The short hop back to Kashyyyk was spent playing Sabacc with shared cred chips (Thix's vision of a worst-case scenario came true when Grant came back empty-handed from his casino of choice), and idle conversation. The transport exited hyperspace "above" the orbital base.
"Grant, I can see where you're coming from. Statistically speaking, you and I are the best pilots in the Squadron...right?" Thix scratched his head.
"Yes. But I'm not talking about us--"
"When averaged in, we suck, right?"
"Well, no, but--"
"The point is, they come in weak, and leave strong.....or, well, dead." Thix shrugged off the last, but flinched as well.
"Stop interrupting me! MY point is, I've got goals, see? I see a future for Nemesis Squadron! A bright one, too. But we've gotta start raising the standards for acceptance...it's just a suggestion," He said, under Thix questioning glance. "but I think that if we raise standards, we get better rookies, better shots, better ratings." A second glare from Thix as he maneuvered the craft towards the base.
"We're fine. We teach. Experience. I'm not for guns and glory. Besides, I have standards."
"Sure..."
"No, I do..."
"Watch out for that--! Look out!"
"I see it, I see it......" Thix slowly ducked his craft under the belly of a large container transport delivering foodstuffs to the base, proximity sensors reading in the red. "Don't freak out. I've got it under control. See? You're alive."
#####
"All's clear on deck three..." Thix spoke in a sing-song voice, mumbling his words as he sang carelessly. "And so's tha' Major, so we're freeeee....deedeedee...."
"Don't quit your day, job, Thix." Rebecca said.
"Would've expected support from you." Thix looked hurt.
"Well...no, seriously. Don't quit your day job." She giggled. "I've got to run a solo patrol. I'll be back later. Seeya!"
"Bye." She ran off down the hallway. "Not what?" Thix asked himself. "Everyone's gone...gone...rec center, here I come." Now armed with a goal in mind, Thix walked purposefully to the library to dig up some Jedi texts.
When the squadron got back, they would all head for Dantooine again, to retake their position as a supportive squadron. But gods only knew when that would be...soon, hopefully. Thix had a lightsaber glitch that one Jaina Solo knew how to fix...
Tyne opened his door to Ibran, feeling worse (physically, at least) than
he could remember in a while. Ibran looked pretty much the same. "Yeah?
What?"
Ibran was a bit taken aback. He'd met Tyne once and seen him around several
times, always playing, bubbly, just an all-around happy person. "I
got...um..."
Tyne slapped his forehead. "The note! That's right! Come in, there's stuff
we need to talk about."
"What happened to you?" Ibran asked, closing the door and entering Tyne's room.
Tyne sniffled. "I'm sick."
Ibran nodded. "Anything I can do?"
Tyne sneezed, indicating a handkerchief that Ibran was close to. Ibran picked up the handkerchief and tossed it to Tyne, receiving a nod in return. Tyne blew his nose.
"Foghorn," Ibran murmured with a small smile.
"What? I'm not hearing too well."
"Oh... nothing. Anyway," he said, moving on quickly. "What's all this about Alia going somewhere?"
"She and some hot babe were going somewhere so Al could learn more Jedi stuff. You should have seen this girl, Ibran. She was... well... meow!"
"Back up. Which hot babe?"
Tyne blew his nose again. "Some chick from somewhere. She and Al came in on the same shuttle from Kashyyyk."
Ibran frowned in concentration. "She didn't happen to have this spooky way of looking at people did she?"
"Uhh... no, but come to think of it she always seemed like she half knew what I was thinking."
Ibran shot the other a wry smile. "It's not hard to figure out what you're thinking most of the time, Chartise."
Tyne sniffled. "Hey, it's not my fault if all the chicks come after me. I can't help my good looks."
"Of course not. How silly of me to have even thought otherwise. Still... something about that woman bothers me. I think I'd like to know more about her. Did Alia and that woman talk with anyone before she left?"
"Not that I know. You might try asking Master Skywalker, though. He always seems to know what's what."
Ibran nodded and stood thoughtfully. "Thanks, Tyne. You ought to get some rest. You don't look too good." Or anything like it.
Tyne nodded and sort of half collapsed back onto his bed.
After Ibran had left the room, he went back to his own room to think for a bit. <I>I don't entirely trust that woman. I think I may end up on a hunt for the two of them... just to make sure.
"All right," Tashannoc agreed and walked off of the bridge. Previous forces at Ord Pardron had been reinforced, to beyond their original numbers. As a result of this scare, many other rebel bases were getting reinforcements as well. Tasha had decided to stick with Garm for the time being, at least until they got back to Kashyyyk. It would give him time to go over some of the files he'd gotten from Mirath Omnes that he hadn't perused yet. He'd have to send a message to Lerma and BoShek, to see how things were going back Home, and to see how Kimbrr was progressing.
Neb was just about to leave for the shuttle that would take Omega and Cigna squadrons to the Errant Venture when he received notice on the new departure. Once he was through talking with the General, he switched off the com and frowned. "They're not going to like this one bit," he remarked.
The response to the news was much worse than he anticipated. The griping and moaning was worst from the Omegas, however, since they had been looking forward to some good, and more importantly free, drinks. "Perhaps some other time," Neb soothed as the pilots broke up and headed to their quarters to prepare them for the jump to hyperspace.
Jeffy broke out in a grin and turned around to Cigna Leader. "Hey, I guess you'll be 'OWE-WING' us those drinks! Get it? 'O-Wing' us drinks!"
Both squadrons groaned, and Neb got behind Jeffy and shoved him, hard,
through the door. "Enough Captain Comedian."
Neb caught Sammy out of the corner of his eye, and jogged after him.
"Hey!" he yelled, seeing that the Cat looked prepped for
departure, "We're leaving this little backwater outpost and heading back to
civilization. You're not going to spend the whole jump in your ship, are
you?"
"Kashyyyk, civilization? Man, you need to get out more. Besides, I'm not going to be heading back. I have some things I need to attend to."
"Okay." Neb's lekku twitched nervously. He could sense that something was bothering his friend, but knew not to pry. "Take care of yourself. And if you need a hand, you know who to call."
"All right. You take care too. And don't do anything stupid enough to end up in the bacta again."
Neb rubbed his head where it had hit against the canopy. "You've got my promise on that one." Neb turned away to let Sammy finish prepping his ship, then rushed off after his squad.
After his normal training sessions, Ibran dressed to look nice. He'd made an appointment to speak with Jedi Master Skywalker and didn't want to leave a bad impression. Most people just went to see him whenever they needed to and even though Ibran was growing more concerned for Alia's safety by the day, it wasn't in his nature to block those who had truly severe problems from getting advice from Master Skywalker.
Despite his scheduling, Ibran was nervous about meeting the man. Of course he knew the Skywalker history; most people at the
Jedi Academy were aware of Luke's journey from Tatooine farm boy to accomplished Jedi and Rebel hero. In fact, Luke Skywalker could be classified
better as a monument more than he could be a human being.
But that line of errant thought fled his head when the door to Master Skywalker's quarters opened. Ibran stepped in but cautiously, as if the great Jedi he'd heard about might suddenly turn out to be a fish.
"Ahhh, come in, Ibran," the blond haired man said, gesturing at various chairs. "Have a seat wherever you like."
"Uhh, thank you Master Skywalker-"
"Actually," Luke frowned, seeming to squirm slightly in his chair, "Even though most students call me Master Skywalker, I'd really prefer to be called Luke."
Ibran relaxed mentally. "Okay, Luke," he began, then paused. He had just noticed the lessening of tension in his head. It's because he's human, Ibran realized. That bit of farm boy insecurity probably did more to set me at ease than probably anything else he could have done. Imagine; a man with a reputation like Luke Skywalker actually being uncomfortable in the presence of a student. Ibran smiled at the thought.
"Something funny?" Luke said, smiling.
"Uhh... well, sort of. I guess I was half expecting to find someone a hundred
meters tall and glowing with animals clustered around his feet," Ibran grinned sheepishly.
Luke's smiled broadened. "I'm on vacation."
Ibran burst out laughing and the last of the tension drained away.
"So... what's on your mind? When I heard you'd scheduled an appointment with me and that I didn't know much about you, I took the liberty of looking at your profile." There was a pause while Luke crossed the room to a folder on a table. "Both your emotional guide Master Voll and your combat instructor Kam Solusar speak very highly of you. In fact," Luke paused again, looking at Ibran. "Both of them say you ought to be a Jedi Knight, but that you've successfully avoided getting the title for about a year and a half now. Care to explain?"
"Uhh... well..." Ibran floundered. "I don't exactly want to be a Jedi Knight, Master Skywalker. My main goal in learning the Force is to help others."
"So? Performing the role of Jedi Knight and helping those in need aren't really all that different."
It was Ibran's turn to squirm. "I don't know... I just..." he said gave up with an exasperated sigh.
Luke gazed thoughtfully at the young man in front of him. "It's the responsibility. You're afraid of it. As long as you avoid the title, you feel you can avoid the demands it makes. But that's not going to last forever."
This side of his situation had never been presented to Ibran in such a clear and distinct manner before. Surprise flooded into his expression and he began to think back to the experiences he'd accumulated over his 24 years of life. "I... I..." words failed him as he looked at his past with this new tint.
Luke studied Ibran for a moment more. "The sooner you accept your role in life, the better. I'm not trying to push you into something you don't want to do, but your profile indicates that your future lies in serving the universe as a Jedi Knight."
Ibran gazed dumbfounded at Luke, then found his voice again. "Thank you Ma- Luke. You've given me... something to think about."
"This isn't a decision a person makes lightly, Ibran. Don't rush it."
"I won't, Master Skywalker."
If Luke caught the slip on his name, he ignored it. "Now, why'd you come to see me?"
"It's Alia. I... I'm worried about her. Where'd she go, and who'd she go with?"
Luke smiled. "She went with Benoah, to the planet Alpheridies," Luke frowned. "I think. Benoah said that she would assist Alia's Force training. I trust her."
Ibran's normally suspicious nature - one did not grow up on a planet like Ord Mantell without acquiring a healthy degree of suspicion - balked at this. If Master Skywalker trusts her... well, he'd know if she meant Alia any harm. But still... "Still, I can't help but be worried. Something still feels wrong about this."
For a moment, Luke looked as if he had something else to say, but held his tongue. The other's resolve was evident. "I see."
"I have to follow this feeling, Master Sky- Luke. I don't know why, but I have to."
Luke had a good idea why, but again said nothing. "Ibran... I lost my hand attempting to confront my father before I was ready. Be careful that the same doesn't happen to you."
Ibran nodded as relief flooded into him. "Thank you... Luke. I appreciate... what you've done."
"I would do the same for anyone, Ibran. It's part of being a Jedi." A subtle, but potent reminder.
The door opened as Ibran stood to leave. He spun and bowed to the person entering. "Greetings,
Master Tannis."
The Omwati Jedi Master, Teyan Tannis paused in mid entry. "I'm impressed. Not many people do the bow and scrape routine with sincerity. Who are you?"
"My name is Ibran Crissean, madam, and I was... just leaving." Ibran's eyes flicked over to Luke as he spoke and a slight smile appeared on his face.
"I see. A pleasure meeting you, Ibran. Perhaps we can talk some other time."
######
Teyan Tannis watched the young man leave. "He's like you used to be... farm boy."
Luke smiled at the casual teasing remark. "He's close. I think there are many people who have high hopes for him."
Teyan nodded, "Indeed they have."
Meanwhile, Ibran headed back to his quarters. He had much to pack... and to think about.
Bahumut glanced at the chronometer counting down until it was time to emerge from the quasi-reality which was called 'hyperspace,' for lack of a better term.
00:02:34
'Two and a half minutes left,' he thought. Something had been nagging him at the back of his mind since he left Corellia.
'Wait, I know what's bothering me... my conscience, for killing that bounty hunter after I had stunned him. According to the Jedi code, I only
should have killed him if it was the best course of action, which it wasn't after I stunned him...
I really have to think about what I'm doing now that I'm becoming a Jedi...'
00:00:01
Bahumut pulled back on the lever to disengage the hyperdrive, and Dantooine filled up most of the cockpit's view. He looked at the HUD to see where all of the nearest starships were, and after several seconds, he plotted
a course to orbit the planet.
Over the com, one of the space traffic controllers spoke. ~Unidentified freighter, please state your name and your destination.~
"This is the Dragon Lord, registered to Bahumut, and I wish to land at the Jedi Academy to further my-"
~Yes, to further your 'knowledge of the ways of the Force,' right? I know, I'm uploading your trajectory now.~
"Thanks," Bahumut said as the coordinates appeared on his HUD.
~Your welcome,~ the STC answered.
Bahumut laid in the coordinates and was headed towards the academy.
Alia situated herself cross-legged on the floor of the ship's main room has she felt it drop out of hyperspace. She didn't know where she was and that way she'd never know exactly where Benoah's planet was. 'All the better.' She usually (like now) went into a Force trance, just clearing her mind and ignoring everything around her. Today she was having a bit more trouble. Benoah was contacting some of her people in the short time they would be in real space (she couldn't call in hyperspace, naturally) and she would be left completely alone for about 30 minutes. She couldn't help wondering if she had done the right thing. Leaving, oh yeah, that was great at the time. But she felt rather guilty for leaving Ibran with a short note. Especially for Tyne who had actually looked physically sick for the first time she could remember. 'Probably Bakuran flu. Can't treat that stuff with bacta. Poor boy's probably so far in space he doesn't know which way is up. But that's not fair to Ibran.' Alia sighed. 'Still would have been funny, though.'
"Absolutely no one I can imagine."
"And that is the problem." Evan visibly sagged in his chair. He glanced at the chronometer. '0400. This guy is completely wacko.'
"She's being protected by someone in power, Evan. We have to find out who. Dalon Marr lost the girl, for gods sakes!"
"What do the spies say?"
"They lost her when she left Kashyyyk several weeks ago!" Kethren was working himself into another rage.
'This isn't worth it,' Evan thought. 'I'd love to just quit like a normal person. But no, I just have to pick the demanding job.' Instead he said, "What about her adoptive parents, the ones on Corellia? They could have struck it big and are trying to protect her."
"No, they're dead, Evan. Haven't we been through this? They were blown up, very, very dead." He accented each word as if talking to a child.
"Her birth mother?"
"Even more dead."
"Are you sure?"
"Am I sure? I shot her, Evan! Is that sure enough for you?!"
Evan shrugged. He could come up with no one else. This was going to be a long night.
The shuttle was zooming back to Kashyyyk now. Ibran had caught the last one off the planet for some time, and so was lucky he'd decided to leave when he did.
Everything had been packed that he would need and he'd told Tyne and Lucinda where he was going.
Lucinda would tell Kain and thus his siblings would know that their older brother was now off on some utterly foolish trip to make sure some girl was safe.
'But that's not fair to Alia,' Ibran thought. 'She's not just some girl, she's... well, fun and interesting and... I'm doing it again.'
Ibran shook his head and smiled; whichever way he looked at it, the only real way it made sense was if he was ensuring the safety of someone important to him.
'Can't get much clearer than that.'
He had been in Emptiness for about 8 hours of the 11 hour journey. After that, he'd wandered off into thought until now. That meant that he'd been thinking for about three hours, as they were due to exit hyperspace soon. Ibran nodded to himself, then stood and began gathering his things.
Ibran paused in the process of getting his things together to look at the bag containing the letter of reference from his father. 'Glad I brought that along,' he thought. The letter was supposed to assist him when he needed to deal with the various underworld figures like Black Sun members, various information brokers, and smuggling rings that his father was on good terms with. 'The only thing I can think of to do is find out where Benoah came in from, and if that fails, I'll have to rely on the letter to contact someone who does know. Of course, the only problem there is that I don't know how to find anyone on Kashyyyk, so I'd have to find some way to get to another planet. But I'll deal with that when and if it comes.'
He then sat back down and returned both seat and tray table to its' full and upright position. 'First order of business is to find the person who Benoah first contacted - probably a desk clerk or something. When I get to the station I'll have to find them and ask.'
#####
Upon reaching the likely point of entry, Ibran casually strolled up to the desk and caught the attention of the man who worked there. "Excuse me," he began. "I'm looking for someone and I think you may have seen her. My name is Ibran Crissean, if that helps any."
The clerk looked amused. "Oh?"
"Yes. She's about so tall and from what I hear she's a knockout." Ibran proceeded to describe what he remembered of Benoah for the man. When he was done, the clerk nodded. "Ohh, yes. I remember her. Miraluka, I think she called herself. What is it that you want to know?"
"Her name was Miraluka, not Benoah?"
"Oh, no, no, no. Her name was Benoah, but her race was Miraluka. I put in a message to General Tashannoc about her and her people."
Ibran nodded. "I see. Is there any way I could find out which ship she came in on?"
"You'd have to check the passenger logs, but I'm afraid I can't let you look at them. New orders came in yesterday. We've been tightening security because of a recent scare we had at Ord Pardron. Although," he added helpfully, "she may not have come in via the normal route, if you take my meaning."
'She may have been smuggled in. I'd forgotten about that.' "Great." A glum look crossed Ibran's face. "How am I supposed to find Alia now?"
The man blinked. "Did you just say Alia? As in, Alia Trynyty?"
It was Ibran's turn to blink. "Yes, why? Has she been through here recently?"
"No, it's not that. It's just that you're the second person to come looking for her in two weeks. I've never heard of her; is she someone important?"
"Only to a few people... me included. Who else was asking for her?"
"Tell the truth, I don't remember. I just remembered the name because it's slightly unusual. I'm accustomed to Wookiee and human names, sooo. If it helps, I think the fellow was going to take her to Neb Calluna, one of General Tashannoc's friends."
Ibran frowned. "Well, thanks anyway, sir," he said and thumbed through his wallet. He pulled out two bills and offered them to the man.
"Oh, there's no need for that. I'm only doing my job," the lieutenant said.
"Please... it's my way of saying thank you." Ibran proffered the money again.
The man shrugged and accepted the money. "I hope you find who you're looking for."
"Me, too." With that, Ibran turned and walked away.
The man looked at the money he'd been given and was about to put it in his pocket when he realized that he was holding two twenty credit vouchers.
He stared at it. 'I can't accept this!' he thought and looked about for Ibran.
He didn't see him anywhere. 'He's quick. That fellow... what was his name...
Ibran I think he said. Yeah, that's it. He really shouldn't have given me this much.'
After a moment he pocketed the money. 'Oh, well. Not as if I can't use the dough.'
As the fleet positioned themselves defensively, Tashannoc flew with Omega Squadron back to the Kashyyyk orbital station.
He and Neb had an empty storeroom reserved for a few hours to work on lightsaber technique, and then they were going to meet Bjiatocah on the surface to see how her training
exercises were coming.
As he was walking out of the hangar bay with the other pilots, a human stopped him.
"Sir, you'll be happy to know that I directed your freighter pilot to Miss Trynyty's
whereabouts. I'm sorry he arrived just after she left. I'm sure that Commander Calluna will be happy to see her that much sooner.
Oh, hi Commander . . . ." the man's face grew pale as he finally recognized the agitated look on the General's face, "Calluna."
He managed to croak out the end of his sentence.
Neb's eyes flashed with concern.
"Where did Alia go! Who told you he was coming after her-"
"Quiet, Neb." Tasha spoke.
"Let the man explain. You said she had left. Where, and with whom?"
"She went to
Dantooine, with a woman called Benoah. She said she was a Miraluka. The man, well, I don't remember much about him.
He had a strange accent, but other than that, he was very nondescript. Although he didn't seem too bright, but he was a nice enough fella.
Oh! Wait, there was someone else who asked after her later too. It was, uh, what was his name, um, Ibran Criss.... something like that.
He wasn't here more than a few hours ago."
"Okay," Tashannoc said to the man.
"Don't speak to anyone about this without my authorization, do you understand me?"
When the man nodded, Tasha turned to Neb. "You find Crissean. Find out what he knows about the situation.
I'll get ahold of the academy and find out if Alia got there. And this Benoah woman.
I've heard of the Miraluka, and from what I remember they weren't a bad lot;
they've just been out of touch with galactic society for quite some time. I'll also call Lerma and have him find out if any bounties were posted on Alia, and who might be after it.
Although, I do have my suspicions."
"Who do you think it is?"
"I'd rather not speak out of haste.
Our reservation for the warehouse isn't for another three hours. Find out what you can, and I'll do the same, and then we'll compare notes."
"Are they here?"
The pilot studied the sensors for a few seconds, then turned to Benoah. "No, but we are early."
"Pull off and land on the moon of Audirentid. It has no atmosphere and is on the dark side of the planet for now." Benoah allowed the pilot to gaze at her and take in her words. "When we are there, we will wait for our ride home. We will need to remain on the ship, but we should be safe just in case a certain someone can indeed follow us here as I suspect he may be able to."
"As you wish," the pilot said as he immediately began to observe her words.
Benoah found Alia, deep in a trance, sitting upright on the floor in the middle of the lounge area.
She watched the troubled woman for a brief time, not wanting to disturb her.
'She gets few moments of peace as it is. This time belongs to her.'
The Miraluka Jedi moved to her quarters on the ship and thought about what she was doing.
'Oh, my Master, you sent me out to find this woman. You sent me to guide her to you.
For certainly you will enable her to discover the tools she needs to avoid becoming the puppet of her father.'
~Misteress Benoah?~
Benoah rolled her opaque pupils. 'Never a moment of peace for me though, eh Alia?'
Disregarding her own frustration, Benoah answered the call from her pilot.
"What is it captain?"
~Two ships are moving out of lightspeed. One is a small freighter..... No transponder code.~
"What of the other? Is this our rendezvous?"
~Indeed. It is the Imperial Star Destroyer Domen Majesty. Our ride home.~
Dalon Marr's attention was on his sensors from the very microsecond he entered realspace.
"The Auditentid system? Nothing here but useless planets."
He grinned underneath his helmet as he spotted what he was after. "I told you we would meet again.
Jedi are too confident for their own good. Guess I'll let them know who has the advantage."
The Rancor's Maw launched forward under full thrust, just as the familiar white triangle of an Imperial Star Destroyer appeared behind it. "Where in Sith did that come from?"
"So now what?" Ibran muttered to himself as he walked down the corridor. "The trail mystically appears and ends here. And all I've got to go on is are a few names. What I wouldn't give for a set of coordinates."
He sighed and sat down. "Maybe I can find the most expedient path to Alia using the Force!" Ibran assumed a meditative state of mind, trying to invoke his abilities. After a moment he felt a faint tugging sensation in his head, leading him down the corridor. He stood and began to walk. The sensation increased and he jogged a few steps, then it died down and he began to walk again. He got to the end of the hall and turned the corner.
At which point he nearly ran headlong into a pair of men. "Whoa! Excuse me!" he said, stepping back before being bowled over. "No problem," one of the men said. Ibran noticed that he was wearing a red bandana around his forehead, making his already messy brown hair even more goofy looking. It seemed like he and his companion had been arguing about something.
Ibran stood there awkwardly for a moment before realizing that the sensation in his head had stopped. "Hey..." he said addressing the men. "You wouldn't happen to be pilots, would you?"
The fellow who had spoken stepped forward. "I'll handle this one, Grant," he grinned cockily at his partner, then turned to Ibran. "Yes, I am indeed a pilot! Thix Barkon, leader of Nemesis squadron, at your service! How may I help you?"
"Actually, I'm sort of looking for a way off this rock," Ibran dived headfirst into his problem. "I'm trying to find someone, but I don't know where they are."
"Then how do you know where to look for them?" the one called Grant asked.
"Uhh... well.." Ibran screwed his face up trying to think of a good way to say this. "I'm a Jedi."
"Ohhh... I get it," Thix said.
Grant just looked confused. "Good for you. What's that got to do with anything?"
"Jedi know how to find stuff through the Force, Grant. Remember?"
"Well, actually, n- I mean, yes. Yes I do." Grant wondered what the nudge had been for.
"Um," Ibran said, getting their attention again. "You don't happen to have a ship that I can use to get off planet, do you?"
"Yeah, I do," Thix said. "Thing is, I'm a busy leader of an important starfighter squadron and- what?"
This last was addressed to Grant.
Grant coughed and began to sing very, very, very far off key. "All's clear on deck threeeee!" he screeched.
"And so's the Major so we're freeeee!"
"Oh, sure, make fun of it. At least I don't sound like a blufferavian squawking when
I sing."
"At least I admit I can't sing, Thix. And if you're the 'busy leader of an important starfighter squadron', then the Emperor's really a Rebel."
Seeing that Thix was about to make another remark, Ibran stepped in. "Uh, excuse me," he said quietly. Both of them turned to him again. 'Let's try one of dad's tricks.' "I guess I'll have to look elsewhere for help," he said softly. "I'm sorry to have interrupted your conversation." With that, he turned and started to walk away.
Grant and Thix looked between each other. "Hey, wait!" Thix called.
Ibran turned. "Hello, yes?"
"Uhh, we're sorry about that. We distract each other," Thix said apologetically.
"So I noticed," Ibran said, still speaking quietly. "I guess I'll just be going then."
"Uh, there's really no need for that. We can take my ship. I mean, I'll have to clear it with the Major, but other than that I think we're good to go."
Ibran smiled his best smile at the two of them. "Thank you," he said. "I appreciate it. Where can I meet you?"
"Umm... Pilot's Lounge, third floor?"
"I'll be there."
"Domen Majesty this is Miraluka Reprise, cover us from that freighter so we can approach." The shuttle pilot waited for a response that was not long in coming.
~Copy that Reprise. We're scrambling a fighter squadron now.~
The shuttle transporting Benoah and Alia moved closer to the Imperial Star Destroyer as twelve TIE Interceptors dropped out of the hangar and moved to cut the Rancor's Maw off from its intended prize. Dalon Marr veered to avoid becoming a breakfast snack for the TIE pilots, and it became a race for him to discover a way out of this situation before the TIEs overwhelmed him and he had something really serious to worry about. He checked his sensors. 'Alia and her Jedi guardian are on the Star Destroyer. I have a decision to make.'
As Miraluka Reprise settled down on the hangar deck of the Star Destroyer Domen Majesty, Alia's eyes shot open.
"Where are we? BENOAH!
Why are we here? I trusted you! These people will take me to my father!"
At once, Benoah was in the lounge, and she appeared as benign and comforting as she ever had. "You may continue to trust me. Nobody will deliver you to your father. I have never lied to you about protecting you. I will protect you and guide you."
~....Repeat! Transmit your transponder codes now or face the consequences. In the name of the Empire and Lord Domino de Devastator, power down your vessel.~
'These TIE fly guys are sure persistent, I'll give them that.' Marr thought. 'de Devastator, eh? Perhaps I should finally go and meet the man.'
Marr waited just a moment before responding. The pros and cons flashed through Marr's mind in a nanosecond, and twice as fast he pushed away the doubts that started to pick at him.
The day I start playing it safe when I'm after my prey, is the day I should retire.'
At the mention of retirement, a vision of Karin's face flashed in his brain, which he rapidly squelched.
He opened a com signal. "This is Dalon Marr aboard th' Rancor's Maw.
Ye work fer de Devastator, d'ye say? Tha's foine, just foine. Ay'd love t'meet the man.
If ye lads would koindly escort me ship to yer Destroyer, Ay'd be much abliged, don't ye know."
Marr was pretty sure it would work, but he increased the power to his shields, just in case.
Tyne sat bolt upright in bed to moonlight streaming through his window.
'Bad
dream,' he thought, shaking his head as if to clear the accumulated dust from it.
That
illness had messed him up bad, that dream must have been an effect of it. But wait,
something still didn't feel exactly right. 'Al?' Nothing.
He had expected silence,
but it was if Alia had been severed from the Force. Her presence just didn't exist
anymore. He easily located several others, Ibran included, so there was nothing wrong
with his ability to find her.... so he should be able to. Tyne pulled on a robe and struck out
for the communications room. 'I have a bad feeling about this.'
It was
night on Corellia as well. 'They need some excitement in their lives,' he thought
bitterly as he waited for the connection to his aunts. Taraza answered.
"Tyne!" she hissed, obviously more than a bit perturbed. "What in the universe do you think you're doing?! It's-"
"I know, Aunt Tar. Something's happened. Staven's still on Sillesk, am I right?"
"Well, yes, but...."
"Tell my esteemed cousin to bring my ship to Kashyyyk like," he checked the chronometer "now."
"What happened?"
"There's no time, really. My assistant trainer-"
"That girl, right?"
"Yeah, Al. I think she had a run-in with some... um.... people and I want to go make sure she's ok."
"Whatever you think is best..."
Tyne grinned. "I'm catching a ride there with one of the Wookiee trainees who's going back to visit his family. I'll be there at 1700 hours. Staven better be there with the Starskrit."
"He will. Be careful." Tyne shut off the transmitter. He had to see Lucinda and get her to call Ibran to make sure he'd wait. The feeling in the pit of his stomach was getting worse as time went on.
Alia's hand crept down her hip where the lightsaber still rested. 'Not like I can take him down or anything.' She began to feel fear and anger directed toward Benoah scratch at her heart, finding their familiar places. 'Stop it!' She pulled a deep breath. Panicking was not going to help now; it never did. "I really wish you had told me more, Benoah," she said quietly, trying to keep her voice steady. "I have this thing against Sith Masters. We usually have nothing in common."
Benoah gazed at her back eerily through the veil. "You will understand, Alia. Lord de Devastator has no love lost for your father either."
'Off the
volcano, into the lake of fire.'
"Well, at least we have a conversation starter. You... you know, after everything I told you, about the
darkness.... about.... gods,
Benoah, I trusted you! I...." Alia let out a violent kick at the bulkhead.
There was nothing
she could do about it now besides berate this poor woman. 'Poor woman
my...'
"You will understand. He will assist you in gaining the upper hand."
"I
don't want the upper hand! I want to be left alone, can no one understand that?!"
She
yanked up the right sleeve of her loose shirt to reveal a small, encircling scar on her
upper arm, all the evidence left of what had once been a mark of the Sith.
"I refuse
to ever do THAT again!"
'Get control of yourself, Alia. All is not lost yet.' Alia sagged, emotionally exhausted.
'The straw that broke the rancor's back. I just
can't deal with this any more.'
~Mistress
Benoah? We are
finished docking procedures. You and your charge are free to leave the
ship.~
Benoah thanked the unseen voice. "Pray the Master did not hear you. He
has killed people for less."
'I wouldn't be so lucky,' Alia thought bitterly.
"Do gather your belongings, please. We have little time."
'Less than you'd like to think, Benoah.'
MOVE ON TO PART II
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