-- Two Years before the Fall of the Jedi Temple on Coruscant….
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-- Gardurrga The Hutt’s Palace…six months after the Exodus from Korriban…
With only 24 hours left Master Caleb Goss was starting to feel like a rat trapped in a maze, with no clear way out. At every turn he saw his destruction and as he held his head in his hands rubbing back the brownish-red locks of his hair, he glanced at the Holo-screen once again.
Gardurrga the Hutt had granted him information access to all of the Hutt archives, just no outside communications array. A medically diagramed picture of a large Mirialan woman spun in the ions in front of him. Even without the detailed picture, he knew every inch of her, every curve, every crevice of her skin. At least he thought he did, that one night both Mrysti and Caleb gave into emotion taught him much about her physically.
The picture in the mists in front of him painted another story entirely. As he once again went over the number of scars and implants that now covered and were embedded in her once flawless body, he averted his eyes sighing heavily. There was simply no way for him to win. Caleb heard the rumors, even while Mrysti and Karolin were still at the Temple. Government programs, experiments, innuendo about the two sisters being ‘different’. The voice that caused him to sit up also caused him to unconsciously sneer. The sound of Darth Malvox's feet sliding across the floor accompanying it.
"That's a sight I could never get tired of…A Jedi worried and dare I say…'perplexed'…", The Imperial accent in Malvox' voice only added additional distain to the words as Caleb sat up, immediately deactivating the Holoterminal to stare defiantly at her. She purred her response to him. "Oh, don't mind me 'Master'…I was just passing through, but you don't have to possess the Force to hear your mind screaming from the next room….and yes, your right. You can't win."
Her evil smile, infectious as Malvox watched him get up attempting to flee the room. Caleb finally turned to face her. A look of frustration, pointing a finger in Malvox direction.
"You Sith make me sick…you take something as beautiful and pure as Mrysti and you destroy it…whatever part you’re playing in this you will-"
Malvox face twisted into an evil visage as she laughed waving her hands to interrupt the Jedi Master.
"Whoa…let's clear the air here. Whatever happened to her, happened long before her and I met…." Malvox eyes flashed wickedly as she winked at Caleb, "….one could almost say that a tendency toward the dark side was always there, right Master?" Caleb started to speak as Malvox continued stopping him, "No need to explain, Master…you have a past with her. I wouldn't count on that saving you. See those facial and cranial implants? Those are holding her head together! She has no memory of you, Caleb Goss! You were brought here to die…"
“I don’t think so.” Caleb tried to ignore the Sith, turning back to the terminal. But not reactivating it.
Malvox crossed the floor to the door on the other side, turning and stretching at Caleb. Caleb remained silent casting his eyes to the floor once again, "Think what you wish. There is power in knowing. As for my part….what good is having the use of all the Force in the galaxy if you can only control ten percent of it? And make no mistake…even with only ten percent, she will destroy you and your passing will push her over the threshold…." As she started to leave, Malvox gave a slight giggle. Her voice carrying down the far hallway. "….I am curious however, I guarantee she is not the girl you remember. I wonder…what was she like before all this happened?!?!"
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- Strategic Operations, Jedi Temple, Coruscant; Shortly after Hamner and Mrysti's escape….
Caleb Goss paced around outside the large vaulted door waiting for the meeting inside to break up. He watched the Captain and Mrysti's sister go in as well as, his friend and mentor, Markus Chase. Glancing at his chrono he realized he had been pacing close to three hours. It was a high-level meeting and Caleb wasn't invited. It annoyed him slightly. In a way he felt he should have been invited. In some ways he was closer to Mrysti than anyone else. Those ways would have likely ended up getting him ousted from the Jedi Order should they have become public knowledge, but Caleb was beginning to feel as if he didn't care. He wanted to know, he wanted to find her.
Caleb glanced at his Chrono again and physically shook his head to try and get rid of irrational thought. His impatience and worry was getting the better of him. Sitting down on an adjacent bench, he closed his eyes to try and quiet his mind. Thoughts of her began invading almost immediately. ‘Why? You told me you were leaving…but not even a last goodbye? No warning? Didn't I deserve that? Did you think I would try and stop you? You owed me more than that.’
The questions rummaging around in his head caused him to push himself up off the bench in frustration, half tempted to use the Force to open the door to the Command Center. All at once it opened, Captain Trea’vor Alpha, Karolin and Markus the first ones out. And Trea’vor, also known as RT-946, was not happy. Caleb wanted to approach, but it was clear RT had an agenda as the three of them immediately headed for a near-by corner. Caleb turned away, but stood just within earshot as RT placed his hands on his hips to look at his sister and Markus.
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"You can tell the Grandmaster whatever you want Karolin, you had some idea that Hamner and Mrysti were leaving! They must have said something." Both Markus and Karolin looked at each other, Karolin continuing to give her normal sweet 'innocent' look. Markus started to speak, but a glare from RT silenced him quickly. "And you. Don't think I don't know what's going on between you and my sister." He switched his glare to both of the Jedi. "You both must think the Grandmaster is a fool, you think she doesn't know?!?! Do you have any idea the line you both are walking??? And, I bet my last paycheck this whole 'thing' with you two had something to do with the both of them leaving!" Karolin had enough as she stepped forward poking her brother's armored chest.
"That's none of your business RT!!! What I do in my personal life has nothing to with---" RT started an almost sinister laugh as the conversation started to get a little louder.
"Personal life???!! Seriously?!?! You think you have a life??? You are both Jedi and that IS your life…both of you need to grow the Kriff up!!! This isn't a game! You swore an oath and with the threat looming---" Caleb moved quickly toward the group laying a hand on each man's shoulder, giving the three of them a cautious smile.
"Greetings friends…perhaps this is a conversation best held elsewhere…" Caleb glanced over his shoulder back toward the entrance to the Command Center, where the Grandmaster and several Council Members were emerging. The Grandmaster shot them all a very concerned look. RT swiped his hand off his hip, cursing under his breath.
"I'm done here anyway…" As RT started to stalk off Caleb smiled at his friend and Karolin, who still looked embarrassed and guilty as charged, before breaking to follow RT.
"Captain. Captain???….A moment of your time, if I may???"
Annoyed as he was, RT still knew his place and the area in which he stood. Though the Jedi were considered 'guests' by some in the Republic establishment, it was their Temple. And RT had more than just a passing connection to the Order. It was RT's burden to be the Republic liaison for all things Project Alpha related. Reporting to the Grandmaster herself. The main reason he was summoned when one of the project ‘assets’ suddenly decided to go rogue with Mrysti and Hamner’s escape. RT doubted that even Karolin knew that bit of information.
As he turned to face the Jedi following him, he noticed the man's disheveled appearance and the red rings under the eyes. Dealing with people, RT was an excellent judge of a person’s demeanor by appearance and he put on the fake smile both out of annoyance at being stopped and to hide that fact.
"Yes Master Jedi…..how may I further serve the Order today….?" There was an endless amount of sarcasm attached to the statement as Caleb looked at his feet suddenly embarrassed. RT studied the Jedi intently, "Thank you for intervening back there…my sister and I tend to get heated when matters are 'family' related…" RT continued to watch him, he could tell the Jedi was troubled. "Is there something I can assist you with…do you know my sister?" RT was obviously referring to the embarrassed one he was just talking to, but Caleb jumped at the chance; his head coming up sharply.
"Yes. Yes!!! I knew her…I knew her well, please…is there any word on her whereabouts? Any news at all?" RT frowned, shifting out of his more formal, rigid military demeanor.
"You too?!?! I saw it the moment you stopped me. You were waiting in the hall when I went in the meeting…." RT stepped forward grasping the man's shoulder tightly, walking him toward the outside window. He stood for a moment not speaking, his head down slightly. The red rimmed eyes, the appearance of the Jedi…worry flowed off of the man in waves. It wasn't the kind of worry one has for a colleague or a comrade in arms. RT had seen it, though he had NEVER experienced it personally; he just wasn't programmed for it. This was the kind of worry one shared for someone they loved.
"I don't know you…but I know Jedi and I want you to listen to me and listen hard. Whatever you think you feel, you don't….you can't and be ready for what's coming. Bury it deep Son and keep pressing onward." Caleb slapped RT's hand off his shoulder to glare at him.
"No!!! I can't!!….I won't!!!" RT let the aggressive move pass without a word, he knew emotions were especially tough on the Jedi. After a moment, he straightened himself staring out the window as he spoke, no emotion in his own voice.
"She's gone, Son. Accept it. I pursued them…they crashed into an asteroid that nearly got me as well. Intelligence reports they both survived and are in Imperial custody, though Mrysti is not expected to recover…." The look of utter shock blanketed Caleb's face as RT finally hazarded a glance half expecting to see the man's spirit dying. RT snatched Caleb's arm up pulling him toward the window. What he saw was resolve beginning to form in the young Jedi. "Don't even think about it!" Though Caleb refrained from using the Force, he still snatched his arm out of RT's grasp with significant strength to send him back a few steps.
"You don't tell me what to do 'Captain'!! If she's alive, I'm going after her! You should be ashamed that you're not!"
“Let me tell you something…” RT’s voice was lowered, grave in tone as he narrowed his eyes. “…I consider Mrysti, my sister. We grew up together, all five of us. And I think she means more to me, than she does to you. You think I don’t want to just jump out this window and go chasing after her?? Rescue her from a sure and certain fate?!? Dying somewhere in Imperial hands?!?!”
A short distance away, the Grandmaster stood watching. It was no accident. She was hoping to catch RT before he left the Temple, but watching the interaction between him and one of her Jedi she realized there were other serious issues at stake at the moment. Biding her time, she waited until the right moment to interject. And though her words were meant for RT, after witnessing the two men's conversation, her gaze was fixed on Caleb.
"I'm afraid that will no longer be an option for you, Jedi Goss…" Both men tensed up as the Grandmaster stepped between them, Caleb bowed deeply at the waist. "Jedi Knight Mrysti Alpha has joined with the Force. Our latest intelligence confirms her death this morning…." The Grandmaster took her gaze off of Caleb to look at RT, her expression becoming more compassionate, "…Your brother is being moved to Dromand Kaas….I'm sorry, Captain." Caleb slumped against the wall as RT moved the Grandmaster to the side to speak quietly. Only pain echoed in Caleb's mind and he wondered how he did not feel Mrysti's passing within the Force.
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- Gardurrga the Hutt's Palace, Hutta
Making it back to his room, Caleb dropped on the bed. Lazily, he rubbed his eyes and head, releasing a bitter sigh. As Caleb pondered his fate holding his forehead in both his hands and thinking of the past; he murmured to himself.
"How could I have known…how could I have known that you weren't--"
The voice that finished his out loud thought brought a chill of excitement and cold fear as he sat up immediately. Caleb’s eyes transfixed on the massive form that was filling his doorway. It seemed to burn, even without the vision afforded to Consulars, who could actually see a person’s Force Aura once they were trained to do so. Caleb could almost see….and definitely feel her fury.
"--dead? You didn't know I was dead?!?!"
Mrysti pulled a chair from a nearby desk without invitation. It screeched loudly against the floor as she flipped it around to sit on it backwards. Massive legs spread, straddling the backrest. She folded her arms on the top of the backrest as she glared at the Jedi.
Caleb smiled nervously, “You startled me, I wasn’t expecting—”
Peering deeply into him, she paused a moment reaching out to try and feel within him. Not a skill she mastered, Mrysti withdrew and scoffed at the attempt. Narrowing her eyes angrily. Never apologizing for just entering his room without invitation. Caleb was thinking of her. That much she was sure about. It was curious, the Jedi. His thoughts always roamed around her. And with her lack of memory it stoked the fires of Mrysti’s curiosity to the point she could no longer simply wish it away. "You were thinking of me. You are always…thinking of me. You knew me before. So, tell me something I don't know….give me a reason to let you live…" Her smile was genuine as if she did indeed recognize her lover. Genuine and deadly.
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