Shades of Gray
The Battle of Fury

~No action, Boss. As a matter of factly, no traffic whatsoever besides us. I'm wondering if the Empire hasn't up and disappeared on us.~ Grant Bowmark said, speaking through his communications unit onboard his X-Wing. Nemesis Squadron was about halfway finished with a routine patrol of the space around Kashyyyk. Thix had split the Squadron up into three parts, four in each section. He had Grant and Becky leading the other two while he led the third.

~Same here, Thix. Not even space debris.~ Lt. Caleer said.

"Blast! I haven't fired my lasers for months!" Thix, now nineteen, said. "Grant, I'm beginning to believe you're right: we've won, and to keep us sharp, HQ has told us we're still at war and on picket duty."

~Conspiracy theories! Half are right, usually, though.~ Grant said, chuckling.

~I got a hail from the base, sir.~ A pilot said. He was located nearest the home base and had transmissions beamed to him first.

"Patch it through." Thix cracked his knuckles and listened.

~Commander Barkon! How nice to hear from you and your squadron of Rebel losers!~ Thix sat up. That wasn't the usual ensign who had reports to dole out!

"Nemesis Six! Trace this transmission!" Thix ordered the pilot who had first intercepted the message.

~It's not from the base, sir. Its out farther on the Rim.~ He reported sheepishly. ~I'm going to try and isolate it, but I really can't guarantee any real results...~

He was interrupted by a burst of static and another sentence. ~I trust your higher ranking comrades are wondering about what happened to the colony on the planet of Un'Yawa? I can help you with that. My name is Gregor Jarkov. I am a scientist; though some of my fellow scientists dare say I do not qualify to be one of them. They say I am inferior. You see, Commander, I make biological weapons. I manufacture creatures of war. A most difficult task, I assure you. Should you or your rebel companions wish to acquire some of my... creations... use the address I am transmitting.~ And the voice stopped.

"Who in Byss was THAT?!"

'Boss' Jarkov leaned back in his chair, cackling. "That will give them something to think about. I am sure they will not accept my offer but I know that their anger will provide me with ample opportunities to test new versions of the Gray Death."

"No, sir, I don't think we should take up his offer." Thix said. "I simply said we should look into this Jarkov guy and see what he's up to."

"We don't even know if that's his real name, Thix. And there is no record of a major bioweapon dealer in the Outer Rim. If he is out there, he's illegaly dealing in his experimentations, and that is the exact reason why we ARE going to investigate. But don't think I am going to send Nemesis Squadron in to do the investigating." Lance replied.

Thix grimaced. "With all due..respect, sir, we haven't seen hide nor hair of any hostiles since Yavin. We're getting a little edgy."

"I could put in for a transfer for your group...." Lance suggested.

"How about a temporary transfer?" Thix chewed on his lip. "Don't think I don't like Kashyyyk. But in the months since we've been here, the only outside contact we've had was the message I just received."

"Very well..I'll ask for a transfer for you. It will take a bit to go through the brass, but you should have your new place of temporary work in a couple days."

"Thank you, sir."

"Hey, guys! Wake up! It's 0600! Rise and Shine!" Thix flicked on the glowpanels in the barracks room for Nemesis Squadron. The pilots all groaned and protested the light.
"Officer on the deck!!!!" Thix shouted. Most of the pilots snapped to attention in their boxer shorts and others pitched forward groggily then tried to stnd straight. "Gotcha."
"I've got our tansfer request's answer." Thix said. "We're being shipped to Dantooine." A few of the pilots shot him a why-the-heck-are-we-going-to-Dantooine look. "Dantooine has a small base, some decent settlements, and the new Jedi Academy." Thix supplied.

"Oh, so this is a transfer for you to learn Jedi stuff, basically?" Grant said.

"Noooo... we're going to be an... integral part of it's defense."

"And how many attacks HAVE been made on Dantooine?" A pilot asked.

"One, actually... In all the time it has been held by the Alliance, but... I asked if we could be transferred out if there's a battle going on withing a half-day's flight or so."

"Sounds good to me. Anything's better than sentry duty." Grant said, and began pulling his stuff out of the compact dresser by his bunk. Other pilots began doing the same. "When do we leave?" Grant asked.

"Umm.." Thix checked the document he was holding. "Any time."

One day later...

Thix and Nemesis Squadron came out of hyperspace a good distance away from Dantooine. Still, even from this distance, it was a beautiful planet. Thix heard more than one pilot whistle at it.

"Why'd we come out of hyperspace so far from the planet?" Grant said.

"Construction vehicles, freighters, the like. They're getting ready to build something big down there, it seems." Thix said. This was new, to his knowledge. "Okay, let's... let's just get there."

It took the squadron a good hour flight to reach the planet at sublight. There was a landing bay and pad designated for them already. They pulled to a stop nearly out of fuel from the long trip. Thix hopped out of his X-Wing and was greeted by a young Lieutenant.

"Sir." She saluted. Thix noted how it felt funny to be saluted by a woman who was probably three or four years older than him. "Luke Skywalker is ill at the moment, otherwise he would have greeted you himself. He has designated bunks and separate rooms for each of your pilots in the barracks." At this the members of the squadron did victory dances and slapped high-fives. "However, I believe Master Skywalker wishes you to stay in the new Academy itself. Will that be satisfactory, or should I call in...?"

"No, Lieutenant, that would be fine. Thanks." Thix turned to his pilots. "Okay, guys, let's get settled in. We're going to be here for a little while."

"Mara, you know what normal people are doing right now, don't you?" Alia had been awakened during the middle of the night, not by a dream, but something else that she didn't quite know what yet. Unable to sleep, she had wandered down the halls until she realized that Mara was still awake, something no one else in the Academy was.

"Not really. I haven't met that many normal people," Mara said rubbing her eyes. She was looking in on Luke, who was obviously asleep. She looked like she hadn't relaxed in days, much less slept. With the Jedi Master taken ill most of the headmaster duties fell on her shoulders.

"It's called sleep. You don't look like you've tried it in a while."

"Not really. Luke always took most of the administrative details and the teaching and everything else on his shoulders. I never realized that until now."

Alia sat down on the floor beside her chair. "I can't sleep tonight but I bet you could if you tried. Luke's not in danger of dying, so why don't you go get some sleep until... oh... next week."

Mara smiled, "I can't..."

Alia smiled back. "You won't. You know Luke will be fine but if you don't take care of yourself, you won't be and then he'll have to take care of you."

The older woman shook her head. "You're incorrigible, you know that?"

"Yes. My father always tried to beat that out of me too. You'll just have to live with it."

Mara stood up. "You call me...."

"Mara, you'll probably know if something's wrong before I do. You'll be perfectly fine and so will he. Now join the normal people and go to sleep!"

Thix felt alone, indeed.

He could not, for the life of him, locate ANY of his friends. In the Academy, he found his usual Jedi companions had drifted away from him somewhat. One of the perks of being on sentry duty for half a year in nowhere. Becky and Grant and the rest of the squadron were on leave, and had scattered around Dantooine. Thix had hoped that Becky would have stayed with him, but instead she chose to fly off to a scenic place. The whole planet was scenic!

So, here he was. Walking dejectedly around the new Academy grounds, wishing SOMEONE would speak to him. He'd had his lessons for the day; his lightsaber was still humming from his practice. Now that he was free, he was totally, utterly...bored.

"Huuuuuuuaaaaaaaggggggghhhhhhh......" Thix murmured blather to keep himself company. They'd all be back tomorrow. Might as well watch holovids until then. If anyone actually needed him, he'd be in his quarters.

Jason settled his X-Wing into the hangar of the Jedi Academy, noticing another X-wing in the bay. 'Nemesis squadron markings. That means Thix Barkon is around. This gives me an idea,' he thought. He left the hanger and went to find Thix's room.

Only moments later, after finding out where Thix had been assigned to sleep, Jason knocked on Thix's door. "Come in. I wouldn't mind some company right now." he heard from inside.

Jason entered and saw Thix inside. "Hey Thix, I don't know if you remember me from the Yavin Academy. I'm Jason Rashidi, another Jedi in training and owner of an X-wing."

"Nice to meet you. As you know I'm Thix. So, why have you come?"

"Interested in an atmospheric X-wing race?"

'Funny how things have a way of turning out fine.' Thix thought.
"...X-Wing game?" Thix said to Jason. "Sure. I've been a bit bored lately. But..."

"What?" Jason asked.

"Got insurance?" Thix grinned.

Lance stopped outside his destination. The flanking soldiers who were acting as escorts also halted. The building before him was a bit squat in appearance, and sported no visible defenses. Lance and the two soldiers carried no weapons save for a holdout blaster on each, and that made him unconfortable.

"Greetings, Major!" A man opened the large door leading into the building. "I am Mr. Jarkov's personal diplomat and negotiator. I bid you, please, enter! Let us discuss our options."

"We haven't come to purchase weaponry. We've come to talk about...work ethics. Call us an inspection team."

"Well," the man smirked, "As you might be able to tell, we are lacking in specimens here."

"I'm sure you can show us documents, some form of evidence as to your work habits." Lance said. "The Rebel Alliance never buys from someone until we are sure of their credibility."

The man smiled. He was obviously not pleased by this turn. "Very well..I shall see what can be done. In the meantime, won't you and your escort come with me, for some refreshments, maybe.....?"

"Clean as a whistle. Couldn't find a darn thing wrong with them. They've gotta be covering something up." Lance slapped his report down in front of General Bel Iblis. Realizing his display of emotion, he flinched, then corrected himself. "Requesting permission to conduct further research, sir!"

Bel Iblis flipped through the report for a few seconds. "Did you see any specimens?" Lance shook his head. "These photos and recordings are clear enough to determine that they are not experimenting with illegal substances nor are they harming nonsentient lifeforms in a way unbefitting science. Yet, like you, I feel that there is something missing. They do not have a research liscense...we can legally search their home planet if--"

"Begging your pardon, sir, but we don't know where their base is. We met on a waypoint moon base." Lance said.

"--and there is also this Un'Yawa incident. No Rebel soldiers were harmed but dozens of colonists disappeared. Who was there?"

"A few colonists survived, sir. Two smugglers named Nathan Garrote and Hawk Castle, I believe, picked up the refugees. There was also Lt. Rebecca Caleer. She's under my command, currently stationed at Dantooine."

"I would like to speak with her about this encounter. And Major..." Bel Iblis said as Lance turned to leave, "Permission to continue research granted."

"How about some war games?" Jason said.

"Great. I need some combat practice. All I've been doing lately is flying patrols."

"Okay...why don't we see if we can get Bahumut to join in? He's got a freighter that could come in handy."

"Sure."

"Welcome back, Major. I trust your superiors found everything to be in order?" Dr. Franco said. He had been the man who had met Lance Hendrikson on his last visit to the small moon. Hendrikson found himself in the concrete structure for the second time in as many weeks. He'd been working on the Jarkov case -- Gregor Jarkov, a scientist and biological weapons dealer, de facto producer for all the Outer Rim worlds (and some of the Inner ones as well). Though he seemed legitimate, both Hendrikson and General Bel Iblis had expressed feelings of uncertainty, and, thus, here he was once more, in an attempt to gather more usable information. "Please, come inside. I have more information for you this time if you wish..."

Lance nodded. "My commanding officers wish to see much more information before we consider our course of action. We looked into Jarkov Biologics, Inc., but found that you did not have a research license. Why is that?" Lance asked as they strolled into the waypoint building. Lance's guards flanked them both.

"We..are an independent organization. Although it is against both Rebel and Imperial law to experiment and develop biological products without a license, we felt that it is better to work free from the restrictions of civil laws. If we are free to expand and experiment, we will be able to better create our products." Dr. Franco scratched his head. "We do not harm animals, meaning that we do not cause them pain, nor do we cause any harmful mutations on an animal purposefully, and have never worked on viruses or bacteria." The men sat down around a table. "To make a long story short, we DO stay within almost all legal limits."

"That's good. May I see those...?" Lance reached across the table and picked up a pile of documents. He began leafing through them.

"Please, follow me." Dr. Franco stood and began walking towards a huge set of double doors. "I'm sorry, as I would like to stay and talk, but I'm afraid I have urgent business to attend to. One of my own superiors has decided to stay and talk with you about your interests." He opened the double doors to reveal a desk with a swiveling chair. The chair was facing away. "May I introduce Mr. Jarkov's Wing Commander." The chair turned.

"Yan Idaeus."

"The convoy arrived safely, General. What should we do now?" Neb asked the image of General Bel Iblis on the screen.

"Well, Captain, why don't you give your men a little time off. I understand you've never spent much time on Dantooine, and it is a beautiful planet. We're reorganizing at the moment, so I'm not quite sure where you'll end up."

"Yes, sir. I'd like that very much. It will be good to see Thix, since I didn't get to talk to him after Yavin. And there's a young woman who saved my neck that I wouldn't mind visiting either."

"Good, just so long as you don't get bored. But if you need something to do, I could always recall you back here and you could help me battle the piles of paperwork that seem to be intent on stealing precious years from the few I have left."

"No thanks, General. I'm sure I can keep myself busy."

"I thought you could. Oh, by the way. I've been getting interested in an investigation that Major Hendrikson is involved in. If he needs you, you and your squad are to be at his disposal, as are Major Bjiatocah's commandos. They should be arriving at the new Garrison within a couple of days."

"Good, I would enjoy working with Major Hendrikson again. Not that you aren't a pleasure to serve under, sir."

"Quit buttering me up or I just might give you a promotion. Unless you have anything else . . . ."

"No, sir. Calluna out."

"Wing Commander Idaeus. Glad to meet you." Lance extended his hand and shook Yan's hand. Lance sat opposite the man in the large chair and folded his hands in his lap. "Wing Commander... so Mr. Jarkov has protection?"

Yan grinned. "Of course he does. Nobody of his stature could go without it." Lance looked as though he were about to speak but was cut off with a wave of Yan's hand.

"I know what you are about to ask, and that would be what type of ships are in my wing. TIE Advanced Starfighters." Lance was taken aback.

"I thought only the Empire had access to them! Those are still fairly new fightercraft, Commander Idaeus. And they represent considerable firepower. Tell me, does Mr. Jarkov have any other military craft the Rebel Alliance does not know about?" Lance said, a bit too roughly than he had wanted to.

"Yes... the Boss -- Mr. Jarkov," Yan corrected himself, "recently purchased a number of small capital ships. Acting as a garrison, of course. We would never attack anyone; our force is far too small to successfully attack even a small world's orbiting defenses and fleets. Needless to say," He glanced around. Lance got the impression of a weasel from looking at Yan's thin face. "Biologics take quite a lot of capital to run, and Mr. Jarkov wishes to protect his extremely large investment."

"Mr. Idaeus. I have with me someone who wishes to talk to you about a creature that we suspect was created by Jarkov Biologics, Inc. Before you get to talking, I would like to tell you that although what follows may seem accusatory, that is not the case; we are aware that the incident we are about to question you about could have been triggered by any number of persons. Miss?" Lance gestured to the guard on his right.

Pulling her helmet free, Rebecca Caleer slid into a seat next to Lance.

"Good day, Commander." Lance noticed she was unusually tense. "I am Lieutenant Rebecca Caleer, Alliance Navy. Recently I was shot down in combat by a squadron of TIE Advanced fighters over Centauri III--" She paused for effect as Lance had told her. To Hendrikson's delight, Yan stiffened, a sign that he recognized the name.
"--and was sent to a small resort world for recuperation. The world was called Un'Yawa, if I remember correctly." Yan's eyes darted from side to side. He was nervous. This was good. "After a day or so of staying there, we were attacked by a group of around twenty small creatures. It's hard to remember correctly but I believe the were gray in color. Small arms didn't hurt them at all. Before long, the entire colony was wiped out except for myself and a small group of fortune-favored citizens . We were able to escape. When we sent an investigative team there later, we found no bodies, and my superior officers were skeptical as to my and the colonist's sanity until we received your message."
Lance stared at her. She grinned sheepishly back as though to say 'Whoops. Sure seemed that way.'

"Now, hear me out." Yan stood. "We do know of the Un'Yawa incident and we do produce the creatures you speak of. I would love to tell you more but I am restricted as to the amount of information I can reveal. I will tell you this." He leaned over the table and put his face directly in Lance's. "If you or anyone else comes snooping around our doorstep looking for reasons to arrest us I will not hesitate to send a few of them down on your doorstep."

Becky and the other guard put their hands on their blasters but Lance waved them down. "Commander, do not threaten the Rebel Alliance. As we have told you, TIME AND TIME AGAIN," he raised his voice, causing Yan to flinch, "we are simply looking at you from a professional point of view. Since you have been less than cordial in the matter, I think we'll take our leave of you. I'll be sure to report your involvedness in the battle at Centauri III and the Un'Yawa situation to my superiors." Lance got up and began to walk towards the exit. He had just passed the double doors when a blaster bolt ripped through his guard's torso, dropping him. 'Stupid!' Lance chastised himself for not watching their backs. He drew his own weapon and spun, as Becky had already done, but he found himself facing closing doors. Yan was not in his line of fire.

"Report THAT to your commanders, Major!" Yan said as the doors clanged shut. Lance tried to open them but found they were sealed tight as storm shutters on a windy night.

"He's dead." Becky said, crouched by the guard.

"I don't think they're going to like turning on the Alliance." Lance said, as he heard the sounds of engines from outside. "Looks like our less than friendly benefactors are taking off. But we don't have to worry about that. They aren't going to last to infect any other worlds with their creatures."

"Yan, I am disappointed in you." Jarkov said to Yan Idaeus later that day. "I gave you permission to speak with them, not pick a fight. I know it has been months since you have been able to depart on a mission, but that is no reason to start a war."

"Sorry, sir. I didn't like the way they were sticking their noses into our business."

"No matter, Yan. As you can see, our fleet has reached it's completion. I doubt the Rebel Alliance's first attack here will be successful." He pushed a button that opened a huge window facing out into space. "From here in my quarters on the Olrox, we can easily see the full extent of my new... SMALL... fleet." Jarkov said, laughing. Outside the window huge the fleet was arrayed, spanning hundreds of miles. "My newly acquired Corvettes shall be the first line of defense as you told the good Major, but they will not be expecting my Nebulon-B frigates and Carrack cruisers... after all," he said with a chuckle, "they don't exist, not in their eyes, now do they?" He laughed.

"Bored...bored...bored...bored...."

"Tyne, could you please shut up?" Alia rubbed her temples. He was getting on her last nerve. "I'm sorry, I'll just think it." She closed her eyes against the sun again. Soon, though, she could hear him on the surface of her mind. 'Bored...bored...bored...'

"SHUT UP!!!"

"Ok, ok... we'll have to talk though, 'cause I get bored really easily."

Tyne rolled over onto his back. They had just come to the hill to practice, but Alia had seemed to be losing sleep lately and just stretched out on a hill, watching him go through his exercises. When he was done, he just laid down beside her and... had slowly gotten bored. "Fine, go ahead. Talk."

"How's Master Skywalker anyway?" he asked, pulling a piece of grass.

"He's all right. Just some sort of bug. He was just working too hard."

"You sound like you would know. I see you and Mara together a lot. Mara and Master Skywalker are good friends."

Another piece of grass went flying over his shoulder. "She and I have a lot in common."

"Such as?"

Alia rolled over to face him. "I don't know, just a lot. We're just on the same level, you might say. We know how to handle annoying creeps like you, too."

"Oh, thanks!" More grass flew behind him.

"Don't do that, Tyne."

"Why not?"

"Because the grass knows you're pulling it."

"'Because the grass knows you're pulling it?'"

"Yes."

"There's a new one." He rolled onto his side to face her. "You seem to know a lot about nature."

She smiled. "I try. It's kinda hard when I lived on Coruscant for the first 10 years of life."

"Weird, I lived on Corellia and don't know as much as you do." He smiled back at her. "It's getting late you know."

"Yeah, I successfully wasted a whole day."

"Congratulations. Too bad this can't happen when we all graduate."

Alia stood up and brushed the dirt from her clothing. "I don't think I'm ever going to graduate. It scares me too much to enter the real universe again."

Tyne stood and smiled down at her again. "You'll be fine, you're a lot stronger than I'll ever be."
They walked back to the Academy... hand in hand.

"Welcome back, Major. How did the negotiations go..." An ensign asked Lance as he stepped off of his shuttle. Lance cut him off with a wave of his hand.

"They went a little awry. Get me a link to General Bel Iblis. We've got..." Lance searched for a good term, "....a situation here. One that requires immediate intervention."

"Yes sir." The ensign jogged ahead of him to a turbolift and held it open. Lance and Becky boarded it and it took off for the helm. Upon the arrival to the bridge, the ensign darted to his station and began dialing up a communications link with General Bel Iblis. "Bel Iblis is on the line, sir." The ensign reported.

"Thank you, ensign." Lance punched a button and Bel Iblis' face appeared on the screen. "General! Excuse me for not going through the proper lines of etiquette but I think that Jarkov Biologics is going turncoat on us. Their Wing Commander shot one of my guards and threatened to use their biological weapons against us if we continue to look in on them."

"I'd say the obvious solution would be to lead your task force in and destroy them. You DID get the coordinates of their home base from them this trip, didn't you?" Bel Iblis was apprehensive.

"Yes, sir. I have them. Sir, they have a Wing of TIE Advanced fighters and some small capital ships. I think it's possible for my force to take them on, but not first priority. On the trip back I was thinking about their threats and decided to check up on some of the surrounding colony worlds and moons..."

"Yes? And?"

"I couldn't raise the Colony on Fury 27." Bel Iblis' eyebrows wrinkled. Lance explained. "There's a black hole in a solar system near their home base. There are about... I'm not sure... fifty-some moons orbiting it, being sucked in slowly, and we have colonies on about six of them to gather minerals before they are destroyed. Which will be in a few hundred years but still.."

"So you think that these freelancers might have planted some of those creatures into this colony?" The General sounded skeptical. "It could just be a communications failure, you know."

"I am aware of that, sir, but because of their remote location, they always have three lines of communications on different operating systems so they can call for help if one system goes down. I don't think that all three just up and broke one day."

"I suppose you're right." He sighed. "Do you think your commandos can take care of this?"

"Sir, my commandos have been playing Sabacc since Yavin... besides, these creatures, from what I've heard," he looked at Lt. Caleer, "can be quite the opponent. I was thinking something more along the lines of... Major Bjiatocah? Or... Jedi?"

General Bel Iblis stroked his face, contemplating this turn of events. "I will contact Dantooine and the Major, and see what I can have done. I can't promise you any Jedi or even Trainees, though. Remember that. They're quite busy down there at the academy, you know..."

"Thank you, General. I'm stepping my men up to Yellow Alert and I'm doubling patrols for the time being. I'll be waiting for word form you. Out."

~Red Group reporting! We've got an incoming in sector six!~ Red leader said. Lance heard his voice over the communications station's speaker. ~It's fighter sized, but too far away at the moment for my sensors to determine it's type. Wait--I've got an ID now. It's a TIE Advanced fighter.~

Lance stood still. Yan's fighters were TIE Advanced. "Is it from the Empire's Sector? Or from Jarkov's direction?"

~It's coming from Jarkov's moon. It's weapons are unarmed. It has set course for the base.~ Red One sounded tense. ~Shall I provide an escort, or fire upon it?~

"Issue an ultimatum, then fire if it does not turn away. I don't want to speak with any negotiators now or at any time. They're up into their necks in the Rebel Alliance now."

~Very well, sir. TIE Advanced Gamma One, return to your point of origin now, or you shall be fired upon!~ Red Leader issued the warning to the incoming craft.

The TIE fightercraft turned after coming within sensor range of the base and fled into hyperspace.

"A probe... we should have destroyed it." Lance sighed. "Now they know what our forces' strengths and weaknesses are here at Kashyyyk."

Sammy walked to the Cat and started a preflight check. The meeting was more hypothetical future plans than actual orders. There was, however, a recent call from Major Hendrikson for battle groups to help quell a biological company who had attacked a Rebel Alliance entourage, including the Major himself. Sign ups were on a volunteer basis, but given the amount of action for the past 6 months Sammy expected the volunteer list to be quite high. He heard a rumor that another Major, this one a bit more hairy, was joining the fray. It would be good to see Bjiacotah and Hendrikson again.

Memories of the escapade on the Super Star Destroyer sent chills down Sammy's back as he called for clearance to leave. They had barely made it out of there, and from the reports of this biological weapon this just might be another close call.

Sammy set his navicom to Kashyyyk and watched the stars stretch into infinity. He then started reading more of the info he had got for the mission. These creatures cannot be damaged by blasters, well that didn't matter to Sammy. He didn't carry any. They weren't going to be a complete pushover, that's for sure.
Sammy finished the file and went back to catch some sleep. Many close calls have been decided on the health of the participants, and going against biological weapons made it even more important.

Lowbacca was in the central comm center on Kashyyyk when he overheard military forces were moving this way. After interrupting the conversation, it felt good to be a liaison of the Academy with the ability to do such a thing, he got the full story. A Gray Death plague might be released on the Alliance and it sounded like the Alliance wanted to request the help of some Jedi. Lowbacca volunteered to contact the Academy and see if he could get Master Skywalker to respond to the request.

Getting to work, Lowie's furry paws flew over the keyboard as he coded an urgent message. With one push of the button the message was shot away and Lowie waited for a response.

A few hours later, on Dantioone...

"There has been an urgent request for assistance." Tenel Ka shouted over the engines of Bandork's Revenge. "All available students and teachers are going to be meeting in the Great Hall in two hours. Are you coming?"

"Hm? What?" Aria poked her head out of the engine tunnel, half-listening. "I've got a couple of more repairs before I get the engines purring like new. I won't make that meeting."

"It was not a request," Tenel Ka yelled.

"Request, order. They are all the same to me." Aria pulled herself up and pushed the idler for her engines. The noise dropped back to at least tolerable. "I gotta head back to Dathomir in a week and a half and my engines cannot give out half way there."

"I think you should be there but it is your decision. If you see any of the students, let them know."

"I doubt I will see anyone, but sure." Aria was already thinking on some other modifications she could make to the already tweaked weapons system.

"You need to work on your comm system more than anything else." Tenel Ka offered as she jogged down the ramp.

"Thanks." She wasn't even listening as she frowned down at the idler's readings. Aria scooped up her scanner and spanner. Time to go back to work.

"Hey Aria!" someone yelled into the tunnel a few minutes later.

"For the love of peace and quiet, what?" Aria poked her head out the hole. Apparently the engine was giving her trouble because she had several lubricator streaks across her arms and face.

Tahiri couldn't help but laugh at her. "You look like you've been wrestling an engine, not repairing it."

"Funny, real funny. What d'ya need?"

"There's a meeting going on in fifteen minutes. Mara wants you to be there."

"Isquitare! I have an engine overhaul to do and no time to... Nevermind. I'll be there."

"Looking like that?" Tahiri snickered.

"What's wrong with the way that I look?" Tahiri rolled over laughing. "Just for that, here." Aria smudged more lubricator all over Tahiri's face and hair.

"No fair. I didn't do anything." Tahiri said, trying to look wounded.

"Hold on a sec, I've got more of that lubricator here some..."

"Eek!" Tahiri hopped up and ran down the ramp. Aria couldn't stop laughing as the blonde hair bobbed out of sight.

"A meeting?" Tyne groaned, as Alia pushed and prodded at him, trying to coax the formerly sleeping trainee out of his bed. "I don't do meetings."

"Oh you'll do this meeting if I have to drag you in there naked, kicking and screaming. And I will do it, too, Tyne. This is extremely important."

"And how do you know?"

"I have my sources," Alia replied. "Put on some clothes and get your little self out in the hallway in 3 minutes, or I WILL drag you there myself.

Neb was just about to join his men for some R&R after an hour of being unable to locate Thix. Then he heard someone mention a meeting for the Jedi at the Academy, and thought that it might be interesting. As he headed for the main building, he was paged on his communicator.

"Neb, have you heard?" came Jeffy's voice.

"Heard about what?"

"Captain Solo! Some of the guys at the garrison here say he's gone missing. The reports are just starting to come in, but this looks big! From what I've heard, someone was found dead, and all the evidence is pointing toward kidnapping, although there hasn't been a ransom notice yet."

"Where are you getting this information from?"

"The communication officer at the garrison just got off duty, and he happens to be a lover of fine brew."

"All right, enough pumping the base personnel for information. There's going to be a meeting for the Jedi here in a little while, and while I doubt that it's about this, I'll ask Jacen and Jaina and Luke about it. They've probably heard more than we have."

"Oh, Neb, one other thing. Major Bjiatocah was here, along with that new commando group of hers. You know, the short skinny guys with three eyes and big ears?"

"The Zuu Shi. Yeah, go on."

"Well, they just took a shuttle out of here like a bat out of hell. Sounds like they took some heavy firepower, and some pretty serious biocontainment equipment. Any idea what that's about?"

"None whatsoever. Look, Jeffy, I've got to go. I'll get back to you as soon as I know something."

"Okay, Jeffy out."

Neb got to the main hall just before the meeting was supposed to start, and was one of the last to arrive. He settled into the back of the room, and stood in the shadows, watching. Less than a minute after he arrived, the room hushed, as Luke Skywalker, dressed in brown Jedi robes, stepped onto a platform to address everyone.

In the hangar bay of the Academy, Thix was warming his fighter up. It had been a while since he had done any war games. About two months. His X-Wing needed a bit of a weapons tune-up before then; he wouldn't want to accidentally shoot someone down. As he was finishing tightening the last few bolts, he heard a couple solid knocks on the hull of his ship and looked down.

"Oh, hey, Jaina. Haven't seen you in quite a while. What's up?" Thix tossed a hydrospanner down to her. She caught it and dropped it into Thix's toolbox.

"We're having a meeting in the new great hall in a few. Sounds important! You gonna be there?" She paused to wipe some grease off the sleeve of her suit with a rag.

"Huh? Oh, yeah, probably. Just finishing some touch-ups and I'll be there." He glanced around. "Know how to set these things to redirect power to my shields a little more?"

"I'll tell you after this gathering. C'mon!" Thix jumped down. "I've got to round up some more delinquent students like yourself. Could you help?"

"Sure... Did you already speak with Jason and/or Bahumut?" He asked her. They were in the bay also; he reasoned she had already informed them of this meeting.

"Nope. Will you go tell them for me?"

"Sure." He took his leave of her and ducked under his snubfighter. Jason's X-Wing lay a few spaces away from his. "Jason!" He called out. "There's going to be a meeting in the great hall in about ten minutes. Jaina told me it was important..."

"Yeah, okay, I guess. I'll go."

"Bahumut?" Thix called out.

"Here." He heard a voice reply from not far away.

"Did you hear what I said?" He asked.

"Yes. I heard you. I'm going to attend."

"That was 5 minutes, Tyne."

"I didn't see you pulling me out of there, Alia."

"I have absolutely no intention of seeing you with less than -" she looked him up and down "-that on."

"You're just crushing my hopes."

"Get over it." They walked in silence for a moment before Tyne finally asked why he was being drug to an otherwise pointless meeting.

"This one's important," Alia replied, glancing nervously around. "We're discussing bugs."

"Oh, bugs!! Drop me in a vat of Corellian termites and call me happy."

"TYNE!!!"

"What?"

"Bugs," Alia mumbled, trying to decided whether to laugh at him or slap him. "Viruses, parasites. Pathogenic little Sithpawns that swim around and kill things."

Tyne paled. "Here on Dantooine?"

"No, but if we don't do something quickly, just maybe." They entered the hall as Master Skywalker was ascending to the podium.
This was beginning to scare her.

Bahumut was just finishing the slight tuning of the hyperdrive. The flux connecters were a couple degrees out of sync, which can affect your hyperdrive. If given another couple of hours, both of them would be fixed. Of course, that wouldn't happen because Thix was calling for him. "Bahumut?"

He answered with a simple, "Here." As with most people in his practice, he tried not to get to know people very much. It makes mourning that much easier.

Thix asked, "Did you hear what I said?"

Just to let Thix know he was planning on attending anyway, he replied, "Yes. I heard you. I'm going to attend." He thought, 'I wonder if this has anything to do with that bounty I noticed on Han Solo... or something completely different.'
After thinking it over, he decided the meeting must be important, and started towards the new Great Hall. After only a few minutes of waiting, Luke stepped onto the podium to begin his oration and briefing.

"I'm sorry, Lance, but this is the first I've ever heard of this." Tashannoc was frowning. "I don't know anything about this guy."

"Damn," Swore Hendrikson, thousands of lightyears away. "I was hoping you'd heard something. These guys are slippery, and they're starting to really tick me off."

Lance scratched at his multiple day stubble and Tashannoc reflected that scruffiness was a trait he respected in a human, and wished that he saw it more often. "Lance, if you send me all the data you have at the moment, I'll put some of my people on it right away. I can't make any promises, but I'll see what I turn up."

"Thanks, Tasha. I'll clear you with the brass, which shouldn't take more than five seconds, then send it to you."

Tasha and Hendrikson said their good-byes, and then Tasha waited. Soon the encrypted data was streaming into his computer. He read the reports and emitted a low whistle. Whatever these things were, they were nasty.

Meanwhile...

Bjiatocah handed the files out to her men. "All right, here's the deal. We have reason to believe that a mining facility in the Furies has been taken over by a hostile force. What's in those documents profiles all that we know about this force. Our job is to get there first, assess the situation, and get any survivors away, without getting toasted ourselves.
This isn't going to be any walk in the park, if I've heard correctly."

"We wouldn't have it any other way, Major!" the Demolition officer, Sting, shouted.

As the others agreed, Bjiatocah nodded. "That's the spirit. We'll need a lot of that where we're going."

Tyne stifled a yawn as he watched Master Skywalker climb slowly onto the podium. If this was any indication of how the rest of the meeting was going to go, he was going to wish that he had learned to fall asleep with his eyes open, standing up... if that was possible. 'But all things are possible with the Force aren't they?' He thought, cracking a smile and glancing sideways at Alia. They stood together near the back, Alia playing wallflower, as usual, and him surrounded by what she called his entourage- a group of the females who seemed to have a bet as to which one of them could get him into bed the fastest.
He smiled. 'Oh the curses of being beautiful,' he thought. There was another thing Alia claimed he needed to work on- his ego.

"Who are you looking for?" he asked, nudging her, aware that she had been scanning the crowd since their arrival.

"Nobody," she mumbled, continuing her all to obvious search.

Tyne smiled. "You're looking for somebody, Al, and I think I have a right to know considering you know every aspect of my personal life."

"Not by my choice. And don't call me Al. It's a guy I used to know."

Tyne laughed. "A guy, huh?"

"Yes a guy. He and I weren't close, but I heard he was on Dantooine and figured that he might be here. It really doesn't matter anyway." He could tell by the tone of her voice that it really did matter. She shushed him before he could say so though, and Master Skywalker began to speak. Most of what was said didn't sink in with Tyne in the slightest, but Alia seemed to absorb it like a sponge, taking in the information which, if blow came to blow, might save her life. Know thine enemy.

"This is great..." Thix said to himself. "General Solo's gone, and we're having another outbreak of those Death dudes Becky told me about. Boy, I hope I never meet up with any of those guys..."Someone tapped him on the shoulder.
Thix looked up. "Grant? Hey, you guys got back early. I heard you were on the other side of the base drinking lum, Corellian ale and Tatooine Sandbursters. What's the problem? No hangover?"

"We got a call in from Hendrikson; he wants us back at Kashyyyk. I heard there's a lot of people that're going to be coming along for the ride. He said he'd tell us more later; but I got a bad feeling about this mission."

"I think you're right. Okay, I guess I'm going to cut this gathering short a bit and run out."

They left the great hall. A couple students gave Thix the 'Hey, where d'you think you're goin?' look. He and Grant left the hall. Suddenly, Grant snapped his fingers."Oh, yeah. I almost forgot. We're playing escort duty for any and all transports who are leaving Dantooine to go with us. Skywalker's orders. And we're meeting up with the good Lieutenant once we get there."

"'The good Lieutenant?'" Thix asked.

"You know who I'm talking about!" Grant said. "You don't fool me. Our attractive new three-flight leader."

"I'll remember to tell Rebecca that once we get to the Base." Thix sighed.

"Hmm, now when are the students going to get ready so we can blast off and head to some real action?"

"I'm hoping soon. In the meantime, I reprogrammed R-4PO to act as a Sabacc dealer. Me and some of the guys had a good game going on. Want to join in?"

"Why not?"

Neb's eyes caught sight of Alia, who was part of a gaggle of women surrounding some guy who just exuded arrogance. He was just about to send a telepathic "Hello" when he saw a familiar form get up and leave.

Deciding that talking to Alia could wait until later, he slipped out the door. No one took much notice of him anyway. And besides, if Thix was leaving this early, it might mean that he actually knew something about what was going on.

As he left the building he saw Thix with another man, and started into a slight jog to catch up. "Hey, Thix!" Neb yelled to get his attention. "Hey, Thix!"

Thix looked over his shoulder. "Neb? Neb Calluna? I haven't seen you since... well, since Yavin. How've you been?"

"I've been fine, thanks. I was wondering if you knew anything about the situation at hand. It seems even Master Skywalker is ill-informed."

"well... I don't have any firsthand information, but from what I'm told," he glanced at the lightsaber clipped on his belt, "they can be some mean sons of guns. And they don't carry viruses--apparently they just bisect you and be done with it."

Neb grimaced. "Those sound formidable enough. Anything else I should know?"

Thix wracked his brain. There was surely something else Becky told him that was slipping his conscious mind. "Oh, yeah, one other thing. I've been told that their..ahh..exoskeletons act as quite potent armor. I don't know it's exact strength, but you'd better be packing a lightsaber if you plan on meeting up with one. That's about all I can remember at the moment... Me and Grant were on the way back to Nemesis' barracks to play a few rounds of Sabacc. Would you like to join us? Until the other Trainees are ready to leave we're stuck."

Neb flashed a grin. "Sabacc? I would love to play some Sabacc. Omega will probably be leaving the same time you do. You guys have money to lose, right?"

Thix glanced sidelong at Grant. "I think we may be in trouble."

"I think you may be right" came the reply.

Neb brought the subject back to the bugs. "So, these gray things must be the special project that Major Hendrikson was working on."

"That would be the one," Thix replied as they continued on their way to the barracks.

"I wonder if that's where Major Bjiatocah went in such a hurry?"

"Bjiatocah? You mean that huge gray Wookiee that helped rescue me from that Sovereign Star Destroyer?" Thix paused and a worried look came over his face. "Oh boy."

Neb was concerned. "What? You think she'll be all right, don't you?"

Thix shook his head as they reached the barracks. "No, it's not that," he said. "I was feeling sorry for the bugs."

The shuttle came around in a slow arc, avoiding the pull of the nearby singularity. Bjiatocah and her men were decked out in full biological hazard armor, on the off chance that there were some sort of biotoxin along with the creatures they were looking for. There was a slight shake as the shuttle docked with the airlock of the settlement.

"Still no communication from the miners. Sensors are having trouble penetrating the metals in the rock. We'll have to get readings from inside, and the range will be limited."

Bjiatocah nodded to her communications officer in acknowledgment. "All right. Let's go in there."

The pilot sealed off the cockpit from any possible contaminants. "Okay, folks. If I go 8 hours without hearing from you, I'm out of here, and coming back with the biggest fleet I can get to blow this rock to smithereens."

"Those are your orders," Bjiatocah confirmed. They all unconsciously held their breaths as the airlocks opened up, revealing the darkened hallway beyond.

One of the commandos whispered. "Let's rock and roll."

"Great, just great," Alia murmured under her breath. This was obviously not a routine meeting where the best students were picked to go off on a semi-dangerous mission, got patted on the back, and left, so that the rest of the trainees only returned to their comfortable lives, most content to hone there powers to a finer point before embarking on anything final. This was anything but semi-dangerous.

"So," Tyne whispered, that mischievous look in his eyes, "which one are we going to pursue? The missing General or the killer bugs?"

"We are not pursuing anything. You're far from ready, Tyne, and Master Skywalker knows that. There's going to be a transmission from Alderaan before he's going to send you off to fight anyone."

"But...Alia...I can handle myself! I WANT to go!!"

"There's your problem," she sighed, "you want to go. A Jedi would never WANT to put himself in a position where he could hurt himself or others."

"But Tyne's going to be a great Jedi!" one of the girls behind him protested. "I don't think you're giving him a fair chance."

'You're making her mad,' Tyne thought, glancing over at the speaker. 'If you'd shut up this would end that much sooner.'

"And you'll make a great prostitute some day, but that day is not here and now. What matters is today, and today, Tyne is not ready to go."

'Yup, Al's temper is the stuff of legends.'

Before the startled girl could pull herself together again, Alia had pulled Tyne from the room and out of the back door. "What was that all about?" he exploded when they were away from the main hall. "You didn't have to tell her off like that, she was just sticking up for me!"

Alia sighed. So much for trying to keep the situation under control. "You need to know the truth Tyne. You're not strong enough in the Force to be effective. Maybe soon, but..."

"Well, you don't have to rub it in my face, Alia. You inherited it from your Daddy, didn't you?!"

Her eyes grew narrow. "Don't say that, Tyne."

"Oh, I'm sorry, we're a little touchy, aren't we?" Somewhere in Tyne's mind, there was a tiny voice of reason trying to stop the words that flew from his mouth. Too bad the voice was crushed by the larger force of pride that had engulfed his mind. "Who's your daddy, Alia Trynyty?"

Without thinking, Alia's hand shot out and struck him across the cheek, leaving reddening marks where her fingers had hit. Tyne's hand flew to his face, gingerly touching his burning cheek. "Oh, gods...." He'd never seen her this mad before. "Al, I'm sorry...I...."
Alia eyes filled with tears as she spun on her heel and marched silently back into the assembly.

Thix looked over the brim of his cards at the player's faces. Neb sat across from him, Grant was on his right and a pilot named Ryan sat on his left. Thix looked at his cards. He held the Commander of Staves and Balance as his special cards, plus the eight of cups gave him a total of nine. Not so hot. Grant chewed nervously on the end of a cigar. It was plain to Thix that Grant was sharing the same misfortune as he. So far this game, Thix had won a total of..well, fifteen credits. Grant..he'd ALMOST broken even after that first horrible hand, and Ryan was down by about fifty or sixty. Neb, well, he was another story.

"Shift." The droid dealer called, pressing controls. The cards in Thix's hand were replaced by another Commander, this one from Coins, a two, and a four, giving him eighteen. Quite a jump over his previous hand.

"Gentlemen, we have entered the final phase. All betting is closed; please show your hands. Ryan showed first: fifteen. Thix grinned. One down. Grant showed next.

"Seventeen!" He cried as he dropped his cards. Thix could sense the sarcasm. Thix felt his second victory approaching!

"Twenty-one." Neb showed his cards. Thix's grin faded.

"Twenty..one." He sighed. "Eighteen, twenty one..."

Thix's comlink bleeped. "Yes?" He asked.

~Commander Barkon, we're loading the transports for departure in moments. Your presence is required before takeoff. Thank you!~

Thix saw Neb was receiving a similar message.

"Thank the Maker-we're saved from losing our paychecks for the rest of the year!" Grant exclaimed, jumping up from the table. He dropped the cigar butt in an ashtray and the pilots left the barracks area on the way to their respective hangars.

Moments later, in a hangar...

"You're loading the transports?" Thix asked a nervous technician.

"Yes, sir..." Thix looked around the hangar bay. It was filled with fightercraft and transports, but no students or instructors.

"I don't see anyone."

"They said they'd be down shortly. We've fueled your starfighters, and tuned them up. You're ready to go."

Aria entered the Great Hall after ducking around a cloud of girls who were harping on this one boy's attention. Shrugging past them she moved closer to the front where the best windows were located. She drew several looks as she leaned against the pane, apparently she'd not scrubbed off enough lubricator to pass for sentient. Oh well, nothing she could do about that now. She spotted several familiar faces in the crowd as well as many unfamiliar. That wasn't an odd thing since she was constantly hyping between Dathomir and here and the only time she talked to students was during the small wilderness survival class she taught occasionally. Just then Tahiri turned and waved at Aria, at least she managed to clean up before the meeting. Aria smiled back. It was several minutes before Master Skywalker approached the group and Aria's mind started to wander.

Images flashed through her mind, at first comforting memories then later taking a turn for the worse as she relived her escape from the Nightsisters. She could hear her mother scream for her to run and lightning filled the skies. The sound of thunder jutted Aria out of her day dream, Luke was addressing the students about some gray bug things.

"You okay?" a male's voice whispered from behind her. He'd seen her tense up.

"Sure. Fine." Aria immediately recognized Zekk.

"You don't look okay. Maybe Lusa should take a look at you."

"I just had a bad memory flash, nothing severe Zekk."

Before Aria knew it she was doing some quick last minute repairs to Bandork's Revenge and preparing to head out with the first wave of students going to take on the Gray Death. Augywynne was much more understanding than Aria expected and way too enthusiastic about giving her time to help get 'the situation under control.' Well one thing came of it, Jaina and Anakin volunteered to help fix the engine and they were going to be on her wing in the Rock Dragon.

Apparently Luke refused to let them help rescue Han Solo. Tenel Ka was getting some medical and foodstuffs from the city for both ships and would return in a while. Jacen was going to meet the group at Kashyyyk, where Lowie could be picked up. Zekk and Jaina would ride on Bandork's Revenge as co-pilot and gunner, once the group got to Kashyyyk. Jacen, Lowie and Tenel Ka would remain on Rock Dragon.

Tahiri wanted to come but Aria told her she would have to ask Mara first. She filed her protest as she ran to get permission.

"Okay -- this is it?" Thix looked at the screen of a datapad. "We're escorting two transports of Jedi so far that have signed up, one Lambda shuttle with equipment and a... uh, a shipment of... uh, looseleaf paper?" Thix wondered.

"What?" Grant took the pad from Thix. "Oh..wait, that was from last month's run with Nar Shadaa Pen and Ink Company. Old data. Here, I'll get rid of it." Grant deleted the old entry.

"So, two transports." Thix looked at the information again. "At least it's the Rock Dragon and the Bandork's Revenge. I wouldn't want brand-new trainees out fighting these guys. Which reminds me--I heard that there was a colony in the Furies on the Rim that was supposed to have been taken by these thing s. Are our pals at the Academy gonna fight those, or run with us to the enemy's homeworld to beat em' up there? They'll have bioweapons on both worlds for sure, but the homeworld's the wild card. Who knows what they've got down there? I'm gonna issue gas masks to our pilots, Grant. Just in case."

"All right, I'll add that up. And I don't know about the destination of our bewitching friends the Jedi. They're a wild card themselves."

Thix gave Grant a look. "Don't forget that I'm a student here, too. The Force is just a bit more powerful than those bugs, that's why we need the trainees and instructors to help. Besides, we've got these." Thix gestured to the lightsaber handle hanging from his belt.

Grant chuckled. "Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side. Sir."

"In this case, you're wrong. But if you had a pet ysalamiri, I'd be forced to agree with you. And you may call me unethical, but I think of the Jedi as more of.." he searched for the correct phrase, "..a state of mind than a religion."

"Have it your way. I'm going to go see how our 'states of mind' are doing. Hang in there. I'm sure we'll get underway within...a while."

"I hope my X-Wing doesn't rust to dust while we wait." Thix tapped his booted foot on the hangar bay floor as Grant walked away.

'What's wrong with me?' Alia wondered, as she shouldered her bag and headed for the transport that would carry her to the Gray Death. Leaving Dantooine wasn't something she was looking forward to. She hadn't seen Tyne since their discussion and it wasn't likely she would see him before she left, either. Tyne didn't recover quickly when it was his pride that was wounded.

Alia felt the hair on the back of her neck rise. "Who's there?" she shouted down the deserted hallway. "Show yourself." But, of course, there was no one. She was all alone. No, not all alone. There was something on the edge of her mind, something dark, sinister, almost like the visions of her father she had received on Yavin IV. Instinctively she snapped down every mental defense she knew, things Master Skywalker had taught her and things she had learned on her own. But the presence would not go away, it was calling her, beckoning , 'Gods make it stop,' she thought, but she had reached the transport. Mara had asked her to go after the Gray Death and she was only too happy to comply. It meant a chance to actually discover how well she could handle under pressure, if she had made any progress in the 7 months she spent at the Jedi Academies, both on Yavin and Dantooine.

Now she just felt like herself.

MOVE ON TO PART II
RETURN TO THE ARCHIVES

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