rita. While Raydan kept a close eye on the corridors for any of Regi's guards, they eventually got to a corridor that lead to Raydan's corridor and saw two of Regi's guards dead on the ground.

He checked for any life signs while two guards went to Strider's room. They returned not understanding. "No one is there. We found signs of a struggle and some clothes on the floor."

"Is there two bags on the left of the room hidden by the bed?" Raydan asked.

The guard went to check and returned. "No bags."

Raydan sighed, relieved by the guard's response. "Good, this means Rita is going to the kitchen, she is probably being escorted by someone of our side," Raydan said as he looked to the dead bodies. This was a quick and clean job. It wasn't Rita's style. "Ok let's go back to the kitchen and get out."

Raydan took a while to get back to the kitchen since the number of guards in the corridors increased. They were eventually trying to find the missing guards and probably Strider. Raydan knew that if Strider continued to be alive, Regi hadn't secure the throne for himself. When he got to the kitchen he saw that a few guards were still standing there, but they were fleeing from the conduit of garbage that lead right to a truck. Raydan knew that one of his friends was ready to drive the truck and take everyone to the safe house.

Then entered Hel and Rita through the kitchen. Raydan went to hug Rita and kissed her and saw that Strider was still sleeping. "I was so worried about you two."

"Well, Hel helped us out when things got a little heated, but then she decided to get lost. No offence, Hel," Rita said as she kissed Raydan.

"I went to Strider's bedroom and there was no one there," Raydan said.

Hel and Rita looked to each other and out of nowhere the alarm started to be heard. "Well, the bitch woke up too soon. Come on let's go."

Hel approached as the final guards went down the conduit. Rita delivered Strider to Hel. She was about at the conduit and when Vula entered through the kitchen with a blaster in her hand and two other guards.

"Hand over the boy," Vula demanded. In the kitchen was only Hel, Strider, Rita and Raydan.

Hel was already seated and with one movement she could slide the conduit and be out of Vula's sight, but there was Raydan and Rita to count on. Hel saw Raydan taking two knifes and throw towards the two guards while Hel slid through the conduit. Vula tried to hit her, but too late. She tried to point to Rita or Raydan, but Rita had already thrown a dish that hit Vula's hand, throwing the blaster to the ground. Rita ran, jumped over the table and hit Vula's chest.

"GO RAYDAN! GO!" Rita screamed as Raydan for a few seconds was reluctant to leave her alone with Vula, then he jumped to the conduit.

Rita got up with a jump while Vula tried to kick her off the table. She gave a somersault to the ground and Vula continued to walk towards her. She kicked her in the stomach and tried to punch her in the face but Rita had moved to the side and grabbed her by the throat. Vula was fast with her legs, so she kicked her in the stomach that threw Rita near the fire.

Vula grabbed Rita's head and slammed it against the wall that was made of old rock. Rita lost consciousness for a second, but then feeling the fire heating her face woke almost the second later. She saw that it was the steam that was heating her face. "I will enjoy to kill you, Rita," Vula said with smile.

Rita knew that was the only way to do this. She vowed never to use it ever again, but Strider needed her too much. So she closed her eyes.

"Prepare to die, are you?" Vula said, seeing Rita with her eyes closed.

"No!" she said. She opened her eyes and the Vula felt a sharp pain on her right shoulder Vula grabbed what it stabbed her and saw that it was knife, not knowing how it stabbed her. Rita put her right hand over Vula's chest and smiled. "SHA ACKAL," Rita screamed and Vula was thrown towards the table.

Vula didn't believe what happen and how she was thrown without being touched and that got her even angrier. Vula wanted simply to kill Rita. She ran with the knife in her hand, aiming towards Rita's heart.

Rita pointed to the pot with boiling stew and chanted a few words and threw the pot with boiling stew towards Vula.

The boiling stew caught the left side of Vula's face and felt it burning her skin. She let go of the knife and grabbed her face screaming in pain.

Rita shook her head off and saw it was her chance to leave. She entered the conduit and slid through it. She landed outside the Palace walls landing on a garbage truck where the rest of the people was.

Raydan hit hard on the wall of the truck where it came to life and started to move. Hel delivered Strider that was still sleepy, without knowing what happened. Rita hugged him like there was never going to be a next day. They barely escaped. She knew that this was not the end, this was simply the beginning of a conflict that the rebels intended to fight in the shadows.

---

"A Trip To The Hub"
by Kal'Aran
Aurra Sgall
Taran Kinneas
and Vorgoth

Location: New Plouton
Date: Vadris 5, 4 ABY

***

It was a nice change of scenery. Not that she didn't like the Temple. It was her home. But it felt nice to go somewhere completely different, even if just for a small trip. The market was quite full and people were selling all types of different goods from almost all the galaxy regions.

"It seems life picked up well after the civil war!" Aurra exclaimed with a smile.

"It certainly has," Kal'Aran nodded. "Which makes me wonder how Liam Zaneth is doing..."

"I thought he'd go to the Temple more often. At least every once in a while..." Aurra admitted. "But he hasn't come around at all!"

"Me too," Kal'Aran concurred. "But I guess the life he leads now is quite a busy one. Let us hope that he hasn't forgotten his training and our way of conduct."

"I hope so..." Aurra whispered as she stopped in a stand that was selling fruit. A small boy came by and took a piece, obviously stealing it. Aurra caught his hand before he could make his way amidst the crowd and jerked him towards her. "What do you think you're doing?"

"None of you business!" the boy replied fiercely.

"You shouldn't steal, you know?!" she told him.

"It's not like I'm stealing from you! What do you care?" the boy shot back, while the stand owner was watching dumb founded.

"That's not the point! The point is that you should not steal. Not from me, not from this stand and not ever!" Aurra told him.

"By the gods!" the boy exclaimed. "Because of a piece of fruit?!"

"Even so..." Aurra nodded. "Now, either put it back or pay for it and take it with you."

"Can't afford it. Got no money," the boy said sadly as he placed the piece of fruit back.

Aurra let him go and watched the boy. "Then I shall pay for you," she told him as she turned to the man on the stand and gave him a credit for the fruit. The man nodded and Aurra gave the boy the fruit back.

"Thanks... for nothing!" the boy replied as he stuck his tongue out at her and ran off.

Kal'Aran laughed. "Spirited. But I'm proud of what you did."

"As am I, miss..." the man on the stand said. "Here, allow me to offer you a piece myself."

"Thank you," Aurra smiled as she received a piece of fruit herself. "Hey, Taran, want to share this with me?"

"Sure, Aurra. You remind me of my sister. You know, my sister usually shared with anyone what she had. Even a piece of fruit like that. Life was hard and we didn't have a big house, because of the volcanic eruption on my homeworld. The smaller and cheapest the house was, the less we lost." Taran bit a piece of the part of the fruit that Aurra had given him and smiled.

Aurra bit the fruit and had to use her other hand to catch a drop of juice that came dripping down her chin. She smiled as she ran the back of her hand against her chin and lower lips. "It's quite sweet!" she said.

Kal'Aran smiled and they all wandered off into the market. When they had reached a certain area, the Jedi Master began selecting some goods from a nearby stand. Food for the Temple that Orn had asked, plus a few spices.

"Aurra, could you possibly go pick some wine from the stand further down the road and then come back?" the Jedi Master asked. "I think Orn said he wanted Naboo wine."

"Of course, Master..." the girl bowed as she walked away.

Kal'Aran finished the selection and walked with Taran by his side. He had seen a small table with a few men gambling on a cups game. One man had three cups and one ball, and the others had to tell which cup the ball was in after he had mixed the cups. But the man was fast and those betting always seemed to miss the right cup.

"Come, Taran. I have a small task for you to perform," Kal'Aran smiled. What the other men hadn't perceived was that the man with the cups was making a small trick to always win. The Jedi Master and his Padawan approached the table and Kal'Aran placed a small bet. He then smiled at the man. "My pupil will find the cup with the ball," he stated.

The man grinned and showed the ball, then mixing the cups faster and faster, while Taran watched him. In the end, the man crossed his arms. "Choose one!" he grinned.

Taran looked to the man and smiled. "Well, I would say that the ball is on the left cup, but it isn't. It is on your left hand. So, I will choose your left hand."

The man frowned and got up in rage. Alas, as he did so, he slammed his hands on the table and the ball fell off and rolled onto the table. He didn't know what to do or say now that everyone saw the large alien was right.

"You cheated!" one of the nearby men shouted.

"Let this be a lesson to you all," Kal'Aran said. "He who gambles, must be prepared to face illusion tricks by those who play the game better. And those who play the tricks may find someone better who can tell you run a racket," he stated. He then took the same amount of credits he had initially placed on the table and walked away.

It was curious to see that no man attempted any kind of attack. Kal'Aran almost expected they would, even though they would not have succeeded for he was with his senses alert. But perhaps Taran's size made them consider it differently. "You did well!" Kal'Aran said with a small chuckle. "Tell me, how did you know he held the ball?"

Taran smiled. "I used the Force to sharpen my senses like you taught me, Master. I followed carefully the cup with the ball with my eyes, but I used my ears to hear the ball falling to the man's hand. If I only used my eyes I would never have guessed that it was on the hand of the man, but I would choose the left cup." Taran walked as he looked down to his Master.

"Very well. But the Force is not to be taken lightly and certainly not used to abide your own bidding. It was merely a small test to see how well you could do with one of these gamblers," Kal'Aran said. "You see, anyone with such perception can do unspeakable acts to his or her own gain. But this leads to the dark side of the Force. You must let yourself be a pawn to the Force and always try to do the righteous thing. Let the Force guide you...always."

"Very well, Master," Taran said to comprehend what his Master told him. "Master, how do I know if what I do is leading to the dark side or not?" Taran thought it was a fair question, but he didn't mean he was interested in such a thing. He had heard rumours about two padawans who went to the dark side and heard they did unspeakable things to innocent people.

Kal'Aran could read the sincerity in Taran's voice when he made his question. In fact, Ka'Aran recalled himself asking that when he was a Padawan himself, in the Old Republic days. "Well, Taran, the difference is that they are unbalanced and that they don't care for anyone but themselves. You can tell if what you do is an action that leads to the dark side or not by many ways. You can ask yourself why you do it. If you do it out of fear, or anger, or hate... Those are some of the feelings that will lead you to the dark side. That is why we work so hard into controlling feelings and meditate on our actions. Also, the dark side has this feeling to it. It is cold and empty. It consumes a person on the inside."

Taran kept watching his Master while he spoke. He felt pity for those two padawans who were walking the dark side. He only hoped that he would never walk that path, and nor would any of the people he knew, since he knew that everyone was in a risk to walk that path. "That is a terrible fate, master!"

"Yes, it is, Taran," Kal'Aran concurred.

***On the far side of the market***

Aurra had gone back to the last stands to get what Kal'Aran had requested of her. However, when she got there she had felt something bad. Something cold and different. It was obvious to her that it was someone who was in touch with the dark side of the Force, but it was someone she did not know... It certainly was not Nieme nor Dani. But who?

She could not help to feel that whoever it was, he or she had noticed her as well, and the imminent danger was a certainty. So, she chose not to risk whatever innocent lives were around her and get to a safer and more secluded place. Even though it would be wiser to get her Master first, she didn't want to lose track of this person. Besides, she knew that against three opponents, the dark one would disappear.

So, Aurra decided to go into a nearby alley. She went into it already with her lightsaber in hand, as she felt that this other entity was nearby, now more than ever... She finally saw that whoever it was, it was expecting her already.

"Finally..." he said. "I thought you'd lost whatever courage you have!"

"Who are you?" Aurra asked, determined.

"My name is of no importance. Just call me the one who will take your life!" Vorgoth laughed.

"So, you are Sith..." the Twi'lek girl concluded.

"I'm certainly not Jedi!" he grinned as he ignited his lightsaber on both ends.

Aurra followed procedure and ignited her blade as well, now taking caution. The fact that this sith had her targeted was not a good sign. He obviously hated her for what she represented, and that meant a very likely confrontation, given the situation. She only hoped to be capable of reproducing what she already had learned so far... She breathed in deep and looked straight at the sith in front of her.

He grinned one last time and sneered at the girl. She was amazingly calm, but also young as it was... Plus, one more kill felt just right. He twisted his weapon once above his head, making it spin around as he came forward.

Aurra brought her lightsaber high and steady in a defensive stance, and Vorgoth came for the attack. He moved his dual bladed lightsaber around and on his back. Meanwhile, Aurra came forward, taking that same opportunity and confronting him, twisting in a roll to make her slash more powerful.

Both blades crossed and blocked each other. Vorgoth twisted his wrists and had his other blade take the twi'lek's blade out of the way and strike her, but Aurra moved fast and took a step back, fending it off her way. Vorgoth then went with a fast twist for the girl's legs while bringing his weapon back up, but she had read it easily and lifted her left forward foot off the ground, making him miss, while making a block for his attack and still moving slightly back as he attacked.

Vorgoth then tried to make a sweep attack, by having his blade turn around his own body and have it go for a middle body attack. Rather than blocking it, Aurra ducked and thus dodged it, and changed places with the sith as she did so.

Both blades crossed each other and this time it was the Jedi Padawan who came on an offensive stance and had the blows coming in. But Vorgoth was ready for her, and thus able to block each of the girl's attack's.

With one of Vorgoth's blocking moves, however, Aurra managed to get his weapon raised and to what she had considered as out of the way. But the sith had other plans and merely changed hands then moving it for a strike. Aurra had to step back, but kept on attacking as she saw openings, so they kept a few seconds going back and forth in the alley.

On one of the blocks, Aurra felt that it was powerful enough, so the jammed her lightsaber onto the ground to give her extra firmness. Also it provided with the chance to get to use a different style. The reverse lightsaber style she had already learned. But Vorgoth was a well trained fighter and he could hand himself in a fight, so he kept blocking although moving back at times to do so, and struck at Aurra every now and then, even though the girl either ducked or blocked his attacks.

Things got to a point, where Aurra twisted and got back from the sith. She was now calling in for her Jedi Master, Kal'Aran and Taran. She knew she could not manage alone. She walked from side to side and looked at the sith, trying to get time. But the sith was not waiting, so she came forward, twisted her lightsaber in a circle movement behind her back and came with a powerful blow.

But Vorgoth had also come forward and moved into a circle movement, with his weapon twisting once around his neck and grabbing it with his other hand. Both kept at it until Vorgoth managed to get the girl in a position where her lightsaber was stuck in a block that made it unlikely for her to win for it was all about physical strength. But Aurra knew better and used the Force to have her own lightsaber jump out of her hands, once around Vorgoth's blade and back into her hands, on top of the sith's blade.

Both kept at it, and Vorgoth even went for a few kicks at Aurra, but even those she managed to dodge out of. Vorgoth came forward with an impressive twist and turn of his lightsaber so fast that it almost seemed that he had a shield in each side. Aurra kept moving back to avoid it until Vorgoth tried a close sweep at her legs. This time Aurra leapt over it, by doing a split in mid air.

They then kept twisting and turning, until Aurra had the opening and managed to get Vorgoth's blade out of his hands. The dark one was surprised and Aurra did not lose a single second to take advantage of that. But Vorgoth was not only good with a lightsaber. He was a skilled fighter and assassin, so he dodged the twi'lek girl's attacks and jumped in a spectacular somersault while she tried to cut him through with a wide mid body attack.

Before Aurra could get to him he had Force pushed his lightsaber back into his hands and had blocked the incoming attack. Vorgoth now moved faster and more angrily, as if his hate fuelled his actions. He was committed to beating this young girl, but this was not proving to be easy at all, as she dodged or blocked his attacks...

At some point, Vorgoth leaped high into the air and came back down with a powerful blow, but Aurra had managed to get out of the way before that and had kept on facing him and blocking his attacks. Her hope was that either her Master or Taran would have heard her plea...

***Back at the market mid-central place***

Taran was walking with Master Kal'Aran and looking at one of the stands which had a great variety of food. Taran stopped and closed his eyes. There was someone reaching out for him. Taran let the Force flow through him. He heard Aurra in his head. He then opened his eyes and his face was worried. "Master!" he said abruptly. "Aurra is in trouble!"

Kal'Aran frowned and then nodded. "I can feel it too! We have no time to lose! Be wary, Padawan!" he said as they both dashed off through the people to where they could tell Aurra was.

It didn't take them more than a few seconds to reach the location, and Kal'Aran already had his lightsaber in hand. He could also feel someone else. Someone who was skilled in the dark ways and who was battling the twi'lek girl.

As soon as they got there, Aurra saw them, as she was facing their way. But she was too busy just dodging and blocking the incoming attacks from the Zabrak, which kept coming on faster and faster, to do anything else...

Taran could feel the darkness coming from the Zabrak. He was somewhat perplexed about it, but quickly shook his head, so that he could help Aurra, in any way he could. He took a blaster from his belt and when Aurra was far away from the Zabrak, he fired three shots.

Vorgoth was alert and had known the Jedi who arrived at the very same second that they got there. If he was able to dispatch the girl, the other two would certainly be easier targets, especially since one was still somewhat green... He felt the blaster shots and just before the tall alien fired, Vorgoth kicked Aurra back and turned. He sent all three shots back at the very same one who had fired in the first place.

Taran not only saw the three blaster shots he fired coming back towards him, but he felt them too, and moved aside, avoiding the first shot by moving to the side. The second shot he had to incline his body backwards and it passed him only by a centimeter. As for the third shot, Taran had to make a back flip to avoid being hit by it. He set his feet on the ground and looked serious enough. He knew that the next time the dark individual was more occupied he would fire again, but Taran felt helpless in that situation and hoped that Kal'Aran could make the difference in the fight.

Kal'Aran ignited his lightsaber and took an offensive stand, making the sith now have two opposite fronts of battle. But before Kal'Aran could invest, Aurra had come forward fast enough and struck at Vorgoth. As the sith defended her strike by placing his weapon in a vertical stance behind his back, however, Aurra kicked him in the back, making him stumble forward. It was then that Kal'Aran decided to move, by placing himself in the other side and taking his own strikes at the zabrak.

But Vorgoth was fast and agile and ducked the first few attacks by the Jedi Master, then blocking the few next ones before jumping to the side and gaining more room as the girl also took position against him. He growled and spat at them, then grinning with rage.

Aurra took the attack at the very same seconds as her Jedi Master. Both made their attack as if they were in perfect unison with eachother. Plus, they were in opposite directions, which made it all the more hard to defend.

It took Vorgoth all his strength and might to make it count against the Jedi. He blocked at the twi'lek's attacks and then at the older Jedi Master, taking one at the time. He was eventually capable of making the girl's lightsaber twist around his and spun his own hard, making her take a few steps back. He then took a stance against the Jedi Master.

Kal'Aran attacked and his strikes were not only very precise but also very swift and fast. He had given into concentration and was flowing with the Force as he had been taught so long ago.

But the zabrak sith was no fool. He had twisted his weapon in crossed turns to make himself the most space available. But he was unfortunate that he had to block or dodge the occasional blaster shot from the third Jedi Padawan as well... He finally chose not to persist, and gave an amazing back flip. As he was landing he kicked Aurra in the chest, as she had defended his last attempt at her with her lightsaber, and then moved out, leaping high into the building's rooftop.

"Master, should we persist?" Aurra asked at once.

"No, let him go..." Kal'Aran waved off. "Now is not the best time, and he chose to flee anyway, so we ought to be safe for now."

Aurra nodded and safeguarded her lightsaber. She then sighed. "Thank you for getting here so fast. I don't know what would happen if you hadn't."

"You shouldn't have investigated alone," Kal'Aran told her. "But fortunately there was no injured." He then turned to Taran. "Are you alright?"

"Yes, Master Kal'Aran. Don't mind my ego, Master. It was too rushy of me to think I could take him out with a blaster. I never saw someone so involved in the dark side as him," Taran said as he placed his hand over Aurra's shoulder.

"That is fine," Kal'Aran said with a nod. "It gave us time to place ourselves and confront him properly. I was just glad you were able to dodge the shots he sent back!"

"That was some impressive reflexes there, Taran!" Aurra smiled as she sighed. It had been too close of a call, especially for her.

"And it was good that Taran felt your call at once," Kal'Aran commented. "You two have a good connection with the Force and each other, which is a good thing since you work and practice together. But we should not linger here. Come, let us go."

All three of them left the scene. But none could help to think about this encounter. It seemed the Jedi had one more enemy...

---

"First Lessons"
By Vaya Beck, Padawan
& Laedra Vorrel, Jedi Master

Location: Jedi Temple
Date: Vadris 5th, 4ABY

***

Vaya had gone back to one of the training rooms Aurra had shown her. It had been a big day for her and she thought it would be nice to relax and meditate on things while the Council finished their business. She was curious about which Master would take her as their apprentice. She had already met and talked with Masters Vorrel, Darr and Kal'Aran, they all seemed nice to her, but she didn't really know anything about them. She thought it might be awkward to be taught by a new Master, a stranger, after the time she had spent with Master Kherris. They had formed a strong bond as Master and Padawan. She knew him to be a very kind, understanding and trusting teacher, and friend. Vaya knew that her new Master would have to get to know her and test her, to decide at what level of training she had developed to, and she knew different Jedi did things in some different ways.

As she settled into a crossed legged posture on the floor, she tried to clear her mind and meditate. Vaya thought herself an adult, a young adult. She would be twenty in the up-coming year. She had not been trained from an early age, but she thought herself to have learned much, and through her life experiences she felt she was somewhat more mature than her years, but she never lost sight of the fact that she was still young and had much to learn of the living Force.

Vaya stretched out with the Force as she had been taught, to feel her surroundings, to let go her conscious self. Master Kherris had told that through the Force Jedi gained knowledge, inspiration and sustenance. Sometimes they could see things, different times, different people. Vaya never really saw anything in her meditations, but sometimes when asleep she had dreams, dreams that she came to know were visions in the Force. She always felt more assured and in-tune after meditation though.

Sometimes though, when she held an object she would get sensations, sometimes she would have visions and even emotions that didn't seem her own. She had learned that it was called psychometry, a Force ability that allowed Vaya to see things that happened, or to feel emotions from the people by which the object had belonged. She had not mastered the talent, if it ever could be. Most times it just came to her, but sometimes when she concentrated she had better control over the reactions of the ability, as she often did with the lightsaber of the long passed Jedi Master Qel. Still though, what she saw and felt were often brief and jumbled, only by further meditation could she form a more clear and cohesive understanding of what she was being shown through the Force.

Another presence in the room tugged at Vaya's mind like a gentle tap on the shoulder. Its aura was one of tranquility, unassuming confidence, and a quiet grace. Clearly it belonged to a gentle soul.

"Vaya Bek," the voice called to her softly, then amended, "Padawan Bek."

Sensing the Jedi's presence being directed to her, Vaya smiled to herself and opened her eyes. Being called Padawan by Laedra gave Vaya the feeling that a decision had been made in regards to her being taken as a learner. Trusting in one's instincts was one of many basic lessons that a Padawan was taught, but Vaya also remembered that it was not always wise to divulge what a Jedi came to know. She had no fear from Laedra or any of the other Jedi, she simply followed in the ways she was taught. Besides, Vaya thought to herself, one should never be presumptuous. Master Kal'Aran said that not all may be as it seems.

Vaya smiled at the Jedi Master before her. "Greetings, Master."

Laedra tipped her head in acknowledgement. "I see you're getting a headstart on your training." With both arms hidden in the voluminous sleeves of her robe, Laedra held a dignified aspect to her as she carried herself into the room. "You performed well in the face of four very stern-looking Jedi Masters."

"My thanks, Master Vorrel," Vaya replied with a nod and a smile. "The Council has adjourned then?"

"It has," she affirmed, "which means you and I are free to speak." Smiling, Laedra folded her legs beneath her and seated herself before Vaya. Her green eyes studied the girl's. "What would you wish to speak about, Padawan?"

Vaya looked into the Jedi's eyes. "Are you to be my mentor, Master Vorrel?" Vaya asked, feeling as if she already knew the answer.

"Is that what you wish?" Laedra countered.

"I believe I would be fortunate to have your tutelage," Vaya replied. "Talara seems to hold you with much esteem and trust, from what I have gathered. In truth, I do not know you, but I can feel that you are a good person, and I would be honored to be your Padawan. However, if I may," she asked of the Jedi, "Why would you choose me, a stranger?"

"It was not a matter of choice," Laedra replied. "The Force led you to us, Padawan. And it was the Force that created those circumstances preventing the other Masters from training you, and offering me the opportunity."

"I believe this to be true, yes," Vaya said. "What reasons do you, yourself, have for taking this opportunity then, Master?"

Laedra's expression remained flat and unchanged. "The dissemination of knowledge about the Force," she answered plainly. "What reasons do you have for accepting me?"

Vaya thought for a moment. She believed in the will of the Force, but she also believed in the free-will of the individual. But after her session with the Council, and her new Master's answers to her questions, she was starting to realize some of what Master Kal'Aran had said; like another piece of the puzzle that she had been putting together since she was first trained, as well as the apparent lesson Master Vorrel was aptly giving.

"The Force. Were it not you, Master, I would still trust and follow in its direction of another," Vaya replied. "It is what I have been taught, and what I have come to believe. Jedi give up a lot to serve the Force, yes? To be Jedi we give up some of our individuality, by which we allow the Force to guide us?"

Laedra smiled. "True, we do make sacrifices to follow the path of the Jedi, but to think of them as such would only foster regret, a sense of loss.... Padawan, our individuality is what makes it possible for us to attain unity with the Force. We lose nothing, Padawan - by allowing the Force to flow through us, it becomes an extension of ourselves. Think not of loss, Padawan Bek; think only of what we gain."

"Of course, Master," Vaya replied with greater understanding. "I shall apply this through the course of my training. I hope to prove myself an apt pupil, Master Laedra. I'm sure the ways in which you shall train me will differ from the ways I have been accustomed, however," she said with much thought, "I assure you that I shall be mindful and be focused in your lessons."

"I'm glad." She watched Vaya closely, wondering if such self-assured confidence would be an asset or a hindrance for the young woman. Laedra had the same trouble as a Padawan, and it led to her eventual downfall. "Shall we begin?" she asked the girl. "I know you are skilled, but everyone has some room for improvement."

Vaya nodded in acknowledgement and awaited her Master's instruction.

"You've been trained in combat," Laedra asked as she unfolded from the ground, "have you not?"

Vaya arose from her position to stand in front of her mentor. She gave a curt bow and answered, "I have had training in Force aided martial arts and practise with duelling-sabers. As well as gymnastics and aerobatics, Master."

Laedra nodded appraisingly. "And what do you believe your weaknesses are, Padawan?"

"In regards to combat and self-defence, that would be my lightsaber skills I have not had extensive training in that area, Master. My control in the use of the Force has become much better, but I know that I must learn to focus more. I do tend to neglect in the use of the Force, where I should be using it to aid in my skills," Vaya replied, being as honest as she could as she truly wanted her new mentor to know her strengths and weaknesses so that she could be trained properly, as well as to get the most of her training to become a well rounded and adept Force user. "Meditating under non-stressing situations is one thing, I know I need to be focused and aware when in the thick of things."

"And have you been in the thick of things often?" Laedra was at the weapons rack and plucked a training lightsaber from it, something meant for younger Padawans. She smiled to herself as she carried it towards Vaya.

"I have had to defend myself yes," Vaya replied simply, curious as to what Master Laedra was about to engage of her.

Laedra's nod was thoughtful. "You were quick to draw your lightsaber in such incidents?" she asked and stopped before the girl.

"It was a necessity," Vaya replied. "I accompanied my former mentor and the Jedi he was allied with on missions. I was always to stay close and defend myself, never to take the offensive, unless instructed to do so."

"An improperly wielded lightsaber can do more harm than good," Laedra instructed, then activated the training weapon. She raised it into the ready position and assumed a sparring stance. "Draw your weapon, Padawan."

Vaya drew her saber and thumbed it to life. The blade extended from the hilt with the familiar snap-hiss and thrum of energy. Though it wasn't an actual lightsaber, it looked like one, hers having a violet hue in her hand as she took a defensive stance. Vaya let go with her feelings into a basic battle meditation, reaching out around her with the Force.

Laedra seemed amused. "Not that one, Padawan. The one at my belt." She pushed away one flap of her cloak to reveal the lightsaber clipped to the strip of leather cinched around her waist. "Your sparring weapon," she announced as she unclipped it and presented the lightsaber to Vaya.

Vaya raised an eyebrow, but obeyed her Master. She disengaged her training saber and clipped it back to her belt, then took the saber from her Master's hand, nodding her head in acceptance. Vaya thumbed the blade to life and took her battle stance once again.

Laedra bowed her head at Vaya respectfully, then motioned her to attack with a summoning gesture of her blade. "You can injure me, Padawan, but it would be difficult for me to do the same using this training weapon. But do not let that give you pause. This is, for all intents and purposes, real."

Vaya enjoyed practising with the saber; she would spend countless hours by herself working on technique. She combined her modest martial arts skills, traditional dueling maneuvers, and her love of gymnastics and aerobatics, to create a unique exercise that worked her entire mind and body. She took great satisfaction in the training, both for the work-out itself and inevitable use in the field. The extent of her former training was purely defensive and parrying. She wasn't in a hurry to learn more in the offensive nature, not for the purpose of the attack anyway, but Vaya truly desired to be a well rounded and skilled Jedi one day.

Vaya nodded in acknowledgement. She pivoted forward, spinning around and lashing out with the blade at a diagonal angle. The blow was easily parried aside, as was each one after. Laedra herself never delivered a single strike, remaining always on the defensive and leading Vaya around the training circle as she backed away.

"What are you thinking, Padawan?" Laedra asked, her voice still steady with no sign that she was suffering from shortness of breath.

"Only as to my next move, Master," the Padawan replied.

"Your next move?" She sidestepped a lunge and spun away from Vaya to come about-face behind her. "But you are the aggressor, Padawan. You should be in control. It is I who should be considering your next move so that I may avoid it."

Vaya spun around and lashed out with her saber, nodding with understanding. She then proceeded with a new offensive, trying to reach out with the Force to determine her mentor's parry, so that she may get the upper hand. She tried to keep in mind that her opponent was a fully trained and skilled Jedi Master in the Force. She obviously did not want to harm her teacher, but she did desire to give the exercise all she had.

Vaya lashed out with the lightsaber again, being mindful of her Master's movements and trying to gain some sense of how she would react. Vaya saw that Laedra was pivoting to parry her strike, so she dropped down to the ground, lowering her blade and kicking out with her leg, meaning to knock her teacher down. But she connected only with the empty space Laedra had once been occupying. Laedra had vaulted over the crouched girl in a controlled layout, and landed gracefully behind her. The tip of Laedra's training weapon swung and stopped at Vaya's neck.

"You are dead, Padawan," Laedra told her plainly. "Would you care to learn why?"

"Of course, Master," Vaya replied plainly as she arose from the floor.

Laedra deactivated her training weapon and sat cross-legged in the center of the circle. She lay the dormant cylinder beside her. Vaya mirrored Laedra, and once both were settled, the Jedi master smiled sagely. "You think too much," she began. "Was it simply because you knew your weapon could harm me that you put extra thought into your every strike?"

"Not just that, Master, but I had also wished to demonstrate the skills I have practised. Rather, I seemed to have only shown how much I have yet to learn, Master," Vaya replied with a bit a disappointment in her voice.

"It would be arrogant to think you could have defeated me, Padawan," Laedra assured her. "I've been in training far longer than you have been alive. It is simply a matter of experience, not skill. You show promise, Padawan Bek. There's no need to dwell on this loss."

Vaya gave a slight smile. "Thank you, I surely did not expect to best you, only to give a good demonstration, Master."

Laedra chuckled. "Next time, don't try to do anything. Just do."

"Yes, Master," Vaya replied.

"It is also a very different situation when you are attacking rather than defending," Laedra mused. "Do you not agree?"

"Indeed, Master," replied Vaya.

Laedra chuckled. "Fond of succinct answers, I gather. That, or you're simply humouring your doddering master."

Vaya smiled. "It is not my intention to humor, I take your insight and wisdom seriously of course, Master. My answers may only be short and to the point if I feel that there is no need for elaboration, unless you are instructing or advising me otherwise?" she asked.

"I'm simply asking questions," Laedra explained. "You are very confident for such a young woman. I am not certain yet if that is to your benefit, or detriment." Then, she smiled and rose. "But...do not let that discourage you. You are doing well, Padawan. I would like to meet with you again tomorrow morning, when I shall give you a copy of our training schedule." Laedra bowed her head at the young woman. "It is an honour training you, Vaya Bek."

"Thank you, Master Vorrel," Vaya replied. "It is not my intention to be arrogant in my confidence. Should one not have a measure of confidence to succeed?"

"That is so," Laedra agreed. "But only if it is confidence in their abilities. Confidence in one's supremacy is what leads one to treacherous territory." She smiled pointedly at her new Padawan. "But...you will not run into that problem, will you, Padawan?" And leaving the question to hang, Laedra strolled from the training room.

---

"Flashbacks"
By: Lani Vissip

Location: A canyon near Echo Base, Hoth
Date: Unknown

***

The three elite Imperial Snowtroopers glowed orange and dull red in the thermal scope of the DiS-45 BlasTech Disrupter Rifle. A highly illegal piece of hardware. A disrupter rifle is an instrument designed to break apart the base molecules of its target. On a minimum charge, it could knock a human-sized being unconscious for several hours. On maximum it could de-atomize even the ceramaplate armor the snowtroopers wore, along with the trooper. It was supposed to be an extremely painful way to die. Well, these Imp scum had overthrown what had become her home and killed many of her friends, they deserved what they got.

She adjusted the electronic zoom of the rifle's powerful scope and switched the video back to optical. The snowtroopers, with their flowing armor design, were almost indistinguishable from the rest of the barren snowscape that was Hoth's surface. She, too, was invisible to any but the most trained eye, having dug herself in a snowdrift high up on the wall of the canyon and wrapping herself with a thermal blanket to ward off the chill. These three troopers, however, were not her true target. The chicken-legged AT-ST Scout Walker just coming around a bend in the canyon was.

This is why they had set this ambush, to capture one of these machines, so much akin to a walking tank. The plan was to use it as cover for a raid their leader had planned on the Imps. Hopefully it would be the one that got them off this godforsaken chunk of ice. She was tired of being cold, even being wrapped in layers of clothing and blankets. She wanted to feel the warm Corellian sun on her skin again as she lay along the Agaret beaches. She could almost feel the warmth permeating her skin, baking it to a dusty brown. Enough time reminiscing, the others were waiting for her signal.

Underslung the bulky barrel of the rifle was a special high frequency pulse laser designed to shatter transparisteel. The laser used an unholy amount of energy to fire and was bulky enough to make it impractical in most situations. A fully charged E-clip would give the laser only enough juice for one shot and the focusing lens for it was so delicate that it almost always ate itself during the firing. Replacements were expensive. It was a good thing that only one shot was needed.

She focused in on the AT-ST's open transparisteel window, and sighted right over the driver's heart. The Imperial had no idea what was about to take place. The calm look that one usually takes during a boring patrol was interrupted now and then when swift action was needed to help the ungainly stride of the walker. There would be barely a two second window between the pulse laser and the disrupter shot, so both had to be on target. The crosshairs were sighted, she took a deep breath and let half of it out. One shot, one kill. That was the motto of every sniper. One shot, one kill.

Her thumb depressed the button on the side of the bulky casing of the HFPL, sending the invisible ray forth. It struck the transparisteel window like a battering ram, fracturing it into billions of microscopic pieces and essentially turning it to dust. The driver of the walker barely had time to allow the look of shock to cross his face when the trigger was pulled. A thin beam of bright orange light connected the rifle and the Imperial for a fraction of a second, the glow illuminating his face evilly. It struck him dead center in the chest and instantly destabilized his atomic structure. Rogue electrons flew in all directions, causing a more and more widespread chain of destruction. She could see the Imperial screaming as a wave of blue light, energy released from the destabilization process, washed over his body. The disintegration was slow and horribly painful. She smiled at the sight through the scope, the bastard probably wasn't even part of the initial invasion, but he was still an Imperial and deserved to die.

The shot was the signal the others were waiting for. Before the pilot of the AT-ST could finish dying, the air filled with blaster bolts. Green lances of ionized blaster gas scythed down the three snowtroopers like so much wheat. Their ceramaplate armor steamed as the bolts' residual heat succumbed to the intense Hoth cold. Seconds later, another thin orange beam lanced out to catch the gunner of the AT-ST, who had poked his head out from his armored compartment, right between the eyes. He was luckier than his partner. He wouldn't be able to feel his body being eaten away.

Four figures emerged from their snowy hideouts and jogged over to the still steaming bodies. Each wore heavy duty foul-weather clothing and had face masks and snow goggles. Three of them carried stolen E-11 blaster rifles while the fourth had two blaster pistol in hip sheaths. As she watched through the scope, the fourth figure removed the helmet and goggles to shake down a wealth of fiery red hair. Then she turned to look up at the sniper's hiding place to reveal of lovely face and deep emerald eyes. But something was wrong. As she turned, her body jerked oddly and she continued to spin until she landed in the snow, a cloud of fine red mist behind her.

The sniper paused for a minute, the only show of surprise, before snapping the rifle up to scan the distance. She reached up and flipped to the thermal sight with one gloved hand. That shot had come from a sniper, one who was probably using a powerful slugthrower or ramjet rifle. Through he was probably just as well camouflaged as she, the type of weapon he used produced far more heat than hers. Heat that would be rapidly dissipating in the freezing air.

The world was awash in shades of blue. The only warmth came from the four figures in the canyon, though one was rapidly cooling. Then she spotted something small far down the canyon. She quickly zoomed in, just in time to catch the greenish color of cooling gas. She switched back to optical. The Imperial sniper would be just as wrapped as she, and thermal would not aid her. There he was, dug into a snowbank on a ledge overlooking the canyon. It was a good position, as his figure was broken by the piled snow and the height gave him a much further distance to see. He carried a bulky, fancy looking rifle with an oversized barrel that ended in a T. Ramjet, she surmised. The intense heat given off by the round exiting the barrel was enough to heat the surrounding air to a blistering temperature. Then she realized something. The scope on the fancy looking rifle, as well as the barrel, was pointed her way. The enemy sniper knew where she was!

Her finger squeezed the trigger reflexively and again the orange lance flew across distances to strike down her enemy. The disrupter beam took the Imperial in the shoulder, not one of her better shots, and began its awful work. But not before the Imperial's rifle puffed once more. The ramjet round didn't fly as fast as the disrupter beam, but even so she had no time to react. The round shattered the lens of her precious scope as it made its passage through. It passed through her eye and pulped her brain before exiting out the back of her skull and burying itself forty feet into the solid rock of the canyon wall. She was dead before she could even begin to feel surprised.

*** At the Hotel, Vadris 5th 4ABY ***

Lani jerked awake and sat up in bed. Sweat lathered her nude form. She could feel beads of it running between her heaving breasts. She felt as though she had just run a marathon and was finding it hard to breathe. She remembered that day well. A shaky hand reached up to feel the faint, almost perfectly round scar on her shoulder. She had indeed been shot by a sniper that day, though there, in the shoulder. Not through the head. Those memories were not her own, couldn't be her own. She had seen herself! They belonged to Becca Wylde, the SpecFor sniper that had been assigned with Lani on Hoth. She was Lani's best friend on the dreadful planet. She had died that day during the raid. Shot by a sniper, but not before killing himself with her disrupter rifle.

What the hell was going on?

---

"Returned"
By: Liam Zaneth
Leshie Zaneth
Yara Zaneth
Va'Lesh Zaneth
Shaza Nightshade
Yelara Zaneth

Location: En Route to Tae'Remok System
Date: Vadris 5, 4 ABY

***

The ship was quiet as everyone slept. In his room, Liam Zaneth could feel the warmth of Leshie as he snuggled against his chest. Since they'd brought Yelara back onto the ship, he had chosen to sleep alone. With her there, he knew he could not go with Shaza. He cared about Shaza, but he knew it wasn't love. She was a friend he turned to when he was at his lowest, someone with whom to seek comfort. But now...now everything was different.

Even though she was still dead, she was here. Her body, what was left of her, it was all here, and...and he couldn't.

Since returning to the ship, whenever he closed his eyes, he could almost see her there, watching. He could feel her presence, both with his Force senses and his mundane ones. She was here, he was certain of it. Perhaps it was the last goodbye...before she left him for good. He would take her back to Corellia, and that would be her final rest. Even in sleep, he could feel the tears, the pain, so close to the surface.

A sudden wail broke him from his sleep. He lurched awake, and beside him, little Leshie screamed and kicked. To hear him, it wrenched Liam's heart. He reached out to comfort his boy, but something stopped him. A shadow. A presence. He turned, and a figure seemed to stand at the end of his bed, watching them both.

"Yelara," he whispered. He could see her face, her form. She was there...so close.

He reached out, and in doing so, she faded. Despair gripped at him, and he lifted the squalling infant beside him and held him close.

"It's alright, Leshie," he whispered. "We'll make it, you and me. Mommy...she had to go away. But, we'll be happy for her, right?"

Leshie gurgled, but his tantrum only lessened slightly. As he fought back a sob, Liam crawled out of the bed and headed toward the door. He may end up waking the others, but when Leshie was having a fit like this, a walk really helped.

He wandered for a bit, rocking Leshie in his arms and whispering soothing words. It seemed to help himself too, the pain had faded somewhat.

Without warning, Leshie suddenly let out a screech, but it was unlike anything Liam had heard for a long time. He looked down at the boy, whose arms were outstretched and his little feet kicked madly. It was then that Liam looked up and realized where his wandering had taken them. Before them stood the stasis chamber that held Yelara.

"Oh Yel," Liam whispered as he stepped forward. Leshie still gurgled and cooed, with his hands reaching for the casing.

Liam started when he looked down, and saw her looking back at him. Tears welled in his eyes as he sensed her life, sensed her spirit.

"Yelara!"

He quickly reached out and touched the mechanism on the side, and the chamber began to open.

"Oh gods, Yelara!"

Her unseeing eyes stared past him, towards the ceiling of the room, and her lips, infused with a healthy red glow, moved slightly in murmured speech. Everything about her seemed sluggish - the blinking of her violet eyes, the rise and fall of her chest as precious oxygen inflated her lungs once again.

Life had returned slowly to Yelara, and even now the world was still barely real, nothing more than hazy vision and muffled hearing. It was only Leshie's shrill cry that pierced the shroud of lingering death and swivelled Yelara's eyes towards them. Still, her focus was not on Liam; rather, Leshie's flapping arms and beaming smile enthralled her. And she smiled faintly, of curiousity and wonder, but in her eyes, there was no recognition. "Baby," she mouthed, her throat dry and unconducive to speech from disuse.

"Your baby," Liam whispered as he reached a hand out to gently caress her face. "Our baby. Oh gods, Yel, you're alive."

His touch went unnoticed and her gaze remained fixed to Leshie, studying him with wonderment. Even her name sparked no sign of comprehension. Brow furrowed with exertion, Yelara struggled to raise her arm, to inspect Leshie's round cheeks and grinning lips with her hand. A grunt escaped and her eyes closed as she gave up the effort. She sighed raggedly.

"Va'Lesh," Liam said. "We named him Va'Lesh." He brushed a hand across her brow, using some of the Force to give her a little energy. Given her condition, he wasn't certain she'd really notice. "It will take some time. You've been through an ordeal."

Her features relaxed under his transfer of strength, and with her new fount of vigor, Yelara rolled onto her side in the cramped chamber and curled in on herself with back to Liam. Her body visibly shivered against the chill residing in the air, attaching to her bare feet and exposed arms to overcome her fully.

With a wave of his hand, Liam brought over a carrier for Leshie. Once he'd settled his son inside, he reached in and lifted Yelara free of the chamber. "We'll get you some clothes," he said, noting her shivering. "And, find someplace comfortable for you to lie down."

Her body was unyielding to his touch, when otherwise she would have embraced him in return; she was cold and stiff, as if his gesture was unwelcome. In the corridor, a stunned Yara and Va'Lesh stopped suddenly in their haste to reach the bay. They noted Yelara in Liam's arms, and with shock clear in her expression, Yara muttered, "We heard Va'Lesh screaming...."

"Somehow," Liam said as he met her gaze. "Somehow...she...she's back. I'm taking her to the bed. She's still...I don't know if she knows us. It may take some time." As they stepped out of his way, he hurried on, giving a nod to Shaza as she came out of her room.

Liam took Yelara into the bedroom and laid her down on the bed. Once he had her situated comfortably, he covered her with the blankets. "Should be warmer," he said softly to her. Behind him, Leshie's carrier floated into the room as he pulled it along with the Force. "You'll be better here."

She closed her eyes again and was at once calm, and yet again unresponsive. Yara and Va'Lesh remained in the doorway, unsure whether entering was appropriate at the time; both were too stunned to do so at any rate. "How could this be?" Yara whispered. "She...she lives but she was gone, Va'lesh. We felt it."

"I am uncertain," Va'Lesh answered, his heart beating rapidly. He barely knew the woman now lying on the bed, but at the same time he felt a connection to her like he could not describe. "I believe Father used the Force to guide her life force back to her body. Perhaps, it took this long for her spirit to take hold in the body, and for the body to live again." Despite the explanation, it was clear from the look on his face that he truly had no idea.

"Whatever has happened," Yara responded, "should we not get her to a doctor? A true doctor," she amended.

Va'Lesh nodded. "I believe that is the correct course of action," he said. "Should we inquire as to Father's plans at this stage, and suggest such to him?"

Yara sighed. "I think, for now...we should leave him alone. Perhaps Ms. Nightshade should speak to him instead. They are very close, Va'Lesh."

"I agree," Va'Lesh said. "We should talk to her."

With a final glance at Yelara, who lay in bed still leaving Liam's words unanswered, the two moved off through the ship to retrieve Shaza.

"Va'Lesh?" Yara asked quietly as they strolled the corridors. "With Yelara alive again...what will become of us? Will Father still wish to train us?"

"I do not know for certain," Va'Lesh answered. "We will have to wait to learn his decision until this situation has calmed. If Yelara's condition fails to improve, it is quite possible that he will choose to remain at her side and care for her."

"Then it is as I feared," Yara whispered. "She did not come back as she was. Maybe she will not improve...and we will again be on our own."

"It is perhaps too early to tell," Va'Lesh said. "She has only been revived for a matter of minutes. I believe we should have a greater assessment tomorrow."

"We should meditate," she decided. "Though, after we find Ms. Nightshade." Then, Yara slipped her hand into Va'Lesh's. "I will help you through this, Va'Lesh. I do not want you to be sad."

"Thank you, Yara," he said with a smile. "While I have never doubted the love I feel for you, you never cease to give me reasons to reaffirm it. Let us go talk with Shaza Nightshade. Perhaps in time, we can also help Father and Mother through this time."

Completing their short, winding journey to Shaza's quarters, Yara stayed well behind Va'Lesh as he activated her door chime. With their rocky history, Yara decided a respectful distance from the woman was in order.

There was a moment of waiting before the door opened. Shaza had dressed and she smiled at the two beyond her door. "Va'Lesh, Yara," she said. "Is everything alright?"

"For now, it's as well as can be expected," Va'Lesh said. "Father is with Mother and Leshie for now. We thought...we felt we should talk to you...about...what should happen now." He looked at Yara, then back to Shaza. "May we come in?"

"Sure," Shaza said and motioned them inside.

Yara and Va'Lesh remained standing before the door, and it was Yara who began speaking first. "Yelara Zaneth is alive. We did not think you knew, and thought you might wish to."

"I heard Leshie," she said. "And, I was outside when he was bringing her into his room...but, I came back here to get dressed. I didn't want to get in the way."

"That is what we were concerned about, as well, Ms. Nightshade," Yara confided. "With Yelara Zaneth back in his life...we did not know where we would fit in, if at all."

Shaza couldn't help laughing softly. "Funny, I have a feeling I'm in the same position. If she is back, I have a feeling I'm no longer a very high priority for him. I imagine I'll survive it. Hopefully her return won't take him away from us too completely."

Yara seemed slightly troubled by such a thought. "He is our master...without his guidance, what will we do? We could very well fall to the darkness, Ms. Nightshade. I do not want that."

"I understand," Shaza said with a gentle smile. "And, I'm certain he realizes it as well. We will have to just wait to see what he does, at least you will. I'm not certain of what I'll do. I have a feeling he won't require my presence much longer."

"As do I, Ms. Nightshade," Yara affirmed. "Though, Yelara is not herself. Perhaps he will have need of you for a while yet."

"Not like before," Shaza said. "Though, I guess that's for the best. I was just there to help ease the pain and to be a friend when he needed one. What is Yelara's condition?"

"She is resting," Yara answered.

"I am able to sense her through the Force, but I do not believe she is fully recovered. She did not appear to know any of us, and seemed to be fairly insensate. She may require time for recovery, as a victim of hibernation sickness. She will require time, and in that time, Father will require us to take care of those things that his devotion does not allow him to do. We believe, however, it would be best to take Mother to a person trained in medicine. However, we believe you should speak with Father. Our relationship with him is...strained because of his actions regarding Mother."

Shaza nodded. "I'll talk with him," she said. "How is he doing?"

"His focus is on Yelara." Yara glanced furtively towards Va'Lesh. "He seems...excited, yet troubled. Perhaps it is because Yelara is not herself."

"I guess we'll just have to see what happens," Shaza said with a frown. "Thank you for coming to talk to me. When he has a few minutes, I'll talk to Liam and find out what I can."

"Thank you, Shaza," Va'Lesh said with a nod. "We appreciate anything you can do to help Father and Mother...and us."

Yara bowed her head in agreement and exited the room with Va'Lesh. The meeting with Shaza didn't do much to alleviate Yara's concerns, for Ms. Nightshade seemed just as troubled. "Va'Lesh?" Yara said softly. "Sometimes...I wish we had stayed with Master Kandran. It was far simpler, then."

"Perhaps," Va'Lesh said as he took her hand, "we can go off by ourselves, and not have a master any longer."

She smiled curiously. "Then what purpose would our lives serve, Va'Lesh?"

"What is Shaza Nightshade's purpose? Or what was Master Kandran's purpose? I do not believe we absolutely require one, but we could look for it together."

"We could," she answered slowly, "but...I do so wish to be a Jedi, Va'Lesh."

"As do I," he replied. "Let us stay with Father for now, and see what happens with this latest development. If we find that his interests no longer lie in teaching us to be Jedi, we can return to the Jedi Temple to seek out a Jedi Master who is able to train us if Father is not."

"I believe that is what we must do," Yara said. "The Jedi will know where our paths lie."

Va'Lesh took both of his hands into hers and smiled. "Together, we can accomplish much, heart of my heart."

"And with the Force?" she reminded him, prompting him with a smile.

"Of course with the Force," Va'Lesh answered. "The Force is a part of us, to deny it would be to deny an arm or a leg."

Yara laughed softly. "Your metaphors are strange, Va'Lesh." Then she quickly kissed his cheek. "They please me."

Va'Lesh smiled as a slight blush swept over his cheeks. "Thank you," he said. "It pleases me that you are pleased."

"It would please me more if you would join me in the cockpit," she told him. "I wish to look at the stars and meditate."

"Of course," Va'Lesh said with a smile. "I will join you there right away." With that, he led Yara away.

As they settled into the two piloting chairs in the cockpit, the silence, undercut by the engines' low rumble, provided the ideal atmosphere for inducing meditation. Though, just as Yara closed her eyes, Leshie's shrill giggles echoed through the corridors and disrupted the tranquility she sought. After a moment, she smiled and continued. Leshie's joyful laughter was the perfect ambience for clearing her mind and finding peace.

As Va'Lesh closed his eyes and sank into his own meditations, he reached out a hand and brushed it gently against Yara's. Then, he resumed his meditative pose, and sank completely into himself, while his little brother's squeals helped him seek his own peace as well. They would find their way, and hopefully could help Father find his as well. In time.

---