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Zeal(n) - Definition
 1. fervor for a person, cause, or object; eager desire or endeavor; ehtusiastic diligence; ardor.

Zealot(n) - Definition
 1. a person who shows zeal.
 2. an excessively zealous person; fanatic.

Chapter 1: Devotion.
M'Tzigon, near the Bitrose sector, Wild Space
5 ABY

Julwynn sat in the chapel, bathed in colored light from a stained-glass window and just listened.  The Monks sang here every day, filling the basillica with glorious sound.  The order, the Sons of the Way, claimed a heritage going back nearly 10,000 years to Coruscant and a time before the Jedi or Sith or any force users.  Even then, these monks had known of the Singer - and His Song - and they and dedicated themselves to sharing it as best they could with all who sought after it.

As she had.  M'Tzigon had been a revelation to her.  In all the years she'd spent pursuing the force, the song, and the power that came with it she'd never thought of anything or anyone but herself.  Even her sister had been a secondary consideration, a partner who could help her achieve her goals.  Not until she'd met Balnard had she thought of someone else.  And then the Mak'Tor had come and accepted her...

A tear trickled down her cheek and she quickly scrubbed it away.  Talia, or Ta'Lia Cam as her adopted Mak'Tor "clan" name was pronounced, had become a close friend in the last few weeks.  The girl was young and annoyingly beautiful but her open spirit and easy way had won Julwynn over.  She was someone to talk to, someone who would listen without judgement, and someone who was also an outsider.

Or had been, at any rate.  She and her husband, Illian (Il'Lian'Cam, here) had been adopted into the clan structure, taken into the Cam clan, one of the ancient force-sensitive clans that had transplanted from Coruscant when the Mak'Tor were expelled by the Jedi Order centuries ago.  In a short time, however, the young couple had been not just absorbed but accepted by the Mak'Tor.  It helped that, among force sensitives, it was very hard to hide your true feelings for any extended time. 

And then there was the Way of the Maker.  Julwynn had read the book, given to her by Talia, cover-to-cover in the first week she'd been here.  She'd then sought out and found this small chapel, away from the main shrines and the activity of the Grays.  Here she'd found Father Tim'Our, an ancient monk who had spent twice her lifetime studying the Way they'd been given. It had been Father Tim who'd shown her the path and finally opened her eyes to the Maker and His Song.

Tears streamed freely now as Julwynn opened herself up to the Song, letting the Song of the Maker flow through her.  Again, as always, the way the singing of the force-blind and song-blind monks interlinked and locked together with the flow of the Song in the force amazed and thrilled her.  How?  How could they sing in harmony to a melody they couldn't even hear?  Didn't even know empirically existed?  They only knew of it by faith...

And that's the secret, Julwynn.  Faith.

The song ended and Julwynn wiped her eyes dry.  The choir would file out, returning to their duties and chores.  Which meant it was time for her to...

The hand on her shoulder startled her, making her jump slightly.  "Ah, there y' are lass.  I ken y'd be here."

Julwynn covered her husband's hand with her own and smiled up at him.  "You know me so well, Bal." 

His grin was it's own answer.  "Come, love.  Mistress Telow'na has summoned ye and me.  No reason, all hush-hush and mysterious she was.  Something excitin' is in the works."

"Well then, we should be going!" Julwynn rose, turned, stood on tip-toes and planted a quick peck on her husband's cheek before turning to the Rector.  "Father Axel, that was beautiful!  Please give my compliments to the choir and if you'd be so kind ask Father Tim'Ous to light a candle for me?"

"Of course, mum!" the young monk replied as he prepared to begin cleaning the polished granite floors.  "Maker preserve you both!"

"And you!" Julwynn replied.  She theaded her arm through the crooked elbow Balnard offered her and they exited the building together, Bal shortening his stride as she lengthened hers so they could walk in-step.  She glanced up and caught the slight grimace just leaving his face.  "You still don't believe in the Maker, do you?"

Balnard made a playful face at his wife but then lapsed into seriousness.  "Lass, tis not that I don' believe, its that I no ken see the point o it.  The Maker made the universe and fills it with song.  That's all well and good, but for one so high 'n mighty He sure doesn't keep up with th' management of th' place!  And at any rate, what I'm up to is neither his concern or business."

Julwynn grinned up at him.  "Bal, I pray the Maker will change your mind about that." With the force she reached out and grabbed a pebble, bringing it up behind them and lightly tapping him on the back of the head with it.  "And I hope He doesn't have to crack that thick skull of yours to do it!"

Balnard rubbed the back of his head dramatically.  "Oh, sure.  Abuse a poor force-blind man.  See what it gets you later, lass..."

Julwynn stopped, pulled his head down and kissed him firmly on the mouth. "Oh, I hope to, husband.  I truly do."  She grinned, offering her arm again.  "But for now, I think we'd better get to our meeting before someone comes looking for us."

*******

Telow'Na Jackson was uncharacteristically serious when they entered the briefing room.  Illian rose to greet them and Talia smiled her own hello, but the atmosphere was far from jovial.  Julwynn sat, Balnard next to her and across from Illian and Talia.  Telow'na leaned forward, her hands folded before her.  "Thank you all for coming.  As you no doubt know Master Er'Lav Racc returned rather ... unexpectedly about a month ago.  I'd like to say she was rescued by one of our teams, but I cannot.  Instead we can thank this group, the Sons of Kessel, for her liberation.  How she came to be where she was is a long and painful tale, but today I want to talk about how she started on that path."

Telow'na touched a key, dimming the lights and activating a small holographic projector in the table-top.  "Four years ago, shortly after the Battle of Yavin IV, we became aware of an Imperial weapons manufacturing in the Outer Rim.  We didn't know where the site was, but the weapons were moving through Lyran IV in the Quiberon sector.  The thing that puzzled us was the amount of weapons moving on non-Imperial hulls, especially through smugglers.  Er'Lav went in with two other agents, Men-At-Arms, posing as free traders looking for profitable cargoes.  Er'Lav was quickly able to identify the proper agents to court and they were soon on their way.  However, things went bad when they reached their destination."  Telow'na touched another key, and a red course appeared on the hovering starmap, ending at Rothana.  "The Kuat Drive Yards subsidiary in Rothana is insular and heavily protected.  Er'Lav wasn't aware of what tripped them up, but they were in the process of loading a secondary consignment for a further secret location when they were boarded by KDY security.  They attempted to fight their way out and failed.  The ship was heavily damaged and siezed.  One of the Men-At-Arms was killed in the fight.  The other was tortured to death in an attempt by the KDY thugs to find out who they worked for.  Er'Lav managed to convince them that she'd been sent by the Trade Federation, and planted the idea that selling her as a slave to the Hutts would be a fitting punishment.  Her intention had been to escape during transit and flee.  It ... didn't work out that way."

Telow'na paused, pain evident on her face.  Julwynn shared a look with Talia across the table.  No one knew the details, but everyone had heard that Meanowan Racc had suffered terribly at the hands of her captors, that years of systemic torture and rape had left her physically and mentally broken.  It was a stark reminder that in this business there were many ways that Bad Things could happen to you. 

Telow'na let her eyes drift over the map, settle briefly on the the area around the Kessel sector.  "Others ... will be looking into how she got home.  But I have a different mission for you four."  She zoomed in closer and threw a light circle around Lyran IV.  "Since the death of the Emperor and Vader at Endor we've seen evidence of increased shipments of weapons and military supplies through Lyran IV again.  Putting a Mak'Tor healer there after Er'Lav's disappearance finally paid off.  We have good intel that KDY is moving illicit shipments through there again, using the "smuggler's cove" as a recruiting ground for hulls.  Here's all the background we have on it." She handed Illian a data crystal.  "What I want you four to do is go in posing as free traders.  Balnard, your ship has been cleaned up and refitted with the best weapons and sensors we can supply.  Its the perfect cover, though, as you have an already established pre-existing REAL history out on the Rim.  Can you pass these three off as your crew?"

Balnard looked at Illian and grinned.  "Aye, lass.  I've always wanted a dashing young first officer ... and gorgeous ship's mascot."  His eye twinkled as he looked at Talia.  For her part, Talia just stuck out her tongue and crossed her arms across her chest, but she relented and returned the smile as the group rose and headed out to being preparations for departure.

Telow'na, alone now, felt her spirit lift a bit at the by-play.  The four had only known each other for a few weeks, but they'd already forged deep friendships ... and more importantly they had trust.

And they're going to need it... the thought came unbidden to her mind, as well as a flashing impression of great pain and suffering.  ...Maker preserve them!

And so it begins. Wonderful start Karm, I'm excited to see another story with Illian, and getting to explore Balnard will be fun. I don't know why, but I love how you started out the story with the definitions. I already knew them, but it just seemed a great way to begin something like this. Can't wait for more.

This.

Is.

AWESOME!

I love where you're going with this thread Karm!  And what you've done with Julwynn (not to mention her husband Kohl  ;)).  Hmm...wonder just who is/are the zealot of the title... Regardless, I'm going to have a great time finding out!  Thanks my friend for taking us on yet another wonderful adventure  :D 

LOL  I can't share EVERY story.  :-)  Should be fun.  Probably a lot of broken stuff and blood and tears as well.  Seems to be the Mak'Tor way...

Someones binged on the Kool-Aid...that's going to be a tensions between Julwyyn and Kohl that could really drive wherever this is headed.  Anyway as i think i mentioned before Kohl seemed a bit of a scene stealer with his odd abilities in Wind Chimes.  Good to See Talia and Illina back in the picture too, sort of like a B team get together!
Interested to see where this goes...also how Kohls REAL history might catch up with him...

SHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   ;-)

Chapter 2: Trolling the Bait
Lyran System, Lyran IV
5 ABY

The Dragon settled lightly onto the landing pad in a cloud of light dust kicked up by her thrusters.  The field wasn't much to look at, stabalized earth surrounded by a low boundary wall.  Beyond it lay a small fuel depot and grain fields, and a lone gravel road leading into town. 

Not much to look at in any way shape or form - outside of the small cluster of light freighters scattered around the area.  Lyran IV was an agri-world, a pleasant place with tons of arable land producing bumper crops which were then pre-processed into easy-to-pack containerized form and loaded onto massive bulk freighters, which took the bounty to any one of hundreds of worlds.  Most of the process was automated, handled by machines and droids, with a few live bodies clustered in high-tech enclaves where the machines were serviced and repaired and the various contractual issues were sorted out and administrated.  Some of these hubs were quite large, and all of them were cosmopolitan and generally prosperous, if few in number.

And then there were places like this one...  The sign at the small electronics shop/control tower/customs office said "Skantandar Corners" in bright gold letters on an equally bright green background.  It was an impressive sign - the most impressive thing about the field, actually - and the quiet, clean exterior hid a deadly truth: This was a 'smuggler's cove'.  Of the seven other light freighters sitting on the pad, Balnard had recognized the names of five.  Places like this played host to any number of drifters, smugglers, and 'free traders'.  Basically anyone looking to make a buck and avoid any legal engtanglements found their way here, or a place like it.  Bal had never been here but he'd seen more than his fair share of coves. 

And there as always a bar and casino...

The Dragon had been scrubbed by Mak'Tor ground crews and re-painted in a beautiful light tan with sapphire blue stripes and bright yellow highlights.  Her hull had been slightly modified as well, with subtle curves replacing many of her hard edges.  This had been accomplished by the application of armored panels to the outer hull, greatly increasing her hull strength while making the ship look lighter and frailer.  The upper and lower laser turrets had also been streamlined and replaced with turret-mounted "stubbies" - quad-firing turbo-lasers that were far more powerful than the guns they replaced without looking it.  Overall the ship now appeared to be either a rich man's expensive and fast yacht or a fast and prosperous 'free trader'.  Today they were going for the former.

The parts had been agreed to (with much argument) on the trip in.  Illian would play the rich young merchant, suave and debonare, looking to make throw around some money and make some 'business' contacts.  Balnard would play the part he played best - the rich kid's bodyguard, hired by his father or other interested party to keep the stupid young buck alive. 

The argument had erupted around the parts the two women would play.  Talia had led the charge, arguing that it was obvious that Julwynn should be the pilot, dressed slim and deadly and no-nonsense, while she would play the part of the "eye candy", the less-than-intelligent but very beautiful young woman brought along to hang on the rich kid's arm and impress everyone with her looks.  This would free her from much in the way of scrutiny, and allow her to use her training in mind tricks and force perception to find their target while the rest of them mixed and generally made the rounds of the local society.

Julwynn had immediately argued that she would be better as the bodyguard, with Bal playing the part of the pilot since he was in fact the ship's primary pilot.  Bal had countered that he was also far more experienced at being a bodyguard, and that Julwynn would certainly have no trouble playing the part of a fierce and independent free-trader.  Bal had further argued that Julwynn would look FAR better in a uniform, and anyone from his past who laid eyes on Bal would remember him as a soldier, not a pilot.  It would make far more sense for him to be the guard, and would also free him to armor up and carry some impressive firepower of his own.

Illian had then tried to argue that he would be a better infiltrator and attempted to swap rolls with his wife.  Talia and Julwynn both had simply laughed, and Illian's ego had suffered a crushing blow when Bal had slapped him on the shoulder and said that while he'd make a fine rich boy, he'd never be someone's boy-toy.  The blow was softened by Bal's explanation: His eyes were to active, to aware.  He just didn't look the part.

Whereas Talia...

And so it was settled.  When they emerged, Julwynn began a cursory walk-around of the ship, inspecting the plates and hatches that Balnard had drilled her to inspect as she launched into her part of ship's pilot and acted as the group's tactical reserve while Illian, dressed in an impressively fine gray suit over a white shirt, his light-saber hidden carefully away under his coat, with Talia at his side, hair bleached nearly white and her eyes a striking lavendar color thanks to a nano-tech treatment supplied by the Mak'Tor intel team.  Like Illian, her outfit was white and gray.  Unlike him, she had nowhere to hide anything. 

The three exited the ship and were met by a small speeder sent from the local club.  Julwynn, acting as valet as well as pilot, had made the arrangements as they entered orbit.  The open car was cramped with Bal in full armor, but the three managed to fit with a little wiggling.  Illian tried to be 'in character' as they took off and Talia's dress became so many streamers in the wind.  For her part, his wife was enjoying herself, but her experiences on Coruscant had hardened her to things like body modesty.  Illian had grown up with reclusive Jedi.  He wasn't a prude, but he tended to avoid anything that might draw attention like the plague.

And tonight his wife would be drawing plenty of attention...

"Nothing to do lad but enjoy t' moment..." rumbled Bal's low voice in his earpiece.  All three of them were linked by the short-ranged comm system, and Julwynn was also listening in via her own earbug through the base unit on the ship.  "A lass like Talia isn't one to do anythin' half-way."

Illian swallowed and glanced sideways at his wife, who was openly laughing and enjoying the ride despite the wind-tossed exposure.  "Yeah, that's exactly what I'm afraid of..."

***********

The casino was both less and more than Illian had anticipated.  From the outside it had looked like a dive - ramshackled and run down, with little or nothing to recommend it to anyone as more than a very shady place to maybe find a drink.  Maybe.  If you were lucky...

But once inside, the dive transformed into a subtle but quality establishment.  Unlike the crowded gaming establishment he'd expected the rooms were open, airy and only lightly populated.  Which meant that the entry of a new party had momentarily drawn the attention of every eye in the room.

Every eye - taking in the rich kid, his muscle, and his ... toy.

For her part, Talia had played the part to perfection, flirting with every male (human or otherwise) in the room and quickly displaying the characteristics of someone hyped on glitter and higher than a kite.  She flitted from table to table, being noticed for her figure and summarily dismissed by most.  A few paid her much more attention than the rest, of course, and Talia played the part here as well, flirting and playing hard-to-get, the air-headed bimbo playing the field to make her man jealous.

For his part, Illian did his best to stay in character.  Balnard helped him more than he cared to admit, offering tidbits of sage advice over the earpiece mixed in with the near constant commentary on who was armed with what and where they were in the room.  They'd been in the casino nearly an hour when Talia's voice came over the comms, sub-vocalized and deadly serious. She only said one word.

"Bingo."

Illian grinned as the older woman he was conversing with - and who kept hinting that they should ditch their respective partners and head off somewhere private together - reached the climax of her current mindless story.  He took the opportunity to glance around the room and spot Talia at a table nearby.  "Well, Jadzia, that was a refreshing story, but if you'll excuse me a moment I need to refresh my drink."

"Certainly, Lee.  Don't be long!"  The woman batted her eyes at him and Illian managed to smile warmly before turning away.

"Maker preserve me...   Bal, who is Talia with?"

"Older gentleman, name of Garak.  No other information, but he has two security types keeing a discrete eye on him."

"Thanks." Illian sub-vocalized, then caught up with Talia.  "There you are dear!  I've been looking for you."

"Lee!" Talia lit even brighter, clapped her hands on either side of his face and drew him into a deep and very passionate kiss.  Illian resisted for about a half-second, then surrendered as his hormones kicked in fully and returned the kiss with gusto.  When they parted, breathless, there was a low whistle from the table next to them.

"Well, I guess that ends my chances with this charming young lady." the man named Garak chuckled lightly.  His amused look was in stark contrast to the daggers being stared at Talia by the man's companion, a girl just as gorgeous - and scantily clad - as Talia herself.  At a gesture from Garak the girl smiled and wiggled closer, snuggling up against her man.  "Though I must admit, her ... charms ... are certainly compelling."

"That they are." Illian said, imparting a grin on Talia as she matched the other woman's move and pressed herself into his side.  Illian shifted his drink and extended his hand.  "My name is Lee.  Lee Golwin.  I'm new to this area, looking for ... business partners ... for a venture my company is hoping to mount out here in the Outer Rim soon."

The man smiled and took his hand, his grip friendly and firm.  "Garak.  Please, join us.  I'd be delighted to hear about your venture."

Illian sat and sipped his drink, plying the man with details about his company's venture in the Outer Rim.  All of it patently false - and all done while both he and Talia slipped further and further into his mind.  Finally Garak he grinned, eyed Talia once again, and issued Illian and his entourage an invitation to his villa the next day so that they could "discuss business." Illian accepted the invitation, rose and shook the man's hand before heading out of the casino, Talia playing her part to the hilt by draping herself over him suggestively all the way back to the ship.

Julwynn met them on the ramp, a wide grin spread across her face.  "Well, that certainly went ... well."

Illian huffed and collapsed into one of the seats in the ship's small lounge.  "That's one way to put it.  You didn't have to watch your half-naked wife flirt with every male in the sector."

Talia let her eyes go wide, then sauntered over to her husband.  "Flirt?  You call that flirting?  That was just light-weight hard-to-get teasing!  Let me show you some first-rate courtesan flirting, boyo..." She dropped into his lap and pulled him into a kiss that left them both breathless.

"Hey, get a room!" Julwynn teased from across the room. "Talia, are you sure this is our target?"

Talia wiggled around, still on Illian's lap, but her eyes were serious now.  "Yes, he's the one.  I dropped some hints about how my Lee had all this extra room on the ship and his need of a cargo hauler for a small and very hot consignment came right to the front of his mind.  I didn't even need to dig for it.  He's our guy."

Balnard frowned.  "Could just be a smuggler. We ARE on Lyran IV."

Illian answered this time.  "No worries there.  The cargo is Imperial tactical computer software and some key logic chips made by a military contractor in the Core.  They're proscribed since the Empire lost the world to the New Republic last year right after Endor, but you need them if you're building Nebulon-B Frigates.  I pulled that and the destination - Rothana - from him while Talia was ... distracting him."

Talia grinned at Illian.  "See, I told you it would work!" 

Illian looked serious.  "I never doubted it would work, but we don't have the consignment yet.  We need to do that tomorrow at this meeting/party with Garak." He rose, pulling Talia up with him.  "We should clean up and get to bed now.  We need to rest.  We have a long day ahead of us."

The bait had been trolled.  Now it was time to see if they had a bite - or just a nibble.

So that's what it would look like it "Star Wars" married "James Bond." Wonderful Karm!  I really enjoy the "old" (Illian and Talia) meeting the new (Julwynn and Bal).  Individually, there is so much potential with each but collectively?  Yet another jackpot my friend!

Now let's see how far down the rabbit hole this adventure takes us on  ;)

Until next installment friends  :)

Well that seemed easy for the group...a little too easy i suspect.....

Going down-hill is easy...  Until you hit the cliff...  ;-)

Chapter 3: Setting the Hook
Lyran System, Lyran IV
5 ABY

"Well, the house is ... nice."

Illian snorted a chuckle.  "That's one way to put it.  The words 'fortress' and 'castle' also come to mind."

Kohl wasn't laughing.  "Aye, thaht's the truth o' it, boyo.  Its a fortress and I no ken how we'll be gettin' out o' it once we've gone in." 

Talia patted him on the shoulder.  "No worries, Bal.  Between Illian and I we'll have Garak eating out of our hands in no time."

Balnard turned and fixed Talia in his gaze.  "Lass, I know you're confident, but its my job to see you get both in and back out safely.  Are you sure you can do that?"

Talia turned serious.  "Yes, Bal.  We can do it."

Bal looked at Illian, who also nodded.  "By hook or by crook, we'll get out.  You need not fear the wrath of your wife."

Bal looked back at Talia, then back to Illian, then set his jaw and nodded once sharply.  "Aye then.  Let's get on w' it."

Illian grinned and turned the small skimmer toward the front entrance.  They had rented the vehicle in town the night before for the trip back to the ship, a small closed skimmer with room for four, and contracted to keep it for their stay on the planet.  That gave them more ... tactical mobility, Bal had called it ... and more freedom on how to approach the upcoming meeting.  The ripples in the force and the increasing tension in the song's themes and melodies seemed to verify Bal's assessment, yet nothing he, Talia or Julwynn could sense indicated anything but success for them.  If anything, the tension seemed poised to erupt behind them, perhaps caused by them but not involving them directly...

However it played out, though, the fortress before them was indeed impressive.  The main gate they were approaching was made of what appeared to be durinium, with heavy weapons covering it on either side.  There was a low wall with an open and beautifully manicured 'kill zone' in front of it, with more open lawn behind it along a gently rising slope to the main house, visible on the hill a half-mile away.  Between the outer wall and what Illian could only think of as the "keep" was nothing but beautiful, green, evenly mowed lawn.  No cover of any type whatsoever.

The weapons tracked them briefly as they approached the outer gate, but then stopped when something - facial recognition? - marked them as friendly (or at least not hostile) and put the turrets back into stand-down mode.  Illian settled the skimmer and punched a call button built into a comm unit in front of the gate.

"Verdant Vista Gate Control.  Please state your name and the purpose of your visit." came a flat voice.  Illian couldn't tell if the voice belonged to a droid or a person, nor was there a visual, so he just shrugged and responded.

"This is Lee Golwin and party.  Garak invited us for dinner."

There was a slight pause before the voice (a droid, Illian decided) responded.  "Confirmed.  Proceed to the main parking area.  An escort will meet you there with further instructions."

The gate opened and Illian piloted the skimmer up the hill to the keep, where there was an obvious parking area, a very tan and beautiful young woman waiting next to an open parking slot.  Illian swept in with panache and parked the skimmer with a flourish, which brought a slight smile to the woman's face.  The smile dimmed just slightly as Illian emerged and helped Talia out as well.  While her outfit wasn't nearly as risque as the dress she'd worn the night before it was still designed to show off her slim and trim figure.  The smile disappeared and became a disapproving frown as Bal emerged from the other front seat, wearing a dark gray 'suite' that was obviously designed for tactical use, complete with a heavy blaster strapped to his thigh in a quick-draw holster.  "Master Golwin, you are most welcome but I must insist that your ... bodyguard ... check his weapons with the valet."

Illian flashed her a radiant smile as he reached out with the force and brushed her mind.  "Thank you for the welcome!  I am so gratified that you granted my waiver request for my escort's hardware."

The woman's face went slightly blank, her eyes empty as she repeated his words.  "...granted your waiver request..."

"Allowing him to keep his weapons with him at all times was most gracious!" Illian continued.

"...allowed to keep his weapons..." the escort intoned.

"The sign of trust is most welcome and gratifying!" Illian completed. 

"...trust ... most gratifying..."  The woman replied, then her eyes came back into focus suddenly.  "Of course!  Now, if you'll come this way we'll bypass the normal security stops and you can meet with Lord Garak in the garden."

The woman gestured for them to follow her and instead of heading into and through the house on a lengthy tour under the scrutiny of the houses security systems (as she had intended) she turned and led them to a direct-line route that bypassed the bulk of the security systems and and sensors (as Illian had mentally suggested).  Illian winked at Balnard and Talia and turned to follow, Talia hanging on his arm and Kohl trailing a few steps behind, a bemused smile on his face. 

Despite being a direct route the walk was still none to short.  The house was simply huge, with beautiful stone facings and wonderful vaults and arches, crenelations and even gargoyles guarding the water run-off spouts.  Nor were the battlements simply facade.  Illian could sense guards patrolling up there, and Balnard whispered details of heavy support weaponry mounted at the corner towers.  The manor was designed to impress, and it did.

Finally they came to a low fence and their escort led them into a beautiful garden filled with verdant plantings, ornamental trimmed hedge work, and splashing fountains.  A sparkling blue pool covered nearly a half-acre of land and was occupied by a trio of young women, who seemed to be as ornamental to the scene as the hedges and fountains were.  Illian made a point of ignoring them, focusing on their host as they approached.

Garak, wearing a comfortable open-necked shirt and shorts, was relaxing at a shaded table.  His companion from the night before was with him, wearing a very brief bathing costume.  Illian felt a slight shift in Talia's demeanor as they approached, as she pushed her own 'eye candy' persona to the fore, but Illian sensed a hint of jealousy from her as he allowed his own eyes to linger on the other woman in evaluation and appreciation.  Though he knew he was playing a part, just as she was, he felt the pang of guilt rise in his gut and re-focused on Garak as the other man leered at Talia.  We have got to find a different way to play this game...

"Lee!  Welcome to my humble abode!  I hope you enjoyed your tour of the house and grounds?" Garak said in greeting.  His eyes met those of our escort briefly, but before anyone could say more Talia interjected into the conversation. 

"Oh yes!  The house was grand!  The artwork was just amazing and so many rooms!  I wish we could have something like it back in the core, but land is so scarce..."

Illian hid his own grin as he felt Talia brush Garak's mind in the force even as he brushed that of the escort yet again.  Both of them gave a slightly glazed look for a few seconds, then cleared.  Garak now had a fuzzy memory of receiving a favorable report of his visitors tour and unarmed status.  The escort now remembered making that report.  All while Kohl stood there still openly wearing a heavy blaster pistol.

This is utter madness!

At a gesture they sat down and began chatting, the women staring daggers at each other when they thought the men wouldn't notice.  Food was brought and they ate, the conversation turning from the weather and Garak's appreciation of the social scene in his small sliver of Lyran IV.  Before long Garak's companion, fed up with Garak's indifference and unable to draw Illian's attention, stood up in a huff and went off to join the other women splashing away in the pool nearby.

Finally the conversation shifted to the the business deal Lee was offering - and the other business opportunities Garak had that they might be interested in. "Oh, there's always something to keep a smart operator occupied in the Rim." Garak said over his wine glass.  His eyes were slightly glassy, but not from drink.  Illian and Talia had been burrowing deeper and deeper, subtly driving the conversation while implanting suggestions along the way to cover their tracks.  Finally they were at the critical point.  "In fact, if your ship has any of its original cargo capacity, I might have something you'd be interested in."

Ken sat back, rubbing his chin and showing interest.  "Oh? What might that be?"

Garak smiled.  "Just a ... small consignment that I need to get to Rothana.  Not to much cubage, maybe ten square meters or so.  There is a bit of a risk, mainly from pirates, but you appear to be well equipped to handle that kind of thing.  I can offer you ... seven thousand ... if you're willing to make the run."

Illian felt his pulse quicken and he quickly dampened it.  He pretended to be skeptical and wary.  "Rothana?  That system is sewn up by Kuat.  No doubt the fees and duties alone will be near three thousand.  Add in the cost in fuel and possible damages, we'd be lucky to break even at seven thousand.  Even assuming we decide to take such a detour."

Garak leaned back and took another long pull on his wine, letting his eyes roam over Talia yet again.  "True...  I could go to, say, ten, if there were certain ... reciprocal inducements included in the deal."

Despite himself Illian felt his blood chill.  Calm!  You have a plan to handle this...  Illian mimicked Garak's posture and swiveled in his chair, casting an evaluatory look at Talia.  For her part, Talia just giggled and sipped her wine, giving the appearance of a bimbo deep in her cups and utterly oblivious as to what was being negotiated.  Illian made a show of considering it long and hard before turning back to Garak.  "Twelve."

Garak grinned.  "Eleven.  And the girl."

Illian looked over at Talia one more time, then jerked his head toward Garak.  Talia grinned and walked over to Garak, depositing herself in his lap.  She leaned down and whispered into his ear "You and I are going to have soooo much fun tonight..."

Garak's grin widened, and then his face went totally slack as Talia's hand made contact with the base of his skull.  Illian leaned forward and reached out, placing his own hand on Garak's temple.  That he was human helped immensely: simple mind tricks were generally universal in effect, but to create complete, false memories required ... familiarity.

The work was intense but over fairly quickly.  Illian had plucked the intent for Talia to be included as part of his compensation from his mind along with the details of the shipment.  Together they'd crafted a script of details that they now implanted in his mind, using an advanced technique the Mak'Tor intelligence group knew of.  Using a specific motif, Illian sang while Talia used a more conventional approach to layer the false memories of a wild night of pleasure and debauchery into the industrialist's mind.  When they were done, Illian layered out a more general stealth motif that would fog the perceptions of anyone in the vicinity for a time.  He and Balnard then hoisted the unconscious Garak and "walked" him into the house and to his private apartments.

When they left several hours later Garak was still unconscious.  He would awake in the late morning with a vivid memory of a night's activities that never actually happened.  The one thing they couldn't do was erase security logs and records, however.  If there were tapes, and if Garak checked them, there would be an obvious discrepancy.

It was a risk, but the whole enterprise was a risk.  In the mean time, by the time the sun rose over the horizon they had loaded their cargo and were breaking orbit.  The hook was set: now it was time to land their catch...

The more I read about Talia, Illian, and Bal, the more that I like them!

Yes, definitely a different feel to this narrative, more espionage than adventure  ;)  Man that Garak is a pig; nice bit of karma for his...indiscretions. 

Wonderful writing Karm; I feel like I'm reading an original Ian Flemming novel...with high technology  :D

Until next installment friends  :)

Illian doesn't seem cut out for deep cover work where his Wife is involved, that protectiveness if not almost prudishness could be an issue if they try it again not everyone is going to be as soused as Garak...surprised the other women with Garak didn't notice him being dragged off unconscious though...presumably they memory wiped them too or something?


PS didn't know Ken was along for the ride LOL
"Ken sat back, rubbing his chin and showing interest.  "Oh? What might that be?""

ARGH!!!!!  I keep writing Ken instead of Illian.  The two characters are very similar in my mind, and they keep super-imposing!  It doesn't help that I am writing about BOTH...  LOL

My apologies.  That's supposed to be ILLIAN, not Ken.  Nice catch.  To bad I can't correct it!

As for Illian - you're correct.  He's not taking to this form of infiltration to well.   That might have consequences down the road...  ;-)

Hehe, yes. I knew what you meant, but seeing that I am not the only one that has a problem keeping characters straight is nice. Makes me not feel so bad.

But this is seriously good writing. It is so much different than any of your other stories have been, but that just shows how good of a writer you are. Can't wait for more.

Chapter 4: Playing the Line
Unknown Space Lanes
5 ABY

The mood in the cockpit was tense.  The trip from the Lyran system to Rothana had been uneventful - until they arrived.  As instructed by Garak's shipping agent they had input a specific code in their IFF transponder identifying themselves as KDY Heavy 224.  They had been immediately challenged by a Nebulon-B frigate, which had accepted their challenge response and directed them to follow the frigate to a site in the outer system.  There they'd joined three other frigates and a dozen other light freighters, mostly YT-1300 variants and older XS "Stock" light freighters in a loose formation. 

What followed had unnerved them.  The convoy commander had demanded that all ships slave their navicomputers to the lead Nebulon-B.  Those who refused would be fired upon.  At this point one of the YT-1300's had broken formation and made a run for it, only to be gunned down by two of the Nebulon-Bs.  With no choice, the team yielded control and they were off.

After each jump they took fixes and worked out their location along the way, aided by the ship's astromech droid.  It soon became clear that they were headed for the Mid-Rim, an area known as the Null Zone, an area with few stars and fewer planets between the galactic arms. 

They were now at the end of the latest jump, and all of them were on edge.  Bernard's gut was churning with danger signals.  Julwynn and Illian were both hearing the rapid tempo increases and tense "danger" chords ringing through the song.  Even Talia, with her limited and focussed training was picking up danger signals from the force.  Whatever was happening, it was going to happen soon.

"Signal from the flag." Kohl suddenly said.  "Emergence in one minute."

Illian nodded, and suddenly sat bolt-upright in his seat.  "Julwynn, did you hear that?"

Julwynn's eyes were wide.  "Yes.  There's trouble ahead.  Imminent."

Balnard didn't hesitate.  He'd learned to trust his wife's 'intuition' as he called it.  "Illian, Jules, take the turrets.  Talia, take the engineer's post.  Kato will assist but you'll need to help him keep power stabalized and the deflector screens balanced and properly angled."

There was no hesitation.  Talia spun from her communications station to the engineering panel.  She was out of her depth, but she would only be assisting Kato in keeping the power balanced so the deflectors would stay up.  Illian dropped into the turret well, going to the bottom turret while Julwynn climbed into the top turret.  They just had time to get the turrets powered up and ready when...

<<< EMERGENCE >>>

The wormhole tunnel collapsed and the Dragon emerged into real space, surrounded by the other ships of the convoy ... and the scream of TIE fighters.  "All ships BREAK BREAK BREA...hsssshhsskkTT"Illian heard the comm link from the convoy commander crackle and go dead.  At the same time there was a flare of light and the lead Nebulon-B frigate suddenly came apart, the narrow hull between the forward and after sections disintegrating under a concentrated attack.  At the same time a flight spun through the convoy - and into Illian's sights.  Without hesitation he fired, raking the flihgt as it swung past.  Two TIEs exploded, one disintegrating, the other spinning out of control and slamming into a neighboring YT-1300 freighter, which in turn spun down and away, spilling atmosphere and debris as it dropped out of formation.

Julwynn's turret hammered out fire on a different angle as Illian searched for more targets.  A second frigate was streaming air and appeared to be on fire but its laser cannons were still firing sporadically.  The other two had pulled together and were now putting up a shell of heavy fire, driving the fighters away.  Illian drew a beed on another gaggle and opened up, blowing up another fighter and damaging a second before they broke off.  Illian could feel the frantic pace of the song, but the melody was reaching a cadence point, shifting from a motif of fear and danger to one of relief and positive resolution.

The firing slacked.  Illian keyed his comm.  "Bal, any word from the convoy commander?"

"Not yet.  The fighters are pulling back.  I was afraid there'd be a couple of star destroyers here to back them up, but it looks more like an ambush by a lightly armed fighter carrier.  I'll bet they were expecting something with less defensive punch."

"Well, I'm not complaining." Talia replied.  "We took a few hits but the shields held..."

Illian used the turret sites to look over the formation.  Three freighters had been hit, two catastrophically.  A third appeared to be generally intact at first glance but a chill wind crept down his back when he realized the cockpit itself was gone, the tube a jagged scar with an emergency bulkhead visible just beyond the break.  That ship was maneuvering erratically, probably on some sort of emergency helm control from inside the ship...

"One of the frigates is swinging around to take the wounded freighters in tow." Julwynn called from her station.  "Bal, I'm tracking the fighters that pulled back..  They don't seem to be running to hard."

"Signal from the Katana." Talia broke in.  "Commander Sinclaire has assumed command of the convoy.  He confirms he is taking the damaged freighters in tow.  He and the Persus will transfer cargo and personnel the scuttle the ships.  We are to proceed independently to the final destination.  Jump coordinates are being transmitted now."

Balnard's voice came next.  "Navicomputer is receiving coordinates.  Charging the hyper drive for the jump now."

Illian scanned the area again.  The surviving TIE fighters had pulled back but were circling, regrouping but not assuming an attack formation.  "Fighters appear to be holding a perimeter.  I wonder what they're waiting for..."

Two freighters, apparently with faster recharging engines, suddenly streaked into wormhole space.  They were followed a few seconds later by another one, then three more.  "Ten seconds to jump..." Balnard called on the comm.

"There's your answer Illian." Julwynn called from her station.  "227 relative."

Illian spun his turret to the rear left quarter in time to see a second Star Destroyer emerge from hyperspace.  "Star Destroyers..."  The fighters had been a picket, covering one of the many points a convoy might appear in the system.  "It was all a trap..."

"Yes, but they're to late.  Here we go!" Balnard called, and they were suddenly streaking away into hyperspace - and safety.  "Looks like the rest of the freighters got out with us."

Illian secured his turret and climbed back up into the core of the ship.  He and Julwynn returned to the cockpit, where Julwynn assumed the copilot's seat while Illian slipped into the engineering station, allowing Talia to return to the communications panel.  "What about the frigates?"

Balnard looked at Illian and just shook his head.  Julwynn spoke for him.  "No way they'll make it out..."

"So where are we?  Kato?"

The droid booped and beeped impatiently.  Balnard chuckled.  "Ok, ok, do your calculations.  I know there's not many reference points out here."  He turned to the others.  "Kato will work up an exact position, but we're well out in the Null Zone in the Mid-Rim, somewhere opposite Hutt space, but exactly where...?"

The communications panel beeped, cutting off their speculation.  "Attention Convoy! This is Scardia Space Control.  Set transponders to the pre-arranged code and form up.  Escorts will rendezvous with you shortly.  Anyone not squawking the correct transponder codes will be ... quarantined.  Welcome to Space Station Scardia.  Control out."

"Well I'll be..."  Bal brought the Dragon around as a flight of fighters, sleek TIE Interceptors intercepted them.  Bal manuevered smoothly, slotting in with the other freighters while Julwynn found the transponder setting they'd been given and started transmitting.  Illian just stared out the windows, reaching out with the force, listening...  "Scarlia..."

Talia moved next to him, wrapping an arm around his waist and drawing herself close. She could sense her husband's reaction: disgust, loathing, fear, anger, sorrow... "What's this Scarlia?"

Illian shook himself, pulling back from the darkness he sensed.  "Scarlia is the headquarters of 'Church of the Dark Side'.  It is run by a collection of "dark prophets", founded by the Emperor's Hand

Blackhole and guided by those same dark prophets.  They're the "spiritual" arm of the Empire.  Scarlia is also, we believe, the primary recruiting center and training base for the Inquisitorious.  My former master and the other Jedi survivors on Jedda looked for this place for years.  We're literally about to walk into the heart of the enemy's camp."

Talia looked out at space, following Illian's gaze to where she could just make out the twinkling lights of a large space station.  Her eyes glittered.  "Well, we'll just have to knock their socks off then."

************

A half-kilometer away, another pair of eyes glittered as well.  "The Dragon...  So, Sgt. Kohl, we will finally meet again..."

Oooh, that's ominous!  Looks like someone knows who (or what) Kohl is! 

LOVING the space battles!  I need to learn that dynamic, I think  ;D

And "Scarlia?"  Nice introduction for the Church of the Dark Side; SO many possibilities to involve the Inquisitorious with that  ;)

And I'm reminded of Admiral Ackbar: "It's a trap!" 

BTW Karm, your use and knowledge of the SW galactic locals is amazing!  I love cross-referencing your stories with Wookiepedia, getting more backstory.  Wonderful!

Until next installment friends  :)

Chapter 5: Into the Net
Scarlia Station - Blackstar Construction Yard
5 ABY

Illian was ill-at-ease.  They'd been docked at Scarlia now for three days, at a section called the Blackstar Construction Yard.  It was quite obvious that the Church was busy preparing for some kind of military action.  Rumors, passed to them by dock hands during the process of unloading their cargo and replacing it with various cargo modules filled primarily with pamphlets and other "distribution materials" for the Churches angents on the Outer Rim, indicated that the head of the Church, a Prophet known as Katann, had thrown his support behind someone named Trioculus, the Slave Master from Kessel.  However, once Trioculus had moved to assume power the same Prophet had then withdrawn his support, probably because other power factions had moved against him and his position had grown weaker.

This had left Scarlia open to attack by those same forces.  Most of the locals, however, were confident that with a combination of the combat power they were amassing and the strength of the Dark Side
prophets their Church would prevail.  It had been all Illian could do to avoid choking as one chatty dock worker had shared a drink with him and did his best to recruit him into the Church, singing its praises with the fervor of a True Believer.

Fortunately, Illian had had something else to distract him from the pitch and his disgust at it.

About ten minutes after entering the bar, Talia had come in, her arm looped through that of the local comptroller, an over-weight middle-aged man who looked like a bald troll in his black "church" robes.
Talia had been a jewel on his arm, radiating glory and drawing every male eye in the room to herself as she'd flirted shamelessly with her target while Illian had seethed.  Nor had her dress, made of a shimmering, sheer material that left very little to the imagination help his mood.  He's managed to stay put and maintain a demeanor of attentiveness as his dock-worker buddy droned on, but mainly he'd
been angry at the way Talia continued to play the harlot- despite his request that she back off.  He'd tried to express his displeasure, but she hadn't understood.  To be effective, she had to have an effective cover.  One that others would believe.  But that was precisely the problem.

It was far to easy for Illian to believe her...

Illian's contact droned on.  This man was one that knew where things went and to who.  Illian had cultivated the contact in the hopes of extracting that information, but all he wanted to was preach about the virtues of the Church of the Dark Side.  He simply didn't see that "virtue" and "dark side" were mutually exclusive terms, even as he spoke of Ultimate Power and the Might to Crush the Foe...  Finally Illian had had enough.  He was supposed to meet Balnard and Julwynn in the cafe attached to the bar for a late meal once they were done securing the cargo containers on board, but he needed to take a walk, get some air and clear his head before that.  And he needed to get away from Talia and ... let her work.   He grabbed his drink and tossed it back, grimacing as the raw alcohol burned down his throat.  "Doug, my apologies.  Your Church sounds fascinating, but I will have to pass for now.  Please excuse me, I need to get back to my ship and check a few things out..."

Doug just grinned and raised his own glass.  "No problem, friend.  Consider what I said!  The Church will prevail against her enemies!  It is up to us to decide if we're on her side ... or not."

Illian just nodded and waved, tossing a hard currency chit onto the bar as he turned to leave.  He was one step away from the door when a very large, burly man blocked his way.  "Hold, friend.  Come with me, Administrator Carcas would like to speak with you..."

Illian had been fuming over Talia and her flirting, and had not been paying as close of attention as he should have.  He snapped his senses open as he stepped back, hands raised to shoulder height.  "Hello!  What seems to be the problem?"

The face before him was scarred and battered ... and looked like he could be Balnard Kohl's brother.  There was disfigurement, however, and a series of intricate tatoos that covered the left-half of the face, bald scalp, and ran down the neck under the armor.  Illian was struck by the sudden frenetic pace of the song, the melody hammering out a fight-or-flight agitato with a sinister harmonic undertone.  In the force he sensed there were several additional armed men in the passageway, all geared for a fight.  

Illian tensed but before he could do anything the man grabbed him by the lapels and pulled him in close, nose-to-nose.  His voice was a hoarse whisper, pitched low so only he could hear it.  "The problem, pretty-boy, is your ship's captain.  Balnard Kohl ... I want to know how you met him, where you came from, anything and everything you can tell me."

Illian's mind raced.  What does he want with Balnard?  He was framing a response, calming his mind to supply a mental nudge, when he felt Talia exerting pressure on him in the force as her sultry voice spoke from behind him.  "Well, I love to see men exerting themselves but fighting is so destructive.  Maybe I can offer a ... more entertaining diversion?"

The man drew Illian in even closer.  His hand shifted and Illian felt cold steel against his throat.  "M' name's Orlan.  Balnard and I were ... pod brothers.  We did everything together ... until he left us at Cold Harbor to die.  Now I want to know how you came by him and what his game is here." His eyes shifted to Talia and his voice rose enough for her to hear.  "I spoke with Garan.  He's a weak-minded fool, and fell for your witchcraft.  But if you or your whore try to use your mind-tricks on me..."  He left the threat un-said, the menace in his voice making his intent clear enough.

"Talia..." Illian said softly.  They would talk to this man.  Meanwhile they could find another way out...

A weak force-push drove the blade away from his throat - briefly.  Before more than pure shock could register Orland's hand countered the weak move.  Illian moved reflexively and managed to get his left hand up in time to fend off the first thrust, which saved his life.  His throat remained intact as he drew his saber and ignited it...

The knife, eight inches of razor-sharp battle steel, sank into his left side with a wet smacking sound.

Illian was aware of a cold numbness under his ribs on the left side.  For a second he assumed Orlan had either cut him or only made a shallow strike.  His body followed through with his own strike - an angled cut that split Orlan from his left shoulder to his right hip - without interruption.

Then the numbness was gone and there was only blinding, white-hot pain...

Illian collapsed, his saber shutting down and clattering to the deck.  Talia screamed and attacked, drawing a hold-out blaster she had somehow managed to conceal despite her brief attire.  Two of Orlan's
crew were killed instantly, two more wounded by Talia's fire, but it was to little to late.  Before she could consolidate the position or even attempt to escape station security personnel as well as bar patrons and passing Church acolytes swarmed her under, easily incapacitating her and binding her.

Illian saw it all through a red haze, his hand wrapped around the hilt of the knife which impaled him, struggling just to breathe...  Maker, preserve us...

The last thing he saw as the red veil closed over him was Talia being dragged away - and down the corridor, Balnard and Julwynn's shocked faces as they ducked into cover...

Don’t think anything is going as planned for the team, and their efforts to improvise aren’t working either….

“He simply didn't see that "virtue" and "dark side" were mutually exclusive terms”
I think Illian’s problem is he doesn’t realise for some people there is no contradiction there…that kind of thinking is going to get him in trouble by viewing them all as enemies.  Let alone his inability to let go of his jealously over Talia, he doesn’t own her after all. Every chapter he seems to become more and more of a liability to the whole operation...perhaps it’s not the Church of the Darkside that are the Zealot’s here….

Pod brothers sounds interesting though…vat grown, clones?

On an editorial note should it be Scardia not Scarlia?

You are right, LSG!  Scardia Station.  Oy...  Somewhere I transposed the "d" to an "l".  Nice catch!  Thanks, I have it corrected in my manuscript.  :-)

As for the rest...  Yes, they're all Zealots.  Nice catch, though.  You hit the nail on the head.  And while its good and even often essential to hold a belief in a zealous manner, you also have to understand other people's points of view...

I felt kinda bad killing Orlan off so quickly, too...  But we'll still learn a little more about him and Balnard's past...  :-)

I just love your writing. It is so fun to read, kind of like a mixture of J.R.R. Tolkien and Brian Jacques (if you know who he is). Fairly simple and easy to read, yet with the depth of an experienced writer. Anyways, two great chapters. I can't wait to see what comes next.

Yes, Karm's writing IS fun to read  :)

Still: I wonder what conundrum our friends have off and gotten themselves into now.

Ouch, hope that Illian has a healer nearby... And I'm wondering if Balnard's abilities with the Force are an inherited genetic trait or a fluke...

Awesome Karm!  Can't wait to read more  :)

Chapter 6: Decision Point
Scardia Station - Blackstar Construction Yard
5 ABY

Balnard led the way, weapons still holstered but his hand hovering only inches away from it.  Julwynn followed him, reaching out with the force, signalling him when to turn, when to duck, when to speed up or slow down.  They wove their way through the construction modules, taking maintenance corridors and side-passages, doing all they could to stay off the beaten pathway...

"Bal, left, we need to lay low for a minute!" She hissed in his ear.  Balnard didn't hesitate, just turned right and used a small electronic gizmo that materialized in his hand to open a door for them.  The two piled in and the door closed behind them, giving them their first moment to stop, breathe and think since...

Since Illian was ... killed?  Julwynn sank down into a lotus and reached out with the force... No, he was still there.  Still alive, but hurt badly.  His song was a chaotic jumble of pain and fear, all sense of melody and harmony lost, only the rhythmic beating of a heart hammering under it all and growing steadily slower and weaker...

Julwynn pulled herself out of Illian's song and used a part of her concentration to engage a healing motif and direct it at him in the force.  It wouldn't heal the way the strongest singers could, but it would hold the line for a while, giving Illian time.

Giving them all time...

"Balnard, we need to go back, get them out.  Signal Kato to get the ship ready..."

Balnard cut her off.  "No, lass.  That way is suicide.  We have a job to do, we need to do it.  Illian and Talia knew the risks going in.  Its only a matter o' time before these 'prophets' figure out who and what they are.  We need to take what we have and get it back to the Mak'Tor.  Let them mount a rescue mission.  Our job now is to survive and report."  He turned, offering her a hand to help her up.  "We need to move...now."

Julwynn pulled her hand away, scooting back, a look of shock on her face.  "You're...  you're going to leave them behind?  To die?  To be tortured to death?"  Her head started to shake slowly side to side.  "No...   No.  I cannot leave them behind.  I won't!"

Balnard reached down and seized his wife by the shoulders, physically lifting her to her feet.  "You will.  Its out DUTY, girl!  The information we've gathered, the intel that Kato lifted from the yard's computers while we were unloading, even just the location of this place, all need to be transmitted back to M'Tzigon!  C'mon, lass, think!  Yes, Illian and Talia will die.  Yes, it will be horrible.  But how much worse would it be for US to die as well, and all for nothing?  They are sacrificing themselves even now so that we can complete the mission!  Do we let them die in vain?"

Julwynn's green eyes hardened to emeralds, anger smoldering in their depths.  "No, Bal.  We don't let them die in vain.  We have Kato launch and squeal the information out, then stand by while we try to find a way to rescue our friends!  We don't abandon them.  And if the Maker decrees it, we die with them."

Bal released her and stepped back.  "So, that's it.  You're doin' this because you've gotten your head filled with this 'Maker' nonsense!"  He leaned in close, eye-to-eye and nose-to-nose with Julwynn.  "No god tells me what to do.  We have a mission!  We will finish it!  Because that is what I will."

Julwynn refused to back down, but she choked off her anger as best she could.  "Bal...  My head is not full of nonsense.  Yes, I believe in the Maker.  Yes, I believe in the Way that Father Tim'Ous taught me about.  And yes, that Way runs through here.  Bal, we all have a purpose!  I can hear the song.  Feel the force.  We're at a ... tipping point.  I can't sing and add my song to the greater melody the way my sister or Master Karmack can.  But I can feel when its reaching a point of decision.  Please..."  Julwynn fell to her knees.  "I can't promise its the best decision for us, personally, but the right thing to do is to at least try to help Illian and Talia.  I ... don't think I could live with myself if I walked away from them now.  Please..."

Balnard Kohl looked down at his wife ... his lover ... on her knees, begging him.  Begging...  So different than what she had been.  She'd been one to take, to use, to cast away.  She'd been intrigued with him more than anything else.  He'd taken her by surprise, and yes his original intent had been to use her as well.  But as she had been captivated, so had he, and as they learned more about each other he found that he had ... become used to her presence.

And then she'd changed.  It was easy to blame it on the Mak'Tor and their blasted 'Way' but he knew it had started long before that, before they'd even left Sullust.  When she'd seen more of what her sister was up to, learned more about Mellichae and Cha and Mendax, she'd ... turned.  Started to care more about others, less about herself.  M'Tzigon and the Way had only given form and direction to the change already happening within her.

And now she was begging him to let her die for a friend.

Balnard Kohl reached down and lifted his wife again, hugging her close.  "Alright Lass.  I'll send the bug-out code to Kato with a Case Red attached.  Lets see what we can find out about this place. I'd still rather survive than die, if that's ok with y' lass?"

Julwynn smiled a brilliant smile through her tears.  "Thank you."

Bal kissed her and grinned.  "Don't thank me yet!  I'm just a daft old man.  I haven't been able to say no to y' since the first time I saw ye on that table.  So lets get somewhere secure and see about helpin' our friends."

*************

Illian floated in a sea of blinding red pain.  The force, the song...  both were gone, lost in the swirl of searing agony.  It washed out his senses, blinded him, rang in his ears.  There was nothing else.  Illian heard a raspy, hoarse cry and distantly knew it as his own voice...

The pain dimmed.  Like a calm, soothing wave the song returned, wrapping around his mind, easing the pain ... somewhat.  With the relief also came sight.  Illian opened his eyes and found himself nose-to-nose with his interrogator.  Yellow eyes gleamed in the dark hood.  "Welcome back, Jedi.  You are a stubborn one.  Stupid, too.  You know how this ends.  Your friends have abandoned you.  Your mission here has failed.  Yet you persist in resisting or even admitting what you are.  Please, end this destructive, painful resistance.  Bring yourself peace.  Talk to me, Jedi, and I promise you a quick and clean end.  Otherwise..."

Illian braced himself, anticipating a return of the pain, but nothing happened.  His interrogator laughed.  "See?  You already anticipate it.  I think you might like it..."  A gloved hand reached out and lightly tapped the knife wound, driving a different type of agony through his body.  "Or maybe not..."

Illian shuddered and gathered himself, singing a healing song, desperately trying to damp the pain enough to access the force effectively.  His connection to the force was tenuous at best.  The song piereced the fog better, but he was no great singer.  He could only do what his mentor on M'Tzigon had called "humming" - finding and joining a few simple motifs that seemed to be woven into the very fabric of the song.  But even humming was better than nothing...

He felt a little strength seep back into his limbs.  The interrogation had been going on for a while now.  An interrogation droid hovered nearby, ready to attach additional leads to his body or inject chemicals as necessary, but it wasn't running the show.  Instead this dark hooded Inquisitor was personally inflicting pain on him via a series of bio-electrical probes stabbed into his body in various places - and makikng a show of enjoying himself in the process.  They had him bound naked to the interrogation table, and even as the cool soothing touch of the force aided by the song washed over him Illian knew that each of these interludes was calculated to further break him down.  Each recover only partially restored his waning strength - and only prolonged the overall agony.

As if reading his mind, the hooded figure manipulated a control and his entire left leg was suddenly on fire.  Illian reacted, back arching in agony and he emitted a hoarse shriek of agony as the electrical system convinced his nerves that someone had just immersed his left leg in molten glass.  Slowly the pain receded to a barely tolerable level again as his tormentor chuckled.  "As much as I enjoy this..."  He gestured to someone beind Illian, out of his view.  "I am afraid I must insist that you tell me what I wish to know.  Where are your Jedi friends hiding?  How many are there?  What provisions and equipment do they possess?  The pain will not stop, but if you will not answer me ... it will be shared."

Illian blinked and managed to clear his eyes in time to see a site that spiked him with terror and desperation: Talia, bound and stripped as he was, with the same probes affixed to her body.  Unlike him she was blindfolded and her mouth was blocked by a bulky gag, preventing her from biting her tongue - or screaming to loudly.  The Inquisitor's eyes danced with evil delight as he picked up the leads from Talia's interrogation table and plugged it into his control panel.  "And now ... everything you feel, she will feel as well."

For a split second Illian was frozen in time, filled with utter despair and impotent fury.  The force, so long his ally, was utterly out of reach, walled off by a wall of white-hot agony and he was unable to do anything.  Unable to protect his wife.  Unable to strike his enemies.  Unable to save himself or the woman he loved...

And then the device activated and husband and wife reacted as one, screaming in unison as the electodes mimicked the feeling of molten lead being poured into their stomaches and bowels.  Muscles strained against their bonds as they thrashed against the torment, to no avail.

Finally, after another eternity of agony, the pain relented again.  Again, the probe of his mind.  Again, Illian found the strength to batter it aside.  To set his jaw in defiance.  "Really you still resist?  I am impressed ... Jedi."

Illian looked hate at the man - and spoke at last.  "Mak'Tor...not...Jedi..." he coughed, ignored the blood on his lips.  "Much ... worse..."

The Inquisitor laughed, a full belly-laugh this time.  "Really?  You lie there helpless, unable to help yourself or your companion while I can do ... this..."  Agony coursed through them again.  "And you threaten me?"

He was still laughing when the wall of the interrogation room exploded inward, a shard of steel slicing him neatly in half...

The voice of pragmatism against the voice of hope...seems Balnard gave in too easily at the end though. Really though they should've all realised they were out of their depth as soon as they Reached Scardia.  

Poor Illian, he can't get anything right can he....I'm surprised the Inquisitor was so "gentle" with them overall...I'd have thought a better way was to leave Illian and focus on Talia maybe he was just getting started...

Somehow I doubt its Balnard and Julwyyn who caused that explosion though, that would be much too easy.  Anyway small secondary problem - Explosion big enough to slice someone in two...Illian and Talia both tied naked....um...shrapnel much! Ouch!

Chapter 7: Redemption
Blackstar Base
5 ABY

"I no ken how y' talked me into this lass..." Balnard mumbled under his breath. Then louder: "OK, lass.  Ready when y' are..."

"OK, brace yourself.  You'll only have a few seconds before the emergency bulkheads close.  Don't get caught in the wrong place!"

Bal laughed.  "Me?  You're worried o' me?  Lass, you do what y' must and then move your ass to the extraction point.  Whatever damage is done these black-souled Inquisitors will be swarmin' or're the place in no time..."

"I love you to, Bal.  Now, get ready..."

The detention block was in the core of the habitat ring of Blackstar Base.  If they'd been taken to the main detention facilities in Scardia Station this would never have worked.  The cubical station was to massive, the habitat and especially the detention areas to deep in the structure.  But here...

Blackstar was designed as a construction base, mimicking the far larger Kuat Drive Yards.  Built in 3 stacked rings, the upper and lower were a series of construction slips and cargo handling docks, with a habitat ring in between and a central hub housing operations and logistics support offices and zero-g construction modules.  The Dragon had shot away from its berth at Cargo Bay 3/C3 two minutes earlier, dodging and weaving as it broke contact and fled the system.  Fighters were in pursuit, but the modified freighter had a head start and was fast enough that it was already to far away for a successful interception before Kato made the jump to light-speed.

Balnard wished he'd insisted that they had gone with it ... but only for an instant.  Deep down, he was glad in the end that his wife had insisted they stay and try to spring Illian and Talia.  Even if they died, he suspected that he wouldn't have been able to live with himself afterward.  Mission or no, he'd made a vow to never again leave someone behind... Ach!  No excuses!  I'm goin' soft in my old age, and its going to get me killed today...

And then it was time.  They'd picked this spot because there was a large, automated freighter sitting nearby waiting for final docking instructions.  Julwynn was in a fairly safe place on the outer edge of the docking ring above him, with a clear line-of-site to the ship.  Balnard didn't fully understand why, but she needed to be able to see it to pull off what she was about to do.  He watched on a small screen display of the area outside as she used the force to reset the ship's controls.  She nudged the nose around, bringing it into line with the habitat ring ... and kicked the main engines to full emergency thrust.

The freighter was empty, waiting for cargo, but it still weighted upwards of 20k tons.  It was still only traveling at a few dozen meters per second when it slammed into the station's habitat ring, but that was a LOT of mass, and the engines continued to drive the ship forward even as the outer skin and bulkheads let go unleashing fire and chaos within...

Balnard leapt into the flames of hell.

His armor was a modified Mandalorian design, complete with a flight-capable back-pack and suitable for zero-gee and operations in a vacuum.  His first enemy was the wind, as the atmosphere around him vented explosively into space.  He held his course, dodging debris, and just as quickly as the hurricane began it ended, the local air gone through the massive hole.  A few quick thrusts and he was out of the public corridor he'd staged in and deep into the detention area.  He slammed to a halt as the emergency bulkheads closed behind him and pulled an unfamiliar device from his belt - a lightsaber.  Specifically it was Illian's primary hilt, the one he'd built as a Jedi padawan and carried openly as both Jedi and Mak'Tor Knight.  The smaller 'hold-out' blade he'd been carrying when he was taken was smaller, slimmer, and had a far shorter combat endurance but was much easier to hide.  He'd left his larger "combat" saber on the ship...

Bal ignighted the blade, nearly dropping it as the gyroscopic effects of the plasma in the blade reacting to the containment system surprised him.  He maintained his grip, however, and then grinned as the blade sliced effortlessly through the wall of the detention center.  There was just enough of an over-pressure from the internal space to pop the plug out of the hole as he finished the cut, and he killed the blade and drew his familiar blaster as he stepped through.

Maker....

Something, a support member of the station itself, perhaps, had been driven inward by the strike and had ... raked through the interrogation rooms.  Balnard was in the observation area, where the worst had happened.  The floor, the walls, everything was covered in blood...  There were three observers here, all robed, all dead, and enough spare parts to make up at least two more ... maybe three...

Balnard was moving quickly.  Time was short.  He kicked open a jammed door and moved into the main interrogation space and swallowed hard...

Someone with gray skin and sightless yellow eyes lay in two pieces, sliced neatly in half by a shard of metal that was razor-sharp and nearly five meters long.  An interrogation droid popped up from the corner and rotated toward him, trying to bring its stunner to bear, but Balnard was faster and calmly blew the black sphere apart.  He snatched up a bloody robe and draped it over Talia, who was unconscious and bleeding profusely from several cuts but didn't appear to be to severely injured.  He nearly blanched again when he realized that the electrical probes had been stabbed deep into her body, not just stuck to the skin.  He slowed and pulled them out carefully and quickly, then slapped backa-soaked field dressings on her wounds and wrapped the black robe around her.  Lifting her, he turned to Illian...

With a snarl the red blade appeared and dropped like a hatchet, cutting through the Mak'Tor knight and the table with ease before slicing into the complex interrogation controls on the deck.  The box exploded in a shower of sparks, obscuring the Inquisitor - a Zabrek with a cybernetic arm and wearing armor nearly identical to Balnard's.  Bal didn't hesitate.  He simply turned and ran, showering the area where the Zabrek was with blaster fire before ducking into the crawl space he and Julwynn had identified for their escape.

Adrenaline pumped through his system but Balnard kept calm.  He dropped a listening device behind him as he climbed, and quickly noted the sounds of pursuit.  As he exited the shaft he dropped a second gift - a small thermal detonator.  He had to use his jets, risking a collision and severe injury to Talia, to clear the space fast enough but he was just able to get beyond the next set of blast doors before the detonator went off behind him.

The blast doors he's just passed slammed shut as the space he'd been in suddenly lost its atmospheric integrity, and Balnard slowed his frantic pace, returning to the evasion pattern he'd planned and working his way carefully to the airlock where Julwynn waited for him, hopefully with a ship suitable for their escape.

It took twenty minutes to reach her, and when he finally did he was both relieved to see her ... and heart-broken as she saw Talia, the blood, and the look in his eyes ... and she knew.  He said it anyway.  "Illian is dead, lass.  One of the Inquisitors..."

"I am no Inquisitor, worm!" barked a voice behind Balnard.

Balnard Kohl was rarely taken by surprise, but this time was an exception.  "But..   How?"

The Zabrek laughed.  "Do you think explosives can kill me?  Really now."  He looked at Talia, still cradled in Balnard's arms.  "Fear not, I have no interest in you.  Its the Mak'Tor I want."

Julwynn stepped forward.  "Why?  What does she mean to you?"

Mellichae drew himself to his full height, and his eyes gleamed.  "You favor your sister...  You should have remained loyal.  But even you I will allow to live ... today.  I only need one sacrifice."  He drew his saber, igniting the blades.  "Now ... stand aside.  Or die."

Julwynn stepped forward and withdrew her own saber, also red, also double-bladed.  "No.  She is my friend, and if necessary I will die today to prevent you or anyone else from taking her."

Mellichae smiled.  "Suit yourself."  And he began to sing.

Balnard felt momentary confusion and panic slam through him as his wife went from defiance to fear to dispair before his eyes.  One moment she was a warrior, spitting defiance.  The next she was prey, utterly defeated.  Even Talia, just rousing, suddenly curled tight against him, whimpering in fear.  Then he realized what was happening and his mind raced.

The Zabrek, still singing, raised his saber and advanced...

Maker, preserve us! Balnard prayed, perhaps for the first time in his life, and waited, letting a look of terror inhabit his face.  He fell to his knees, toppled forward, dropping Talia on the floor as he scrambled, looking for everything like someone in a blind panic grasping at anything to just get away...

...until his hand arced up, the blue blade of Illian's saber igniting and slicing through the Zabrek's saber hilt, destroying the saber and cutting his mechanical hand off across the palm.

Mellichae roared, this time in pain and fury.  "No!  How???"  He focused on Balnard, who rose now into a fighting stance.  He'd never wielded a lightsaber before today but bladed weapons were old friends, and he knew several different fighting forms.  He adopted one now and advanced on the Zabrek.

Confusion pierced the rage on Mellichae's face.  "You...  What are you?  You're not ... there.  No presence in the force.  Like a droid..."  Fear appeared, and the Zabrek turned and ran. 

Balnard let him go, shutting the saber down.  "Are y' allright lass?" he asked, lifting Julwynn to her feet. 

"Yes..." She said, but her eyes said different.  Balnard pulled her tight as the tears started.  "Bal... I was terrified..."

"It's not your fault, Julwynn.  He was a singer.  A powerful one." Talia said from behind them.

Bal and Julwynn both turned to look at the young woman, sitting up now, swaddled in a blood-soaked robe.  Her voice was unnaturally flat and steady but her eyes were bright with tears.  Balnard met her eyes.  "I'm sorry, lass..."

Talia just nodded, her chin trembling as she burst into tears.  "No, Bal.  We screwed up.  You could have left us, but you came back for us and Illian knew it, at the last.  We felt what Julwynn was doing.  I just wanted to give up.  To wait, but he never quit.  I felt him grab the steel and steer it, but it split and in order to hit his mark..." she stopped, unable to continue.

Julwynn moved, sinking down next to Talia and wrapping her arms around her, cradling her head on her own shoulder. "Shhhh.."

Balnard watched them for long seconds, unable to look away.  Situation awareness, trooper! he chided himself at last, looking outward, plugging into the sensor net.  To his surprise their codes still worked.  He pulled up internal and external sensors, looking for an opening.  They had to be just about surrounded by security forces by now...

The internal board was clear.  That's odd...  A quick glance at the larger scanner showed the answer: a rash of red icons surrounded Scardia Station, led by the ISD Steadfast.  Rumors had been flying that Grand Admiral Makati had it in for the Prophet.  The workers Balnard had spoken to seemed to think that was the cause of the build-up and the reason Blackstar Base had been built. It looks like they were right...

So that was why no one was closing in on them: they had bigger problems to deal with than a prison break.  But it was also bad news, because that same crisis meant that everything capable of flying was now in space.

There was no way out.

Balnard looked back at his wife, still hugging the weeping Talia, and felt his own sorrow.  Not for himself, but for her.  For Talia.  For Illian.  He'd lived a good life, longer than he ever expected to live, and had more happiness in the end than he'd ever felt he would.  But they were both young.  Both full of life.  And now, like Illian, they would die young.

Maker!  You call yourself a God!  This is not fair!  This is not right!  This is NOT JUST!  Do something!

Green sparks erupted as the Steadfast began its bombardment of Scardia. 

Mellichae is back...and he is not happy at all.  Good inclusion.  Poor Illian...he really wasn't suited to this mission on reflection, but he died well in managing to guide the explosion a little, given the torture that couldn't have been easy.  Balnard really gets going in this chapter, good exposition of his skills and experience.


It seems they have terrible timing though...infighting within the Empire is not the best thing to be in the middle of...

Yeah.  As an author the phrase "painted into a corner" keeps ringing in my head...  ;-)

When this gets back to Karm, he ain't gonna be happy. Wonderfully written, yet extremely sad. Obviously I hope that somehow Illian isn't dead, but even the Aethan's can't bring someone who is dead back to life.  :'(  But that little winky face that you did there gives me hope that something may not be as it currently seems.

Wow Karm...

Two big surprises: Illian dying  :( noble sacrifice... And Mellichae showing up  :o

Man that guy always is in the wrong place at the wrong time (for our heroes, that is).  Bal has certainly become a favorite!  His skill set coupled with his unique ability...awesome.  But I have no idea how he's going to get them out of this mess...

_{playing "Taps" for Illian} "To absent friends"

Aethans can't bring back the dead - that sounds like a challenge!

Well, at least not as far as we know. ;) We know they can heal, make young, etc. but we haven't seen anyone brought back to life. Yet.

can't they?  I thought that was exactly what Valens was after...

Pretty much...after all with the Force anything is possible......
"The dark side of the Force is a pathway to many abilities, some considered to be unnatural.” Darth Sidious

Oohh, ominous...  ;)

Then again...look what they did for Mendax...

*** deep Hutt laughter echoes through the thred ***

Chapter 8: Bread on the Water
Blackstar Base
5 ABY


Balnard watched the explosions march across Scardia Station and pushed down the rising despair he felt. Alarms rang on the station, the unexpected attack overshadowing even the damage control activity from the collision they had perpetrated.  The sounds of panic echoed through the station and Balnard watched as fighters and assault shuttles launched, streaking toward the Imperial fleet only to be swatted away by the fire of escorting corvettes, frigates and TIE fighters.

It was a slaughter...

Balnard looked down at the wreck of the freighter.  They were back in the upper docking ring, not far from where the Dragon had been docked, and the wreck was clearly visible.  The hull stuck out of the side of the habitat ring's pressure hull like a cross-bow bolt, stubby and lethal.  The fires had died down for lack of fuel as the small amounts of atmosphere on the automated ship vented and the engines had long since died.  The push they'd given the station would have required correction - if it didn't seem a certainty that the station itself only had a few hours at most to exist anyway.  He shook his head, mind racing.  The escape pods were gone - panic evacuations when the freighter had hit - and anything that could fly was either headed into  battle or running away.  There was nowhere to go...

"Bal ... cargo bay ... pods ... medical ... three cee two ..." Talia croaked out, a suddenly intense look on her face. 

Julwynn shushed her, cradling her head back to her shoulder as a mother would a child.

The lass is daft... Balnard frowned sadly, the pathos of his wife and her friend tugging at his heart in an odd way for the old warrior.  ...still, what do we have to lose?  Balnard shut down the tactical displays and called up the manifest from cargo bay 3-C2.  The list of cargo container pods was long and varied, but it was row after row of hardware and spare parts.  Bal tabbed through the list quickly, his eyes starting to glaze and drift slightly...  "Wait..."  He stopped and back-tracked.  There...  "Well I'll be dipped..."

Julwynn's eyes sharpened their focus.  "You found something?"

Bal nodded.  "Maybe..."  He pulled up the manifest on the unit, a Modular Emergency Medical Pod, designed to be deployed independently or in combination with other units.  "Medical supplies...  Water supply...  Water recycling plant...  Emergency rations...  Full life support..." Bal tapped some additional keys.  "Seven modules with universal docking clamps for hexagonal arrangement with core..."  Bal nodded to himself, still mumbling as his eyes dropped back down through the list of the bay's contents.  The tugs and lighters were all gone, of course, as were the escape pods, but...  Yes!  That will do nicely...  "Jules, can y' carry th' lass?"  Julwynn responded by rising, using the force to lift Talia with ease.  Bal smiled.  "Excellent. Follow me, lass, and stay close.  There be trouble afoot, and I've lost enough friends for one day."

**********

"Joker One to all Jokers: Stand by for jump to hyperspace." Armsman Captain B'Lain checked the coordinates he'd entered into the navicomputer and suppressed a sigh.  His flight, call-sign "Joker", consisted of a dozen ARC-170-MXZ fighters, two tankers, two heavy cargo shuttles and a CR-90 corvette.  They'd been on deep patrol when the Alpha-priority message had come in giving a set of coordinates in Mid-Rim null space and an order to proceed at best speed and render assistance as needed to four Mak'Tor operatives there.  No other explanation, no clue what they were jumping into...

And no sense worrying about it.  If a Knight was in trouble, the Men-At-Arms would bail them out - and make sure they never forgot about it!  Still, caution was required, so Captain B'Lain had staged his team a short hop out from the final coordinates, where they'd refueled and reformed for the final jump in.  He would leave four fighters behind with his tankers as escorts, and the four ships would jump to a nearby rally point.  Meanwhile the rest of his fighters, the heavy shuttles and the CR-90 corvette would proceed to the coordinates, and with the Maker's help they'd deal with whatever situation they found there.

Or die trying...

"Joker Nine, stay sharp.  We're a half-hour out, but I have no idea what we'll find there.  Wait eight hours, and if there's no contact proceed home without us."

"But sir..." Joker nine, Flight Officer Jan'a'naith, began to protest.

B'Lain cut her off.  "Orders, Jan.  Follow them.  If we don't come back, you need to go back and get help before returning.  Anything that can chew up eight fighters and a corvette won't have to much trouble with four fighters.  Understood?"

"Yes sir.  Maker preserve you, sir."

"And you."  B'Lain grinned and toggled his stick.  "Ok, Jokers, let's go.  Jump to hyperspace on my mark."

"Three..."

"Two..."

"One..."

"Mark!"

B'Lain hit his jump control and this fighter leapt forward with psuedo-motion into the tunnel of hyperspace, followed by the remainder of the flight, the shuttles and corvette. 

It was a leap into the dark.  Thirty minutes...  The crews settled down for the tense wait as the nothingness of hyperspace swirled by outside their cockpits.

*************


They reached the cargo bay without incident.  Talia had lapsed back into unconsciousness along the way, despite the healing song Julwynn was singing over her.  They had one close call when they'd literally come around a corner and come face-to-face with a squad of Storm Troopers.  Bal's blaster had come to life and started cutting them down but it would have been the end of the line if Julwynn hadn't pitched in as well, picking up and tossing several of the troopers down side corridors and crunching them into wall and ceiling panels.

But now they were here, and Bal needed to get to work.  "Lass, set the wee girl down and cover me.  This is giong to take a bit..."

Julwynn carefully laid Talia down on the deck, curled near Balnard, and stepped out where she could cover the corridor intersection.  She ignited her saber blades and extended her senses, shifting to a battle song as she covered her husband.

Bal cracked his knuckled theatrically and began reconfiguring the modules in the bay. First, he keyed in a series of commands that would release the docking clamps on the nearly 1000 cargo containers currently in the bay ten seconds before dropping the bay's atmospheric shield.  This would allow the bay to explosively decompress, sending the contents of the bay hurtling violently into space in what he hoped would resemble just another system failure on a base that was already starting to come apart under the hammering of the Star Destroyer's guns. 

The next part was a bit more tricky as he isolated the seven MEM Pods and maneuvered them into position. He wanted them in their full hexagonal formation.  Fortunately the pods were designed for deployment under less-than-ideal conditions by inexperienced personnel and the on-board computers took over, using the small thrusters built into the outer hulls to maneuver each pod into position and docking them quickly and efficiently.  That done, he maneuvered a small robo-tug into place and affixed it to one end of the "core" MEM-P.  He then put a second unit on the other end, giving him a low-endurance thrust package on either end of the impromptu spacecraft / life raft. 

The final move was to program the core pod's computer with the standard Mak'Tor distress beacon codes Telow'na had given them when they departed.  There was no way to stealth the output but he was operating as much on hope at this point.  Besides, even the Imperials would hesitate to just blow up a medical pod.  Even capture at this point would be better than the alternative of being blown to bits by the Star Destroyer's bombardment.

Bal completed his commands and extended a docking tube to the outer layer of his impromptu life raft.  "OK, Lass, that's the best I can do.  Let's go." He called, scooping up Talia and handing her to his wife as she tucked her saber away and headed down the tube.  Bal looked around one last time, checked to verify that control of his programs had indeed passed to the MEM-P's onboard computer, and then fired three shots into the bay's control terminal.  He then sealed the hatch and boarded the MEM-P, leaving a small thermal detonator behind in the tube.  It went off with a muted <<crump>> as they transferred to the core MEM-P, sealing them off from any outside intervention.

Bal sat down and strapped in at the main terminal.  The pods were designed with transport of medical personnel in mind as well as on-site treatment and triage, and there were several seats with 5-point harness systems.  "Strap in, lass.  This is going to be a bumpy ride..."

Julwynn braced Talia in a cushioned seat and strapped her in, then herself.  Balnard did his final checks, checked the passengers, and then pressed a flashing key.  "Hold on."

Julwynn braced them with the force, waiting...

There was a loud "THUNK" and the collection of containers across the bay floated free.  For a few seconds they floated, free, calm, peaceful...

Then the force field dropped and with a roar 1000 containers blew out into space.  Behind them the station, now under fire from the Star Destroyers directly, came apart with fire and fury, adding to the spreading debris ... and cover.

**************


Captain B'Lain flexed her fingers on the controls as the time to emergence wound down.  She checked the status of the ARC-170-MXZ fighter.  The design dated back to the clone wars, but the current model flown by the Men-At-Arms of M'Tzigon was quite different from the original.  the biggest change was the reduction from three crewmen to one, plus the ever-present astromech droid.  The additional space had been used for more powerful weaponry, eight concussion missiles instead of six, and a faster hyperdrive.  B'Lain understood the logic and in combat the heavier weapons, shields, and overall faster drives and better maneuvering were a plus.  But on these long hops...

She missed having someone to talk to.

"Joker One to Joker flight: Stand by..." She called, watching the counter dial down to zero.  With a flash the hyperspace tunnel dissolved and dropped the eight fighters and accompanying ships into real space ... and right on top of one of the most bizaar sights any of them had ever seen.

Immediately to her front, Captain B'Lain saw what looked like a cylinder or perhaps a brick accellerating sluggishly away from a surrounding cloud of additional bricks.  Whatever was driving the ... ship ... it wasn't particularly powerful, but it was steadily putting distance between itself and the debris field it was leaving.  Her targeting sensors told her that there were small craft coming out from a gaggle of Imperial Star Destroyers parked nearby to check out the field, but it looked like a shuttle with a pair of escorting fighters - a standard search-and-rescue formation, in no hurry to close the distance.  Dozens of other such formations were poking through a truely immense debris field in the near distance, but it all looked like an exercise.  There was zero urgency to anyone's movements.

Except for the make-shift ship in front of them, which appeared to be moving with as much urgency as it could muster..

"Joker Prime to Joker One." Captain Ne'man'Jo of the CR-90 corvette, the Virtuoso called her on the tactical link.  "We're being challenged by the Star Destroyer.  Suggest we expedite."

"Affirmative."  B'Lain watched her sensor suite stabalize following the jump.  "I'm getting a transponder from ... whatever that is ... headed toward us.  Wait one..."  She hit a switch on her stick, toggling to a general hailing frequency.  "This is Captain B'Lain'Throwd of the M'Tzigon Men-At-Arms.  I am picking up your transponder.  Please state your designation and need."

There was a crackle of static, then a very relieved sounding gravel voice responded.  "Captain, this is Shadow.  Condition Xenophon.  Request immediate extraction."

B'Lain blinked, then watched as Lexi spit out a translation of the codes.  "Shadow" was an under-cover mission sanctioned by the Mak'Tor Intelligence group, reporting directly back to Maenowan Jackson.  "Condition Xenophon" meant that they were blown, in retreat, and had taken casualties requiring immediate medical attention.  And immediate extraction...

Well. It meant "get us the hades out of here...."

"Shadow, we read.  Can you cut your accelleration?"

"Affirmative, Captain."

"Very good.  Cut accelleration and prepare for docking.  Once you're aboard the shuttle we can get you out of here." 

B'Lain saw the shuttle was already maneuvering to match velocity with the unorhodox craft even as her Joker flight spread out to cover them.  The Virtuoso hovered nearby, matching the fighter's general course changes without getting to close, the second shuttle tucked in close under the cover of it's guns.

It took less than two minutes for the transfer to complete, and they were on their way.  The last thing B'Lain saw was the core section of the craft explode, tossing the outer ring sections away to rejoin their fellows in the debris field.  By the time the SAR craft were in range for detailed scans, the Mak'Tor craft were long gone.

Cool little search and rescue, but main point of interest here is seeing the Men at Arms make their first big appearance (or at least firs solid POV).  Interesting to see just how integrated they are into the Mak'tor command structure, way more than just a defensive force it seems...a curious parallel you've built in with the ARC fighters, like the men at arms are even in their equipment like the the clones to the Mak'tor's Jedi.

I was wondering how Bal would get them out of there and he (you) didn't disappoint!  What rich details especially concerning the Mak'Tor Men-At-Arms; not just "canon-fodder" but integral characters within a much more complex (and interesting) dynamic!

_{grumbles Wish I had thought of that...}  ;)

Well Karm, it's official: you really go out of your way to throw your people out of the proverbial frying pan and into the fire...

Illian dead ( :( ), Talia badly hurt, Mellichae abroad wanting revenge, to say nothing of the mission...

This.  Is.  Good.  Writing.

I think Bal is going to be a Mak'Tor "fixer" and he's got A LOT to catch up with  ;)

Yes and no...   Honestly, I picked the ARC-170 fighter for the Mak'Tor Men-At-Arms for three reasons.
1. Its "old" - and therefore would be more likely to be available for construction under license.  The ARC-170-MXZ is a modified version, only has one pilot, so its more like an X-wing operationally but I didn't want to give them X-wings.
2. It is a "heavy" fighter with its own hyper drive and carries an astromech droid.  Again, like the X-wing ... but not an X-wing.
3. The ARC-170 is, at least in canon, still in use with both Imperial and Rebel forces.  While we haven't seen it on camera, the Wookipedia entry clearly states that the ARC-170 was still in use among both Imperial and Rebel forces during the Rebellion era.   It was considered an "elite" craft, not a cannon-fodder craft like the TIE... 

I will be honest, I didn't even think about the clone/jedi parallel when I laid this equipment list down.  But I can certainly see your point.  :-)  I think the Mak'Tor Knights would see themselves in relation to the Men-At-Arms more like, oh...  Delta Force compared to the Regular Army.  Elite troops, yes.  Certainly in a "special" niche, but still all part of the overall Mak'Tor military structure.  Such as it is...

But you've raised a very interesting point, and I think it may be time for Joker Flight to get a story all it's own.   Hmm..... 

I've got a LEGO ARC-170. It is pretty awesome.  ;D

Besides that, this has just been quite the ride so far, and I don't think we're done yet. Like TD said, great writing. And a story just about the Joker squad, that would be awesome.

That is why comments are so helpful, you guys always come up with points and connections i hadn't really thought about before that shift how i look at my own stories at times!!! All feeds into the next chapter!

Chapter 9: Afterward...
M'Tzigon
5 ABY

Talia felt the warmth on her cheeks, drying the tears, and knew that the sun was rising over the horizon.  She opened her eyes and saw the warm orange glow of sunrise on the obsidian pillar standing before her.  Rows of names lined the face, but only the last, newest name mattered to her at this moment.  She reached out and traced it, a ritual she realized she would be repeating for a very long time...  Il'Lian'Cam...

A gentle clearing of a throat nearby caugth her attention.  "I thougth I'd find y' here lass."

Talia turned to find Balnard standing there, looking oddly awkward.  "Bal.  What can I do for you?"

Balnard stepped closer, eyes cast downard.  "I ... wanted to give you this.  I managed to hang onto it..."

Talia took the object, heavy an cylindrical and wrapped in a heavy-weight back velvet bag.  Inside was Illian's lightsaber.  "Bal..."  Eyes shining, Talia stepped up and hugged him hard around the neck.  "Thank you, Bal.  This means more to me than you can imagine."

Bal didn't say anything.  He just bobbed his head, turned and left Talia with her renewed grief.

********

Julwynn held Balnard's hand under the table as they sat with Melow'na Jackson once again in her office.  "Welcome home.  I read your report, as well as the updates you  squealed out via KT-40 along the way.  While the loss of Knight Il'Lian is tragic, it is obvious that it resulted primarily from being put into a position that was beyond the scope of his training.  So that's on me."  Melow'na looked down at the folder on the desk before her, her own eyes shinging.  "Joker flight was dispatched to support you after Kato's last report.  Another group, The Black Aces, traced three of the other light freighters.  So far as we can tell the KDY shipments to Blackstar Base were going into construction meant for forces loyal to Trioculous, and were destroyed along with the base.  The Inquisitorious that were training and equipping there are being tracked now by ... other assets."  A look of odd satisfaction flitted briefly across her face before she masked it again.  "I wanted to thank you two for pulling the mission off and rescuing Talia.  For that I am grateful."

Julwynn's eyes shone but she only smiled.  "You are welcome, ma'am.  So ... what's next?"

Telow'na leaned back and studied the couple for long seconds, then tossed over the folder.  "This ... if you're interested.  Read it, think on it, and then let me know if you're interested."

Julwynn picked up the sealed folder, glanced at it, and handed it over to Balnard.  He read it without expression.  Under the normal "Top Secret" stamps and seals there was only one word: "Starfire"

*********

Flames crackled and rolled through the shattered compound.  Dark troopers moved here and there, gathering equipment or personal tokens of their victories over the guardians of the compound.  Mellichae flexed his new cortosis-plated arm in satisfaction.  It had performed splendidly, and proven key to defeating the Kowan who had been leading the stubborn defense of the Mak'Tor medical station on Cassander.  Tucked away in an out-of-the-way section of the spaceport they had proven vulnerable when his Infiltrator landed. 

And now...

Mellichae stopped before the two captive taken alive.  Robes torn and streaked with blood and carbon, they were on their knees bound and blindfolded.  They were also gagged and drugged.  No sense risking them trying to sing or use the force...  Shock binders on their wrists and shock collars around their necks were also in place to provide proactive control.

One of his Shadows trotted up.  "Sir!  All medical supplies and crystals have been collected.  We are ready to proceed."

Mellichae smiled broadly.  "Well done!  Lets get these two loaded up and get out of here."

The Shadow looked down at the prisoners, face sour.  "Why keep them alive?  Why not just kill them and be done with it?"

Mellichae nudged one of them, the young female apprentice of the older female healer, with his toe.  The girl whimpered and flinched away, nearly toppling over.  Mellichae felt her fear in the force, relished her panic in the song.  He looked up as his subordinate.  "Rest assured.  They will be useful."  He looked back down, his face now hungry.  "And then they will die."


*** The End ***

The End...

Oh that is the probably the most inaccurate way to describe that chapter ever!! I won't say its a good conclusion to an great series because it is clearly not over!!

Three solid new leads rather...the Mak'Tor are in trouble if Mellichae is gunning straight for them...they have the numbers but he had flexibility and ruthlessness they can't match without losses.  And the Starfire...interesting choice to have Bal and Julwynn look into that at least in part...

Talia might be a bit of a dark horse...if she here's about the attack on Cassander - as Obi Wan might say..."This is  dangerous time for you, when you will be tempted by the dark side of the force"   

It WILL be interesting to see how she handles the temptation to attempt to avenge her loss.  Especially, as you say, if she finds out about the attack on the Mak'Tor medical mission.

LSG is SO right: "The End?!"

NO!!!

Ah, but onto MORE stories!  And Mellichae is such a great bast...I mean bad guy.  Yeah.  And with a cortosis cybernetic arm?!  Karm better be careful...

And I like your idea about Joker Squadron; I'd like to read more about them.

Poor Talia...and Illian.  Said it before but: great writing!

Two of the best ways to end a tale; with finality, wrapping up all the threads, leaving them neatly knotted and done, or leaving the door open to one or more tales to come.  You have artfully chosen the latter, and twined the curiosity of the reader into the threats to come!

*bows*  That's probably the best complement I've gotten in a while.  :-)

As much as I love your writing and characters Karm, I hate that you had to kill Illian. How things could have gone differently, I don't know, but maybe, just maybe we will still get the chance to see more of Illian. *cough*Aethansareworkingtobringbackthedead*cough* But the idea of more stories to come is intriguing. I almost hope that after the ordeal they just endured, Julwynn and Bal decide not to go on this "Starfire" mission, but at the same time, I do not think it would be a good idea for Karm to go on it either, based on what just happened here, and in GatU. Anyways, great writing, and I can't wait to see what you have planned next.

Writer's secret: When I wrote that scene I had worked my way to the point where I knew someone was going to die.  But I couldn't decide.  I wrote the scene over and over... 

In the end I flipped a coin.  :-/

Sorry.... 

As authors, sometimes we become but conduits, and the story takes us where it will, even to places we had not been certain we are ready to go.  As well, the characters, when coming so fully to life, must be real in all ways, including vulnerabilities, mortality, or they will always miss that essential trait of believability.  Well done, Karmack.

Oh, I just had a thought as to who one of the two women are at the end. Could it be that one of them is Master Racc? :o ???

THIS SO much!  

I know of a few times that I had a story aiming one way in my head until I got to writing...and went in a completely different direction  ;).  

Seriously Illyiss, and the human fallacies, emotions, and imperfections create wonderful pathos!

Hmm...I think I may have something like that...

Oh nice TR! I hadn't considered that...

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