"Well, no, but thanks for your concern," Reyvan thanked her.

Quinlan started walking around the Temple, looking for something to do. He was bored and his next lesson would just probably be in some other days.

"You're right. I'll tell Hethra I can't go with him." Komad replied. "I don't think I should be gone anymore than I have to." He then pulled out a handheld communicator. "Hethra, I won't be joining you. Something's come up." He said. "Very well."
A Jedi X-38 came out of hyperspace just out of the Corulag system. "I'm sorry Komad and Solidus arent' here, but at least I am." Hethra stated, knowing his nephew would hear.

"Just in time as well, we nearly missed the fireworks," Jack replied before sending Hethra coordinants "Travel to Byss where a little deminstration of the Empire's new tool will take place."

"What has Hethera been teaching us?" Alkea asked. She tried to cover up her initial embarrassment.

"Byss? That planet was destroyed nearly a century ago." Hethra commented as he punched in the coordinates.

"Not exactly," Jack replied "When the Galaxy Gun fired at Byss it was merely made unihabbital. However it still exists. Enter hyperspace on my mark, 3...2...1...mark!"

Greea smiled at her husband for deciding to put family first. To her mind what good was it to save the galaxy when there are things that needed to be discussed at home? She guided him down the familiar paths until they chanced upon Quinlan. She greeted him, "Hello padawan. Did you require something?"

Tyrannus knew something was amiss. It had to do with the Chief that was headig towards Telos. If there was one thing he disliked, it was the arrogance of people. He was aware that his kind of thinking was frowned upon by most of the council. Only young Alkea seemed to understand that there is no clear victory. He decided to do something about it but the trouble was getting a ship. He knew he could appeal to Alkea and she would responde but he wanted her to enjoy what he himself missed...love.

Hethra's X-38 jumped to lightspeed, and he thought about this weapon. Could it be Project Abaddon?

(Looks like I have no choice but to double post...)
Komad snuck over to where Alkйa and Reyvan were, and leaned against a column. "Missed me?" He suddenly asked, expecting them to be a bit startled.
Hethra's X-38 came out of hyperspace in the Byss system, and there he saw something he never expected to see firsthand. "A Death Star, this must be project Abaddon." He said to himself.

"Oh," Reyvan said, "Nice to see you back Komad!"

~

"Oh, hello Master," He told her, "Nope, just bore."

Greea motioned for her student to follow. "Perhaps we can continue the lesson from yesterday? You did very well."

Alkйa jumped when Komad spoke. He had saved her but she was also frustrated at that. She gave a smile and gave a peck on his cheek and said, "Always. Tell me, did you expect what you found?" She was referring to Greea.

"I knew that whatever she was trying to tell me before I was captured was pretty important, but I didn't expect that." Komad replied. "How did escorting Chief of State Rasa to Telos go?"

"Quickly activate you cloack and maintain radio scilence, if you wanna send me a message, do so through the force," Order Jack as he did what he had instructed.

"The usual. The arrogant wench thinks that everyone works for her," Alkйa replied. It came out quite fast and shocked her as well. She had never had a burst of temper like that before.

"Sounds typical of her. I take it Dad's still there?" Komad commented.
Hethra activated the cloaking device on his X-38, and shut down everything except for life support. Do you think this was where they held Komad and Solidus captive? He asked his nephew through The Force.

It's the very place, and you wouldn't believe what trouble it took me get them both out of there without giving off my poistion, Jack replied as he moved towards the destructive space station. It is commanded by Darth Mortis, she had a thriving empire, and since she got herself a new apprentice, things have only gotten alot more worse for us. Her apprentice has the abbility to destroy one's will power and basically turned them into droids. A practice he attoped from Dar, but that's not the point. I've roughly seen the plans for this station, and from what I can tell there's only one thing that can truely destroy it.

"He should be. He was there when I left," Alkea replied.

"Hope he's back soon. If you'll excuse me, I have a lightsaber to build." Komad replied, leaving the gardens.
What exactly? That information could end the war. Hethra implored his nephew to tell him.

Your not going to like, Jack replied as he started to move near a small debris field The only thing that can destroy that thing is Dar's Supernova Weapon. You know the one Komad lodged into the gas gaint.

"Fine Komad but I should warn you that this abruptness is not of yourself. If you have something to tell me then tell me. Otherwise you should consider what you do," Alkea replied calmly. She was oblivious to Reyvan standing their as she was focused on Komad.

Greea bade her padawan into a new room and again set out the ring of candles. She said, "You can light them and begin again where you left off."

We are royally kriffed. Couldn't you also destroy it from within? Hethra replied.
"You don't spend six months in a Sith prison and come back unchanged." Komad commented.

"And one doesn't spend three years in Exile and not know certain things about the galaxy," Alkйa spat back. She was oblivious to Reyvan standing next to her but glad that Greea was out of earshot.

"At least you had a choice. At least your absence was necessary." Komad replied. "I wish I hadn't agreed to lead the Dantooine mission. If I had stayed here, things would be much different."

"Had a choice?" Alkйa queried. "I had no choice to go. You know I didn't spend all three years on Dagobah. I saw other things that opened my eyes. The Dantooine mission was necessary. You should learn to distinguish what was meant to be from what can be changed."

"Was it necessary for me to be tortured for six months? Was it necessary for the mission to fail? Part of me died out there. But perhaps you're right. Perhaps that part of me was clouding my vision." Komad told her, finally showing greater insight into his situation.

"Everything has a time and place brother," Alkйa replied softly, "the Force has a will of its own but guide us only so far. Only the journey is written, not the destination."

"Whatever the Force has planned, it won't be pleasant for any of us. I'm certain of what the Sith's new superweapon is, and now, I know Hethra is too." Komad replied.

No, Mortis has gone up to much trouble to prevent any attack futial. If we are to destroy this thing it's going to have to be completely destroyed. The easiest way to do that is use Dar's Supernova Weapon and well... cause a sun in it's location to go supernova.

"Hethera would know, though I sense that those wielding this weapon are still evading us," Alkйa frowned as she turned inward to think. She didn't notice that Reyvan was still nearby waiting to be of help, like a patient friend would.

"Trust me, I was there." Komad said to Alkйa, and left.
How would we obtain it? It was destroyed a year ago. Hethra inquired.
The emitter works, but let's make sure about these locking clamps. Komad thought to himself as he was putting together his new lightsabers.

You doubt that I trust you? Alkйa queried. She felt that there was a rift between her and Komad but she couldn't place it. She didn't consider that the possiblility could have been her frequent conversings with Tyrannus, if that was his real name. She turned to Reyvan who had been patiently waiting and said aloud, "I'm sorry about that."

Don't surpose there's anyway to fish it out? Replied Jack

"No problem," Reyvan replied.

---

"Very well," He told his Master. Quinlan sat down on the pillow, in meditation. He lifted with no ease the lighter and light each and every one of the candles.

Now, more experienced, Quinlan took about ten seconds to lift all of them.

Greea watched her pupil thoughtfully. He was strong in the Force and he was learning control. She sensed the exchange of words between Komad and Alkйa and was disturbed at the emotions torrenting between them. She brushed this aside to watch her pupil. She murmured gently, "Unlearn what you have learned. Feel the Force flow."

Alkйa gave a smile at Reyvan. It was one of the things she liked about him; that he could be so understanding. She spoke, "One of the ships in the fleet needs a new commander. Feel up to the job?"

There are ways, but it won't be easy, though the Abregado system is within Republic space again. Hethra replied.
"Perfect." Komad said to himself, now finished building his new lightsabers. At first glance, they looked like two identical lightsabers, but they linked at the bottom to form a double-bladed lightsaber. Ultimate versatility. he thought.

Then go and fish it out. The Death Star is about to leave to travell back to it's consruction docks in the unknown space. However in five days it will travel to the Alderaan remains, there it will launch an all out assault on the Republic unless you use the supernova weapon. However there is a complication. To use the weapon you'll need to attach it to Ecilpse III which is being used as Mortis capital ship. We'll have to attack the fleet and capture the Ecilpse, kill Mortis and fit the supernova weapon and fire it straight into Alderaan's sun. Then escape using the Ecilpse hyperdrive engines.

Ah, yes, relax Quinlan. You always forget to relax, He said to himself, although, he could also hear a feminine voice say it at the same time. He shrugged it off and relaxed, unstiffening his hard and well scuplted shoulders.

"Well," Reyvan started, "It would be an honour.

I would just be away from you."

(FYI: I talked with Topsite, and I have control of Tabula Rasa now.)
I will see what can be done. Hethra replied, and jumped back into hyperspace.
"Chief of State Rasa, you're making a big mistake. Stay here, where it's safe." Alkonium pleaded with Tabula Rasa to remain on Telos, but was unsuccessful. "There have been no reports of an assassin here, or on Coruscant, so I feel it is safe now." She replied. "Prepare the ship." She told one of her guards.

"Good. It's fairly easy and the ship's one of the best in the fleet," Alkйa replied almost blushing. She could almost guess what he was thinking about and she added, "Actually a squad commander on the ship I usually take point from."

"You are doning well," Greea said as she watched Quinlan unstiffen. He had good potential but he also had to learn to trust his instincts. She had a feeling that he would become involved in the events to come but she was willing to wait until that time came. She placed a hand on her stomach and inwardly thought, There will be time soon enough.

It took awhile but Tyrannus found what he was looking for. She had left it hidden here when she went into exile. It was still serviceable. It should be since it was one of the ships his people had built. He had to leave and he knew why. He couldn't sit by and let war destroy the Republic but he couldn't let the Republic get too arrogant. He began to remove the vines that had covered the ship and chase away the critters.

"Hethra, I have some bad news. Chief of State Rasa has decided to go back to Coruscant. I couldn't convince her to change her mind." Alkonium said in a message to Hethra.
"What was she thinking?!" Hethra exclaimed rhetorically.
"Will you be able to safeguard the Executive Office Building?" Alkonium asked.
"No. I'm still en route back to Coruscant myself, but I'll contact the Temple and see who can." Hethra replied.

(Dash it all, I have to resurrect this bloody thread again...)
"Alright, I think I can take care of it." Komad said to the holographic image of Hethra.
"I though Mortis had your lightsaber destroyed." Hethra commented.
"She did, but I've finished perfecting a replacement." Komad replied.
"Good. May the Force be with us all." Hethra stated, and his image faded out.
Komad then got up and walked over to where his wife was. "Listen, I'm going to be home a little late tonight. I have to do surveillance on the Executive Office Building. Chief of State is on her way back, against my father's wishes, I might add." He said to her.

Quinlan started to feel nothing but like he was on a black void and doing nothing, but yet, he still kept on the candles lighted. He heard Komad's voice but decided to ignore it.

Greea sensed the change in the Force and picked up what Quinlan was sensing. She was glad that he was ignoring the distraction but she was concerned for her husband. She decided to listen.

Alkйa waited while Reyvan contemplated being on her ship in the fleet. She was not one to show outward emotion but she did have some feelings slip through.

"I guess you can come if you want," Reyvan said, "Do you want to come?"

"Hethra would have done it, but he's still out investigating that thing his nephew told him about. My father would, but he's with the Chief of State. I was the one to receive Hethra's message, so I volunteered." Komad said, giving his wife a kiss on the cheek.

"I am head of the fleet so without a doubt I will be there," Alkйa replied, confused.

"Ha, sorry, didn't quite understood you there. Better passing off as an ignorant than an idiot," He smiled at her.

That night, at the Executive Office Building...
"I'm going to take a rest. Nothing's happened so far." One of the security guards said to the other in the control room.
"No. The fact that nothing's happened yet doesn't mean that nothing will happen." Komad replied immediately.
In her office, Tabula Rasa set down a datapad on her desk, got up off her chair and prepared to leave, but then heard a whisper in her ear. "Remember me, Tabula?" it said. "You!" She shouted back. "Death awaits you." The Assassin said in the ancient Sith tongue. "No! Please, have mercy!" She screamed in fear. "Send in security!" Komad shouted in from the control room, storming out. He soon after arrived in the Central Office, with an Elite Commando on each side. "In the name of the Force, cease and desist!" He exclaimed at the Assassin, but the Assassin activated his lightsaber, and the blade went straight through the Chief of State's neck. Komad then activated one of his lightsabers, and pointed in at the Assassin. "Big mistake." He said, his gaze fixated on his target. The Assassin then pulled his lightsaber out of the Chief of State's body, and pointed it at Komad. Both of them took a swing at eachother, and parried. They continued to match eachother swing for swing, until they locked blades. Komad then activated his second lightsaber, and took the opportunity to cut off both the Assassin's hands. "Who sent you!?" He shouted. "That secret dies with me, halfbreed!" The Assassin replied, thrusting himself on Komad's blade, then Force Pushing himself out the window, shattering the glass, with each fragment of it piercing his already mortally wounded body.

He was dead before he hit the ground.

"We failed." Komad said as he watched the Assassin fall across the Coruscanti skyline.

Alkйa sensed the attack and jerked her head towards one of the windows. She could almost see the near attempt on Tabula and her brother killing the would be assassin. She sent through the Force, Is the Chief alright?

Greea sensed it too but managed to keep it from her apprentice. Instead she said, "Very good. Let us end the lesson and begin again tomorrow." She didn't wait for a reply but instead ambled her bulk out towards her quarters, keeping an eye out for Alkйa.

Tyrannus, after getting the vessel ready took off from Dagobah. He had confidence in the rust bucket since it was one of his people's ships. He had sensed the attempt and decided to act quickly. What was disturbing was that the assassin selected decided murder was the best thing. He only wanted to make Tabula realize that things couldn't be taken for granted at this time. He made the jump into hyperspace to head towards Coruscant. She may need help in the fleet or in other areas and he had to make ammends with the brother. He only hoped that Komad was willing to accept visitors.

No. She's dead, and her killer committed suicide, so we can't interrogate him. Komad sent back. I will explain it to the council tomorrow morning.