--

- Dromand Kaas, Vowrawn’s Estate….

“Hurry….you must hurry, Master!!!” The acolytes ran behind Vowrawn. Their arms full of trinkets and other keepsakes. Another blast caused the running group to fly against the wall. Those things the Acolytes deemed important, suddenly not so much. They flew from arms as the servants scrambled to get to their feet. But Vowrawn was still running. Not waiting on anyone. Only Grace, able to keep up with him. Mostly because she carried nothing.

“I can’t believe—” Another blast interrupted his words as Vowrawn grabbed the wall to steady himself. “—I can’t believe they gave her permission for orbital bombardment!! Of my estate!!! When I DO get back…OHHHH there will be pain, such pain—”

“You’re not coming back Vowrawn.” Grace said softly. Another vibration. The rafters of the estate started to come down. Vowrawn’s eyes were locked on Grace. A silent moment as he contemplated the gravity of the words as gravity itself came down around them. Finally, he turned and ran from the manor. Into open air.

Smoking craters were all that remained of over half his buildings and property. He was still running, the bombardment stopping as he got closer to the landing pad.

“It’s just over there…come on!!!” Vowrawn pointed to the shuttle as it exploded. Vowrawn shielded his face as Grace looked up. A faint smile on her face, raising a hand to shield her eyes from the sun. Descending slowly and already beginning its landing cycle, another assault shuttle. The door opened and an all too familiar Dark Lord was looking out at them. Hesitantly, Vowrawn turned to go back the other way. Grace, slow to follow.

“They lighten and stop the bombardment when a landing is taking place. Did you forget your tactics?” Grace mused. Turning to take one last look at the shuttle before following Vowrawn. Mrysti and Grace locked eyes as Mrysti jumped from the descending shuttle landing with a resounding ‘BOOM’.

--

‘Grace, here? Why?’ The question temporarily interrupted Mrysti’s concentration in channeling her immense hatred for Vowrawn. After landing she took off at a run, following the path that Vowrawn went.

There was another that hated Vowrawn far worse than Mrysti. After the Dark Lord jumped out of the troop door, the shuttle hovered a moment under direction. But then slowly began to track Vowrawn and another Mirialan as they ran back through the shattered manor house. Cornelia knew the grounds of Vowrawn’s estate like the back of her hand. She studied it once upon a time, in hopes that she would one day get to serve him. And it served her well in the following days after interviewing with Vowrawn. When she attacked and nearly killed him. Cornelia was directing the pilot until an overgrowth of trees blocked the view.

For a moment, the shuttle seemed to drift toward Mrysti. The Dark Lord deviated from her path, not following Vowrawn and going her own way as she disappeared into the dense woods that surrounded the estate. Mrysti obviously knew where she was going. Cornelia did not bother to contact her moving up toward the cockpit to point out of the forward viewport.

“Go GO!!!” Cornelia called out. “Past the trees, there’s a clearing on the other side. Stop there!!!”

Darting off a bit faster the shuttle emerged on the other side. Cornelia moved to the door and jumped out in similar fashion as her Master did.

--

“I didn’t even have time to settle my affairs.” Vowrawn spoke frantically. “She must have already been on her way. She had to have been.”

“Worry less about affairs and more about survival—” Grace stopped and turned back. Her saber leapt to her hand, flying off her belt as she activated both crimson sides of the double-bladed saber. Grace jerked her head around back toward Vowrawn. “Go, NOW!!!”

Blindly leaping from the woodline, Cornelia jumped into the air. She could sense him. Blind rage leading her. Cornelia screamed, Saber in both hands over her head as she flew. The race between her and her Master to see which one would kill Vowrawn first.

Stretching out her hand, Grace grabbed Cornelia in the air. The Force guiding her. Like pushing a heavy weight back against a wall, Grace thrust outward. And Cornelia flew back into the woods the way she came. The sound of shattering trees and branches in her wake. In the distance, Grace heard a frustrated scream. Turning back around, Vowrawn had taken her advice. He was gone.

--

The Old Revanite Fortress stood as a constant reminder that Revan once existed and had returned to wreak havoc on an unsuspecting galaxy. Vowrawn knew where he was, following the stream which fed the moat of the fortress. Finally coming up an embankment and out into a clearing next to the old stone walls.

Once he came up and then looked up, his shoulders sagged.

Mrysti stood across from him, hands to her side. They both stared, saying nothing. Because there was nothing left to say.

“You could have joined me…” Finally speaking, Vowrawn opened his cloak and threw back the cape that flowed from it. “…an Emperor and his ‘Queen’. I would have shared all of it….with you.”

“I don’t share, Vowrawn…” Mrysti threw out her hands. A barrage of deadly purple and blue lightning flying from them toward Vowrawn. He held up his hands. An invisible energy shield, rebuffing most of the deadly energy hurling toward him. His own power growing as he began to cast lighting of his own. Mrysti grimaced, pushing in harder. “…I…play…second…to…NOONE!!!”

“AGGGGHH!!!” Vowrawn was torched as some of the lightning made its way out and around his own barrage. Vowrawn pressed in and took a staggering step forward. Slowly, he bent forward leaning in. “YOU…HAVE…BETRAYED…YOUR….LAST—” His words were cut as he grimaced again. Mrysti taking two steps forward. Both Dark Lords closing in on one another.

“DIE!!!!” Mrysti grit her teeth, hearing several of them crack. Vowrawn took another step forward. The lightning tangled itself in the middle between the two Dark Lords. Building and glowing into a ball of raw dark energy. And both Dark Lords were closing in on it.

“DIEE—” Vowrawn gasped. “—WITH ME!!!”

--

Disappearing into the Force, Grace narrowly escaped a slice of the lightsaber as Cornelia darted back out of the woods. Force speed and hatred carrying her much further and much faster than even Grace thought possible.

Reappearing in a shimmering glow, Grace activated the saber in time to block a barrage of thrusts and swings. Cornelia madly attacking as she screamed and grunted through all of the maneuvers. Anything to get close. Grace faded again. Spinning around as her foot connected with Cornelia’s face; reappearing to send the Dark Lord flying. Cornelia righted herself and landed on a knee, looking up. Squeezing her saber tightly, ready to dart back toward the unknown Mirialan.

“I don’t wish this…” Grace said softly. “…I’m not here for you.”

Screaming again, Cornelia launched back and swung out wide. Spinning as she reversed her grip and brought the saber back and around herself to clutch it with two hands again for one final blow in a series of deadly swings. Grace raised an eyebrow. Such a familiar move. This woman had been sparring with her Mother. A series of four strikes; thrust, parry, slice and then—Cornelia’s eyes got wide.

Grace was on one knee, her saber held out behind her in one hand. In the other, she held Cornelia’s saber at bay with the palm of her hand. Cornelia pushed, grimacing against the power of the hold. The saber was going nowhere. Grimacing, Grace began to stand; finally pushing Cornelia and the saber away. Cornelia’s eyes darted between the palm which held her at bay and the other’s lightsaber, which Grace held off to the side and out of the fight. Grace, could have easily resumed the attack. It was like fighting a wall. Cornelia had little choices left in what to do.

Cornelia backed up, looked at her lightsaber; then at Grace, before narrowing her eyes.

“Only a Jedi possesses that kind of power against that specific attack. To hold a Saber at bay. They have no fear of death." Cornelia swallowed hard. "Then…who are you here for?”

“My Mother…”

--

The two of them exploded. The energy between the both of them too much for any one of them to control. Vowrawn was hurled back into the creek bed. Mrysti sailed back toward the stone wall. Righting herself in air to land feet first and push off after a crunch of old mortar and brick.

Landing on solid ground, Mrysti opened her hand. Calling her lightsaber into the palm. It activated instantly.

Scrambling, Vowrawn got to his feet. Snatching his own lightsaber from his belt. The man screamed, charging at Mrysti. She gave him pause, even as he charged; doubt set in. Mrysti slid a foot back, crouching down into a ready position. An evil smile cracking her scarred features, waiting.

“C’mon!!! C’MON!! VOWRAWN!!”

They collided. Not lightsabers, but their being. Both holding their lightsabers at bay. Mrysti’s hand clenched around his. Vowrawn desperate to try and hold Mrysti. She looked down and smiled knowingly. Mrysti was playing with him. Slowly she narrowed her eyes. The rest, a blur. Movement so fast it was unseeable. A combination of the Force and genetically enhanced Dark Lord. Vowrawn never had a chance. Not ever.

In the air, Vowrawn had no idea how he gotten there. It all happened so fast. And as he smacked the old stone wall, he was still questioning it. The blow took the wind out of him. Looking up, bleary eyes. To hear everything muffled; Mrysti’s saber deactivate and the shuffling of armored feet coming toward him. He heard her, faint and distant. Mind buzzing and numb. Vowrawn’s ears still ringing.

With one hand, Mrysti tossed Vowrawn aside. She was indeed playing with him. Prolonging the agony and savoring every moment as his fear grew. Killing would have been too quick and too easy. Slamming him into the wall once; still holding on she slammed him again. Finally letting go as she slammed him a third time, cracking the wall.

“Right now…you’re asking—no, no need to deny it….I know you are.” Mrysti reached down and pulled him to his feet, tipping him back so his head would fall backward and be forced to look at her. “You’re asking…’why’…’how’. These are not the questions of a being that is reportedly so powerful, they wish to rule the galaxy. And just so you know, yes…I did practice this speech, because I never had any doubt how this was going to end up. There is a big difference between you and I, Vowrawn. You ‘think’ you’re powerful. I KNOW I am.”

Mrysti dropped him, but only long enough to snatch his throat up in one hand before he fell back down, lifting the Dark Lord above her. “I should probably feel slightly bad or awkward about this. See, you never had a chance. I always played the demur, cowing to you and your position. Giving you the impression that you held all of the power. Knowing the entire time that you were never any match for me.” Mrysti frowned and looked down at him, still holding him up by the throat. Weakly his hands started to pry at her fingers. “But, back to the question…The question you should be asking is…’when’.” Vowrawn gasped for air, his eyes getting wide as he grabbed her hands and struggled harder. Vowrawn finally gaining more of his senses. Mrysti grimaced, gritting her teeth again. “When is the appropriate question. WHEN is what you want to know. ‘When’ is what all of this is about…”

Tossing him down again, Mrysti stepped back and took off her cape. Vowrawn crawled toward her, his hands scrapping the ground. Turning, Mrysti stepped on his hand and ground her armored boot into it. She felt some of the fingers break. “Let’s talk about when, Vowrawn.” Picking him up Mrysti tossed Vowrawn over her head. Thrusting both hands up to send a blistering barrage of Lighting into him before he hit the ground away from her. Mrysti lowered her arms and frowned. He tried to stand. Gently Mrysti ran her arm, palm open across the surface of the air in front of her. He hit the ground hard. Pinned to the dirt. Breath huffing a cloud of dust as he struggled. “In a way, you delivered me the ultimate weapon. The hate I needed to finally resolve myself and break free. And it began long before any of this between us even began. The day you ‘took’ Cornelia in your office. Actually, you should count yourself quite lucky, Vowrawn. That it is me doing this and not her. I will be MUCH more merciful.” Mrysti ran her hand the other direction over the air, releasing him. Vowrawn instantly stood, jerking the lightsaber back to his hand in the Force. Mrysti waved in the air and slapped it from him.

“Do YOU—” Vowrawn sputtered. “Do YOU have—any idea who you’re—”

“ Shut up.” Mrysti pumped her fist up, clinching it. Vowrawn grabbed his throat as his speech screeched to a halt. “I’m talking. You’ve done quite enough. Sending me away. Then, you had the audacity to try and have some bureaucrat kill me?!?! So you need to ask yourself again….WHEN…is all of this going to end?!?!” Mrysti shook her head. Waving her hand away from her Mrysti sent Vowrawn back into the wall, holding him there as she turned to walk toward him.

“The answer is…never. I am going to kill you and then kill you again. And when I am done killing you, I will take your corpse and string it up all along the byway for all to see. I will allow nature and Dromand Kaas to kill you. I will let the animals kill and rip you to shreds. And when all is done and there are only pieces and parts of you left…I will collect them. Take them someplace safe. And take my time burning each one of them piece, by piece, by piece…there will never be enough death for you Vowrawn. But…ancestors as my witness, I am going to try…by the Force. I WILL TRY!!!”

It was over. Vowrawn, drained of his power. His head lulled to the side as she cast a wicked smile. "Then..." Vowrawn mumbled. "Du-do it...do wh-what you came here f-for..."

"Oh...I plan to. But first--"

Leaning down, Mrysti started to pick Vowrawn up again and was consumed by the Force. A blast from the side sending her flying as she took a quick glimpse as to what was coming. Consumed in her anger, not fast enough to react or stop it.

Grace ran toward Vowrawn, scooping the Dark Lord up. Holding him close as she vaulted the old stone wall. Disappearing over the other side.

Slamming her hand down, Mrysti turned over. Looking back the way Grace and Vowrawn disappeared to. A hand appeared in front of her face. Mrysti looked up to see Cornelia standing over her. Taking the hand from her apprentice, Mrysti stood and dusted herself off. Still looking over the wall.

“Damn her!!! DAMN HER!!!” Mrysti screamed. Stopping herself from saying anything untoward about her own daughter. Anyone else would have earned a death sentence, but not Grace. Mrysti looked at Cornelia, her anger refreshing. “Why aren’t you going over?!?! I was knocked down, but you—Cornelia you could have followed!!! Look at me?!?!”

Watching the wall beyond, Cornelia was smiling. Reflecting on what she been told by Grace. Slowly she turned her head toward her Master.

“He’s getting away!!!” Mrysti pointed toward the wall.

Still smiling, Cornelia shook her head. “No Master….he’s not.”

--

Once they landed, Grace walked Vowrawn toward the wall and sat down. Holding him as she sat back, allowing the battered and beaten Dark Lord to lay against her.

“Th-thank you…” Vowrawn gasped for air. His head turned slightly. Grace looked away, her face tight with pain and sadness. Vowrawn in her arms as she laid her head back. Tears welling up in her eyes as she nodded to herself. Vowrawn saw her crying. His face twisting in confusion.

But only for a moment.

The snap-hiss of the lightsaber would have been shocking enough. The white-hot pain of it shocking every part of his body. Looking down, Vowrawn saw the end of the crimson blade protrude from his chest. Every part of his being on fire. He started to lurch forward. Grace grabbed his forehead and pulled him back.

“Shhhh….shhhh…” Grace held him. Rocking him as he slowly died. Finally falling limp in her arms. Grace set him down gently. The saber still protruding though him until she placed him in his final resting place. Deactivating the saber before standing up Grace nodded to herself again. It had to be this way. She knew it was necessary. Her path and her commitment set years before that moment. These were the things she had to do in order to honor her promise to not only herself, but to Alexandra. To protect herself and her sister. Tracks of tears and pain flowed from her eyes, she smiled.

“Thank you…for your sacrifice…”

--

Mrysti walked to the wall. Despite what Cornelia said, it wasn’t enough. For Grace to take all of it on for what she believed was all of their behalf. It was not her decision. This was not something she was could arbitrarily decide for all of them. Revenge was Mrysti’s, not Grace. At the very least it should have been Cornelia. Mrysti was mumbling to herself. Both her daughter and her apprentice seeming to reach some accord. Mrysti was certain that Cornelia could hold Grace off long enough for her to finish Vowrawn. Then she would have dealt with them both. Especially Grace. What the hell was she doing on Kaas anyway?!?! Cornelia stood off to the side as Mrysti raised her hand and pushed the wall in with the Force where Vowrawn cracked it during their battle.

“She has assumed all of the debt.” Cornelia said softly.

“You believe her?!?!” Mrysti’s head snapped to the side, glaring at her apprentice.

“Yes.” Cornelia said instantly. “I do. She’s a Jedi, she has no reason to lie. Vowrawn’s death would have had dire consequences for—” Cornelia stopped speaking as Mrysti lowered her arm and looked back again.

“Who?!?! You?!?! Me?!?! Vowrawn deserved to die a thousand times for what he did. And my Daughter just robbed us of that!!!”

“You know as well as I do, Master…the Force works mysteriously sometime.” Cornelia took a step toward her Master. “I wasn’t happy about it either. I wanted to kill your daughter. But I saw her eyes. I’ve had a lot of time to study people in prison. They lie…cheat, steal. But one thing they cannot not do is hide the truth behind their eyes. Grace spoke the truth and when she mentioned someone named ‘Alexandra’—”

Turning with a start, Mrysti narrowed her eyes at Cornelia and stepped toward her. “Alexandra? What did she say about Alexandra?” For a moment, Cornelia thought her Master was going to attacker her. That was the feeling she got looking at Mrysti and the effect saying the name had on her.

“Nu-nothing, Master. Just that she made a promise. An oath to Alexandra that she would always protect ‘herself’ and—” Cornelia looked up. Trying to remember the name of the other Grace mentioned. “She said another name. I can’t remember….”

The smoke and dust from the crumbling wall cleared. Mrysti stepped forward, ready to go through and finish what she started. But stopped once she saw someone coming through the cloud. Grace emerged, her arms up as Mrysti folded her arms and glared at her daughter.

“Sammantha….” Grace said softly. Mrysti canted her head, not truly following. Grace heard the question her Mother asked of her apprentice. Not truly sure if Mrysti wanted an answer, Grace was going to answer anyway. “…If you…” Grace looked at Cornelia and smiled. “…or you…would have killed him. Then Sammantha would have followed you to an unholy end in a quest to gain your power. She still may.” Grace shrugged. “I don’t know now. She may still think that I am trying to steal your legacy.” Grace glanced at Cornelia before smiling at her Mother. “I did this…for her. And for you Mother. I swore an oath, to protect Sammantha…even if that meant sometimes protecting her from…you.”

The two stared at one another a long time. Grace eventually bowed her head, looking away shamefully.

Mrysti smirked, looking Grace up and down. “You look good in black…”

Grace laughed weakly looking up, “You think so…” Tears started to flow again as the two smiled at one another. Mrysti opened her arms and took Grace inside. “I’m so happy you’re alive Mother….”

--

From a distance, another stood. Watching. She saw most of it. And at the end she saw Mrysti embrace Grace. Smiling to herself as she hopped down from the tree she was in. Sam heard it once she got closer. Heard her sister once again reaffirm the oath she took when Sam was still a child.

Sammantha started toward them. The future was in flux once again. A sense of balance came over her as she walked. It was in the air, all around her. They would be enemies at some point as Mrysti would decide to exert her will in trying to change the ‘minds’ of the Jedi. But for the moment, Sam was just happy to see her Mother again.

The drive to possess Mrysti….and her legacy, gone; as the balance was once again restored.

--

--

Aldeberon III, 3rd Assault Cohort, ‘Unity’s Faith Company’; Mirialan Defense Forces…..Lorraine City Square…..

Seeing it on a map was one thing; but actually seeing it was entirely different. And it didn’t always have a marking; where safety ended and danger began. It was more a feeling. A feeling that came from time and experience. Crossing the invisible boundary; someone who had been there before could sense it. That the lines had changed. And the area was now forbidden.

Corwin had gone as far as he could safely on the speeder. Stopping by the outside wall that he passed at least a dozen times before. He knew exactly where he was. And if it was a beautiful spring day and the flowers were in bloom; there was no war and the roads were not destroyed, he could have easily walked to where his men were in less than twenty minutes. But it was war. And a trip that would take a fraction of the time was going to take hours.

Moving between the shattered wall, Corwin stepped over the other side and felt it. The boundary had been crossed. Sensors in his armor and on the wrist monitoring unit gave a subtle buzz and chime. More evidence that he was indeed in an area not even his armor wanted him in. Having long since cut off all communications with headquarters, Corwin looked down at the wrist display to see what his armor was speaking about. Sensors lit up and projected a small map of his immediate area. Red icons displaying an overlay of where suspected traps lay, on top of a previous overlay of where traps were found when he and his men initially took the area from the Imperials. Corwin took a knee and extended his arm. Allowing his sensors to sweep his immediate area. Eyes got wide as he looked down into the rubble and saw the faint blinking light of an Imperial mine. Corwin had nearly placed his knee right on top of it.

Carefully taking a spike out of a slot on his shoulder, he palmed it in one hand and with a quick stabbing motion stabbed the spike into the control module of the mine casing. Watching the red blinking light fade grey. It was going to take a while to get to his men. And Corwin nearly messed up again. The second time in the first few minutes of being there. Almost pressing the frequency modulator on his onboard communications suite to let them know he was coming. Looking up just before he did it and glancing at his wrist display again. The Imperials had a sensor net out and that net was programmed into a hidden web of mines and booby traps. Not only would they be able to locate him, Corwin would also kill himself once he activated it. All of the mines connected to the grid activating and those that were magnetic homing in on his location. Slowly he took his hand away from the LASH on his neck and dropped it defeatedly. Looking around again to decide which was the easiest path.

Up. That was easiest. Corwin stood up next to the wall. Leaning into the shadow of it. Above him, the shell of a burned-out two-story house. Laying a hand on top of the wall, Corwin pulled himself up and grabbed onto the husk of the second story; opened up from an explosion which took out a full one third of the upstairs. Pulling himself up again, Corwin got to his feet and looked down the direction he came from. Higher elevation. A better view. He took out the macros and knelt down. Scanning the area above where he previously stood. They saw him at the same time he spotted them. Corwin dove as the first heavy blaster bolts came in. An Imperial gun crew, hunkered down a hundred yards from the front of the house.

Rolling down the stairs, he heard the bolts from the heavy cannon track him all the way to the beginning of the stairwell. Until he fell. Rolling to a stop at the base of the shattered staircase. The first floor was just a pile of rubble. Barely able to hold the house up. It shook from the incoming fire. It didn’t matter that the gun crew couldn’t see him anymore. They were firing for effect. And it was. The house began to shudder and sink again. Corwin scrambled to his feet diving out the opposite side of the gun crew as the first floor completely collapsed. Rolling again, this time to his feet; Corwin came up firing. Seeing the Imperial assistant gunner tap the primary on his helmet to change direction. But it was too late.

Charging. Corwin grabbed a thermal off his armor and tossed it in front of him. Counting silently in his head. It exploded a second before Corwin jumped into the air and landed feet first in the smoking hole the gun crew once occupied. He fired his rifle into the smoke anyway, even though the heavy blaster cannon stopped a second before he got there. Looking down, standing the midst of what was once the three-man Imperial crew. Corwin knelt again and quickly checked himself; looking around at the remnants of the crew’s position. There was nothing salvageable. The men and the equipment, obliterated.

But now they knew where he was. The silent count started again. Before he got to ten, Corwin was up and moving again. This time at a run. No looking around or looking back. His eyes were focused on the next bit of cover he could see. A distant wall that still had some foundation. Across a wide-open kill zone that went past the next street. Corwin did glance to his left as he ran, his armor giving him the extra boost he needed in the form of powered hydraulics. Crossing the road, he saw in the distance the crossroad. His objective. Distant fire and explosions rattling and echoing out toward him. Moving so fast, he didn’t even realize he was being fired upon. Not until he slammed sidelong into the wall and took a deep breath. The other side of the wall rattled with incoming small arms blaster bolts, lighting up the other side. Sliding down, Corwin activated his comm system against the warning of his armor’s systems. It didn’t matter now. The Imperials knew where he was. It was time his men did too.

“Unity five…this is Unity six…” Parts of wall and dust cascaded overhead as the firing toward him increased. In the cut of the corner remnant of the building, magnetic mines activated by Corwin’s comm system leapt up and hurled toward him. Slamming into the wall exploding harmlessly. The wall was a good one. A corner of some unfortunate structure. Double protection. “Unity five…Unity five….this is Unity Six, Over” Corwin waited again. Looking down and instinctively ducking his head as he watched the wrist unit scan frequencies. A cracking began in his ear, the Imperials were trying to jam all communications. But Corwin was close enough to hear something.

Hearing enough Corwin knew they were almost out of time. And it could have been his fault. The Imperials were starting another charge. More than likely because they believed Corwin was the advance of some main offensive. Crawling on his stomach, he tried to peer out the side of the corner. Rewarded by the dust and debris of accurate fire, Corwin ducked back quickly and cursed. Slamming his back against the wall again. Corwin grit his teeth. “Ancestor’s Curse!!!” He spoke between a clenched jaw, charging his weapon. The time to move was now.

“Not so fast!!” Corwin turned the rifle around and nearly fired. Markus, grabbed the barrel and turned it away from him as the Jedi slid into position with a dive right next to him. They looked at one another. Markus was the only one smiling.

“What are you doing here, Markus!!!”

“You think I am going to let you run out alone and get all the glory…” Markus shook his head. The fire on their position increased exponentially. Markus ducked down and laughed. “Well….if they are firing at us, they aren’t firing at our guys.” Corwin scoffed at the words.

“There are a ton more of them out there. That’s one…maybe two positions on us…”

“Plan?” Markus ducked down again as part of the upper wall exploded overhead.

“Yea.” Corwin was eyeing a way out. Not toward the crossroads but directly across from where they were. Another structure. Shattered, but within cover. Markus crept up beside the Mirialan and looked over, nodding.

“I’ll draw their fire.”

Corwin looked back, giving an incredulous look. He was not one to question a Jedi. In his time, he seen some amazing things the Jedi could do. But there was much more out there they couldn’t see. And his sensors couldn’t detect everything. Markus was still smiling when he got to one knee.

“I’m not the one who was supposed to be watching your back, remember? You're supposed to be watching mine.” Corwin reminded Markus of his promise to Karolin and Wonder. A vain attempt to try and dissuade Markus. The Jedi shrugged as he activated both of his yellow plasma blades once again.

“And I am. Look at it this way, if i die they won’t hold you responsible.” Markus laid a heavy hand on Corwin’s shoulder smiling wickedly, getting ready to push off. “And neither will I.”

With a push that dissolved into a Force imbued leap, Markus jumped up and over the top of the wall. Corwin didn’t wait to hear the swing of the lightsabers, knowing Markus was already engaged. Pushing off his knees and running, the armor kicked in with extra power. Moving Corwin faster and away from the wall he was using for cover. Dust and debris kicked up around him. Mostly from gunners trying to track him through the husk of the house he ran through. The wall next to him exploded in debris and fire. The smoke trial of a rocket trailing out the side; Corwin leapt toward the goal. Another explosion moved him further away. Concussions pushing away from his destination. Corwin rolled to his feet and kept on running. Taking a second he looked back toward Markus.

Markus was in the middle of the street. A blur of yellow twirling light. A cyclone that moved down the street sending the blaster bolts heading back toward his attackers. Rattling junk echo of heavy footfalls made Corwin turn his head away. Walkers were changing direction. Going toward Markus. Corwin lost sight as he passed the cut in the wall. That was his intended destination. The comm in his ear crackled, changing his mind about stopping. The wall next to him exploded as he passed through. Turning him slightly to his side as Corwin laid a hand to his ear, raising his arm up to deflect some of the shrapnel of the incoming wall.

Every part of him ached. His body almost at its limit even with the assistance of the armor. Corwin pushed through and kept running. The ground bubbled and exploded with almost every step. Corwin one step ahead of every mine and every incoming rocket. He could see it. See the crossroad. Driving head first into the first Imperial position, Corwin was immediately on his feet; slinging the butt of his rifle into the face of the first surprised Imperial. He kicked the other man back down. Firing his weapon point blank into the chest of the second. Killing the third as the other Imperial dove out of the hole to try and get away.

Reaching down, Corwin pulled the heavy cannon off its mount and held it down by his hip. Stepping out of the hole and walking as fast as the weight would allow him to go. Firing at the attacking Imperials who advanced in front of him. They turned once they realized the overwatch cannon was no longer suppressing the Mirialans, but attacking them. Corwin walked, fired and kept on walking. He had to get there. Had to make it to the crossroad.

The explosion absorbed him. Fire and dust. The crackle of shattered communications and busted equipment. Corwin found himself in the air and suddenly on his back. Muffled sounds of firing and screams. Corwin shook his head. Tried to get up to the faint beep of low power and shattered systems. Slapping the release on his armor, sparking and shattered pieces of it dropped off. Corwin tried to sit up and found himself pinned. Looking down to see the slab laying over his legs. At least they were intact. Protected by the heavy armor.

It wasn’t hearing their Lieutenant coming that got them to their feet. It was seeing him. Corwin, a beacon of light to the beleaguered men. Who for over twelve hours had endured attack after attack. Laying in position with no hope of rescue. Seeing their Lieutenant gave them all new resolve. Seeing the Imperials attack break up and turn both away and back toward Corwin gave them instant resolve. They were not going to let him die. And if he did, it wasn’t going to be for nothing.

From all sides, the Imperials began their final assault. The Mirialans were at peace with their fate. All of them having made their peace with the Unity. Having said the prayers and offered assurance to their ancestors they would see all of them shortly. Then Corwin came from the other side of the wall. Heavy cannon held low and firing into the assaulting Imperials. They watched, cheered and got to their feet. Screaming, charging into the charge directed toward them. They rushed into the attackers. The last charge. One last attack for everything. Corwin’s men lost sight of him as one of the walkers attacking the blur in the street turned to fire back toward the Mirialan’s position and toward Corwin.

Markus stood over the slab and waved his hand slowly across. It moved and levitated to the side allowing Corwin to get up. Markus offered a hand. And as Corwin took it, he looked up at the Jedi and smiled weakly. Both men side by side to look out over the horizon of the retreating Imperials. There weren’t many of Corwin’s men left, but he was going to collect them all. Even the ones who had gone ‘home’, resting in glory with their ancestors. All of them needed to go home to Mirial. Holding his shoulder, Markus gave out a haggard breath and nodded. He could read what Corwin was thinking, slapping the Mirialan on the back with his good arm. The other limp by his side from the hole which burned into the shoulder from an errand blaster bolt which slipped through.

“It’s easy…” Markus started softly. “…to convince men and women to fight for something. It’s harder to get them to continue after they’ve seen this.” Markus nodded toward the destruction. Corwin knew what he meant. Both had been changed by what they done and what they seen. His men weren’t the only ones going home. Corwin was going too.

Sliding down next to a wall, Corwin checked his equipment as the others all gathered what they recovered for the journey back to base. The sound of Republic Assault shuttles streaked overhead. Several of them landing nearby as fresh troops disembarked. Corwin looked over to see the Colonel get off one and look his way. The two locked eyes. Corwin had done something unlawful, disobeyed a direct order in going back out to get his men. But he also broken through and routed a major attack by leading what was left of his men to victory. There would be no court-martial or reprimand. The Colonel nodded toward Corwin and walked toward the crossroad. A silent affirmation of what Corwin had done.

Checking his armor, a holo dropped out. One of the few things that didn’t sustain damage. He had to laugh at that fact. Picking up the holo to look at the image on it. Wonder smiling on one of the beaches of Zeltros; the caption: ‘Wish you were here….’ Corwin smiled at it. The first warm smile since it all began. It was also a message from the Unity. Destiny knocking on the door. The holo of Wonder one of the only things on Corwin’s person to survive the attack. Telling him it was time to come home, change direction in some way. And he would, because as a true believer, you did not ignore the Unity when it came calling. That holo dropping out if his pocket at that moment was a sign. A very blatant message that; this part of his war was done.

Before he left, Markus pulled the tattered flag of the Republic Command post back to ground. Standing it up in the center of the cross roads. Wind blew what was left of the rag the direction of the Imperial retreat. They would be back, so would the Republic.

But not Corwin or the 3rd Assault Cohort….

--

- Dromand Kaas Orbit, Imperial Dreadnought ‘Indomitable’…..

She only knew him as a prisoner, but there was a kinship there now. They shared something. Admiral Rickter stood in the infirmary looking down at the patient. In her hands she held his chart, scanning it carefully. Talia had taken to keeping the new robotic hand clutched behind her back. Still not used to using it. And slightly ashamed to let it be seen. Holding the chart in her only remaining real hand; she narrowed her eyes.

Canton had been awake at intervals. But never for long. The armor combined with the ships medical facility was healing him at a rapid rate. Though she was checking on him, Talia was also monitoring the distress signal his armor was sending out. After tracking it, she realized it was something built into Canton’s systems. Something they could neither block nor deactivate. It posed no immediate danger and though Talia was monitoring it, she did not feel the need to wake him in order to question Canton.

The holo-message was of a more immediate concern. Talia answered the call in her ready room, away from prying eyes. Though she could give no answers to the woman who holo’ed in response to the distress signal; she did verify that Canton was indeed alive. The dark-skinned woman who called, informing the Admiral that she would holo back later to actually speak with him. That time was fast approaching. After informing the woman that Canton was in and out of consciousness, she did tell Renatta that she would see Canton got the message. Part of why Talia was lurking in the infirmary; both to give the message and to somehow get Canton to deactivate the distress signal. It wasn’t dangerous, but having an unauthorized signal sent from an Imperial vessel was forbidden.

Canton opened his eyes and blinked several times. The stasis field that surrounded his form not allowing for much else. His eyes turned to Talia. The Admiral stood a bit straighter and nodded curtly. “Welcome back to the land of the living, Mandalorian. Your injuries were severe. It’s a miracle you survived.” For a moment Canton thought he was still in the prison. The first person he saw being Talia Rickter. Noticing the expression, Talia smiled slightly. “No…we were successful. Most of that success, we all owe to you. You have done all of us a great service.”

“Corn-Cornelia…” Canton spoke trying to suck in enough breath with the weight of the field on him. Talia looked off toward the Doctor making a hand motion.

“Doctor, could we decrease the field slightly? I believe maximum pressure is unnecessary at the moment.” Talia looked back to Canton. The Doctor came over to adjust the settings on Canton’s bio-bed. He breathed easier and turned his head slightly. “Lord Usher is on the surface with Darth Retuvisa. They had…’business’, to conduct.”

“Su-surface?!?”

“Yes, we are home Canton. In orbit around Dromand Kaas.” Talia tilted her head, narrowing her eyes slightly. “You’ve been unconscious for over three weeks.” Talia moved closer to the bed and nodded at the vitals. “You’re on course for a full recovery. Remarkable equipment, your armor. Combined with the ships systems, they seem to have your biology memorized. Your own systems took direct treatment of specific wounds. There were many.” Talia stepped away, placing the datapad on the bed next to him before doing so. “If I may…” She began softly, “…might I recommend that you take control over your armor’s systems as soon as you’re able.” Canton looked up, raising an eyebrow. “It seems that while you were ‘out’…your systems sent a series of distress signals to parties unknown. One of those parties have already contacted us.”

The statement made Canton sit up slightly. He grimaced from the pain and glared at Talia. “Who?!?”

“Well….” Talia clasped the robotic hand back behind her back again and looked down at him. “…she claims to be from your ‘clan’? I believe you call them? Her name was Renatta…” Talia watched the color drain from his face as Canton slowly laid back down. But the Admiral did not pry. “It’s clear you recognize the name, Canton. And your former affiliation is not my concern. The Empire has granted all of you complete exoneration. What does concern me is the unauthorized transmission from a vessel in the Imperial Navy.” Canton looked back up again. “You understand, we cannot allow unauthorized transmissions during a time of war. Given the circumstances, I have made certain allowances. But do be so kind as to deactivate the signal. They know where you are now and that you live. Continued transmission is hardly necessary.”

If only the Admiral knew. Canton released a haggard sigh. A symbol on the pad winked out. And Talia smiled. “Done.” Canton said dryly. Talia retreated, but before she got too far she turned back.

“Canton, its good to see you alive. Your service will not be forgotten…”

After she left Canton picked up the datapad and looked at the previous message. Renatta. The name shot a series of feelings through him that he couldn’t describe. But at the same time he thought of his wife, his mind struck with a sudden fear. Cornelia. Canton had never told her of his wife. And it was going to get complicated if he did.

--

- Southland, Corellia….

Renatta sat down at the terminal and entered her encryption key. The connection was almost instant. Ivan’s face rezzed into existence.

Ivan narrowed his eyes, noticing Renatta wasn’t looking at him. The Mandalorian folded his arms over his chest and glared. Renatta looked up and nodded.

“Understood. We are still waiting on the target to take possession. Once they do, we are going to move.” Renatta looked back down again. Steeling herself before looking back up again. “Ivan…I called him. I contacted the source of the signal. He’s on board an Imperial Vessel which is in orbit over Dromand Kaas.”

“He’s my husband, Ivan.”

Renatta pursed her lips, leaning into the screen closer to Ivan. “This has nothing to do with the mission. I used all of the safeguards to keep our location and our mission secure. This has to do with you….and me.” Looking down, Renatta brushed a lock of her curly hair out of her face before looking back up again. “Ivan—I took an oath. Both to the Mandalore and to my husband. If he’s returned—”

Ivan stopped talking and let out a sigh.

--

Cypher keyed in the code and opened the door. It was smoky, smelled like sweat. Her more than sensitive nose could almost smell the time. Time that those who had been in hiding had been in the place. Hear the boredom in some of their voices. They had the location, now it was a waiting game. Having tracked the tech piece from Zakuul to Corellia; Cypher was settling in for the long haul.

The chime at the door brought another sense. Shock, fear. In the next room she heard chairs slide away from the table. Sabbacc cards being thrown down as blasters charged. She leaned in and waved her hand for all of them to settle down. Moving back toward the door to look out. Her skin got pale, eyes wide. She opened it and immediately jerked the man standing there inside. A glare, a very serious glare toward him as she threw the young man against the wall behind her after closing the door.

“Granick?!?! What the kriff are you doing here?!?! I had you hidden…WELL hidden!!”

“I followed you.” Granick said cheerily. “I got bored.” Producing a flower from behind his back he presented it to Cypher and smiled. “I thought you might like this.” Granick looked to the side as Amalgom entered. His glowing red eyes lighting up the darkened foyer.

“Who’s this?” Amalgom held the blaster out toward Granick; asking the question in his low bass filled voice. Cypher shook her head and took a step back.

“No one…Amalgom. It’s no one….”

Looking at the flower, both men exchanged a glance before looking back to Cypher; who was holding her head in her hand and looking down. She hadn’t told Amalgom how she got the data concerning the tech deciphered or who clued her in on what exactly it was. There wasn’t any need. Once she realized how dangerous it was, she hid Granick on Zakuul. Cypher shook her head and looked at the flower.

“Am I…’interrupting’ something?” Granick tried to ask innocently. Cypher looked up and frowned.

“You picked the wrong time to make your move ‘big boy’…the COMPLETE wrong time.”

--

Walking into the bar, Porchia stood out. Mostly due to her stature. Nearly everyone was taller or bigger than she was. Porchia was a celebrity, but she didn’t stand on it. No one recognized her; entering fast and taking up position to watch him. Before long another moved in alongside. Rose sat down across from her and smiled, kicking her feet up on the table and giving a glance back the direction Porchia was watching.

“He knows you’re here…” Rose looked back toward Porchia and nodded. “…nothing gets past that man. Not with his army of hired whores and informants.”

“You managed to sneak by.” Porchia mused.

“I don’t know that for sure.” Rose replied, thinking back to the night she tracked Telan’dorr to the hotel. The man was living high on the hog. All of them waiting for him to make some move. Now that the tech was definitely in play, they both wondered when Telan’dorr was going to make his move to acquire it. Porchia had her own army of people watching the shipping company. So far, the tech was in a vaulted portion of the company. Sitting. Untouched. If it moved, Cypher was going to call.

“I’m gonna do it.” Porchia spoke sitting up in the seat and finally standing. Telan’dorr looked over. It was the first time he made it obvious. Rose smiled wickedly.

“Told ya.”

“Don’ matter…he knows that we kno’.”

Moving over Porchia stopped a few steps from the table and glared down. Telan’dorr had his arm around a dancer’s waist. It looked a little funny with Telan’dorr dressed in his formal priest's attire. Folding her arms, Porchia waited until Telan’dorr moved the dancer aside. When he did speak, he didn’t speak directly toward Porchia. To the air and the direction he was looking; Telan’dorr picked up the wine glass and took a sip.

“Whatever message you’re carrying; go back and tell your ‘handler’…” Telan’dorr sat the glass down and sat back in the seat. “…her time is almost up…she’s too late. As are you. What’s done, is done. She will be hearing from us…very soon.”

Porchia drew the blaster in one swift motion, leveling it at Telan’dorr. It whined loudly, powering up the kill shot. “How ‘bout I jus’ put a nice neat hole in your crooked face righ’ now…then nobody’s got ta wait.”

Telan’dorr laughed. He finally looked over, looking down at the blaster and then behind Porchia. The sound of a lightsaber coming to life wasn’t what clued Porchia first. The dancers clearing out did. “Makes no difference to me child. You and your gorgeous friend over there will die with me however.” Porchia holstered the blaster and made a deliberate turn around. Finding Rose standing up to face Aurora who held her saber out, pointing toward Rose. “Go…tell Karolin there is absolutely nothing she can do. She is out of her depth here on Corellia. And out of her jurisdiction.”

Porchia turned back folding her arms again; smiling wickedly. “We both know how this is gonna turn out. We know what you’re trying to do.”

Pushing the dancer he held away, Telan’dorr stood. Taking a step toward Porchia. “Do you?” The Mirialan smiled. “I don’t think so…though I have been known to be wrong from time to time.” He moved in next to Porchia as he passed looking down at her. “This is so far above all of you. Our work is nearly complete. All I need is—” Telan’dorr snapped his fingers giving a sarcastic expression. “—my tech. Yes, the tech you think you have a hold on. That you and your friends have been tracking all the way from…Zakuul? Don’t look so surprised. I have known about you and your friends for some time.” Telan’dorr looked over toward Rose. “You really should have joined us the other night.” Telan’dorr licked his lips before looking back to Porchia. The gunslinger gave a deadly glare in return. “I don’t need the item at the shipping company. I never did. I merely needed it to draw all of you out. And I have…”

Moving past Porchia, Telan’dorr glanced at Rose once again and smirked. “And…I’m sorry about your friends. But, when you play in this game the loser dies.” Spinning around Porchia looked to Rose and was already moving toward the door. Aurora deactivated the lightsaber as Telan’dorr came up and alongside his daughter. “…they’ve wanted your slicer for some time. One less dangerous piece on the board…tell Karolin, that’s the price you pay for what you did to me and my family….”

--

“Granick…” Cypher spoke his name in a sigh. “…you really shouldn’t have come here. This is big, HUGE. I can’t begin to tell you how dangerous—”

Amalgom’s head darted upward almost in time with the vibration above them. Cypher could feel it in her enhancements.

“They followed him.”

The front door exploded inward. Blaster bolts, smoke and fire. Amalgom dove sideways, grabbing Cypher to pull her down to the floor. Granick, not so lucky, took the full brunt of the metal door exploding inward with the added bonus of blaster fire. His body fell next to Cypher. She looked over and into the eyes of her friend as the light went out of them.

Already rolling backward, Amalgom was at a crouch. One hand on Cypher’s arm as he drug her backward. Tossing a thermal detonator toward the door with the other. It exploded just as the Chiss and the slicer made it to the corner. The others in the room already moving toward the entryway; only to be cut down by the blistering fire. Cypher touched the implant next to her eye.

“It’s CDEF…how could they get CDEF to respond?!?!”

Not answering, Amalgom moved backward flipping the table over. Planting himself and Cypher firmly behind it. The table started to splinter as the CDEF team made their way closer and into the foyer. Amalgom never cornered himself. Not even in hiding. Scooting back, he kicked the food condenser over and looked down at the hole in the floor. Tossing Cypher down in the hole he scooted back toward the table firing into the smoke.

“I’m not leaving you!!!” Cypher screamed. Amalgom shook his head.

“If you don’t, there won’t be a ‘me’ left.” Amalgom slammed the floor shut over the hole. Cypher looked up at the flashing lights and felt the vibration of other explosions. A body hit the floor and then there was silence. Just about to run down the passageway, the floor hatch opened. Cypher looked up. The light blinding her from the figure who reached a hand down toward her. Cypher put her hand into the massive one; attached to the arm that jerked her out of the hatch in one pull.

And into the arms of one massive Ratataki. In the corner, Renatta crouched surveying the remains of the CDEF hit squad. Her hand to her ear. Cypher hugged Marstel. There was no time for the billions of questions. Scooping up Amalgom, Marstel helped the injured Chiss up to his feet giving all of them a glance.

“We’re compromised….”

--

--

- Arcnet Wiring Incorporated - Southland, Corellia….

Telan’dorr reached forward and pressed the comm button to cut off the message. Sitting back in his chair and bringing his hand to his chin. Across from him, Aurora stood. Arms folded as they looked at one another.

“We don’t know what state he will be in. You rushed this…cybernetic parts?!?! The man is not going to be pleased. I wouldn’t be…”

Telan’dorr ignored Aurora for the moment. Looking down at the schematics that lay on various pads across his desk. Picking one up, he handed it to Aurora.

“This is your next assignment. Once the ‘Doctor’ is up and moving around, we will need another part of the puzzle to put into place.” Aurora took the pad and looked at it as Telan’dorr continued. “Eventually, we will get all of what we acquired in our long journey back home. All of that 'they' stole from us. These will make the Organization more powerful than ever before. And prove our worth.” Telan’dorr narrowed his eyes toward Aurora. “You said you met someone…someone on the inside. Do you think you can exploit that asset?”

“Prove YOUR worth father…” Aurora ignored the question, placing the pad in a thigh pocket. “…not mine. I don’t need to prove anything.” Turning she walked toward the door.

“Aurora…” Telan’dorr called out. Reluctantly, the other Mirialan turned giving her father a glare. “…use the asset. Compromise him if you have to…we need that tech.” Rolling her eyes at the words, Aurora walked out.

Leaning forward, Telan’dorr pressed the comm button. “Let me know when he’s awake. And send the remainder of the balance to the chief of the CDEF for a job well done….”

--

Lameredd, Marstel’s Farm….

“No, Aurore…” Waylon looked up from the workbench and gave the Zeltron an annoyed look. She knew what he was annoyed at, but played him anyway; giving an innocent and oblivious look. As if she didn’t know. “…that’s not how it works. You may be one of the smartest engineers in the galaxy, but you don’t know shit about men and women…”

“Why not?” Her hand on the wheel, Aurore lifted the hammer in the other and pounded down. Putting another spoke into place. The stay on the farm was only supposed to be temporary. But Aurore was liking it. Life on the Farm. Simple, peaceful. Lots to do and never a shortage of ways she could use her skill. And it was giving her a chance to see a different side of Waylon. It helped that Marstel wasn’t around to remind Waylon of how much the big Ratataki annoyed him.

“Because…it just don’t.” Waylon looked up again. Flipping the mask back down on his face he lit up the welder and looked down, but quickly held it off to the side; flipping the mask back up again. “And don’t even start with the jealousy bit. It has nothin’ to do with jealousy. It’s not how ‘normal’ people do things.”

“Oh, so I’m not normal?!?” Aurore looked up and gave a faux annoyed expression. She was having fun. Quickly looking back to the wheel she was working on to hide the giddiness at having fun at his expense. “That’s how we do it on Zeltros…” Aurore mumbled under her breath. Waylon cut off the welder and looked at her.

“Well, that’s not how the rest of the galaxy operates. Zeltrons are a whole different breed, Aurore. The way you people do things—”

“You people?!?! YOU PEOPLE?!?!” Aurore put the hammer down. “Listen to me Waylon. It’s taken me a long time to feel normal around other races. Zeltrons only want peace and harmony…good feelings surrounding them. And if sleeping with someone makes them feel better, then so be it.”

“That’s not how people conduct themselves.” Waylon picked the welder back up.

“You know, that’s rich coming from you. You kriffed your way from one side of the galaxy to another.”

“Yea…” Waylon flipped the mask back up and shot a glare. “…but I ‘usually’ paid for it.” Aurore narrowed her eyes as she gazed at Waylon, a snarky smirk forming on her face.

“Oh…you’re still paying for it.” The smirk turned into a broad smile. “Admit it, you’re jealous.” He looked up again about to say something. Aurore raised her hands in surrender. “Fine, fine….we’ll table that discussion for another time. I’m with you, baby.” Aurore winked, looking back down at the wheel. “But what if…” She started under her breath, “…you HAD to sleep with them to save their life? I mean, bad feelings can kill too right?”

“Just you, Aurore….just you…”

They both looked up from what they were working on in the barn. Aurore stepping away from the lathe to gaze up at the sky. Waylon moved in beside her, wiping his hands on the welders apron he wore. The sound of an incoming shuttle. It landed out toward one of the fields, where both of them knew Marstel kept the closest landing pad. Walking out into the sunlight, Aurore smiled and looked up. Soaking it in.

“It’s not Zeltros, but it will do….” Aurore inhaled deeply of the sweet air and smiled. Waylon looked over, but quickly back toward the shuttle.

Several people were getting off the shuttle after the ramp lowered. Marstel led the way. Walking past them without a word. A look of concentration on his face. Several more passed. Only two people both Aurore and Waylon recognized. Seeing them, Cypher looked back at a tall armored female Mandalorian and said something. Passing off the hoverbed which carried Amalgom to her; before approaching.

“It’s kriffed up…I kriffed up.” Cypher looked panicked. Aurore placing a hand on the slicer’s shoulder as the three walked toward the house.

--

“Waylon.” The gunslinger introduced himself to the Mandalorian, who removed her helmet to look at him. Narrowing her eyes slightly. Offering her hand, she was surprised when Waylon returned the gesture with a grip on her arm and her hand. She raised an eyebrow.

“You are Mando’a?”

Waylon shook his head. “No, not anymore. My Clan joined the rolls on Voss.”

Renatta smiled slightly. “You’re Mando’a.” This time it wasn’t a question. “And you are the leader of your people.” It had been too long since Waylon had been in the presence of a Mandalorian. He had forgotten how very straight forward they were with the tenets which all lived by. They both turned toward the others in the room.

Porchia leaned down over the table next to her Uncle and pulled up a star chart. “I’ve called tha’ rest in.” Stating matter-of-factly, Marstel wasn’t really looking at the chart as much as through it. Porchia’s lip twitched. “It was a setback. Buh ya saw it, Marstel…you knew wha’ Telan’dorr was doin' an hugh were there.”

“I had a hunch…hunch's don’ win wars.” Marstel stood to his full height and looked down before moving from the room toward the kitchen.

“Where’ya goin’?!?!” Porchia was chasing him. “We need ta get in front ‘a this, we need—”

“Ta eat.” Marstel looked back at the others locking eyes with the ones who arrived with him. “Anyone else hungry?!?” Rose stood up from a chair in the corner and crossed the room.

“I could eat the ass out of a dead Nexu…”

Nodding, Marstel let Rose past him waiting for the others. When no one else joined him, he frowned. “Ya’ll…this will wait. None’a this is goin’ anywhere.” Looking at Porchia he narrowed his eyes. “Ya hear meh?!?” The tiny woman nodded, folding her arms over herself.

--

--

- Dromand Kaas Orbit, Imperial Dreadnaught ‘Indomitable’….

Talia had the blaster out as she led the prisoner personally. “Hold here.” She spoke directly. The Warden stopped as he was told. Both of them looking at the incoming shuttle. Troopers filed from the sides of the hangar at a run, forming a cordon on both sides of the ramp as it lowered. The Warden looked back at Talia and smirked.

“You brought me down here for an arrival?” The Warden huffed a laugh. “Just to rub it all in my face. The Empire may have exonerated all of them, but they will always be prisoners to me. Darth Vowrawn—”

“—is dead.” Talia interrupted finishing the statement for him. The words made the Warden turn all the way around back to facing forward. His face grew pale suddenly. Talia stood with the blaster held low, her arm bent. “Turn back around. You will show your loyalty to the Dark Lord before she has her way with you.”

Mrysti disembarked first. The troopers forming the cordon snapping to attention as Mrysti laid a balled fist to her heart in salute; nodding her head toward them. Cornelia followed closely behind. Mimicking the same gesture. Though Mrysti walked in front, Cornelia was very nearly right along side of her. Both women conversing lowly until they looked up to see Admiral Rickter holding the Warden at gunpoint. Mrysti and Cornelia slowed and smiled almost at the same time.

Talia clicked her heels as Mrysti got closer, standing up straighter at a rigid position of attention. “My Lord…” Nodding her head curtly, her face twisted in anger seeing the Warden fold his arms over his chest. She smacked him on the back of the neck with the butt of the blaster. The Warden fell to his knees. “…I thought you might like the opportunity to speak with the prisoner. High Command has requested his presence on the surface. To answer for his actions, no doubt.” Talia glared at the Warden before looking back up. “However, ‘accidents’ do happen. Should you see fit to deal with him in your own way, you will not find ME looking over your shoulder.”

Smiling wickedly, Mrysti took a step back. But not before bowing slightly toward her Admiral. “I believe this is the beginning of a mutually beneficial partnership, Admiral Rickter.” Mrysti looked over at her apprentice. “But this is not for me to decide…Lord Usher?”

Sneering slightly, Cornelia stepped past her Master into the face of the Warden. The man looked away.

“You will…” Cornelia began softly, lifting her arm as she spoke. The fingers on her hand curling as she spoke. The Warden grabbed his throat, his body lifting from the deck as he started to float above it. “…look at me when I address you.” Cornelia’s eyes darted to Mrysti as she held the Warden in the air. “My apologies, My Lord…I realize you still feel robbed with the result of our ‘mission’ on the surface…” The words made Talia’s eyebrow raise, but she said nothing. Still holding the blaster out toward the Warden. Cornelia looked back to the Warden, her face igniting in instant anger. “…but my bloodlust has yet to be satiated. I was robbed as well.” Cornelia took a step toward the Warden, his body lifted an inch higher with the rise of Cornelia’s arm.

“Do as you will apprentice…his life is yours.” Mrysti took another step back, looking toward Talia. The Admiral nodded and holstered the blaster moving around the floating Warden to stand next to Mrysti.

“There is nothing left to teach you, Warden. As you so graciously attempted to teach me in captivity. All of those nights…those long nights. You relished in the fact that I…born into being one of your betters; was under your thumb. A small simple man, with delusions of grandeur. Kriffing me made you feel powerful.” Cornelia rose her arm slightly and clenched her fist. The Warden began to turn blue. “How does this feel, Warden? Am I still sexy to you? Do I still make you feel....powerful?" Cornelia grit her teeth, eyes flaring. "Because you are definitely doing it for me. After being so disappointing those many times. Feel this....this…is true power. Here at the end, you see it.”

Quickly, Cornelia turned her wrist. The neck snapping echoed throughout the expansive hangar.

Dropping the body on the ground, Cornelia wiped her hand on her armor as if she touched something dirty. Looking over to see the smirk on her Master’s face. Mrysti shook her head, making a ‘tsk tsk’ sound.

“Lord Usher…I really must teach you the necessity of drawing out someone’s pain.” Mrysti looked down at the body, kicking the lifeless foot slightly before looking back up. “Pain…fear, these are things to savor. Killing them too quickly, such a waste of emotion…”

Cornelia looked down, “My apologies, Master. I was still wound up from our ‘mission’.” Cornelia looked up and then down at the body. “Seeing him brought all of that back. Justice was served…”

“Shall we…?” Talia stepped to the side flourishing an arm. “I have arranged for tea and a briefing…you are both due back on the surface in several hours. I thought it might be prudent to enlighten you both on the state of the war in preparation for our inevitable departure….”

They all stepped over the body of the Warden. Mrysti looking back toward the deck guards and snapping her fingers. “Get rid of this…jettison it into space.”

--

--

- Galactic City, Coruscant – Transitional Military Housing; Ministry of Defense….

Turning around sharply, their backs to wall and flanking both sides of the door; both armored troopers saluted. RT was only a few steps behind them. And behind him, his new aide. A very bright eyed and bushy tailed Brigadier General. The newness was still on the laurel wreath which surrounded the dots of her rank insignia. RT glanced down at his own rank. He couldn’t say much about wreaths, the newness of the much larger wreath he wore and the extra dot of full General insignia still had a shine of new to it.

The aide handed RT a file as she struggled to keep up with him. RT was a big man and he moved rather fast compared to the diminutive general he was given as an aide. Trea’vor slowed and took the file with a slight of hand. His aide already opening up a datapad in the other hand to read details not included in the file she was giving him. RT glanced at the flimsy and shook his head handing it back to her before she could read from her own copy.

“Are we going to have to do this at the end of the day, everyday?” RT asked the question with a bit of humor. The General was not smiling; looking a bit shocked at the question.

“I’m sorry, Sir. I can—well, I realized you and I haven’t discussed it—but, well I can set up a series of scheduled briefings to bring you up to speed everyday. But this daily intelligence briefing—well, it’s required reading, Sir. I apologize if I’m—”

Turning on her, RT raised his hands in mock surrender. The General was talking fast and nervously. “General Trisitan…” She stopped speaking as RT smiled at her. “…I understand you are just trying to do your job as my aide. Please, continue to remind me of the things I ‘should’ be doing. I realize you and I don’t know one another very well, but I retain things rather quickly and with very little repetition.” RT turned toward the door with the General close at his heels. He stopped and looked back at her slowly. “Tomorrow, General.”

Looking up, General Trisitan glanced at the door and took a step back. She was actually going to follow RT into his quarters. The woman was a workaholic. RT taking note that it was something he would have to work out of her. Efficiency and dedication were one thing. But there were times to call it off. The General not realizing his words of encouragement were also words of ‘good-night’. She quickly snapped to attention and saluted.

“Yes, Sir.”

The door chimed unlock. RT looked back toward the General as she quickly marched away. It occurred to him that it would probably be like this forever. People afraid to speak frankly or guarded in what they said. He looked up at the door frame again. This time he was literally right under the flag pole. Holding the pole. So far removed from those troops on the ground and the frankness he been accustomed too his whole career. People would be scrubbing what they told him, keeping things they deemed unnecessary for him to do his job, from him. There was much to get used to. He reached for the key pad of open the door. One of the guards lifting an armored gauntlet to his mouth as the other guard on the opposite side of the door saluted.

“The Chief of Staff is in his quarters…”

Shaking his head with a wry smile, RT stepped inside. Something else to get used to. People always monitoring him. Keeping track of his movements. He was above it all now. But more a prisoner of the Republic than he ever was. That wasn’t the part that bothered him, it was being removed from the actual 'going's on' of the Military. RT knew he would have to find a way to bridge that gap.

The door started to slide shut behind him. His head instantly going upward as he smelled it. Ultra sensitive, genetically enhanced senses catching the familiar tingle and spicy tinge of it. A wry smile started to form on his face. As he took a step forward, RT tilted his head slightly. The room was quiet. The light fading behind him as the door slid all the way closed.

He rounded the corner of the foyer into his temporary room. Already smiling broadly. For all of the security and the keeping track of him, no one thought to check inside his room. Probably a good thing. RT narrowed his eyes as he looked at the bed and the vision of dark blue skin, glowing red eyes and purplish-black hair that draped over the shoulders of the one relaxing, sitting up and looking toward him.

Cora was wearing it for him. The stockings, the shoes. And little else. RT didn’t have the heart to tell her that he smelled her scent the moment the door opened. Cora was trying to surprise him. And he was, just not in the way she probably envisioned. Stopping in the center of the room, he placed his hands on his hips to just gaze. Sucking all of her in. For all of the stress of a day’s work, any day’s work; what man could not suddenly feel relief at having something like Cora to come home to? If only it was that simple. Cora was no housewife. And RT was no simple working man. But seeing her lay there smiling toward him made everything in life, no matter what it was, suddenly worth it.

The Chiss sat up a bit higher and smiled. White teeth showing in the low light and between ample darkly painted lips. She blinked at him lazily, raising one hand slowly to her head in a mock salute.

“Hail to the Chief….Baby….”

--

--

- Galactic City, Coruscant…5000 Republica, De’nabre Apartment Complex.

Waking with a scream, Karolin sat up clutching her chest. Reaching over to turn the light on. Jes was already at the door. Opening it with a flourish, lightsaber in hand. Karolin shook her head, waving the Echani away.

“No…it’s fine Jes. Just another dream…”

Nodding, Jes retreated. Closing the door behind her. Throwing back the silken sheets, Karolin got out of bed approaching the window. Outside, the never-ending activity of Galactic City blurred by. Karolin saw it, heard it. But didn’t really hear. In her mind, images of the dream she had once again. The same dream for several nights, knowing now that it was no dream, but a premonition. She reached down on the table next to the large bay window taking a cigarra out of the pack. Snapping her fingers, she sparked the cigarra to life with a bit of lightning from her fingertips.

Looking at her reflection, Karolin inhaled deeply on the cigarra. Smoke ebbed slowly from her ample lips. Wafting slowly over her. And in the smoke she could see him. Feel him. As if she was still in the dream. The feeling caught her like a child. Those same emotions she had as a child. Being in his presence, having him fawn all over her. Pushing her, experimenting on her. He thought she was his greatest achievement. His prize. His.

Even dead, Dr. Ze was never really gone. Always there. Always a part of her in some sick way. He loved her.

That love was sour. All Karolin could feel was hate. And that hate, had returned.

Dr. Ze….had returned.

--

--

- Paradise City, Zeltros…..

Wonder looked around the crowd as she moved. Placing her hand on her hat, holding it in place. The speed at which she moved through the crowd threatened to blow it off. Looking left and right, bouncing on her tiptoes to look up and over people.

The gate alarm sounded. Red lights flashing on the borders of the doorway. It opened. Uniformed men and women disembarking. Wonder bounced excitedly. Looking hard, trying to see.

Corwin stepped through the gate and Wonder broke free from the crowd. She ran toward him. Corwin dropped his bag. Taking a step forward to open his arms and grab her in air. Holding her tightly as they kissed. The Zeltron rubbed her hands on his face, holding the sides tightly.

Home.

Home wasn’t Mirial. It was wherever Wonder was.

--

--

- Capital City of the Unity, Mirial…..

Bernard looked at his chrono, straightening his tunic before moving toward the door. It was a big day. Corwin was coming home. After a stop over on Zeltros, he was bringing Wonder home to Mirial. Only for a short leave. Corwin had orders. A new assignment following leave. But for the time he was able to be there, Bernard was going to spend it with his brother. As long as Corwin would have him around. Corwin was, after all, bringing Wonder with him.

Stopping at the door, Bernard looked down and smiled weakly. Envy set in. That Corwin had finally found someone to share his life with. Someone who made no demands and accepted the person he was. For a time, Bernard thought he had that in Sammantha. But he knew what he was getting into with her. Any De’nabre for that matter. The words of his late father echoed in his head just before he accepted Bernard’s decision to be with Sam. ‘…De’nabre women were a fickle bunch.’ There were other choice words his father had for the De’nabre. But all of those went away during the war. They had proved themselves. At least the ones who were of Mirial.

The door slid open and Bernard took a step back.

Sam dropped her bags and looked up.

“I’m ready….” She smiled. “…if the offer is still on the table?”

--

--

- Southland, Corellia – Arcnet Shipwiring Incorporated, Subsection C….

Steam rose from the system. Scientists and technicians milling around the control systems as Telan’dorr stood in the control room looking down. Their hands moved fast over the controls. Ensuring all was in readiness. It was too soon, Telan’dorr knew that. But he needed the brilliant mind trapped in the husk of the body. Ample cybernetics and prosthesis were used to replace what could not wait. If they had another year, all of it would have been unnecessary. Telan’dorr hoped beyond hope that the ‘Doctor’ would not hold it against him. With the advancements Telan’dorr planned, none of it would matter eventually. They could give the ‘Doctor’ back everything he lost and more.

“Bringing the additives online…” Telan’dorr looked toward the voice as the man speaking turned a dial. The system below whined loudly. “Opening the container….”

More steam rose from the floor. The sound of a pressure release on the container which held the Doctor hissed loudly. No one could see. Telan’dorr looked down at the technician. “Fans…clear the room.” The technician nodded, activating the exhaust system.

Hidden in the mist, a crouched figure. The Doctor knelt down. One fist on the ground, his other hand supporting him. Slowly he stood, the low light catching the glint of the metal attachments on his body. Both arms and legs.

The fountain preserved what Karolin had left of the Doctor. Not only preserved it, but took years of life off the former elderly Doctor. Sith lived for hundreds of years. The Doctor didn’t look a day over twenty-five. Minus the prosthesis.

These were not brilliant scientists. They used his work with a combination of the technology Telan’dorr provided. He watched as the Doctor reached behind his neck and touched the raised area between the two vertebrae. Where ‘life-giver’, as the Republic called it; had been implanted. The Doctor seemed to understand what was happening. But only time would tell how much faculty he maintained. Telan’dorr reached forward opening the communication system, it crackled causing the Doctor to look up.

“Welcome back Doctor Ze’llamane…I am—”

“--I know who you are.” The Sith stepped through the steam and looked up at the control booth, locking eyes with Telan’dorr. “I only have one question. Perhaps in your limited intelligence you’ve had the foresight to anticipate it.” Dr. Ze narrowed his eyes. Placing his hands on his naked hips.

“Where.....Is….Karolin De’nabre….”