--

Arcnet, Administration Building…Corellia….

Aurora didn’t bow and barely acknowledged her father as he gave the order. Unlike the two assassin cyborgs who took the knee before standing and leaving the room following her father's instructions. instructions she didn't feel the need to hear. He was no tactician. For years, he and all of the other Generational Mirialans lived under the umbrella of security SHE provided. Why was it any different now? The two remained looking at one another.

“I realize…” Telan’dorr began, getting up from the desk and walking around it to get closer to his daughter. “…you have no love for me. But you understand. The only way we are to reclaim our honor is by doing this. Our own journey across the galaxy is the key. That technology, stolen from us, is the key. And I need you to be loyal in this Aurora.” Telan’dorr spoke softly, even attempting to reach out to her. Her head snapped toward her father and he withdrew the hand.

“I will…do as you ask father…” Aurora replied. “…but know this. Once this is done, you and I are through. You are the reason we are in this situation. Remember that.” Aurora placed the mask back on her face. Pressure seals and releasing air hissing to ensure the lock as she turned and started for the door.

“Aurora…” She turned when her father called out to her. Looking at the mask, he forgot what he wanted to say and instead substituted the words of encouragement and love for something more utilitarian. “…those cyborgs are among the last the Organization possessed. Until the ‘Doctor’ is back on his feet, our resources are limited. Treat them with care…” Telan’dorr paused. “..and you as well. Good luck, return safely.”

<”…Kriff off, father.”>

--

Coruscant, Maintenance Storage Facility #1756, The Works…..

“I’m not used to this kind of work. Guarding a kriffin’ Maintenance Bay…” They were in plain clothes, not used to being in street attire still having to carry their standard issue DC-3 Blasters, but hiding them under a jacket. “…I’m a line trooper, know what I mean? Everyone else in my training platoon got combat units…I mean, how did I end up getting home guard? Coruscant Guard, what a joke…it’s not like anything is going to happen here.”

“Tell that to the troopers during the Sacking of Coruscant….” The second trooper was more seasoned having been deployed to several different combat zones during the war with the Eternal Empire. Re-enlisting when hostilities started up with the Sith Empire once again. But, he was looking at the assignment to the home guard as a respite from the front line. The other guy didn’t know how good he had it. Not having to slog through the mud on some far away world, death tugging at your armor plates around every turn. He wanted to tell him, but let it be for the moment. Allowing his compatriot do most of the talking as he watched the cargo containers being offloaded by hoverjack and repulsor lifts into the maintenance facility. His partner never asked, never even noticed the government technicians loading things into the facility nearly all-day, non-stop.

“Could be my height.” The first trooper remarked again, looking up in the sky and trying to see the top of the hat he wore. “I notice most of the guys from training who got picked to stay here because they were tall. Standing next to Senators, the Chancellor. We gotta look big ya’know? Make all of those talking heads look more official—”

“Hey, you mind shutting up.” The second trooper said, looking back to the techs who were arriving with what appeared to be the last of the shipments. The first trooper finally noticed. But the more seasoned trooper had finally had enough.

“I wonder what’s in those things?”

“Oh…you just noticed? They been offloading them into the Works all day.” The second trooper remarked sarcastically. As the tech finished up; sealing the door to the Works maintenance bay, another speeder arrived. The technicians passing both troopers and the speeder without a glance and not a word to anyone. They were about their work and once it was over, they all slowly disappeared. A very pressed and dressed officer stepped out of the back of the speeder after the door was opened for him. Giving a cursory glance to the last of the techs as they moved away and back to their transports. Once the officer got out of the speeder and close to the troopers, they noticed the rank and snapped to attention to salute the man. The General gave a lazy salute back, giving both troopers a scrutinizing gaze.

“You understand your orders?” The General asked. And before the rather raw trooper could answer, the more seasoned Soldier chimed in to try and stop the younger man from saying anything stupid.

“Yes, Sir. We were briefed back at HQ.”

“Good. Follow your standard general orders and you will be fine. Try to look inconspicuous. Some normal maintenance workers and droids are going to come around; just Works personnel. No living being is going to access those doors. And if a droid opens it, then it is supposed to be in there. We’ve changed the clearances and vetted the mechanics to make sure everything is safe.”

“What’s in there, Sir?” The raw recruit asked as the other trooper gave the man a jab in the ribs and a roll of the eyes. You didn’t ask questions, not ever. Troopers did as they were told. And you especially didn’t ask a question from a General Officer. That was really forbidden. It wasn’t in the rule book or anything, just understood and definitely frowned upon.

“That’s on a need to know basis, Trooper. And you….have no need to know. Just understand that what you’re doing is vital to the safety of the Republic. And that safety is in your hands. I know you both….will do your duty.”

Ordinarily an answer like that would have been chalked up by both men as some sort of Republic propaganda. Things General’s always said to troops to keep them on the job and in the fight. But the tone of the Zabrak’s voice as he spoke and the way he looked at the both of them. The troopers knew, the General was not messing around. The Zabrak General carried an air about him, a confidence that told a story of not only how he’d been there when he spoke those kinds of words, but that he understood the power behind saying them. Both men snapped to attention and saluted again when it was clear the General had said all he was going to. Turning, the General walked back to the speeder and got in as the door was opened for him. It sped off, leaving both troopers looking at one another. The raw Soldier looked down at his chrono finally and let out a sigh.

“Two hours till relief…I guess we should start roving….”

--

“…I mean…REAL action. Not some kind of guard detail, you know what I mean?” The raw trooper was talking again. The only thing the more seasoned of the two could think was it being a shame they had to patrol in pairs. At that moment he would have given anything to be in a guard tower by himself. The other had been going on for over an hour. About how lame it was to be on a guard detail watching a door no one was going to get into. How he signed up for the adventure of seeing other worlds and fighting the Empire. All bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. The second trooper couldn’t remember ever being that way. Finally, the older trooper turned on the newcomer.

“Shut up.” The seasoned of the two said sharply. Both men coming to a stop as one glared at the other. “Do you know…this is the safest I’ve been in months? This is almost as good as being home for me. Nine to five almost, three square a day and no one shooting at me or having to run for cover every other minute. Watching your buddies die in the blink of an eye and if they didn’t get vaporized you were doing everything you could to put the pieces of them back together and try to get them out of there so they had a chance at survival. War ain’t glamorous or great. There ain’t nothing glorious about it. It sucks and the more you talk about it, the angrier I get.”

“Sorry..I was just—”

The other shut up and put his head down. Silence ensued, the one who spoke feeling slightly bad for killing the new Soldier’s enthusiasm. There was a place for that. A thought occurred to him, what the other man would be like after a full tour in the contested zones. The seasoned trooper shook his head and spoke softly. “I appreciate that you want to know about it. I appreciate even more that you volunteered to do this. But trust me when I say, you stay in long enough…you won’t have to find the war. The war….will find you.”

They started their patrol again. Both not speaking, but both coming to an abrupt stop as two individuals approached. Both men looked at one another once the two coming toward them got closer. A smile coming to both their faces. Women. Two of the sexist looking women either of them had ever seen were coming their way. Slight leatheris clothing and armor covering various spots on their bodies. They appeared to be twins.

“Wha-what’s this?!?!”

“Oh...no way we could get that lucky—” The seasoned trooper smiled ruefully as he pulled back his coat and pulled out the DC-3 carbine, holding it at the ready in one arm, but lazily angled down. Not wanting to threaten two women who were obviously by the way they looked and dressed were in the wrong place. They looked like they were going out to a club or some kind of dance party. Both were beautiful women after all, no need to scare them. Thin, frail looking compared to the two hulking undercover troopers. “—hold it right there. This area is off-limits to unauthorized personnel. As much as I would ‘like’ you both to stay. I’m afraid I have to ask you both to turn around and go back the way you came.”

Both women stopped on a dime, almost mechanically. The troopers looked at one another again as the two women looked at one another as well, slowly turning their heads to gaze in each other’s eyes. The troopers canted their heads in confusion as the two seemed to be frozen, looking at each other.

“Hey!!” The less experienced trooper said sharply. Pulling his coat back to also take out his carbine. “I don’t want you to go. But ya gotta. We could get in a lot of trouble for having people around here. You listening to me???!?” The younger trooper looked at his more experienced partner, smiling wickedly again, leaning in slightly. “Say…if they ‘resist’ or something…shouldn’t we have to like, arrest them?!? Maybe pat them down, strip search?” The more experienced of the two laughed at the joke, but his smile was short lived. He brought the carbine up finally, pointing it at the two.

“Ok, that’s enough. Whatever the two of you are discussing, do it somewhere else.”

“They…” The troopers turned around sharply to find a third woman standing behind them. Only a lock of beautiful blonde hair gave them a clue as to the beauty which was hidden under the black armored mask she wore. Radiant blue eyes widened as she glared at the two guards. How she got behind them so silently was anyone guess. They switched their weapons from safe to fire with a high-pitched whine emanating from the carbines bringing them sharply up toward the third woman behind them. “…don’t answer to you. They answer to me.”

Aurora ignited the blue plasma of her lightsaber as the other two assassin units sprang into action. Their heads snapping forward as lightsabers activated in each of their hands. Leaping into the air toward the two guards.

https%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FusC0oX5.jpg [https://i.imgur.com/usC0oX5.jpg]

--

Coruscant, The De’nabre Apartment, 8000 Republica….

Scenic beauty. The trial mountains and the serenity they provided blanked the image of Grace's mind as she meditated on home. Mirial, her heart was always there. Thoughts drifted to simpler times. The last time she had walked the rocky paths and communed with Mirial on an ancestral level. She wasn't alone that last time. Having to travel to the mountains with--

Grace’s eyes snapped open. Within her meditation she heard a scream. One she felt as well as heard within her mind’s eye. Steeped deeply in the Force while meditating, she felt the presence even after her eyes opened and the memory of the sound and the blurred image began to fade.

“Aurora….” Grace whispered to herself.

Standing and rushing from the room, Grace grabbed her lightsaber and ran out toward the entrance. On the way to the rooftop garage, she opened her comm-link and spoke into it frantically.

“Jes…meet me on the roof. And check to see if there are any reports of suspicious activity in and around the Works.” The image of piping and machinery was still fresh in her mind. “I think Aurora is on the planet’s surface….”

Once she got off the lift, she saw a very familiar shape already making ready to leave. Marstel turned and smiled at the rather large Mirialan as Grace ran toward him. “Jes ain’t gonna git ‘ere in time. They both o’er at tha Senate…where ya off ta?” Marstel spoke offhandedly trying to deflect from the fact that he was there in the first place, much less preparing to leave. No one knew Marstel was on Coruscant, not even Karolin. She would have made a big deal if she had known. The two of them, always incredibly close.

Grace smiled at the question. Already slowing as she got to the speeder. With her own wicked smile, she jumped over the side and sat down in the passenger seat of the speeder, pulling the buckle around herself and clicking it into place. “Where you’re going…” Grace settled in and smiled up at him.

“C’mon….lets go…”

--

Hover-carriers descended slowly, lining up carefully and in a straight line. Droids and personnel pouring from the carriers as Aurora and the two assassin cyborgs stood aside and kept watch. Next to their feet, the bodies of the two hapless guards who had the unfortunate duty of being on shift when Aurora decided to make her attack. Systematically, the cargo containers which only a few hours before had been locked in tight, began to flow back out of the facility and toward the carriers. Aurora stepped up to the lead tech from one of the descending craft and pointed toward the sky.

“You are on the chrono…five minutes until minimum response. Then it escalates. I want you gone before the first assault team arrives. Let’s go….”

Looking down at her chrono, Aurora touched a timer button on the side which started a countdown. It also sent a signal back to the office she knew her father was sitting in. Monitoring what was going on through the body cams they all wore.

Patience, not one of Aurora's virtues.

--

<…standard check-in was missed at strongpoint gamma. Dispatching QRF…arrival four minutes….”>

With the hand which was not on the speeder control, Marstel reached down and continued to scan the various military frequencies. The transmission hopped from one to another, scanning all available assets on Coruscant. They were keeping it low-key. Only one military transmission of the thousands planetwide even noting the lack of a check-in at one of the strong points.

Grace didn’t have to be a Jedi to know Marstel was back on Coruscant for a specific reason. Why else have a speeder equipped with the kind of equipment that scanned military frequencies? And come in secret. It was almost as if he expected something like this to happen. But perhaps not the person behind it. Though Grace did sense Marstel’s urgency once she arrived on the roof. The image of Aurora in the meditation still burned in her skull; shaking her leg nervously as he continued piloting toward the Works.

“…they ain’t gonna git there in time….” Marstel spoke in a low morose tone. Hitting the accelerator of the speeder and leaving the travel lane to take another path toward the Works.

“Time for what?” Grace was a bit confused. She felt the presence of Aurora and only assumed her cousin was up to no good. It was what she did. Then it dawned on her. Both Marstel and Grace looked at one another at the same time as Marstel continued to fly the speeder. It was obvious Marstel knew what Grace was thinking. Her insight serving her well. But Marstel having tracked every single shipment out of Mirial since the beginning, knew where everything was scattered throughout the galaxy. Karolin had obviously not let Grace or Sam in on the whole plan. “They hid some of it HERE?!?! Why?!?! Why would they do that?!?!”

“Why noh?” Marstel intoned softly, trying to avoid a lengthy discussion that would probably reveal much more than he wanted to. “Who woul’ beh stupid ‘nuff ta come ta Coruscant and attack a facility 'ere?” It wasn’t a real question. Grace could tell by the tone. And they both knew the answer. Only Aurora would be so bold. And that was exactly what Marstel and Karolin wanted. The unseen factor for Aurora was not knowing Grace was on the planet.

--

All at once Aurora’s head snapped skyward, her brow tightening in concern. She looked back at the lead tech again.

“We’re done here.”

“But…ma’am…we still have five containers to go and—”

“I said we’re done. Get your personnel back in their transports and get out of here.” Aurora looked skyward again. “Someone is coming. And you don’t want to be here when they arrive.” Looking back toward the assassins, Aurora gestured with her hand for the two to spread out. The technicians and droids scrambling to get back to their transports as Aurora ignited her lightsaber once again. Her eyes still focused toward the sky.

--

“There they go!!! There they go!!” Grace nearly jumped from her seat pointing at the line of transports slowly rising skyward. Only to have a rather large hand slap down on her chest and force her back down. Marstel twisted the speeder control and turned back toward the fleeing transports, wanting to keep Grace from getting jerked around by the abrupt maneuvers. But, he pulled back on the yoke after looking out toward the storage facility where the containers were formally stored. Grace looked down almost at the same time.

“Aurora…” Grace said under her breath. Before Marstel could come to a full stop and have to decide, Grace unbuckled her safety belt and gave Marstel one last look. Making the decision for him, she grinned and gave a two-finger salute with a flip of her hand. “Go…follow the transports.”

“I’ll deal with her….”

--

https%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FMS9AHZf.jpg [https://i.imgur.com/MS9AHZf.jpg]

Stepping back with one foot, Aurora slid herself into a fighting stance. Slinging the arm holding the lightsaber out beside her with a slight twist and flourish; slowly moving it up and down in anticipation. Images of the last time the two confronted one another coming back to Aurora. Grace, who then called herself by her true name 'Sammantha' won that confrontation easily. The power the other Mirialan held in the Force was far too great at that time for some one like Aurora. Things were different now. Aurora had been around the galaxy, flexed her Force muscles. Use to power and harnessed it in way that Grace could not possibly be prepared for.

Gritting her teeth as she saw the speeder slow and then turn abruptly. Aurora canted her head, giving a curious glance. They weren’t coming there. More importantly, Grace wasn’t? That was who Aurora felt coming closer as she told the technicians to leave and make their escape. Turning, Aurora deactivated her lightsaber and looked at the two assassin droids.

“Transmit to the lead carrier…speeder in pursuit. Tell them to split up and take alternate routes. They can’t follow them all—” The presence hit her again. Aurora turning, her lightsaber activated again. Only to have the speeding backhand of Grace, who jumped from the speeder and used the Force to slow her ascent enough to get close. Once she did, Grace released the power. Velocity and angle of her fall, arching in toward Aurora as the blonde Mirialan turned.

Aurora twisted to the side in a spin with the force of the blow; enhanced with the Power of the Force. The lightsaber knocked from her grasp as she tumbled. The hilt falling with a clatter several meters away. Both assassins were already on Grace as she finally landed in a roll after striking her cousin. Tumbling between the two assassins as they slashed through air toward the fast-moving Grace and cutting only air. Spinning to her feet, her own saber already active, Grace flipped backward into both attackers. One side of the dual-bladed saber striking home and center mass of one of the dark cyborgs, before Grace tossed the other assassin aside with a wave of her hand.

The assassin droid twirled the lightsaber, zoning back in on Grace after picking itself up. Leaping back toward her with speed only a machine could muster. Grace disappeared with a wave of the same hand, shimmering Force cloaking her as she withdrew the saber from the other assassin and moved to the side of the incoming attack. The assassin looked down after slashing. The punching sound of sizzling metal and searing flesh. A green plasma lance through the chest cavity of the other assassin as it looked down. Dropping both of its own sabers as it deactivated, the power fading behind its eyes.

Grace drew the saber out of the second assassin sharply and turned to see Aurora scrambling for her own saber. Flourishing a hand, Grace called the saber to herself. Catching it as it activated once again. She lowered both blades, crossed at an intersection with Aurora’s neck in between the blue and green of the crackling plasma. Aurora looked up and sneered. She knew Grace wouldn’t kill her. She could feel it. Aurora didn’t bother begging for her life. Instead she slumped and allowed her arms to drift out to the side, palms up. History repeating itself. Just like Mirial, Aurora was once again in the custody of her cousin, Grace.

“Cousin…it’s time to come home…” Grace said softly.

--

https%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FrgR9IAl.jpg [https://i.imgur.com/rgR9IAl.jpg]

--

Nar Shareef, Spaceport….

Still no one. The Hutts were either condoning what happened or they didn’t care. And what really got under Waylon’s skin was Aurore. Acting like nothing just happened. That stupid smile on her face. Aurore was damaged goods. The woman was crazy as far as Waylon was concerned and he already decided, next opportunity he had to speak with Marstel, he was out. Any illusion he had about him and Aurore being a thing went out the window with the flash of Aurore’s blaster.

“Do you know what you’re doing?”

Hearing her voice made him jump, his mind on so many other things related to getting the ship up and back into space. Waylon turned his head slightly to see Aurore smiling at him. “What are you doing up here? Get below….I got this.”

“Where are we going?” Aurore questioned. “I’ve already informed Marstel that we—”

“Yea?!?!” Waylon turned all the way in his seat glaring at the Zeltron. “Well, you can tell your ‘boyfriend’ that I am through. I am going to get you where he needs you to be, then I’m out…DONE.”

“Why? Because I shot that assassin? Waylon…” Aurore lowered her voice. “…you really have no clue do you?”

The gunslinger grit his teeth. “Aurore. I have been doing this a long time. I’ve been around the galaxy and back again. And if she was an assassin, then I am the King of Alderaan. You just shot a woman for no reason. Well, maybe for reasons you won’t disclose, but it had nothing to do with that woman being an assassin.” Aurore folded her arms after Waylon spoke.

“Oh yea, what reason is that? Besides her casing you for almost a week, setting up a kill shot.” Aurore glared as Waylon's face twisted in disgust.

‘A week’, Waylon thought, though he didn’t say it outloud.

“You know what, I’m not even getting into this. If you are too stupid to see things that are right in front of you, then who am I to tell you otherwise. I mean, you been around the galaxy right? That makes you a kriffin’ expert.” Waylon didn’t think he ever heard the Zeltron get angry. Yet here it was, she was annoyed and angry and it had more to do with something else than just killing someone. Aurore stepped down and started out of the cockpit as Waylon jumped out of his seat. The ship was on autopilot after getting clearance to leave, slowly rising on it’s own out of the hangar. He reached out and grabbed her arm.

“Wait a minute. What are you talking about? I thought this had to do with—” Waylon stopped himself.

“What?!?!” Aurore glared at him.

“Come on. You know. You did it because you’re jealous. You killed her because of the way you feel about me. Every time I took a girl to my room or got caught with—you know, You’re jealous.” Aurore’s face went blank after Waylon spoke, slowly twisting into a smile and then bursting with laughter.

“Me? Feel about you?!?!” Aurore laughed again in between words. “Are you high, still drunk maybe? You think I killed that assassin because of my feelings for YOU?!?” Aurore continued to laugh. “You really are clueless.” Snatching her arm out of his hand, Aurore lost the smile and poked Waylon in the chest with the wrench she had in her hand. “You listen to me…Waylon. You are the most disagreeable, hard-headed, vulgar, unkempt man I have ever met. IF I liked men…which I don’t, YOU would be the very last man in the world I would ever give myself to. I kriff DROIDS, remember…you all are so fond of saying it.” Aurore turned and stepped down, but quickly turned back. “And another thing. You had better do something other than tell Marstel you’re out when you see him. You should be kissing his big ‘ol feet. He’s the only reason you’re alive right now. If you’ll excuse me, I have to go down to your disgraceful excuse for an engine room. How you kept this bucket flying is beyond me.”

After she left, Aurore waited until she heard Waylon go back into the cockpit before leaning on the wall and catching her breath. Smile gone, Aurore was suddenly afraid. Not because she killed someone or had to use a blaster. Something she was not fond of. But because Waylon had almost figured out the one thing she was trying to keep from him. Aurore was very much in love with the former Mandalorian. Something he could never find out. The thought of it, the feelings she had, sent a shock down her spine. Fear she only experienced one other time in her life suddenly gripped her. Looking down she saw her hands shaking. Waylon had no idea how very right he was.

--

- Nar Shareef, Twenty Four hours before Waylon’s original arrival.

This was bush league. Though Marstel had to admit, the amount of information following those who tracked Waylon to Nar Shareef gave a very clear path though it did not reveal who it was that was tracking him. This was on the underground list. Those Death Marks that the buyers wished to keep anonymous for the sake of some larger purpose or embarrassment. And the guild honored those requests. Credits bought anything, even that kind of anonymity.

What it had done was change the way Marstel viewed the mission. What started out as a quest to locate data and information on the Organization and their remnants, had morphed into something much larger. With the gleaning of Darth Malgus’ data from RTs assault on Bothawui to the amount and reputation of hunters heading toward Nar Shareef at record speed, he could only surmise that somehow all of it was linked. So far, neither he nor ‘Cypher’ had discovered any linkage.

That was the purpose of the holo-call.

<”….I realize this es gonna be hard, Aurore…ya’ll got sum unspoken thang goin’ on between tha two a'ya tha’s been goin’ on longer than I kin ‘member. Buh…ya can’t say nuthin’ to em…”>

Sitting back in her chair, Aurore frowned at Marstel’s image placing a hand under her chin. He frowned in time with her motion, giving the Zeltron a moment to think before she smiled again. Aurore always smiled, most Zeltron’s did; even in the face of adversity. It was their way of dealing with negativity. Only Murriel, as far as Marstel knew, was the only Zeltron he ever seen who wore their emotions on their sleeve. And that came at a high cost. Murriel was more worldly now than most any Zeltron he ever met and also ornerier and more emotional. Aurore sat up forward and nodded toward Marstel’s holo-image.

“You got it boss…send me what you have and I’ll track the appropriate targets. But…” Aurore lost the smile again, “…it jus’ seems wrong to lie to him. Using him as bait. He thinks he’s coming here to join the rest of the team. This will really send him over the edge.”

<”…he is…joinin’ tha team. This es jus’ temporary, till we ferret out who es sendin’ these assassins. Got’em tracked frum here all tha way to the core world. I thank it’s tha Organization. Buh I can’t be sure. Mrysti’s gone…movement es up. Ya’ll ‘r gonna do tha job, jus’ gotta git pass this other stuff first.”>

--

<”…elimination of the target is a priority. We know, he is the lead element of a strike team which could foil our plan to reclaim the technology. Don’t assume anything. Get in…get out. Payment will be holo-wired electronically…”>

Tinsley watched it again. For like the seventh time. It didn’t glean any new information and only reinforced how very vague the reasoning was behind it. This was no ordinary target which called for a hunter with a varied set of skills. Reaching forward in her cockpit, Tinsley activated the chart again. Waylon’s picture rezzed into the holo-field. Vague. Not a lot there. Gunslinger, various jobs, various activity. Nothing on the man’s background which told her there was either nothing there and Waylon was a nobody or someone had gone to great lengths to hide whatever and where ever the man had come from. When known associates came up, it was virtually blank. Marstel’s face coming up on the screen next to Waylon’s gave her pause. No hunter, at least of Tinsely’s caliber had been in the field long enough to not know that face. Marstel was a ghost.

Surprising given the size of the man. Instantly, Tinsley knew that anything related to Waylon had been hidden. His association to Marstel spoke volumes in that regard. All of it would need a delicate hand. Massive recon and surveillance. Time. Looking down at the star-chart, she flipped the locator beacon to track other hunters in the system. There were several, but none tracking her target on Nar Shareef. An underground target acquired on the dark guild list. Pressing in the affirmation code, Tinsley sent a message to the client informing them that she was on station and going ‘dark’ herself. The next message would be confirmation that the target had indeed been eliminated.

--

https%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FfHp7MC9.jpg [https://i.imgur.com/fHp7MC9.jpg]

Nar Shareef, Waylon’s arrival….

Aurore got the first look right before Waylon arrived. Going in, checking the strip club before he actually walked up the street. So predictable. Aurore smiled to herself. It was one of the things she loved about Waylon, that predictability. He was going to walk up the street, take a left at 22nd and stop to survey the outside before walking in. Aurore even knew where to stand so she would be spotted. Looking around the inside, she saw the white haired, dark skinned female hunter looking directly at her, but did as she was taught. Aurore let her eyes pass over the hunter, appearing to look around for someone or something. A shock of alarm passed through her. ‘Think quickly’ she thought, relying on the training that Marstel had burned into her. The Zeltron’s eyes stopped on an innocent enough strange looking human male. And she batted her lashes his direction before turning slowly and giving an over the shoulder glance.

As expected, the human male jumped off his stool and followed her out of the club. Aurore glanced at her chrono. Two reasons behind it. The time had come to get on her corner, but also in looking down at the timepiece, she also gave a subtle glance back toward the hunter. The white-haired lady was looking away now. Content that Aurore was just another slutty Zeltron looking to score. She was certainly dressed for the part. Thigh-high boots which hid an arsenal at the top. Skin tight pants which left nothing to the imagination except why the Zeltron would complete the ensemble with the leatheris coat which hid the waist line. Also, hiding the arsenal around her hips.

“Hey…” Aurore heard behind her. The human was still following as she propped herself up on the wall looking down the street. Already Waylon was rounding the corner, pulling his coat closed to hide his own arsenal under it. She glanced at the human, who had a vicious almost pornographic smile. “…you…uh…busy?” Finishing the question as Aurore took her position, she shook her head at him. “Wanna make a few credits….”

--

Nar Shareef, Hutt Controlled Casino #82…Waylon and Aurore’s night out….

There was a lot of people to keep track of. Waylon wasn’t stupid, there was a reason other than his need to fill a gambling addiction or watch naked humanoids that Waylon picked a Hutt facility. It would be hard for anyone on the job to make a move in there and he knew it. Tinsley knew she already been scanned. But even IF they came up with her being on the job and tracking a target, the Hutt’s usual modus operandi of snatching a target out from under a would-be hunter was not going to happen. This was a dark target on the underground list. They managed it. And the targets on there were of such high priority that any interference would reflect poorly on the Cartels’ reputation as a neutral arbiter of the guild. Tinsley knew she could operate freely, as long as she didn’t make any moves that forced the Cartel to act. Hunters tracking those kinds of targets usually knew how to conduct themselves.

Something was off, strange about Waylon and the Zeltron that she seen not once but twice before that night. The first time, in the strip club, Tinsley dismissed Aurore as just another horny Zeltron. But after seeing the two talk later on, she realized there was more going on. But all checks, even deep ones into the holo-net came up with nothing. Aurore Ta’pangha, engineer and former prisoner of the Eternal Empire. Listed as a refugee following a rescue within Eternal Empire space and dropping off the grid. Emerging later on within Hutt Space, taking odd jobs not doing anything significant. After watching Waylon and how he conducted himself during the week, Aurore could have been anything to him from an old girlfriend to someone he owed credits…to just a piece of side action when he came into town.

Yet, here they both were. The odds couldn’t be greater that both of them, out of the literal hundreds of casinos on the Hutt world, would end up in that place together. Tinsley didn’t believe in coincidence. And the longer she watched after they both had a run in at one of the slots, the more convinced she was that something was going on. Apparently, the argument was genuine. Waylon left to go down to the decadent level and Aurore soon followed. Tinsley blended, disappearing in the decadence herself, but keeping an eye on the both of them. Aurore appeared down below as she knew the Zeltron would. Looking for someone. For a moment, Tinsley thought the gig was up. Pulling up the hem of the short skirt and placing fingers on the blaster strapped just below her groin. Then she saw Aurore lock eyes on Waylon, who evidently didn’t see her. The man paid for a ‘loveseat’ and was getting some private attention from one of the Twi’leks. Tinsely followed Waylon after losing sight of Aurore, picking them both up down on the lowest level. Surprised to find Aurore paying her way into and bribing one of the ‘Hot Box’ girls to take the others place in the box.

That was what all of it was about. Tinsley was convinced after seeing Aurore enter the box without Waylon knowing it. She had a thing for him and he wasn’t playing. It made sense. The following, seeing her all over the place in his vicinity. Aurore was some lovesick stalker. And it didn’t matter the reasons why or how long it had been going on. It was clear. Aurore wanted Waylon. Tinsley stayed around long enough to see Waylon enter the shroud of the box she knew Aurore was in and close the curtain around himself. Going back up top long enough to see Waylon pay off the table and leave with the Twi’lek. She positioned herself at the bar and predictably saw Aurore run up the stairs all disheveled, looking for Waylon. Looking for the man all around the room and finding he left.

Poor girl.

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https%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FdQMzMVG.jpg [https://i.imgur.com/dQMzMVG.jpg]

Nar Shareef, Hutt combined casino/hotel #82…Waylon’s Room….

The man had a penchant for ‘trim’. It was the only weakness she found in what he did. The gunslinger was careful, watchful and had an arsenal on him at all times. All of the things that made a target hard to follow, hard to track and hard to outright take down; Waylon was all over it. Obviously trained. Except for those drunken nights he ended up taking some random woman up to his room. Then the guard was down. Tinsley spent the last few nights tapping in and scanning the activity in Waylon’s room by slicing the Hutt AI sensors throughout the hotel. She knew what was going on in there. Waylon’s only weakness was going to be her biggest winfall.

Sitting at the hover table, Tinsley made herself available. Watching him. They even locked eyes a couple of times. Trading smiles, Tinsley making it clear she was into whatever he was into. But he didn’t make a move, preferring to drink instead and glance at his chrono. He was waiting on someone. Tinsely narrowed her eyes, discreetly looking at comm-scan. The tracker she placed on the Zeltron still put Aurore at her own domicile. It wasn’t Aurore he was waiting on, though it could have been. Eventually, Waylon gave up, paying off his tab and retiring to his room.

Paying her own tab, Tinsley unbuttoned the top button of the sheer, tight top she was wearing and made her way up the stairs toward Waylon’s room. There was no way he was NOT going to let her in. Though she decided long before making that move she was not going to ask. Before waiting to strike and after seeing Waylon in action over the past few nights while slicing the feed to his room, Tinsley decided she was going to have a little fun. ‘Perhaps’ she thought, ‘..I might even let him kriff me.’

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

--

“…What the ACTUAL kriff, Aurore?!?!”

There was a lot of things that brought Aurore to that moment. The assassin’s body still steaming from the blaster bolt as Aurore looked at Waylon. The man was quickly putting on his pants, still staring at the Zeltron angrily. The Zeltron narrowed her eyes. She knew why she did it. Even steeling herself to do it, although having to vomit for having done it due to the overload of emotion. But it wasn’t the emotion of having to kill the assassin that had been on Waylon for weeks. It was how they got to that point and how Aurore found the two of them that had her so intense at that moment. Aurore shook her head and murmured to herself, “Naw…un-uh…” Trying to convince herself of what she already knew.

Jealousy, as painful as it was to a Zeltron was coursing through her.

“Get your shit, lets go…” Aurore turned, putting the blaster back in her holster as Waylon grabbed her arm snatching her back toward him.

“You’re a kriffin’ psycho, Aurore…you just killed her?!?! Why?!? The woman—”

“—snuck in your room. Seduced you and was just about to stick this in your heart.” Snatching her arm out of his hand, Aurore approached the bed and rolled the lifeless body over. Reaching down, she picked up the assassin’s arm and bent the lifeless wrist. It shimmered in the low light once Aurore angled it correctly. Glasselite Dagger. Thin, breakable inside of a target. Small enough to conceal and hide the wounds of whatever was struck. Something only a trained assassin could even hope to utilize or kill with. Aurore dropped the wrist and glared. “…you know what? Kriff you, Waylon…if you had spent more time being aware of what was going on, Marstel wouldn’t have had to put me on you like this. But he knew, just like I did…same ‘ol Waylon. Still burying everything at the bottom of a bottle or in the arms of random women. You ain’t never gonna change. He knew it and so did I.”

“Wait…what?!?! Marstel put you up to this?!?!” Waylon grit his teeth as he adjusted the gunbelt around his waist. Looking at the door, he wasn’t surprised Cartel security hadn't shown up at the sound of blaster shots. Another testament that Tinsely was indeed on the job. He glanced at the body of the beautiful assassin once again. “I gonna kill him.”

“Kill yourself. You’re a drunk and a kriffin’ loser, Waylon…you know if you spent half as much time honing your skills as you did kriffin’, you might be worth something. But you—you have NO idea what I had to do to keep you safe. NO IDEA. You are such a pathetic piece of shit.” Aurore's mind flashed to the night at the casino and the ‘hot box’, she instantly felt bad for what she said. Deflecting her own feelings by lashing out at Waylon. Aurore knew she didn’t mean it. But stormed out of the room anyway. Waylon close behind.

“So…I guess we’re out of here. I can’t believe he used me as bait.”

“It’s a lot bigger than either of us. Though YOU would never have noticed. C’mon…”

--

Coruscant, Spaceport….

There was a lot of similarities between Chiss and Wroonians. Same blue skin, most of the Wroonian race had dark hair though they also had varied colors throughout the populace. Something Chiss did not. Cora was a rare one. Hair so dark it was purple. She lightened it to give it a shimmering effect. Lack of the glowing eyes also set Wroonians apart from the Chiss, but from a distance they all looked the same.

Cora was thinking that as she spotted Alzir and walked up, stopping just short of being noticed. Still dressed in her formal uniform, she was officially on leave. It just seemed appropriate given that she was on Coruscant and meeting someone in a semi-official capacity. There was nothing she wouldn’t do for Marstel. Which was the reason she agreed to meet with Alzir and the others who were arriving. Marstel had given them all a home when they didn’t have one, kept them safe when others came looking for them. All of that felt like a lifetime ago. Back when things seemed to be so much simpler. And back when Cora and Murriel ran things together and were the best of friends. Cora sneered, there was a reason it felt like a lifetime ago.

Murriel had changed. Or was it that Cora had changed? They had been angry at each other for so long Cora almost couldn’t remember who started it first. All over one man. Trea’vor. He was the real problem. But Cora was not going to just give up. Murriel didn’t care about him, she just wanted to kriff him. Even though she insisted none of that was going on now; Cora had known Murriel for far too long to believe her. Murriel lied, she was born to lie. It was part of who she was.

Looking up she saw Alzir help the other two with their luggage and look up, canting his head slightly as he caught Cora looking at them. He smiled. Who wouldn’t? Cora was a rather beautiful woman. She cleared her throat and looked down to break the eye contact taking the few steps remaining to close the distance between herself and the three who were arriving.

“I’m Cora.” The Chiss nodded at Alzir then gave a glance toward the other two, not bothering to stand on formality even though she was in her uniform. Her rich, deep melodic voice playing a lullaby that all of them smiled at.

“I figured.” Alzir smiled and stood upright extending a hand. “Alzir.” Looking back at the other two ladies he gestured toward the first. “This is—”

“Deavon and" Cora looked at the other after greeting the Devaronian she knew as Deavon. "—I’m sorry your name; it’s hard to pronounce—”

“Rama’dalla” The Twi’lek like alien spoke in a light cheery voice, accompanied by a smile. Her big red eyes looking around as she stared in wonder at the huge starport and all of the people that moved to and fro.

“Rammdalla….” Cora tried to repeat. After shaking Alzir’s hand, she looked back at the other two again. Placing her hands behind her back to clench one wrist. Standing rather formally; surveying the three. “I am to accompany Deavon and Rammdalla to the Government Annex. As an escort…they are expected. But having an official representative will make passing through security go a little smoother.”

“Yea.” Alzir picked up all the bags and started to walk, following the women out. It was the first time Cora noticed the man had a cybernetic appendage. It whined slightly at the weight; the other two looking at Cora as she started to lead them out. It dawned on Cora that Alzir also did not arrive with the other two, he merely met them like Cora did. Strange. She raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. All of the bags he was carrying were the other’s luggage. “I appreciate you doing this. I have no standing on Coruscant, just a visitor…like them.”

“Well hopefully—” Deavon spoke for the first time. They all looked at the Devaronian as the words, rich and melodic flowed out and around them. Her voice didn’t match her looks. Deavon was thin, but well proportioned. The voice sounded like that of a Chiss, with a slight lisp from the pointed teeth common in all Devaronians. But unlike the males, Deavon lacked horns. In their place, indentions where the horns should have been reflected in the light as she walked. “—we won’t be visitors much longer.” Deavon looked at Rama after speaking, the two sharing a smile.

“You understand the Republic holds no sway over the Jedi.” Cora began. “They are considered their own entity within the Republic.” She detected a slight scowl from the Devaronian as she spoke. Deavon quickly hid the disdain and smiled again.

“Oh I understand quite well how the Jedi function.” They continued to walk making it to the speeder launch. Cora had been briefed by Marstel. Deavon, once a Sith Warleader within ‘The Coalition’ decided to switch sides after the decommission of the unit. Now both women were being brought before the Jedi for official recognition. What the Jedi would do, was anyone’s guess. The Order was in turmoil as they continued to reconstruct after the War with the Eternal Empire. Right now, they needed all of the Jedi they could get.

Alzir stopped, loading the bags into the back of Cora’s conveyance and stepping back. Cora smiled viciously at his words, reaffirming what she thought about the Wroonian. He was already on Coruscant, only meeting the two women like she did and most likely at Marstel’s behest. What Marstel had the Wroonian doing on Coruscant was anyone’s guess. “This is where I get off…” Alzir spoke, seeing Rama visibly frown as he stepped back allowing the three women to enter the speeder. “…things to do, places to see…you know.” He winked at Cora. It made her uncomfortable, the Chiss looking down and away to pretend she didn’t see him do it.

The speeder set off as Alzir produced a comm link, smiling at the speeder as it faded into the distance.

”…they are off. Man…Cora, you should have told me.”

<”…your’a dog, Alzir…”> Marstel voice chimed back toward him. <”…I would stay away frum tha’ one. Less’ya wanna deal wif my brother. She’s spoken fer.”> There was a pause as Alzir continued to watch the horizon. <”…git back on station buddy. There’s been a development…may need ya fer sumthin’ else.”>

--

The long line of transports split up. Marstel switched the comm-link from talking to Alzir, back to frequency hopping the military channels. All ten transports were going ten different directions. Marstel punched the comm control as he spoke out loud, deciding to follow two that seemed to be going roughly the same way, but then split from one another as well.

“Karolin…” Marstel said loudly, one of the independent channels locked on Karolin’s permanent comm link. “…they got tha stuff. Have tha constables track ‘em from space and intercept them ‘fore they get to their rendezvous…I’m on one now.”

<“And Aurora…”> Karolin’s voice replied, not the least bit surprised by the revelation that Aurora had attacked the facility or that she was on Coruscant. Marstel smiled to himself.

“I didn’ ‘ave ta. Grace got ‘er….”

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https%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FkrXrx0X.jpg [https://i.imgur.com/krXrx0X.jpg]

- Senate annex, Mirialan Senator’s Suite….

They walked the long-carpeted hall. Aurora walked in front, her hands shackled with binders which she held loosely in front of her. Grace was watching her, eyes narrowed as they continued to make their way toward the suite. Looking back slightly, Aurora smiled as she continued moving.

“It doesn’t matter WHAT she says…you know I won’t say anything.” Aurora spoke and Grace held her tongue, looking away slightly as they continued to march. Aurora’s words having no effect. The Mirialan knew she couldn’t escape. She didn’t even try. It dawned on her that Grace was not supposed to be there. That perhaps her capture was supposed to be affected by Marstel himself. It didn’t end up that way and most of what had been taken from the facility had been recaptured. Aurora knew, it was never about the generational technology she was reacquiring on behalf of her father. All of it was a set-up, just to get to her. Aurora poked her chest out a bit in pride and looked back again. “You really are clueless, ‘Grace’….that is what you’re calling yourself now? To try and distinguish yourself from that insane sister of yours. We did think about recruiting her. But I talked my Father out of it. I told him that she wants to kill him more than I do.” Aurora laughed to herself.

“Then why do you aid him?” Grace asked softly.

“Because…” Aurora stopped and turned around. “…it’s a means to an end. You all took everything from me. Once I get it back, I have no more use for him.” Grace started to speak and Aurora smiled, interrupting her. Their minds still so close since their time in the mountains of Mirial together during Aurora’s second trials. “Oh, he knows. That is what you were going to ask, isn’t it?” Laughing again at the unspoken question. ‘That she wanted to kill him’. Aurora narrowed her eyes, leaning in. “It doesn’t have to be this way, ‘Sammantha’…join me. I know what he did to you. I can feel how much you hate him. Come with me, we can kill him this minute…and then you and I can help reclaim Mirial and our rightful place in—”

“You mean ‘your’ rightful place.” Grace interrupted Aurora in return. “…I realize this will be difficult for you to believe, Aurora. But I do not hate you or your father. In fact, I love you both. So much, it hurts. That is why I tried to sacrifice myself in order to stave off what I knew he wanted to do to Mirial. I thought that if I could reach him, he would give up his quest for domination. I failed. But that doesn’t mean I lost faith in either of you. Aurora, you are not like him. I know you…the real you. And as much as you try to hide from everyone else, you can not hide from me. You got what you deserved from the Elders, that…I cannot change. But you can change your destiny. For right now, you have none…except death.” They started walking again after Aurora turned with a sneer and started marching toward the door. Once they stopped, Aurora looked down slightly. She could feel Grace’s eyes burning into the back of her neck. “…tread lightly here, Aurora. I love you…” Grace spoke softly again as the door to the suite opened. “…but those within this room, do not…”

They marched into the suite, crossing the long expanse from the door to the red carpet emblazoned with the symbol for not only Mirial, but the De’nabre family itself. Once within a few feet of the rather large technologically ornate desk, Aurora stopped and lifted her chin looking straight ahead. Around the desk, holo-screens swirled and spun. Information on everything Karolin was tracking within the Senate as well as pertaining to the ruse her and Marstel had constructed to ensnare Aurora. It was all part of a much larger plan. Already icons denoting the Coruscanti Security Services were intercepting and, in most cases, getting back the technology Aurora had stolen. Once Grace started to look at some of the holo-screens she realized all of it had been constructed from the beginning. And it started with her own father arranging for all of the technology to be placed in the care of the Republic. Karolin, Marstel and Caleb had been working together from the start. And Grace as well as Sam had been left out of the loop purposefully.

Facing away, Karolin’s chair spun around slowly. Marstel standing up from the private conversation he and Karolin were having away from the two as Aurora and Grace entered. Grace wanted to ask why. But she already knew why she and her sister had been left out of the loop. It was the same reason she was able to sense when Aurora was on Coruscant. That close tie the two shared would have given all of it away. Karolin and Marstel couldn’t risk that.

As if sensing that Grace had suddenly put all of it together, Karolin gave Grace a sympathetic smile before losing it entirely. Her red eyes burning into Aurora as she looked up at the other Mirialan.

“Your fate…” Karolin began speaking in a low and morose tone. “…lies with me Aurora ‘Karolin’ De’nabre….” Waving her hand, the binders on Aurora’s arms came off and dropped to the floor. “I…am uninterested in you. Despite all that you’ve done…” Reaching down, Karolin tapped the surface of her desk lightly. Screens emerged between Karolin and Aurora. Images of some of things the Republic had been tracking of the ‘Ghost’ who, on various worlds, wreaked havoc. A 'Ghost' that Aurora created after her exile from Mirial. Killing important individuals on both sides of the conflict, stealing vital information, reforming the organization in hopes of what…? Karolin raised an eyebrow at the last revelation, steepling her fingers and leaning forward. “…using your father to somehow reclaim your honor and title on Mirial?” Karolin sat back, crossing her legs lazily. “That….is never going to happen. You are a war criminal, Aurora. You and your father are banished from Mirial forev—”

“He’s dead.” Aurora spoke sharply. “—at least that’s what everyone believes. Won’t the Republic be surprised when they find out he’s not? You and your siblings collective ‘asses’ will be in a sling." Marstel, standing behind Karolin's chair visibly tensed as Aurora began her threat. "And all of this…” Aurora looked around the office. The trappings of a world trying desperately to rejoin the Republic after what Aurora and her Father did to have Mirial excommunicated from the Republic. “…will be for nothing. I wouldn’t be surprised if they impeach you from the Senate. But then, that would be the least of your worries wouldn’t it, Cousin? You would have to return to Mirial and answer for the lies you and Mrysti have told. That you kept him alive, to torture and milk for information. That all of the technology you stole from us was the real reason you needed him. Oh, the Republic will be interested…they will be very interested.”

“YOU ALL STOLE THAT TECHNOLOGY TO BEGIN WITH!!!" Karolin was standing and slowly lowered herself back to her seat after the flash of anger. Clearing her throat, "Is that a threat? Are you threatening me, Aurora? The only reason you’re here is because I deem it so. You think it was coincidence that I allowed it to leak that due to Mrysti's absence I was 'relocating' the family assets? I knew it would be too tempting for your father to pass up. You know better than to believe a word the man says. Believe what you want, whatever he told you is pure lies. Did we punish him..." Karolin gave a slight glance back toward Marstel. "...yes...torture...most definitely. But 'milk' him for information. I didn't. I can't speak for Mrysti, she's not here, nor will I try to justify any action she took. He was lucky she didn't put him to the cross when we captured him. The only reason he still breathes air is standing behind you now." Karolin gestured at Grace, who put her head down shamefully. Karolin sat back and grimaced, steepling her fingers again. "And It was I who informed the Republic that we consider this an internal matter for Mirial. YOU are an internal matter for Mirial. Now you have more murders to answer for. You want your name and title back? You want to remove the marks on your person? This is not the way to do it…and certainly not by threatening me.”

“Kriff…you…” Aurora spoke softly, looking up and away.

“I want your father. That’s all I want. You give him to me, I commute the death sentence. You can live the remainder of your life in a facility of your choosing.”

Aurora looked down slowly again. “Kriff…you…”

During the exchange, Grace listened carefully. So many revelations. And in the Force, Grace could feel that Aurora actually believed what she said. That Karolin and Mrysti kept Telan’dorr alive to milk him for the technology information. Not to punish him for everything that had been done to Mirial and to her. A bit of doubt started to creep in as Grace shifted uncomfortably. Mrysti was capable of what Aurora said, Grace knew that because she knew her Mother. Karolin shook her head and smiled wickedly, leaning back in the chair. She was about to speak, Marstel leaned in from his position behind Karolin. His arms crossed over themselves as he stared down the other Mirialan. They spoke in whispers until Karolin nodded finally, looking back to Aurora.

“It’s fine, Aurora…you are not going to be able to live up to your threats.” Karolin sat back, steepling her fingers again. “Last chance…where is your father?”

“Kriff…you…” Aurora looked at Marstel after saying the words to Karolin. “And you…” Turning her head, she looked at Grace, “…and you too, Cousin.”

“Well…” Karolin sat forward again, slapping her hands down on the surface of her desk. The images which had been playing out Aurora’s history since her excommunication from Mirial came to a halt and disappeared. “…then you leave me no choice.” Karolin looked back over her shoulder as Marstel came around the corner of the desk grabbing Aurora’s arm. He grit his teeth at her.

“Resist…please…” The big Ratataki started to drag Aurora from the room as Grace jumped toward Karolin’s desk, laying her hands on it.

“Aunt Karolin? What is he doing…” Karolin turned in her seat and looked away, activating several of the Senate screens once again. “Karolin…I’m talking to you. Where is he taking her?!?!”

Karolin sneered as she turned and looked over at Grace slowly. “To someone who can make her talk…someone who is an expert in these matters.”

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https%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FwkK7x8L.jpg [https://i.imgur.com/wkK7x8L.jpg]

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- Republic Government Annex, Reformed Jedi Council Chambers….Coruscant….

From the outside, it looked like a normal government building. The outside betrayed the vastness of the interior. Once Cora escorted the two others through the security checkpoint, it opened up into a large vast chamber. Marble floors glared brightly from the skylights giving way to a very well kept and ornate circular chamber. Nothing what they expected going through the utilitarian security entrance, manned by Republic Troopers.

Emblazoned on the floor, a symbol that looked like the signet of the Galactic Republic, a lightsaber the only change as it took center of the dark blue symbol which covered the entire length of the floor. They walked slowly and with purpose. Rama’dalla looking around in wonder, her mouth slightly opened. The creases of a smile threatening to betray her excitement. Deavon, looked resolute. Like she entered the chambers of a mortal enemy. And for all intents and purposes, she had. Before Mrysti and Karolin’s Coalition, Deavon would only have entered a chamber like this to either capture or kill Jedi.

Cora continued on, their footfalls echoing loudly in the vast hall. A heat came over them, as if all of them had entered something holy and forbidden. They slowed as three robed figures, hoods shrouding their features began to approach from the opposite side. They slowed as the robed figure in the center stopped and removed his hood. A human male smiled and bowed slight as the three women came to a stop.

“Welcome Major Barku…and thank you for escorting our visitors.” Cora bowed slightly in response; the Jedi looking at the other two slightly behind Cora. “Rama’dalla…” The Jedi acknowledged the Twi’lek like alien, turning his head toward Deavon. “Sith Lord, Deavon Selexia…” Cora noticed the Jedi’s voice changed slightly as he addressed Deavon, even though he kept the smile. Turning his eyes back toward Cora, he nodded. “Thank you again, Major for bringing them to us. I realize this put you, General Alpha and the Senator in an awkward position. You understand our precautions, we are still restructuring the Order after so much unpleasantness.” Cora looked around the room, cracking a slight smile. The Jedi laughed slightly. “Yes, I realize it’s very ornate. Not our first choice and it would appear at first glance we are doing quite well. That couldn’t be further from the truth.” His eyes turned back to the other two women. “You both are most welcomed, the council is eager to hear from you.” They all started to step forward as the Jedi raised a hand toward Cora. “I’m afraid this is as far as you go, Major. I won’t bother saying something as cliché as ‘Jedi business’….but you understand.”

“Of course, Master Jedi…” Cora looked at the two accompanying her. “I will wait for you both in the foyer.” Turning around, her footfalls started to fade back the way they all came. Flourishing his arm, the Jedi leading the other two allowed Deavon and Rama’dalla to join them.

“If you would accompany us….”

--

Senate Annex, Office of the Mirialan Senator…..

Nearly everything was falling into place. Marstel was a lifesaver. There was no way Karolin could have coordinated any of it without his help. Yet, he had reservations on some level. Karolin stood by the large bay window looking out across galactic city as the comm unit in her hand chimed.

<”…are you sure ‘bout this?”> The voice chimed in without even saying hello. Karolin grimaced and nodded, even though Marstel couldn’t see her replying in kind.

“Yes, Marstel. She has done enough damage to all of us to warrant this kind of treatment.”

<”Ok…”> Marstel’s voice had a tinge of reluctance to it as he replied. <”…I ain’t questionin’ ya motives ‘ere. I kno’ we need ta git ta Telan’dorr fore he does wha’eva else he’s plannin’. Ya jus’ need ta kno’ wha yur getting’ inta ‘ere. The ‘guy’ I’m usin’ es tha best at wha’ he does. I trained him. You’ll git yur information…buh, how far ya want me ta goh wif this?”>

Karolin sneered to herself, opening her mouth to speak. She lowered her arm a moment taking time to think before raising the comm unit back to her mouth.

“All the way. Tell them to do what they have to. I want it all….everything.”

There was a long pause before Marstel replied.

<“Ya got it.”>

The comm unit clicked off without Marstel saying goodbye. A sign that he was troubled by how Karolin answered, even though he would never voice that to her. That was the depth of the trust between the two of them.

Before Karolin could turn to her desk, Karolin released a sigh. Even before the holo-comm on her desk clicked on by itself, she already knew who was on the other end. Karolin dipped her head and closed her eyes before turning around. In a way steeling herself for what was to come, on all fronts. The blue haze of the transmission lit the surrounding desk area as she finally turned to see a robed figure standing there. She tried to smile brightly, a slight frown betraying her annoyance.

“Hello, Marcus….”

<”You know I wouldn’t contact you like this unless it was official. They asked me to—”>

“I know what they asked you to do, Marcus…” Karolin cut him off and moved to sit down. If it was going to be an official conversation, she was going to take an official seat. It was not surprising that the council asked Marcus to contact her. Though they didn’t know the depths of their attachment; only Grandmaster Shan knew that; and she was no longer head of the council, they were most likely using their history as a basis for asking Marcus to contact her.

<”They want you to reconsider.”> Karolin looked up sharply after Marcus spoke, looking directly at Marcus’ image. <”And so do I. This is a dark path, Karolin. I realize that you are conducting yourself as Senator on your people’s behalf, but you cannot have it both ways. You know that. Though there is nothing the Jedi can do about you taking that position, they want—“>

“Oh, that’s rich coming from you.” Karolin narrowed her eyes and glared at Marcus. She knew what the Council wanted. For her to step down as Senator in order to help the Jedi rebuild. Torn between two worlds, there was nothing the Jedi could do about Mirial asking one of their own; even a Jedi to serve in an official capacity. It was unheard of for a Jedi to be in a position of government authority. Marcus’ image shifted uncomfortably. The comment about a ‘dark path’ making her smirk viciously. Marcus and Karolin had been an item from their earliest days at the Temple together. There was a time Marcus could have left everything for her and she for him. That time had passed.

<”This is an open line”> Marcus reminded her. Not wanting to talk of anything intimate or revealing on a non-secure channel.

“You tell them I am not stepping down. I will be happy to help them anyway I can, even more so now that I am—” Karolin stopped herself and looked up, an idea emblazoning in her mind. “—how about those two who are arriving. My family is responsible for finding them anyway. Tell them I will be happy to look after them while they are undergoing training.”

<”You have an apprentice.”> Just as Marcus spoke the door to Karolin’s office opened and Jes walked in. Almost speaking of Jes caused her to appear.

“Jes…is no longer an apprentice. She has been elevated. And I wouldn’t be Mastering them, call it a sponsorship. You know what Marcus—” Karolin was getting annoyed as she sat up. “—call it whatever you want. I don’t have time right now.”

Dipping lowly, Marcus bowed. <”As you wish…’Senator’. As always, WE serve the Republic.”> 'WE' had a hidden meaning. When she looked up, Karolin noted a slight wink and a smile. She leaned forward so she could speak quietly.

“Marcus…you be careful out there. I mean it. Don’t you die on me, understand?”

<”Death has been chasing me since Coruscant. It hasn’t caught me yet.”> He placed an open palm to his lips. They couldn’t say ‘I Love You's’ over an open channel and had been using the hand signal for as long as Karolin could remember. She mimicked the move as Marcus’s image faded with the disconnection of the channel.

“Where is he?” Jes asked once she saw their conversation was over. Moving closer to Karolin, a datapad held out in her hand.

“He couldn’t tell me.” Karolin said sadly. “Marcus stayed on with the Mirialan Defense Forces after the war. He couldn’t leave.” It wasn’t entirely true, Karolin asked him to stay on Mirial after the Civil War. And Marcus agreed. Mostly due to his friend Caleb staying as well. Only Caleb didn’t join the MDF, he stayed to help rebuild the Jedi Temple on Mirial. More to the point, to continue to train Iseult. No one liked that idea. Least of all Marcus, but especially Mrysti. Karolin looked up and smiled after watching the last of his image fade away. “What do you have for me?”

Jes’ expression was not one of friendliness or joviality. She marched up to Karolin and handed her the datapad. Karolin looked down at it as it was handed to her. She sneered again and shook her head, looking at Jes after reading several lines.

“Where is he?”

--

- Republic Government Annex, Reformed Jedi Council Chambers….Coruscant….

The arc of chairs all had various shades of brown robed figures in them. Of all races and creeds. The chamber, well lit, with the same type of foreboding heat that both women felt when they entered the annex building and crossed the threshold into the Jedi Chambers. Both Rama and Deavon stood center stage, facing all of the chairs as they were introduced. Rama bowed slightly as did Deavon. Only Deavon did not take her eyes off the Jedi. Scrutinizing them as she stood back upright taking another moment to take in the room. Unlike the Dark Council chamber, the Jedi Council Chamber had a brightness to it that Deavon couldn’t get past, but the same feeling of pressure she got standing on the other side of those seated like the Dark Council Chamber. She was beginning to think she made a mistake.

“No, you haven’t…” A Jedi sitting center among them all stood and smiled, lowering his hood to answer the doubt he could feel from the Devaronian. “…it’s not the Dark Council chambers on Korriban, but it definitely has a similar feel to those who are forced to stand before us. Forced…it’s such a strong word. We asked you to come because we wish to gather as many Force Using humanoids back into the fold as we can. Those willing to work with us and for the light. And though the war against the Eternal Empire is over and with that, your duty to those you once served with; lines have been drawn again.” Deavon started to speak and the Jedi raised a hand. “You have reservations….as do we. Not all of us are convinced that so many who are not trained by the Jedi or have not spent time learning the ways would be of any use to us.” The Jedi looked around at the other Jedi seated and smiled. “These are questions we have had to consider of late. You are not the first to stand here in this capacity and you certainly won’t be the last. The war…renewed conflict has caused us to ‘rethink’ our way of bringing those who wish it, back to the light.” The Jedi Master narrowed his eyes. “Even….a Sith.”

“I am a Sith.” Deavon stated plainly. “I took this meeting to reaffirm my commitment to not only the Republic, but to fight against the Sith if need be. My time among the Jedi has made me ‘rethink’ my prior conceptions.” Rama stood silently as Deavon spoke. Looking rather shy at all the talk of war and the Sith. She was found in slavery, not having any preconceptions about Jedi or Sith. But the discussion was not directed at her for the moment. Deavon’s words made a few of the Jedi seated glance at one another. By stating that she was Sith, Deavon was saying she didn’t think there was anything that the Jedi could teach her about the Force. But she also wanted to let them know she was not going to fight them.

“We understand, Deavon. And ordinarily, you would be placed somewhere within the Order to integrate you well away from war or the Sith.” The Jedi Master could feel her thoughts and her emotions and knew what she was thinking. Her statement gave the rest of it away. “You may think you have nothing to learn from us, but you couldn’t be more wrong. Unlike the Sith, we do not view the Force as a servant. WE are its servants. And in order to become one with not only the Force and the light, you must first become one with yourself. That path requires the tutelage of a Master schooled in the art of changing one’s heart. You have already taken the first step in that regard; we can take you the rest of the way.” The Jedi frowned as he looked at the others around him before looking back up. “Unfortunately, we don’t have that kind of time.” Deavon raised an eyebrow at the revelation. Before he continued, he looked at Rama’dalla. “Forgive me for disregarding you for the moment Rama’dalla, I realize your knowledge of the Force differs from that of your friend here. And I would like to afford you the opportunity to learn more if you wish. You WILL be given the opportunity to work under an integration Master as I mentioned before. However, with the war on…I’m afraid we are short of skilled Masters in that regard. Integration training at an advanced age takes a Master skilled in the art of reaching those who have already made their minds up about a great many things.”

“That explains your affinity for children.” Deavon stated the fact with a smirk on her face. “No disrespect intended. It just seems odd to a Sith, we force all to integrate, regardless of age. Forgive me for questioning your words....” Deavon said reluctantly. “....I’m afraid I don’t understand. We both came here prepared to give ourselves to the Jedi, no matter what happens.” She looked over at Rama who looked almost as confused as she did.

All of those seated stood and looked out toward Deavon and Rama’dalla.

“You will be Jedi in name only. Your training will come later, we will see to it personally, just as we will see to all those who return or turn away from the Sith following our conflict with the Eternal Empire. But for now…think of yourselves as ‘privateers’. Commissioned by the Jedi to act in ours and the Republic’s best interest. Since Master De’nabre sent you to us, she will be responsible for making sure you adhere to the principles of the Republic. Until such time as we can remove you from the fray and have you segregated appropriately. Master De’nabre is not skilled in our techniques of integration, but she is a ‘Master’ of controlling emotions.” They all looked at one another, a few of the Jedi Masters looking down after the statement. All of the Jedi started to file out, the one speaking remaining as the two looked at one another.

“Privateers?” Deavon asked the remaining Jedi once the others disappeared.

“Yes. It seems appropriate as any other word. Not fully a Jedi, yet not exactly powerless.” The Jedi lost the smile, rounding the arc shaped table to stand before them. “Both the Sith and the Jedi were hurt badly after our war with the Eternal Empire. Believe it or not, the Sith much worse than we are…though our numbers are still scattered terribly. We need as many Jedi as we can get in order to maintain peace and stability in not only the galaxy, but the Force. I can’t ask you to act and conduct yourselves as Jedi…” He looked at Rama and smiled, “…or to fully understand what the Force means to us. Philosophy does not win wars, nor keep a Jedi alive at the tip of a Sith saber. But the both of you are skilled enough to act in the Republic’s best interest and help us rebuild the Order. Every person counts…some of us lost sight of that before. But everyone…Sith or Jedi are important in the grand scheme. And that means the two of you as well. Age, skill, commitment…all of these are factors. But none of it will help us navigate this conflict if we don’t do something to ensure our survival.” Smiling kindly once again, he left the room and the two standing there.

--

https%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FZ5Q2NWf.jpg [https://i.imgur.com/Z5Q2NWf.jpg]

--

Coruscant, Ground Level – Red Zone Access point to Upper Levels.

What WOULD a lowly government servant like Mr. Gent be doing on the ground level of Coruscant, where only the most unsavory people decided to live? Some would say it was pure economics. The higher in social status you were, the higher you lived. Ground level was where those who had no social status decided to stay on the city planet. Karolin smirked as she got off the sky tram and stepped out into the stale colder air of the ground level. It was dank, smelled like the inside of a shoe. Government services which kept things cleaner higher up existed in limited capacity down there.

It always seemed to be darker and with good reason. The higher levels of the planet darkened everything down below. Neo-signs and holo-ads lit the way as she moved across the damp street and toward the red zone access point. Karolin took out the datapad to look at the information once again. She blended. Having changed her clothes to look more like a street-worker or night-club go’er. Holding the datapad in one hand, she flicked the ash off a cigarra held loosely in the other hand. Smoke ebbing up and around her arm as she brought it up to take another drag, tilting her head back to eject a jet of green hazy smoke from her lungs. Karolin’s brow crunched again as she read the information Jes brought her. The test of loyalty for Mr. Gent had been placed before him and he failed. Not surprising. Karolin wasn’t paying him nearly the amount those who were trying to sabotage her were. It was time to deal with Mr. Gent. Perhaps another test was in order:

<<…Holo-net TRANSCRIPT - LOCATION: Senate Annex – Administrative Section…>>

<>

<>

Shaking her head, Karolin grimaced. Dropping the cigarra, she crushed it underfoot without missing a step, increasing her pace to make the meeting time. Once she reached the end of the walk and it opened up into a large red painted area, Karolin slowed enough to get a good look at the access point. In contrast to the rest of the underground, the Red Zone looked pristine. Like it was plucked from Coruscant proper and placed in the underground as a reminder of what those who lived down below were missing. Guards stood outside the access point, checking scan-docs and allowing those who had a need to go through, passage. Karolin approached and before she was stopped, pulled a specially colored ID from her belt flashing it at the guard in front. He quickly moved aside, snapping to attention as the rail opened.

“Good Afternoon, Senator…” The man’s voice sounded distorted through the vocabulator of his helmet. Karolin slipped the ID back in her belt and passed without missing a step. Her head and eyes low as she looked for Mr. Gent.

--

Nervously, Gent rounded the corner from the other side of the access point. The Red Zone was a long wide passage, filled with all manner of administrative check stations. They looked more like clean store fronts, everything from medical vaccinations to clothing that allowed one to transfer from underground to the higher levels above. Many years before, a sickness broke out across Coruscant which originated with someone traveling from the lower levels to the upper. Since that time, the ground level and underground were treated as almost another planet. People had to basically got through customs to access the rest of Coruscant from the ground level. Another reason for the underground’s nefarious reputation.

Gent stopped cold as he rounded the next corner. Karolin stood, leaning against the wall. One leg propped up, a freshly lit cigarra in one hand with the datapad she carried with her in the other. Gent was about to pretend he didn’t see her, as she slowly looked over. Gent was going to be late for his meeting.

“Going somewhere, Gent?” Karolin said sharply. Lifting the cigarra to her ample red lips to take a drag as she watched him. The man’s head slumped, as did his shoulders. He did indeed underestimate Karolin. Slowly, he moved in next to her and looked down. Karolin continued to look between Gent and the datapad she held loosely. “Care to explain this?” Tossing the datapad at Gent, she took another drag from the cigarra.

Gent read slowly. Not because he was daft. As he read his mind raced on all manner of what to say. He knew what the transcript said, he didn’t even need to read it. Gent was busted and he knew it, trying desperately to figure a way out. Karolin knew the tactic, had seen it many times before. Snatching the datapad out of his hands, she held it loosely at her side and glared.

“Are you going to kill me?” Gent said nervously. Karolin sneered, her lips curling into a wicked smile.

“Now…why would I do that, Gent? You are so much more valuable to me alive. YOU are going to make your meeting and after you do report to me. You and those who employ you fell into my trap accidentally, but we should make use of it.” Gent opened his mouth to speak; Karolin quickly cut him off. “No manner of excuses are going to get you out of this, Gent. You are playing a whole different game now. One you put yourself in and one I have been playing most of my life, even before the Senate. This is a level you are not ready for, but no matter.” Karolin pushed off the wall, turning to look back at Gent. The wicked smile got broader.

“What am I supposed to do?” He asked reluctantly.

“Act normally, continue to betray me…as you’ve been doing.” There was a bit of humor in Karolin’s voice as she narrowed her eyes. “Do you even know who is at the end of this chain? Who it is, who enlisted you; are really working for?” Gent shook his head. “Then let me enlighten you…” Karolin took a step back toward the man. Karolin was much shorter than Gent or ordinarily anyone she encountered. Gent took a step back nonetheless. “…the same ones who tried to steal the technology you reported on. The same ones who delivered my cousin to me this very day…and the same ones that have me working toward making Mirial a member of the Republic again.”

“Senator, I-I’m sorry—I never meant to hurt anyone. You were new and I saw it as—”

“—a way to advance yourself.” Karolin said softly. “I understand. It doesn’t make it right, but understandable. You have no idea what you’ve gotten yourself into here, Gent. When I say this is a whole different level of the game, I wasn’t kidding. Things happen at this level you’ve only imagined in your worst nightmares. The kind of things that are happening to my cousin right now.” Karolin’s eyes widened as she smiled viciously. “Yes, that’s right…my own cousin. In this game the winner gets it all and the loser gets disintegrated.” Karolin turned again and started off. Before she got too far, she turned back. “So, don’t get killed. And don’t let them know you got caught. Should be easy for you…you’re an accomplished liar.” Losing the smile, Karolin pointed at Gent, a smoking cigarra giving her hand an almost lethal appearance. “Don’t kriff this up, Gent…I want those who employed you. Names, dates….times. I want it all.”

Gent yelled as Karolin turned, plopping the cigarra back in her mouth. A cloud of smoke following her out. “What then?!?! What do I—”

“You leave that to me. You get me the names, I will take care of the rest….”

--

- Surface Level, Coruscant…Underground Domiciles…

The door to the derelict looking apartment slid open. Marstel shoved Aurora inside the darkened foyer; the door sliding shut behind them.

“You do whatever you want to me…I will never tell any of you anything. Do you think I’m that stupid?!?! It’s the only leverage I have…” Aurora spit out snidely. Marstel said nothing, grabbing Aurora by the arm and shoving her into the next room. It was dimly lit. Aurora could just make out the equipment which hung in odd angles. Hoses and pipping hung down from the ceiling as a bubbling sound came from a tank somewhere else in the room. A man was seated on a stool. Bent over, working on something. Marstel cleared his throat and the man sat up, turning around sharply to look at Marstel and then Aurora. She couldn’t make him out until he got up and walked into the light.

Blue skin, he looked like a Chiss, but with strange black tattoos on his face and neck. No glowing eyes. He definitely wasn’t a Chiss.

“Alzir…” Marstel spoke gruffly.

“…this her?” Alzir looked Aurora up and down before Marstel shoved her toward him. Alzir caught her, holding her by the arms, looking her over. “Try anything Force related…you will regret it.” After speaking to her, Alzir looked at Marstel and nodded. “Took some doing, but I got it all here. You want to inspect it?”

Marstel shook his head. “No. The others ‘r on tha way. I’m sendin’ them on without ya. This is priority now. This and that otha’ thing…” They were purposefully being evasive with Aurora in the room. She looked from one man to the other and smiled wickedly.

“Amateurs…both of you.”

Marstel and Alzir looked at one another and tried to stifle a laugh. Ending up smiling at one another broadly. They ignored her comment for the moment and nodded to one another again.

“I take it you’re gonna look in on tha’ Senator then—”

“—yea, least till ya’ git wha’ ya need frum this one.” Marstel thumbed toward Aurora. “Won’t take long.”

Alzir smiled at the comment looking Aurora up and down again. “This one…nah. She’s gonna be fun…level two, maybe…”

“You both can talk around me all you want. This is nothing more than—” The lights started to come up and Aurora got her first look at the various pieces of equipment in the room. Descending arms connected to a circular array which was haphazardly bolted into the ceiling. A medical like apparatus and chair, usually used for delicate procedures sat below the robotic arms, bolted to the floor. Straps and clamps hung off the side of the chair catching bits of the antiseptic lighting. Monitors and bottles hung on stands close to the chair. But what really caught Aurora’s attention was the large chest which had a table attached to the surface and the implements; which Aurora could not count, arrayed across their surface. Her eyes got wide. She snatched her arms out of Alzir’s grasp and launched a hand out, sending him flying across the room in the Force.

Turning to face Marstel, she caught the back of his hand right across her face. Instantly knocking her unconscious. Leaning down, the large Ratataki scooped her up into his arms, waiting for Alzir to pick himself up off the floor. Rubbing his head, Alzir smiled looking at Marstel.

“Well, we got that out of the way.” Alzir said with a bit of humor. “Too dramatic?”

“Maybe a little…” Marstel replied, looking down at Aurora and then back up again.

“Help me get her in the chair.” Marstel moved to the surgical chair laying Aurora down softly as they stretched her arms and legs, strapping her in. Alzir scrunched his brow and looked up as they worked. “How far you want me to go with this?” Marstel stopped and looked up, his face saying everything before he actually answered. “Damn…I love that woman.” Alzir smiled broadly in speaking of Karolin. “She wants it all?”

“Evr’y lass bit…” Marstel said sadly. “I tried ta talk ta ‘er ‘bout it, but you know Karolin…”

Since the day of the battle in front of the Temple of Sacrifice on Yavin IV, Alzir made it his life's mission to know everything he could about Karolin. From the moment he saw her face, the first face after opening his eyes following the battle, he was attached to her. Not simply because she saved his life, but because she was intriguing as a Jedi. Unlike any Jedi he ever met and more like a Sith. But gentle and light, in a seductive, sticky kind of way. No one lit his engines like Karolin did, for years he had been trying to get closer to her.

Both went back to strapping Aurora in the chair, Alzir looking up at the blonde Mirialan. “There’s a lot a anger there. This one destroyed their home…tore tha family apart, nearly conquered the planet. Karolin took that personally. I don’ blame ‘er. ‘Just doin’ wha’ daddy says’ ain’t a good enough excuse…she’s responsible.”

Sneering Marstel nodded, finishing up as he stood and looked down at Aurora again. He shook his head. “She reminds me ‘a Sam….” Marstel said sadly. “…under all tha’, whateva she is…there’s an innocence there.” Marstel narrowed his eyes and gazed at Alzir. “Use that. Karolin wants it all. Get it…an’ less be done with all ‘a this.” Turning, Marstel started to leave the room and Aurora in Alzir’s capable hands. The Wroonian speaking up before Marstel could get out of the door.

“She’s not gonna be the same after this…you know that?” Marstel stopped and turned back. “You make sure Karolin knows that. And one last thing…she can never know ‘I’ was the one who did this. I don’t want Karolin ever looking at me that way.”