"Sure thing, but I think someone else is here. Someone who shouldn't be." Kalla replied, bracing herself for the droid's attack. "Do you remember when we had to deal with that hermit on Jatalra?" As the droid took a swing at her, she listened for the hum of its lightsaber, and quickly determined where and when to block. The hard part would be determining a weakness in its attack.



Komad picked up Alriana's message just as he found himself surrounded by six of the infected crew. "I'd love to help, but I'm in a bit of a sticky situation myself." He replied, turning to the zombies. "You deserved better." He said to them, activating his second lightsaber, and using a combination of Sai, Sai Cha, and Sai Tok to make short work of them. It shouldn't be much further to that cargo hold. He thought as his attackers lay dead at his feet.

Iyav continued to sneak his way through to the auxiliary control room, focusing his shots on either the zombies' legs or heads, at some points resulting in some of them getting trampled on by the rest of the horde.

Jun-la looked at the intruder with narrowing eyes trying to determine something. She replied evenly, "I am in the middle of a training session. You of all people should know that to intrude upon a lesson with no instructional value is considered improper." She purposely used her more flowery and formal tone, convinced that the one wearing the robes before her was not who he appeared to be.

Tonatius was busy concentrating on deflecting droid attacks but that didn't mean he was deaf. He heard something wasn't right in the tone of Lady Jun-la. Using his latent Force ability of communication he said, Something isn't right Kalla. I hear it in Lady Jun-la's voice.

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

Haruka was busy watching the docks and the cargo being loaded but that didn't mean that he wasn't paying attention. He called out, "Come one guys. I've a deadline to meet at Coruscant." It gave the appearance of him been preoccupied while he looked around with a casual eye.

He spotted something in the shadows that was leaping from building to building and though, Great another would be assassin. He called to his droid companion and whispered something before slipping out.

Tavaryn made a steady lep down to the ground losing sight only once. It was unaviodable given the layout of the building. He finally made it down to the ground and slowly made his way towards the target glancing around. He was almost to the target when he heard, "Freeze or I'll dust you faster than the Iridian plague." He turned around slowly.

Haruka looked at his would be assassin with a critical eye. It was no doubt that this guy was good. Dressed in nothing but black and wearing a strange hat to keep people from looking at his face. He had to admit that the guy would have probably gotten the drop on him if he hadn't been paying attention, a necessity since there were rumors that there was a bounty out for him. Once the intruder was facing him he demanded, "Alright who are you and who are you working for?"

Tavaryn was aware that he had a blaster pointed at him but was even more aware that the group he saw was almost on top of them. He would have to work fast if he was going to save the kid. Alriana, where are you?

There was no time to waste. One was already drawing a long range blaster rifle. With a deft move, Tavaryn whipped his hand to his belt and threw one of his shuriken at Haruka. It bypassed him completly to strike the guy behind him. The fight was on.

"You've had a similar experience with them, haven't you?"

Lenatha looked at Reyvan and her smile shifted into a faint one.

"Yeah", she paused for a moment. "A long time ago though, but the impression lasts a life time".

She then looked over at Andorra and smiled again.

"But no point living in the past right? Especially since we can't change it, we can only hope to do better in the future and work towards that right?", she said with a bit more enthusiasm.

Kerlos set to work trying to place up deterrents against the zombies, or whatever those things were. He had some difficulty in reactivating the auto-turrets; not only were his technical skills a bit mediocre, but he also had to manipulate the switches and wires to gain back power. Once that was done, he programmed the turrets to shoot at hostiles - the infected crew - and to protect friendlies - anybody else. Kerlos then barricaded some of the doors with wreckage he found laing around, making sure to keep the doors Komad and Iyav went through open. He once has to shoot three zombies that were on the other side of a door. Kerlos decided to try one more call out to any survivors.

"This is Republic mercenary Kerlos Minn. If there are any survivors, please respond if possible. A Jedi should be on his way to assist you."

"My HUD is picking up at least three more possible friendlies ahead. Unfortunatly there are several hostiles approaching our position from behind."

Kurt looked over to Atora and nodded in response. He had a small smirk under his helment since he now knew one of the friendlies was Komad Kaltas. Kurt took a frag grenade he had at his side and tossed it at the approaching zombies. He quickly aimed his rifle and fired at the grenade causing it to explode right in front of them. Right before the explosion went off he heard a voice call out to them.

"This is Republic mercenary Kerlos Minn. If there are any survivors, please respond if possible. A Jedi should be on his way to assist you."

"He's not just any jedi Kerlos. He's Komad Kaltas, a great man and most importantly a great friend." Kurt shouted back.

"He's not just any jedi Kerlos. He's Komad Kaltas, a great man and most importantly a great friend."

Atora nodded under his helmet and silently requested a data dump from his ship about Komad Kaltas. The data arrived a few moments later. Atora was slightly impressed by his record.

Hmph. Still a jedi and that means trouble.

His HUD flashed once indicating that there were more hostiles approaching. At least five of them. "We have more problems. There are at least five more hostiles approaching from behind us."

He pulled out a miniture thermal detonator from his pocket and casually tossed it down into the dark corridor from which the infected were coming and was rewarded with a large explosion and a loud scream from one of the infected as it was blown apart.

"It appears that out "Allies" have split up. One is remaining in the hanger and it looks like one is heading for Auxillary control and I can't tell where the other one is going."





"I'd love to help, but I'm in a bit of a sticky situation myself."

Alriana's head suddenly shot up as she detected a small ripple through the force. It looks like he's already begun to fight.

She used the force to further increase her speed to reach the site of the battle quicker. She continued running even as she reached the site and then jumped into the air and landed close to Tavaryn.

"Komad says he's a bit occupied at the moment."

"I am in the middle of a training session. You of all people should know that to intrude upon a lesson with no instructional value is considered improper," Jun-la replied.

He did not panic, he did not fret, he was curious as to how she wasn't affected, even just a little bit, by his inherent Umbaran ability to manipulate, and coerce the wills of others, though. He should have at least been able to make her take a few steps out of the door into the hall, curious?

"I apologize ma'am, I mean no disrespect. I, however, am only the messenger, sent to tell you that you are wanted, immediately, by one of the Jedi Masters. If you wish to be miffed, be miffed at my sender," he told her, still in his 'Jedi' voice, still attempting to use his Umbaran ability of will manipulation, and coercion.

"I know I am a Knight, but even I am offended in the manner with which you replied, ma'am. Did I not say excuse me upon my entry and introduction?" He questioned, trying to turn her own impropriety upon herself. "Even Masters should show respect to their lessers," he mumbled, though audibly enough, shuffling his feet, showing he wasn't just speaking the part, but acting it out also, something that he knew, should, and most probably would, throw anyone off.

((Well, I don't like it, but I can see that, without Jun-la out of the room, I'm going to have to make Vector fight three opponents at once. Something I find unfair, but can only do so much about. But, in all honesty, I don't mind, just wish the odds weren't against me.))

"The future," Andorra repeated softly, nowhere near as self-assured as Doctor Pradhes seemed to be. "Who knows what it...holds...?!" All of a sudden, she began to tremble uncontrollably. It was as if a blizzard had enveloped her! Falling to her knees, she grabbed one of Reyvan's hands, and one of Lenatha's. "Death--destruction," she stammered. "So soon? I see...a ship, completely dark. Monstrous creatures. Still, some live." Her eyes were rolled all the way back into her skull, so that only the whites showed. "We must hurry. There is very little time to lose."

After her chest stopped heaving, the Avalonian shook her head in disgust. "I am sorry," she snarled with a voice full of self-loathing. "That was not Lord Virul. I must admit to you that in times of duress or great danger, I fall into an altered state of consciousness known as sublustrum. Most of the time, this state is helpful, as it serves as a distress signal or an augmentation of my fighting abilities. However, this time..." She was tempted to spit on the ground, but Andorra knew that would be positively unladylike. "This time it warned me of some phantom situation that we can do nothing about."

Jun-la was still suspicious and when she heard the tone, her voice went to an icy politeness. Anyone who was a Jedi knew that when it got that tone, they had better be careful and it tended to intimidate the younger ones. "Attempting to argue with me are you?"

Jun-la deftly halted the program she had operated but added in a special command. Again she stared at the intruder with a stare that was icy even though her eyes were golden amber. "It is not I who was the rude one here. It was you and a master couldn't have sent you seeing as they are in session at this moment. So why are you here?"

**********

Tonatius heard the droids power down and he pulled off his blindfold to look around. He nudged Kalla to indicate that that lesson was to be halted right now. Kalla. Do you know that Jedi talking to Lady Jun-la? He sent the thought hoping that she would hear it.
**********

Haruka had been shot at many times before but never had anyone thrown a bladed object at him. He didn't have time to wonder who the hell this guy was because they were suddenly surrounded and a disruptor blaster hit the ground near their feet. He jumped back and shouted, "Two-y battle mode!" He withdrew his blaster and ducked behind some crates and began firing at the people shooting them.

Tavaryn was relieved when Alriana joined him though he wasn't too pleased at the moment that Komad wouldn't be arriving. Still they had to make do. The rain was pouring thickly now and it made it difficult to see where the enemy was. He pulled out his blade amd replied, "Good thing you're here Alriana. I would have hated to hog all the bad guys to myself." He motioned with his hand to indicate that she was to go left and he would go right.

"This time it warned me of some phantom situation that we can do nothing about."

"Maybe in time something may be done", Lenatha said. "So I'm guessing all of you will be returning to your duties. If that is the case I'd like to offer my services as a medic. I'm not totally helpless when it comes to combat, I did have some weapon training. And you could always use a doctor".

She looked over at the hospital and grinned.

"Besides, the hospital won't be nearly as fun without Andorra around", Lenatha said giving Andorra a smile.

Possibly, but I've never seen him here before. Kalla sent back, lowering her blindfold to make sure. "What are you doing here?" She asked the intruder, pointing her lightsaber at him with a Niman stance to throw him off.

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

Having finally made it to the auxiliary control room, Iyav sealed the door behind him, and quickly scanned for any more of the infected crew to deal with. However, all he found was a female corpse, and surmised that she must have sent the original distress call. She didn't die in vain. He thought before accessing the ship's logs. Before downloading them to his datapad, he decided play the final bridge log...

"Captain, we seem to be coming out of hyperspace." One of the lower ranking bridge crew member indicated.

"That would likely indicate full power loss in the hyperdrive. Considering that, and the lack of any actual coordinates, we could be anywhere in the galaxy now." Another officer pointed out.

As the Star Destroyer came fully out of lightspeed, the captain's concerned look turned to absolute horror as he realised that they ended up in the middle of an asteroid field, with a particularly large asteroid headed straight for the command tower.

"RAISE SHIELDS!" He shouted, but it was too late.

The recording was reduced to static as the asteroid collided with the bridge. Iyav then added the crew manifest to his download. Their families deserved to know what happened.

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

"We could certainly use your help. I think you may be on to something, though, Andorra. Tell me, are either of you familiar with the Star Destroyer Cygnus?" Reyvan inquired, forming a bit of a hypothesis as to what Komad and Iyav found out there.

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

"I'm hoping to find the survivors." Komad replied to Atora, seemingly coming from nowhere. "Good to see you again, Kurt. Now, how much further to that cargo hold?"

"Cygnus?" asked Andorra, raising a curious eyebrow. "I can't say that I've ever heard of it, Reyvan. If it's the ship about which my sublustrum state is warning me, I honestly cannot fathom why. Usually, when I'm in this form of consciousness, familiar places and objects appear to me, although in a future time. However, this ship came to me out of nowhere, and I don't recognize it."

Kurt watched as Atora finished off the rest of the attacking zombies. He was about to respond when he heard the voice of Komad Kaltas. Kurt was about to salute but he stopped himself remembering a talk he had with Komad. Instead he just nodded his head upon seeing him but that didn't stop him from letting out a smile from under his helmet. He gazed down the hallway and then back at Komad.

"They're about 50 meters away sir," Kurt replied.

Tonatius made a motion till his hand was on Kalla's sword arm. He said nothing but gave a look at her, indicating that she shouldn't speak. using his eyes, he motioned for her to watch, and listen. He himself left his sword arm down but every muscle was tinged and ready for battle. Or to run.

Jun-la was still looking at the intruder with her piercing gaze. She had felt the flickers of compulsion on her mind but having used method before, she was familiar in how it felt. True deception came from illusion. this was no illusion. She said, "I am requesting you tell me who you are."

**********

Tavaryn sailed high over his opponents before landing behind him and giving a punch guaranteed to knock him out till next festival. He stayed close by the boy Haruka who was a pretty good shot and had good cover by that ridiculous droid he had. Still he wouldn't take chances. Having run out of room for the shuriken, he withdrew his sword and held it ready to take on the enemy. "You remember the two prong?" He asked Alriana.

He was referring to a classic Jedi pincer movement that used to be taught when his mother and father had been a pupils at the Temple. He was hoping that she would remember such techniques without him having to give it away.

"You remember the two prong?"

Two prong...Two prong...Lets see...I think I remember that particular move.

"I believe that I remember it." She said quietly as she thought of the last time she had used the move back during the clone wars. "Are you thinking what I think your thinking?"





Atora stared at Komad from under his helmet and silently wished that he was anywhere but here at this moment. It was bad enough that he was on a ship filled with the infected but now he was stuck on a ship with the infected and Jedi.

Still, he would try to be polite to the Jedi. From the what the data on Komad had told him, it would be wise not to make him an enemy.

"Jedi Komad Kaltas. I requested a data transfer from my ship on you when I heard that you were also aboard. You have quite the reputation as a warrior."

Tavaryn gave a slight nod to indicate that she was right. He then began maneuvering and deflecting blows from his opponet's blade, trying to back him up into Alriana. It would take subtlty on his part to get the guy where he wanted him. Alriana, let him come to you. Make sure there is no way out.

"I do what I can." Komad told Atora before turning again to Kurt. "Then let's get going. We're getting them out of here." He told him, heading out in the survivors' direction. "Iyav, what's the ship's status? I've almost reached the survivors, and we should be on our way out soon." He called out on his communicator.

"I've managed to download the ship's logs and the crew manifest. Unfortunately, restoring full power is impossible, the ship came out of hyperspace here because it ran out of fuel. We can't even initiate the self-destruct, so I'm going to wipe the files clean, in case any scavengers show up after us." Iyav sent back.

"Understood, we'll meet you back at the hangar."

***************************
"Komad and Iyav are investigating its disappearance; they might be why you saw it. What you said about creatures would certainly explain what happened to it." Reyvan suggested.

"Is there anything we can do to help them from where we are?" asked Andorra. "We're light-years away, and on solid ground, and yet I feel that if we don't at least take some action--such as contacting them through the Force--we lose."

"Attempting to argue with me are you?"

"That depends on your definition of argument here," he replied calmly.

"It is not I who was the rude one here. It was you and a master couldn't have sent you seeing as they are in session at this moment. So why are you here?"

"Strange, ma'am, that you say that, yet you are here. Obviously if all the masters were in session, wouldn't you be there as well? If you can be out of session, can't another Master? What's so strange about that?" He turned her sudden surprise around, doing one's homework payed well, and Vector knew that in the Jedi Oder, only the Masters on the Council went into 'session', other masters did not. She had caught on to his ruse and was attempting to upset his balance, throw him off, but his was a 'Nex Sicarious', and one of the best. Little hiccups didn't bother him.

"What are you doing here?" He heard from off to the side, his head turning in her direction until the speaker was in view. Kalla herself had spoken, Vector was 'honored'.

"To relay a message to Lady Jun-la that her voice is needed for something by one of the Masters out of session," he replied simply, turning his attention back to Jun-la, ignoring Kalla's stance with a lightsaber, as he had no intention of striking until either Jun-la was gone, or they struck first.

"I am requesting you tell me who you are," Jun-la pretty much demanded of him. He shifted his weight and paused, replying, "Jedi Knight, Carnojec Turz, I recently came back from scouting in the Outer Rim."

He gave Jun-la what she wanted, a name, one that existed only in history, as Carnojec had been killed by 'Nex Venators' only days earlier. News of his 'disappearance' wouldn't reach the Jedi's ears for weeks. Jun-la couldn't turn his name against him, if she knew who Carnojec was that is, after all, no one Jedi knows the whole order, scouts especially, which are often gone for weeks, months, or years.

"If you don't want to come Lady Jun-la, then I am terribly sorry ma'am. I'll leave immediately and let you resume training," he said, walking out of room. If she truly believed he was a threat, she'd follow, after all, assassins have more than one way of killing you.

Jun-la was not not thwarted. Something about this "Jedi" didn't sit right with her. she replied, "What you say is true that the council is in session. But for you, you were not expected for another three weeks. The daily reports suggested possibly longer."

Tonatius recognized interrogation techniques when he saw them. Apparently this Jedi was known but something in his manner triggered her suspicions as well as his. Releasing Kalla's arms, he motioned for her to follow by tapping his hip. He was indicating to use the step that Lady Jun-la was a master at. he then disappeared only to reappear at one of the hidden nooks near the ceiling. Perfect to hide and attack if neccessary.

Jun-la watched as the intruder tried to leave. She didn't trust this person and the temptation to follow was great but instinct warned her that it could be a trap. She waited for his answer.

"What you say is true that the council is in session. But for you, you were not expected for another three weeks. The daily reports suggested possibly longer."

Vector stopped as he was walking away, turning in a very 'Jedi-like' manner, he responded, "I was recalled, they needed an immediate debrief on some things I found in the Outer Rim."

Records would also concur with Vector's words, as the 'Nex Venators' had altered records to show Carnojec had been immediately recalled, for Vector's purpose of assassination. Although eventually the Jedi would figure out something was wrong, and then news of Carnojec's 'disappearance' would come to light, but not for a few weeks. This gave Vector much leeway with his 'disguise'.

"And before you ask, ma'am, no, I may not divulge that information to you," he told her, hoping she'd lower her guard just enough so he could lull her into the outer hall.

Alriana, let him come to you. Make sure there is no way out.

Alriana nodded slowly and crept back silently as Tavaryn continued to back the opponet up toward her.

Almost...just a bit closer...





Atora turned to look at Kurt and then at Komad.

"If you do plan on leaving then it appears I have no choice but to eiter leave with you or see if you will assist me in recapturing the port hanger where my ship is located. If you won't, then I will activate it's self destruct."

He turned to look at Komad and frowned from under his helmet. I dislike working with Jedi...but those lightsabers would be very useful in recapturing my ship.

Tavaryn did not break his pace as he continued to maneuver his opponent towards Alriana. He had practiced this technique long and hard with his mother before she left. If anything she taught him patience and perseverance. He willed the guy back and back until he was in the right spot. Now! He lunged forward hoping Alriana would come in at the same time.

Haruka was taking aim at another oppoent while Two-y was distracting the others. He had no idea why him but he figured it had to do with that guy in black and the Jedi girl showing up. Having disposed of the last of them, he watched as they maneuverd teh blade wielding guy into a pincer movement.

"It is likely they already know." Reyvan pointed out. "The last message they sent back mentioned a quarantine and they boosted the signal of the original distress call, which suggested some sort of aggressive infection. I should be returning to the Jedi Temple, the Council is expecting me. If there's anything you need just let us know."

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

"Very well. Would you be willing to help ferry the survivors out then?" Komad replied, turning back in the direction of the port hangar. "Barring self-destruct, we can't allow the quarantine to be broken long enough for the infected crew to get to any ship in either hangar. My partner has a system set up on the doors to the starboard hangar, but he can only do that with one device at a time." He then explained.

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

"You look different, Carnojec. You've never had your hood up in the Temple before, and I remember you being shorter." Kalla pointed out, noticing a few "mistakes" that this "Carnojec" had made.

"You look different, Carnojec. You've never had your hood up in the Temple before, and I remember you being shorter."

Vector balked at the idea of whether the exact people/person he was trying to kill actually knew the person he was posing as, or whether they were all just trying to annoy him enough to force his hand out of them trying to him set off-balance so many TIMES!

It really was starting to get on his nerves ((Mine too....-_-; )).

Vector was running through his plans, as he had multiple plans, ideas, and contingencies to use to kill Kalla, and possibly anyone else, but numbers were something he didn't want to deal with directly. He'd fall back to another plan of attack (almost literally), he'd leave; he'd just leave, not the Temple, but the area, he'd leave the group in peace, and slip away to a location where he could move in for a far more, 'stealthy' approach, and strike. They'd be more alert, but not enough to guard against one of his little surprises, and if Jun-la, or one of the others followed, he'd fall back on an earlier plan. Unless they blatantly drew their weapons on him, there was no way of keeping him from accomplishing what he was sent to do, and he even had contingencies for if they did attack him without provocation. As brainwashed as he was, he was still capable of formulating thoughts, plans, and ideas, or else the skills the 'Nex Venators' sought from him so desperately would be wasted, if not pointless.

He would take his chances with the thought that Kalla was playing him against himself, and that she really didn't know the reclusive, and for the most part, always gone Jedi scout.

"Honestly ma'am, I don't know what you're talking about, nor what either of you are talking about anymore really. All I've gotten since I got here was the third degree, but I'm not going to discuss any of it further, I'm busy, and I have no more time for this, I must find the Master you..." He directed at Jun-la, "...do not want to go see, and tell him of the situation. Now if you'll excuse me ladies, I'll be off now," he concluded quite resolutely, but politely, leaving with another bow, and once again moving down the hall.

'Follow or stay, either way, I will kill Kalla, Lady Jun-la,' he thought as he moved away, feeling quite a bit of resentment towards the person who he felt acted nothing like someone should with the auspicious title of 'Lady', but hiding these feelings.

Still, it was the moment of truth, what choice would be made? Would they stop him? Draw weapons on him? Would one, or even two follow? Or would they stay, following their 'instincts'? Any choice made would lead to exactly what he wanted.

Jun-la looked at the intruder with a coldness to her eyes even though they were the warm color of fire. Something about this 'Jedi' rubbed her the wrong way. Logically she had nothing to be concerned with but her instincts were screaming otherwise. She listened to her instincts. "I am privy to any information regarding scout missions," she said with quiet firmness, "And if this master wished to speak to me, he would have sent someone else. Therefore I suspect that you are not what you claim and suggest that you leave the temple."

Tonatius was high up near the ceiling and in perfect position to drop an attack. He sent, I think he is a fake Kalla. He evades too perfectly.

"Very well. Would you be willing to help ferry the survivors out then? Barring self-destruct, we can't allow the quarantine to be broken long enough for the infected crew to get to any ship in either hangar."

Atora nodded slowly, another idea rising to the top of his head.

"You know...the Ebon Blade is close enough to the engine deck that if I were to engage the self-destruct, the explosion would most likely take out the Cygnus with it. It would eliminate the threat posed by the infected permanetly."

"But if I do activate the self-destruct I want to get off this ship. And I want to get in contact with Admiral Belina the moment we're clear."


Now!

Alriana ran directly at him and brought her lightsaber down so that it was level with the enemy solder's stomach. She was hoping for a clean kill that wouldn't be too messy.

Lenatha listened intently as both Jedi exchanged words, something about an infection rang in her mind as Reyvan spoke about it.

"Well if you need someone to help deal with infectious diseases then I'm right here in case the council needs a Doctor, I'm sure the hospital can send over my resume and credentials", Lenatha said and turned to Andorra. "I wanted to ask you, you don't have a place to stay in Coruscant right? Maybe you'd like... and you're not in any obligation or anything... but maybe... you could like... stay with me, my apartment isn't too far away from the hospital and it's close to the transit module in case you need to get somewhere quickly like the Jedi Temple. It's not a huge place or anything but you might like it".

She kinda felt embarrased to have said it that way, she was nervous as hell knowing there was a chance she might finally get some alone time with Andorra, and more over it would be in her home.

I hope I did clean up good enough..., she thought to herself.

Andorra nodded. "Doctor, you're too kind," she beamed, almost calling her Lenatha in her haste but remembering the rules of etiquette just in time. "I accept your offer, and perhaps tonight a little bit later on, we can...discuss the ramifications of what I just saw in my sublustrum state. When I was in a coma, this ability was completely lost to me, but it's coming back. It's scary to know that visions may come upon me at any moment, but at least I'm reassured that in no way, shape or form have I died while I was having them."

Again, she tried to laugh, but the joke fell flat. Her laughter died on her lips.

"I certainly hope some survive aboard the Cygnus," she said at last.

Tavaryn moved simultaneously as Alriana and completely surprised the enemy. In the end, it allowed Alriana to deliver a killing blow. It also allowed Tavaryn to remove his hat and throw it at an enemy with deadly accuracy, slitting the throat and forcing the dying body to fall over the edge. The hat returned to Tavryn in which he put it back on his head with a cleaning swipe with his hand. He looked at Alriana and said, "Nice move."

Haruka had watched the spectacle and he had to admit that he never thought he would ever meet a Shinigami. He held his blaster pointed at Tavaryn and Alriana and said, "Alright you two. What gives?"

Tavaryn knew that he had to say something that would allow them to escape without a blaster shot to the head. He said in a side whisper to Alriana, "Follow my lead." He then slowly took a step forward and replied, "Just helping you out. Saw them folks coming at you."

"Tark," Haruka replied, "You came for a reason Shinigami and with a Jedi no less. I ask again, what do you want?" He looked at the Jedi as if trying to will her to answer.

Tavryn looked at Alriana and gave a slight nod, indicating she was to answer.

Komad pulled out his communicator and asked, "Iyav, would that work?"

"It's not likely. The Cygnus ended up here because the hyperdrive was completely drained, and the fuel has been leaking out into space since this nightmare started. At the very least, there should be enough to punch a massive hole in the stern of the ship, sucking a good number of zombies into the vacuum. The actual autodestruct sequence is offline, but I think I can manipulate the ship-to-ship weaponry in conjuction with an explosion close enough to the engines to make up for that, and give us all enough time to get out. Just give me the signal."

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

"Komad is one of the best swordsmen in the Jedi Order, and Iyav is a very clever man. If there are survivors, they'll get them out of there. Farewell for now, Andorra, Doctor Pradhes." Reyvan explained, taking off in a speeder back to the Jedi Temple.

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

Clearly. He dodges any mention of flaws in his disguise, and he's certainly done his homework. Whoever he is, whatever he wants, he's not going to give up that easily. Kalla sent back. I've seen that face before, Tonatius, and it's not Carnojec. Is it, no, it can't be.

"It's not likely. The Cygnus ended up here because the hyperdrive was completely drained, and the fuel has been leaking out into space since this nightmare started. At the very least, there should be enough to punch a massive hole in the stern of the ship, sucking a good number of zombies into the vacuum. The actual autodestruct sequence is offline, but I think I can manipulate the ship-to-ship weaponry in conjuction with an explosion close enough to the engines to make up for that, and give us all enough time to get out. Just give me the signal."

Perhaps I won't have to sacrifice my ship after all. But I would still need to get in contact with Admiral Belina as soon as possible. She needs to be made aware of this threat.

"So tell me...Do I need to blow up my ship or not? If so, then I have to download precious data I gathered about the infected from my ship before its blown up."



"You came for a reason Shinigami and with a Jedi no less. I ask again, what do you want?"

Alriana turned toward Tavaryn and saw him nod at her.

The truth it is then.

"To be honest...We were looking for you."

Haruka raised his brow. "Huh. I don't believe this. First that slimy Hutt Slugg and now you two."

Tavaryn looked at Alriana and then said, "We were sent to find you but for what reason, the council knows."

"And I suppose the Jedi are in on this?" Haruka asked accusingly at Alriana. He had lowered his blaster slightly but it was still fixed on them.

**********

Jun-la beckoned Kalla to come to her. This intruder bugged her and her protective instincts were on the alert. Kalla what do you sense from him? She sent teh question through the Force.

"In all likelihood, I'm guessing you will. There's no guarantee all the cannons are still working, so we need a surefire way to blow part of this ship up." Iyav explained. "But keep in mind, rescuing the survivors and investigating what happened are the primary objectives. Destroying the Cygnus can't take priority. I've managed to download all of the ship's data along with a crew manifest, so that's taken care of. And Komad, when you meet up with the surviving crew, tell them Merin didn't die in vain."

"Understood. I'll see you back at the Eagle" Komad replied.

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

We've met before, I know that much. I think he's the hermit Tonatius and I dealt with on Jatalra. Kalla explained. He's too focused, I doubt we'd be able to get him to slip up, and interrogating will be useless. I suggest we let him go, and track him as covertly as possible.

"And I suppose the Jedi are in on this?"

"If you must know, the last time I was officially associated with the Jedi order was over one hundred years ago. Right now, I don't like to think of myself as a member of the jedi. As of now I work with him." She said pointing at Tavaryn.




"In all likelihood, I'm guessing you will. There's no guarantee all the cannons are still working, so we need a surefire way to blow part of this ship up, but keep in mind, rescuing the survivors and investigating what happened are the primary objectives. Destroying the Cygnus can't take priority. I've managed to download all of the ship's data along with a crew manifest, so that's taken care of. And Komad, when you meet up with the surviving crew, tell them Merin didn't die in vain."

Atora nodded and began downloading the information from his ship into his helmet. The helmet's storage capacity was limited but it would hold all of the information that he had collected on the infected. After a moment the data was all downloaded and then he nodded again.

"All of the data on the infected has been downloaded. It's a shame I couldn't save my ship but the republic will always pay for a new one as part of my contract with them."

Perhaps. Best be wary should we sense him again. Jun-la sent the thought before saying to the intruder, "You may leave but I wouldn't bother reporting to any of the masters. They know exactly what I am up to."

**********

"Satisfied?" Tavaryn asked.

"For now regarding your identities. Heck the last time I heard of a Jedi not being a Jedi was the story of old Jolee Bindo," Haruka replied. "And that was over four thousand years ago."

Familiar with those tales, Tavaryn replied, "You're right on that point. My people think highly of him."

Haruka nodded aware that this Shinigami was most likely an Avalonian since they were rumoured to make up the majority. "Alright so now you found me. What do you plan to do?"

Tavaryn looked at Alriana and then back at Haruka. "For some reasonthe council wishes that you be brought before them. I suspect that it has to do with some of your talents."

Haruka hid his surprise well. "And I supposed your Jedi friend knows this as well?"

"Can you trigger the autodestruct remotely?" Komad asked Atora, still making his way to the cargo hold. He finally spotted the door, with an infected crewmember bashing away at it until it saw them and drew its attention away from the door.

"Careful, he might not be alone." Komad whispered to Atora, activating his lightsabers.

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

On his way back to the Jedi Temple, Reyvan opened a commlink with the Council. "I've finished my evaluation of Miss Evenstar. For the most part, she appears to have fully recovered, both mentally and physically. However, she seems to be exhibiting an overeagerness to please others, which is more likely a result of her therapy, rather than from Virul's influence, along with a fear of seeing her adoptive mother, likely a result of the guilt relating to the original incident on Bastion. There is been no sign of Virul remaining, or any affinity to the Force beyond her sublustrum state, which seems to have returned fully." He explained.

"Thank you Master Skyrider. We knew she would feel more comfortable speaking to you rather than a Jedi she's never met. You understand that this way is better for her than a formal evaluation. She's been through enough of that." Kol Skywalker's voice replied.

"Yes, Master. I should be back at the Temple in a few minutes."

"And I supposed your Jedi friend knows this as well?"

"As a matter of fact I did know it. I don't know why the council wishes to speak with you however. Like Tavaryn said, it may have something to do with your talents."




"Can you trigger the autodestruct remotely?"

"As a matter of fact I can. But the remote auto-destruct takes twenty seconds to engage. It's a failsafe that was built in after an encounter I had with a bounty hunter on the outer rim."

He followed Komad down to the cargo hold only to see one of the infected trying to get into the cargo hold.

"Careful, he might not be alone."

Atora brought up his assault rifle and blasted the thing right through the head with a single shot. His HUD began to flash, showing that there were multiple hostiles incoming.

"Looks like he did have friends. They won't be around for much longer though." Atora commented as he grabbed a thermal detonater from his belt and prepared to toss it down the corridor toward the incoming infected.

"I know it is not the Jedi council that calls me otherwise they wouldn't have sent a Shinigami with you," Haruka replied.

"Two for two," Tavaryn replied. "Except it is not the Jedi council of the Republic."

"Oh so it is the other one. The one responsible for the largest contingent of Force users and sensitives," Haruka replied in a mocking tone. "No way."

"I have orders to bring you in," Tavryn replied in solemn tone.

"Sure you do." Haruka then directed his attention to the Jedi, "You know exactly what he is Jedi? Or hasn't he told you?"

**********

Jun-la felt the tremors in the Force. She said out loud, "Master Reyvan is returnig. Perhaps you should see Master Skywalker if he needs you to do anything." It was best to let this one go and perhaps Master Skywalker could better sense out what was going on.

Lenatha simply smiled at Andorra, she was feeling happy that she had taken her up on her offer and nodded as she listened to her talk about her sublustrum state.

"Yeah we can definitely discuss it if you want to, and you will be able to talk to me, because I won't pass any kind of judgement on you like those... bastards", she said once again revealing her hatred towards psychiatrists. "But anyways since Reyvan is already gone, there isn't much point in staying here. I have my own speeder so, if you want we can get you settled in, I can also have your personal belongings brought to my apartment from the hospital if you like".

Lenatha moved towards the speeder park lot. Hers was a small two seat speeder, not very flashy, fairly modest but enough to get around.

"Hop in", Lenatha said with a smile as she got inside herself.

Andorra leapt into the speeder with a quick spring, and it wasn't long before she and Doctor Pradhes were sailing through the space-lanes with expert ease.

"Wow," the Avalonian muttered, most certainly impressed. "Whenever I pilot a speeder, I maneuver like a drunken Trandoshan! It's my nervousness, bad depth perception, and lightning-quick but mistimed reactions to the piloting of others. Where did you learn to fly like that? It probably wasn't in medical school."

She giggled. The lights of Coruscant shimmered and blurred before their eyes.

Lenatha glanced a bit at Andorra and smiled at her.

"When I was still living on Nar Shadda, I was often sent out to buy things for the hutts. Since I was a slave girl, I had to do it so they made me learn how. And you know how hutts are, if they don't get what they want and if they don't get it when they want it, it's hell on earth for the slaves", Lenatha said but did not lose her smile. "I think one would actually think that doing this would bring back traumatizing experiences from that time, but for me, actually flying one of these things at full speed felt like I was free, even if it was for a moment".

Shortly after they arrived at the apartment complex's landing pads and she landed gently in the space marked for her apartment. Lenatha jumped off and smiled at Andorra.

"We're here, it's on the 58th floor", Lenatha said as she motioned Andorra to the elevator with her. At the door to her appartment which was number 58394 she opened it to reveal the inside. It wasn't a huge place but it did have a large living room, the kitchen was on the left side and on the right side there were two rooms and the bathroom right between them.

"My room is the far one on the right, you can have the first room, an old friend from medical school sometimes used it to stay when she was on planet but since she's been in the outer rim with the republic, she hasn't been back. You'd like her, she's pretty funny, she's not really pretty but what she lacks in beauty she makes up in personality", Lenatha said giggling a little in rememberance.

Andorra found herself returning Lenatha's grin. "She sounds like someone you'd like to have watching your back against any Sith--or roaming psychiatrists," she said with a wink. "Speaking of which--or, of the medical facility itself, and your position in it--how did you rise from your bondage as a slave girl for the Hutts to become one of the most respected physicians on Coruscant?"

She motioned for Lenatha to sit in one of the two steelplush lounge chairs.

Lenatha walked over to the steelplush chair and sat down beside Andorra.

"I... it is kind of a long story", Lenatha said, she didn't want to say anything that might make Andorra disgusted at her as had happened before with others. But she knew she owed it to her since she had shared even if unwillingly, the truth about what happened to her.

"I haven't talked about it in a while because it's not something I'm proud of having done. Back then I was really young, I was just a teenager and I fell in love with a young woman who took care of me, she was one of the slaves there too but she had been there since she was a baby, she was born into Jamiro the Hutt's palace unlike me who was simply bought at a very young age. She helped me a lot and Jamiro found out about us, being the sadist that he was, he simply choose to murder her infront of me", Lenatha's eyes were tearing up and she looked away. "I couldn't do anything, I just stood there helpless and useless. I couldn't take it, I made it my priority to hurt him bad, to cause him the pain he had caused me but amplifying it beyond belief. And so I sought the help of mercenaries and I learned the arts of torture, I studied everyday about the physical composition of the Hutts, finding the weakest spots, the presure points, everything about their disgusting anatomy".

She then stood up facing the window so as to hide the tears flowing from her eyes.

"The time came soon after, Trandoshan mercenaries broke into the palace to claim a debt that Jamiro owed them. They let me have my way with him, I implored them to let me do it and they watched in disgust as I ripped him apart, little by little, the screams coming from his mouth and the agony of him has chased my conscience for so long... After that the Trandoshans took me to Coruscant and put a word for me with an official at the medical school. They hid my past and treated me like just another student. I had finally found a place were I thought I felt safe..."

She sighed and wiped off her tears but she was still crying.

"I don't like psychiatrists for that very reason, when I opened up about this they tried to put a halt to my career. But thanks to the Hospital Director I was able to stay", Lenatha said.

Andorra listened to the good doctor's story, and her face was by turns saddened, frightened, revolted, and finally peaceful. She nodded at Lenatha.

"And I thought being the Dark Lady of the Sith was abhorrent," she muttered. "I can't even imagine what you went through. In order to desensitize yourself to the torture techniques you learned day by day..." She trailed off. "If I were you, I would have kept the image of my murdered love in my mind as a focal point, and nothing more. How did you ignore the screams?" She shook her head and shuddered. "When a Hutt howls in your ear--not that it's happened to me--I suspect it would chill your blood."

She reached for Lenatha's hand. "I'm sorry. In fact, I'm more than sorry. I've been redeemed, and I want to try and make amends for what I've done. This world is full of darkness, and I want to shine a little light within it again. I have no right to judge you or what you did, and as for me...I can't excuse myself from all the blame, because when I struck down Lord Virul, I did it out of a craven desire for revenge, not for justice. Perhaps that's what allowed him to possess me so easily. He sensed my anger and fed upon it, knowing that I'd let my guard down, forgetting the ways of the Jedi and my people."

Andorra looked at her chronometer and stifled a yawn. "Perhaps I should get some real sleep," she said, "and not the sleep of the comatose. Agreed?"

Lenatha turned to face Andorra, her expression sad.

"I did make Ariel my focal point. I had times that I was revolted just when I practiced, times I'd stop because I would toss my stomach out listening to the animals I practiced on shriek and wail. But when it came to the final moment, everything around me froze, all went silent, it was my hand, my instruments of pain and his body", Lenatha said and her expression changed to disgust. "The Trandoshan mercenaries even said I smiled at some point and even laugh. But I don't remember that, I get scared just thinking about it".

She felt Andorra reach for her hand and she felt her face blush a bit by her touch and listened to what she said.

"I guess we all have darkness inside us, we can only hope to keep it contained and do our best to keep to the light", Lenatha said and nodded as she said her words about going to sleep. "Yup, you definitely should get some real rest. If you want to take a bath you can go ahead".

Lenatha went into her room and several moments later she came back with a towel and a change of clothes for Andorra.

"I called the hospital so they'll bring your things over in a bit. Here's a towel and a fresh change of clothes you can sleep with", Lenatha said with a smile.

Andorra found her face growing a tad bit warm as she bade Lenatha good night and took the fresh clothes from her. Such compassion, and in chaotic times! She herself had originally thought that no one would trust her after she'd recovered from being a Sith. The truth was, you never really recovered. The memories were still there of what you'd done, no matter if a parasitic Dark Lord had inhabited your body or not. Part of you--the part that was you--kept a record even then of the atrocities committed by the leech within.

That was what usually troubled Andorra during sleep, but not this time...

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

A ship's interior. The smell of cold metal. Near-complete darkness. Shadows could be seen floating about, but who could tell which were harmless and which were hostile? Soft moans, sounding both human and monstrous. The sound of shuffling feet. Blaster-bolts being fired. Grunts of pain. What was this? The ship was surely lost, for no one heard the distress calls of the men in front of the shadows. The void was such...

Clammy flesh. That was the worst part. It seemed as if decomposition were already settling in upon the faces of the lumbering crew, and it was making their skin wet and wrinkled. Their hands grasped, fumbling, clawing, but with a mad purpose that none of their saner comrades could deny. Their tongues lolled out of their mouths, although some of them were at least rational enough to try and hold them in so as to hide their hunger.

Suddenly the ship itself spun round and round, rotating in a mad whirl, as if one of the creatures had hit the piloting controls and set them permanently to the turning position. Was this to be the final fate of this vessel, to rotate in an endless dance that no one would see, with the fleshy ones trapped?

Andorra, paralyzed with fright, almost did not feel the warm sun upon her face. A gentle breeze outside woke her up. Trembling, relieved, she washed in the refresher near her bedroom and changed clothes. Then she sat down at one of the terminals in the living room, not seeing Lenatha just yet. Turning the console on, she located a holonet search engine and typed.

A word had come to her during the dream, which still haunted her mind:

VIVINECROSIS.

Literally, "living death". Had this disease been seen or studied before?

As Atora dealt with the zombies, Komad tried to access the cargo hold door's control panel. "This is Jedi Master Komad Kaltas, we've come to rescue you." He said into the comm.

"Is it safe?" He heard back. "Yes, I've cleared a path back to the starboard hangar, and we can get you all back to Coruscant." He explained. Once he heard the last of the zombies go down, he opened the door, and said to the group, "This nightmare is over."

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

"This seems serious. An intruder, posing as Jedi Turz, finds his way in here and comes after you?" Kol Skywalker asked as Kalla explained the incident in the training halls. "It's also possible he was after Lady Jun-la, or Tonatius." Kalla suggested.

"Regardless, he somehow managed to bypass the Temple's security system, and avoid the attention of anyone else. The implications are unsettling. Do you have any idea as to who he was?" Kol then asked.

"I believe he was Vector S'borr, a hermit I met once on Jatalra. I don't anything else about him past the name." Kalla explained.

"Odd. We will deal with him. I need you to aid the Republic in investigating the now-abandoned New Imperial base on Geonosis. What we know so far about what happened to the Cygnus suggests we will find answers there. However, we will have to wait until your father and Operative Dourden have returned before we can finalise the details." Kol told her.

Kurt couldn't help but the notice that Atora seemed distrustful of Komad. He could hear it in his voice when talking to the jedi. Kurt just dismissed this as typical merc behavior. He was glad to see the survivors were still okay when they finally reached them. At least he was able to keep some survivors alive. Now that the survivors were closed to being rescued, Kurt would probably be reassigned to another ship. Personally he preferred fighting alongside Komad as he respected him very much.

"Is there anything I can help you with Master Komad?"

Wrath made sure to keep a reasonable distance between himself, Andorra, and Lenatha. He could see Andorra was enjoying herself and he was glad she was. He parked his speeder in front of the apartment complex. Once inside he followed the two girls to Lenatha's apartment so he would know where it was. He would remain outside in the hallway for the time being. If he sensed any type of danger he would make his move.

"You know exactly what he is Jedi? Or hasn't he told you?"

Alriana shook her head and then looked at Tavaryn before looking back at Haruka again.

"He has not told me what he is but I feel that if I had to know what he was then he would tell me. As of right now it's none of my buisness."


Cygnus

"Yes, I've cleared a path back to the starboard hangar, and we can get you all back to Coruscant."

Just like a Jedi to claim all the glory. He makes it sound like he was the only one fighting the infected. And I highly doubt that he could have made it down here without my help.

His HUD began to flash again as more of the infected began to move in toward their position, most likely drawn by the explosion of the thermal detonator.

"This nightmare is over."

"Sorry Jedi, it looks like your wrong. We have more infected moving in on us from further down the corridor. I suggest that we leave immediatly."