Chapter 1

Irony.

Kyp Durron knew irony well. The vast level of humor life had a tendency to create at the victim's expense. Pain and death was all around him-smothering his senses like a blanket of parasites. And, still, the Jedi had an impulse to smile. That was irony.

Of course, there was no time for simple expressions.

A moment to reflect.

Another form of irony...

The overwhelming vacuum of space was ready to consume him whole. Reaching out through the Force for one more desperate attempt to escape its might, Kyp Durron leaped. The air was rushing passed, being sucked both from the ship and the Jedi's fragile lungs. He felt the Force, the power it possessed. And, still, with all his ability and control, he could only manage to grasp the edge of the vessel's open cavity with his fingertips.

Bleeding, his weak digits gripped the brim of the void, straining to hold; with another Force push, he managed to pull himself through and into the hallway of the alien ship. The wind still tugged at him, but after what he just endured, the tug was more like a heavy breeze than the tornado of empty space. He crawled slowly away from it, the last bits of his strength beginning to flutter.

Papers and shreds of metal flew past, with screams, both alien and human filling his ringing ears from every direction. Some words were as clear as a cloudless night, others as foreign as touching a distant star with your fingers. Nevertheless, they all meant the same thing. The ship was dying, and everyone was running around like panicked animals, trying to stop the inevitable.

Creeping farther away from the void he'd just pulled himself from, Kyp Durron was finally able to grin. It was humorous that way. The room's outer wall had been blasted clean off; he had barely escaped. And, now, he was on his stomach, dragging himself away. And, for what? Survival. Fighting for his life. Fighting for the impossible, and yet he refused to stop.

To add to the misfortune, the disease in his body was moving throughout him like a million hungry bugs, trying to devour him completely. He had only been infected with it a few days before and already, he felt it spreading. It certainly wasn't what he expected when he accepted the assignment.

The ship abruptly rocked; the wall he was once crawling across shifted into the wall to his side. He dropped helplessly to the surface next to him. Struggling for consciousness, Kyp blinked and glanced up to the end of the hall. Doors were there. Shrilling-trembling desperately as they fought to close with a dead alien body in their center. The limp corpse's legs were lifted from the ground as the void from space demanded it to approach. Nonetheless, its arms caught on the back of the doors, the body remained trapped. It alone was blocking them from closing completely.

The ship roared, jerking again; Kyp gripped the light fixture on the wall as he felt his body inch toward the hole close-by. His body dangling, he stared at the corridor around him and frowned. No, not that way. He wouldn't die so easily. He had too much to prove, too much to show the galaxy.

He was worth more than people bargained.

Even Luke Skywalker. The Jedi Master. Kyp would prove his worth to the Jedi, especially that one. He couldn't die then. He wouldn't.

The determination flooded into him like a new power source, and with it, Kyp calmly allowed the Force to fill him. He jumped. The ship spun around once again, the hallway he had been holding to a moment before twirling in circles about him. It didn't matter. Kyp wasn't relying on the ship's walls to support him anymore.

In the center of the hallway, the leap took him up to the doors, still jerking to close with the alien body stuck in its center. They were spinning out of control as well, but Kyp didn't care. He straightened his body as far as it could go. Both arms raised above his head, he shot through the crack between them. Without hesitation, he kicked the dead body from the metal plates as he made it completely through, and finally fell to the ground on the other side.

All the energy zapped from his body, Kyp watched in a silent, numb hunch by the wall as the doors shut all the way. The wind from the void on their other side no longer able to grasp him in its might, he felt the hint of relief touch the back of his mind. Nonetheless, it didn't last long. The illness inside his body started to become more apparent; the wounds he'd received, not just from the pressure of the wind, but from the incidents before it, resurfacing inside his exhausted mind. Then, without warning, his vision began to blur, and Kyp Durron's world turned into the dark shades of nothingness.

The wilderness was surprisingly quiet that morning on Yavin Four. There were the random cries of animals and bugs-a gentle breeze which gave an extra chill in the early day's air. No matter how bright Yavin's sun beat down on them, the frigid climate of the season could not be ignored.

At least, not by Mara Jade Skywalker.

Calmly, she lay near the edge of wildlife on Yavin Four, the Jedi Academy's Temple close enough to block out a part of the warm rays of sunlight. She didn't speak nor move, attempting to merely accept the chill as opposed to using the Force to aid her discomfort. She had thick skin, and a rigid stubbornness about her. Besides, it was her own fault for wearing a sleeveless top, anyway.

Her eyes shut, Mara turned her attention back to the present. Of course, there really wasn't anything she could do within it. Floating at least half a meter off the ground, the only thing dangling down was Mara's fire red hair. The rest of her was still. She didn't even move her hands.

By her side sat her niece, Jaina Solo. Not quite a girl nor a young woman at the age of eleven, Jaina's concentration held firm. She kept her eyes on Mara, on her presence, and the Force that surrounded her. Mara kept still, observing as the girl gazed at nothing and everything at once. Using her own abilities to keep Mara in the air.

Strangely, the lesson wasn't really for Jaina. The girl was learning the Force quickly; it wouldn't be long before she was up to lifting starfighters over her head. Mara was the one getting the true session that day. Not one of the Force, but that of trust.

It was a test the Jedi at the Academy had used for years now. It wasn't so much of concentration and the Force, but rather that of faith. In all essence, swinging a lightsaber and lifting objects with your mind didn't always mean you were Jedi potential. Having a deeper comprehension was just as relevant. Jedi had to work together, through their thoughts and loyalties. It was a newer lesson for Mara.

And, of course, there was only one person that could convince her of doing any such task in the first place.

"You're both doing well," he spoke from Mara's left, and with it, Mara felt a surge of new confidence flow out of her niece.

Silently, Mara twisted her head to face him and sighed. With Jaina's twin brother, Jacen, sitting beside him, Mara's husband Luke Skywalker floated tranquilly in the air.

His black robe swaying underneath him, the Jedi Master looked more to be sleeping than instructing. He had his hands placed in the center of his chest. His eyes remained shut-his expression in a deep state of trust and serenity.

Staring at her husband, a smile forced itself onto Mara's lips. It was almost comical just how much Luke Skywalker stuck out. Perhaps it was due to his face constantly on the holo, or the mere fact he always seemed to have a Jedi robe draped across his shoulders. But for Mara, she imagined it was more.

They had been married for close to six months. Ever since their courtship, they had grown greatly connected with each other's senses and ideas. It wasn't like Luke with his sister or Jacen with his. Not natural, but more of a developed understanding, one that had been created mainly from Luke and Mara's sheer will than blood. Of course, almost all of Luke's family was Force-sensitive. With the exception of Han and Chewie, everyone else kept their emotions almost always in the spotlight for the others to see. He had the luxury of knowing what to expect. Nowadays, Mara having a personal thought was no longer easy. To her own surprise, Mara found that she didn't mind so much. It wasn't as if anything she thought didn't get spoken out loud sooner or later.

"You can move me higher, Jacen," Luke suddenly instructed, crossing his ankles.

The young man gave an uneasy expression, shifting his eyes to Mara and his sister. Nonetheless, he spoke nothing, and then Luke was above them all. Jaina seemed anxious to follow her brother's example; before Mara could say anything, she was already another quarter meter up from the ground. The shove was startling; on impulse, she reached out with the Force-

"Trust, Mara," Luke explained. "Remember?"

Shooting a look at her husband and his confident expression, Mara smirked. It was trust he wanted, huh?...

"Higher, Jaina," Mara exclaimed, keeping her crooked grin.

The girl exhaled a tiny groan. "Are you sure?"

"Of course," Mara explained, then shot a glare at her husband. "I trust you."

With that, Mara was placed another quarter up. Jacen seemed quick to follow her sister's example; Luke was parallel with his wife just an instant later. With that, Mara gave an even larger smile, then shouted down, "Higher, Jaina. We aim to please here."

"Uh...," Jaina gave another sigh, "you're already kinda high-"

"The higher the better. Luke looks bored up here."

For the first time since the lesson had begun, Luke's eyes came to meet with Mara's. The crystal blue circles gave off a look of shock, if not insanity. Mara merely smiled. "Trust, Skywalker. Remember?"

With that, Luke allowed his own mischievous grin to emerge. Keeping his dazzling eyes hooked to his wife, the Jedi Master instructed Jacen, "Higher, please."

"Um, Uncle Luke-"

"It's all right," he explained, "you're doing well."

"But, I-"

"Higher," both Mara and Luke spoke in unison.

It was almost like being shot out of a missile's port. Both Mara and her husband shot up another solid meter. Jaina and Jacen could no longer be seen from their sides.

With that, Mara scanned the open air around her, then sighed. "Well, now you've done it, Skywalker. You realize that this lesson normally ends with the participants dropping-not landing-right?"

Eyes closed again, Luke merely replied, "What's this? Is Madam Jade showing signs of worry?"

Mara set her jaw. "Knock off the devious twitch, Skywalker. You can't pull it off."

"Knock off the tough smuggler's act, and I'll think about it."

"Will you two stop arguing up there?" Jacen shouted from below.

"Yeah, it's distracting," Jaina added with a strain to her voice.

With that, Mara released a tiny breath, then turned her head toward the sky. From the corner of her vision, she could see the smallest grin on her husband's face. He was loving this.

On impulse, Mara rolled her eyes, but smiled nonetheless. Luke's tranquility was almost infectious at times. Mara was not one for trust or openness, but she seemed to handle both when it came to Luke and his family. She was accepted, and strangely, that trait seemed contagious as well.

"Wow!" a sudden youthful voice shouted in Yavin's peaceful wilderness. "They look like flying corpses!"

Of course, trust was an odd thing. Mara, not stretching out with her own abilities to prevent herself from collapsing, immediately found herself on Yavin's hard dirt surface with an echoing thump. The impact sent a wave of pain throughout her back and head, forcing all the wind out of her body.

Of course, there were good points for caution as well...

To her left, Luke was already beginning to recover from his own plunge.

"I'm sorry!" Jacen and Jaina shouted at once.

From her side, Jaina instantly looked down at her aunt. She exclaimed, "I thought I had you-I swear!" Suddenly, she shot a glare to her side. "It was all Anakin's fault! If he hadn't distracted us-"

"What did I do?" the other youth spoke, his presence now apparent as Mara reached out with the Force to control the throb in her head.

Slowly, Anakin came into view between Mara and Luke, glancing back and forth from one to the other with his gleaming blue eyes. "You guys okay?"

Luke was already turning over from the fall, a grimace set upon his face like a mask. Not looking at Anakin or anyone else, the Jedi Master replied, "No, it's okay. A tree root broke my fall."

"Aunt Mara?" Jaina inquired when Mara didn't pull herself up.

Gazing at the bright clear sky, Mara merely explained, "Your turn next time, Jaina."

The girl gave a tiny look of worry, then Luke came to the young girl's side and wrapped an arm across her shoulders. "She's kidding, honey," he explained to the youth, then turned his attention to Mara. Giving a small grin, he gently put his knees to the ground, then placed his hands underneath Mara's arms.

"You really shouldn't scare the children, Mara," he explained lightly as he pulled her partly up to his chest. "They don't quite understand your kind of humor yet."

"Who says I was joking?" Mara asked, shooting Jaina a smile.

The young girl merely smirked back, crossing her arms. "I'm not a child. And, I knew you were teasing."

"Really?" Mara came back, then said to her husband, "What do you think, Lu-"

But, instead of the warm, comforting sense she was so used to receiving, something cold, alarming rushed by. She gasped, jerking herself away from her husband.

Too late.

It was as if a thousand panicked, dying cries screamed into her ears, and bounced throughout her mind over and over again like an echo into the darkest cave. Reaching out in the Force, she got control of herself, and swiftly realized that the noise wasn't coming from her.

She turned around to face Luke. His smile was gone. His face was somber, eyes glazed over as if possessed by something she couldn't see or feel. Reluctantly, she brought herself closer to him and focused. At first, the screams were the only thing to sharpen, bitter shouts of anger and fear that tripled in power since her incident with them the moment before. Then, the visions hit.

All discolored.

Suffering.

All dying, laying out with children and adults alike. The only ones not crying out were too far gone to bother with any type of plea. And, yet, even through the freezing haze of torment and sorrow, something odd crossed her mind.

All humans. Every single one. There wasn't one alternate being among them. And, then, just as swiftly as the screams had come, the vision blacked out, and Mara was back with Luke and the rest of her family on Yavin Four.

"What's wrong?" Anakin suddenly questioned from their side. "I didn't mean to shout so loud!-"

"It's not you, Anakin," Mara explained, reaching out a hand to her nephew. "It's not you."

With that, she turned back to her husband, and was certain that the dark expression on his face was now reflected on hers.

Neither needed to say it, but nonetheless, they both did.

"Leia," they spoke in unison and stood. Jacen, Anakin, and Jaina followed right behind as Luke and Mara rushed back into the Jedi Temple, any previous dilemmas of pain irrelevant to their minds.

As it happened, seven other Jedi had experienced the vision. Grakin, who was merely an apprentice, had been awoken by screams of death, as he called it. Uramay, who Luke had known for the past two years, had seen sores all over the dead bodies of human victims. But, the strangest was that of Kam and his wife Tionne. Both had been about as clear as Luke's and Mara's, except theirs flashed through a ship. Through wind and space. And, then, Kyp Durron was there, which was the oddest part of all. He was a bizarre shade of green, passed out and bleeding to death.

Luke, who had gone through more than quite a few disagreements with the younger Jedi, still felt a little insulted he wasn't close enough to his student to sense him in danger. Of course, Kyp might have actually attempted to throw the vision out to anyone that might see it and help him. Luke, he realized gravely, wasn't necessarily someone Kyp would ask help from.

Luke reached Leia in a matter of minutes. His twin sister, whom he'd sent more than just a couple signals out to himself in the past, looked at him with a bit of surprise as she appeared on the holo. Her dark chocolate eyes gleamed with a strong, but exhausted beauty. Luke smiled thinly at her and decided best to go ahead and explain the call. "Leia-"

"I was about to contact you," she cut him off, then glanced him over as if just noticing his mess of dirt from Yavin's surface. He assumed she'd ask him about it, but at the moment, she seemed too distracted to bother. "Luke, something's happened here. I need you to come to Coruscant as soon as you can."

"Why?" Mara asked, coming up from behind him and seeming as curious as he.

Leia glanced at Mara through the holo, and stated plainly, "Something's happened. That's all I'm allowed to say. Please, both of you, come to Coruscant. Bring what Jedi you can. Ones you can trust, Luke. Only ones you trust. It's very serious." Then, just like that, his sister's vision disappeared and the signal died.

Luke glanced at his wife and merely found it in himself to shrug. "You feel up to traveling, sweetheart?"

It took awhile to reach Coruscant. Considering that Yavin was a part of the Outer Rim planets, and Coruscant was a Core world, flying from one to the other, even at the fastest speed, took at least five standard days. During the time in space, the information given between Luke and Leia had been scattered. The channels were as secure as they could possibly become, but, even in those times, 'secure' was an overrated word.

However, Luke had done what he promised. Another freighter was following their ship to Coruscant. Inside were over ten Jedi ready to work for the Republic. Luke merely wished he could tell them what work the Republic had in store.

There were questions answered on all grounds. Kyp Durron had just been brought to Coruscant from a rescue vessel. Apparently, he had been injured while attempting to carry out an assignment for the New Republic. This was a surprise for Luke; Kyp was not one for the political arena, and doing any work for the government didn't fit his character at all. Not only that, but the New Republic was not one to trust the Jedi known for killing millions of people. That was the first hint that something more complex was slithering its way into the situation. But, once again, the data given to him and Mara was too plain to piece together. The only thing that remained the same was the end result of both Kam and Tionne's disturbing vision. Kyp was dying.

"You are marked to land. Hangerbay 24-617. An escort ship will show you the way," a voice came through.

"The escort ship is unnecessary," Luke replied calmly into the speaker. "24-617, received. I know where it is. Thank you." With that, Luke turned off the comm, and glanced at Mara by his side.

Her head was resting comfortably on the chair behind her, her long, blazing scarlet hair spread around her like a wave of fire. Brilliant. Her eyes were open, but relaxed, almost as if she were asleep. Suddenly, she turned both bright pools of green his way; he smiled, a little surprised by her abrupt movement, and glanced away toward the horizon.

"Here already, huh?" she spoke in a soft voice. "Felt more like a day than a week."

"Well, you haven't been handling the ship for the past eight hours," he explained. "I'm almost ready to fall asleep myself."

She blinked at him, surprised. "Why didn't you tell me you wanted a break? You know I'm always willing."

"I know, but you were snoring so delightfully, and I didn't want to wake you," Luke replied, seeing the yellow and white clouds of Coruscant come over the small ship.

Even with the traffic of the huge planet-city, Luke and Mara reached the Imperial Palace within twenty more minutes. Despite his reassurance that an escort was not needed, one was there anyway, showing the path into the bay. By that time, Mara had gotten control of the vessel. The ship hovered, then gently connected with a graceful thump onto the hangerbay's metal platform.

Luke glanced at his wife and smiled. "Wonderfully done."

"Was there any doubt?" she replied with a slightly crooked smile.

Blowing out a breath of laughter, Luke shook his head, and then followed his wife out of the ship. The escorts were there to show them the way; Luke waved them politely aside, slightly annoyed with their consistency.

Beside the other pile of Jedi exiting their ship, Luke could already feel his sister's presence making its way to the hangerbay. She was hurrying with more anxiety coming out of her than Luke was accustomed to sense in her. By all aspects, Leia was worried. Worried about something that was growing unsteadily inside her mind.

At her fast pace, it didn't take Leia any time at all to reach them. A few steps from the bay's large doors, her petite form came into view at the end of the hallway. She was wearing a light cream brown suit, covered with a formal, short-sleeved white robe, which flowed as she walked toward them. Her massive locks of thick chestnut hair were the same, swaying like waves of an ocean from her head to her thighs. It was obvious she hadn't bothered to pin it all the way up that day, too busy with all the responsibility she had endured. Nonetheless, Luke smiled at her, impressed by how glamorous she could still make herself appear after so many years of hard politics.

And, of course, following swiftly behind her were two Noghri. Their usual outfits consisted of heavy armor and deadly Noghri fighting blades...quite the opposite of his sister's elegant form. By that point, Luke was used to seeing them around.

He opened his arms out for his sister to embrace him; without a moment's delay, Leia wrapped her arms around his back and held them there. She was strangely tense, tired; Luke was ready to ask her about it, but decided that the moment was not one to mention such things. He'd allow his sister to explain soon enough.

Leia turned to Mara a moment later, hugged her sister-in-law and then glanced back at Luke. "I'm so glad you were able to make it," she told him with a tiny, relieved grin on her face. "I'm sorry I've been so unclear these past few days. But, with communications-"

"I understand, Leia," Luke assured her, then glanced around the hallway, stretching his senses to find Kyp. There was an odd speck of the Force, but it was so faint, he couldn't even locate it clearly. He turned back to Leia and questioned with a grave tone, "Is that Kyp?"

Pressing her lips together, Leia slowly nodded.

Luke took in a breath, glancing back at the other Jedi. They were silent, some appearing concerned and even upset. Luke turned back to his sister. "Can I see him, please?"

What Luke received wasn't necessarily what he had expected. From the information passed through the days aboard Mara's ship, Luke had gathered that Kyp was wounded in battle, and the wounds were killing him. He should have assumed different, especially after Kam and Tionne's description. Kyp was certainly dying, but the injuries inflected on him from the attack were not the sources.

Standing inside his room of the Medic section of the Palace, Luke felt his stomach tighten. The other Jedi behind him, including his wife, seemed to have similar reactions. Kyp was emerged inside a horizontal bacta tank. His body, normally a soft tan, was a strange color of light green with crimson-black spots from bust blood vessels cloaking his entire form. He was in a comatose state, and from the looks of it, had been that way for quite some time. Most of his wounds from battle were no longer visible. It was this disease that was killing him now.

"They found him this way, aboard an alien vessel that had been almost completely destroyed during a New Republic attack," Leia explained from beside him. "A few weeks before, Kyp and his crew had stumbled across a ship near the edge of the Outer Rim territory that appeared to have been abandoned. He decided to investigate. The ship was filled with bodies, in the same condition as...," she paused, glanced at Kyp's motionless form, then turned back to Luke.

"Was the rest of his crew infected as well?" Luke asked, stretching out his senses to see if he could touch Kyp at all. There was hardly a whisper of life.

"No...no," Leia explained, shaking her head, "none of the crew, not even Kyp went on board that vessel. They sent out a probe droid, and then reported their findings with us later. It was quite a surprise to hear anything from him, but...," she paused, and sighed. "Even Kyp felt uneasy about investigating farther without informing us."

"They actually gave him an assignment?" Mara asked with a touch of shock as she stood behind her husband.

Leia shrugged. "President Gavrisom didn't believe the problem was serious. Certainly not this." She nodded her head at Kyp. "No one thought it was."

Luke glanced at Mara, who merely gave him a questionable look, and shrugged. Luke turned back to stare at Kyp. "So, how did this happen to him?"

Again, Leia looked at him and sighed. "They found another vessel. Except this one wasn't carrying dead human beings. Kyp and his crew were suspicious about a freighter attempting to use unmarked tags, and surrounded the ship. They boarded, and the disease was in the vessel's air systems. They were infected immediately."

"Have you spoken with President Gavrisom as to what to do next?"

Leia closed her eyes. "Several ideas have been given. Even handing back my duties as Chief of State early so I can deal with the ends of it."

"What have you decided?"

"I told him that I felt more free to handle things without a rather large diplomatic crown on my head," she replied with a sigh. "People are already suspecting something's wrong. The last thing they need is to wonder why President Gavrisom gave me back my diplomatic position earlier than scheduled."

"Have things already gotten that out of hand?"

"Worse than you realize, Luke. Much worse." Silently, Leia turned back to Kyp.

They were still for a moment after that. Luke studied his sister's grim expression, the intensity set in her deep chocolate eyes. Leia was one of elegance and control. She handled the authority, and understood where she was needed. But, even with all the control in the galaxy, he could still manage to find that glint of fear inside her eyes. That subtle touch of helplessness that contradicted Leia Organa Solo's demeanor like a rebel flag. He frowned.

From his side, Mara seemed to notice the tension inside the tiny room. Silently, she huffed out a breath, then asked, "So, who in the worlds did this to him? Kyp isn't on my list as most likable, but this is a bit cruel-even for him."

"Radicals," another voice, familiar and deep, echoed through the small metallic room.

Luke had already sensed his presence coming their way, and had hoped it would pass by. Unfortunately, the Bothan seemed to always do exactly what Luke didn't desire. There should have been no exception in that case.

With that, Luke turned to the other being, Mara doing the same. The Jedi Master extended a hand for the sake of polite politics, but the Bothan was too busy glaring at him to notice. Casually, Luke took his hand away, and wrapped both around his back. He nodded. "Senator Fey'lya."

"Master Skywalker," Borsk Fey'lya replied, little respect in his tone. "I was wondering when you'd make it here. Busy at your Jedi Academy?"

"Always," Luke replied, ignoring the other being's rude implications.

The Bothan snorted. "Teaching the young ones mind tricks. Not exactly what I'd call a smart thing, Skywalker. What happens if one of those apprentices of yours wants to use a trick on me or another politician. It's dangerous, you realize."

"Well, they do only work on the weak-minded," Mara suddenly spoke out from beside Luke's shoulder with a bitter touch to her words.

Through his long snout-like face, Borsk sneered at Luke's wife. It was more from insult than a warning, but Luke still shot Mara a sharp stare. It was not the time to make extra confrontations, but Mara merely smirked at him and shrugged.

With that, Luke twisted back to Fey'lya. "We came here on the request of the New Republic. Where's President Gavrisom?"

"Busy at another diplomatic meeting. I'm here to advise you. Will that be a problem?"

"I don't see how. You have my full attention, Senator Fey'lya. What do you want?"

Strangely, the Senator gave a tiny smile at that, his eyes seeming to focus again to the reality at hand. With that, he glanced back to the room's door. "Senator Retafured, Senator Tenanete, come in, please."

Without a moment's hesitation, two aliens entered the room. Luke stared calmly at their faces, their attire, but inside, his mind was already pondering. Both species were similar to each other. They were rather large creatures, with plated scales all over their bodies, and both were strong shades of gray and green. Their eyes had resembling violet and black tints. And, both were species Luke recognized.

Retafured was a Scyos, a close race to his Senator comrade.

And, Tenanete...

Luke would recognize a Falleen anywhere.

It was a species Luke had seen another time from his past. In that case, the alien was attempting to kill him. It was a bit of an alarm just how much Tenanete looked like the crime lord, Prince Xizor. The late Xizor had spent his last remaining days putting an assassination price so high on Luke's head, even one of his comrades had tried to shoot him. Over fifteen years later, Luke still didn't quite understand why the Falleen had possessed so much malice toward him. Perhaps he never would.

There was a surge from Mara. Subtle, the emotion flowed out of her like a calm breeze around a yard, but was enough to catch Luke's attention. He threw a look to her. She turned her eyes to catch his, her curiosity at him rising. He gave a reassuring grin, then turned back to Fey'lya and the others. Mara did the same.

"I would like to present Senator Tenanete from Falleen, and Senator Retafured from Hyhmatyz," Fey'lya declared to them all.

To Luke's surprise, Senator Retafured approached him without a heartbeat's delay. Arm extended, he grabbed Luke's right arm and shook it. The other being was so fervorish in his greeting, for an instant, Luke thought the man was trying to pull off his artificial hand. Retafured almost appeared ready to cry.

"Thank the universe you've arrived!" he shouted out with a smile masking his face. "I've been counting the minutes. You-you and your Jedi are welcome here. Please, you must help us!"

Unsure what to do, Luke smiled kindly at the other being, and gently pulled his hand away. Retafured nodded at him, then shook Mara's and Leia's hands. Both women had to yank their arms back just to get away.

However, the Falleen Tenanete, did not seem as well impressed. He stood by the door, glaring at them with a touch of annoyance that sent a chill down Luke's back. Tenanete said nothing. His look was enough for Luke.

"Well, I suppose we should tell you why you're here," Retafured explained. He licked his lips, bowing to the quiet Jedi behind Luke, Mara, and Leia, then gestured a hand to Tenanete. Eyes glued unblinking at Luke, Tenanete stepped forward.

"Master Skywalker," Tenanete said in an even voice, "I hope that you will excuse me if I do not overthrow this room with zeal at your arrival. Considering my circumstances."

Luke blinked curiously at the other being, then shot a glance at Leia. Her eyes were fixed on Tenanete. Expressionless. Silently, Luke turned back to the Senator. "Actually, the information from Yavin to here has been...unclear."

Tenanete smirked unpleasantly. He raised an eyebrow at Luke. "Surely, you know why you're here."

Luke tossed a look at Kyp. "There's been an outbreak of some sort. I'm still not certain of the details."

The Falleen gestured his hands outwards, snorting out a breath as if Luke's comment was preposterous. "Do you know anything of my people, Master Skywalker? Of Senator Retafured's race? You have had encounters with Falleen and Scyos before?"

Luke nodded.

"Then, tell me, what do you know of us?"

With that, Luke sighed. He turned to Mara and Leia, both silently staring at him with their own expressions of wonder. Mara, the more vexed of the two, didn't remove her hard gaze from Tenanete's view. She, just like Luke, realized that the Falleen was attempting to challenge Luke in front of his students.

Slowly, Luke turned back to the Senators and sighed. "The Falleen and Scyos are related species from the system, Falleen. The orbiting moon of the planet-Hyhmatyz-is the native world for the Scyos. During the rein of the Empire, a civil war broke out between the Scyos and Falleen after the Imperial army destroyed an entire Falleen city. Bioweapons, explosives and other such devices were used at the time. By the end of the war, almost all Falleen and Scyos on both the planet and the moon were killed. Only off-worlders were still alive to continue both races." Luke respectfully bowed his head at the other being, displaying his apologizes for summarizing such a horrific tale.

The Falleen snorted again. "Very close, Master Skywalker. In fact, I'm impressed. Most humans never bother to learn the history of other species at all. However, you missed a very important detail."

Luke lifted his head, narrowing his eyebrows at the other being. There was something in his voice that caught Luke off guard.

The Falleen abruptly frowned. "You're right, bioweapons were used during our war. Falleen trying to kill Scyos-Scyos attempting to kill the Falleen. But, the bioweapon, the first bioweapon, started years before our civil war, Master Skywalker. And, it wasn't for us." He paused and gave an eerie smile. "It was for you."

Puzzled, Luke looked back at Mara. Her glare was gone. A dismayed expression was all that remained. Luke twisted back to Senator Tenanete.

The Falleen spoke flatly, "During the time of the Empire, my race was seeing more and more non-human species being turned into slaves. Bothans, Mon Calamari, Wookies...the list goes on. We were afraid. So, we formed an alliance with our neighbors," he nodded his head at Senator Retafured, who merely bowed, "to create a bioweapon to destroy all human life forms. We succeeded."

Luke glanced at Kyp. Covered in crimson splotches and green skin. A terrible shiver rushed up the Jedi Master's back.

"So, why are we still here?" Mara suddenly asked from behind.

With that, Tenanete sneered. "Because, alliances never last, my dear Jedi. A person...a single being...can alter a 'would-be' history forever. The Empire discovered the Falleen's plans through spies and resources. They negotiated with the Scyos to recover the exact location of the virus facilities within the Falleen world. And, together, they destroyed our largest city, killing 200,000 of us in a matter of minutes. Nothing was left."

To Luke's surprise, Tenanete glanced to the Scyos Senator at his side and placed a hand on his shoulder. They both grew quiet.

"Wait a second," Mara inquired again, "I've always heard that the Falleen city was destroyed by the Empire because the Falleen were working with the Empire to create a bioweapon."

"A lie created by the Empire," Tenanete replied. "Our victory was too close to place in history's archives. If another race learned of it...," he shook his head. "Then, perhaps they would have attempted something as rash."

When Tenanete didn't speak again, Borsk Fey'lya came in front of them. "I hope you're making a connection with all of this, Master Jedi?"

A grim expression cast on his face, Luke nodded.

"Where did they find this disease if the Empire destroyed it?" Mara asked, placing a hand on Luke's shoulder.

Senator Retafured turned to her. "Nothing is ever completely destroyed, Jedi Skywalker. Information-bits and pieces always remain. Someone has found this one...and now, they're blaming us for it."

He was silent again, looking at Tenanete with his face somber and grave. Luke sighed, looking at Borsk. "This ship that Kyp found. Who were the passengers?"

"Falleen," the Bothan replied instantly. "All of them. The entire freighter was blown to pieces with the exception of a small compartment. Jedi Durron and one Falleen were the only survivors."

"Where is this Falleen?" Luke asked.

Borsk blew out a breath, glancing downwards. "Security hold. We've tried everything to get him to talk. Interrogation-drugs. Everything. We were almost ready to attempt some Imperial methods. He just keeps saying he won't betray his master. Whatever that means."

"The humans don't trust anyone," Senator Tenanete explained. "The politicians are attempting to put me in prison. Maybe even Senator Retafured as well. They're uneasy about allowing any non-human to do an investigation."

Luke blinked at the Senators, cocking an eyebrow. Retafured gave a wary grin. "We-well, I-was wondering, Master Skywalker, if you could help us? We want to prove to the galaxy that the members of this radical group are not a part of our species' ways of life. If we could prove to the Senate that we wanted you and your Jedi to assist, then perhaps they would trust us better. Please, Master Skywalker. Help us."

Luke glanced back at Mara, who merely sighed in contempt. Then, to Leia, who crossed her arms, but remained silent. Finally, his eyes fell on the Jedi. Quiet beings standing in the background, they looked almost like miniature statues, gazing at him with reassurance on their faces. Whatever Luke requested, they seemed prepared to accept.

With that, Luke twisted back to the two Senators and Fey'lya. "What type of help do you require?"

"Human Jedi," Fey'lya came back sharply, giving some of the non-human Jedi fierce looks. "We need to do scouting missions...investigations. We already have a few out and about already. Corran Horn is working with Rogue Squadron near the Mid Rim. Via Wesla is going to the Falleen homeworld. Your sister," he nodded at Leia," is handling any political dilemmas here. But, we want as much understanding with the Senate as possible on this. No non-humans are allowed."

Luke could already sense the energy from his alien Jedi flutter. Others, such as his wife, seemed to flare.

With barely a heartbeat's hesitation, she stepped beside Luke. A finger pointed back to the other Jedi behind her, she started with a glare, "All of these Jedi are willing to assist. In fact, non-human Jedi would be more adequate for the job. They don't have the potential of looking like a disgusting green chaos as Kyp over there," she jerked her head toward the sick Jedi's motionless form. "It would be ludicrous not to take advantage of that."

"Everyone that's on assignment is given a temporary vaccine for this virus type," Fey'lya explained flatly. "It should keep them safe."

"For how long?" Mara snapped. "Temporary vaccines might last only a few weeks in some people. There's not even a warning as to when the body will reject it."

Fey'lya frowned. "I didn't make the paranoia in the Senate, Jedi. In fact, if it weren't for Senator's Retafured insistence, I would keep human Jedi out of this as well."

Mara looked taken aback by the Bothan's words. She sneered at him, opening her mouth to say more...

"Mara," Luke said, his voice soft but firm.

It wasn't a surprise when Mara's eyes came to meet him, alarmed, and even a little insulted. But, Luke's gaze at her didn't shift from its somber position; after a second, she sighed and remained silent.

Leia's tender hand came to rest on Luke's shoulder a moment later. Her emotions were just as clear as his wife's, but unlike Mara, they were more of compromise than protest. He turned his eyes to her; she smiled and spoke, "I'm sure your Jedi will understand. This isn't because they aren't capable or even under suspicion. People are afraid. And, you know what happens with fear."

He sighed, placing his artificial hand upon hers. "Unfortunately, yes."

There was a moment of peaceful silence. The emotions from the Jedi behind them calmed. Mara still sent a glare the Senator Fey'lya's way, but her irritation had faded.

And, of course, through the calm, Borsk Fey'lya was the one who didn't hesitate to interrupt. Stepping toward Luke, he explained, "This isn't a prejudice. It's politics. The humans don't trust the aliens. The aliens are enraged by the humans. And, so the cycle continues. Believe me, I didn't start it."

"I never proclaimed you did," Luke reminded the Bothan, then quieted himself.

Biting the inside of his cheek, Luke crossed his arms and put a hand to his chin. He breathed slowly, closing his eyes and opening himself to the Force. There was a marvelous peace there-no visions, no worries. Silently, he pondered the possibilities before them. He didn't want to simply leave a pile of ready Jedi behind; however, Borsk's point could not be ignored. The humans were afraid, not of other beings, but of the unknown threats that laid before them. They didn't know who to trust. And, unfortunately, just like Fey'lya, many didn't even trust human Jedi. Luke sighed.

"Please, Master Skywalker," Retafured's emotional words sang throughout the room. "Help us in anyway you can. We-the Falleen and Scyos-have made peace. Through all are conflicts, we are finally starting to make a difference in the galaxy. There are so few left. Help us to save them."

Slowly, Luke looked up at the Scyos and his desperate expression. Luke nodded at him. "I'll send for more Jedi. The three humans," he pointed to the group behind him, "can take on whatever missions you have in mind. The non-human can remain here if any problems arise that the Senate cannot control. If someone's trying to destroy human life, then Coruscant will be an inevitable target."

"What about you?" Tenanete came back, his arms crossed. "Don't you do these things as well?"

"Possibly," Luke replied with another nod. "I would like to see this Falleen prisoner. But, at the moment-"

"You're supposed to be the Jedi Master, right?" the Falleen interrupted more loudly. "The great Luke Skywalker. What's the hesitation, then?"

Luke's stare sharpened at the other being. The Falleen's angry exterior seemed to soften at it. Frowning at the other being, Luke replied, "I can't just go out and start swinging my lightsaber at anything that moves. Whatever answers you think I possess, you're mistaken. I assure you."

"Yes, yes," the Falleen waved a disinterested hand. "Fine, then. Are you going to do this, or not?"

Luke shot a look at Mara. She smirked at him, her hips tilted to the right and her arms crossed. Force or no, he already knew what she meant. His wife wanted to go. She wasn't the type to merely stay behind and watch on the sidelines. Luke could have felt her readiness from the other side of the Imperial Palace. He smiled at her, then turned back to Tenanete. "Where do you want us?"

With a roar, the unmarked freighter came to life. Commander Matic Pace smiled as he stood beside the small craft inside on of many hangerbays of the Imperial Palace, and then grabbed the comlink from his belt. "Okay, Weo, check out the main weaponry, then shut it off."

There came a, 'yes, sir', and with that, Matic placed his comlink back onto his suit. A moment later, he climbed down from the ship. There to greet him was his squad, a simple group of human men and women, all giving the thumps up at the vessel's check-off list.

They had been working on the broken-down freighter for the past six days since Kyp Durron's mishap in space. It was certainly a hope that Matic's chances were better than the dying Jedi's. He couldn't say he didn't feel a little sorry for the man. Durron was just a few years younger than the commander himself, but Matic had little doubt the Jedi wasn't asking for it. Force-users had a way of wanting to play the lone hero. Chances were, Durron had gotten into something he couldn't slip out of.

Since then, Matic had been briefed by Borsk Fey'lya himself on how the situation would be handled. Senator Retafured and many other politicians had demanded to ask the Jedi for assistance. Matic had agreed, only if he would be able to keep the Jedi under control. He merely hoped the Force-users' sense of higher judgment wouldn't get in the way. Precious time had already been lost.

"Commander Pace," Ross, the crew's computer slicer called out and started to run toward him.

. Matic glanced up at the younger man as he reached him. The slicer was six feet tall, but still didn't meet Matic's larger size. In fact, most men didn't. Matic hadn't met anyone besides Princess Leia's Wookie friend that hadn't marveled at his stature.

"Sir, Master Skywalker, and his wife have just come out of their briefing," Ross explained, exasperated.

Matic pressed his lips together, nodding. "Good. Has the Jedi Master decided on what Jedi will be joining us?"

The strange look on Ross's face caught Matic off guard. "No, sir, that's why I'm here," he paused, hesitated as if he couldn't believe it himself, and shrugged. "They're sending them with us. Him and his wife."

Matic blinked. "What?"

Ross panted again. "I'm serious. They've been assigned to your unit, sir."

Matic could only stare at the computer slicer. "You-you mean, the Skywalkers?"

"I know, Commander," Ross assured him. "They talked about it for almost half an hour. The Skywalkers felt your mission assignment best suited-"

"Blast it!" Matic suddenly roared, sending all wondering eyes his way. They had talked about the mission, discussed who would go for the past three days. Matic hadn't even wanted a Jedi Knight with him. Now, he was stuck with a Jedi Master and his Jedi wife?

"Sir, they're waiting for you inside the prison ward," Ross explained in a soft voice.

Matic turned a grave stare his friend's way. "Why?"

Ross shrugged nervously. "I think they're interrogating the Falleen, Terrin-"

That was Matic's last ounce of calmness. Terrin, the Falleen discovered with Kyp Durron, had been assigned to Matic Pace only earlier that day. He hadn't even gotten the chance to interrogate him. Cursing under his breath, Matic spun away from Ross, and rushed through the hangerbay to its turbolift. What was Fey'lya thinking?

In only a matter of minutes, Matic was able to reach the prison ward. It was a small part of the Imperial Palace, used only under extreme circumstances. From the end of the hallway, Matic could already spot a man in the distance, sitting in a chair right outside the Falleen's room. Beside him, was a figure wearing the uniform of a medic. They were talking, not noticing Matic in the distance.

As Matic walked closer, it didn't take long for the figure next to Terrin's room to form into a man Matic had seen pictures of ever since he could recall. Dressed in a black suit, covered by a simple, long brown robe, the man's eyes turned Matic's way, then back to the medic. The calm expression of the Jedi Master reflected the spitting image of the man Matic had seen on the holo all his adult life.

It only took a mere second to reach him. As Matic did, his mouth almost dropped. Even from his chair, it was clear the Jedi Master couldn't be taller than Matic's chin. Slender, he still seemed to have the slightest bit of youthful roundness to his face that made him look about as dangerous as an Ewok with a stick. The images Matic had seen didn't come close to the man before him. This was Luke Skywalker?

"Now, remember," the medic spoke to the small man as he held up the Jedi's arm, "this vaccine is guaranteed for only two weeks. After that, it will be up to your own body as to how much longer it can hold out."

"I don't suppose you can tell the Falleen of my tight schedule, huh?" the Jedi Master joked.

"Would they listen?" the medic replied, then looked at Skywalker's arm. "Hold still." Without hesitation, the medic put an injector gun to the other man's shoulder. With its four thin needles, it took less than a second for the vaccine to be injected into the Jedi's arm.

Unresponsive to any pain the shots might have caused, Skywalker nodded at the medic. "Thank you, Dr. Ooles. Hopefully, I won't see you again for awhile."

The medic laughed. "Just don't turn green on me, Luke. That's all I ask."

With that, the medic packed up his things and left. Matic watched him go, then turned back to the Jedi Master. In the same instance, Skywalker kindly stood for a more formal greeting. As he did, Matic felt a breath of laughter almost escape his throat. The Jedi didn't even reach his chin.

"Commander Matic Pace, I presume," Master Skywalker stated with a polite grin. Any hint of intimidation from Matic's size didn't show in his expression.

Gazing at the smaller man, Matic silently took his hand. He said nothing.

"I hope you don't mind-my wife is speaking with Terrin. She'll be out to meet you in a minute," Master Skywalker informed him, and sat back down.

Suddenly, gathering his thoughts back together, Matic turned a sharp eye the Jedi's way. "Actually, I do mind, Master Skywalker. Terrin is mine to interrogate. He was assigned into my custody, and therefore, is my responsibility. Not yours."

The strong reply didn't seem to take the other man off guard by much. He gazed up at Matic, and replied serenely, "I'm sorry-I was unaware of this. Mara wanted to speak with him. No one objected."

Matic glanced at the white door of Terrin's room, then, curiously turned to Skywalker, his anger fleeting. "She has a special Jedi talent of interrogation?"

There was an abrupt bang from inside the room; Matic jumped, Skywalker merely crossed his arms, and leaned back in his seat. "Actually, I would say more of a Mara talent of interrogation." Just then, Master Skywalker turned to look at the doors. A split second later, they began to open.

As they did, Matic could hear the whimpers and sobs of his prisoner echoing out into the hallway. Then, a woman, he could only assume was Mara Jade Skywalker, came into view at the room's entrance with a satisfied grin on her face. She was also a face Matic had seen on the holo. Not unattractive, but certainly not of Matic's taste. He liked his women sweet, and young...her smirk alone gave away that sardonic edge to her personality that had been rumored around ever since she married the Jedi Master.

Silently, she turned to Matic, the smile shifting into a more formal stance as she pulled out a hand to greet him.

"Mara Jade Skywalker," she introduced herself.

He nodded, taking her hand. "Commander Matic Pace."

"Commander Pace," she repeated with a nod, then glanced back at Terrin's room. "I didn't mean to upset you. My husband and I heard that your prisoner had refused to talk. I thought I would give it a shot."

His eyebrows instantly narrowed. Confused, he tossed a glimpse at the Jedi Master, who exchanged the look. Matic felt his stomach twitch. Curse Jedi telepathy.

Silently, the commander turned back to Mara, and sighed. "You have any luck?"

She cracked a tiny smile, and handed a datapad into Matic's care. "You could say that."

Staring down at the datapad and all its information, Matic could only nod.

"I suggest you smile, Commander," the Jedi woman's voice shot through the air, "we have a lead now. That's more than we could have said half an hour ago."

Matic tossed her a look in utter disbelief and swallowed hard. Unreal, indeed.

Hundreds had already died.

Trillions rested on the edge of demise.

It would happen so quickly.

The disease would kill them all.

And, the blame would fall on the Falleen. On them all.

It was something Fhamir, Queen of the Suon region of the homeworld Falleen, was certain of.

Standing outside the prison hold on the first moon of Ttremyrin, Queen Fhamir watched in utter silence. The humans inside the room, all a disgusting tint of black and olive, lay motionless on the floor. The mothers still had their thin cold arms wrapped tightly around the children. The fathers lay in the corner, the expression of helplessness still roaming through their dead corpse eyes.

All silent.

All cold.

Without any words of her own, Fhamir opened the energy shield of the prison's door. She stepped inside. The stench caught her nostrils like a blaster bolt; she choked, desperately yanking her hand up to her nose. The entire room was filled with human bodies and waste. A detestable mess of agony and loss. It was a blessing that the group of humans inside the filthy room would be the last. The experiments were complete. Now, Fhamir wouldn't have to look at anymore deaths...at least not within the confines of her own military station.

"I'll have someone clean this up," a familiar voice echoed through the room.

It was warm, comforting, but far too abrupt. Fhamir jumped at it, her heart doing somersaults in her chest. She spun around to the source behind her and glared.

"You frightened me, Jeire," she informed him with a mild hiss.

To her surprise, his skin slowly mutated into the slightest shade of orange. He smiled at her. "I assure you, my queen, it was not intentional. I would never do anything to displease you."

Listening to his kind words, Fhamir found the will to grin. Jeire. A few years younger than she, the Falleen male had always treated her like a goddess. A part of the nobility of her region of their homeworld, he was a marvelous creature to look upon. He was tall, well built, and had the most beautiful violet eyes. His hair, a simple ponytail in the back of his head, was cut short, leaving only a handful of black strands. Like many humanoid species, the Falleen did not possess much hair. The Falleen women, such as Fhamir, normally had a reciting line from the middle of their heads, displaying their foreheads in a glamorous array. For most, it was extremely thick in the back. Most Falleen girls didn't cut their locks. Fhamir's alone went well past her waist. It was something that Falleen men seemed to enjoy. Especially Jeire.

Finally shaking her head at the orange man in front of her, Fhamir sighed. "Is it possible to control your colors, sir? You're embarrassing me with them."

However, the orange brightness in Jeire's skin merely shimmered. "It's uncontrollable, your highness. Pure male emotions. You know that."

Oh, yes, by that point, she knew that well.

Jeire's smile abruptly dropped. He scanned the room, the color in his skin finally calming, then came to look at her. "What are you doing within this foul matter?"

Glancing back at the humans on the floor, she replied. "Staring at them. Wondering-"

"Don't do this," he immediately cut her off, his skin back to dull green. "Not now. You should know better than to become attached."

"Then, what would you suggest-have no compassion at all?" she came back with a sharper stare.

Slowly, Jeire walked to her. His skin shifting to a somber purple, he took her hand. "You're compassion is what makes you shine, Fhamir. I feel for them as well. Humans are of a beautiful form. But, the other Falleen," he paused, glanced down at the floor, then met with her, eye-to-eye, "we're a simple race, my love. Only the truly gifted of our species gives the rest of us any credit. You're one of those gifted. The others will follow you, no matter where you lead...your highness."

Silently, Fhamir looked at the younger Falleen and frowned. It was easy to see Jeire as a friend or even a love, but now he had to be more. He was her second-in-command. And, as such, she had to treat him objectively. No matter how hard it was.

"If this is true, Commander," she started, putting her hands behind her back, "if I am such a highly qualified leader, then why I am allowing another being...one I've never even met...to order me around?"

Jeire already knew what she meant. Their master...the one who had ordered their devious plans in the first place. All Jeire merely shrugged. "Because he's right. The New Republic will just end up being another Empire. The humans will gain control again, and enslave us all. You know that."

"No, I don't," she hissed back. "Look around you, Commander. Look at these people. They didn't kill us. They didn't start our war. We did that."

"It doesn't matter," Jeire replied, averting his eyes to the floor. "It's already begun. If our master hears you speak such heresy, he'll kill all of us, Fhamir. Let it go. Please."

"I...," she stopped herself, almost choking again, but this time on her own tears. "I'm afraid, Jeire," she told him. "I'm afraid that after our mission is complete, it won't matter if we're alive or not. I'll be dead inside."

She focused on the humans surrounding her. The children-the adults-men and women with simple lives and dreams. Just like her. Just like everyone. A simple tear ran down her cheek, but she wiped it away and turned back to her commander.

"Send a message to our master," she instructed Jeire. "Inform him that the tests are complete. Everything's is going according to plan. We leave Ttremyrin One in fifteen standards days."

Mara had been right all those days before; they had a lead. As little information as it was, the Falleen Terrin only spilled the bits of it that he had possessed. Unfortunately, being only a mere soldier of his lost vessel, the Falleen hadn't owned much. Either way, the mission that now lay before them was not an easy one. It required planning, time, and above all else, organization.

And, as Luke discovered the planet on Terrin's list was Bakura of the Outer Rim, he knew that their small group of twelve had plenty of time to plan. They had attempted to reach someone else closer with the information, but with the exception of one inexperienced scouting crew, Pace's team seemed no farther away than the members of Rogue Squadron or the Wraiths. They needed someone qualified to pull it off...or at least crazy enough to try.

The trip to Bakura took nine standard days in all. A far out, human populated planet, Bakura had gone through a lot since the fall of the Empire. Luke knew it well; he had helped to save it right after the Battle of Endor from the Ssi-ruuk species. However, the idea of going back wasn't pleasant. A former love interest of his, Gaeriel, had lived there once. She died just a few years before, leaving a daughter behind. The thought of Bakura always added an extra weight to Luke's shoulders.

However, his emotions didn't matter. Their plans for the mission needed to be dealt with above all else. Of course, like any crew, they argued. Most of the trip to Bakura was spent in debate. The worst was from Matic himself. Pace questioned everything. They plotted-he disagreed. Luke offered a suggestion; Pace shook his head. The man didn't trust Luke or Mara's abilities. And, that, alone, was a severe disadvantage to the entire situation.

Luckily, things turned around. Plans form, especially when all others are shot down. And, so, Luke and Mara were able to convince Pace of their idea. With help.

"You can't be serious," Pace had stated darkly to both of them as they explained it inside one of the ship's rooms.

"I can handle it-I assure you, sir, no one will recognize me," Luke replied calmly.

"You want to pretend to be Terrin?" Pace questioned a little more loudly, then stood. "How, precisely, do you intend to pull off such a feat?"

Without hesitation, Luke had used the Force to cloud Pace's mind, to push the image of the Falleen into it, and making Luke's own face disappear. It was a trick he'd learned to do years before, and didn't normally like doing unless in was truly needed. Unfortunately, it was needed then.

Pace had blinked a few times, then looked up at Luke. His entire face had gone white. It seemed as if he'd spotted a hungry krayt dragon in his view, ready to devour him whole.

After a few minutes, he had found the will to ask, "You can keep that up through an entire conversation?"

"I'm keeping it up through this one," Luke replied without missing a beat.

Pace just shook his head in disgust. And, so, they continued to prepare. Luke and Pace found some rather roguish attire that would fit into Terrin's wardrobe. And, Mara...

"You just remember that this is a one time event," she groaned from inside the refresher of Pace's ship.

Standing next to Pace, Luke merely had to smile to himself, considering that Mara had picked out her own outfit. But, as they had already addressed to her, cantinas were not the place for nice girls that went to operas. It didn't matter the species. Just as long as Mara looked the part, and no one recognized her. Being the wife of the Jedi leader made her stand out a bit. In the end, she had decided on a Twi'lek.

"You hear me, Skywalker?" she yelled out with a bit of frustration.

Sighing, Luke gently shouted back, "You know I do, Skywalker."

He could feel her emotions surge inside of her for that one. Nonetheless, she spoke nothing more, and a second later, the doors of her room slid open. If Luke hadn't learned years before how to control his sensations of astonishment, his mouth would have dropped completely.

Mara stood in front of them, her tight black and green outfit wrapped around her like it was new skin. It showed off every curve, every movement she made. The skirt part, which slit all the way from her ankles to her belt on both sides, displayed her legs and thighs on each side of her body as if the attire was designed for her body and hers alone.

Nevertheless, as beautiful, and as sensual as she appeared, inside, the poor woman was miserable. Staring at him with her gleaming forest eyes, her skin dyed a matching color, she spoke to him without muttering a word. You owe me.

I know, he replied, and then turned to Pace. The other man seemed indifferent, setting his blaster. Obviously, he didn't see Mara the same way Luke did.

With that, Luke shrugged, then picked up both his and Mara's lightsabers. He hid both in his tunic, given that Mara had no place to sufficiently hide hers.

Pace watched him, then finally crossed his arms. "You sure you want to do this?"

Luke glanced up at him and sighed. "Want isn't exactly the term I would use."

"I would say need is the more appropriate word," Mara said as she wrapped her tiny wrist blaster around her forearm, then glanced down at herself in disgust. "Much like this outfit."

"If it's any consolation," Luke said gently, "you look rather beautiful as a Twi'lek."

She tossed him a hard glare, but as she looked at him, a tiny smile caressed her face. "I don't recall this as being a lesson in your Jedi archives, Skywalker."

"Remind me to make some new archives for you, sweetheart."

"Funny. Let's just do this before my blasted outfit decides to eat me whole."

Commander Futin sat at the bar of the Avin's cantina, a glass of whiskey in his hands, a long cigar in his mouth, and anger flowing through him like a really bad drink. He was not a patient Falleen, and sitting and waiting for anyone was not his highest talent in the least.

His contact was late. There was little doubt Futin's leading Captain wouldn't decide to eat him alive if he didn't return soon. They were supposed to port the blasted planet, exchange information with another Falleen ship, then leave. What was so difficult about that?

Of course, information was the biggest problem with their operation. With slicers, holos, and other security flaws in the galaxy, sending information ship to ship was committing mission suicide. Futin would wait.

And, then, as if the other man had read his mind, another Falleen came into the cantina. A long-legged Twi'lek woman walked through the entrance a moment later, never glancing their way. Futin's eyes watched her move, the skirt around her green thighs shifting from one way to another. His skin shifted into a wave of orange, but as she finally sat by another man who had entered just a few minutes before, Futin lost interest and went back to the Falleen by his side.

"What took you?" he questioned in his Fallen tongue, almost ready to punch the other being.

The Falleen merely bowed his head, his skin gently changing into a dull purple, and then calmly turned back to Futin. "Speak Basic, please ," the other Falleen replied. "I don't want to arouse suspicion."

"You're kidding?" Futin replied in Falleen.

The other man merely smiled, raising his eyebrows. He turned to the bartender, asked for a shot of whiskey. He received it only a second later. Shooting the entire glass down, he turned back to Futin. "I'm not joking-I assure you. And, to answer your question, my leading Commander decided to drop me off and then move his ship out of orbit. I had to walk here from the other end of the town."

Futin stared at the other being, then shook his head. With the cigar still in his mouth, he took a sip of his drink. The other Falleen watched with a strange calmness to his expression, then turned to the bartender for another glass of whiskey.

Futin watched him for a moment, then wiped off his mouth and asked, "So, who are you? What's your regiment number?"

"Terrin, number 24-68 of the vessel, Sun's Passage," the other Falleen replied, then gave Futin a tiny grin. "I believe you have a new assignment for my Captain. It would be my honor to deliver it, sir."

Sitting beside Matic Pace, Mara Jade Skywalker made sure to keep her eyes averted from her husband as the conversation between he and Futin continued. However, through the Force, she watched every move they made, stretching out to pick up the pieces of Falleen chit-chat as they greeted each other.

You catch that last one? her husband's thought shifted into her thoughts.

Falleen talk quickly, she replied, gently scrambling on the translator datapad in her lap. Just one more...there. He asked you, "what took so long?", then, "you're kidding?"

Got it-thanks, he replied then was silent.

The rest of the conversation turned into Basic; Mara sighed in relief, closing down the translator. Calmly, she sat back in her seat in the corner of the cantina, waiting. Gazing out as her husband talked, Mara had to admit he was performing his role extremely well.

"Can you tell what's going on?" Pace asked from her side, appearing more concerned at the moment than any type of fear Mara or Luke were experiencing.

With that, Mara merely sighed, and shot a glance of vexation at the man. Throughout the entire trip, Pace had been questioning the Jedi's intentions, their abilities, and most of all, their experience. It was starting to turn Mara sour.

"He's doing just fine, Pace," Mara replied. "No problems."

"I don't like this," he replied anyway, then took a sip of his drink.

With that, Mara rolled her eyes, turning them sharply at the other man. "Luke's been handling things like this for almost twenty years." She gave him a smirkish grin. "You seem to forget what Luke was before he became a Jedi, Commander."

She put extra umph into the title, pointing it out, considering it was the same one Luke had used for years in the Rebellion.

Either Pace didn't notice her statement, or he was simply ignoring it. Silently, he took another, longer sip of his drink, and glanced at the wall with a mild grimace to his lips.

Frowning, Mara stretched out with the Force, returning her focus back to Luke and the Falleen. Just in time. The Falleen was handing a datapad over to Luke.

Luke graciously took it, but as he held it in his hands, he seemed to gaze. Unfocused, as if either pondering something on its screen that Mara couldn't see, or...

Something wrong? , Mara asked mentally, only to receive a shiver of alertness from her husband as he stared calmly at the datapad.

We have a problem, he explained and then, without warning, he threw an image out to her that flashed like a bright light in her face. It was outside the cantina. A small freighter they had seen in the orbit awhile before was landing. And, then...

Mara almost jumped out of her seat. She hadn't dared to imagine Luke had done something wrong. Everything had been perfect. Futin hadn't suspected a thing. But, the Falleen were coming. Dozens of them.

Tell Pace to contact his crew, Luke explained bitterly, catching Mara's thoughts in their wake. She looked back at him as he stared motionlessly at the datapad. Softly, he called out to her, This datapad just went dead.

She glanced at Pace; he seemed as concerned as Mara was as if he had heard the communications between Luke and her himself. After only a second, his face flashed with a gleam of dread, and he leaned closer to her. "What's wrong? I might not be a Jedi, but I can see worry on someone's face. Did the Falleen recognize him?"

It was like a wild herd. The way the Falleen entered the cantina. Blasters drawn, knives at the ready, they rushed to the bar where Luke and Futin were talking. To Mara's surprise, Futin actually seemed surprised.

All right, Skywalker, a voice, much like a static-filled radio that was just turned all the way up, came through Mara's mind, this is as far as you go.

Already, Luke was lifting his hands in a calm sense of surrender. Futin merely watched, then finally pulled out his own weapon.

Suddenly, Luke looked her way, and with it, the Force flowed through Mara like water in a river. Get ready.

His words were soft, yet firm, and with it, Mara spun back to Pace. "Duck."

It happened so quickly, Matic was hardly able to understand what had just transpired. He saw the Falleen surround the Jedi Master, saw as he calmly raised his hands in a peaceful surrender. Then-

It was like watching something in the back of your mind, real and yet too unreal to actually be true. In only a flash of an eye, the Jedi Master's hands grew out into two long rods, one green, the other blue, whirling about as if they were a part of his own body.

He spun around, away from his seat until he was behind four of the Falleen. Blasters shot out like red sparks of pouring rain, coming from one direction, and then another. The Jedi twirled, catching the beams as they flew at him. The lightsabers danced around him, moving to a rhythm of its own. He never looked to see where the shots were coming from. In the next second, four of the Falleen were down on the floor, all with dark lines of crisp skin across their chests, still smoking from the lightsaber's slashes.

Hearing a blaster fire next to his ear, he spun to Skywalker's wife. She was already firing into the group of Falleen. The bystanders of the cantina were running around like wild sand people, never knowing where to go. Mara shot out again, yelling into the crowd to get out.

Matic twisted back to Skywalker as the Jedi Master turned his gaze to three other Falleen. Without warning, they simply leaped into the air. The wall behind them crumbled as their motionless bodies slammed into them. They fell to the floor and stayed there.

And, still, the shots came. People running around like panicked animals, attempting to escape the chaos. Finally, watching as they started to break down the windows, Matic's mind caught up with him.

He pulled out his comlink. "Ross!" he yelled over the gun blasts. "Did you see where the Falleen came from out there?"

There was static, then..."A freighter. It tried to drop off a pile of Falleen, then blast back off into orbit. We've got them grounded, but they're pulling off one hell of an attack."

"I'm coming out to help!" he shouted, then turned to Mara by his side. Without him saying a word, she instantly turned her wild green eyes to him. Moving closer to her, he shouted, "Does he need help?"

"Yes," she replied with more speed than he would have liked. "You-go. I can't leave him here alone."

Matic nodded, and with that, Mara jumped up from his side. Tiny blaster in hand, she moved toward the Falleen as they fired. In the Falleen's hand was a tiny dart pistol. The Jedi woman dodged one projectile by jerking her head to the left, another by lifting her foot-she caught the Falleen square in the face with a blaster bolt, then turned to another one.

Matic smiled, then stood and ran out to his crew.

It was an odd feeling, the Force. When completely consumed by it, there's nothing but peace. In the middle of war, there is only tranquility for a Jedi. Luke's mind was set in that; the Force filled him like water to an empty glass. He had no worries.

He could sense Mara through the Force, concentrating on reaching him, helping him. Her mind was open, full of energy and life. Open to him.

Another Falleen came at his side, this time with a large vibro blade in his grasp. He stabbed it at Luke's thigh; the Jedi Master twisted to the left, dodging the weapon with no more difficulty than deflecting a blaster bolt.

The Falleen looked more stunned than afraid when his attempt to strike Luke failed. He fell toward the ground, stabbing the wooden floor with his blade instead of Luke's leg. Seeing his opportunity, Luke kicked the long knife out from under him, causing the Falleen to flip completely over to his back. He remained there.

However, the crowd was simply mounting. Other Falleen came rushing in from the outside, blasting through the windows, and then twisting to Luke and Mara. Both blasters and dart pistols in hand, they simply kept coming.

I'm left, you're right, Mara's voice suddenly jumped inside his mind, filled with confidence, and calmness, and passion.

Just in time. The Force rippled through his mind like a wave crashing onto a shore; he brought both his and Mara's lightsabers up-

Then, half of the Falleen to his left simply crashed backwards. The other half, surprised by the other's actions, either shot poorly or not at all at their target. Luke immediately took the advantage.

Both sabers at his sides, he darted at the remaining Falleen in the line like a tornado of light and wind, cutting down one weapon after another. He spotted Mara to his far right; without hesitation, he tossed her lightsaber across the line and watched as it landed perfectly in her willing hands.

She ignited it, and brought down two Falleen before they even knew what happened. Shots flew around in a wild, uncentered fashion as the Falleen tried to stop the inevitable. As Luke spun, he threw a glance at his wife, moving to her own graceful dance as the shots came her way...and bounced back the same direction.

With a leap, she was beside him, deflecting fire from every angle. Luke felt her power through the Force, her concentration, and moved with it. Slowly, he shifted his attention to her, reaching out for her power.

It only took a second for her to reply.

Focusing together, they gazed at the nine remaining Falleen in front of them, and pushed. The wind was abrupt, staggering; it swept by Luke's clothes like a hundred running children. The Falleen didn't see it coming.

The force knocked them all the way across the room. One hit a window, crashing through it and hitting the dirt outside. Others crashed into tables, flipping over and over on the hard floor's surface. Most made it all the way to the wall, puncturing the clay and wooden pieces. Raising dust. In the end, all of them found a spot to stay. And remain.

The cantina, which a moment before had been filled with the screams of panic, and blaster shots, was quiet enough to hear the outdoor bugs without even attempting to listen.

Luke looked at Mara; she stared back, without so much of a sweat in her light green skin.

With that, he gave her a tiny, exhausted smile. "Thank you."

She merely shrugged, extinguished her lightsaber, and hooked it to her belt. "You could have handled it. I just wanted to be a little more useful."

Nodding, Luke took a deep breath, and then looked at the open doors all over the room. Matic was nowhere in sight.

"Come on," he instructed his wife, taking her hand, and hurrying out of the cantina.

They were outside in less than a heartbeat, and already, Luke and Mara were breathing in relief. There, in the center of the landing pad stood Matic Pace with his New Republic crew. Beside them were a pile of unconscious and dead Falleen. Just to the right, a smoking Falleen freighter.

Silently, Luke nodded at Matic in relief. The man replied with his own large, cheek to cheek smile. Luke cocked an eyebrow.

"You see? It doesn't always take a Jedi to do a job right," he shouted to both Luke and Mara from across the landing pad.

With that, Luke exchanged a glance with his wife, who merely rolled her eyes. Silently, she followed him to their commander.

Darkened night.

Shimmering sky.

The stars were bright from the planet.

There were no forms of technology he could see. No arrays of city lights. It was nature, of forests and quiet tranquillity. Peaceful, it would seem.

The vision twirled through Luke Skywalker's mind like a Tatooine cantina dancer to music. No matter how stunning, how beautiful it was, the cold shivers running down his back told him otherwise. Something sinister was happening in the vision.

Cold...dead.

Even with all the life around him, everything still managed to feel dead to his fingertips. Luke Skywalker looked through the vision, gazing at every detail, every little piece that might aid their quest. He engulfed himself within the Force, and continued to watch as the stars sparkled in the night's sky.

"You decoded it yet, Ross?" Matic Pace asked his slicer as they sat inside the cockpit of their assigned vessel. Ross had decided to name the freighter, Fast Pace, for kicks. Matic had discouraged it, but the crew thought it was humorous. The blasted thing stuck.

"No, nothing yet," Ross replied with his own touch of disgust. "Whoever coded this Falleen's vessel's database was smart. Probably another slicer."

Huffing out a breath, Matic shook his head, and looked at the computer screen. It was still a pile of wordless phrases and symbols; for an instant, he wondered why in the worlds he had bothered asking his slicer in the first place.

It had only been six hours since the incident at the Avin's cantina on Bakura. No one was sure what had gone wrong; Matic's men had kept well to themselves, no one sent out any messages from the planet's surface, and despite Matic's uneasiness about Jedi abilities, even he had to admit that Skywalker's disguise hadn't faltered.

From the Falleen that had survived the battle in and outside of the cantina, all had been forced into Bakuran custody. As much as Matic had insisted they needed all the Falleen for questioning, the Bakuran government wouldn't allow it without explanation. And, since Matic couldn't announce to the human-dominated planet about the threat of a lethal disease roaming the galaxy, he had to settle with gaining custody of the Falleen's vessel. Damn politics.

With that, he turned his stare to Mara Jade Skywalker by his side, watching as she stared at the screen without her husband beside her. And, if it wasn't politics, it was Jedi.

He huffed out a breath, agitated. "When is he going to be done in there?"

Keeping her eyes hooked to the screen, she merely replied, "When he's done, Pace."

Ross tossed a look at Matic, obviously surprised by the Jedi woman's lack of respect, but Matic was already glaring at her. "Would you mind going down to the storage unit and informing the Jedi Master that he's needed up here?"

"He's meditating, sir. Believe me, that has the potential of importance as well."

"How?"

Finally, she shifted her gaze to him, more curious than annoyed. "What, precisely, do you need him for? I'm a Jedi. Maybe I could assist instead."

Shifting his legs, Matic narrowed his eyebrows at the Jedi, and stated flatly, "Can you speed this process up somehow?" He gestured a hand to the computer screen. "Use the Force to pull the codes out of their vessel's database or something?"

"That's what slicers are for," she replied without a second's hesitation, eyes immediately going back to the screen. She placed a reassuring hand on Ross' shoulders.

Finally feeling his irritation grow, Matic came back, "Then, how should your powers be used? You can disguise yourself, deflect bolts, read minds, but you can't decode a data chip?"

"You're generalizing. It's more complex than that, and you know it."

"How? How am I even supposed to understand Jedi...voodoo?"

"Perhaps you should ask," another voice suddenly emerged inside the tiny room.

Matic jumped, startled. He spun around to the room's entrance. Master Skywalker stood there, looking more refreshed than when Matic had seen him last.

Skywalker walked to his wife; giving Matic a tiny smirk, she turned her attention to the Jedi Master and smiled with a nod. "Any news?" she asked.

Matic turned back to Skywalker, who merely sighed as he gazed at his wife. "Nothing that makes sense at the moment. I wish visions were as easy to read as a chart. It'd make my meditations more relaxing."

The Jedi woman cocked an eyebrow. "What would be the fun in that?"

"What are you talking about?" Matic suddenly found himself saying, perplexed. "You have new information about this?"

"Nothing that will aid us at the moment," the Jedi Master replied mysteriously.

Matic groaned. "You know, my R-5 unit makes more sense than you, sir."

"I would hope so. It plugs into a readout computer."

Matic shot the other man a glare; from Skywalker's side, Mara already had her mouth covered. She coughed her laugh out and turned back to the screen.

"I don't know about you guys," Ross stated in a more upbeat voice as his fingers raced wildly on the database, "but I, for one, would like to know how that Falleen group attacked us. The only people that knew we were going to Bakura were the Senators and a couple of delegates. The sub-space channels have barely been used since we left."

"Not only that," Mara pointed out, hand returning to Ross' shoulder, "but why, if they knew we were coming, would they still meet us on Bakura? There's always a risk when it comes to setting traps. I'd like to know why they decided to chance it just for us."

"I would like that as well, Mara," Luke added, staring at Matic.

Listening to them, Matic merely nodded and turned back to his slicer.

"Sir, I found the sequence!" Ross' voice suddenly shouted through the entire cockpit, causing Matic to flinch.

Eyes spinning to the screen, Matic watched as the strange phrases he had seen just a minute before started to fade and mutate into something more real.

"Just one more second to adjust the codes," Ross explained, and then, the unrecognizable symbols shifted into a picture for all eyes to see.

And, with it, Matic Pace felt his heart sink, to a bitter and cold place within himself, as suddenly, everything that had irritated him a moment before disappeared.

Ross and both Skywalkers were in their own sense of shock, their eyes hooked to the map on the screen in a silent awe. Matic didn't need the Force to understand how they all felt. He gazed wildly at the map of the universe on the datapad screen, at the hundred little red dots that covered it, including one at Bakura. And, all aimed directly for Coruscant.

Five more days, Fhamir thought to herself in the darkness of her own courtiers, just five.

Ttremyrin One was surprisingly calm that night. The air was cool, leaving a freshness to the Falleen's station...even with its lack of windows. Queen Fhamir looked out at it, the horizon of the tiny moon, at what was supposed to be beauty.

But, she didn't see beauty. She couldn't see the elegance of the world around her, the splendor of life just outside her window. She saw death. She was death.

The deliverer.

Just five more days.

"There's exactly one hundred and seven dots, sir," Ross finally declared to Matic and the rest of the crew. "Most are in hyperspace, aimed at the Core."

By that point, everyone had showed up to look at Ross' findings. Matic still couldn't get his eyes off the screen...staring at the entire galaxy cloaked with scarlet dots. All moving from the Outer and Mid Rim into the Core. He had to wonder just how many distress calls the New Republic had responded to in the past few days. Even without using the main Trade Routes, it was certain that the first Falleen vessels could reach the Core within only a matter of days.

With that, Matic shook his head. "We need to contact Coruscant about this."

"Not a good idea, sir," Ross replied without looking up. "If our security has been compromised, then whatever routes these ships are taking into the Core will be altered if we alert anyone to their presence. It won't do any good contacting them."

"How about another group?" Master Skywalker suggested. "The Rogues-"

"Same problem," Ross replied. "We don't know where this leak is coming from. I wouldn't advise it, sir."

Matic sighed, glancing at Mara Jade Skywalker for any other suggestions. However, the woman's eyes didn't catch his; they were set unblinking at the screen.

"Pin-point the dots in this region," she suddenly requested.

Without reply, Ross danced his fingers all over the database's computer board. The red specks around Bakura, Endor, and the other planets of their current region were displayed only a second later.

"The vessel set at Bakura is displayed just orbiting around the planet," Mara spoke, then pointed at the planet Ison, "but, this one is set on the planet. Why wouldn't they put it on the surface? They did land on Bakura."

"That's true," Matic stated, gazing at the screen, "but, they weren't intending to stay."

He continued to look at the screen. At all the dots, all the Falleen vessels there were. Some moving in the middle of the galaxy's vast sea. Not a planet close-by. Others were just like Bakura, orbiting to leave...

It hit him like a smack across his eye. He shot a look at the Skywalkers. From the expression on their faces, it was clear they understood as well.

"Ross," Matic ordered the slicer, "can you isolate every dot location in the Falleen database set directly on a planet?"

"Uh," he sighed, glancing at the computer. "Sure...why?"

"They're military bases," Mara declared for everyone.

The slicer threw her a startled look.

Mara merely pointed again at the screen. "That's how they're organizing it. They not only have ships moving all over the place-going from planet to planet and infecting us...they already have military stations set up along the way to keep themselves secured. Ross? Ross, the database?"

Ross immediately shook his head out of the daze; he turned back to the screen. After only an instant, twenty dots were isolated for their view.

So many...

"Blast it," Matic cursed under his breath.

"Not quite yet," the Jedi Master suddenly spoke, his eyes gazing at the screen.

Matic shot him a glare. But, as his eyes came to meet with Skywalker, his hard expression instantly softened. No, the Jedi Master wasn't staring at the screen. His eyes were more dazed by it. Matic cocked an eyebrow, but said nothing.

Slowly, Skywalker pointed at one of the dots, then asked Ross, "Can you display that location for me, please?"

"It's not one located on a planet," Ross explained.

"I know," the Jedi replied. "I want to see it anyway."

The slicer merely shrugged and set to work.

Matic sighed, but said nothing. It took no more than a heartbeat for the dot to enlarge.

"Ttremyrin," Ross informed. "It's a smaller gas planet. The ship's orbiting it."

"No," Mara Jade Skywalker suddenly announced, pointing at the screen. "Look."

Matic followed as the woman pushed a button on Ross' console, enlarging the orbiting dot. Except, it didn't display whatever Falleen vessel might be around the gas planet. It presented a dot directly on one of Ttremyrin's moons. Matic didn't know whether to smile in delight, or frown with his own frustration. He hadn't even noticed it.

"Ttremyrin One," Ross confirmed. "Forest moon. Little technology."

"How far away?" Skywalker suddenly asked, his voice almost strained.

Again, Ross shrugged. "About two standard days. One and a half if we push it."

Skywalker's eyes met with Matic's. The commander crossed his arm, giving the other man a neutral, but lazy-eyed stare. He spoke, "I suppose this has to do with your Jedi visions, right?"

Skywalker abruptly grinned. "You wanted to know the relevance."

"And, you expect me to just allow this crew to be shuffled around by Jedi instincts?"

"Better than a politician's," Mara suddenly spoke up with a grin of her own.

Matic gazed at the two. Skywalker's eyes didn't weaken their look; he was serious...confident of himself. Mara was the same, just as sincere.

Matic huffed out a breath. "The hell with it." He grabbed the comlink from his belt. "Weo," he spoke to the pilot of the Fast Pace, "set coordinates for the planet Ttremyrin. We have a lead."

He turned back to the Skywalkers. The Jedi Master nodded at him. Not believing what he had just agreed to, Matic merely rolled his eyes and walked away.

The planet of Coruscant never slept. The city stretched past the horizon. Towers were built on top of towers like mountains with never-ending cliffs. Speeders cloaked the sky like packs of birds on other worlds. There was no real nature. Technology and time had made sure of that.

Then, how ironic Leia Organa Solo found it, with so little nature, the Force and life could spread like wild flowers across the grand city from one end to another. Everything was rippling. It was true to say she was keeping busy.

Distress calls had started as soon as Luke and Mara had left on their mission. One planet in the Outer Rim was experiencing odd deaths in their cities; another was becoming infected with a fatal illness in their forests. Deaths. Destruction. It was rising.

The politicians gave orders to quarantine the sectors, blocking off all trade and marketing. However, the calls continued to come, and Leia couldn't reach her brother.

On Coruscant, rumors were starting. People were beginning to piece things together. Human and non-human alike were becoming terrified.

Leia knew that soon, the crisis would begin there. All it would take was one infected human...and then the illness would soil the entire world.

Silently, Leia turned her attention away from the view by the Imperial Palace's many windows. Through the small room, the wild beeps of droids and other devices filled whatever quiet tranquility she hoped to experience. And, there, laying motionless inside his bacta tank, was Kyp Durron's sickly green and red body. Eyes closed. Monitors beeping around him at a constant rhythm. Through the Force, Leia sensed the young man's determination. His stubbornness to die so calmly. Beyond personal emotions, staring at the Jedi as he tried desperately to hold to life sent a wave of cold ripples up her back.

Crossing one arm over the other, Leia bowed her head for a moment, then twisted back to the window. The beautiful skyline of Coruscant's busy atmosphere filled her vision from one end of the room to the other.

"Ttremyrin, straight ahead," Captain Weo explained to her commanding officer through the ship's comm system. "I'm setting in a course now."

"Be careful," Commander Pace explained by comlink inside the ship's cargo bay. "Nice and slow, Weo. The first sign of detection, call me." With that, Pace turned his inquiring eyes to Luke and Mara. "You sense any danger out there?"

Standing beside Pace in the cargo bay, Luke felt the compulsion to roll his eyes at the other man. He was tempted, even twitching, but merely shook his head at him instead. Did the Commander honestly think Luke wouldn't tell him if he sensed a problem? As unbelievable as Luke could imagine, the other man was annoying him to no end. He was still in shock the commander had agreed to investigate the moon in the first place.

Want me to knock him out and stuff him in a storage unit for you? , Mara's thoughts suddenly went through him.

Luke smiled, glancing at his wife by his side. You think he'd mind?

She shot him a smirk, but said nothing in reply. Silently, she buckled her lightsaber to her belt, tilting her hips as if they were getting in her way.

"All right!" Pace's voice suddenly cut through the entire room. "Our slicer's found an energy source on Ttremyrin One's surface. We have three minutes to prepare, people! Be ready!"

Sighing, Luke allowed himself to focus on his task. Just like Mara, Pace, and the rest of the crew inside the cargo bay, Luke was dressed in a completely black attire. Uniforms. None were different, as if to put everyone on the same rank. The only item that distinguished Luke and Mara from the others were their lightsabers. Dangling almost like decorations from their suits.

Pace suddenly came up to Luke, an arm extended with a blaster. "Here," he said, dropping the weapon and its holster into Luke's care.

Glancing at it, Luke frowned, and then put the weapon back in the other man's hands. "I won't need it."

With that, Pace huffed out a breath. Silently, he took Luke's hand, giving the weapon back to him. "Humor me. Everyone has a blaster. No debate."

Staring sharply at the other man, Luke could sense a strange determination flowing out of him like blood from an open wound. Seeing no point in protesting farther, Luke simply nodded. The other man walked away to speak with another crew member.

Finally rolling his eyes, the Jedi Master hooked the blaster to his waist and leg. It felt funny to have one on again...almost as if it wasn't right.

Mara's bright green eyes threw a look at the blaster as she strapped her own pistol to her wrist, and then twisted up to meet Luke's face. "Looks good."

"Feels awful," Luke complained, readjusting his belt to a more comfortable position. Blasted, clunky things...

"Two minutes!" Pace yelled again. "Move into position."

Everyone stepped to the wall, one after the other. They were silent.

"Sir," Ross' voice called through Pace's comlink, "we're reaching the coordinates. We'll have a window of only fifteen seconds to drop down undetected. More than that, and any sensor databases will spot us for sure."

"What's the exact time until we drop?" Pace asked from Luke's side.

"One minute, thirty four seconds from now."

"All right-good-Ross. Now, get down here. I don't want to have to wait."

"Y-yes, sir. Got it."

With that, the comm went dead, and Pace turned calmly to the others. "Helmets on," he ordered.

Luke didn't delay. Neither did Mara. Her hair twisted into a tight bun on the back of her head, she strapped the helmet to her head as expertly as she would her wrist pistol. It took Luke a second more, not used to the full face-cover design and sensors. The thing was equipped with coordination outputs, comlink, and memory logs. More like wearing a computer on top of your head than a helmet. Mara seemed to give him a crooked grin as he was finally able to snap the last band into place.

"I miss anything?" Ross's voice suddenly came through as he darted into the cargo bay. He was latching the bottom of the mask to his chin.

"Nothing worth mentioning," Matic replied, then turned his attention to his watch. "Twenty seconds, people-look sharp," he stated as the seconds started to dissolve away.

"Fifteen seconds," Ross said for him, and then pushed the open hatch button on the cargo bay's wall.

The mission crew steadied themselves as the wind from Ttremyrin One started to push them toward the opening doors. Using the Force, Luke steadied himself. Mara had the same convenience.

"Ten seconds."

Looking out at the darkened night on the tiny moon, Luke smiled. His vision couldn't have been more accurate.

"Five seconds," Ross declared.

"On my mark," Matic continued. "Three-two-one. Mark."

Without hesitation, his squadron began to leap into the dark and grayish night of Ttremyrin One. Each person dropped from the ship immediately after the other. Luke was fifth in line, right after his wife. Not a rigged muscle in his body, he fell over the opening of the ship as if he were to land softly on a comfortable sofa instead of plunging into the emptiness of the moon's atmosphere.

Stretching out with the Force, Luke sensed the crew. The older ones, such as Pace, were taking the drop like they would a training course in a military academy. The younger and less experienced were becoming somewhat tense...even nauseated. Mara was enjoying herself. To Luke's surprise, he found it refreshing as well.

After a minute of nothing, Pace's voice came through the helmet, "Commanding officer to mission crew. We're past the ten thousand mark. Level your descent and place yourself in flight formation 3-1-7. Now."

Without hesitation, Luke found the tiny red button on his suit and pressed it. The outfit reacted immediately, much with the same energy a land speeder created to level its descent. Of course, plunging from twenty thousand feet was a bit more complex than what most speeder's usually endured. The sudden activation seemed to jump the thing into an overdrive for the first few seconds.

Luke was shoved upwards, a good twenty feet, and a little too far to the left. Regaining his control, he turned his body and glided himself into his previous position. With the exception of Pace and Mara, the rest of the crew was still attempting to regain their spots.

Pace suddenly twisted his masked face Mara and Luke's way, curiosity surging through his emotions. "How many of these things have you done before?"

"Only a few-working for the Empire," Mara came back instantly. "Required Imperial dribble."

"Only in simulation," Luke replied. "It was a required training technique in the Rebellion."

With that, Pace's emotions abruptly surged with surprise. He asked swiftly, "You've never done this before?"

It took Luke a second to reply. When he did, it didn't seem like the answer Pace was expecting. "Falling with a safety suit...or simply falling?"

Through the Force, Luke could sense Pace roll his eyes. He turned back to the rest of the crew, coming around him in their spots and holding them. Luke looked to the planet. The ground was like an empty, black sea, with only a few little lights to show that there was actually something down there besides a continuing void of nothingness. To top it off, it was coming up fast. Luke turned a curious eye Pace's way.

The commander was already on it. "Ross," Pace called to the slicer, "have you locked on to the power source yet?"

"Just one more second," Ross replied, sounding slightly preoccupied.

Shooting another glance at the ground coming quickly to meet them, Pace spun his head to his right, where Ross was positioned. "We don't have another second. What's taking so long?"

"Just one-wait...sir. I've found the power source...huh, it's not even five acres, maybe not even that."

"Is it the strongest one?"

"Well, yes..."

"Then, plot! We're running out of space here."

"Got it," Ross declared. "Set course 5-2-6. I simply hope we don't all end up landing on a storage facility."

Lifting his wrist up to his face, Luke set the coordinates into the tiny navi-computer on the sleeve of his jacket, and immediately felt the air thrusters inside the suit push him to the right. The rest of the group followed, moving through the night toward their destination.

Fhamir walked through the crumbling building on Ttremyrin One and sighed in utter disbelief. It was late in the evening; almost everyone slept. If they could manage three hours, Fhamir would be grateful.

As for herself, there was no rest. Her blaster-rifle was set and charged; a hand-crafted blade lay restlessly on her leg. Her hands were placed firmly at their sides. Scouting the hallways at night was not her typical assignment, but Fhamir had made it one. Securing the base...watching out for her people. Besides, she enjoyed the walks.

The night was calm, the only whispers of noise were from the few Falleen grazing by her in the corridors. In all essence, they were more bored than anything.

Silently, Fhamir continued her patrol, keeping her head high as she marched through the main hallway of the station.

Mara Jade Skywalker landed on the dark brown building of the first moon of Ttremyrin without so much as a footstep of noise. Beside her, Luke Skywalker had already set down and was removing his helmet and other unnecessary components to his suit.

Matic Pace was quick to follow, along with the rest of the group who had to strictly rely on their suits to glide them to safety. Mara, just as her husband, was able to use the Force more so to maneuver themselves than the suit, which made landing far less complex.

Nonetheless, within a minute, everyone had placed their landing equipment and helmets on the roof, ready for the next step. Mara, her hair unknotted from her helmet, had the bright red strands flowing wildly around her in the windy air like Tatooine sand caught in a storm. Annoyed, she grabbed a hair piece and fastened the strands back before she even glanced up at the rest of the group.

Ross already had a datapad out, surveying the small opening on top of the roof. Everyone was looking down through the shield's long tunnel with him. Mara came up beside her husband.

Already, she could see the problems they were facing. Sensors, she told her husband through the Force.

Eyes hooked to Ross and the roof, Luke merely replied, It's an enforced grid. If the shield is deactivated without authorization, then...

Then, we'll just have to get rid of the word, 'surprise', in our 'attack', huh, Skywalker? she came back, and crossed her arms.

"Well sir," Ross finally spoke to Pace and the other twelve members of the crew, "I have some good news...and some bad news."

Across from Mara on the other side of the roof's opening, Pace sighed. "Okay, let's hear it."

"I can access the main console from this shield grid."

"And, the bad?"

"It's going to take at least half an hour to decode and shut off."

"Blast it," Pace hissed, shook his head, then turned back to Ross. "Any other suggestions?"

"Well," Ross suddenly shot a look at Mara and Luke, catching Mara's full attention. "We might be able to send a hiccup into the system."

Pace blinked. "A hiccup?"

Ross seemed to swallow hard, but didn't budge his stare from the Jedi. "The computer grid is directly under the shield. I could shorten out the system for a second, maybe even two...enough to fit someone through..." he trailed off.

The emotional surge coming from Luke was unquestionable. Part of it was due to Mara being so adjusted to her husband's presence. But, it was also because Mara felt it inside herself as well. Together, they knew what Ross was suggesting.

Pace seemed to understand just the same. Gazing at Luke and Mara, the commander asked Ross, "There's no way we could shorten out just a tiny access point on the grid...say, one big enough to put a rope through?"

"No, sir, the shield can't be deactivated that way," Ross replied to no surprise.

Pace was still staring at Mara and her husband. It took him a second, but he finally asked, "Which one of you are better with mechanical devices?"

Mara didn't need to move. She was good at mechanical workings-very good, in fact-but the job required a Force trick Mara had yet to master. Her husband could handle the mechanics more swiftly, anyway. Luke was already extending a hand to Pace, gesturing for his datapad. Silently, the commander handed his over. Luke attached it to his belt and moved to the edge on the opening.

"You know what you're doing, right?" Pace questioned.

"Typical Jedi voodoo," Luke replied, and then twisted his head to Ross. "Anytime you're ready, sir."

"Jump on my mark," the slicer stated, not taking his eyes from his datapad. "Three, two, one-"

The shield sparked off. With a rush of wind, Luke plunged like a speeding vessel into the hole. Mara watched him dive. The shield jumped back to life right after.

It was difficult to see through in darkened night, but through the Force, Mara watched with a grin to her lips. Only three feet from the roof's top and only one from the shield, Luke floated on the air inside the station. Like a mechanic on a ladder, he played with the wires inside the shield's computer console as if they were a part of Artoo or his X-wing.

"There's a trick you don't see everyday," Ross suddenly spoke in the stillness, then shot a glance at Mara. "You guys fly around a lot?" "Only in ships," she replied, still watching her husband.

How's it going? she asked him.

They didn't bother updating the system, he came back.. It's an old Imperial console. I bet my lightsaber this place used to be a fully functioning military station once.

With the Empire, what wasn't military?

Got it, Luke suddenly exclaimed through the Force.

Mara brought her eyes to Pace's and nodded. Only a second later, the shield grid dropped, leaving nothing but air between Luke and the rest of the crew.

Body leaning against the edge of the wall, Luke looked almost like an insect clinging for support rather than a man. However, through the Force, it was obvious to Mara that her husband wasn't holding to anything except his concentration.

After only another second, he looked up at Mara and asked, "You sense anyone around this part of the station?"

She stretched out with her senses, then replied, "Not unless they're dead."

Without a word further, Luke allowed himself to drop. Through the small narrow tunnel of the shield's opening, his black-suited form disappeared into the dimness of the ancient station's floor. He landed with hardly a thump a heartbeat later.

Pace spun his eyes to Mara. "He's nuts, isn't he?"

"Extremely," she came back. "It's a Jedi disease. Risking your life for others...trying to save the galaxy. We've had him committed before, but he kept using mind tricks on the guards."

Before Pace could reply, Mara flipped herself into the opening. Pace's eyes were hooked on her as she dropped. There wasn't much need for slowing down, given it was only twenty meters or so. Mara hit the ground directly by her husband, tilting her body with a somersault to execute the remnants of energy.

Ropes from the roof dropped down only a second later.

With one simple move, Mara was on her feet to greet her husband. The other members of the crew followed only seconds later, slowly streaming down their ropes like puppets in a cheap theater act. Mara watched then turned back to her husband. She smiled.

It took only a minute for everyone to make it to Mara and Luke on the station's ground level. Eleven people in total, they were swift and quiet, even the younger ones performing like skilled commanders. Mara was impressed.

"All right," Commander Pace stated in a voice only slightly louder than a whisper, "we have little time to do this, so let's make it quick. Our main objective is to get to the station's database and look around. Simple. Anything more...," he tossed a look at Mara and Luke. "We'll just have to play by ear."

"Main power source is sketchy," Ross said by Pace's side, eyes glued to his datapad. "There isn't much power in this place anyway, but..." He looked up at everyone and sighed. "I won't be able to pinpoint an exact location."

"Looks like we get to hunt," Pace replied. "This station isn't large, but we don't have much time. Jedi, you have any idea just how many Falleen we're dealing with in here?"

It was a question Mara was expecting. Both she and Luke were already in the process of counting them.

"Skywalkers?" Pace imposed, but Mara lifted a hand for him to quiet.

"They're mostly asleep," Luke told him, gazing at the ceiling. "About twenty guards are scouting. Some of them outside." He dropped his eyes back down to the group as Mara did the same. "Ninety-six in total."

"Ah-ha," Mara pointed a finger at him. "You forgot about the two scouting around in the woods."

Luke was silent. Eyes back in the air, he sensed out for a second, then smiled to himself. "Ah...oops. Must have missed them."

"Any around this section?" Pace abruptly came back.

"Not yet," Mara replied.

"Okay, you four," Pace continued, pointing at various people, "you're coming with me. We'll check out the West Side of the station." He turned back to Luke and Mara. "Jedi Skywalker," he referred to Mara, "I want you to take Traya, Chadal, and Scofe with you. Check out the East Side. And, Master Skywalker," Pace seemed almost reluctant. He blew out a breath, then placed a hand on Ross' shoulder. "I want you to take Ross to the North Wing. We have only one slicer with us. If we lose him..." he didn't bother to finish the statement. Silently, he took his hand off of Ross, and nodded his head to the members of his group. They were gone only a second later.

With that, Mara glanced at her group, and gave a tiny smirk. "Well, no sense standing here like stormtroopers. Let's go." They started off, but as Mara turned a corner, she called out to her husband through the Force, Good luck, Skywalker.

Good luck to you as well, Luke replied and then glanced at Ross. The boy was undisputedly nervous, but the determination in his stare could not be simmered. Luke gave him a smile. "You ready to go?"

With that, Ross offered a tiny grin himself. "Any chance of flying there?"

Luke's smile dropped. "No."

"Oh, nevermind, then. I'm ready."

It didn't take long to find trouble. Falleen were humanoid, but even through the Force, their characteristics, their sense wasn't like anything a human would give out. The presence sent warning bells in Mara's head instantly.

"Two Falleen," she whispered to the others beside her, "coming this way from the right."

Their other crew member's weapons came up from their holsters as if they had been stationed on springs. Mara instantly shot a glare at them. "Hold down," she informed, waving a hand. "I can handle this."

"How?" Chadal asked.

With that, Mara started to walk. The others, not sure what else to do, accompanied her. To them, they were following a crazy Force-user into a suicide mission. Mara could sense their fears. However, as the Falleen turned the corner, Mara stretched out with the Force.

She had seen Luke pull off the trick on a Star Destroyer while attempting to rescue her former boss, Talon Karrde. It wasn't so much a mind trick as merely calming the mind. Instead of using words, Mara merely imagined that she and the other members of her group were nothing more than officers in the station. Normal Falleen walking by in the halls. The image transferred to the Falleen as they walked passed. Talking to themselves, they didn't even give Mara and the others an upward glance.

Turning the corner, Mara stopped and twisted back to her group. "See? That wasn't so bad."

Chadal merely huffed out a breath as if she had been holding it for the entire time. Giving Mara a sharp stare, she declared, "A little for-warning would be courteous, you realize?"

With that, Mara smiled. "I'll remember that the next time."

Chadal frowned. "Next time?"

"Yep. There's another Falleen coming down the way. He'll be in this hall in about ten more seconds."

The lights in the station were dark. Many burnt out. Old. It was certainly an advantage Matic Pace was enjoying. The first Falleen didn't even see his group coming. He walked by without a care in the world. Pace would have allowed him to pass if he hadn't looked up from his datapad and spotted them.

Pace had already been ready. Blaster set for stun, he shot out. It created some noise; the blaster itself, and then the unconscious body's fall. No alarms were sounded. Everything was just as much at peace as it had been a moment before.

The second Falleen was a little more difficult. He noticed them before they even spotted him; he was pulling out a comlink when Matic shot him. He was on the ground in less than a heartbeat after. The comlink hadn't even had a chance to be switched on.

They hid the bodies in various rooms that were fortunately empty. Datapad out, they continued to look through the wing, but to no avail. Very annoying, indeed.

"What else can you do?" Ross asked from Luke's side as they continued their venture.

They had passed two Falleen in the hallway, chit-chatting about this and that. Luke had used the Force to disguise him and Ross; the two aliens hadn't even bothered to glance up at them.

Ross had been worried at first, but after the incident, the only emotion surging through him was wonder. He stayed by Luke's side like a little lost animal, following a stranger on the streets. And, talked. It was quiet, but through the old Imperial station, his voice carried like a cymbal hitting tiled floor.

"I heard you guys can create Force-storms," Ross continued, giving no regard to their direction, "with lightening and Force-wind, almost like a tornado. That true?"

"Uh," Luke sensed out for any nearby Falleen. There was the slightest brush of alertness through the Force. He shook his head at Ross. "Not normally. It depends on the situation."

"Oh," Ross blinked as if confused. "You think you'll have to do it sometime during the mission?"

"Hopefully not," Luke replied, keeping his senses on alert. Something was there...

"You know," Ross spoke casually, "I have a cousin that seems to know it's going to rain the night before a big storm. You think he's Force-sensitive?"

There was a presence coming down the way-Falleen, and yet...

"How can you tell someone is Force-sensitive, anyway?" Ross asked again. "I mean, when I was younger, I could balance a hypersprayer on my thumb for over ten minutes. That's not normal."

"Ross," Luke finally whispered, then threw a firm stare the younger man's way. The slicer's eyes were wide as if shifting out of a trance. Taking in a breath, Luke replied gently, "I can test you later if you want. It takes half a minute. I'll even watch your hypersprayer trick. Just not now."

"Oh," Ross gave an affirming nod. "Okay. I'll be quiet."

With that, Luke sensed out again. The presence was closer, turning...

"Here," Luke exclaimed, pulling the blaster from his belt. "Take this."

"What?" Ross gave a puzzling look as he grabbed the blaster. "Why?"

It was too late. Luke rushed to the intersection of the hallway, stretching out with the Force, with his own judgments. They felt right.

The Falleen turned the corner. When Luke had first sensed her, he had expected to pull off his typical mind-clouding trick. She would have walked by without another look to them. But, he didn't.

She hadn't even seen him coming. Luke already had her arm before she could complete her turn, gripping tight. She shouted, trying desperately to escape his hold. Kicking and twisting, she was like an insane Tuskin Raider, attempting to get away. With a swing of her hand, she yanked out the knife at her thigh. Grasping her wrist, Luke rammed his palm into her clenched fingers like he would a piece of wood. She cried out, the knife flying across the hallway.

After only another second, Luke had her secure. Blaster attached to her belt, there was no way she could pull it out. With his left hand, he was able to hold both her arms behind her back. Her mouth was sufficiently covered with his right. Anymore shouting attempts would have been useless.

Ross gazed on in utter shock. The blaster in his right hand was trembling.

"I want you to listen to me," Luke told the woman. He stretched out with the Force, pushing it at her mind. There were several factors running through her emotions. More than anything, anger. Softly, Luke spoke again, pushing the Force into her thoughts, "Calm yourself, and listen. I need to find the main database for this station. Tell me where it is."

But, she didn't seem interested in informing Luke of anything. She stepped on his foot, sending a jolt of pain up to his ankle. He winced, holding tight to her as she jumped up in an attempt to get away.

"Master Skywalker..." Ross expressed, lifting the blaster.

"No," Luke replied, giving Ross a sharp stare. "Everything's fine. Right?"

Already exhausted, the Falleen woman slowly nodded.

There was no doubt; a mind trick wouldn't work on her. Her mind was too complex and alert; she was ready for anything he might try. Slowly, Luke dropped his hand to her throat, holding it gently.

He spoke again, "I'm not going to hurt you. I just need to know where the database is. That's it."

"Oh, of course," she replied hoarsely, sarcasm dripping off her words like drool from a Gamorrean's mouth, "I tell you, and you'll just let go. We'll shake hands, and part our separate ways. Right?"

Luke bit the inside of his lip. Things had abruptly become more complicated than necessary. It was possible that he didn't really need to attack the woman, but it had felt so right. Luke glanced at Ross. The slicer seemed unsure what to do. He shrugged at Luke.

"Well?" the woman questioned.

Huffing out a breath, Luke released her. She seemed stunned by the move, even ready to run away; but as Luke held her tightly with the Force, her hopes seemed to decline. She tried to move, pulling at her legs, but finally gave up and frowned at Luke. "You're that Jedi Master, aren't you?"

Luke sighed, but nodded.

She smiled at him unpleasantly. "I was wondering when one of you were going to show up. You won't make it out of here alive. I'm warning you now."

"The main database," Luke inquired again.

The Falleen woman gestured a hand outwards, toward the hallway she had just ventured from. "This way, kind sir. You'll be dead before you'll be able to decode it. Will that be a problem?"

You did what, Skywalker? , were the only words Mara could form in her mind. It was true that through the Force, words did not transfer from one mind to another as they did through mouths. But, the emotions were so direct, the meanings so real, there was no doubt in Mara's mind. Her husband was nuts.

She was turning the corner, and I grabbed her. It was like a reflex. That's the only way I can describe it.

"Jedi Skywalker," Chadal's voice came through her thoughts, "we need to move."

"Just one more second," she replied, then stretched out through the Force. A reflex, huh?

A very odd reflex, he replied.

A chill went up Mara's back. Normally, when her husband or any Jedi had a reflex from the Force, it ended up leading to some wild events. She sighed.

We're heading to the West Wing of the station, Luke called out to her.

Mara smiled. Commander Pace might become angered at your failure to follow his order, sir.

Commander Pace will just have to live with it, Luke came back, This Falleen...Fhamir...she's not lying to me, Mara. It's possible Pace will find the database before we will.

All right, we're coming, Mara replied, then turned to the crew members around her.

Arms crossed, Chadal cocked an eyebrow. "Well?"

With that, Mara smirked at the woman. "Time for a detour."

"Please tell me you know what you're doing," Ross said from Luke's side.

The Falleen woman, Fhamir, was beside them. Her pace was just as fast as theirs, even casual. There was no fear flowing from her emotions. In all essence, she seemed indifferent.

Luke gave her a funny look, but didn't mutter a word. He turned to Ross. "Everything's fine. Trust me."

"I trust you," the slicer replied, then threw a look at Fhamir. "It's her I'm worried about."

Luke decided not to respond to him. He kept his attention on Fhamir. Her movements. Expressions. He stretched out through the Force. Her presence was almost...dim. Dead from sensation, much like all the life in her had been zapped out.

They followed her through the wild hallways of the ancient station. Passing Falleen after Falleen, none gave an upward glimpse. Luke made sure Fhamir did not alert them to their presence, but she didn't even make the attempt for escape. She merely lead in silence, no more protests echoing from her mouth.

It took a few more minutes, moving from section to section, but as they ventured closer to the West Wing's corner, Luke could sense it. There wasn't much power being generated, but the Force rippled up his back as they moved closer. He glanced at Ross and his datapad. The slicer was smiling.

They reached the room only a minute after. On the corner of the West Wing, it had no windows and only one door. Covered with dirt from the outside, and mold on its corner, there was little doubt the place hadn't seen much care. The stench alone would most likely ensure less people wondering within its walls. Silently, Fhamir moved by the far right side of the room, crossing her arms as she watched Luke and Ross hurry to the database by the room's wall. Ross had been right. The system couldn't have been bigger than the Falcon's main systems.

The slicer immediately started to work on the console. His fingers skipped on the buttons with as much skill as Luke swung his lightsaber.

Luke turned to the Falleen. "I don't suppose you would be kind enough to give us the access codes."

She merely sneered, cocking her head to the side. "You're the Jedi. Why don't you slice my head open with your lightsaber, and find it?"

Rolling his eyes, Luke pulled out his comlink. It only took an instant to reach his commanding officer.

"Matic Pace," the other man called out. "What is it?"

"We've found the main database," Luke informed him.

The other man seemed to gasp. He breathed into the comlink, then questioned, "Well, where are you, precisely? We'll catch up."

"West Wing's far corner."

There was a pause, and then, "Skywalker, I-"

"We also have a guest with us," Luke continued, staring at Fhamir. The woman glared, shaking her head as she twisted her gaze away.

Pace seemed just as amused as the Falleen. He breathed heavy into the comlink, "You took a hostage?"

Luke huffed out a breath. "We needed to find the database. She knew where it was. It seemed practical."

"You don't guess what's practical. That's my job, Jedi!" "Yell at me later, please. We need to regroup and get out of here as soon as Ross is done."

Another pause. Pace seemed to take consideration with that one. "All right," he finally gave in. "All right, we're coming. But, this isn't over, Skywalker. I will be making a report."

The comlink shut off. Luke happily placed it back on his belt, then turned back to Ross.

The slicer exchanged the look and sighed. "Sounds mad, doesn't he?"

With that, Luke gave a peaceful smile. "He'll calm down. I think becoming angry is just his way."

"Maybe he should take some meditation classes from you."

"He would hyperventilate before the first hour was over."

Ross grinned and went back to his work. Luke watched him for a moment, sensing the strange bits of time ticking oddly in his mind. The Force was rippling. He shot a glimpse at Fhamir. The Falleen woman merely smirked.

She never returned to bed. It wasn't the first time Fhamir went all night without sleep; in fact, with the current state of her crew and the mission in general, when she received one hour per night, Jeire was happy. Unfortunately, it didn't seem that night would be one of the blissful times.

Jeire had been lying in bed with his eyes set open like a translator droid. Finally sick of waiting, he removed himself from the warm comfort of the sheets, and went out to find his beloved.

"Has anyone seen Queen Fhamir?" he asked some of the people out on patrol.

"She was heading toward the West Wing," they replied and continued their shift.

Curious, Jeire went down the hallway of the North Wing, scanning the hall. Fhamir's patrol never involved the West Wing. She always stayed near the North and East, close to her courtiers. How odd...

It was like a glimmer from the moon. The way the hall lights hit its surface. Narrowing his eyebrows, Jeire moved closer until he was able to pick up the item with his fingers. As he did, every bone in his body locked.

It was a knife.

A hand-crafted knife.

Small...with curvings of blue waves on its sides.

Only one Falleen in the station had a piece with such elegant markings.

She would never leave it behind.

"Fhamir," he muttered, gazing at the decoration.

His hands didn't need more time to react. Holding the dagger in his grasp, Jeire yanked out his comlink. He didn't bother calling his love. It was already too late for that. Instead, he rang for the rest of the commanding officers.

"This is Commander Jeire. We have intruders in the West Wing of the station. Wake the troops, and get them ready. I don't want any of them to escape here alive."

It was like a blaze of awareness. Mara was almost frozen by it. The Falleen were waking, the tension in the air was mounting like wild fire. They knew. Somehow, they had discovered them.

Mara spun to the others in her group. Many seemed taken aback by her sudden movements; Mara already had her lightsaber pulled. "Everyone take out your blasters. Traya, call Commander Pace and tell him...," she paused and blew out a breath. "Tell him this mission has just gotten a lot more complicated."

"Stay here, Ross," Luke told the slicer flatly.

Without another word, he pulled the lightsaber from his belt and held it loosely in his grasp. Ross' mouth dropped at that, his emotions racing up the charts with concern.

He turned from the console. "What's happening?"

Mara..., Luke called out, but his wife was quick to reply.

I feel it-I feel it, she told him, They're all getting up and about. Blasters, daggers-someone alerted them.

With that, Luke shot an eye at Fhamir. The Falleen merely leaned against the tiny room's wall as if at a boring lecture. Her glare refused to soften. Luke didn't bother to ask her. He already knew she hadn't found a way to contact anyone.

The curiosity was growing in him, but Luke shifted it aside. It didn't matter. The present was the only thing that did. And, at that instant, the present had too much going on to be distracted by other things.

Luke rushed to Fhamir and grabbed her by the arm. Without a word, he pulled her from the room. He spotted one more stare from Ross. Shutting the door, Luke replied, "Just decode the database, Ross. Leave the rest to us."

The door was closed after that. Igniting his lightsaber, Luke gently tapped the edge of the thick slab of metal with the green blade's tip. The steel melted instantly, forming a seal around the door. If anyone tried to enter, it would take an army worth of blaster fire. That, or a lightsaber.

Luke turned to Fhamir.

She blinked at him. "Time to kill me?"

With that, Luke merely sighed. "Why does everyone always think that?"

Her mouth dropped. Luke didn't allow her the luxury to question it. The move was swift, there was no doubt in Luke's mind that she hadn't endured any pain. His right arm went up, lightsaber in hand. The hilt scrapped the back of her skull in one sudden swing. She didn't cry out; there was no time. Her long oil black hair flew in the air like calm Ithorian waves on the beach. Silently, she fell to the ground, her expression displaying the first hint of serenity Luke had seen on her. Swiftly, Luke lifted her unconscious form and placed it in a nearby room. She lay there, breathing in and out as if dreaming about something peaceful.

Wasting no more time, Luke closed the room's door and began to run. Mara was rushing his way, and already he could hear the blaster fire rock the station like colliding asteroids. He twisted around a corner and continued forward.

It was like an explosion. The amount of Falleen coming out of their rooms. Blasters charged, daggers out, they rushed at them like wild Rancors, eyes blazing with determination.

Matic switched his blaster from stun to its highest level. His four men behind him, the shooting began without a second's hesitation. The Falleen aimed, fired...

The four men behind Matic became three.

"Move!" Matic screamed.

There were at least ten Falleen now, pushing them back, shooting with nothing more than anger drenching their faces.

Matic was overwhelmingly outnumbered, but he had good aim.

He concentrated, calming his nerves. Fired.

A Falleen screamed and toppled into the dirt-cloaked floor.

Matic fired again.

Again, one of them dropped.

"We have to retreat!" one of his crew members cried out.

"No kidding!" Matic shouted back, annoyed.

Keeping their eyes set on the Falleen, they turned one of the hallway's corners and ran. Their pursuers were quick to follow.

It almost felt like jogging in a race. Mara and the others were running fast, but the Falleen were right behind.

"Can't you do your mind-cloaking trick?" Chadal questioned as they rushed around a corner.

"Too many-too alert," Mara replied.

They were getting close. Almost in firing position.

"Everyone get behind me!" Mara screamed.

Lightsaber in one hand, blaster in the other, she switched on the saber, holding the wrist pistol for aim. The Falleen spun around the corner-

Mara already had one down before he could complete his turn.

The others staggered back from their fallen comrade, lifting their weapons at Mara...

They paused.

Mara waited, consuming herself with the Force. It was like watching a holo program moving at one-third of its original speed. In the front, three Falleen pulled out smaller pistols, similar to the types Mara had encountered inside the Bakuran cantina. The others began to fire with their own blasters. Surprisingly, they shot at the crew to Mara's sides.

With a skilled twist, Mara caught the blasts without an awkward step. The blue glow of her husband's old blade flashed through the dim Imperial station like a beam from the sun. It was almost blinding.

And, still, she continued to watch the three in front. Loading their weapons as the other Falleen covered them.

What in the worlds? she thought to herself, but then pushed it aside.

She would realize what they were doing very soon, anyway.

There were eleven in total. However, three lay unconscious on the ground.

The green glow of Luke's blade slashed through the night as if on fire. The blaster bolts were deflected the same direction they had sprung. There was no hesitate move-no wrong twirl. The Force guided him...flowed from him.

His mind was calm. His instincts were doing most of the work.

Yet, through the ringing blasts of the fire, Luke couldn't help but notice that the shots were not aimed at his chest or head. They were attempting to get him down, not kill him.

And, through the corner of his eye, he could see the few Falleen to the side, desperately attempting to load dart pistols as they awaited his attack.

He frowned, deflecting the bolts away.

"You heard me!" Fhamir screamed into her comlink, attempting to hold her conscious state. She didn't know how long she'd been out, but the agonizing ache coming from her skull was all the reassurance she needed to attempt remaining conscious. However, lying on the ground, she couldn't even find the will to sit up.

"Where are you?" Jeire shouted through the comlink again.

"There are Jedi in the station!" she screamed out, then blinked her eyes. "I'm fine. I'm fine, I'm fine-just get them. You know what our master said!"

There was a pause. Then, "Yes, my queen."

It was the last response Fhamir caught. Eyes rolling back, she slumped over again on the room's dusty metal floor.

The tiny pistol in the Falleen's hand shot out at Mara with hardly a noise. Like a tiny whistle, the projectile flew at her as if just another blaster bolt in the line of many. Curious, Mara dropped her blaster to the ground, lowering her saber. She lifted her empty hand-

The projectile came to an unnerving halt as Mara caught it in her grasp. Gripping it, she was able to get on solid look before having to go back into battle. It was a dart. At its end, was a small, thin capsule with clear liquid inside.

Mara's eyes went wide as she brought her lightsaber up to catch the next dart. So hot, the blade destroyed the entire piece within a second. But, with each passing moment, her heart began to quicken.

Luke..., she called out, Luke...

The Jedi Master didn't need his wife's voice to tell him something was wrong. The darts flew at him like wild banthas, one after the other. The blaster bolts were mixed with the other weapon; everyone had pulled pistols from the belts. Every Falleen was using it along with their typical weaponry.

Through the wild fire, there was only one thing Luke could hear his wife say.

They're trying to infect us.

"What?" Matic Pace shouted out through his comlink.

He and his crew were far enough away to easily avoid the Falleen's fire, but even his disciplined body was beginning to throb.

"I think there's a fail-safe device on this system," Ross came back instantly. "It's old Imperial, and I-"

Matic groaned. "Can you decode the system?"

"Well, yes, but...,"

"Decode it, Ross! They've already been alerted to us. What else can they do?"

"Yes...yes, sir. I'm on it."

With that, Matic switched his comlink's channel. It only took a second to get a reply. "Chadal here."

"Where the hell are you?" he frantically shouted.

"We're heading down the main access corridor of the West Wing," she yelled back over the rumble of blaster fire. "Sir, they're throwing darts at us."

"What?"

"Diseased projectiles," Chadal came back. "Almost ten of them now. I think they're trying to infect us. Is that possible?"

"The vaccine only works for the air-born virus!" Matic shouted back. "Any other forms and it's no good!"

"Great," she hissed back, then nothing.

A blaster bolt rushed by his head. Matic flinched, shooting a glance at the burning hole in the side of the wall. He frowned, spinning back to his opponents. Another group of Falleen had come to join the others in pursuit. There were at least twenty now.

Matic and his crew continued to run, blasting behind themselves at their pursuers. And, yet, through all that time, the only emotion surging from Matic was confusion. Not one Falleen had attempted to poison him or the other crew members with him. No darts. Merely blaster fire.

It didn't make sense.

The station shook with impacts of blasters and screams of the dying. Ross kept his eyes on the database. The codes were all but organized; the encryption slowly shifting to that of Basic words. The fail-safe didn't seem to be doing anything.

His datapad was ready to be filled.

There was a ripple through the Force. Three Falleen stood around Luke, attempting desperately to put him down. But, Luke's concentration broke. The Force was ringing like a mad siren in his mind. Distant and yet...

Luke shot a glance down at the end of the hallway. In the distance, where Ross was decoding the Falleen's database.

Luke's heart began to pound.

Sweat forming on his brow.

Something, beyond the Falleen, wasn't right.

The Force was rushing up his back like wild ants. But, it wasn't logical. The only danger to Ross would be the Falleen. And, Luke was holding them back...

-Fhamir lifted a hand. "This way, kind sir. You'll be dead before you'll be able to decode it. Will that be a problem?"

Decode...

A new energy filled him; Luke spun back to the Falleen. He had attempted to put them down without killing them, deflect their own bolts back their way. He no longer had the time.

Using the Force, Luke pushed himself. With the wind directed at his body, the shove brought him and the Falleen within inches of each other. None of them expected it. None of them had time to react.

Luke's lightsaber twirled through the night. He was able to cut one of the Falleen's pistols in two, then throw him hard against the station's gray wall. The others met with Luke's blade, so fast, their bodies remained standing even after their heads had completed rolling down the hallway.

With that, Luke yanked his comlink from his belt. "Ross!" he screamed as he ran back to the room. "Ross-pick up your comlink!"

There was a paused, then, "What-oh, hi, Master Skywalker. Where are you?"

"Stop decoding the system!" Luke screamed.

"But, I'm almost done," the slicer replied, the faint noise of typing in the background. "I think this is it, sir. I think the information-"

"No!" Luke shouted back. "Stop right now, Ross! Stop!"

"I can't! It was a direct order!" Ross came back more irritated. "It'll just take another-"

A scream echoed through the comlink. Then, nothing.

"Ross!" Luke screamed.

He reached the door. Lightsaber ignited, he slashed through it like a knife to butter, and shoved the heavy metal out of his way.

But, it was too late. The keyboard to the database was still fuming. Ross' body lay motionless by its side. Even from the door, Luke could see the smoke still waving up from Ross' arms.

And, there, dangling from the cable cord of the computer, was Ross' datapad. Quietly, calmly, filling with data.

Three were left. Matic had watched his other crew member drop. Withering on the ground from the blaster shot to his hip, the Falleen were quick to put him out of his misery. Matic had shot four, perhaps even five Falleen by himself. But, they continued to come. There was no stopping them.

The pursuit was running out of places to go. And, through all that time, there was no showing for Mara Jade or Luke Skywalker. Blasted Jedi.

The three of them rushed around a corner, firing this way and that. Matic no longer attempted to aim. The hallway was so cramped with Falleen, that not hitting one was difficult. And, still, they came.

"Sir!" the crew member beside him shouted and stopped.

Grabbing Matic's arm, they all halted and looked forward.

At least seven Falleen stood at the end of the hallway. Their backs to Matic and the crew. The other pursuing Falleen were swift to catch up.

"Come on!" Matic screamed, aiming his blaster.

He fired.

And, yet to his surprise, the blaster bolt went past the Falleen in front of them...and somehow bounced back his way. Gasping, he hit the floor as it shot into the other crowd of Falleen behind him.

"What just happened?" he shouted as the others yanked him from the ground.

However, instead of worry or fear, both crew men's faces were smiling.

They pointed.

Even through the wild blaster fire, the slashing glow of her lightsaber soared up and down like a wave of light. A similar grin grew upon Matic's face; without delay, all three dashed down the hallway, the other Falleen swiftly following.

"Breathe, Ross," Luke muttered to himself.

The life was there. It was faint-so terribly dull, but there. But, his body didn't want to inhale. His heart barely able to give a beat.

Knelt beside him, Luke opened himself to the Force. He pushed...not at the slicer's lungs, but his mind, attempting to awaken it. The boy was so burnt; even his legs had suffered the shock.

That was what Fhamir had meant, what she had almost warned them of. The database itself was a trap. It's fail safe wasn't an alarm or shut off; it was an electronic shock. One meant to kill whoever attempted to break in.

"Please, Ross," Luke spoke again, closing his eyes.

The Force was strong, but so was the damage. So much pain. Placing a hand gently on the boy's forehead, Luke pushed again.

Mara felt the ache from her husband...knew something terrible had just occurred. But, her hands were too busy, her mind too set to even attempt reaching him.

Through the Force, she bounced the bolts back where they came. From the Falleen, two had made it past her just a few minutes before; one ended up hitting Chadal in the arm. Tough, the other woman brushed off the injury as if it were a splinter and continued to fire.

It was then that Mara caught sight of the other crew members. Matic in the lead, the three ran to them as another wild pack of Falleen followed shortly behind. Rushing down the hall, one of the Falleen got lucky again. To Matic Pace's right, one of the other two crew members fell, his chest smoking madly from the Falleen's deadly fire.

It was then that the seven Falleen in front of the Mara noticed Pace and the other man. They turned, twisting their blasters away...

Mara smirked to herself. It was just the opportunity she needed.

Leaping into the air, she found herself in the middle of the seven Falleen. They attempted to spin back at her, but it was too late. Twirling her saber from the right and left, the group screamed as she cut them down.

Desperate, one came at her with a dagger. Her wrist pistol in her left hand, she caught the knife with its barrel, then lifted her saber up. The Falleen fell back, his chest crossed with one solid black line.

Another attempted to shoot at her hand; so close, Mara merely kicked the blaster from his grip, twirled around, and caught him hard in the chest with her other leg. He toppled backwards, landing hard against the cold metal wall.

Matic and the other crew member met with Chadal and the rest of them just seconds later. Mara looked at him. "Where are the others?"

"Dead," he replied, then pointed down the hall.

Mara followed his finger.

"Oh, blast it," she said to herself and lifted her saber up to attack position.

Slowly, ever so carefully, Fhamir opened her eyes. The room spun for a moment, the gray from the walls mutating into the gray on the ceiling. But, as she began to breathe, slowly-comfortably, her vision finally focused.

She sat up.

The pain at the back of her head was unfathomable. It felt like the Jedi Master had sliced a part of it out with his saber. Of course, the miracle wasn't that Fhamir was conscious. The miracle was that she was alive at all.

He hadn't killed her. He had all the chances in the universe, and yet...

Fhamir rolled her eyes up to the ceiling, then calmly got her feet under her. Inch by painful inch, she removed herself from the empty room.

It was a strained breath, one rasped and sounding with so much agony, Luke could feel it in his own. But, with another throbbing inhale, young Ross finally opened his eyes.

Luke smiled down gently.

With a painful wince, Ross attempted to open his mouth.

"Stay still," Luke told him softly. "Just focus on your breathing. Calm..."

But, the agony on the boy's face couldn't been measured. Fear-reality-it seemed to stab him like a razor blade. With it, two small tears emerged from his eyes. Even those seemed to hurt the slicer's face.

"You need to relax," Luke said again, pushing with the Force. Ross was exceptionally smart, but in his weakened state, Luke doubted any influence to his mind would be a problem. Placing a hand on the boy's forehead again, Luke told him, "Relax, Ross. Simply breathe and relax. There is no pain. There are no worries. Relax."

The words echoed in Luke's mind; watching as the slicer's tense body eased, his eyes dry, it was clear they had in Ross' mind as well.

With that, Luke stood back up. Taking in a breath, he stretched out with the Force. Mara?

There was nothing.

He could feel her urgency, her determined nature flowing through the walls of the station. Nonetheless, he called out again, Mara?

Luke! she called out, almost like a yell. Where are you? We need you here!

Ross has been injured, Luke replied, tossing a glance at the slicer on the floor.

There was a pause, then, Matic's lost three men. Chadal is injured, and I haven't been able to move a step in five minutes. Luke, I can't keep this up.

Huffing out a breath, Luke turned to the injured boy before him. His eyes were still partly opened, but in a daze. If he was aware of anything at that moment, even Luke couldn't tell.

I'm coming, he told her through the Force.

Kneeling down to Ross one more time, Luke whispered, "I'll be back. I promise you."

The slicer's face didn't react. He was entranced by his own calm blankness.

With that, Luke rushed to the datapad overhanging the computer's corner, unplugged it, and attached the thing to his belt. He hurried out the door. Calmly, he turned back after exiting and lifted a hand. Through the Force, the large metal door on the room's floor floated up. It moved back to its position by the door's frame; as he did before, Luke used his lightsaber the seal it to its sides.

Without another hesitation, he extinguished his saber and ran down the hallway of the ancient Imperial station.

Chadal attempted to continue firing, but as her face turned more chalky white, her body shivering, Matic knew it was time for her to put the blaster down. Matic graciously took it, complimenting the one already in his right hand. He continued to fire.

The Falleen, still over a dozen, were too stubborn to rush off, even with the Jedi in their way. A few, rushing through the hallways, came to aid their comrades. It felt like the battle would never end.

"Is he coming or not?" Matic shouted to Mara, about a foot in front of her.

There was only enough time for her to give him one solid glare before twisting back to the fight. Twirling her saber in one circle, then another, she yelled back, "He must have forgotten how to do his Jedi-teleporting-trick, Pace. Just shoot straight ahead, and keep quiet, all right?"

Shaking his head at the Jedi woman, Matic frowned, but did as instructed.

Minutes went by. Second by precious second.

And, then, as if guided by some spontaneous decree, Mara Jade Skywalker jumped at the Falleen. Lightsaber slashing, she went into them with a ferocious zeal that even stunned Matic. The Falleen were quick to look her way as she danced about, slicing through one, then another. But, there were still so many. Some were too busy with her to notice Matic and the others.

Some were not.

About five stepped forward, lifting their weapons as Matic and his crew lifted theirs-

The bright green glow of Luke Skywalker's blade deflected the first bolt headed Matic's way. The saber was so close to the commander's face, he could hear as the red streak from the Falleen's weapon sizzled on the beaming rod's edge. The harsh stench of ozone waved up his nostrils as if attempting to plunge into his stomach. Matic's heart quickened, but the relief in his gut could not be calmed.

The Jedi Master stepped to where his wife had once been. The Falleen seemed to notice; more spun his way, their tiny pistols ready. Skywalker deflected the first dart, then another; he stepped closer to them, watching as they moved back.

In front of them, Mara was too busy to even glance at Matic or her husband.

Her eyes were set and focused, her blade stationed to her side and ready for any strike. It only took a moment. One Falleen charged at her with a dart in his hand; moving hardly a step, the Jedi glided out of his way, lifting a foot as he charged past. It was almost comical, watching the Falleen man tumble over her raised leg. The movement crashed him directly into the nearby wall.

Mara turned back to the other Falleen merely a heartbeat later, hoisting her blade.

From the side-lines, Matic and a crew member fired out. Another, Traya, was beside Chadal, holding her arm so the rest of the blood didn't flow out of it.

It was another minute later, but as the lightsabers' blades hummed peacefully throughout the station's quiet hallway, Matic lowered his blasters to the ground.

From behind him, one of the crew members commented, "That certainly worked."

"Yes," was Matic's only reply.

Cocking at eyebrow as the Jedi Master shut off his saber, Matic walked up to him. "Where's Ross?" he asked.

It was then that the glimmer in Skywalker's eyes could be seen. No one needed the Force to recognize it. Matic's stomach tightened.

The Jedi Master merely explained, "The database sent out an electric shock. It caught him completely in its path-"

"Where the hell were you?"

Skywalker paused, the glint in his eyes brightening with speculation. "I was outside, guarding the hallway. He's alive, but we need to get him out of here."

With that, Matic clenched his jaw. It was so firm, it caused his teeth to ache. He glared at the Jedi Master. "I asked you for one thing. One thing! vProtect our slicer. That was it. How could you let this happen? Huh, Master Jedi?"

The glimmer in the Jedi's eyes shifted. Not of anger, not of guilt, but rather an insult that Matic had never seen in him before. Matic's glare softened.

"He told me he was following orders," Skywalker came back, staring Matic down. Even for his shorter disposition, the other man's bright blue eyes were like darts. "I assume you talked to him, then?"

Matic paused-he didn't speak a word.

"He told me he wasn't allowed to stop."

With that, Matic merely turned his gaze the other way.

Huffing out a breath, Skywalker came back, "Sometimes, you can't predict the unforeseen, sir. Sometimes, neither can I. You understand?"

Truly, Matic didn't, but he nodded anyway.

Skywalker returned his nod, then twisted around to his wife. Matic silently watched as she came up to him, sweaty and tired, but they hugged nonetheless. He spoke with her quietly for a second; her soft expression seemed to harden.

Silently, Skywalker pulled out a datapad from his belt, and handed it to his wife.

Matic cocked at eyebrow. "What's that?"

"Whatever Ross was copying," the Jedi Master replied, "I think she would be the best person to carry it."

"Why?"

With that, Skywalker turned his way. Holding his lightsaber in one hand, he merely replied, "I told you, he's alive. We still have some time. I'm going back for him."

"Like hell you are," Matic suddenly snapped back, staring eye to eye with the other man. "This is my mission. My crew. If you're going, then I'm coming along."

Skywalker was already shaking his head. "I don't think that's such a good-"

"I don't care what you think about it," Matic shot back. "My mission-my crew. My friend. Clear?"

Skywalker gave a tight, but unpleasant grin. He blinked at Matic, but bowed his head. With that, he turned to Mara. "We'll be done shortly."

"Then, why are you giving this to me?" she questioned, waving the datapad in her hands.

"You can make a direct exit to the roof by the main hallway," Skywalker replied, placing his hands on her shoulders. "I don't want to take a chance with our detour."

Licking her lips nervously, she nodded at him. With a nudge of the head, she instructed the rest of the crew to follow her. Weakly, Chadal managed to get up on her own feet.

They began to walk. With a hand on her hips, the Jedi's wife watched as they all shuffled past her. She started to follow-

The movement was so swift, Matic hardly noticed until it was over. Almost instinctively, Skywalker grabbed his wife by the arm, twisting her back around to him. The energy of his movement seemed to catch Mara off guard; instead of merely turning back around, she spun and ended up in his arms. The Jedi Master didn't seem to notice. Without a word, he placed his lips on hers, lifting a hand to press against her hair.

Matic gazed on quietly. Skywalker held his wife; she seemed more confused than flattered or shocked. After another moment, he released her, gazing at her eyes.

"I love you," he told her, the words seeming to be spilling from his mouth. "You realize that, right?"

To Matic's surprise, she snorted out a laugh, both eyebrows narrowed at him. "Are you going nuts? I'll see you in ten minutes."

"Of course. I was just wondering."

It was then that Mara's dazzling eyes began to dim. She frowned at him. "You're not planning on doing something unorthodox...are you, Skywalker?"

But, he didn't smile at her question. Normally, Matic had noticed that the couple had an annoying tendency to tease at each other. But, Skywalker wasn't teasing. So, quietly holding her, he merely replied, "Get to the roof, Mara. I'll see you soon."

She pulled away from his arms, gazing at him with a worry she hadn't possessed before. Shooting a look at Matic, she only said, "Just......make sure he doesn't do anything foolish, all right?"

Matic merely blinked, surprised. After a short second, he gave a wary nod.

She turned back to Skywalker. "You see? If you do, I will find out. Eventually."

With that, she gave him one quick kiss on the mouth, then rushed off to be with the rest of the crew. Silently, the Jedi Master's eyes twisted to Matic; there was something grave in them that caught the commander off guard. Almost as if there was an unknown will within the Jedi's realm of understanding that was lost to Matic. Maybe even to Skywalker's mind as well.

"Let's go," Skywalker instructed, walking past Matic and the pile of Falleen bodies covering the ground.

The hallway was quiet in that part of the station. Falleen ran past in the distance, attempting to reach their enemies. Queen Fhamir merely walked forward, the throbbing in her head somehow echoing down her entire body.

Breathing slowly, she reached the end of her venture. Even with the agony coursing throughout her body, she still looked up at the door and gasped. The edges were still melted shut. The thick frame trapped together with its own metal surface.

Placing a hand on the door to the database, Fhamir merely stared at it...

And smiled.

The venture to the station's database was nothing more than a continuous blood bath. Luke attempted to create as little damage as possible, but Ross' presence in the Force was wavering. He didn't have the time to be merciful.

Pace seemed to have no intention to try, either. Of course, with all the blind hate and fury fluctuating throughout him, it was clear that the thought of being merciful hadn't even passed his mind. He aimed and fired with as much satisfaction as Luke had once possessed shooting at wamp-rats in his youth. It was unnerving-certainly distracting. Pace's emotions made the entire station feel ten degrees colder.

Luke ignored him to the best of his ability and continued their pursuit. From one side to the other, the Falleen were becoming a more solid wall in their pathway. If one was shot or cut down, another was there to take his place. There was no delay. There were no moments of ease. They came; Luke and Matic responded. Simple.

Set within the Force, even Luke's nerves were beginning to shudder. In front of him, there were at least a dozen Falleen-to his back, another ten. And, with each passing moment, they rushed at them.

Matic attempted to stay between Luke and the wall. He avoided the blaster fire and shot back rounds himself, but all he truly did was force Luke to remain slow and consistent. No leaping. No swinging. If Luke attacked one group, the other one would kill the commander before Luke could take the first strike.

Once again, Luke desperately wished the other man wasn't so damn stubborn.

"How far away are we?" Matic asked, firing off his blaster.

"Down the hall-to the right," Luke replied, deflecting three shots away from his legs, two from Matic's head.

Luke shot a glance at the commander; the other man exchanged the same expression. However, Matic decided to ask the question anyway, "Will we make it that far?"

A dart flew from nowhere. The Force threw a wave of urgency at Luke that would have caused most men to topple. Gasping, the Jedi Master jerked his head to one side, the tiny projectile flying by his neck so closely, the larger end brushed by his skin. Frantically, he brought a hand up to check. There was no injury....no puncture.

There was no time to breathe a sigh of relief. Two more darts soared into the air, rushing to meet with Luke and his lightsaber.

The ropes had been easy to hitch up. The ceiling was tall in the main corridor, but every member of Pace's team were well experienced. They shot up the thin cords to the opening as if they did it everyday of their lives, and hooked the ends to their blasters. Mara's wrist pistol was small, but the cord held tightly. She decided to go up the mortal way.

Of course, in one hand was her lightsaber. Ignited and ready for anything.

"Here," Mara spoke, tying an extra rope around Chadal, "that should keep you steady."

"Thanks," the other woman replied, giving Mara a tiny grin.

Oh, great, Mara thought to herself, saying thank you, grinning...she's ready to pass out at anytime.

Mara tossed a look at the other members beside her. The three merely shrugged, tugged at their ropes and gave Mara an affirming nod.

And, then-naturally-the Force rippled with danger.

Not just once, but over and over as if attempting to get even more of Mara's attention.

Rolling her eyes with aggravation, Mara released her pistol and hoisted her lightsaber into attack position. Spinning back to the other crew members, she yelled frantically, "If you're going with any hopes of not being shot down in the process, I suggest you do it. Now."

It didn't take them but a heartbeat. Even Chadal, her eyes glazed over with an almost drunken expression on her face, was working the ropes in seconds time. It took just a moment for all of them to make it halfway up.

The Falleen were rushing through the hallway just a second later. They were passing from one walkway to another in the distance, but as a few turned to look down the massive corridor, they were swift to alert the others.

Then, others to others.

More and more.

Before ten seconds had ticked by, at least ten Falleen were running Mara's way.

Calming herself in the Force...allowing it to fill her, flow through as her husband had taught, Mara lifted her saber. She looked up at the others, still pulling themselves up the ropes. With that, she twisted back to the Falleen and their blasters.

She charged.

They hadn't expected the move. Most sane beings didn't.

Far from the others, Mara reached out with the Force, guided by it, pulling with it.

The hallway rumbled.

She was caught in the wave of Falleen only an instant later.

They gazed madly at her as the first swing exited her lightsaber.

Even the second.

By the third, they had recovered from her dramatic attack. Circling her, they lifted their tiny pistols, many pulling out blades.

Engulfed by the Force, her wild green eyes shifted from one side to the other, watching each being, memorizing their movements with every millimeter.

The hallway rumbled again.

Lightly, the dust on the walls and floor waved up into the air.

The first Falleen came at her with his dagger. Attempting to be creative, he dropped his body to the ground millimeters from her saber and slashed at her ankles. She almost hadn't expected the move.

Almost.

Leaping over the blade, she landed hard on his stomach. He heaved. The energy consuming her, she flipped completely to the other side of the circle. Her leg arced, her body tightening...

The Falleen tried to move, but he was far too slow.

Mara's body hit him dead on, her lightsaber catching the two Falleen by each side of him.

The hallway shook again.

That time, Mara closed her eyes and pushed at it harder than ever before.

The Falleen were prepared to start at her, their frustration and fury shimmering a solid red in their eyes. But, as the thunderous quake of the hallway ruptured throughout its metal walls, their attention was immediately averted away.

And, again, Mara pushed.

The grids of metal bent. The pieces of cement underneath not agreeing with them. The second was so swift, even Mara was in shock. From the large upper sides of the hallway, the pieces of metal and stone crumbled down like wild fire. The Falleen screamed, some managing to escape the chaos. Most were not so lucky. So close, Mara had to use the Force to yank herself from the wild destruction.

And, still, a chunk of metal managed to pierce her leg.

She screamed, dropping stomach-down on the hard metal floor.

The dust in the hallway was drowning with its coarse air. Mara laid on the ground, covering her face as she attempted to inhale one solid breath. Coughing, she exhaustedly twisted her body around to the mess in front of her.

For the most part, only bits and pieces of the Falleen could be seen from under the enormous weight of rock and metal. Crushed underneath, their life forces were dim...most gone completely. Even the ones that had escaped the main downfall, still remained unconscious on the ground with cuts and dust all over their bodies.

Panting, Mara slowly forced herself to get up. Her right leg protested, the crimson blood dripping madly down from its underside. The cut itself was only a few inches long, but the deep impact couldn't be missed. The damn piece of metal was still stuck inside.

With that, Mara stretched out with the Force.

Grabbed the end of the metal shard.

Pulled.

She groaned, but didn't scream. Silently, she lifted the bloody thing into view, then frowned. Not very elegant. If Luke had decided to pull down a chunk of a military station, he certainly wouldn't have gotten a piece of it caught in his leg. Rolling her eyes, she dropped the rigged shard to the ground, then shot a glance down the hallway.

There, dangling peacefully in the air, was her pistol and rope. Dragging her stubborn right leg, Mara reached the opening in the hallway. The other crew members were looking down from their spots on the roof. Nodding once, Mara swept a hand over her sweat-drenched forehead, then began her climb.

Herds.

Moving...running to find them.

From other sides of the station, they rushed to the West Wing.

There were at least fifteen behind Luke, and the same dozen in the front. It was becoming almost impossible to block every blaster bolt from both him and Matic. Again, Luke threw a glare at the commander, who was too busy shooting at the crowd of Falleen to notice. Stubborn, self-righteous...

The Force flashed-Luke reacted. More blaster bolts flew at his legs, darts at his chest and neck. He caught a bolt on his lightsaber's blade, swinging up to block the darts. He lifted his foot from the ground, avoiding a blaster bolt aimed for his ankle.

And, through the entire course, he could feel the group of Falleen massing near the database. He could sense Matic's ship entering the atmosphere. They had run out of time. Mara and the others were already prepared to leave.

Again, he shot a glare at the commander. He finally shouted out, "There's over twenty-five Falleen around us, Matic. Another twenty waiting for us by the data-"

"We're doing fine," the commander replied and fired again.

Luke groaned, deflected another set of projectiles, then came back, "No, we're not. Do you still have your attachment ropes?"

"I'm not leaving."

"I can't stop them all with you here!" Luke shouted. "Pull out your cable. I'll make a hole in the roof-"

"Watch it!"

A blaster bolt flew to his shoulder; with hardly a second to react, Luke swung his blade to deflect it. Barely skipping away, it slammed into the wall just behind the commander.

All right, that's enough Luke thought to himself, then reached out with the Force.

It was difficult. There were no moments to truly concentrate, no seconds to gather strength. He would have to make due with the power he was already using and worry about it later.

The Force came with him, allowing him to flow from it.

The dust from the floor swept up into the air.

Gazing at it, Luke could see each piece in his mind. Every little speck.

He gathered them up, driving them madly about as if they were alive.

Surging...moving...twirling in a dance.

The firepower from the Falleen was still rampant, but weakening as they began to gaze wildly at the dust.

Taking in a breath, Luke pushed.

The dust, the air, exploded with power.

The Falleen from behind and in front of them screamed.

The wind flew past them, engulfing them in its strength.

The dim light fixtures on the walls sparked.

It was swift, but Luke saw the energy and grabbed it.

The lights blew apart, sending thin razors of blue electricity into the wind.

The Falleen tumbled to the ground.

-And, then, a cold chill soared up Luke's back.

It surprised him; his concentration broke.

The wind vanished as fast as a passing breeze.

The electricity disappeared into the air.

Gasping, Luke dropped to one knee.

He looked up at the commander.

The other man scanned the Falleen as they started to recover from the incident, then back at Luke. "What happened?" he asked. "Why did you stop?"

"I-," Luke panted, catching a breath. "Something wasn't right. This isn't right."

"They're trying to kill us!" Matic screamed, pulling on Luke's arm.

Luke snatched it back. Slowly, he allowed his body to relax, then stood back up. He turned back to the Falleen. From the front and back.

They had their blasters drawn, glaring at Luke and Matic as they stood by the sides of the corridor like decorative statues. They were looking on, awaiting the next move. But, none attacked. None seemed willing. Quietly, Luke thumbed the switch on his lightsaber. The green glow disappeared from the hallway.

Matic shot him a look. "What are you-"

"Put your weapon down, Matic," Luke instructed.

The commander looked as him as if going mad. "What?" he exasperated.

"Put it down," Luke told him again. "They haven't killed Ross, and they've already filled up the entire West Wing. They don't want to kill us. Not yet." "That's very reassuring," Matic snapped back, his words dripping with sarcasm.

He lifted his blaster-

"No!" Luke shouted.

He spun back to Matic, grabbing the other man's wrist as he attempted to aim. With one swift move, Luke placed his thumb on a pressure point and jabbed it. Hard. Matic screamed, his blaster clumsily firing into the hallway. A Falleen shouted. The Force tingled...

A bolt flew by Luke's leg. Again, Matic cried out. Finally dropping his weapon to the ground, the commander toppled to the floor. Luke looked down. Pace's lower right leg was still on fire. Falling to his knees, Luke lifted his hands to help.

"Get away from me!" Matic yelled back, smacking Luke's hand away as he put out the wound.

"Well done," a voice, familiar, entered Luke's mind.

Slowly, he stood back up, staring down the hallway.

Fhamir stood there. Two other Falleen by her sides, blasters drawn.

"I was wondering when you'd finally get the hint," she continued, glancing from one side the other hallway to the other, "considering that my entire crew has filled this part of the station. You wouldn't have made it much farther. We were about ready to pull out detonators."

Another chill rushed up Luke's back. He merely ignored it, then replied, "You're the leader here."

"I suppose that's the appropriate term," she came back, walking down the hallway to him and Matic.

Still on the ground, the commander didn't move. He was listening, too busy attending to his injury to do more.

Luke kept his eyes on the Falleen commander. She reached him only a moment later. Her height was about an inch taller than Luke himself. Her long black hair neatly back in a new braid. She lifted a hand. "Your lightsaber."

"My friend," Luke came back instantly. "He's inside your system's room."

The woman merely snorted out a laugh. "You mean the slicer? You actually expect me to do you a favor?"

"Yes," Luke merely shot back, staring her down.

Fhamir stopped her chuckles. She blinked at him, stunned. There was a moment of silence in the hallway. Finally, she gave him a tiny grin. "You're very direct. I find that honorable." She casually moved out of the way.

"Your highness!" one of the men from her sides shouted out.

"Keep your tongue, Jeire," she told him, then looked at Luke. Eyes hooked to his, she merely came back, "He could have killed me and didn't. I believe that deserves respect."

Silently, Luke grabbed Matic's arm and pulled him up. The commander shouted, barely able to hold himself straight. Luke ignored his cries and began to walk. Still in his grasp, the commander groaned, but followed.

They turned a hallway. Just as with the last one, Falleen stood beside every spot the walls had to offer. Men and women alike, they kept their heads held high, blasters up and ready for use. Luke kept his attention to the door at the end of the hallway.

Fhamir and her bodyguards behind them, Luke reached the door. It was still melted shut. He gave Fhamir a puzzling look. "You assumed I'd be back?"

She crossed her arms. "Most people don't fuse a door to its frame when they're leaving it behind." She cocked an eyebrow at him.

Gently putting Matic on the ground, Luke ignited his saber. Some of the Falleen flinched, lifting their blasters; Fhamir shouted in her native tongue. They stopped.

It only took a second to cut through the heavy metal door. It crashed into the room's floor with an echoing thud, the dust rising into the air as if Luke was attempting another Force storm. Silently, he extinguished the saber and walked into the room.

On the floor as if in a realm by himself, Ross lay. His face and arms covered in charcoal burns and blisters; his eyes were halfway open, but there was no spark of consciousness within them. Luke knelt down, reaching out with the Force. He was breathing, his heart softly pounding in his chest. Weak, but steady.

With that, Luke twisted back to Fhamir.

By the wall she had originally been at the last time they had been together, she stared down at him with her comrades to her sides. Her eyes were set, but tired. Her dull green skin drenched with sweat. It was clear she hadn't been conscious for very long.

Curiously, she tapped her fingers to her crossed arms, awaiting for him to finish.

Slowly, Luke lifted himself from the ground, giving her a sharp, but calm stare. She tilted her head to the side, her skin giving off the slightest tint of blue. Luke spoke, "I'll give you two options, your highness. They're the only two I'll offer."

"Offer?" the other Falleen, Jeire, started, but Fhamir lifted a hand to silence him.

Expressionless, she nodded at Luke.

Nodding back, he explained, "It's clear you want me alive. For whatever purpose, you've been attempting to infect me with that disease since we were first discovered. However, it hasn't worked well." He paused.

"Go on," she inquired, waving a hand.

"How does this sound?" he continued, lowering a hand to gesture at Ross. "Permit my comrades to live, and I'll allow you to infect me. For whatever reason you have, I'll cooperate with you."

"Skywalker, what are you-" Matic couldn't finish.

His weapon set for stun, Jeire shot the commander directly in the face. Matic dropped more like a corpse than a man, his eyes dazed over with blankness. The only thing to reassure Luke that he was alive was his presence in the Force. From their distances, he couldn't even hear Matic's breathing.

Shaking his head, Luke turned back to Fhamir. "Does that sound fair?"

She lifted a hand to her chin, staring at him with inquiring eyes. After a second, she gently asked, "What's the second option?"

"We all die together," he simply replied.

Fhamir was the only one not to chuckle. She threw glares at the other Falleen, then twisted back to Luke. "How, precisely, do you intend to accomplish that?"

With that, Luke reached out with the Force. The room was more old stone than metal. Pulling, he gazed silently at the Falleen woman as the entire area gave a thunderous quake. The dust jumped back into the air; all of the Falleen nearby staggered back. Fhamir glanced up at the ceiling, and then to him.

"You'll end up killing yourself," she explained.

He released the room, then shrugged at her. "I'll die soon anyway. It's your choice, but I warn you, the idea of death doesn't concern me."

"I'll make a note of that," she hissed, then turned to the other Falleen by her sides.

They talked for a moment, then turned back to Luke.

Silently, Jeire pulled out a dart from his belt. He began to walk to Luke-

"No," Luke came back, staring at Fhamir. "I want you to do it."

She blinked at him, stunned. "Why?"

"Because you're the leader here," he replied. "My death will ultimately be your doing. Therefore, you should be the one to handle the entire job."

There was something in his words that struck her. She gazed at him as if the reality of his declaration was almost too much to bear. She was sweating again. Silently, she swallowed hard, then walked to Jeire. She lifted a hand.

Reluctantly, the male Falleen handed over the vial.

Without a word, she walked to Luke and gently placed her free hand on his neck, tilting it away from her. She lifted the needle to his skin-

There wasn't any real pain. The needle went in, the small drops of liquid a second later. Through the Force, Luke felt as it swiftly flowed into his bloodstream, separating to different parts of his body.

She pulled out the instrument, then gently took Luke's lightsaber from his care. Her eyes didn't meet with his again. She returned to her place by the wall.

"Get them into the ship," she told Jeire to her right. "We're leaving."

It wasn't like a warning...but a chill-dark, profound-that shook her entire body. Boarding the Fast Pace, Mara felt it like her heart had stopped.

Luke. Luke was dying.

The sensation was subtle, like a whisper in the wind. But, its message was all consuming. Mara jumped, rushing out of the ship's bottom hatch and back to the station's opening just a few meters away.

"No!" Traya shouted from the ship. "What are you doing?"

"He's dying!" she cried out, her right leg buckling with protest. "I can feel it!"

"Stop!" another crew member yelled.

Running up to her slower form, he grabbed her arm. She tried to snatch it back, but he spun her around instead. "Are they dead?" he asked.

Taking in a breath, calming herself, Mara stretched out with the Force. No, not dead. Not even Luke. His presence was just as strong, just as powerful as normal. Merely tired. Reserved. Blocked.

He was blocking her.

He knew exactly what he was doing, and didn't want her involved.

"Well?" the crew man asked.

Luke, she called out, ignoring the other man, Luke, listen to me...

But, it was pointless. Just as she could push him out of her mind, he was capable of doing it to her as well. He was just as stubborn...just as wild as she was. Perhaps not in the same way, but on the same level. He thought what he was doing was right. It was the end of the discussion.

Slowly, Mara got a grip on herself. She turned back to the other man, the knots in her throat and stomach making it impossible to talk. Luke didn't want her there. Every beat in her heart protested no, but there was something beyond her...beyond Luke that was screaming in urgency. She had to use the Force just to find the will to speak. When she did, they were not the words she was expecting to hear. "It doesn't matter. We need to leave. Now."

From inside the station, Luke Skywalker walked behind the Falleen Queen and her royal subjects. There was the faint hint of noise from the roof; the station rumbled for a second, but no one stopped their pace. Slowly, the bright presence of Luke's wife began to grow faint. Dimming as she sped off with the others.

Luke averted his eyes to the ceiling for a moment, then dropped them back to the floor. Quietly, he smiled.

"I'm tellin' you, hon, it's nuts," the sweet voice of Leia Organa Solo's husband, Han Solo, echoed throughout her apartment from the transmitter holo. "Humans and non-humans alike are ready to start a war."

Giving her ruggedly handsome spouse a comforting grin, she merely asked, "Are you certain there isn't a touch of exaggeration to your story, Han?"

With that, he pulled the edge of his shirt's collar to one side. There, underneath, was a cut at least four inches in length. "This from an old woman with exceptionally tough nails," he replied, dropping his hands to his hips. "No exaggeration, Leia. The New Republic can put up all the trade blocks and inspection stops they want, but these Falleen would risk uncharted space to get where they're goin'."

"Coruscant," she sighed, sitting down at the edge of the living compartment's small table. She shook her head at her husband. "I'm lost, Han," she told him. "I realize my place is here, but still-"

"I want you here as well," he finished for her. Shooting off one of his outrageous smiles, he told her flatly, "I've requested for me and Chewie to be sent to the Yavin system to protect it. It's pretty-close, anyway."

"I think Kam and Tionne can handle the Academy," Leia replied.

"Maybe from Sith Lords and asteroids," he came back, "but, I've heard of two unmarked ships floating around that system on and off for over two days. I'm not gonna let a pile of out-right wild lizards get a hold of my kids."

It was then that Leia felt his presence in the room. The sensation was so abrupt, it forced her to jump up and spin around to the door. Senator Retafured was there. Bashfully, he smiled, giving her a tiny hand wave.

"I'll have to speak with you later, Han," Leia informed her husband.

"What...why?" he shot back.

"Later, Han," she continued, and then switched off the holo.

Han's face vanished from its screen; with a polite grin, Leia walked to the Senator and extended a hand. He softly took it, holding it, staring at it.

Leia frowned, narrowing her eyebrows. "What's wrong, Senator?"

With that, the Scyos finally looked up at Leia, his eyes tear-stricken. "Senator Tenanete has been placed under arrest."

"What? When?" Leia immediately questioned.

The other being slowly walked into the room, clumsily finding a seat at the edge of the living courtier's sofa. His eyes were dazed as if in another realm. Leia placed a hand on his back. He gently muttered, "They took him this morning. There's a meeting starting this afternoon to discuss it." He tossed her a look, eyes pleading. "You...will be there, right?"

Calmly patting the Senator's back, Leia explained, "I'll be right by your side, sir. I assure you, this will be straightened out."

It was then that the other being consumed himself in tears. Placing both hands to his face, he exclaimed, "We just joined the Republic. We wanted a chance to be part of the galaxy. We went against our planet's desire. No wonder everyone hates us!"

Leia opened her mouth to say something, but couldn't. There was nothing to say. Sitting beside the sobbing Scyos delegate, Leia Organa Solo could merely look out from the balcony on the other side of the room. At the tranquil horizon and the speeders soaring peacefully by.

"The entire database?" Fhamir asked through the freighter's transmitter. Her voice was strained, the beads of sweat forming together from her forehead, dripping down her face. It had been a day in space with the remainder of her crew. Forty-seven in total-eight others were left behind on Ttremyrin One to care for the wounded and bury the dead. In total, the Jedi and their comrades had killed almost half of her Falleen.

"They compressed and copied everything on the main drive," the other Falleen informed her from the holo. Even with his face a vague static blue, it was clear his expression had the same amount of dread as the Queen's. "All the codes, locations...the virus."

"I heard you," Fhamir yelled back, her tone darker than she intended. After another second, she took in a breath, then twisted to Jeire by her side. "Did the Jedi or his companion's datapads contain the information from our database?"

"No," he replied softly. "We've scanned them twice. Nothing."

Silently, Fhamir's eyes went back to the Falleen on the holo. His face was set on hers, awaiting for her command. She had none to give. If the Jedi's comrades had their virus' components-

Their entire mission would be destroyed. All the Falleen would suffer the consequences.

She felt ready to scream; swiftly, she bit the inside of her cheek to stop herself. Blood instantly flowed from the wound, calming her with its pain. Softly, she told the other Falleen through the holo, "Send a report on our wounded as soon as you get the chance. That is all, Palyonn."

"Yes, my Queen," he said with a bow. A second later, his face disappeared from the holo.

Keeping her eyes hooked to the viewpoint, Fhamir told Jeire by her side, "If they've stolen all the data on the virus, we've failed."

"Don't say that," he replied, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Perhaps their comrades never got the datapad. And, even if they did, it could take months for them to create an anti-virus from-"

"Or weeks!" she screamed, spinning to him. His hand was thrown off her shoulder. She glared. "Do you realize the implications of this, Commander? Can you even process them?"

"Perhaps we should speak in private," he nudged his head at the others on the bridge.

Rolling her eyes, Fhamir grabbed him by the collar. The movement stunned the younger Falleen. He placed a hand on hers as she gripped his shirt, but said nothing. She spoke for him. "There is nothing private about this, Commander. Unless we can catch up to that New Republic's vessel, then we are all going to die!"

"You're hurting me, Fhamir," he choked, grasping her wrist.

"Our master doesn't accept failure," she continued, clasping down. "If even one human is left standing, then every Falleen will face the same punishment, Jeire! There are trillions of humans out there....if they can create that anti-virus, we'll be lucky to wipe out a million! It doesn't matter what rank in nobility-we will all suffer the same death. Is the reality seeping in, Commander? Or, do I need to squeeze harder?"

"Let go," he barely managed to spew out.

With that, Fhamir dropped him. Coughing, he glared at her from the bridge's floor. His mouth didn't open to say more; his eyes said it all. For all the support he could give, for all the love and optimism, the realism of their lives was quickly snapping into place.

Inhaling a breath, Fhamir placed her hands behind her back, silently twisting to the viewpoint. The colorful void of hyperspace was calming, but her heart was still exploding with each beat. Their only chance was to catch the human's ship and attack. The humans would pick the fastest route the Coruscant; Fhamir's freighter was set on the same path. The other vessel only had a half hour head start, and didn't know Fhamir was behind them. The Falleen could find them. They had to, even if it meant colliding Fhamir's ship with the human's. It would be a small price to pay for her species' survival.

It was true, so desperately real...unless Fhamir did something swiftly, her entire race was going to die.

"They're panicking," Luke informed Matic Pace to his right. Sitting inside the confided prison of the Falleen vessel, the Jedi Master's eyes were set to the ceiling as if looking for a bug. He was silent for a moment, then continued, "It's Fhamir. She's afraid."

"How wonderful," the commander replied from the room's damp corner, the sarcasm in his words echoing throughout its walls. "Perhaps she would like to come down here. You could comfort her-tell her everything's going to be just fine."

With that, Luke's eyes came down to meet with his. "Don't you think it's odd that the commanding officer set to kill trillions of other people, is the one that's terrified?"

Pace merely shrugged. "I never claimed to understand women, Skywalker. They all move to a beat all their own."

Luke paused-blinked his eyes. "You're an idiot."

"Better than a Jedi. At least I know what I can and can't do," he paused, flicking a hand toward Luke's side. "You going to help him or what?"

Silently, Luke twisted back to the man in front of him. Laying on the only sheet in the room, the young slicer was awake. He blinked, but neither his head, arms or legs moved. All were covered with the sores and burns that had inflicted him the day before. Luke had spent most of his time calming Ross' agony and attempting to keep any infections from forming. Still, he was finding it almost impossible. Ross wasn't a Jedi. He didn't possess any connection to Luke like one of his Jedi might. In that case, Luke would put the Force-user in a healing trance, working with them to heal the injuries. With Ross, Luke would have to handle everything on his own.

Of course, he had offered to aid Pace with his leg injury the day before. The commander had insisted Luke stay back, keeping his healing abilities for Ross and Ross alone. It was true Ross needed more dire aid than Pace, but an infection was already forming on the commander's wound. And, still, the commander refused Luke's help.

Huffing out a breath, Luke focused his attention to the present. He lowered his hands to his lap and leaned forward. Softly, he whispered into the slicer's ear, "Ross, I need you listen carefully right now. Do you hear me?"

Slowly, the slicer opened his mouth. He attempted to form a word, but Luke raised a hand to halt him. "Just blink if you understand," Luke replied.

Ross' eyelids dropped, then reopened.

Luke gave him a gentle smile, then continued, "I have to put you in a trance right now. Your injuries are severe, and there's not much more I can do for them in this state. But, if you're in a trance, it'll slow your body down, and give it more time to heal. You understand?"

Again, the younger man blinked.

"What are you talking about?" Pace's voice suddenly shot through the room.

Closing his eyes, Luke sighed softly to himself, then turned to the other man in the corner. "I need to put him in a trance. It'll keep him more stable."

Already, Pace was shaking his head. "You-you mean, like a coma?"

"Something of the sorts," Luke replied. "It would give us more time."

"More time for what?" Pace instantly snapped back. "Just heal him. How long could that possibly take?"

"Longer than whatever amount you're thinking of," Luke instantly shot back. "He's been severely injured, Matic. I can't just snap my fingers and make him well again."

It was then that Pace stood from his place in the corner. Limping to him and Ross, the commander leaned down to look at Luke eye to eye. "How long?"

Luke lifted his hands for reasoning. "I don't know. This isn't something I encounter day by day. Why can't you understand that?"

"Will he die?" Pace questioned instead.

Ross' emotions surged. Luke instantly spun back to the slicer, instructing him to calm himself.

Pace continued, "Well?"

Placing a hand gently of Ross' forehead, Luke decided to ignore the commander and put Ross in the trance at that very moment. But, Ross' eyes were wide, his heart beating much faster than it should. Slowly, Luke leaned forward to his ear again.

"There's nothing to be afraid of," he told the younger man. "I can't promise you anything, Ross. Nothing, except that when you wake from this trance, you will feel no more pain. Either way."

Slowly, the slightest amount of air exited the slicer's mouth. He tried to speak, but the words were so faint, Luke had to use the Force to catch them.

"I don't want to die."

"I know," Luke replied. "And, I'm going to do everything in my power to ensure you don't. But, I can't promise that you'll wake up, Ross. I can promise you no more pain. No more. You understand?"

It took a moment for him to reply. He was terrified; there was nothing Luke could say to calm him. But, ever so slowly, his eyes closed. He lay silently, waiting for Luke to take over.

"That's just it, then?" Pace questioned in the corner of Luke's mind. "That's all you can give?"

"I'm busy, Matic," Luke replied, closing his eyes. He pushed the Force at Ross' mind. Already exhausted, the younger man reacted immediately.

"I'm not going to let you do this," the commander protested from his side.

"You don't have a choice," was Luke's only reply.

The Force rang in the Jedi Master's mind, shaking. It only took a moment to react. Pace was fast, even with his injuries, but Luke's skill couldn't be simmered. Releasing Ross, Luke jerked his head to the side, avoiding Pace's fist. He snatched the commander by the wrist, pulling the larger man to the ground.

Heaving out a yell, the commander struggled for a moment with Luke. Kicking, grasping at Luke's arms, he cursed and shouted until his face became red. Nonetheless, after another moment, he finally dropped his head to the floor and kept it there. Silently, he stared up at the ceiling.

"Are you finished?" Luke questioned, holding tightly to the other man's wrists.

"I didn't mean it to be this way," Pace suddenly declared, eyes still set upwards.

"I know," Luke told him. "No one does. But, your anger...you're not helping him, Matic. And, you're not helping me to help him." "I was just-" he paused, snorting out a wary laugh. He glanced at Luke, then twisted back to the ceiling. "I was hoping for a miracle. He's my friend, Skywalker. And, I let this happen to him."

"It doesn't matter now," Luke replied, releasing Pace's arms. "I wasn't lying to him, Matic. If nothing more, his pain can stop. Don't you want that?"

"Yes."

"Then, let me treat him."

Silently, Matic Pace stared at the Jedi Master. Luke didn't know what to expect-for the other man's anger to explode once again, or for any reason from Luke's words to seep in. After another moment, the other man silently nodded. He kept his eyes averted away, gazing up at nothing but his own ponderings. Luke turned back to Ross, who was set in a quiet, but light slumber. Gently, he placed his hand back on the slicer's forehead, reaching out with the Force to submerse him in the deepest sleep Luke could provide.

Set aboard the Fast Pace, Mara Jade Skywalker attempted to reach her husband. Through the Force, she felt his presence like a warm light of a distant star. But, any reassurance-any communication was impossible. Even closer together, Mara didn't think she'd be able to speak with him. He was determined to keep her out of his mind. Out of danger.

Of course, any thought along the line of, 'your danger is my danger, Skywalker,' didn't seem to have passed through Luke's warped mind. Why did he always do it? Take on all the responsible, all the risk. It wasn't a crazy Jedi-thing. It was a Luke Skywalker one.

"Jedi Skywalker," the voice of Traya entered from the door of the small livng compartment. It was strained-excited. "I need to speak with you."

Focusing herself back into the realm of the living, Mara opened her eyes from meditating, and gave the other crew member a tiny grin. "Yes?" she inquired.

With that, Traya took in a breath. Sweat forming on his forehead, he came up to Mara and declared, "We've found it. The components to the virus. It's all there. In the datapad."

Mara was tempted to sigh in relief, but then her thoughts caught up with her. Even the polite grin on her face dropped.

Traya's zeal seemed to flutter with that. He raised an eyebrow at Mara. "Jedi Skywalker?"

"That's good news," Mara replied, taking in a breath. "Have they compiled all the information yet?"

"Not yet," Traya informed, then narrowed his eyebrows. "I'm sorry to ask, but you don't seem too happy about this. This is what your husband sacrificed himself for. Don't you see-we've won."

With that, Mara gave the young man a sharp stare. She merely came back, "Won? Is that what you honestly think?"

"Well," he swallowed hard. "What else is there?"

She only shook her head. "Without knowing exactly where the Falleen have been spreading this virus, millions are going to die before we'll be able to break it and get to them. Millions. That doesn't sound very victorious to me."

Silently, Traya gazed at her as if waiting for another punch-line. After another second, he gave her a tiny nod, apologized for interrupting her meditation, then walked away.

Closing her eyes again, Mara stretched out with the Force. Absorbing herself within it, she called out for her husband through the emptiness of space.

It was a routine now. She would eat her first meal of the day, then check on the Jedi. The second meal-check. She would get a simple dish of rations, then go and check on the Jedi Master. It wasn't that she enjoyed it. But, the damn man was stubborn, insisting only she do the work. And, her master was determined to keep the reports on the Jedi and his conditions consistant. So, his little experiment on the Jedi and his virus could be complete.

Holding the container of medical supplies, Fhamir cursed quietly to herself as she turned the corner to the small prisoner's ward of her ship. True, the large freighter didn't possess an actual prisoner cell, but the storage unit was as secure as a vise. To add to the security, there were no other ships, no escapse pods to her vessel. It was bad for her and the crew if an accident occurred, but good in keeping prisoners in their place. Especially Force-sensitive ones.

Placing a hand on the security pad by the door, the room's thick metal plate slid to the side. Inside were three men. The large one, Pace, shot a glare at her from the corner the instant his eyes met hers. The younger one on the bed sheet didn't have the will.

Skywalker sat peacefully by the younger man. Legs crossed, he seemed too transfixed by his own concentration to notice her. Of course, after three days in space, she knew that was not the case.

"Again?" the Jedi Master's voice rang softly through the room.

Huffing out a breath, Fhamir merely walked into the area's small confides. The first few days, she had been escorted by guards, but it seemed almost silly by that point. If the Jedi wished to kill her, he could succeed. He would be attacked by her entire crew soon after, but Fhamir would be dead in any case. She went by herself those days.

"Get up," she instructed him flatly.

Without delay, he stood, extending a hand. Silently, Fhamir placed a small tube-like jar into his care. He glanced at it, and then gave her an odd smirk. "Do we have to do this so many times a day?"

She merely smirked back, a touch of annoyance in her look. "Believe me, Jedi, this isn't on my list of thrills, either. Just fill the tube."

Shaking his head, he went to the corner of the room away from everyone else. Fhamir waited, eyes averted upwards. After only a second, he came back, handing the full jar back into her care.

Silently, she put it in the medical case, then pulled out two other devices. The first one was simple; Skywalker opened his mouth as she put it under his tongue. The second was not quite so easy. The medical droid had shown Fhamir how to use it; still, the damn instrument gave her the jitters. As normal, the Jedi Master pulled up his sleeve, awaiting her next move. He made it easy-too easy sometimes. Fhamir always had the suspicion he was up to something.

Nonetheless, she placed the thing to his skin, then pressed the 'on' button. It created a funny noise, taking out blood from one needle, and then pulling up a small sample of skin with the other. Most people groaned with the pain. Skywalker merely kept his eyes away, glancing around the room as if in another world.

Another moment went by, then Fhamir was finished. Taking the device from the other being's arm, she placed it back in her bag. With a flick of her wrist, she pulled the other instrument from Skywalker's mouth, looking at its readings.

She huffed out a tiny chuckle. "Well, congradulations, Master Jedi, it's official. You have a fever. A whole percent above normal, in fact. You should be bed-ridden with black sores all over your body by now. But, hey, it's a start."

"I have a headache as well, if you're interested to know."

"I'm always interested," she came back with a sarcastic touch to her words.

Closing the container, she gave the Jedi a tiny nod, then turned to leave-

"You realize," Skywalker's voice suddenly went through her ears, "that Ross could use some of those medical supplies in your bag."

Stopping in her tracks, Fhamir slowly turned around to glare at the man. He merely raised both eyebrows, awaiting a reply. She was swift to give one. "That wasn't a part of the deal, Skywalker," she came back, then returned with another smirk. "Perhaps you should think through your little, 'option' contracts before you settle them with others. Or, maybe not kill off three dozen of my men. There's a thought."

"He's going to die," Skywalker continued, taking a step forward. "Unless he gets real medical attention soon, I doubt he'll make it more than a few days."

Slowly, Fhamir took a glance at the young man laying upon the bed sheet. His burns...

"That was your own fault," she came back, sending her glare back to the Jedi. "I even warned you."

"Yes, you did," he replied, "but, he's still dying. And, it'll be your fault now. You have the means to help him, and yet you refuse. Why?"

"You would all die if I were allowed the privilege, Skywalker. What makes you think I care?"

"Because I know you do."

Even the commander, laying silently in the corner, lifted his head to listen. Fhamir opened her mouth to reply, to give a retort or curse, but the mere confidence in his declaration was shooting shivers from her feet to her forehead. Her skin, always a controlled dull green, waved with a tint to dark violet. Quietly, she turned back around to leave.

"Trillions could die, your highness," the Jedi Master's voice called from behind. "It doesn't matter how many Falleen are involved. You can stop it-here and now. Therefore, if they die, all their deaths will rest on you."

Whatever other words the Jedi were preaching were lost to Fhamir. Gripping the medical case in her right hand, she raced down the hallway of her vessel, attempting to push the Jedi's words from her mind.

"What is your problem?" Chadal's scream echoed throughout the Fast Pace's cockpit. Considering the small size of the area, Mara found the woman's echoing effect to be quite a feat. Chadal continued, "We have the information-we have all the components! This virus is all but extinct, and you're saying...no?"

Looking at the other woman and her encased arm, Mara merely shook her head. "Last thing I remember is that we had a leak inside the New Republic's wall. Whether it's with our transmitter or with someone sneaking information out from Coruscant, the problem still remains. No."

Chadal grasped her own strands of hair. Groaning, she pulled at them until a pile of jet black pieces ripped from her skull. Mara grimaced, the anger from Chadal making the small room feel like ice.

Weo, in her pilot's seat, was the next to speak. "What I believe Chadal is trying to say, Jedi Skywalker, is what difference does it make now? So what if they realize we have the means to make an anti-virus? What are they going to do-curse at us in a fit of rage?"

Another ripple from the Force rushed up Mara's back. The injury on her leg, mostly healed from hours of meditation, somehow managed to ache. It wasn't uncommon to her by that point. The Force alerted her to danger every time someone even mentioned sending the information to Coruscant.

So, again, she merely shook her head.

"All right!" Chadal suddenly shouted, grabbing Ross' datapad laying on the cockpit's console. "I don't care what our paranoid Jedi comrade wants or thinks. I'm not about to let millions of people die because she's got a feeling." With that, the other woman leaned forward to hook the datapad into the ships transmission console...

Even Chadal gasped when the small device flew from her care. Calmly, Mara caught it in her hand only a second later. She frowned.

Chadal came to face her, eye to eye. "Give it back."

With that, Mara gave a tiny smirk. "In the wise words of my husband...," she glared at the other woman. "No."

Chadal attempted to grab at the datapad anyway, but it was too late. Hurrying out the cockpit, Mara jabbed her hand on the door's release. The thin slab of metal came sliding through only a second later, leaving a narrow but secure barrier between Mara and the others in the cockpit.

"You're insane!" Chadal screamed, her voice muffled through the door. "Delaying could kill millions, you idiot!" Mara wished she could merely explain, 'something isn't right', to the others, but as her abilities in the Force continued developing, it was growing too obvious her understanding of non-Force-users was becoming more difficult to withstand. She wished Luke was there. More than anything she had ever desired.

From the corner of the hallway, Mara could sense Traya staring at her. He was fidgeting, pondering the idea of snatching the datapad from her grasp. Gently placing her butt on the floor of the vessel's narrow corridor, she merely shouted to him, "Don't even think about it. Not unless you want to spend the rest of your trip cramped in a storage unit."

He instantly backed away.

Silently, Mara turned her attention to the datapad in her hands.

Why couldn't they send the information? What was she missing?

Another Force wave rippled up her back; her leg throbbed. Rolling her eyes, Mara gently dropped her head back to the metal door behind her and sighed.

Five days into the trip, and Luke was feeling it. Uninjured from the mission to Ttremyrin One, the virus was the one and only thing plaguing him. Of course, as Luke suspected all those days before in the station, that-alone-would be enough. It wasn't a matter of control; Luke could feel the disease in his body-each part-every action it created. But, as with Pace's desire, Luke's attention was set on Ross. In all essence, Luke still had time to treat himself. Ross did not have that luxury.

Leaning against the wall beside the younger man, Luke calmly reached out in the Force to sense the boy's vitals. Everything was reduced to the speed of a Jedi in a hibernation trance. His heart calmly beat every few seconds or so...his breathing so serene, there were times Pace had frantically informed Luke that Ross had stopped completely. Luke knew better, but still his concern for the younger man was mounting. Even with all of Luke's work, infection was starting to touch at parts of Ross' body. It wasn't going far, Luke made sure of that. But, as time dragged on, so did Luke's power to control the burns. Soon-too soon-Ross' fears were going to become reality.

A cough erupted from Luke's mouth like a wild snow creature. Yanking a hand up to his face, he closed his eyes, sucked in a breath, and coughed again. The movements were more like spasms, pushing at his lungs until his throat felt ready to dry up and wither off his neck. He allowed another breath to be consumed with the strained heaving, then used the Force to control the rest.

Slowly, he took in another breath, leaning back against the wall. He felt horrible.

"You look terrible," Pace's voice suddenly went through the small room. "Is it finally catching up with you?"

"It's trying," Luke replied, cleared his throat, then threw a smile at the other man.

The commander didn't grin back. Laying in the corner, he let out a cough of his own, then brought his eyes up to meet with Luke's. A spark of worry glimmered within them. Slowly, Pace declared, "I think I'm sick."

A chill rushed up Luke's back. Curiously, he pulled his aching body from the wall and moved next to Pace. Quietly, he placed a hand on the commander's forehead. The Force wasn't needed to feel the heat fuming from the other man's face. Luke frowned, looking down at him.

Pace seemed to catch the expression on Luke's face. He only shrugged. "Hey, blasted vaccine wasn't supposed to last forever."

"Ross doesn't have it yet," Luke informed him, stretching out with the Force. "Despite all his injury, the vaccine seems to be holding well."

"Some good news. Let's not hex it."

Taking in another breath, Luke reluctantly asked the commander, "Do you want me to help with the pain?"

"Me?" Pace replied, then waved a hand. "Look at you. You look worse than I do. No, save that good Jedi voodoo for those who need it."

"You're going to need it. Very soon, Matic."

"You know, for a Jedi, you're awfully bossy."

Luke dropped his mouth, feeling the words of retort rising from his throat. But, at the very last moment, he decided to drop it. Silently, he walked back to Ross and stretched out with the Force.

There was an abrupt push throughout the room. Not a quake as if something on the vessel had been hit. But, rather a small thrust backward, so gentle, Luke didn't flinch from his spot.

Instead, he allowed the smallest grin to escape his lips. They were out of hyperspace.

"What the hell?" Jeire shouted from beside Fhamir on the bridge. It wasn't as simple a declaration as it normally would be. The words from her commander's mouth were the same roaming wildly inside the Queen's head. What the hell?

"Where is it?" Fhamir yelled throughout the room, shooting razor-eyes at her navigator. "Well......where!"

"I-," he trailed off, scanning his instruments as if looking for an activated detonator under his desk. "I-I don't-I don't know. It's supposed to be here."

"Where?" Fhamir screamed, gesturing a hand madly at the viewpoint. "Thyferra! It's a planet. A massive, over-populated planet!" She spun her eyes to the viewpoint, then back at him, "Do you see a massive planet from your view, sir?"

"Uh," he frantically toyed with his console, going from this piece to that. After another second, his fingers nervously dropped from the instruments; his eyes came to meet with hers, defeated. "No."

"I don't understand," Jeire muttered to her side. "How could we be this far off course?"

"I-" the remainder of Fhamir's air escaped her lungs. She gasped, grabbing the edge of the console beside her for support. Jeire gazed at her as if she'd gone mad. Fhamir merely bent over, taking in the breaths as not to faint, the reality finally crashing into her.

The Jedi.

The blasted, Force-manipulating Jedi!

He was responsible.

And, now, they had no chance of catching the other vessel.

"Fhamir?" Jeire inquired, placing a hand on her arm.

With that, Fhamir shot a glance at her commander. Slowly, staring at his worriated expression, her lips curved upwards. It was like an impulse, but as she gazed at his sweet, concerned face, a wave of laughter exited her lungs. Nothing kind-nothing comforting. It was the laugh of a woman gone insane. After another second, she merely shook her head at Jeire. "We're all going to die."

"Please," he shook his head, but no more words came.

Slowly, almost blankly, Fhamir straightened herself and looked at her bridge crew. Most had their eyes on the floor in front; only a few brave souls dared to gaze her way.

Nonetheless, she said nothing to them. Taking in a refreshing breath, she twisted back to Jeire with a tiny grin to her mouth. "Will you handle the bridge for a moment, Commander?" she asked light-heartedly.

"Um," he paused, swallowed hard, then came back. "Of course, my Queen. But, where-"

He couldn't complete the sentence. Fhamir was already out the door, heading toward the prison ward.

The fury throughout the vessel could have thrown some Jedi to their backs. It was like a poison all its own. Luke was ready for it. Sitting beside Ross, he could sense her long before she made it to the storage compartments. And, yet, as she drew closer, the tiny sparks of terror became just as noticeable.

Not of him.

But, of her ship's ultimate failure.

They would never reach Mara and the others, and Fhamir knew it.

The doorway of the small room shot open. From its entrance, the Falleen woman stood, sweat drenching her face as if she had somehow contracted Luke and Pace's ailment. Her skin was a soft, but grave shade of violet. A dagger lay casually in her hands.

Panting, she entered the room, moving directly to Luke. "Get up," she ordered in a low, strained voice.

Silently, Luke did as instructed.

Gripping the knife at her side, she looked at him with her wild violet eyes, and shouted, "I thought you were honorable. If nothing more, I assumed you, above all other humans in this galaxy, would keep your word...Jedi."

He merely shook his head. "I did."

"Liar!" she screamed, lifting the dagger's end to point at his face. "You told me you'd cooperate! We had a deal!"

"But, I have cooperated," he came back softly. "With you. I didn't say anything about your ship...as not pre-arranged by our original contract."

Knife trembling in her hand, Fhamir's eyes blinked with tears. She tried to control them, to at least hide them, but none could do. Even as a Falleen, a naturally controlled species, Fhamir could no longer keep her anguish under authority. Teeth locked together from fury, Fhamir merely told him, "Turn around."

"No," was Luke's only reply.

"Turn around! " she cried out again, her dagger waving in her hand.

"I'll let you kill me," Luke told her calmly, titling his chin slightly up to expose his neck, "but I won't turn around for you to do it."

Lip quivering, she softly asked, "Why?"

"I want to watch," he said tranquilly, "to see the look on your face as you do it. To look at your eyes. When you have to look in mine as I die."

The last words struck her. Eyes cloaked in tears and defeat, she dropped her dagger to the ground. Only a second later, she was there to meet it, collapsing in her own despair.

Softly, Luke knelt down to her.

"You can't keep this up anymore, Fhamir," he whispered into her ear. "You're not a killer. Who wants you to do this?"

"I-I can't," she whimpered back.

"You have to," Luke replied, placing a hand on her chin. Silently, he forced her to look up at him. "You're the reason I'm here. The only reason."

Her shivers seemed to lessen. Narrowing her eyebrows, she asked, "What do you mean?"

"You're a peaceful being, your highness. I know it. I can feel it. Peaceful beings don't go around attempting to kill trillions." He leaned forward, and whispered, "Please, give me his name."

She closed her eyes, holding back another sob, but still refused to answer.

"It's obvious what we found on your database is important," Luke continued softly. "Otherwise, you wouldn't be chasing down the others so desperately."

"It was the virus' components," she finally replied, choking on her tears. "All of them. The natural-the synthetic. Every element it contains. And, now..."

"And, now, you've lost," he told her, looking directly at her eyes. "Your virus will still kill millions, Fhamir, but the human race will live on. Whoever has convinced you to accept this mission," he shook his head. "They will know very soon it failed."

"No!" she shouted, attempting to get away. Luke held her tight. "No, please! There has to be another way! There has to be!"

"Why is it so important?" Luke demanded to know. "What has the human race done to justify this slaughter?"

Slowly, Fhamir's sobs became as soft as a whisper. Taking in breath after sweet breath, she merely shook her head furiously at Luke, and replied, "It isn't the humans! It has nothing to do with humans! It's us! The Falleen!"

"What do you mean?"

"Our master hasn't convinced us of anything," she told him flatly. "The human bioweapon wasn't found recently. He's kept it, fearing another rise in the galaxy's government-"

"The rise of another group of authority."

She shook her head. "He hated the Empire. The fear of the New Republic...the humans gaining control again-"

"But, the New Republic isn't merely humans. Other beings-"

"He won't listen. He wants it destroyed. The sooner the humans are dead, the closer he is to ruining any hopes of uniting the galaxy. He wants all races separate. And, now, he has the means to accomplish it. It's not just the human virus in his grasp."

"Your war," Luke replied with a nod, the final pieces forming into place. "He has a bioweapon for the Falleen as well. He found it with the human's. Didn't he?" Slowly, she looked up at him with pleading eyes, then nodded.

Luke shot a glance at Matic Pace in the corner. Eyes gazing out at them as if searching for light, he didn't seem to have the will to move nor speak. Everything had suddenly fallen into place.

Closing her eyes as the tears ran down her cheeks, the Falleen woman spoke softly, "Falleen are cursed with long lives, Skywalker. Myself, I'm over a hundred years old. I've had a dozen children in my lifetime, and I lost half of them in that war. Now, there's a chance I could lose the others. I can't let that happen. I can't."

"I won't let it," Luke declared, but the words more spilled from his mouth than a true conviction.

With that, the woman coughed out a laugh. "Oh, good. For a moment, I was worried!"

"Do you know who this, 'master', is, Fhamir? His name?"

"No."

"Anything about him?" "He has contacts all over the galaxy. Lots of power, even in the New Republic."

"The leak," Pace called out from the wall, then coughed.

Blowing out a breath, Luke turned back to Fhamir. "Let me get a hold of my ship."

She smirked at him. "Please don't tell me you're serious." "As much as you are," he replied, never losing his composure.

His words appeared to strike Fhamir. Not blinking, she finally confirmed, "You are serious."

"You've failed, Fhamir," Luke explained. "There is nothing any Falleen can do to stop this now. We have the virus, but your master is still holding yours. He's the enemy, Fhamir. Not me. Not any human. It's him."

"Why would you help me?" she asked, giving him a sharp stare.

"I know what it's like to find myself between two difficult choices," he told her gently. "But right now, you only have one that has a chance of working. Let me contact my ship, Fhamir. Please." Staring at him as he held her, the Falleen Queen finally nodded her head. Looking around the room, she stood back up and wiped the tears from her face.

"I'll bring some medical supplies for you and your crew," she explained calmly. "If nothing more, it should slow the pathogens in your systems."

"How about a cure?" Pace suddenly called out. "You know, an anti-virus or something?"

With that, the Falleen woman actually smirked at the commander, then replied, "We're not spreading this disease around the galaxy just to cure it later. We don't have one. You'll just have to make due."

"When can we contact my ship?" Luke asked.

"It'll take some time," Fhamir explained, walking to the door. "The corridors of this vessel are cramped with my crew. If they catch me in this act of betrayal..." her words trailed off, sending a sharp glance Luke's way.

With that, the Jedi narrowed his eyebrows. "Could we reason with them as well?"

"Most of them are ignorant of the details of our mission," she replied. "However, they know our race is at risk. Once we're discovered, every Falleen is going to try and kill you. And, unless I can convince almost fifty beings to trust a dying Jedi to save them from a massive bioweapon, they're going to try to kill me as well." She suddenly paused, putting her hands on the door's frame, and then looked at the floor. "Blast-even to me, it sounds idiotic." She was gone before Luke could reply.

Kneeling by the floor, Luke turned his attention to Matic Pace. Giving off another wave of coughs, the commander merely looked at Luke and shrugged.

A day went by, and Luke's concern started to mount. Not for Fhamir; he already knew the Falleen Queen was serious about her agreement to aid them. But, she hadn't come to the prison, and Ross and Matic were worse.

Comatose by Luke's side, the young man's breaths were steadily becoming more rasped. His heart was still slow and calm, but infection was setting in, and Luke couldn't stop it anymore. His own body ached with its pains. If he didn't start focusing more of his energy on himself, then he would end up looking like Matic Pace within just a few more days.

Pace. If Luke even opened his mouth to suggest helping him, the other man would become vexed. There was no convincing him; he didn't want Luke's attention off of the computer slicer. Only a day into the virus, and Pace's fever was almost blinding. He coughed throughout the minutes, sometimes gasping for air. He was progressing far more swiftly than Luke's own body. And, then there was his leg. Infection had caught onto its edges, calmly slithering its way through the wound. His sweat dripped to the floor. His breaths were heavy and tired. And, still he refused Luke.

So, it actually surprised Luke when he felt Fhamir's presence just as Pace and he were planning to lay back for a few moments of slumber. And, coming with her, were two other Falleen.

"Matic," Luke spoke, pulling himself up from the cold metal floor. "Stay where you are. And, don't look at me."

"Yes, Commander, sir," Pace retorted, keeping himself on the floor by the corner.

Silently, Luke moved by the door. It only took a second longer for Fhamir to reach them. The other two Falleen, Luke could only assume were guards, were first to enter the room. Blasters raised, they walked in, scanning the area. Luke stepped forward, ready to strike them-

"Good night," Fhamir spoke from the door at Luke's side. Luke dropped his eyes to her. Casually in her grasp was a simple silver pistol.

The other Falleen spun to her, but it was too late. She shot them on a heavy stun, powerfully enough to send them flying to their backs. On the cool gray floor, they remained.

Luke turned to grin at her. "You have a plan?"

She rolled her eyes at him, but smirked nonetheless. "I would say, more of an idea than a plan. Here." She dropped a case into Luke's care. "This should handle everything."

Licking his lips, Luke opened the container. A smile immediately curved on his mouth. Inside were medical supplies, healing sticks for burns...

His lightsaber.

"You'll have to figure out where to hide it," she told him. "The guards don't use medical supplies. Perhaps, you could put it under their tunics. It took me forever to get that thing out of storage without anyone around."

Luke didn't reply. Full of fervor, he tossed a simple injector device and healing stick to Pace. True, the antibiotics wouldn't cure them. But, it would send a shock through their systems, the synthetic components shoving their bodies into overdrive. Even for a virus, it would give them more time.

Quietly, Luke took one of the injectors to his own arm, shooting the medicine inside. He knelt down to Ross. His chest already bare, it was easy to brush the healing stick over the wounds. After another minute, he was finished with his arms. His face took just a second more. His legs after that.

"Will that heal him?" Pace asked, standing in the corner as he finished brushing the gel of the healing stick over his leg's wound.

"No," Fhamir replied with a sigh. "They're good for injuries, but healing sticks are old. They'll stop the infection, and will even heal some of the less damaged areas, but-"

"They need to be reapplied constantly," Luke continued. "For days or even weeks. Most likely, we won't have the time, or the supplies."

Pace opened his mouth to say more, but then closed it and nodded.

Luke gave a nod of his own, then turned to Fhamir. "Where do you want us?"

Going down the corridors of Fhamir's ship wasn't that difficult. True, it wasn't as roomy as the Imperial station, with the halls cramped with Falleen. But, even sick, Luke was able to keep his disguising mind trick at full play. Pace's leg kept him limping, but he still managed to keep up with Luke and Fhamir. The Falleen outfits he and the commander had gotten from the other guards helped as well. All Luke had to do was think of himself and Pace as the two guards from the prison, and that seemed to be enough.

Pace seemed more nervous about the idea, but for once, he said nothing.

Falleen passed by, most nodding at Fhamir. She nodded back silently, continuing by as if walking on a beach. Her control in such a dire situation had Luke marveled.

"Yuvin cha-al," a Falleen passing by suddenly spoke.

Fhamir replied in her foreign tongue, continuing to pass.

Turning a corner, another group of Falleen went by...

"Ey!" one shouted cheerfully, giving Matic a playful punch in the shoulder. "Guv-ic convav-id-oc?"

"Twytateet!" Matic merely replied with a wary grin.

The other Falleen cocked an eyebrow, snorting a laugh. He stared at Matic for a second, then shook his head and left with the others.

Luke exhaled the breath he had unconsciously been holding. Walking again, he asked Matic, "How did you do that?"

"I-" he paused, then shook his head. "I don't know. It was something I heard them saying a lot in the station."

"To answer your question," Fhamir came back, her expression not so cheerful, "he's not fluent in the Falleen language. The other man asked how things had been that day. Your commander gleefully replied, "shoot the humans."

Matic's eyes went wide; his face flushed. Even with its greenish tint, the red still shinned through. Luke placed a hand over his mouth, suppressing a laugh.

"We're here," Fhamir declared as they stopped by a large door in the middle of the hallway. "Just remember, follow my lead."

Both Luke and Matic nodded in unison, then strolled through the sliding doors. The bridge wasn't that large, but it possessed tons of equipment. There were six stations in total, one for navigation near the front. One for piloting. Another was a database...and the others seemed to be for a copilot, communications and weapon controls.

"Everyone!," Fhamir shouted, moving toward the center of the room, "I need to send a transmission. All of you can leave early. And, tell the next shift to remain outside until I say. Am I clear?"

She glanced at Luke and Matic. Both held still, watching her work.

Slowly, the others in the room started to leave. A particular Falleen, near Fhamir in the center to the room, started to clap his hands to hurry everyone out. Luke recognized him. It was Fhamir's second in command, Jeire.

"All right, move," he told them with another clap. "You know the routine-"

"You included, Jeire," Fhamir suddenly declared.

His eyes instantly spun her way. "But, your highness-"

"That's a direct order, Commander," she replied. "New information has come to my attention, and I need this room cleared. Understood?"

With that, Jeire glanced at Luke and Matic. "What about them?"

"Must I explain everything?" She rubbed her eyes. "The Jedi's commander accidentally gave me some information. These two," she pointed at Luke and Matic, "were witnesses. Clear?"

"But-"

"No, 'buts', Jeire. I want you to leave. Understand?"

He frowned at Fhamir as if she's just slapped him across the face. Nevertheless, a moment later, he was gone, leaving Luke, Matic, and the Queen inside the bridge alone.

Staring at Fhamir, Luke smiled. "Thank you."

"This is a partnership, Master Skywalker," she replied with a firm tone, "not mercy. Here," she spoke, pulling a tiny chip from her belt, "I want you to see this."

Silently, Luke bowed his head, and walked to the woman's side. Matic was quick to follow. Flipping the tiny chip into the database near the right of the bridge, she flipped on the screen by its side.

"This is what every royal house on Falleen received close to three months ago," Fhamir explained, then waited for a vision to come to the screen.

It only took a second. As it did, Matic Pace gasped, taking a step away from the database. Luke gazed on as his mouth slowly dropped with disgust.

The picture they played out was just like his vision all those weeks before on Yavin Four. Except, now, it was Falleen. All of them turned a pasty light gray, they lay heaving on the floor, blood, vomit and other fluids surrounding them like puddles from rain. There were children in the room, their dead bodies being held by the adults. It was just like the humans. The same revolting scene with the same agony. Luke placed a hand over his mouth, letting out a massive cough and turning away. He nodded at Fhamir; silently, she shut off the screen.

"We got a message from the master about an hour later," she explained, pulling out the chip from the database. "He explained that the Falleen in the pictures were from a transport vessel off of our planet. He captured them, infecting them..." she trailed off, huffing out a trembling breath. "His orders were simple. He gave each royal house the human virus, ordering them to disperse it everywhere they could. Get our servants, our noblemen...everyone to follow our orders without question. We were to start at the Outer Rim and move inwards. That way, by the time Coruscant discovered what was happening, it would be too late to create any type of cure."

"Why didn't he merely try doing this on his own?" Matic asked, coming back up to them.

With that, Fhamir gave an unpleasant smirk. "One man against a universe? No, even if he ended up killing thousands of humans, the virus would never spread quickly enough. The New Republic would eventually discover the virus' components on their own, and fix the problem. Unlike Falleen, humans are everywhere in the galaxy. We merely live on our planet. A disease would spread like fires to a jungle there. By the time we would find a cure, most of us would already be dead." Wiping a single tear from her eyes, Fhamir turned to Luke. "Are you ready to contact your ship?"

He bowed his head again. "Yes. Again, thank you."

"No, 'thank you's'," she immediately came back, then pointed at the transmitter near the front of the bridge. "Move-transmit-contact. Simple, yes?"

"Very," Luke replied, hurrying to the console.

It was an unusual blend of old Imperial, Old Republic, and Falleen switches. The odd configuration took him a second. Matic came to his side, watching, and desperately considering anything he could do to help.

"There we go," Luke declared.

Looking up above the viewpoint of space, a thin, long part of the bridge's wall flashed to life.

Luke smiled, glancing at Fhamir. Her eyes were set on the wall, her skin an uncomfortable shade of blue-ish gray.

Mara had found a way to get along with everyone on Pace's ship. She was tempted to keep Chadal and Weo stuck in the cockpit. Both were almost to the point of pulling weapons to get the blasted datapad. Of course, in the end, it didn't need to come to that. By the time Mara was through with it, Ross' datapad had so many codes, numbers and encryptions, only a master slicer like Ross himself would be capable of figuring it out. Once again, her former experience with smugglers and their crew seem to have paid off.

So, sitting in the galley of the ship, Mara ate her bowl of rations, watching to the right as Traya and Chadal attempted madly to uncover the information inside the tiny database. Mara grinned as Chadal's eyes came to meet hers with a glare-

"Jedi Skywalker," a voice, Weo's, went through the comm system of the ship. "Move your butt up here. Now."

Blinking from surprise, Mara removed herself from the table, leaving her food behind. Chadal was quick to follow, keeping her wild pace with Mara.

It only took a second to reach the cockpit. When Mara did, her heart sank. Staring at the tiny screen attached to the console's main systems, every part of her body froze. The Force rippled...her bottom lip began to tremble.

Luke...

"Hello, sweetheart," he spoke through the holo. "How are you?"

"Luke!" she shouted, scrambling into the seat beside Weo. "Where are you? Are you all right?"

"We don't have time for this," another voice, a deep female's, came from the holo.

Turning away for a moment, Luke nodded, then twisted back to his wife. "Mara," he spoke, more serious, "have you transmitted the information from Ross' datapad to Coruscant yet?"

"No!" Chadal screamed from behind. "She won't let us! She-"

"It's imperative that you hold that information until you reach Coruscant," Luke explained. "Otherwise, the entire Falleen race will be killed."

Mara blinked, shooting a glance at Chadal. The other woman's face had gone a chalky white.

For the next few minutes, Luke explained the situation. The Falleen-their war-the human disease...all of it. They even transmitted a disturbing video of the dying Falleen for proof. By the time he was finished, Mara and everyone else in the cockpit were in utter disarray. There were no words to be spoken. The entire circumstance had become so complex, Mara couldn't even grasp a resolution.

After another second, Mara took in a breath, then turned back to her husband. Using the Force to calm herself, she asked, "Why did they want you, then? The Jedi-"

"Have never been experimented on," Luke replied. "Whoever this, 'master', is, he wanted to see if the virus could kill us as well. That way, if the disease spread, he wouldn't have to worry about the human Jedi being able to survive."

"Good luck," Mara explained with a sigh. "If you've been attempting to heal Ross as much as you say, then their experiment isn't valid. You've been busy trying to heal him as opposed to yourself." She paused, staring at Luke's exhausted expression. "You look terrible, Skywalker," she said with a sigh. "Please tell me it's not getting the best of you?"

"Not yet," he replied, then shook his head. "Mara, when you get to Coruscant, I need you to look through logs, transmission records-everything. Someone there is-"

"Wait," Mara spoke, lifting a hand. Her heart suddenly skipped a beat, gazing at her husband. "You-you said this master wanted us to be infected, right?"

Narrowing his eyebrows, Luke nodded.

Staring away for a moment, Mara's thoughts started to catch up with her.

The only people that insisted on having the Jedi even accept the missions were Tananete and Retafured. And, Tananete clearly showed his appall with Luke and the other Jedi. He had the motive...the past.

And, the power.

She flashed her eyes to her husband. He blinked, awaiting a response.

"It's Senator Tananete," Mara came back. "He was one of the Senators that-"

"Our master isn't Falleen," a Falleen woman suddenly appeared on the holo. "Why would a Falleen threaten his own race?"

"Do you know that for certain?" Mara inquired.

The other woman paused at that. After a second, she merely shook her head. "No," she conceded, "I've never seen his face. It's always been hidden in the transmissions."

"But, she's right, Mara," Luke came back. "A Falleen wouldn't threaten his own race. They have too much respect for each other."

Mara pursed her lips. "Well, someone's not sharing the same feelings. Someone high enough in power to cause trouble... Luke?"

But, he wasn't listening to her. His eyes-always so deep in thought-were set to nothing-no one. They were trapped in their own wonderment as if he had shoved reality away from him as easily as he would a blaster bolt.

His dismayed expression caught Mara, not like a ripple through the Force, but more of a curiosity. Something she stated had set him off. Something about Tenanete...the Falleen. Mara turned her own eyes away. There was something there. Something hidden, something she was missing. Tenanete had treated all of the Jedi with disrespect, even resentment. But, it wasn't for being human. He didn't seem to like any of them. She blinked her eyes, attempting to pin-point it. It wasn't a word or name, but almost like a recollection permanently plastered to the tip of her tongue. Slowly, she heard the tiny clicks of reason echo throughout her mind. No, they were right. A Falleen would never harm his own race. They were already so few left...

-"Thank the universe you've arrived!" he had shouted out with smile masking his face. "I've been counting the minutes. You-you and your Jedi are welcome here. Please, you must help us!"

No, not a Falleen-

-Borsk frowned. "I didn't make the paranoia in the Senate, Jedi. In fact, if it weren't for Senator Retafured's insistence, I would keep human Jedi out of this as well."

Yes, they were right. A Falleen wouldn't be the threat.

But, a Scyos...

Mara's eyes met with her husband's only a second later.

A leak in the New Republic-

Was desperate to retrieve as many human Jedi as possible-

Would have the motive, the power, and the connections-

"Retafured," Mara and Luke spoke in unison.

Everyone in the cockpit remained in a silent awe. The little electronics on the ship's console softly beeped as they did their work. Mara gazed at her husband until his sweet face began to blur in her vision. Even with the Force, Mara's heart couldn't stop pounding.

Retafured.

"Please! Please, you must set him free! He has done nothing wrong!"

Senator Retafured's voice echoed through the large meeting hall of the Imperial Palace, bouncing back at him as if attempting to sound more sincere. Standing beside Borsk Fey'lya, the Scyos extended his hands to the others in the room. "Senator Tenanete has done nothing but attempt to create a connection between his race and your government. This act alone could mean death to any hopes in the future."

"As far as I'm concerned," one Senator called out from his seat, the transmitter droid flying near his head, "any future hopes don't seem to be possible at this rate, anyway. Senator Tenanete might mean well, as you've said, but his race obviously doesn't share his views."

"That's unconfirmed!" Borsk Fey'lya shouted from Retafured's side. "The fact of the matter is, we don't know all the details to make the facts yet. One or two radical groups-"

"One or two?" a young human Senator, Viqi Shesh, stood from her seat. "Are you actually going to declare that type of number to the Senate, Senator Fey'lya? I mean, from my understanding, our scouts and mission squadrons have seen dozens of unmarked freighters running through uncharted space in the past few weeks. And, you dare to say, one or two?" Her eyes suddenly went past Borsk and Retafured, to another seat across the room. "And, what about you, Madam Organa Solo?" she called out. "Have you even heard anything from your rogue Jedi yet?"

Giving a sigh, Senator Fey'lya dropped to his seat, sending a look Retafured's way. Retafured merely nodded.

Sitting next to President Gavrisom, who merely gave her a somber glance, Leia Organa Solo declared, "My brother and the other Jedi are doing all they can. I assure you, simply because they haven't contacted Coruscant does not mean they've decided to call off their sworn duties."

"Jedi don't even work with the government!" another Senator shouted. "They're loose cannons, bound by no one. They do what they want. You honestly think your reassurances count in that regard?"

"Then, I have nothing more I can give you," Organa Solo replied. "By the exaggerations you're proclaiming, sir, it sounds as if the Jedi are out in cantinas, becoming dead drunk and dancing the night away."

"All right!" Borsk Fey'lya's voice rumbled the room. "That is enough! This is becoming just as ridiculous as the Bothan and Cammasi accusations from less than a year ago. And, we all recall how that ended."

Everyone was silent. Retafured watched, listening as the beings considering what to say next...what to do. And, yet, through all their squabbles, all their debates, nothing potent ever came. They were afraid. Terrified.

Even the non-humans were becoming more worried.

Everything was moving to plan.

"I'm sorry it didn't go well today," Leia Organa Solo explained to Retafured as he entered his apartment inside the Imperial Palace. "Like I said, I'm going to do everything to make sure Senator Tenanete is released soon."

With that, Retafured smiled at her. "I know you are. I merely hope I don't end up joining him."

"I doubt that will be an issue," Organa Solo replied. "No Scyos seem to be involved with this. In fact, a lot of people in the Senate are considering you and your race victims as well."

His smile grew larger with that. He glanced at the human. Her calm grin immediately dropped. Allowing his grin to fall, he placed a hand over his eyes, looking at the floor. "I'm sorry," he told her softly. "I'm trying to be strong. To be appreciative. It's just so hard right now-"

"Things will work out," she came back, putting a hand on his shoulder. "I promise you that."

Gently patting his shoulder, Leia Organa Solo gave him one more tiny grin, then left the apartment. Retafured waved good bye, closing his door. Turning around, he gently placed his back to the metal slab, taking in a breath. Emotional control. It took so much emotion control around that human. Retafured knew it would be difficult to pull off anything around the sister of Luke Skywalker, but he had never assumed she had been trained in the Force at all. Every face expression he used, every voice change, all amounts of zeal he might be feeling had to be subdued. Leia Organa Solo could feel it all. His ability to pull out tears with a snap of his fingers was most likely the only reason she wasn't on to him.

How annoying.

How extremely, unbelievably vexing.

Of course, soon, it wouldn't matter.

Soon, she would be dead.

Just like her brother, and all the human Jedi.

Slowly, another grin emerged on Retafured's lips, but he dropped it swiftly. Removing himself from the door, he walked to his transmitter holo at the edge of his living courtiers. It took only a second to turn it on.

The Falleen on the other end was quick to reply.

"Prince Roonac," Retafured called out, making sure his face was blocked from the holo. "This is your master calling. Where are you?"

"Close to the Duro system," the young prince replied, his face looking pale. "It'll be just another day, my master. We'll be entering the Coruscant system by standard nightfall."

A few hours past, and everyone in on the Fast Pace was quiet. Sitting in the seat behind Mara in the cockpit, Chadal silently re-bandaged her arm. Her eyes never met with Mara's, her emotions so full of regret and guilt, even Mara felt sorry for the woman.

Nonetheless, it was not the time for comfort. Silently, Mara viewed the video stream her husband had sent her of the Falleen. It was supposed to be a relief when you realized what you were dealing with. A relaxing notion that now, they might be able to stop more humans from dying. But, it wasn't.

Every time Mara watched the images of the Falleen's demise, the Force sent wild shivers up her spine. It wasn't just a matter of the humans anymore. The Falleen needed help, and unfortunately, Mara didn't know what to do.

Get Retafured...as all the others in the crew had so passionately replied to her inquiries during the previous hours. But, it wasn't a matter of just Retafured. He possessed an unknown virus for the Falleen, a disease that none of the Falleen had ever had the chance to figure out. If it was supposedly destroyed during the war, then the records on it were destroyed as well. And, if someone else found Retafured's work...

Then, the problem could start all over again.

Taking in a breath, Mara leaned forward and shut down the holo. She turned to Weo by her side, the other woman's eyes set on the ship's console. Obviously sensing Mara's eyes on her, she reluctantly twisted to face her. "Hey."

Mara merely gave her a tiny grin. "Hey, back. How far until we reach Coruscant?"

"Another day or so," she replied, scanning the instruments. "This ship's going as fast as it can. Too bad it's not fast enough."

"It'll have to do," Mara explained, then leaned back in her seat. "Any thoughts on what we do when we get there?"

"Kill Retafured," Chadal spoke up.

Mara huffed out a breath, shaking her head, then turned back to Weo. "Something more...productive."

Weo shrugged. "We could get permission to search through all of his things-"

"Unless he has a self-destruct on his data systems, and back ups somewhere else." Mara groaned to herself, then turned back to Weo. "Something less...risky."

"Why don't you just use the Force and snag the encryption codes from his brain," Chadal replied.

With that, Weo rolled her eyes. She shot back, "Something possible, Chadal. Think harder."

Weo turned back to Mara, a satisfied grin on her lips. However, Mara didn't return to expression. Sitting in the copilot seat, her entire body froze.

"Jedi Skywalker?" Weo stated, but Mara was already in action.

Shuffling her hands across the boards, she turned to Weo. "Where's the transmitter switches on this thing?"

Blinking, Weo merely pointed. Following her direction, Mara switched on the device, putting in her coordinates. Chadal instantly lifted a hand. "I thought we were waiting until we got to Coruscant-"

"To inform them, yes," Mara replied, playing with the console. "Coruscant's communications are most likely bugged. On their end. But, not on ours."

"Well, who are you calling, then?" Weo asked.

Her answer was given just a second later. There was no image; the ship she was calling was a mere starfighter. But, the voice was as comforting as any face could be.

"This is Colonel Darklighter of Rogue Squadron. You better have a good excuse for using this frequency."

"Hi, Gavin," Mara spoke, her lips curving upwards. "It's Mara Jade Skywalker."

"Oh, Mara," he called back, a tiny hint of laughter shooting through the speakers. "I was wondering how someone got a hold of our secured frequency. How are you?"

"Sorry to cut the conversation short, Gavin, but I need to speak with Corran Horn. Could you transfer me to his X-wing?"

"Oh, sorry to disappoint you," he replied with a sigh. "But Corran's off on the Errant Venture with his wife. Apparently, his father-in-law got a lead on a Falleen ship, and asked Corran to help out."

Mara frowned. "How did his father-in-law find out about this?"

"Ah, you know Booster Terrik. That man would know if all the stars were about ready to spontaneously explode."

Rolling her eyes, Mara merely shook her head. "Well, can you transfer me there?"

"It's a little far off, but sure. Just remember to play nice, Mara."

"Thanks, Gavin. May the Force be with you."

The transmitter suddenly went dead. It took a few minutes of waiting and wondering, but eventually, a voice shot through the system like a wild Tuskin Raider with a battle cry.

"This is Booster Terrik of the Errant Venture. You have three seconds to explain your call before I shut this damn thing off and leave you hanging."

"This is Mara Jade Skywalker, Terrik. That better be explanation enough."

There was a pause, then, "You realize you woke me up, Jedi! This is my private frequency!"

"Ah, poor baby," Mara snapped back. "I need to speak with your son-in-law. Be a good boy, and transfer me through."

"Why should I do that?"

"Because, if you don't, then I'll just have to use a mind trick. And, believe me, Terrik, I won't use a nice one."

"You little...all right. Hold on."

A second went by, then the holo came to life. On its blue screen, the distinguished face of Corran Horn came into view. Rubbing his eyes, he yawned. "Oh, hi, Mara. What do I owe the pleasure?"

"Hi, Corran. Is Mirax there as well?"

"Sure, but she's asleep."

"Can you wake her? I need some information." "Something I can't inform?"

"Not unless you're an educated historian like Mirax."

He blinked a few times, then came back with a playful grin, "Okay, but I'm not taking responsibility for any future hostilities."

He moved out of the screen. A second later, the jet black haired image of Mirax Terrik Horn came into view. In the same groggy state as her husband, she looked at Mara and gave a tiny smile. "You realize I'm going to kill you for this later, right, Mara?"

"I'll let you kill Luke as well, as long as you listen up."

Giving a tiny giggle, Mirax glanced at her husband. Smiling at her, then Mara, Corran merely replied, "All right, our ears are ready. What's going on?"

With that, Mara smiled. "Mirax, do you know anything about the Falleen's civil war?"

The other woman paused, giving a sigh. After a moment of thought, she came back, "Bits and pieces. It's a more difficult point in history. The Empire destroyed so many records-"

"How about the Falleen bioweapon? Anything about that?"

Pressing her lips together, Mirax nodded. "It was created after the Empire destroyed a large Falleen city. The Scyos attempting to get revenge on the Falleen."

Mara instantly cocked an eyebrow. "Why would the Scyos want to get back at the Falleen? They're the ones that helped the Empire."

Mirax paused for a moment, then shrugged. "The Falleen were the first to create the bioweapons after the Empire's attack. They retaliated on the Scyos, attempting to annihilate all of them during the war."

"Where is it?" Mara suddenly found herself asking. "Does the Scyos disease still exist?"

"Not anymore," Mirax replied. "It's turned into lost relics. The data was destroyed years ago during the war. Good riddens, too." She paused for a second, staring at Mara. "Why are you asking me this, anyway?"

"A hope," Mara replied, blowing out a breath.

"I have records on it," Mirax explained. "Datafiles...text. If you're interested."

For a moment, Mara Jade Skywalker paused. Her heart quickened, the Force flowing out of her like wild beams of light.

Shaking her head, she turned back to Mirax and Corran, and asked, "How far away are you from Coruscant?" "Uh," Corran paused, blinking again. "About a standard day. Why?"

"Because, I have an idea, and your help is imperative."

"Mine, huh?"

"And, Mirax."

"Planning to go to war, are ya'?"

"Not exactly, but close." Mara gave him a smirk, one that Han Solo, Talon Karrde and every other conning smuggler would look at with admiration.

Corran's expression seemed to fall flat. He frowned at her, cocking one eyebrow. "Uh, oh...I think I see something sinister forming in your eyes, Mara. You're not intending to blow up anything, are you?"

"Perhaps for a plan B," she replied, keeping her crooked grin. She leaned forward to the holo. "How would you like to pull off the greatest Jedi illusion in the face of the galaxy?"

Staring at Mara, Corran Horn's expression began to soften. The grogginess in Mirax's eyes was gone. They exchanged glances, then turned back to the holo. Both displayed the same large, mischievous grins.

Another day past on the Falleen vessel. It was a surprise to Matic Pace just how quiet things had become. By that point, he had expected blaster fire, daggers swinging-

And, one crazy Jedi Master in the middle of it.

But, Skywalker and the Fallen woman were resourceful. They had left the bridge the same way they had entered the previous day, and returned back to the prison. There, the Jedi had pulled off two minds tricks on the dazed guards. They stood, walking out of the room as if nothing had happened at all.

Since then, Fhamir had continued her daily routines. Yet, instead of bringing more instruments to test Skywalker, she brought healing sticks for Ross, antibiotics for Matic and Luke...even a few extra blankets and food.

Skywalker kept his lightsaber, but never ignited it. He seemed at peace, but even he was plagued with the disease. Not matter how many injections Matic and he received, it didn't matter. Both were becoming more sick.

In fact, as Matic watched the Jedi Master as he sat and meditated beside young Ross, a small but powerful cough emerged from the commander's mouth.

Instantly placing a hand over his lips, he cleared his throat. His body shivered. Silently, he panted, lifting away his fingers. He froze. All five digits were cloaked with crimson ooze.

Fhamir lay in her bed, but didn't sleep. Most beings probably couldn't survive on the amount of slumber the poor woman received, but for the first time in a long time, Fhamir's eyes were open for another reason. A touch of reasoning, even excitement.

There was no telling where the next few days would bring the Falleen, but at least now, they had cards to play with. At least now, they had a chance.

Slowly, Fhamir twisted in her bed, her eyes turning toward the door...

In the dark room, the figure was impossible to make out. His tall body blocked out all the light from outside, his face contorted from the darkness. The only thing that seemed to shine was the dagger, trembling in his hand.

Opening her mouth, Fhamir quietly raised herself out of bed. Her eyes focused, squinting to see the other being's face.

However, it was unnecessary. He spoke only a second later. His gentle voice filling the room with such an agonizing echo. "Get up," Jeire ordered, pointing the knife at her.

Without a word, Fhamir dropped her legs to the edge of the bed. Her long, coarse hair fell around her, unpinned and tangled. She stared up at her beloved, but couldn't find the will to speak.

He did it for her. "You betrayed us?" he questioned, his voice choking with tears. "You, my queen?"

Lip quivering, Fhamir took in a breath. "Jeire-"

"Shut up!" he screamed, slamming the side of his free hand into the door. He sobbed again, sniffling back his tears. "I-I checked the transfer logs, Fhamir. All of them. You hide your trail very well, my love, but not well enough." He paused, pulling a small datapad from his pocket. With a flick of his wrist, the small device soared, landing beside Fhamir a second later.

"You sent a data stream to a New Republic vessel," he declared, pointing his dagger again. "You...you sent them information. You sent them our data!" Not bothering to pick up the datapad, Fhamir stood. She stepped toward Jeire, her bosom almost parallel with his blade. "I had to, Jeire," was her only reply.

Closer to him, Fhamir could finally detect the odd shade of purple he had become. His crystal violet eyes were set with hers, drenched with tears. Groaning, he placed both hands to his head, leaving the knife idle in his grasp. Eyes averted to the floor, he slowly knelt down as if all the energy in his legs had vanished.

Gently, Fhamir placed a hand to his shoulder. "Please, Jeire," she whispered, "I would never betray my kind. I love you. I love them. Please, understand me."

"Was it the Jedi?" he asked.

She shook her head. "No, Jeire...no. No mind tricks...no illusions. I made a decision, my love. One I can't take back."

"Why?"

Slowly, she closed her eyes. "Because, our master will kill us, Jeire," she explained. "We've failed. As much as you wish to deceive yourself, I can't allow us to be fooled by our own useless hopes. He has no remorse for the humans. He has no remorse for anyone. Now, maybe we'll have a chance to-"

Her words were cut in half. Jeire's hand came so suddenly, Fhamir screamed with the impact. She spun around, falling to the floor an instant later. Laying on the ground, she panted, holding the left side of her face with one hand. The tender green skin had already gone numb.

"No, my queen," Jeire spoke again, his sobs gone. He towered over her, his larger form appearing more like a phantom than a man. "You've made your decisions, but the Falleen will not share your fate. I can't let that happen. I won't."

Rasping for air, Fhamir lifted a hand up to her beloved. Slowly, he reached down, touching the delicate fingers. But, the moment passed quickly. His expression hardened once again. Grabbing her wrist, he yanked her from the floor, forcing her from her room and down the hallway toward the bridge.

Matic Pace's body leaped. He almost looked like a fish out of water as he tried desperately to remove himself from the corner of the room as Skywalker shouted. Nonetheless, his frantic movements were short lived, as with a sudden, invisible push, Matic found himself sitting beside the wall by the door. Right in front of him was Skywalker, his lightsaber already burning.

The green glow appeared to alert the two guards immediately as they entered, but the Jedi Master didn't seem to care. The Falleen came through; he reacted. The blasters in their grasp were slashed in half before they even had a chance to aim. Shocked, the Falleen gasped, spinning the Jedi's way...

Too late.

One flew into the ceiling, dropping a second later like a bug that had lost its footing. The other spun at Skywalker himself, using the remaining handle of his blaster as a weapon. The Jedi grabbed his wrist without hesitation, twisting his own body away-

The other being cried out as his larger form went over Skywalker's shoulder, slamming to the hard metal floor only a second later. The room was suddenly quiet again.

With the exception of Skywalker's panting breaths.

Glancing around the room, Skywalker's eyes focused on Ross. Instantly, he extinguished his saber, rushing to the slicer. "Here!" he shouted at Matic. "Help with his legs!"

"What?" Matic questioned, but hurried to his side nonetheless. "Why?"

"We need to hide him," he explained, pulling the younger man from the ground. "And, we only have about one minute to do it. Hurry!"

They rushed out of the room. There was a storage unit in the corridor, narrow, but amazingly long. Skywalker pulled it open, removing the access gear inside. Matic helped, throwing it back into their room. All except the blasters.

It took just a second later to put Ross' unconscious form into the unit. Letting out one solid pant, Skywalker glanced at Matic and cocked an eyebrow. Hooked to various spots on Matic's body were five blasters. The Jedi paused a second, staring at Matic. The commander thought the other man might laugh, but instead, he explained, "We need to get to the bridge."

"I guess we're doing it the hard way," Matic explained, lifting a blaster into view.

Sweat dripping down his face, Skywalker merely glanced away innocently and nodded.

"Sir," a familiar voice rang through Jeire's comlink, "we've reached the Jedi's room, but they're gone. Even the wounded one."

Clenching his teeth, Jeire leaned forward, placing a hand on the console. To his side, Fhamir sat, her arms and legs bond to her royal chair.

"What should we do?" the other Falleen asked him through the device.

Blowing out a breath, Jeire closed his eyes, then replied, "Inform all your crew of the situation. But, don't trust anyone. Keep all communications in Falleen dialect. The Jedi might attempt a cloaking trick. You hear me? No Basic."

"Yes, sir," the other being spoke.

The comlink went dead a second later.

"This won't work, Jeire," Fhamir told him softly. "Even if you kill them, the Jedi's wife is already on her way to Coruscant. She already knows about Retafured-"

"And, you believe her," he hissed out, then shook his head. "Honestly, my queen, I wish the Jedi had entranced you. It would at least explain your insanity."

"It's not insane to protect your race," she came back, keeping her eyes to the viewpoint. Slowly, almost sardonically, a tiny smile emerged to her lips. "But, it won't matter now. Everything is already in motion. If we're doomed, then it's too late to stop it."

"Don't make me strike you again, Fhamir," Jeire suddenly found himself saying. Turning his attention to the communications officer, he called out, "Have you contacted any Falleen vessels yet?"

"None are in our radius, sir," the other Falleen replied, then licked her lips nervously. "The closest one is almost four standards days away, heading for the Core."

"If you're so certain of yourself, Commander," Fhamir interrupted again, "then, why don't you simply contact our master? I'm sure he'd love to hear our report."

A wave of nausea rose through Jeire's gut. He heaved in a breath, holding to the edge of the console for support. If the master knew-

"He's going to know," she continued. "Soon, Jeire. Too soon. Then, we'll just have to see who's in the right here...and who is not."

"Silence!" he screamed, raising a hand.

Fhamir closed her eyes, obviously awaiting another blow across her cheeks. But, staring at her, Jeire's arm weakened; quietly, he lowered his hand, gazing at the viewpoint.

"Can't you cloak us or something?" Pace's voice shouted through the hallway.

It had just taken a moment to reach trouble. Or, as more appropriately stated, for trouble to reach them.

"They're already alerted to us!" Luke replied, lifting his lightsaber. "I don't think I can explain a long glowing blade and my apparent ability to deflect blaster bolts, anyway." He rolled his eyes. "Will you stay behind me, please?"

"I'm trying!" Matic shouted, aiming his blaster.

The Falleen fell before he even realized what had happened.

"Don't try!" Luke shouted back, sending another wave of blaster bolts back to the

small Falleen group in front of him. "Do it! There isn't a try here!"

Firing again, Pace questioned, "Is that Jedi philosophy?"

Using the Force, Luke grabbed a hold of Pace and pushed. The commander yelled out in surprise, a blaster bolt from the Falleen zooming through the spot his head had recently been. Luke shot him a glare. "Right now, it's a philosophy of, if you don't want to get shot!"

Luke instantly turned back to the Falleen. Sweat dripped down the Jedi's face, his arms and legs as his body attempted to keep up with his mind. Cold chills rushed up his limbs like tiny shards of ice, but his concentration held firm. He could control the pain.

He wouldn't allow a virus to take him so easily.

Eyes set to the Falleen in front of him, he pulled his lightsaber back and lifted his free hand. The Force reacted to his command like a reflex. The Falleen were thrown back, but not far. They landed hard on their backs a second later, groaning in pain.

Taking the advantage, Luke snatched one of Pace's wrists and started to run. The commander's weak body didn't seem willing to keep up, but the other man didn't complain. They continued down the corridors, heading for the bridge.

It took Mara and the crew another solid day to reach Coruscant. By that point, the lights of the profound city-planet were even marveling to Mara's eyes. Sparkling, they alone could display just how many lives were at stake. Staring out the viewpoint of the Fast Pace, she sat in the pilot's seat, Weo right by her side.

She took in a breath, watching as the dim yellow lights of the city drew closer. Not bothering to glance at the other woman, she spoke, "You ready for this?"

"Ready?" Weo came back, then blew out an exaggerated whine. "Oh, there's no, 'ready', in this, sister. I have my restraining belt on. That's about as ready as I'm gonna get."

Mara smiled, but still didn't turn to her. For the past day, they had attempted to figure out how they could reach Leia Organa Solo without alerting Retafured to their presence. It was true that through the Force, Mara was close enough to the capital planet to merely reach out and alert Leia that way...

Of course, when has anything ever been that simple? While Leia was close by, she was busy speaking with an ambassador on a nearby transport vessel. Mara had already contacted her, but there was no way Leia could help them enter Coruscant from their present state. For the moment, they were too close to the vast planet to move away. In all essence, they were on their own.

"Chadal...Traya," Mara called out over her shoulder. "You ready?"

"As much as Weo," Traya replied. Through the Force, Mara could tell the man was sweating.

It only took a second for the planet of Coruscant to detect them. Shooting past a set of satellites, the Fast Pace was quick to receive the call.

"This is Coruscant security," a voice came through the comm system. "Identify yourself, then wait for an escort vessel."

"I'm sorry?" Mara called back, zooming the ship closer to Coruscant's atmosphere. "What was that?"

The man sighed, then repeated, "This is Coruscant security. Slow your vessel to according limits, and give your identification marks."

"What?" Mara shouted back. "Describe our ship's parts?"

"Slow your vessel!" he came back, yelling that time. "I'm not asking again!"

"What?" was Mara's last reply. Flipping a switch of the console, the angry cries of the other being went silent throughout the ship.

With that, Mara gave Weo a sardonic smirk, then asked, "Gee, you think they fell for that one?"

"Playing dumb?" Weo replied, then shook her head. "By this point, I don't think we are."

Mara didn't have time to laugh. The Force rippled like a crashing tidal wave; hands clasped to the ship's controls, she stared down at the planet and gasped. A whole squadron of New Republic starfighters were coming up to greet them. Even a few modified X-wing fighters, and B-wings. Mara licked her lips. She hadn't expected that much of a welcoming party.

"Looks like they've tightened security," Chadal called from behind. "Good thing we have our restraining belts!" "Hold on!" Mara shouted, jerking the controls to the right.

The, Fast Pace, spun off from the starfighters in front of them like a wild speeder gone mad. Flipping over once, then again, Mara could already sense the fighters behind her.

The Force shook. She yanked at the controls again. The vessel launched upwards, then down, avoiding a set of blaster fire. Coruscant's lights were becoming as bright as a wave of fire in their faces. Pulling deeper into the atmosphere, other bystanding transport vessels mutated into a new line of blockade.

Chadal shouted; Weo and Traya cursed.

Mara swerved their ship from one port to another, almost clipping a Mon Calamari ship's outer satellite saucer. Her comm system was blinking like crazy. Everyone wanted to speak with them.

The Force was in her grip. She felt it-flowed with it. The sensation was calming, but her body was still a rigged board. The security fighters kept right behind her, never leaving the ship's tail. No matter how many maneuvers she pulled off, there was no losing them.

A blaster bolt shook the ship. Mara blinked, clenching the controls in her hands.

Weo checked the systems. "Back shields just went dead!" she shouted, tossing a look at Mara.

From behind, Traya's curses rang throughout the cockpit.

Wide eyed, Chadal only spoke one thing. "We are going to die."

"Just keep the optimism up back there!" Mara snapped, then switched on the comm system again. There were no more chances of a peaceful getaway. If she allowed the Fast Pace to be shot down, then the entire human race would crash with it.

The angry voices of the starfighter pilots, Coruscant's ground security, and even a few bystanding transport vessels hissed through the cockpit like Traya's cursing. Pressing the output button, Mara shouted, "We don't want to fight you! You have exactly two seconds to call off your fighters before I turn my guns your way." There was a pause. Then, "All right, peaceful explorers," a voice snapped back through the system, "then, would you mind explaining why you're running off?"

"Your two seconds are up," Mara called back, then sighed. "Just remember, I warned you."

"Warning noted," the man replied darkly.

The comm went dead.

From her right, Weo looked at her and frowned. "Don't tell me you actually expected that to work?"

"No," Mara explained, gripping the controls, "but, I had to try. It's a Jedi thing."

"Okay-" the last of Weo's statement trailed off into a gasp.

The Fast Pace abruptly soared upwards. Pulling the controls back to her chest, Mara groaned. The vast lights of Coruscant shifted to the stars of space. The ship rumbled with her piercing turn, seeming almost ready to give up on it. Clenching her teeth, Mara snapped the controls to the left. Shooting upwards from Coruscant, the ship was almost in a tailspin.

Everyone shouted in panic.

Everyone but Mara.

The Force consumed her. She breathed with it, becoming a part of it. She could see the fighters in the back of her mind...see them attempt to pull off the same maneuver. Some passed through in their tiny ships. Others were losing altitude, their vessels not willing to follow behind. One veered too far to the left-

The tiny starship didn't even see it coming. The low orbiting satellite was small, but the size didn't matter. The fighter collided with it the same it would another ship, asteroid or building. The explosion was like a dim spark of light and life, then nothing.

Mara winced. Her hands loosened their tight grip on the controls for an instant, her heart pounding with guilt. Nonetheless, the Force was still rippling, her emotions were still set...after another second, she had control again.

And, just as she had pulled the Fast Pace up through the wild atmosphere of Coruscant, she allowed it to fall.

Yanking the controls away from her body, she twisted them right. The tip of the vessel spun back toward the planet. The other starfighters would have never expected the move. None were prepared.

Too close, the fighters scrambled to escape.

Mara had one in her sights. She pressed the button at the tip of her controls. Without the Force, there was no doubt in Mara's mind that she couldn't pull off such a feat. But, as the energy filled her, her vision crisp in both her eyes and mind, the red sparks of fire rang from her ship, and hit the fighter. Its wing instantly fell to pieces, the pilot ejecting from his ship. Mara passed by without another thought, moving toward the others.

And, still, they were not ready.

She fired again.

Again, another pilot ejected.

Then, another.

She was on to the fourth one when a wild wave of the Force shot up her back. Even set in her emotions, a breath of air was forced out of her lungs. There was no Force needed. The mass of ships shooting up from Coruscant to greet them was visible to all peering eyes.

"Mara," Weo gently muttered, pointing out from her seat.

"Yeah," Mara mumbled back, her lip trembling.

Reaching out with the Force, she closed her eyes for the last seconds of peace her and the rest of the ship's crew would endure. However, the few tiny moments did not go to waste.

Pushing out with her mind, Mara called out for the last ounce of hope. To the only one who had a chance of helping them.

Uh, Leia?

It struck her like a fireball. Running across the hangerbay of the Imperial Palace from Ambassador Niea's vessel, Leia Organa Solo almost collapsed. The presence hit her almost like a neon sign thrown directly into her eyes. Usually, her brother was close to it, shinning past it.

It was strong, determined. So was its plea.

Gasping, Leia grabbed the edge of her light blue dress, lifting it off the ground. Other Senators and their families shot her funny looks as she darted down the vast corridor of the Palace, her long brown hair falling from the pins on her head as she darted forward.

Wave after wave of fighters were there to block the way. Inner city speeders came up from the lowest parts of the atmosphere, attempting to create a barrier for the single vessel before it could reach the vast city-planet. There were too many for Mara to count. Even with the Force.

"Well," Weo spoke from her side, "I think we can consider this the blunder of our plan."

"Or, an omen," Traya replied, gripping the edges of his seat.

"Or, an execution," Chadal added.

With that, Mara merely huffed out a breath. "Again, your optimism is sending me to tears, guys. Thank you."

They spoke nothing after that. Of course, it probably wasn't Mara's retort that had silenced them. The first surge of Coruscant fighters soared passed, sending off a wave of fire power as they flew.

The next group to come in was just as deadly.

"I think this can be considered a blunder, yes," Mara muttered, pulling the controls this way and that.

However, it didn't matter. Coruscant's fighters were in every direction, every angle. There was no escape. No possibility. Even with the Force, with all her abilities, Mara knew they were losing.

And, then, it happened. It wasn't so much a ripple in the Force, or even a spark. It was a mere comfort...a dim glow in the middle of all the chaos. At first, Mara thought that somehow-some way-Leia had found a ship and decided to join the fight.

However, as the presence grew closer and her attention to it increased, Mara smiled. It didn't take long for it to reach her. And, as it did, the comm system on the Fast Pace beeped.

Jerking at the controls, Mara swiftly flipped the comm's switch before going back to the fight. Of course at that rate, her heart was already beginning to fill with hope.

"Need a little help?" the voice of Corran Horn called through the system.

"Yes!" Mara shouted back, flipping her ship into a corkscrew to avoid another set of blasts. "Yes, Corran...please! I'll even marry you. Just help!"

"A proposal-wow. I'm flattered."

"Help, Corran!"

"I'm here-I'm here," he called back.

An X-wing shot through the vast sea of Coruscant fighters. Spinning one way, then another, it screamed as a wild tide of red fire came from the ends of its wings. The other ships seemed to hesitate at that, unsure what had just transpired. Even from her seat, Mara could sense their shock.

However, it didn't last long. Half of the ships broke off, following Corran. The others...

Blasts came and went. Fire hit her ship. She replied with her own blaster power. The fighting continued.

"You must have really pissed them off, Mara," Corran spoke, his voice strained.

Groaning as she throw the Fast Pace into another round of turns and twirls, the Force shot up her back. "You've got five behind you, Corran!"

"You have seven!" he came back. "Didn't you notice we're a touch outnumbered?"

"Corran!" Mara shouted, watching as his ship disappeared through the middle of other starfighters and vessels.

Her heart pounded. The sweat was forming on her forehead-arms. The Force tried to keep her calm, but there was no use. She attempted to sense for his presence, but the belt of starfighters wouldn't allow her to do anything but dodge blaster bolts.

And, then, just as easily as it had vanished, the X-wing of Corran Horn came flying to Mara's side. Giving a sigh of relief, Mara sucked in a breath, then called out, "Don't do that."

"Wasn't trying to," he came back. "In fact, three were still tailing right behind me...then suddenly stopped pursuit."

"What?" Mara called back.

"They-," he paused, then yelled in a more feverish tone, "Mara-look!"

Corran didn't have to say it. Nonetheless, Mara's eyes wouldn't permit her to believe the display. Slowly, the immense body of ships dropped their attack. One wave after another, they fell back to the vast lights of Coruscant without another attempt.

"What in the worlds-" Weo started, but Mara already had a hand on the comm.

Pulling the frequency switch, the voice of Coruscant's security came through, "Repeat-Unmarked freighter. You're permitted to venture forward. Courtesy of one Leia Organa Solo."

"You heard me!" Jeire shouted at his officer.

The other Falleen gazed at him, the only movement from his expression was when he blinked. Aggravated, Jeire rolled his eyes.

"Destroy the navigation system!" Jeire yelled, pointing a finger. "If we're going to fail, then we all fail together. Us, and the Jedi!"

"We'll end up just floating in space," the other being finally came back. "Our mission-"

"Just do what he wants," Fhamir spoke up from Jeire's side. "He insists on a victory. No matter how pathetic."

"Shut up, Fhamir," he snapped back. "Just...sit there."

"Yes, sir."

Her reply was so filled with sarcasm, its residue could almost be seen throughout the air. Jeire clenched his teeth, glancing back at his communication's officer.

"Contact the closest Falleen vessel!" he ordered.

The other Falleen licked his lips. "Sir, they're over three and a half days away-"

"And, we need help!" he replied. "Send the message, sir. Or, I'll do it."

The Falleen merely looked down at his console, then nodded.

Jeire turned back to the viewpoint, softly listening as the small noise of blaster fire from other parts of his ship gently came through the vents on the bridge.

After another moment, he closed his eyes, gently blowing out a breath. "Craluw," he called to a Falleen standing guard near the corner of the bridge. "Come here, please."

Silently, the soldier came to face Jeire, his eyes set respectively at his. Silently, Jeire extended a hand, pulling a small device from the side pouch of the other man's jacket. With a flick of his fingers, he set the dial on the instrument's front, watching as its buttons began to flash.

Fhamir was right about one factor; everything was already set in motion. There wasn't anything Jeire could do to prevent it...if he merely stood there, and allowed it to occur. That was something he had no intention of doing.

"Take this to the main power grid," he explained to the other Falleen, handing back the device. "The Jedi is coming down the main hallway, so use the ventilation shaft to reach the West corridor. If I don't contact you in ten minutes...,"

He paused, glancing at Fhamir. Even her eyes were staring widely at him.

Nonetheless, he turned back to his comrade, and ordered, "Blow up the ship's power supply. Like I said, if we're going to fail, we fail together."

The guard merely bowed his head, then left the bridge without a word spoken.

Slowly, Jeire twisted his eyes back to his beloved; hers were already set in stone.

"What are you doing, Jeire?" she asked, more like a mother than his queen.

With that, he merely shook his head, but smiled nevertheless. "It's simple, your highness. I can't defeat a Jedi Master. But, I can play his dirty little games." Placing his hands behind his back, he turned to the viewpoint again. "If he likes mind games, then I am certain of one thing. He is going to truly love mine."

Luke and Pace ran through the Falleen's ship with all the energy stored in their bodies. Pace coughed, attempting to keep up with Luke, but his legs staggered. He had already fallen twice on the way to the bridge, heaving as the sweat on his face dripped to the floor.

He was in pain...so much, some of it was affecting Luke. He could feel the other man's agony, but Pace never once asked for help or complained. He removed himself from the floor, and continued forward.

On their tails, a squadron of Falleen followed closely behind.

They shot out; Luke deflected their bolts, sending several of their pursuers to the ground.

"How much farther is it?" Pace asked, not bothering to turn around and fire.

"Down the hallway...to the right," Luke replied. "You can't recall?"

"Too busy trying not to get shot," he came back, keeping ahead of Luke.

Normally, Luke would shake his head, rolling his eyes at the other man. But, his body ached...his disease was progressing. And, the Falleen had no sympathy. They continued to fire, the red beams soaring at Luke from his face to his legs. Whatever hope they had once possessed for experimenting on him seemed to be lost to their minds. Luke continued to deflect their shots, rushing to the bridge to find Fhamir.

It only took Leia a matter of minutes to reach them. Mara had decided to land her vessel on a landing pad near the Imperial Palace, but not on it. Every ship was checked in there, and anyone would recognize her and Corran in a flash. So, on a smaller tower to the Palace's right, Mara and the others spotted Leia Organa Solo, and smiled.

As usual, the other woman was in proper form. A Senator's dress wrapped around her figure, the petite sister-in-law walked toward them with a stride and elegance that put most to shame. Her hair was put up braids, but some had fallen, draping her shoulders. She reached Mara only a second later, giving her a tiny embrace.

"Thank you," Mara spoke, releasing her sister-in-law. "You saved us."

"Your welcome," Leia replied with a nod. "I was hoping my political influence would be useful someday. I'm just a little curious as to why I had to use it in the first place."

Mara frowned. "What did you tell Security?"

Leia's soft expression didn't waver. "Basically, what they needed to here. Classified this...such nonsense."

"They bought that?"

"Why wouldn't they? I have to inform President Gavrisom what's going on, but he'll go along with whatever's needed if there's a reason. As far as anyone else is concerned, it was a pile of drunken pilots playing games." She suddenly cocked an eyebrow. "What is going on, by the way?"

"Long story," Corran Horn suddenly interrupted from the side.

Leia turned her head his way. "Hello, Corran. What are you doing here?"

"Master plan," was his only reply.

Mara threw him a smirk, then turned back to Leia. "Mirax is on her way as well."

"Flying in?" Leia asked.

"Using normal channels," Mara replied. "Unlike her husband, she didn't have to worry about concealing information from the New Republic's capital."

"Speaking of spouses...," Leia trailed off, raising an eyebrow.

All Mara could do was frown. "He's onboard a Falleen vessel. That's why I need to speak with you. The situation has become a lot more complex."

It had taken but a short time to explain everything to Leia. Thankfully, Mara's sister-in-law was quick, listening once and understanding it all. She had merely nodded at Mara through the conversation, popping questions here and there, but basically just taking it in.

By the time they finished, Leia's jaw was clenched together like a vise.

"We can't just assume that Retafured is behind all of this," Leia explained. "We have to make sure for ourselves."

"What do you have in mind?" Weo asked from her side.

With that, Leia had merely looked up at Corran, Mirax, and Mara, and grinned.

All four arrived in the Imperial Palace only moments later, leaving Weo, Chadal, and the others behind. Their job was to contact Dr. Ooles, Leia and her family's trusted doctor, and give him Ross' datapad. At the moment, neither Mara nor Leia wanted to take chances with it.

Just like Corran, Mara had her Jedi robe with her. She covered herself completely with its hood, bowing her head to the floor as she ventured inside the Imperial Palace. It was unlikely anyone would recognize them as more than mere Jedi.

In the turbolift of the towering building, Mara glanced at her sister-in-law. Leia was calm, staring at the wall without an expression to her face. Just like her brother, there was a calm peace about her that contrasted the rest of the galaxy. It was times like those when Mara could truly see the similarities in her husband and his twin. Leia never allowed her demeanor to weaken-her stance to stagger. Silently, Mara lowered her head back to the floor as the turbolift came to a halt. Without delay, they exited the lift, moving down the hallway.

"It's this one," Leia told them, coming to an apartment's door. "He's in a diplomatic meeting at the moment."

"Probably attempting to gain sympathy in the Republic," Corran explained.

Leia was already working on the door, Corran instantly leaning over to help. Any Force-use could set off the security alarms, and demand explanation. There was no need with a former rebel, security man, and two retired smugglers in the area. Playing with a few wires in the door's computer system, the thin metal slab opened partway.

They entered, shutting the door. The entire place was pitch black.

"Doesn't enjoy letting the light in, it seems," Mirax commented, turning on a lamp.

"I suppose not," Leia muttered back, then moved toward the edge of the room.

Mara, Corran, and Mirax followed. There, sitting comfortably on a simple wooden table, was Retafured's communications holo.

"If he's smart," Leia spoke, "then, he would have erased all the memory cells from his contact transfers. That way, if anyone decided to check-"

"All they would find was erased data," Corran replied, then glanced at Mara. "Could you pass me that statue?"

Standing next to another small table, Mara silently lifted the metal decoration and handed it to the other Jedi.

Corran turned back to Leia and smiled. "May I?"

Silently, Leia gave a tiny grin herself, moving her body out of the way. Gesturing a hand at the holo, she replied, "By all means."

Corran didn't need to reply. Lifting the heavy metal statue, he slammed it into the holo with all the power he possessed. The device dented, but didn't break open. He tried again; the same result. Staring at it, he pressed his lips together. "Expensive piece of junk, huh?"

"Here," Mirax stated, grabbing the statue. "Why must you make everything so complex, my love?"

With one simple move, she jabbed the end of the statue into one of the holo's edges. It cracked, breaking apart. A satisfied grin on her face, Mirax turned to her husband, and handed back the statue.

He merely frowned. "Show off."

Silently, Mara stepped forward, pulling the holo's side off completely. The top only took a second more. Staring inside, it was clear even a drunken pilot could see the alternations. Extra wiring-extra filters. Pieces a basic holo shouldn't possess.

Leaning forward, Mara pulled out one of its panels, looking it over. She spotted an extra contraption connected to the device; gently, she pulled it off, lifting it up for everyone to see.

She could already hear Leia sigh in anger. Mara merely smirked.

"Let me ask you something," Mara asked everyone. "What type of Senator has an encrypting system hooked into his transmission holo?"

"One that doesn't want an angry mass of Falleen tracking down his signal," Leia came back, taking the device from Mara's hand. "And, to think, I was actually trying to help him."

With that, Mara smiled. "Oh, don't worry, Leia. You're going to get your chance to get him back. Very soon, in fact."

Minutes went by. The Falleen were following from Luke and Pace's fronts. A group of them...never ending. Everyone on the ship was alert to their presence. All were attempting to reach them.

The sweat dripped down Luke Skywalker's brow, but he continued to move forward. The pace was slow but steady, and as he and Pace finally turned the hallway of the alien vessel, the door to the ship's bridge was in complete view.

Luke smiled, but the grin vanished as another set of fire power flashed near his face. He brought his lightsaber up, shoving the red beams for him and Pace back the same direction they had sprung. Falleen screamed, falling over.

And, still, they came.

"Get behind the door!" Luke shouted at Pace, pointing at the bridge's entrance.

Raising a curious eyebrow, the other man hesitated for a heartbeat, but moved to follow Luke's instructions. Pulling with the Force again, Luke took in a soothing breath. Watching as the Falleen blasted at him from all angles.

Just as before, he took that power...and pushed.

The Falleen, once again not prepared, leaped backwards, falling on each other. Even the ones Luke hadn't propelled fell as the others rammed them hard into the ground. The blaster fire halted. With that, Luke rushed to the bridge's door.

He would only get one chance.

"The blast door has been closed," Pace explained, ripping off the side panel the door's controls on the wall. "If you give me a second-"

"No time," Luke explained, then jabbed the end of his saber into the entrance.

It stabbed into the hard metal like a needle to skin. Silently, he twisted it, moving the blade gently around. He could feel the metal on the other end start to melt...

"Skywalker!" Pace suddenly shouted.

Luke didn't need more warning. Yanking the saber from the door's thick metal, he watched as the Falleen he had just thrown down started to recover. Shaking their heads, some already had their blasters out, ready to fire.

"Get behind me," Luke explained to Pace.

The commander did as requested, but seemed surprised as Luke started to back both himself and Pace away from the door. Sick, sweaty and tired, Luke still reached out with the Force. If he couldn't do things the easy way...

Then the hard one would just have to suffice.

Closing his eyes, he held his lightsaber loosely in his right hand, dropping his head back to face the lights on the ceiling-

He lifted his other hand.

The bridge's door screeched.

Silently, he pulled his hand back.

In his mind, he could see the display as easily as with his eyes open. Almost like an explosion, the thick metal slab ripped away from its frame. The agonizing noise was enough for everyone in the corridor. Pace yelled, kneeling down to place hands to his ears.

Eyes remaining shut, Luke could still see the Falleen in front of him. Gazing madly at the floating door in the hallway. Some still manage to point their blasters.

Reaching down for one final wave of energy, Luke lifted his hand again. He shoved it away from himself. The metal door was quick to comply. Some of the Falleen screamed, most running away.

It didn't matter.

The door came crashing down only a second later. Most of the Falleen escaped its chaos in their flight. Some, unfortunately, did not. As the rumbles of the massive metal door came to a halt, one thing was clear. The Falleen on the other side of it were not coming through.

The barrier stood tall in the hallway, reaching from the ceiling to the wall. Slightly tilted, the corners on both the upper right and lower left dented the corridor's metal sides like they were made from cheap tin.

Holding his concentration, Luke took in a breath, then released. The Force turned calm again in his mind; the virus touring around through his body took the advantage. Aching shivers swarmed over his limbs, causing an ironic display of both sweat and goosebumps. Luke had just enough time to shut down his lightsaber before a terrible cough erupted from his lungs.

Bending over, he caught the spasms with each breath, pushing with the Force to control them. It wasn't enough. Inhaling, he coughed again, pulling with as much concentration as he could muster. Slowly, the spasms complied. He stood back up, taking in a new breath of air.

It was becoming harder to control now.

Soon, it might be impossible.

"Having problems?" a voice echoed throughout the room, sending Luke back into reality.

Slowly, bringing his tired eyes to meet with the other being, Luke sighed. Commander Jeire stood in the center of the room, arms crossed. He held no blaster, but the others around him were swift to compensate. All except Fhamir, sitting beside the man, her arms tied behind her back.

With that, Jeire gestured a hand toward the room. "Are you planning to come in, or loiter by the door? It's rude, you realize."

Quietly, Luke entered. Lightsaber still in his grasp, he kept it inactivated. Pace was quick to follow, making sure to stay behind Luke's back.

Glancing at one armed Falleen to the other, Luke silently brought his hands down. "I apologize," he replied, lifting his head up to meet with Jeire's. "The last thing I want to be accused of is sloppy manners."

"I'm sure," Jeire hissed with all the sarcasm a being could create. Tilting his head to the side, the commander casually shrugged. "So, how many of my men did you kill on this run, Skywalker? A dozen?"

"I have no intentions to harm your crew-," Luke started, but was immediately cut off.

Infuriated, Jeire slammed his fist into the table by his side. Fhamir flinched, but said nothing. Jeire kept his eyes set on Luke's. "You're a sick man, Master Jedi. Sick! It's one thing to attack my people-honestly...honorably-but to lie about it?"

"I'm not-"

"Shut up!" the commander screamed, grasping his large hand to the back of Fhamir's throat. She winced, but didn't speak.

Gently licking his lips, Luke stared softly at the other man. His face. His disposition. Jeire was desperate. He would do anything to keep Luke and Pace from taking his ship.

Calmly, Luke stepped forward. Some of the other Falleen reacted, hoisting their weapons. Luke kept his eyes to Jeire, lifting his hands peacefully up to his shoulders. He spoke softly, "There's no need for this, Commander. I don't want to harm you or your crew. No one. Please, believe me."

With that, Jeire gave an unpleasant smirk. "A Jedi mind trick, Skywalker?"

"Just the truth. I promise you."

"Ah," Jeire nudged his head up, then glanced at the timer on his database's console. "Three minutes," he spoke, then turned back to the Jedi Master.

Luke was already frowning. Lowering his arms, he asked, "What's in three minutes?"

"The fate of this vessel," Jeire replied, then gently placed his hands on Fhamir's shoulders. "You see, Master Jedi, you're not the only one with options on this ship. In fact, I'm going to give you my two." He smiled again, but the expression was already sending chills up Luke's back. "Either you tell me the exact location of your crew's vessel...or, we all get to die together."

Luke immediately stretched out with the Force. He connected with Jeire, searching for a fail-safe device...a detonator in the other being's grasp. But, there was nothing. No weapon. Nothing more than a simple dagger on his belt. However, the findings didn't calm Luke's senses.

"You can't stop it," Jeire explained. "One of my crew men have put a detonator on a sensitive part of this vessel. If I don't call him in three...no, wait, two and a half minutes, then it'll blow. All I have to do," he crossed his arms, "is stand here, and wait. How about you?"

"Luke," Pace suddenly murmured from his side.

Luke tossed him a glimpse, but said nothing. He reached out with the Force, for every presence on the ship...every light. However, there were still many roaming through all parts of the ship. It was impossible to tell which one Jeire was talking about. Sighing, Luke twisted back to the Falleen commander. "You're right," he declared, sending Fhamir's expression into even more dismay. "I can't stop you. You have the power right now-the objective. However, there's a problem with your options, sir."

"Oh, yes-what is that?"

"Our ship has already reached Coruscant," Luke replied.

Silently, Jeire dropped his arms. His face suddenly shifted color, a deep dark violet shading all of his features. The other Falleen were the same-silent, afraid. All but Fhamir, sitting with a bright green glow about her.

Taking in a breath, Luke explained, "They've already had enough time to reach the planet. Hand over your data. There's nothing I can do to stop them, Jeire. Even if I desired." He paused, then spoke in a tone no louder than a whisper, "But, things don't have to end this way. You still have a chance to stop the violence. Right now."

Lip trembling, Jeire twisted his glaring eyes at Luke. Still, he said nothing.

Luke took another step forward. "I'm not your enemy, Commander. It's your master that has done this. Not you. Not me. He's the traitor."

"No," Jeire replied, his frantic breaths echoing throughout the bridge. "The humans will regain control again. They'll take power, enslave us all-"

"You're already enslaved, Jeire. Doing the bidding of one man as opposed to an Empire. There is no difference except size."

Jeire paused at that, heavily taking in his breaths. The statement caught a nerve, and Jeire didn't seem to know what to do with it. Closing his eyes for a moment, he spoke softly, "But, I suppose you're going to stop this, right? You, Jedi, are going to save us?"

"With any ability I possess. But, that's all I can offer."

"That's not good enough."

"It might be...if we work together."

"Liar," Jeire shot back, his eyes sending out razors once again. "All Jedi do is sprout lies to control the weak. Like your crew, and everyone around you."

"Actually," Pace's voice suddenly called out into the silenced room. Jeire turned to him, surprised. Coming from behind Luke, Pace looked out at the Falleen and grinned. "I don't like Jedi, either. In fact, this has been the first time I've had to work with one. And, to be honest, it hasn't been my best mission to date."

Jeire groaned, rolling his eyes. "Make a point!"

Pace lifted a hand. "My point is this, Commander. I don't like Jedi. A pile of arrogant beings going about, attempting to play hero. I've never liked them, and probably never will. But," he paused, glancing at Luke. There was something in his expression that caught the Jedi off guard. A softness. An understanding. Pace twisted back to Jeire and smiled. "I like this one."

Jeire cocked an eyebrow, but spoke nothing.

With that, Pace stepped in front of Luke, lifting his hands. "He's not doing this because he's a Jedi, sir. Any Jedi can invade a station, kill his enemies-"

"A point," Jeire cut him off again.

Pace nodded, then gave a sigh. "This one has done nothing but attempt saving others. My computer slicer. Your queen. Being a Jedi isn't what makes this man compassionate. Being compassionate is what makes him a Jedi."

It took amazing feats to stun a Jedi. But, as Luke gazed at Matic Pace, his mouth dropped.

Oblivious to the Jedi Master's reaction, Pace stepped toward Jeire. "Please, allow him to help you. There aren't a pile of choices at your disposal, Commander. Not anymore. He's your best one. And, he means it. I promise you that."

"You're in this with him," Jeire replied.

Pace fluttered his eyelids, appearing somewhat perplexed. After a second, he shrugged. "Of course I am. I'm human."

Jeire's anger rebound with the declaration. He seemed almost ready to pull out his dagger. Luke stepped forward.

"We want to help you, Commander. And, I assure you, so does my wife and our crew. They know what's happening-"

"You're just attempting to save yourself."

Silently, Luke lifted his lightsaber hilt into Jeire's view. Without using the Force, he flicked his wrist, tossing the weapon across the room. It hit the wall, dropping with a tiny clash to the floor. The room was still once again.

"You're in denial," Luke came back, crossing his arms. "I know how much you want to hate me. How angry you are. But, this war-this violence-it isn't you, Jeire. We can stop it. Right now."

"Thirty seconds, Jeire," Fhamir spoke to his side. "Make a decision."

"I-," he paused, bringing his arms up to his forehead. Body slouched, he shook his head, gazing at the floor. "I-I can't. I can't let them win!"

"There is no win!" Fhamir shouted. "Make a choice! Kill all of us, or trust someone! Trust me! Jeire, do something!"

"No!" he screamed. "I-I don't know."

From the corner of Luke's eye, he spotted Fhamir's arm twitch.

"Twenty seconds, Jeire," she replied. "Just call the guard, and get this over with!"

"Shut up, Fhamir!"

It was then Luke acknowledged the queen's movements. With a clap, the cuffs around her wrists dropped to the floor behind her. She spun from her seat, facing Jeire.

Fifteen seconds-

She rushed the commander, lifting her fist. It slammed into his stunned expression, sending him back.

Ten seconds-

Luke started for Fhamir and her commander, but the Force snapped him back into place. From his console, one of the Falleen aimed his blaster. Fired-

The red beam flew toward Luke's face. The Force consumed him, flowing through him. He lifted his left hand, palm out.

The bolt crashed into it, spreading like a wild vine. There was no pain. There was no injury. The blast dissolved into the air.

Terrified, The Falleen dropped his weapon, staggering behind a computer console.

Five seconds.

Jeire shouted as Fhamir's foot rammed into his knee. Knife out, he dropped to his other leg, gazing up at his queen. He swung his dagger once at her shoulder. Dodging the blow, she spun around him, snaking an arm around his neck-

Too late.

The Force screamed in Luke's ear like a thousand muffled cries. Desperate, he grabbed Pace, throwing him to the ground.

The explosion rumbled throughout the entire ship.

Screams instantly emerged from the Falleen crew. Some attempted to hold to their computer consoles for support, but the feat was useless. The quake thundered through the hallways, the bridge. Everyone toppled over. Hitting their heads on the metal floor.

The lights in the bridge exploded. The databases sparked, then went dead. The entire place turned pitch black.

And, then, everything was still.

The Falleen were silent. There was no light. No movements.

The only hint of life was Luke's own breathing. Mixed in with Pace's by his side.

And, then, the Falleen commander screamed.

"Please!" he cried out, his despairing sobs echoing through the entire room, "Please, no, Fhamir! No!"

Closing his eyes for moment, Luke didn't need but a second to realize what had transpired.

And, still, Jeire screamed, "Please, Fhamir-stay with me!" With the tiniest flicker of life, two emergency lights on separate corners of the room flipped on. Their dim beams shining through the bridge, Luke sat on the floor, gazing at Jeire. Watching as he held his beloved.

As she swiftly bled to death in his arms.

"I'm sorry," he spoke, his dagger limply clasped in his hand as it shimmered a bright red. "I didn't mean to. I wasn't trying to."

Fhamir lifted a hand to his face. Gently, she touched his chin.

Taking in a breath, Luke stood. Slowly, carefully, he walked to Jeire and the queen. From the ground, it was impossible to see the wound. Standing above them, Luke's eyes could do nothing but stare.

Fhamir's chest beat, and the blood flowed out from it.

Pace was there to meet Luke an instant later. He frowned, shaking his head. "Her heart," he spoke, placing a hand on Luke's shoulder.

He didn't ask Luke to fix the problem. Silently, he placed his arms together, bowing his head.

Sniffling back the tears, Jeire's eyes finally came to meet with Luke's. He choked on his own sobs for a moment, then pleaded, "Help her. Please."

Luke could already sense Fhamir in the Force. Her body's imbalance...her light. With each rasped breath, it dimmed. Dulling into a soft, black void.

He stared at Jeire, wishing desperately other words could come from his mouth. And yet, there were only two words he could say. "I can't."

For a moment, Luke thought the Falleen commander would protest. Demand for the Jedi to heal her. Even call him a liar. But, Jeire did no such thing. Gazing up at Luke's eyes, begging silently for a miracle the Jedi could not give, he appeared to see the sincerity on Luke's face. Quietly, Jeire closed his eyes, holding tightly to his beloved.

"I'm sorry," the commander continued to say to her. "Please, forgive me, Fhamir. Please"

"I-do," Fhamir's weak voice echoed throughout the room.

Shocked, Jeire lowered his eyes to face her. She merely smiled, placing her bloody hand to his face. "I forgive you...my love."

Luke thought the words would comfort the Falleen man. At least show a hint of assurance. However, he merely shook his head. Trembling, Jeire slowly released Fhamir's body. Placing her softly to the ground, he stood, scanning the room as if searching for reality. Fhamir remained calmly on the floor. Slowly, she turned her vision toward Luke. He gazed down at her, attempting to pull off some type of comforting smile.

He could see that strong spark of life in her wild violet eyes. She grinned back.

And, then, her vision glazed over.

The life in her body gently flowed away as if by a tranquil breeze.

Her smile was gone.

Kneeling down to her motionless form, Luke lifted a hand to her face, closing her eyes to the galaxy. Pace merely stared back, his own emotions full of regret, and even loss.

It was then that the Force sparked inside of Luke. There was no danger, no alarm. He heard the igniting of his lightsaber in almost the same instance.

Shooting his eyes up to meet with Jeire, it was too late. The commander's dead body was already on the ground. The smoke still fuming from his chest. And, there, laying calmly in the Falleen's hand, was Luke's lightsaber hilt. The emergency light's reflecting off the weapon's metal as if nothing had transpired at all.

"So, is everyone here?" Mara Jade Skywalker asked, glancing around the room.

To her left, was Corran and Mirax. Silently, they turned to her and nodded. To her right, was her sister-in-law, Leia Organa Solo. And, with her, were five other Jedi. It had taken but a short while to find them, considering they were the ones Chief Fey'lya and the other Senators had ordered to remain on Coruscant. Each alien Jedi glanced up at Mara, then smiled. Not only were they happy to help, but thrilled at the idea of shoving the fact back to the politicians after they were finished.

Mara turned her attention to Leia. "You replaced that busted holo in Retafured's office, right?"

Her sister-in-law merely crossed her arms. "I can save your life from an entire band of Coruscant authorities...and you're questioning if I can find an identical holoproj for Retafured?"

"I just don't want our little surprise spoiled. Remember, the prime talent in being manipulative, sneaky and conning is the surprise."

"I think Han's been an excellent teacher, Mara. Thank you."

With that, Mara gave a glance around the room, and then smirked at Leia. "Well, no reason to dwell around here like a busted R-2 unit. Should I bring in the welcoming party?" she asked lightly, blinking at her sister-in-law.

With that, Leia gave a crooked grin herself, then crossed her arms. "Don't worry. We'll make the guest of honor feel right at home."

Catching the tiniest twitch of mischief in Leia's eyes, Mara's smile grew. She gave her sister-in-law a quick pat on the back, then walked out of the room. They were ready.

"With all the Falleen soaring through hyperspace, Senator, I just don't see any way around this. I'm afraid for the human race. So terribly afraid."

"Calm down, Senator Retafured," the other Senator on the holo replied. "This isn't your fault. The truth will come out. I'm certain of it."

Are you? Retafured thought to himself as he stared at the holo on his desk. Sitting in his office, he truly felt at peace.

"We'll have a meeting within the next day," the other Senator explained. "Move things along-get Senator Tenanete out of custody. This has really gone too far."

"People are afraid right now, Senator," Retafured replied, even pulling off a decent smile. "Senator Tenanete understands."

"I hope so." He paused, taking in a breath. "I have to go, Senator Retafured. My thoughts are with you, kind sir."

"Thank you, Senator."

With that, the holo went dead. As it did, Retafured was swift to roll his eyes. Day in and day out, they were calling, offering their comfort. When would it end? From the rate he was going, all the Senators in the entire New Republic would be pestering him soon. Of course, it was a small price to pay. Soon, the human race would be dead. And, then, the governments from each system could separate, working for their own planet instead of the entire galaxy. The Scyos would be free from it all. No more worries. No more fears.

Leaning back in his seat, Retafured glanced up at the ceiling, and smiled. He was tired, but the excitement that sparked inside him couldn't be calmed. Everything was working to plan.

"Am I interrupting?" a voice-a woman's-shook through the room.

Surprised, Retafured jumped in his seat, spinning his wild violet eyes to the source. Anger mounting inside him, he glanced around the room. It only took a heartbeat to spot her. Standing tranquilly by the door.

As he recognized her, every muscle in his body tightened.

The Jedi, Mara Jade Skywalker stared back.

Taking in a few cooling breaths, Retafured offered the woman a tender smile. "Of course not. A knock on the door would be courtesy, however." Reality suddenly hit him; he narrowed his eyes. "When did you get back?"

"When I arrived," she came back. It might have been taken as a joke if not for the heavy edge to her tone.

Strolling to his desk, her hands were quick to drop to its metal surface. She leaned over, staring him down. Suddenly, Retafured's heart began to quicken.

"We have a tiny problem, Senator," Jade Skywalker spoke, offering him only a smirk. "There are over a hundred Falleen vessels attempting to invade and infect the entire human race across the galaxy. And, unfortunately, all of them seem to be heading toward the Core."

"Uh," he blinked, warily shaking his head. "I realize this, Madam Jedi. Believe me, we're attempting to rectify the situation even as we speak."

"How kind of you. I hope you're not expecting a medal."

He paused, raising an eyebrow. Something wasn't right. Mara Jade Skywalker was always a bit of a crude woman, but this...

"I know it was you, Senator," she suddenly declared, leaning closer to his face. "I know who you are."

Gazing up at her face, so confident, so real, Retafured's mouth opened. He attempted to speak, but no words would form. The shock rushed through him like a cup of poison.

With that, Jade Skywalker merely sat herself on the edge of his desk. Looking away from him, she picked up a small glass statue on its corner, playing with it. Casually, she spoke, "I know all about your attempt to use the Falleen, Senator. You're pathetic confidence that an entire race can be controlled. However, there's a problem."

"I don't know what you're talking about," he suddenly spilled out.

Even to him, it didn't sound convincing.

The Jedi merely twisted to him with a smirk. "Come now, Senator. My husband can pull off a better lie."

"Get out!" he shouted, standing up.

He pointed a finger to the door. It was trembling.

"Oh, now that's not very courteous."

"Out!" "I believe you should listen to me, Senator," she continued, crossing her legs on his desk. "Because, I have some new information to offer. That is, unless you want to end up dead."

He opened his mouth to yell once again, but choked on the words as her declaration echoed through his head. Narrowing his brow, he frowned at her. "What do you mean?"

"It's very simple, Master," she explained, toying with the glass statue in her hands. "It's not just me that knows who you are. So do the Falleen. They've been playing you for a fool ever since you got a hold of them."

"That's not possible," he finally explained.

"Oh, but it is," she declared. "You see, while they've been dropping this human virus all over the galaxy, the Falleen were busy attempting to find another one. Just as deadly. But, it isn't for us." She turned to him and grinned. "It's for you."

"No," he exhaled a breath, dropping back to his seat. "It was destroyed."

"So it was believed," Jade Skywalker explained. "Just like the Falleen and human bioweapons. You and the Falleen are very clever beings, Senator. Too bad it's been wasted on attempts to kill each other."

He paused at her, staring. Jade Skywalker gazed back, never blinking, never twitching. Her pose was calm, collective-even for a Jedi, she looked too serene. Slowly, he gave her a tiny grin. "All right," he lifted his hands. "All right, let's say I am this person you think I am. Why would I even believe you?"

"Because, I've been to their experimentation facilities," Jade Skywalker replied, placing the statue back on the desk. Slowly, her eyes came to meet with his. She frowned. "On Ttremyrin One."

Retafured swallowed hard. "I still don't believe you."

"That's all right, you don't have to," she explained, jumping down from the desk. Extending a hand, she gestured for the door. "Our crew brought a few guests back with us. I want you to see them for yourself."

It took only a minute to venture to the lowest level of the Imperial Palace. Normally, the place was used for storage...access files. Lost relics. Senator Retafured followed the crazy Jedi woman through one hallway, then another, his patience fading.

"Where is it?" he shouted at her, sending off a glare. "Are you just attempting to have us circle this level all day?"

"Just like a maze," she replied, then pulled out a small device from her belt.

Retafured didn't notice what it was until it was jabbed into his arm. He shouted, throwing his hand up to instinctly shield his skin. Jade Skywalker merely tossed the injector instrument to the floor.

Retafured glared. "What was in that?"

"Temporary vaccine," she replied, then stopped at a door. "We're here."

Retafured stood, shocked. His entire body locked up. Mara Jade Skywalker seemed less concerned. Without hesitation, she pressed the door's entrance button, then waited for it to open.

It only took an instant. And, as it did, every fiber in Retafured's body turned to mush. Laying inside the room were Scyos. His species. Eight of them in total, laying in eight separate beds.

Around them were medical ruids, tubes, and monitors. All of them were terrible shades of black.

For a moment, Retafured couldn't breathe. His throat cleared, his lungs compressed. The room began to sway. He glanced up at the ceiling, the lights. No, it wasn't possible. It simply wasn't.

"This is what we discovered on Ttremyrin," Jade Skywalker's voice entered the back of his mind. "Currently, my husband is securing the holds there. Attempting to keep all the Falleen from escaping to inform others of their discovery."

Lip trembling, Retafured walked into the room. The Scyos men and women lay motionlessly in their beds, their eyes closed to reality. Slowly, he knelt down to one of the young females. He watched her breathe, inhaling and exhaling as she desperately fought back death. Slowly, a tear ran down his cheek. It was believed in his culture that the love of another Scyos could heal the most tragic of ailments. Slowly, a tear ran down his cheek. He bent over, placing his lips to hers for the briefest of moments, hoping in that one instant that the silly fables of his ancestors would magically cure her. She didn't react.

Gazing madly at the scene in front of him, Retafured merely stated, "I'll kill them. All of the Falleen. I swear it."

"Oh, I can't allow that," Mara Jade Skywalker came back from the door. "It's not good politics."

Slowly, Retafured's eyes came to meet with hers. "What do you mean?"

Smiling, the Jedi woman pulled out a datapad from her side pouch. Giving it a quick toss, it landed on the bed beside Retafured. Heart pounding, he picked it up, turning it on.

"We have a deal to offer," she explained. "The Falleen and us. It's quite simple, really. They give us the components for the human virus, and," she nodded her head at him, "you give us the Falleen's."

The information poured out of the datapad like water from a river. It was all there. Every aspect of the human virus. His virus.

"You've lost, Retafured," she explained. "By now, all the Falleen know who you are. If you don't hand it over, then I'm sure one of them will end up killing you soon enough. Or, an infuriated human. We've already contained the compound on Ttremyrin One. But," she paused with a grin, "accidents happen."

Her words finally focusing in his mind, Retafured's eyes came to meet hers with a glare. "You wouldn't."

"I would."

"You would allow my entire species to die!" he cried out, standing back up to face her. "You're a Jedi! You're suppose to be peacemakers!"

She shrugged. "Hey, as far as I'm concerned, it's simple mathematics. The human race is the largest group of a single species in the galaxy. The Falleen race is triple the size of the Scyos. So, either I allow for you to kill two rather large species for...what...a million Scyos?" She cocked an eyebrow.

Retafured frowned. "You're not a Jedi. Not like your husband."

"Oh, no," she pointed a finger. "I am a Jedi. I'm just a little more devious than my husband."

Lip trembling, Retafured slowly walked back to the Jedi woman. They had the human disease. Even with the Falleen's in his grasp, he would never get a chance to administer it. Taking in a breath, he reached her, his head to the ground. "What do you want?"

"Just the Falleen virus," she explained. "All of its components. Every part."

"Why? I won't be able to use it."

"Just in case someone else decides to," she explained. "Besides, I made a promise. I intend to keep it."

Moving against every logic in his body, Retafured pulled a small datachip from his sleeve. It was no larger than a credit. Silently, he handed it to the Jedi woman.

Without delay, she used the Force and called her datapad to her hand from the edge of the Scyos' bed. Placing the chip inside its top, she looked at the screen, then smiled.

Disgusted, Retafured turned back to the Scyos in the room. Laying motionless in their beds. The tears dripped from his eyes; he no longer had the will to stand. Slowly dropping to the floor, Retafured placing both hands over his face and cried.

Chadal and Traya came down to the lower levels of the Imperial Palace only a few minutes after Retafured's confession. Mara Jade Skywalker stood by the door as he was put into custody. The datapad still in her hands, she closed the door, then turned back to the Scyos inside the room.

However, the image of eight dying aliens was gone. Sitting up from their positions, Corran and five other Jedi smiled. Mirax, in the bed next to her husband, seemed mildly impressed. Corran merely turned to his wife, placing a kiss on lips.

However, Leia Organa Solo remained stationary on her mattress.

Eyes gazing up at the ceiling lights, she only spoke as Mara reached her.

"He kissed me."

With that, Mara rushed a hand up to her mouth, suppressing the laughter.

Leia merely blinked, staring at the lights. "He kissed me on the mouth."

Mara shook her head, shooting a glance at Corran and the others. All were snickering to themselves. With that, she sat beside Leia, forcing the other woman to sit up. "Put it this way," Mara explained, draping an arm around Leia's shoulders, "it means you're still desirable."

Finally, Leia's eyes came to meet with Mara's. She gave an unpleasant grin. "The next time you have a plan, Mara Jade, I get to play the part of interrogator."

"Hopefully, Leia, I won't need another plan. Nothing like this."

Gently, Mara placed the datapad into Leia's care, then stood.

Leia glanced down at the device, appearing surprised, then back to Mara. "What are you doing?"

"This isn't over," Mara came back, putting her hair back into a ponytail. "There's still a lot that needs to be done."

"Well, we need to somehow inform all the Falleen what's happened," one of the Jedi explained, but Mara merely shook her head.

"That's your job," she replied, then turned back to Leia. "I have something else."

Leia already understood. Quietly, she removed herself from her bed, and wrapped both her arms around Mara. Close to her ear, she whispered, "Go help your husband." Silently, she pulled away.

Mara smiled at her. "And, you?"

Leia lifted the datapad into view. "I have a galaxy to worry about. I can't help Luke anymore than you can. So, go. Help him."

"Of course," Corran Horn suddenly stepped between them. "The odds would work more in your favor with another suicide Jedi on your side."

Mara smiled at him. "You offering?"

He gestured his hands outwards as if pointing out the obvious. "Suicide missions are my specialty."

"Strange. They seem to be mine as well."

"You have a tiny dilemma," Mirax came in beside her husband. "You can't take your crew's vessel. That thing has more wounds on it than a stormtrooper would in the center of a Rebel Base."

"I wasn't intending to," Mara came back with a tiny smirk. With a flick of her wrist, she pulled a comlink from her belt. "Weo? You got your ship ready?"

"It's hot and willing to fly," the other woman replied.

Silently, Mara shut off her comlink, turning back to the others. "It's always nice to prepare."

It was less than an hour later. In his X-wing, Corran Horn was already off of Coruscant, staring out at space as his navigation computer set its coordinates. Right in front of him, was Weo's ship, the Crazy Raid. The navigation system beeped; he waited for a moment until Mara and Weo shot off faster than the speed of light. Instantly pulling the levers forward in front of him, Corran's X-wing was quick to follow.

Two days in space. Normally the galaxy, with its endless array of stars and planets, was comforting. Even peaceful. Void of worries or problems, the universe flowed like a distant waterfall. Moving without anyone there to aid it.

And, yet, the agony in his body was reaching a new limit. If it wasn't Luke's disease, it was the cold. The stale, freezing air of the dead Falleen vessel. If it wasn't the cold, then it was the numbing of the Falleen on the ship. Pace's ailments. Ross' burns.

From time to time, he felt more plagued by the Force than assured by it. Everyone was suffering, and Luke couldn't help them.

In total, ninety-five percent of the vessel's power was gone. The heat managed to stay inside, but with each passing hour, it slowly faded into the void of space. Oxygen was growing short as well. And, with the lack of recycling filters working on the vessel, carbon dioxide was growing as the oxygen disappeared. It wouldn't be long before every hope of aid would pass.

With Luke and Matic Pace's help, the Falleen had secured the bridge and two compartments by its side. No one was interested in killing each other. They were no longer enemies, but survivors merely attempting to continue their survival. They had managed to pull out some heat blankets, and energy lights for the ship. It didn't provide much comfort, but certainly assisted.

A few of the Falleen even asked for Luke's help to keep warm. Yet, it was a useless feat. Luke's energy was spent on Ross and himself. He could keep the boy warm, but it was all he was capable of doing. Even the idea of aiding anyone else-even Pace-didn't seem possible.

And, so Luke sat beside Ross inside one of the two compartments beside the bridge, and meditated. Focusing. His concentration held firm, but his power wasn't expanding. Instead, a long, overwhelming cough spasmed up his throat. Reopening his eyes, Luke placed a hand over his lips. With each cough, his head pounded. With each breath, he left the chills of fever rush through his body. Even with antibiotics, and his own healing, he wasn't getting close to curing himself.

In all essence, the cold, and Ross' dependency to him was slowly killing him. Inch by inch, he was losing. He needed a healing trance. He had needed one for two days. And, still, he sat beside Ross and coughed instead.

From his side, there wasn't a cough, but more of a gag. Reaching out with his abilities, Luke forced his chest to relax. It took a minute...longer than he wanted. Nonetheless, the spasms stopped. Slowly, Luke twisted his face to look to the right.

There, Matic Pace lay. A heat blanket over his entire body. The cover didn't provide much comfort. The sweat glistened off his brow. His face, the only thing sticking out from the blanket, was a pasty green shade, masked with the red splotches of broken blood vessels. His eyes were blood shot. His expression set in a daze. And, there, quietly running down his lips to the floor was a gentle stream of blood. Adding to the reeking mass he had gagged up only an hour before.

The picture sent a wave of nausea to Luke's stomach. He closed his eyes, turning away. It wasn't due to mere disgust at Matic's current appearance. The commander had been swiftly declining throughout the course of the two days as if he were already decomposing, and Luke couldn't help him Every attempt Luke and the commander had attempted failed before it had begun. Every antibiotic Matic swallowed was as affective as sipping a cup of sugar water. Desperate, Luke had even tried putting the other man into a trance. But, with his abilities kept to Ross-as Commander Pace had insisted-the Jedi-induced coma did nothing but stop the Commander from breathing, and drain even more of Luke's powers pulling the other man out of it. It hadn't been a good mission for Matic Pace. It hadn't been a good mission for any of them.

Then, as if reading his thoughts, the commander's eyes abruptly found the Jedi's. Even with his sickly features and poor eye sight, Matic grinned.

"You can say it," he whispered softly into the room.

Licking his lips, Luke merely shook his head. "I wasn't going to say anything."

"Oh," the commander paused as if thinking, then muttered. "Okay, I will, then. Yuck."

Not expecting the declaration, a tiny grin formed on Luke's face. He immediately dropped it.

Matic Pace merely breathed out a faint laugh. "You try to hide it. Jedi or not, I can tell that's what you were thinking."

With that, Luke finally turned back to him. He frowned. "I don't think your pain is funny-"

"Too bad. I do."

Rolling his eyes, Luke shook his head. "It isn't funny, Matic. It never is."

"Perhaps not to you," the commander came back, "but, look at it from my perspective. The irony. I've spent over ten years of my life going on crazy missions...risking my butt for the thrill. Not for anyone, really-just the thrill. I love the thrill..." he trailed off, his eyes slowly shifting their daze toward the ceiling.

The room was still once again. Even the Falleen on its far side were sleeping-quiet. Taking in a breath, Luke glanced back at Ross. The Jedi closed his eyes again-

"I can admit that," Pace's voice came through the silence again. "You know, like admitting if you liked killing someone during battle. It's nothing you should be proud of, but..." he stopped himself again. After another instant, he spoke, "You ever liked the adventure, Master Skywalker? The thrill of the fight?"

With that, Luke merely sighed. Eyes remaining closed, he came back, "When I was younger. About Ross' age. It was before I became a Jedi." "You're not allowed to like the thrill now, are you?"

Luke shook his head.

"You ever wish you could?"

"There's nothing to like," Luke came back, reaching out with the Force to check Ross' vitals. "Killing-death. It's all death and destruction. That's not my way. Not anymore."

"So, why do you still do this?"

Slowly, Luke opened his eyes. He turned to face the commander. Staring eye to eye, he explained, "It something that needs to be done. Quite simple, really."

"Why can't someone else handle it?"

Licking his lips, Luke tried to explain, "It's just that...I can feel when something horrible is happening. All Jedi can. Almost like it's calling for you, telling you it needs to be fixed."

"Visions?"

"Sometimes. Other times, it's just a feeling."

"I bet it feels good when you fix it."

"Of course."

"So, you do it for the accomplishment."

Luke paused at that. Blinking, he shifted his eyes away, gazing at the floor by Ross' feet. Truly, he hadn't thought about it that way.

Slowly, Matic Pace gave a tiny laugh. "It feels good to do good, Master Skywalker. Not harm in it. You should be proud. You've saved a lot of people."

"Possibly, yes. Humans. " Luke spoke with a tiny sigh. He stared at the other man for a moment, then shook his head. "I don't know. I've learned to follow the Force...my feelings, but-"

"It's war."

"Fhamir didn't deserve this," Luke muttered back. "Not even Jeire. They were fair people with unfair choices. I couldn't imagine the Force would lead them to such consequences."

"Nope," Matic spoke sluggishly. "Nope-nope...a twisted Senator did that. Not your fault. Actually, I think we did pretty-good."

With that, Luke turned back to him with a tiny smirk. "There were several parts at play. I merely hope Mara and the others were able to hold up theirs."

"You miss her?" Pace abruptly questioned.

Again, Luke looked at him, perplexed. The commander's face was practically blank-dazed-staring up at the ceiling. Truly, Luke didn't know just how much of the commander's facilities were still in his grasp. Nonetheless, Luke answered, "She's my wife. I always miss her when she's not with me."

Pace offered a tiny grin. "She's quite a handful...isn't she?"

Luke attempted not to smile, but the statement was so direct, his lips couldn't help but lift upwards. After a second, he finally conceded, "Always."

"She's so different from you. You know-loud. You're not loud. How did you two end up together, anyway?"

"We were friends for a long time," Luke replied, reaching out with the Force. Pace's breathing was rasped, imbalanced. The Jedi Master's grin faded, but he continued, "She found a way to trust me, and I admired her spirit. Typical things."

"I wouldn't like a girl like that," Pace mumbled more than spoke. "You know-loud. I can't stand the yelling. Gives me headaches."

"Well..." Luke leaned forward, staring at Pace's face, "she normally doesn't yell at me. She's honest, and from my experience, finding a woman who can be honest with a Jedi Master is rare."

"She nags."

Huffing out a laugh, Luke came back, "She makes me happy. In all truth, that should be explanation enough."

To Luke's surprise, the commander frowned. His eyes still hooked on the ceiling, a tiny tear ran down the other man's face. It was mixed with a diluted red from his blood stained eyes. Quietly, Pace sucked in a quivering breath. He explained softly, "I have a daughter."

Luke narrowed his eyebrows. He spoke nothing.

After another second, the commander continued, "She's about five now. Lives with her mother."

"I'm sorry," was Luke's only reply.

To his surprise, Matic Pace actually grinned again. "Well, I'm not. My wife was loud. Always yelling about this and that. A handful. Be careful, Master Skywalker. Don't turn your eyes from your wife for a second. She'll stab you right in the heart."

"I've learned my lessons for Mara long ago. But, thank you."

"Only good thing that came from that marriage was our daughter. Crisa. Isn't that name beautiful? I picked it."

"It's beautiful."

Silently, another red tear emerged from the commander's eye. "That's all I gave her. That, and some money to help her mother. Never see her anymore. What type of father does that?"

"One that doesn't think she needs him."

Pace sniffled back a breath, then nodded. "Thanks for the attempt. You're too kind, sometimes. Gets annoying."

Closing his eyes, Luke ignored the comment, and merely came back, "I'm sure she's fine with her mother. You were trying to help the galaxy. She'll understand one day."

"Really annoying."

With that, Luke huffed out a breath. Silently, he shook his head at the commander, then he twisted back to Ross. Reaching out with the Force, he lifted both hands above the boy. The healing sticks were doing their job nicely. Keeping infection away-even healing some parts of his body. It was better than what Luke was doing. Making sure Ross was breathing correctly and that he was warm enough was all the power Luke had left. He was so tired. Sleep hadn't found its way into his schedule for so long, he could hardly recall what it was like.

From his side, there was another gag-louder now. Yanking his eyes open, the Force rippled down Luke's back like a cup of cold water. He shot a look at Pace. By that point, the man was already finished. Chin covered in crimson slime, his dazed expression turned to Luke. The pile of blood was large enough to expand, reaching the edges of Luke's blanket. As stale as it was, the air still managed to blend with the fluid's stench. The Jedi Master ignored it, gazing at the other man.

Laying his head back down on the floor, Matic Pace turned his eyes back to the ceiling. For a moment, Luke wondered if the other man would speak. Laugh. Cry. However, he didn't do any such thing. He merely gazed.

Licking his lips, Luke turned back to Ross-

"You ever done a mercy killing?"

Narrowing his eyebrows, a dark shiver ran up Luke's back. He spun back to Pace, gazing at him with confusion in his eyes. Worry. It took him a moment to reply. Expression glued to the commander, the Jedi Master simply asked, "What do you mean, precisely?"

"You know...like a friend, or family. Or...," he paused, licking at the blood on his chin, "commanding officers?"

"No."

"Oh," Pace spoke lightly, shifting his body underneath his covers. The room was silent. Eerie. Luke stared at the commander as the other man gazed upwards. After another minute, Pace's calm expression crumbled. His breaths became heavy. Taking in a deep handful of air, his eyes finally twisted toward Luke. They shimmered with agony. A plea for help. Luke's heart began to pound. He raised his eyebrows at the other man, but couldn't find the will to speak.

His face serious, his eyes red, but alert, Matic Pace finally asked, "Would you mind doing one?"

Luke was already shaking his head.

The commander merely smiled. "I don't suppose I could argue that I'm dying anyway?"

"We don't know if someone's coming or not," Luke came back. "What would happen if someone found their way here, and...," he closed his mouth, gazing at Matic Pace.

The other man kept his grin. "You honestly think they could help me? By this point?"

"I...," Luke paused, shifting his eyes to the floor. "We don't know yet. A healer-Mara, or another Jedi could be on the ship. We just don't know."

"And, of course, she or another one of them would just leave you laying on your back, right?"

Luke kept his eyes set downward. "If I asked-"

"Great. Then, I would be responsible for the death of a legendary Jedi Master."

Luke turned to him with a firmer stare. "You're exaggerating this, Matic. I can take care of myself."

"For now."

"You're making excuses."

"Of course I am. I'm coughing up a half gallon of blood every few minutes-my entire body feels like a throbbing glob of pudding. You'd make excuses, too."

Scanning his eyes around the room as if attempting to find logic dangling off one of its walls, Luke shook his head again. "I can try putting you in a healing trance again. Just to see-" "Great, so I can choke to death on my own blood. A nasty way to go, but..."

"I'd monitor you this time. Just like Ross."

"Will you have to take some of your concentration off of Ross?"

"There's only one of me here, Matic. You know I'd have to. It wouldn't work otherwise."

"Then the answer's no. I'm not gonna let him die after all this."

Finally, Luke dropped his eyes back to Matic. A glare as harsh as Palpatine's shimmered in his eyes. "What makes you think I need your permission?"

Luke assumed the other man would shake his head in protest-his eyes full of concern, but leeway. No, not Matic Pace. The commander was able to keep his expression still for a solid half-second before a belt of laughter shot out from his blood-covered lips. "Oh, man! Your wife is right, Master Skywalker-you pull off a devious glare about as good as a baby Taun-taun."

Luke rolled his eyes away. "Oh, shut up, Matic. I'm not playing here."

Matic stopped his chuckles; he kept his grin. "I know. You don't think I know? I see you-I see how much you hate the idea of it. But, I'd be the one dying-remember? What about what I want?"

"You don't know what you want. You're sick and impatient, and it's a simple as that."

"I know you wouldn't force me into a coma if I didn't want it. It's not your style."

Luke closed his eyes. "You're asking me to go against every moral I possess."

It was then that Matic's smile fell. He paused for a moment, blinking calmly as if chit-chatting about an idle day. After another second, he nodded. "I realize that. I'm sick-not stupid. A cure couldn't help me by this point. I wouldn't expect a Jedi to do better. Don't you think I can feel it? I don't need the Force to understand my body's dying. A cure's only good if your body can recover after. Am I lying?"

With that, Luke's eyes found the floor again. "Please don't ask this-"

A hand came out of Pace's blanket. Covered in green and red, it held tightly to Luke's wrist. Quietly, Luke turned to look at the commander in the eye. The other man gazed back, with more awareness than Luke had seen in him for the past day.

"I'm suffering," Pace finally declared. His hand gripped to Luke's arm, not painfully, but with a hope. Luke frowned at him, but didn't answer. Taking in another breath, the commander added, "I'm not like Ross, Master Skywalker. I know what chances I take with each duty I perform." He paused again, pulling Luke toward him.

Pace was weak; any attempt to force Luke wasn't possible. However, the Jedi Master leaned over, anyway. Softly, Pace spoke into his ear, "I'm not afraid to die."

The words were so gentle, it took Luke a moment to truly grasp their meaning. Gazing eye to eye with the other man, the declaration roamed through the Jedi Master's mind like a stranger that had lost his way. More than the words themselves, was their confidence. Their sincerity. Matic Pace had meant what he had stated. He wasn't afraid. He wasn't worried. He trusted his life-his death-to the Jedi. The light in him was dimming, and Luke could do nothing to stop it.

Slowly, Luke placed his hands on the other man's face. Without a word, the commander leaned back, gazing up at the ceiling again. Reaching out with the Force, Luke closed his eyes, pulling out all the energy-all the strength he had left.

"Close your eyes, Commander Pace. Close your eyes and listen to my voice. Only my voice. There is no pain. There is no more disease. You can feel the breaths entering, one by one. One by one. Each filling your lungs, lifting your chest..."

"It's time to sleep, Matic Pace. To fall back. You're tired. You need to sleep..."

"Listen to my voice, Commander Pace. Listen to my words. There is no more pain. There are no more breaths. Don't be afraid. Allow them to pass. Allow them to go. You don't need them anymore. Matic Pace."

Quiet. The prison was still. A part of the Imperial Palace of Coruscant, the confinement was in the lower levels of its profound walls. It was used for prisoners of war, appointed officials...

Like Retafured.

Traitors of the peace.

Sitting on his tiny bunk, the Scyos was silent. The faucet in the corner dripped now and again, interrupting his thoughts. He had attempted to fix it. Had worked on the blasted thing for three hours. But, it continued to drip.

Drip...drip...drip.

Into the metal bowl beneath it.

There was no window to the small room. They were too deep under the planet's surface. Only plain metal walls, and thick sliding door. Even the door had no hole. Just a slot to put food through. The light in the center of the ceiling was his only comfort. The mattress underneath him was hard.

Drip..drip...drip.

Clenching his teeth, Retafured grabbed his pillow. He tossed the off-white thing at the sink. Missed. It fell to the floor by its side.

Drip...drip...drip.

It had been three days. Three. Trapped inside that room. Stuck between four metal walls. He would be there for a long time. He already knew it.

Leia Organa Solo had already spoken to the Senate. Senator Tenanete had been pardoned. One by one, they were sending the information about the Falleen's virus to as many vessels as they could find. Already, they were receiving data, pinpointing every spot the Falleen had dispersed the disease. Some of the Falleen were expecting to be tried for their crimes. No one expected many to take the responsibility.

They were victims, people would say.

They were afraid, people would reason.

The tension would be vast, but the human race would forgive. The Falleen would make amends. Retafured hadn't heard that from any guard; he knew it in his heart. Their races would unite, bringing the galaxy that much closer together.

And, now, the Scyos would never be free of the New Republic.

Now, there was no turning back.

Drip...drip...drip.

Placing his hands over his face, Retafured cried. Softly, gently-he allowed the tears to flow. The tiny echo of his moans rang into the tiny room.

The human race would know it was him that caused all of it. They controlled the New Republic. The essence of the cause. They would execute him. He would die soon. Die at the mercy of all the humans of the galaxy.

It was then that another noise erupted throughout the room. It startled him, forcing his entire body to jump. However, it wasn't a noise he was unfamiliar with. After three days, it was almost as recognizable as the sink.

The door was opening.

It was time for dinner.

The bright lights of the outside world filled Retafured's tiny room as if Coruscant's sun had been smuggled into the prison. And, there, standing at the door, was a figure...

Retafured gazed up, frowning. It was too tall to be a guard. Almost all of them were human, and none of the others were that large. Squinting his eyes, Retafured tried to focus.

It was then that the being spoke. Sending his familiar tone throughout the entire room. "You've disappointed me."

The voice was quiet, and yet, it somehow managed to hurt the Scyos' ears. Retafured backed away, the terrible ring sending chills through his entire body.

The other being merely snorted a breath. "Well, aren't you at least going to say hi? My friend. "

"Tenanete," Retafured mumbled. All other words instantly stuck to his throat.

Slowly, the Falleen entered. A tiny grin on his face, his color was a vast sea of violet. His eyes were soft, even lively. But, nothing-no kind expression could calm the beating heart of Retafured. As he stared at the long dagger in the Falleen's hand.

Breath after sweet breath entering and exiting his lips as if all the air in the room was fleeing, Retafured lifted his hands in plea. "Please," he started, swallowing hard as the dagger glimmered in the prison's light. "I never meant any harm. I needed help. That was all."

"Help?" Tenanete replied, then shook his head. "Oh, yes, my friend. Some help would certainly do you good right now."

"I never meant to lie to you-"

"You used my people-threatened my race. Almost started a war. Oh, and let's not forget..." The Falleen glanced around the prison cell, then smiled at Retafured, "this was my room."

Sitting on his bed, Retafured silently lifted his legs to his chest as if that alone could protect him.

Quietly, Senator Tenanete moved forward. Standing over Retafured, his face shaded into darkness as the light overhead poured from behind his shoulders, the Falleen merely spoke, "It appears you've had some bad luck, Retafured. Such a pity. It seems you're going to have a bit more."

The dagger glistening in the prison's light, Retafured closed his eyes. Awaiting the fate the Falleen was ready to give him.

And, still, in the corner, he heard the faucet.

He could detect the tiny spouts of water.

Dripping, and dripping...without a care in the universe.

Three days. The air was like shards of ice. The heating blankets had run out of energy hours before. Everything was freezing, and no one was awake.

No one, except Luke.

Ross' temperature was like the others, cooling-going beyond any help. In the corner, a pile of Falleen lay. Clumped together, Luke could sense all their essences throughout the Force. Even placed together, side by side, a number of the Falleen were dead. Frozen in place. The rest were asleep, awaiting the same fate.

Luke wanted to aid them, to make the ship warm once again. But, there was no use. His face was covered in frozen sweat, his hair tangled and stiff to his head. Even the sprouts of whiskers on his chin seemed three times more coarse than normal. His only hope was to keep Ross alive, and even as he lifted his hands up, the massive trembles rushing through them kept his concentration wary. Even his mechanical hand wasn't functioning right. The freezing temperature it was being forced to simulate to feel more real could no longer be created. It was practically numb.

Silently, Luke glanced to his side. Where Matic Pace lay, his face covered with a plain gray sheet. The blood around him was frozen to the floor. The stench was gone. Luke kept his eyes on the other man for a second more, wondering if the commander would have survived that long. Three days in space. Attempting to fight off the disease and the cold. It was something Luke could never truly guess...pondering what the future had stored for them all. If things could have been played a different way. He couldn't have helped Matic Pace by the time of his death. He couldn't offer the other man his life back. He could ensure no more pain. At the very least, Luke did know one thing. If he had spent his time attempting to heal Matic Pace, there was no doubt in his mind Ross wouldn't be alive at that moment. As far as the future was concerned...

Weakly, Luke twisted his eyes back to the computer slicer. His arms still lifted above the boy, he felt the fingers ache-the frost gathering. His own heart pounding. Even as he watched Ross breathe, he could no longer feel the slicer through the Force. He sensed nothing except his own body screaming to be healed.

Taking in one rasped breath after another, Luke reluctantly lowered his hands. He gazed at the slicer for a minute, watching as the boy fought for breath...for heat. And, yet, the disease still hadn't plagued him. His burns were healing. There was nothing Luke could do now.

With that, the Jedi Master gently placed a hand on Ross' forehead. Quietly, he leaned forward, and whispered, "I'm sorry."

It was then that the cold consumed him. Reaching out with the Force, he felt his body wavering...his heart beating. He fell backwards, his head landing painfully on the floor behind him.

He pulled with the Force...counting the seconds.

The air seemed almost dead. The room reeked of it.

He pulled on the energy he struggled to possess. Plunging himself as deep as he could within it.

The cold was overwhelming.

Silently, the eyes of Luke Skywalker fell. The Force was peaceful, comforting. The cold overflowed the room. It didn't matter. As the Jedi Master lay motionlessly on the floor, his breaths softly coursing through his body, he couldn't feel the cold, anyway.

"Right now?"

"That's what I said."

"You sure?"

"We're going to pass them."

"Okay."

With that, the engines of the Crazy Raid, came to a swift halt. Standing inside the cockpit, Mara Jade Skywalker gazed out to the vastness of open space. A smile instantly formed on her lips. And yet, to her side, Weo frowned.

"I don't see anything," the other woman proclaimed.

"That's because they're behind us," Mara replied. "There's two. Two vessels out there."

"Two?" Weo questioned, then pulled at the ship's controls. With hardly a move, the entire vessel twisted around. It was then that the entire picture was clear.

From the right, was the dim light on a Falleen ship. Almost like little dots, Mara watched silently as the other one floated by its side, pulling away. With that, Mara placed a hand on Weo's shoulder. "We need to contact that vessel."

"What?" Weo questioned, sending Mara a frown. "Are you nuts? Any attempt at a surprise attack will go supernova."

"They might be one of the ships Leia has spoken to."

"What's the chance in that?"

"Not good," Mara spoke, shooting Weo a smirk, "but, we have to try."

"Yeah, yeah," Weo grumbled, turning on the comm system, "it's a stupid Jedi thing."

Mara had to smile at that. Almost four days in space, and Weo had been her only company. The rest of Pace's crew was busy on Coruscant, working to calm the citizens and provide evidence. Of course, Mara didn't mind that a bit. Having her vessel filled with a large batch of people didn't sound so great, anyway.

"Should we inform Jedi Horn that we've stopped?" Weo asked by her side.

Mara shook her head. "He's been following us for four days through the Force. He knows."

"Should we wait for him?"

"He'll be here soon," Mara replied, eyes hooked to the vessels in front of them. Huffing out a breath, she pointed to the ships. "They're attempting a rescue. Boarding the ship, supplying it with some power. That's why they're here."

"How can you tell?" Weo questioned, raising an eyebrow Mara's way.

With that, Mara merely twisted to her and frowned. "Because I sense my husband. And, all the beings around him."

"Well, what's the verdict here?"

Mara kept her frown. "They think he's dead. Just like everyone around him."

"Is anyone else alive? Ross, or Pace?"

"I...I don't know. I don't think so."

Weo gave a sigh, turning back to the viewpoint. Silently, her hands moved on the ship's controls. Ever so slowly, the Crazy Raid inched forward.

Mara narrowed her eyebrows. "What are you doing?"

"He's alive, right?" Weo asked without looking.

Mara blinked. "Yes."

"Then, we do what we were intending to do," Weo came back. "Rescue mission. Get into the cargo bay, and put on a vac-suit. We're about to have some fun."

Staring down at the woman, Mara grinned. Gently, she bowed her head, giving her a tiny smirk. "Yes, Captain."

"Don't be smart, Jedi Skywalker. Just move."

Giving the other woman a full smile, Mara Jade Skywalker rushed out of the cockpit. Lightsaber bouncing up and down on her hip, she raced through the narrow hallways of the vessel.

Dead. Human and Falleen. To one side of the small compartment, lay a pile of her species' corpses. Frozen and pale. The ones that managed to survive were already on their way to the other vessel. It was all the Falleen they could endure.

Silently, guardsman Henale looked down at the three humans on the other side of the room with her bright violet eyes. Two were clearly dead. Covered with a sheet, it was obvious that one had been cared for by the other. The first to die. The other had fallen over, his face covered with frozen sweat. Eyes peacefully shut.

Henale recognized the human. His name was unfamiliar, but his title was known to everyone throughout the galaxy. Jedi...

"You certain he's dead?" another Falleen from behind Henale asked in their native tongue. "I mean, Jedi don't-"

"I can't feel a pulse," Henale replied, shooting the other being a glance. "No breathing. What other qualifications does a dead man need?"

"What about the other one?"

Quietly, Henale turned to the young boy beside the Jedi Master. His breaths were heavy, struggling. His eyes twitched ever so often, but there was no consciousness within them. With that, Henale sighed.

"Leave him," she explained. "He's not going anywhere."

Nodding his head, the other Falleen guard did as instructed. Moving passed Henale, he walked to the Falleen in the corner. Checking for any type of vitals. Any hint of life. And, yet, Henale knew it was a useless feat. Another group from her race was dead.

Not at the humans hands, but their master.

Whoever he was.

"Guard Henale," another Falleen shouted, rushing into the room, "we need you on the bridge. Now."

Blinking, the Falleen woman's skin shifted to a subtle blue. Silently, she hurried out of the compartment and onto the bridge. Inside, five other Falleen were working the controls. Datapads and energy packs at hand, they were attempting to salvage at least part of the ship's lost power. In all truth, the only areas they could manage were the main access hallway and one cargo bay. It would be enough to keep them stable on the ship, but not for long.

Turning to her commander, Henale bowed her head. The other Falleen immediately pointed his finger. "We have company, Henale."

Slowly, Henale twisted to the viewpoint. There, like a distant speck in the void of space, a small dot shifted. Henale might have mistaken it for a star. If it weren't for the fact it was coming straight for them.

"What are they doing?" was all she could ask.

Her commander sighed. "Who knows? There's no markings on the ship, so there's no way to tell if its New Republic, or just a stupid pirate freighter attempting to claim this vessel for parts. In either case..." He trailed off, giving her a sharp stare.

Henale didn't need more explanation. Spinning around to her other guards, she declared, "I want this ship's weapons operational. If you have to pull energy from life support, so be it!"

Of the five Falleen on the bridge, all looked up at her. Already, they were at the consoles, working with the controls.

"You ready to do this?" Weo's voice came through the comm system of the ship.

Dressed in a pilot's simple orange environmental suit, Mara Jade Skywalker pulled the oxygen mask from her face and called back, "About as much as I can be. Bring her in."

"Yes, sir."

Rolling her eyes, Mara placed her mask back on. They had already decided what to do; it was doing it that was the problem. The cargo bay on the other vessel was swarming with Falleen, attempting to grab up the supplies from the dead ship. If she wanted to enter, it would have to be from another way.

"They're trying to spin around," Weo announced. "Pulling away from the other ship to face me. Funny. I didn't even consider us a threat."

"Did you try speaking with them?"

"Uh," Weo paused for a second, the noise of switches being flipped and buttons being pushed faintly coming through the comm. "They spoke something in their native language, then the holo went dead. So, sort of and no. Sorry."

"Just get to the West Wing of the ship," Mara replied. "I'll handle the rest."

Weo didn't bother to reply. Perhaps there simply wasn't a need. Or, more logically, it was due to the massive blaster fire suddenly shooting around her ship. Without a word, Mara tightened the oxygen mask on her face, and stood with one hand lifted beside the cargo bay's control panel. The other one gripped tightly to her inactive lightsaber.

Again, the ship rattled.

"They're not too happy!" Weo declared. "We're reaching the coordinates. Just hold on. This'll have to be quick!"

Mara nodded to herself. Reaching out with the Force, she sensed Weo's ship swerve underneath the Falleen vessel. The air within it. The beings rushing through it...

And, then, Luke. Cold. Dim. He was at peace...alive, but so cold. She tried, but couldn't feel Ross or Commander Pace. If they were alive, it wouldn't be for long. Like her husband.

"Three seconds!" Weo shouted into the comm system. "Three-two-go!"

Without a second's thought, Mara rammed her palm into the ship's eject button. Lightsaber lifted above her, the garbage shoot fired her out of the ship like a blaster's red beam.

Focus, Mara! Focus!

Open space struck her like a tidal wave from an ocean. Black....weightless. The garbage shoot's thrust continued to shove her upwards.

There was no chance to look. The bottom of the Falleen ship was coming up fast.

Using the Force, Mara gripped her lightsaber with all her might. The seconds passed like a detonator's ticks. She tossed the saber high above her.

The striking blue blade shinned in space like a spark of electricity inside a pitch black cave. Almost blinding. It reached the Falleen vessel. Cutting through metal and pipes-protection from the outside nothingness.

Even with all of Mara's concentration, the process was slow. She was rushing up fast. Heart pounding, she closed her eyes, and shifted her back toward the Falleen ship. The lightsaber continued to cut, but the time wasn't there.

Giving a tiny groan, Mara Jade Skywalker's back rammed into the bottom of the ship. The pain erupted into her body like a spasm. The power-the sheer force alone pushed all the wind from her lungs.

And, still her concentration held. The lightsaber continued to cut.

The metal snapped. Flying out into the void of space. Grabbing her lightsaber with one final move, Mara reached out with the Force. The bottom of the ship was thick. A good meter between technology and the emptiness of the galaxy. With one final push, she forced herself through the open cavity, and into the Falleen's vessel.

The wind from the tiny room consumed her as she pulled herself from it. One hand after another, she climbed into the ship like moving up a smooth mountain side with no rope. The wind continued to come after her, beckoning her to slip back out.

Another groan escaped her lungs, but she still moved forward. Crawling to the room's door, she stretched out with the Force It opened without question.

Dragging herself past it, into the confides of the vessel's main hallway, she used the Force again. The sliding door closed without hesitation. The wind stopped.

Panting, Mara silently dropped her breathing mask under her chin. Her hair matted to her head like strips of wet clothe, Mara glanced around the hallway. Sensing for anyone.

She could feel her husband. The Falleen on the bridge. They didn't realize she was on the ship. That wouldn't last long.

Weakly, Mara managed to get her feet underneath her. Pulling at every ounce of strength in her body, Mara gently held her lightsaber within her right hand. In her left, she placed her tiny wrist pistol.

Okay, Luke, she thought to herself, I hope you're ready for this. Because, if you're not, then we might have some serious trouble ahead.

She started to run.

Drawing back on the controls, the Force shrilled into Corran Horn's ears like a wild group of attacking sandpeople. Entering real space from lightspeed was normally not a problem. Corran didn't expect to end up in the center of a battle. Of course, when do things ever truly go the way one expects?

Heaving a tiny gasp, he jerked his X-wing's controls to the right, barely missing a wave of blaster fire.

It was then that the voice of Weo came shouting through the comm. "Watch it! Both ships are firing now!"

"I got that-thanks," he came back, twisting his starfighter into a tailspin through the vastness of space.

Pulling up on the controls, he watched as one of the two Falleen vessels began to twist around, its engines lighting like a flare. The other one remained as still as a corpse. Through the Force, a tiny chill rushed up his back. "Where's Mara?"

"Where do you think?" Weo replied.

Another batch of red sparks came flying Corran's way. Reaching out with the Force, he easily avoided the bolts, staring at the dead Falleen vessel in his viewpoint.

His sense was dim, but there. Like an exhausted fire, its warmth could still be felt even as the spark of light was fading into the wood. Mara ran to it, sensing for others. There were close to twelve other Falleen on the vessel. Some in the cargo bay. None were close to her. None seemed to realize she was even on the ship.

Good for you, Madam Skywalker. Grab the hubby, then get the hell out.

It wasn't the most complex strategy, but normally, the best ones weren't. The main access hallway was less narrow than the other corridors she was sensing throughout the ship. Nevertheless, its twists and turns reminded Mara of a secret entrance. The Falleen had a tendency to create something more appealing to design than common use. It still gave her a nice advantage. Through each curve, she stopped, reaching out with the Force.

No one was waiting for her. Everyone was in the cargo bay or near the front. Near Luke.

Oxygen mask under her chin, the cold stale air of the ship entered her lungs. The chill was actually a relief to her tired body; her head hurt. Her back protested every twist she created. There was no doubt she had hurt herself on the way up. The unforgiving metal of the ship's exterior was not the nicest welcome.

Panting, she used the Force to keep her vision focused. Continuing to stretch out, she slowed her run to a walk.

She was there.

In total, there were seven Falleen. Five were on the bridge. One in another compartment. One with Luke....and Ross. The presence was faint, but Mara could feel it. Ross was still alive.

She was tempted to pull out her comlink and contact Weo. But, if her plan didn't work...if she couldn't get out Luke and the computer slicer, then bringing the pilot's hopes up too early would do no good.

Her hands remained still. Slowly, she stepped toward Luke's compartment. She peeked inside. A Falleen male stood by the corner with a datapad. Lifting up dead Falleen hands and legs, he glanced at the faces of the beings in the corner, then wrote in his datapad.

Counting the dead.

Slowly, Mara hooked her lightsaber to her belt. Her wrist blaster put securely into place on her forearm. If she wanted to do it right, then she would have to resort to more Luke based tactics.

Slowly, she slithered into the room. The other being didn't bother to look up. Step by step, she edged closer to him, reaching out with the Force. Keeping her focus.

Easy does it, Skywalker. Don't mess up.

Punching at one button then another on his datapad, the Falleen didn't see her right at his back. He had no time to prepare.

Stretching out with all her might, Mara lifted a hand. The door of the compartment abruptly slid shut. The Falleen spun around, but Mara already had her arm snaked around his neck.

Taller than she, he bent over, forcing her off the ground. Still, her grip held. He struggled, twisting this way and that. Staggering back, he threw himself to the wall by their sides. The wind came rushing out of Mara's body like a detonator's explosion. Head pounding, she still managed to keep her grip.

After another second, the Falleen's power seemed to wither. He tried to punch her, throw her-and yet, as the heartbeats went by, his will fell. Slowly, he dropped to his knees, then collapsed completely to the cold metal floor.

Gasping in the breaths, Mara released the other being. Silently, she turned him over, listening as his breathing started to come back to normal. Staring at his unconscious form, Mara leaned over by his ear. "I'm sorry."

Without another word, she turned to the other side of the room. There, laying tranquilly on the floor, were three figures. One covered with a simple gray sheet, Mara could already assume. The others were side-by-side.

Even with his burns, Mara recognized the youthful computer slicer. His breaths were slow and calm, but imbalanced. His heart was the same. There was little doubt in Mara's mind that young Ross had no chance of walking out of there.

And, to Ross' right, was the motionless form of Mara's husband. More pale than the once farmboy should have been, Mara was swift to kneel down beside him and reach out with the Force. His face was covered in sweat; his hair a tangled mess of dirt and neglect. Mara bent over, kissing his lips, anyway. The Jedi Master didn't bulge.

"Okay," she told herself calmly. "It's a healing trance. Fair enough."

Hibernation trances were odd things. Any form of pulling another Jedi out of it either required a lot of Force use, or a catch phrase. Almost like unlocking a code in a database. Mara had no time nor concentration to bother any attempt to reach a Jedi Master through the Force. Not even her husband. Minute by minute, her head rumbled with pain. The Falleen hadn't helped by ramming her into the wall, that was for sure.

Licking her lips, Mara sat up straight, then declared, "Jedi."

Luke didn't move.

"Okay, wrong one," Mara considered for a second, then tried, "Mara?"

Nothing.

"Leia?"

Nothing.

"Anakin? Farmboy? Tatooine? Come on, Luke-you put it in Huttesse?"

Her husband remained as calm in his trance as Ross did in his.

Closing her eyes, Mara thought back. They had spent so much time together...so many hard times along with it. A healing trance wasn't unusual in their work. Neither were the phrases...

Slowly, Mara reopened her eyes. Giving a tiny grin, she stared at her husband. There was one password he would use. One that only she would try. Quietly, she leaned down to his ear and declared, "I love you."

She expected him to jerk awake. To look up at her and grin with amusement.

He did nothing. His eyelids remained as closed and as blank as before.

Rolling her eyes, Mara placed a hand to her forehead, feeling the last bits of her concentration leaving.

Come on, Mara. What would Luke say? What would he use if he thought you would come? Remember, this is Luke. Nothing is off limits...

It hit her with such might, her hand jerked away from her forehead. Taking in a breath, Mara gazed at the Jedi Master in front of her, and softly said, "Welcome aboard?"

His eyes twitched.

Like a switch on button, his entire body stirred, stretching. After only another second, he smiled and turned his bright blue eyes to face his wife-

The expression on his face immediately dropped.

"Mara!" he screamed, but it was too late.

The impact knocked her across the room. There was no time to scream. Like a weightless doll, Mara slid to the other side of the compartment and remained there.

The Falleen, his neck a bright shade of red, still had his eyes on the Jedi woman as he lifted the long metal rod in his hands toward her husband.

"Repeat," Corran Horn shouted through his X-wing's comm system, "this is Colonel Corran Horn of the New Republic. We're not here to start a war. Just rescue our men, like you are."

"And, this is Prince Iles of the vessel Revor," the voice at the other end hissed back. "Your comrades are already dead. There's nothing neither you nor I could have done. If you remain here, we will consider it a hostile act on your part. Do you understand?"

"Hostile act, yes," Corran snapped back as he rolled his eyes. "You're dealing with two militarily trained starfighters, sir. One a Jedi. We're not leaving without our men. It's actually quite simple."

"Then, you leave us no choice."

"Normally never do."

The comm went dead after that. Huffing out a breath, Corran tossed a glance at the Crazy Raid as Weo raced across the stars, dodging all the firepower the Falleen had to offer.

Stalling, he thought to himself, we've resorted to stalling.

Shaking his head, Corran jerked the controls of his vessel, avoiding yet another wave of blaster bolts from the two Falleen ships. They weren't getting anywhere doing somersaults in space. Even for a Jedi, Corran's patience was fleeting.

Switching on his comm again, he called out, "Weo, you there?"

"Little busy," she came back with a pant.

Ignoring the strain to her words, Corran asked, "You think you can manage for a second without me?"

"Uh, why?"

"I need to contact someone."

"Sure," she came back with an edge to her tone, "then, after, we can all go out for whiskey, and play a round of sabacc. Are you nuts?"

"It's important."

"Then, contact!" she replied, shouting out the last word as her freighter spun wildly throughout the void of space. A shot tapped the corner of her vessel, but Weo held on tight.

With that, Corran backed his X-wing away, then punched the frequencies on his comm system. There was no time for conversation. The signal cleared, and he merely called out, "This is Corran Horn. We've stopped dead center on the intersection of the Correllian Trade Spine and the Rimma Trade Route. Coordinates...1-7-3-5-0-4. I need you to send a transmission to this exact location...regarding the Falleen anti-virus. Don't let me down, Leia."

It hit like a strike of Sith lightening. She was there, gazing down at him like an angel from the farthest reaches of the galaxy. Her expression, so sweet to his eyes, looking at him with relief. And, then...

The Falleen gazed down at him now. The metal rod in his hand, the anger on his face and in his heart, there was no doubt what his intent was. The crude metal of the steel bar dimly gleamed in the room's only light; he raised it above his head. His bright violet eyes staring madly at its prey.

And, yet, through the exhaustion and pain...the virus and the struggles of the past few days, Luke Skywalker felt renewed. It wasn't a complete reclaim of his strength or health, but the awareness in his body and the Force reassured him that the past time he'd spent in a trance hadn't gone by wastefully.

In the light of the Force, everything became abruptly slow. Paced, step by step, the rod started to come crashing down toward Luke's head. Laying on his back, staring up at the other being, the Jedi Master watched in a strange tranquillity as the object dropped toward his face.

The impact sent the Falleen's arms into massive trembles. The long metal pipe vibrated, sending a loud clapping noise of metal against metal throughout the entire room. His head only millimeters away from where it had been a heartbeat before, Luke winced as the echo of the rod hitting the floor and not his skull bounced within his already throbbing head.

It took the Falleen a second to realize what had just transpired. It was all the time Luke needed. His leg flew up like a blaster bolt. Elegant, powerful, it made contact with the Falleen's stomach for only a split-second before the other being leaped backwards from the blow. The metal rod went flying into the air, eventually hitting the wall behind the unconscious attacker.

Rolling off his back, Luke scrambled to get his feet under him. The fever from the virus, and it's terrible aches rushed through his body like a thousand banthas on stampede. Nevertheless, the pathogen no longer had the control. It was all Luke desired.

Rushing to his wife, the Jedi Master instantly knelt down to her side. Even with her head facing the wall, the trail of blood coming from the split across her forehead could have been seen by Luke if he were standing in the hallway. Leaving a tiny puddle of maroon ooze on the ground, the wound plagued over half of her brow. Luke immediately placed a hand on her injured forehead, then reached out with the Force.

It took only a moment. Consciousness flowed back into Mara like awaking to a cold cup of water thrown at her face. She coughed, instantly jumping up as if attempting to get back into attack position.

"Relax," Luke told her, his voice strangely rasped even to his ears. "You're hurt."

"Oh," she groaned, attempting to drop back to the floor. Luke intervened, bringing her head to rest on his lap.

"Hold still," he replied. "Just breathe and try to focus."

Rolling her eyes as if not able to pinpoint his voice, she warily came back, "You playing hero again?"

"Just for you," he replied, then gently took one of her hands. He held it tenderly, caressing her palm.

Giving another second, her eyes finally came to meet with his. Slowly, he could feel her pulling, stretching out with the Force to find the control she always attempted to possess. Her vision cleared; her expression turning back into its more alert form. She placed a hand on his chin, gently touching the cleft in its center. "And to think," she spoke with a tiny smirk to her lips, "I came here to rescue you."

The door abruptly rumbled. Through the Force, Luke could sense the other beings, at least five Falleen trying desperately to get in. He shot a look down at his wife. She was already pulling herself up.

"We need to get out of here," she replied with a serious edge to her voice. "One comatose slicer, an injured Knight, and a fever-struck Jedi Master isn't really the greatest combination."

Taking in a tired breath, Luke ignored the headache coursing through his skull, then spun around to Ross. The boy rested as peacefully as when Luke had left him all those hours before. One good thing.

"Here," Luke instructed, rushing to Ross. Grabbing the boy by the arm, he pulled the slicer up to his side. It was surprisingly difficult; younger or no, Ross' body was tall and lanky, and Luke's smaller form couldn't pull him completely off the ground. It was times like those when Luke wished he was just a few centimeters taller.

"You got him?" Mara asked, wiping the blood from around her eyes.

Wrapping an arm around the boy's waist, Luke glanced at his wife, and nodded.

"Then, let's start this," Mara declared, pulling out her lightsaber.

The shimmering blade erupted into the room, sending out a wild blue tint to its walls. It was complimented by another neon glow, a wild green, as Luke balanced young Ross over his left shoulder, leaving his right hand free for defense.

Mara was the first to go. The wild bangs on the compartment's metal door immediately halted as the blue lightsaber made contact with its surface. Cutting across the metal as if swinging at the air, the thick steel had no chance. Through the Force, Luke sensed the Falleen stagger back.

"We need to make this quick!" Mara shouted out, past the noise of the lightsaber. "I don't think they're interested in experimenting on us this time!" Hurrying by the door, Luke watched as his wife finished the final cut, then stepped back with her. Both the Jedi Knight and Master lifted their free hands-

The metal slab jumped into the hallway on its other side as if connected to a cable cord. Crashing into the metal wall behind it, the rumble echoed throughout the ship like an explosion. Luke closed his eyes, reaching out with the Force to control the thunderous ringing in his ears. Mara said nothing, but as she took in a deep breath, Luke could tell she was trying to control her own agony.

The Falleen were already backed away near the bridge's doorless entrance. Neither Mara nor Luke bothered to look their way. Keeping Ross secure on his shoulder, Luke rushed out of the room, Mara right by his side, guarding both her husband and the slicer. Together, they raced down the main corridor, the Falleen swiftly gaining back their composure.

Her back toward Luke, Mara pulled out her comlink with one hand and switched it on. "Weo?" she shouted loudly enough for Luke to hear.

There was a pause, then, "Yeah, still here. You ready?"

"Not quite yet, but Luke, Ross, and I are on our way."

Another pause. Then, "Ross?"

"Yeah. He's in bad shape, Weo. We need you to be ready for us when we get back to my entrance. You got that?"

"What about Commander Pace?"

Taking in a breath, Mara merely explained, "He's dead, Weo. I'm sorry."

There was a sigh through the comlink, then, "Your entrance-pretty-self explanatory. Just be sure you make it."

"That's the plan."

The comlink went dead; Mara instantly shoved it into a pocket on her suit. She glanced at her husband. "We'll have to take turns with the oxygen masks. I only brought two...", she paused, narrowing her eyebrows at him. "What's wrong?"

"They're not pursuing," he came back, the fragments of confusion jabbing at his mind. "They're just down the hallway, but-"

The Force sent a mind-splitting jolt of alertness throughout Luke's mind. There was no time to reflect. Just enough to scream.

"Mara!" Luke cried out, but the impact was too much even for him.

The explosion was near the end of the hall, between them and the Falleen. It didn't stop Luke and his wife from leaping backwards. Landing painfully on their sides, both Luke and Mara instantly pulled themselves up. With one swift move, he grabbed Ross by the arm, and flung the slicer over his shoulder again.

Squinting her eyes shut, Mara placed a hand to her forehead to wipe off the new blood from her wound. She glanced at Luke just as he reached out to grab her hand.

"Run," he spoke softly, but with a deep strain to his voice that could silence a Senate hall.

They darted off instantly. Breath after breath, pant after pant, the Force shot ripples down Luke's back like it was attempting to move him even faster. And, with it, the smallest, most tranquil sound of a ball rolling throughout the hallway, gently entered Luke's ear. Using the Force, he twisted around just in time to push it partly back to its owners.

Nonetheless, the explosion shot through the corridor. Luke shouted, staggering back to the wall for support. Mara dropped to her knees, just to get back to her feet only a second later. She tossed him a glance. "What are they-nuts?"

"By now..." He nodded. "This hallway is in the center of the ship. There's nothing around it except rooms, compartments, and levels of metal. Using a few detonators won't damage anything but this corridor."

"And us," Mara came back, then spun around.

Through the twists and turns of the hall, they could still feel the Falleen. From the far edge of the passageway, one of their green heads peeked out to look at them. The flashing metal ball came soaring at them an instant later.

"It's an impactor," Mara explained as Luke grabbed her arm to move. "It'll explode when it makes contact with the floor."

The ball flew at them. Mara stood there. Silently, Luke released her arm.

Her jaw clenched, Luke sensed as his wife reached out with the Force. She raised a hand-

The flashing ball toppled with her. Flipping her body back, she caught the detonator with her free hand, leveling its descent. Crouched on the floor, the beeping device in her grasp, the smirk on Mara's face couldn't be composed.

She gave them three seconds to run. All the Falleen took the advantage.

And, then, with a simple flick of her wrist, the detonator went sailing through the air. Guided by the Force, the tiny object made it all the way to the curve in the hallway before Mara allowed it to drop.

The wild flames heated the entire corridor. From where Luke and Mara stood, it felt like a warm breeze during a Tatooine summer. Nothing more.

And, yet, as Luke's eyes turned to see his wife, the only thing he could do was frown. Still crouching on the ground, the fiery woman was out of breath. The arm holding her lightsaber trembled. The wound on her forehead was still bleeding, and the sweat across her tired expression was as heavy as Luke's.

Reaching out through the Force, Luke could feel the anger in the Falleen rising in the distance. Their determination was mounting. They were recovering. And, that time, they were prepared.

"Here," Luke explained, dropping Ross into Mara's care.

Forcing herself up, Mara extinguished her saber and wrapped both arms around the boy. She cocked an eyebrow. "What's this?"

"Take Ross to your escape route," Luke explained as he stepped forward. "Commander Pace died for him. I don't want to put him in farther danger if we don't need to."

"And...you?" she snapped back with a dark tone to her words.

He looked at his wife. "I want to finish this. Right now."

"I'm not leaving."

"We don't have time to argue. Just...," he trailed off, his eyes gazing wildly into hers. "Please, Mara."

"No-"

"I'm asking you."

"Luke-"

"As my wife."

"Use that against me-"

"Please, Mara."

There was another ripple in the Force. Like a distant echo, it was mounting. Luke could feel the tiny group rushing back to finish the job. He turned back to Mara.

There was a sadness to her face, but the confidence glimmered brightly in her emerald eyes. A strength that couldn't be measured. He frowned at her.

"Mara-"

"I trust you, Luke," she explained, then gently placed Ross down on the hallway's floor, "but, I have to see this through with you. We started this together. It's time we finished it the same way."

Luke continued to gaze at his wife, to see the doubt in her eyes. Yet, all he could detect was compassion. Love. Love for him, and the endurance that came with it. She knew what it would have take to be the wife of Luke Skywalker. Through all the disagreements, all the debates, that blind faith in each other kept them going. Silently, Luke nodded at his wife. Gently, he took her hand.

Leaving Ross' motionless form by the corridor's wall, Luke and Mara Jade Skywalker walked down the hallway. Their emotions alert to the Force and each other, they awaited the next line of fire between from the Falleen.

With her guardsmen at her side, Henale glanced around the corner of the vast corridor. Nothing. Silently, she nudged her head, continuing forward as the other Falleen kept by her side.

Adrenaline flaming through her like a wild dose of narcotics, Henale silently pulled another detonator from her belt. To her side, her second in command did the same, followed by another one.

Fueled by rage alone, they rushed down the hallway of the Falleen vessel until at last, two figures stood in their path.

Peeking out from the edge of the hallway, Henale stared for a second at the man and woman standing peacefully in the hallway. It was the same man that, less than half an hour before, she had declared dead. She hadn't handled things well then. It was time to rectify the situation.

Strangely, neither human moved. Arms calmly together around his back, the man stood as if happily accepting an execution. The woman had her arms crossed, appearing more annoyed than afraid.

Silently, Henale nodded at the others. Without hesitation, they flipped on the detonators, watching for only a second as the three flashing balls went flying into the air before running away to safety.

"Being a Jedi isn't what makes this man compassionate. Being compassionate is what makes him a Jedi."

"No more," Luke spoke softly.

"No more," his wife gently added from his side.

The tiny devices flew at them like swarming bugs.

Compassionate...

Silently, Luke lifted a hand. Reaching out with the Force, using all the energy still left within him, he watched in a serene peace as all three detonators gently landed on the floor by his and Mara's side.

Compassionate

The flames rose up like a maddened demon, with no other objective than to destroy its prey. To consume them within the flames.

And, yet, through the Force, there was no pain. No fear. The sprouts of fire were only to be controlled. The heat only to be simmered. There was no difference between flowing with the flames as there was flowing through the Force. Lifting a pebble. A rock.

An X-wing.

The fire was all around them. The heartbeats moved like hours. Through it all, he could still sense his wife, her energy joined with him, his control becoming hers. Whatever she lacked in ability, he could aid. Whatever strength he needed, she was there to provide. A perfect tangle of concentration and understanding.

The sparks of the inferno attempted to consume them. They were gently brushed aside. Flowing out. Slowly, by precious heartbeat, the flames started to move within their own rhythm.

Trapped within its power, Luke watched as they danced about him and his wife. Waving through the hallway like water more than flames. Moving with them, as if another member of their connection. Stunning.

Gently, Luke lifted a hand into its blaze. The flames heard his call-allowing Luke to command them. By his side, Mara's tender fingers came to grip his wrist, aiding in the power. In the control. Piece by piece, the fire compacted. Not moving outwards, but instead within.

Luke kept his hand out.

The seconds came and went, until finally, as the fire subsided, the explosion calmed, Luke gazed down at his left hand. There, gently flowing and dancing, was a tiny ball of fire.

Luke glanced at his wife, but already knew what she was feeling...thinking.

With Mara beside him, Luke began to walk. It was a simple stride. The Falleen, realizing the explosions didn't last as long as expected, were swift to investigate. Nearing a curve in the main hallway, Luke met eye to eye with the group. He lifted the ball into view.

Instantly, two of them pulled out their blasters. But, just as swiftly as they were hoisted, the barrels of the weapons slowly lowered their aim to the ground. The Falleen gazed at the simple, quiet glow in Luke's hand.

Holding tightly to the Force, Luke stared at the group in front of him and explained, "This is what's left of your attempts to harm me and my wife."

He paused, attempting to hold his concentration on the fire. The Falleen continued to gaze at him with shock.

Softly, Mara continued for him, "It's just as potent as the wild flames of three detonators. And, yet..." she shot a look at the ball in Luke's hand, then back at the Falleen with a tiny smirk, "here it is. Resting gently in someone's hand."

"What are you intending to do?" one of the Falleen-a woman-asked.

Mara shook her head. "That all depends. Do you believe us?"

The Falleen woman merely nodded.

"Then, you realize-right now-he could unleash this power again. Killing us all."

Slowly, the Falleen looked at Luke and Mara, her purple eyes staring with a new flash of reality. Without a word, she nodded at them.

With that, Luke pushed on the Force again. It wasn't as difficult as before. The Force was already with him, being focused to the tiniest molecule. It only took a second. As the quiet glowing ball of fire gently circled in his hand, the flames began to dissipate. One after the other, they vanished into the air until the last flame faded with the rest.

The Falleen spoke nothing. All the weapons remained motionless by their sides.

Luke didn't need them to speak. Nodding once, he softly told them, "We're leaving now. Please don't follow."

None of the Falleen reacted. The anger had vanished with the flames. They gazed at Luke as he and Mara turned away. Gripping to the Force for a few extra ounces of strength, he started to walk down the corridor with Mara right by his side.

"You're insane! You actually expect me to accept that type of nonsense!"

Jerking his controls left to right, up and down in a desperate attempt to dodge the oncoming blaster fire, Corran Horn still managed to roll his eyes. "Why do you think we haven't started a full scale war with you?" he asked the Falleen prince through the comm.

"You're awaiting other vessels. Stalling us," Prince Iles replied with a hiss.

Stalling...well... "We're attempting to retrieve our companions, you idiot! Just let us snatch them up, and we'll-"

"No one risks themselves with this much foolishness for a few comrades."

A groan erupted from Corran's lungs. Using the Force to control the frustration, he flipped off his comm system, and then turned back to the battle at hand. He tried not to harm them; the Falleen were fighting out of ignorance and fear-nothing more. It wasn't right to attack. And still, the impulse to protect his friends pushed him forward.

In the distance, he watched as Weo's freighter soared quickly in space. Avoiding one shot, then another, she rushed at the crippled Falleen vessel. Awaiting Luke and Mara.

Now, all they had to play with was time.

They walked. Mara's arm around Luke's waist, his doing the same around hers, they supported each other as they continued down the hallway. Ross was security hunched over Luke's exhausted shoulder, the boy's limp arms and legs swaying back and forth as the Jedi Master stepped on. Mara attempted to aid her husband, lifting some of Ross' weight off him through the Force. She knew Luke was just as exhausted as she.

The Force was strong in both, but they had endured so much. The Falleen-the ship. Injuries. Viruses. And, the list went on.

So did they.

The stench of ozone and smoke drenched their clothing. It seeped into their nostrils as if attempting to remind them of why they were so fatigued. Nevertheless, everything else was peaceful. The Falleen hadn't followed; the ship was surprisingly calm.

And, yet, through all the peace, there was a chill in the air. Mara was certain her husband felt it as well, but neither of them spoke of it. There was nothing to be said on the matter.

Turning one more corner, Mara suddenly had a wave of relief. Staring down the hallway, she tightened her hold on Luke, and gently smiled.

"We're here," she declared, and casually pointed a finger at the last door to the corridor's right.

"I don't think they were lying," Henale explained to her commanding officer. "They could have killed us, and yet-"

"They're human, Henale," her commander replied, his eyes staring wildly out the viewpoint of the bridge. "Jedi, at that. It doesn't matter whether they mean peace. You know what the master proclaimed. Their survival means our destruction."

"But-"

"No, Henale," he came back, finally turning to meet his eyes to hers. "Don't make this more difficult." Without another word, the commander snatched his comlink from the side of his uniform. "Prince Iles," he called into it with a dark, almost reluctant tone, "we have intruders in the East Wing of our vessel. There is no possibility for us to retrieve them. We've cut off the section from all the other parts, including life support, but that will take time. The shields are down." He paused, giving Henale one more glimmer of somberness, then continued into the comlink, "It's my best judgment in this matter to destroy the East Wing of this vessel. Before they can escape."

"Are they doing what I think they're doing?" Weo's voice suddenly shot through Corran Horn's comm system like a shouting Ewok.

Staring out into space as one Falleen vessel turned its front port slowly away from Corran and Weo's ships, gradually twisting to face the other crippled ship, all Corran could do was frown.

"Yep," he declared with a shake of his head. "It looks like Luke and Mara have made some nasty enemies. You better get down there, Weo. They're waiting for you."

"What do you intend to do?"

The wild buzz rang so abruptly through the tiny X-wing, Corran jumped up. If it weren't for his restraining belt, there was little doubt in his head he would have rammed his head directly into the top of the cockpit.

"Corran?" Weo's voice came through.

"One sec," he replied, then flipped a button on the far left side of his control panel. Within a heartbeat, a wave of information came shooting through his readout. List after list of data, all at his disposal. All from the wonderful city-planet of Coruscant.

A tiny crooked grin clasped to his lips, Corran merely replied into his comm system to Weo, "I'm gonna shove a pile of information in the Falleen's faces."

"What?"

"Just get to the coordinates, Weo," he explained, gazing at his readout. "I'll take care of the rest."

"They've cut life support," Mara explained to her husband as they stood at the door of the room Mara had used to enter the ship.

Without hesitation, Luke grabbed one of the oxygen masks from Mara's side poach. Silently, he secured it to Ross' face, then turned back to Mara. "I suppose our attempt at a truce didn't go as well as assumed."

"No," Mara muttered, averting her eyes to the ceiling. "There's a lot of regret on this ship. I can almost smell it."

"Someone else?"

"Probably orders from the other ship," Mara replied, then casually leaned herself against the room's door. Sliding down its smooth metal surface, she sat on the ground and looked up at her husband. "We did well. Jedi rules, philosophy and understanding right down to the fine details. It's not our fault someone still wants to kill us."

"Our rescue vessel is still far away," Luke continued, then gently placed Ross on the ground. Sitting beside Mara, he looked up at the ceiling. "They're turning the other ship this direction. I'm not sensing anything good coming out of it."

"Trying to blow us up?"

He nodded.

"I'll give them points for persistence."

"I'll add a few myself."

"Anything we can do to stop them?"

"It's not in our hands. We just have to trust Corran and Weo now."

"Ah. I recall this lesson. How did it end last time?"

Luke turned to her, his eyes and mouth displaying an almost devious edge. "You're the one that always wants to push it up a notch. I believe this can be called fate's irony."

Mara actually found a tiny chuckle escape her lips. Gently leaning her head next to Luke's tender shoulder, Mara closed her eyes. The blood had stopped coming from her wound, but her vision didn't seem eager to focus. More than anything, she wanted to sleep.

"Well," Mara spoke softly, wrapping an arm around Luke's, "it could be worse. At least we're together."

To her surprise, Luke huffed out a chuckle.

Narrowing her eyebrows, she pulled away slightly to get a view of her husband's face. "What?"

"I love it," he explained, a silly grin still curved to his lips. "Your attempt at optimism."

"Attempt?"

"A very good one," he came back, turning his crystal eyes to meet with hers.

Entrancing.

Mara stared back until a tiny grin caressed her lips as well. "You're teasing me...now?"

"No time like the present. Like I said, the future's out of our hands."

"Well," she leaned her head back on Luke's shoulder, "if I'm going to die, might as well take you with me. That was my original plan from the way beginning, anyway."

Luke didn't say anything. Eyes closed, he let out a few light chuckles, then turned to check on Ross. Silently, Mara closed her eyes, listening in the quiet hallway as she, Luke, and the computer slicer breathed. The Force still alerting her, she felt the tension growing more steadily in the air like a swarm of bugs.

However, she did nothing. Like her husband had spoken just seconds before, it was no longer in their hands. To be a Jedi was to be content. No matter what hand the universe dealt. Mara was new to the concept, but her husband was not. And, his calm tranquillity could relax any nerves Mara might experience. She held still.

"You have what?" Prince Iles questioned through the comm.

"The Falleen virus!" Corran shouted back, spinning his X-wing through one loop, then another, avoiding the Falleen vessel's firepower.

It was now up to him. Weo was moving fast into position, but other than Corran's tiny X-wing in the way, there was nothing to stop Prince Iles from shooting havoc into the other crippled vessel.

"I don't have time to sit here and explain everything!" Corran replied, dodging one red bolt, then another. "We know about your master-the Falleen and human virus-the works! Just...stop for a second, and I'll send you the information."

"How did you get it?"

"Does it matter?"

"How do I know it's not a fake?"

"Look," Corran finally spoke in a somber tone. Reaching out with the Force, he moved his starfighter toward the bridge of the Falleen vessel. "I'm not going to let you kill my friends. Now, you can either take this information, and stop this war right now...or," with a flick of Corran's finger, the four proton torpedoes on his X-wing became armed, "I can do as much damage to your vessel as I can with every Jedi ability I possess. Your choice."

Arm loosely draped over Luke's front, Mara opened her eyes. It was an odd feeling, coursing through the ship-through the space outside. The tension had been as thick as mud, moving with the Falleen and the Force.

And, then...nothing.

Almost like a passing breeze, the Force stopped its ripples inside Mara's mind. Slowly, she lifted her head from Luke's shoulder, and glanced around. "What just happened?"

With that, her husband merely smiled. "I think it's over."

There was another alarm through the Force. However, that one wasn't of worry or fear. No danger. In fact, just the opposite. And, with it, Mara looked down at her husband and smiled.

He was already removing Ross from the ground.

Silently, Mara grabbed the comlink from her belt and flipped it on. "Weo?"

"It's over," the other woman replied. "I'm sending a force cylinder to the ship even as we speak. Thought you'd appreciate it better than space-walking with three people and two masks."

Mara shrugged to herself, but her smile held like cement. "Hey, if we have the time to secure a force cylinder-"

"Got all the time you need. Leia just sent all the Falleen information to Jedi Horn. He's in the process of handing it over to the Falleen right now."

"Thank you, Weo," Luke leaned back to say as he lifted Ross over his shoulder.

"No problem, Master Skywalker. It's nice to hear from you again."

The comlink was silenced; Mara gladly attached it to her belt, then turned back to her husband. A tiny smirk to her lips, she cocked at eyebrow at him. "You knew we would be all right, didn't you?"

"Why would you say that?" he replied, the smile fading on his expression.

Slowly, Mara's fell also. "No vision?" she questioned.

"Uh...," he blinked his eyes, then turned back to her with a shrug. "Not that I recall."

"No feelings? No idea?"

"Trust. Remember, Mara?" A smile emerged back on his lips. "What type of life would it be if I already knew how everything was going to play?"

Gradually, Mara's smirk resurfaced on her mouth. Pressing the door's controls, the metal slab slide to the right. Already, Weo's force cylinder was securely in place. The hole Mara had created just awhile before was now sufficiently guarded by a long clear tube, connecting the Falleen ship to Weo's freighter. There was no more pull toward the void-no more worries.

Silently, Mara glanced at her husband, then gestured a hand and moved out of his way. With a nod of his head, he stepped toward the cylinder, then gently placed Ross inside. The slicer's body vanished out of sight. Kneeling on the floor, Luke turned back to Mara, and extended a hand.

Slowly walking across the room, Mara stopped beside the hole. Without hesitation, she threw herself inside of it, awaiting for her husband to exit down to safety.

"I want it known," President Ponc Gavrisom announced to the Senate of the New Republic, the holocams buzzing around him like flies, "that even in the face of adversity, the dividing factors that separate one being from another should never be used as excuses of hate. Of fear, or of distrust. To the Falleen and Scyos-even to the family of the late Senator Retafured-and every human that lost loved ones during this horrible crisis, I hope that this one break of those factors will not lead to others. We are the New Republic...a government for all species. Human and beyond. Thank you."

The applause was not immediate. Almost as if the words were at a stand still in everyone's mind, the group sat silently in the large room, staring down at the podium. There, Leia Organa Solo sat beside the President Gavrisom. Neither a spark of concern nor fear of disapproval twitched on her expression. Through the air, there was nothing but tension. Through the Force, Leia could sense the other Senators in the room. The people on Coruscant, listening through the holo. Worries were there. Terrible fear. And, yet, hope remained. Hope for the future. Wishful thinking of a united galaxy.

The applause was not immediate, but it came nonetheless. One by one, the Senators stood, raising their hands toward President Gavrisom. He nodded at them in return as they cheered for that hope, that unity of glorious dreams.

Leia remained quiet, but she gently clapped with the rest. Especially toward President Gavrisom. He glanced down at her, giving a tiny nod, then back at the others. There was a touch of disappointment in his eyes, but the confidence was bright with zeal. Silently, he lifted a hand; the loud applauding finally came to a stop. He smiled almost bashfully into the crowd. Without a word, Leia stood by his side.

And, with that, President Gavrisom declared, "Through this chaos, all of its horrid destruction and betrayal, several decisions had to be made. Some of them by me personally. And, while my role as Head of the New Republic-as temporary as it was-has been grand, I feel that now is the time to give it back to its rightful owner." He turned to Leia with a smile. "It is on this day that I make my final act as President of the New Republic. By giving back my position to the person I and so many others trust. Leia Organa Solo."

There was no delay in the applause then. Several Senators seemed to clap for mere presentation; Leia could feel their reluctance in the Force. Senator Borsk Fey'lya was one of them. Glaring from his spot in a line of other Senators, he stared down at Leia with an almost rhythmic clap to his fur-covered hands.

Leia ignored him. Silently, she stared out into the crowd and holocams, lifting a hand to the public, and smiled.

The sun was setting by the time Luke Skywalker and his wife reached Ross' room inside the vast tower of the Imperial Palace. A datapad in his hands, Luke tapped on the door only once before hearing a pleasant, "Come in," from the other side.

Twisting around to his wife, Luke merely gave a tiny grin before entering the room. Silently, Mara gave a nod of her own, remaining outside for her husband. Luke desired her to come in and join him, but Mara had refused, claiming it wasn't her place. There was little hope in ever convincing Mara that she was welcome by Luke's side in any place. Nonetheless, Luke hadn't argued.

Stepping into the room, the door closed behind the Jedi Master as he turned his light-hearted expression to the bedside in the far left corner of the room. There, a young computer slicer laid, his bright eyes twisting around to look at Luke like gleams of light. Full of energy and life. Luke's smile grew.

"Oh, Master Skywalker," Ross exclaimed with a harsh rasp to his voice. "You came to visit me?"

Huffing out a laugh, Luke came to the slicer's side and sat on the stool by the bed. "I thought a visit was in order. How do you feel?"

Immediately, Ross' warm expression calmed. The tiny glimmer in his eyes fading. Slowly, he lifted his right arm into view. Covered with medical devices and tubes. Ross frowned. "They had to take the entire arm on this one. Only a few fingers from the other side. I guess I should feel lucky. They seem real."

"There are worse things," Luke replied, lifting his own artificial hand into view. Silently, he twiddled his fingers.

The computer slicer's frown lifted slightly, but the somber expression of reality still plagued his face. Luke knew the look well-it was the same one he had seen in his own eyes after his experience with his father at Bespin. Luke had lost his childhood naïveté that day. Ross had lost his on Ttremyrin One. No matter who you were, trauma affected you the same in the eyes of youth.

Nodding his head once at Ross' new mechanical right arm, Luke asked, "Does it hurt?"

Ross' eyes shifted toward his bed. "It aches. The medics said that was normal."

"It's phantom pain," Luke explained softly. "Your mind dealing with the trauma. It'll pass. I promise you."

With that, Ross came to look at Luke with a wary grin. "I'll get used to it. My arm and these fingers." He lifted his left hand, displaying the partially constructed mechanical pinkie and ring finger.

Luke merely nodded, then glanced at Ross' bedside. Laying casually on the nightstand was a datapad. Silently, Luke picked it up, switching on the device.

Ross merely blew out a breath, gently reaching out with his new hand to take the machine from Luke's care. "It's just a letter," he explained, shutting off the datapad, "to Commander Pace's daughter. To tell her he died bravely."

"I'm sure she'll cherish it."

"I don't think so."

"Why?"

Blinking his eyes, Ross merely turned to Luke with a haunted look on his face. Slowly, almost carefully, he explained, "I-I'm the reason he's dead. How can she cherish a letter from me?"

"It wasn't your fault, Ross," Luke replied, placing a hand on the boy's shoulder. "Matic made a choice. He knew the risks, and picked his own way. He preferred that you lived, and would have blamed himself for your death. Just like you're doing now for him." Leaning forward, Luke stared at the younger man eye to eye. "He had the choices. You didn't. You're at no more fault for his death than me."

Ross was silent after that. Turning his eyes to the wall by his side, he sighed. Luke watched him, wondering through both his eyes and the Force just how long it would take Ross to recover from all the pain.

After another moment, Ross twisted back to the Jedi Master and glanced at the datapad Luke had brought with him. "What's that?" he asked.

"Oh," Luke replied, bringing his own thoughts back to him. Giving a small grin, he lifted the datapad into view, then explained, "I heard you were writing, and thought I would add a few things myself...if that's all right. For Matic's daughter."

Raising his eyebrows, Ross extended his hand again, and gently took the device from Luke's care. Turning the datapad on, he scanned it for a second, then turned back to Luke with a stunned look to his face. "You wrote this?"

Luke gave a tiny nod. "I realize it isn't much, but it might help his daughter understand better. Considering I was there when he got sick and passed away."

"Yeah," Ross replied, turning back to the datapad with a smile. "I'm sure it'll help. Making sense of any of it would help anyone."

Taking in a breath, Luke patted Ross once on the back, then stood. "I hope you feel better, Ross," he spoke by the door. "If nothing more, you've become a hero to billions. Rightfully so, as well."

Luke stayed only long enough to see the tiny gleam of life sparkle lightly in Ross' eyes before walking back into the hallway, and to Mara's side.

The bright lights of Coruscant could be seen through the high rise of the Imperial Palace like decorations for a holiday. Transports flying by in the skyline all the way to the horizon. Calm. Oblivious. The planet never truly had a nighttime. There was far too many things occurring from one hour to another for there to ever be a moment of rest.

Staring out the large window of his medic's room, Kyp Durron seemed almost mesmerized by the lights. The activity. Silently, he stood in his patient's clothing and ebony Jedi robe. The attire alone could describe the Jedi's disposition. Just waking from the ailments that had plagued him for over a month, it was clear he only felt content within the comfort of his Jedi garments. The robe was actually a gift from Han years before when Kyp was still a boy. Even after all the pain he had endured and caused, the Jedi still wore it with tranquility and pride.

Silently, Luke and Mara Jade Skywalker stood in the center of Kyp's room. Watching. Luke didn't have to say anything to already feel the light amount of tension in the room. Neither did Kyp.

Nonetheless, the other Jedi was not one to allow tension to slip away. With his arms crossed in front, Kyp didn't even bother turning to the Jedi Master to talk. "Courageous, Master Skywalker," he proclaimed with almost a sardonic edge, "I've heard nothing for the past day except for your unbelievable entanglements in space. You must be proud."

With that, Luke Skywalker instantly shot a glance at his wife. He could sense her impulse to give a retort, to snap the crude touch of Kyp's statement back in his face. Luke didn't need to lift a hand or give her a look for her to know that it was not the time for such things. Through the Force, she felt his presence and emotions, and remained quiet.

Letting out a sigh, Luke stepped deeper into the room. "You know that's not the reason, Kyp. I didn't do this for pride."

"Really?" the other Jedi came to look at Luke with a firm gaze. After only two days out of his coma-the new antivirus flowing through his body like the Force-Kyp looked rather healthy. "Then, perhaps you should enlighten me. You didn't put yourself on the front line of this fiasco? With all the other Jedi that could have done the job?"

Sensing Luke's feelings or no, Mara seemed to have taken enough. Coming up to Kyp from Luke's back, Mara placed her hands on her hips, staring the man down. "How about a nice, "why, thank you, Master Skywalker...for finding the human virus that ultimately saved my life'? That would be courageous, Kyp...just for you to swallow your pride, and say it."

To Luke's surprise, Jedi Durron merely grinned. "From my understanding, I've been in a healing trance for over four weeks now. Waiting for that human anti-virus, and as stable as anyone could hope for. I would have beaten it myself. Eventually."

"Why you little-" Mara looked almost ready to punch him.

"Mara," Luke called out, shifting his hard expression from Kyp to his wife.

"No, Luke," Mara came back, keeping her glare set on Kyp, "this is too ridiculous, even for me. We saved his life, and still, he can't give one ounce of gratitude."

"There's no gratitude to retrieve," Kyp explained, shooting his eyes toward Luke. "You're a Jedi. A Master-at that. As far as I'm concerned, you did your sworn duties. If you were expecting more...," he paused, shaking his head, "I'm sorry, Master Skywalker. You won't get it here."

With that, Mara merely groaned, rolling her eyes and turning back to Luke. "He's impossible, Luke," she explained. "Let's just go."

However, Luke didn't turn to his wife. Eyes kept security on the other man across the room, Luke serenely placed his hands around his back, then walked to Kyp by the window. Gazing at the other man, Luke gently spoke, "There is one thing I want to say before I leave, Kyp."

Luke paused. After a second, Kyp cocked a curious eyebrow, turning to face the Jedi Master. "What?"

"I didn't do this to earn your gratitude," Luke declared, keeping his eyes set directly into the other man's. "It was something that needed to be done. By me...or someone else." He came in closer to Kyp's face. "But, I didn't come here this evening to demand appreciation. I came to see how you were doing. Nothing more. I'm sorry you took it for something else."

Kyp opened his mouth, the urgency to speak gleaming inside his eyes. Nevertheless, after only a second, the Jedi silently closed his lips and turned to face the view from the window of his medic room.

Luke watched him for a moment, wondering what ideas were roaming inside the other man's head. However, as Mara's presence became more apparent in his mind, Luke merely bowed his head at his former student, then twisted away. Gently taking Mara's hand, both Skywalkers walked to the door to leave-

"You did well, Master Skywalker," Kyp's voice softly echoed inside the tiny room. "Just as I hope I would have done in that situation."

Mara stopped dead center by the door. She instantly shot Luke a glance, her mouth partially dropped.

Luke didn't bother turning around. One hand already touching the door's controls, he merely replied, "Thank you, Kyp." Silently, the door slid open. Luke walked calmly through it, Mara following a moment later into the hallway.

The door shut itself a second later, leaving Mara and Luke quietly alone inside the empty corridor. Huffing out a breath, Mara merely shook her head. Luke spoke nothing. He gave his wife a tiny smile, then started to walk down the hallway with her by his side.

"Well, be thankful, Skywalker," Mara finally said as she wrapped her arm around his. "That was about the closest form of gratitude you're ever going to receive from that one. I was surprised-it actually sounded genuine."

Luke grinned lightly to himself, but didn't bother to look at his wife. "I think it was."

"I doubt it will last."

With that, Luke finally glanced at his wife. With her braided red hair, devious, yet glimmering emerald eyes, Luke Skywalker merely placed his artificial arm upon hers and smiled. "It doesn't matter, Mara. As much as I appreciated Kyp's words, I didn't need them. I already have everything I need."

Mara's smirk was full of sarcasm, but she held him tighter nonetheless. "Don't get romantic with me, Skywalker. I don't fall for it."

It was then that Luke Skywalker stopped in the middle of the hallway. Holding to Mara's arm, she was immediately pulled to his front without choice...so close, her breaths were hitting his chin. He placed a hand on her face; she blushed and her smirk faded into a smile of compassion and modesty. Moving his face closer to hers, he whispered softly into her ear, "Of course you fall for it, Mara. We all do." He moved his lips to her cheek, gently grazing the corner of her mouth. "Even bashful, romantically hopeless farmboys, and tough, former Emperor Hands."

"No," she suddenly spoke, her grin growing larger, "you're not hopeless. Not to me."

With that, Luke smiled. "Are you getting romantic with me, Madam Jade? I should warn you, I always fall for it."

There was no hesitation. No subtle doubts. Inside the hallway of the Imperial Palace, Luke tenderly placed his lips to his wife's.

They held each other there, gently and silently, opening the Force to every emotion...every movement. But, it wasn't as Jedi to Jedi. It wasn't as the legendary Jedi Master or the infamous Emperor's Hand. It was as husband and wife. The simple bonds of livelihood that hold two people together. And, as they kissed, with a bitter sweet flavor of their own lives to each other, it was clear that bond was the most sacred of all.

The End

Original cover by Niralle. HTML formatting copyright 2003 TheForce.Net LLC.