Star Wars: The Sith Resurrection Part VII: A Glimmer of Hope

[Tysyacha]

"Not with my armor on--and especially if I had a facemask or veil or something," Andorra replied. "Do you think we might be able to manage that?"

[Alkonium]

"The Silver Eagle just needs a minor refuel, but I need to know, what's your decision on the computer virus idea, then?" Iyav asked, while Komad nodded and made his way down to the hangar to prep his X-38.

 

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

 

"The part of a vibroblade that makes the blade vibrate is a modular component called a vibration cell. If you replace it with a similar cell designed to give off heat, it should achieve the result you need." Kalla explained. "As for a face mask, there is a helmet included with the armour."

[JediMaster12]

Tavaryn nodded and replied, "You wish us to meet you there on Geonosis? That can be arranged. We will have a prisoner with us and I believe he may show us the way. Trust Matton and his judgment on where to land. We'll meet you there. Tavaryn out."

 

Haruka was shamelessly listening while trying to explain to Alriana, "You may be familiar with Andros Starlighter. He is the firstborn. Rumor has it that he has two siblings both hidden during the purge."

 

Tavaryn had turned his attention to the boy's recounting of his family's history. He had never met his father so it was always something of pleasure to hear about him. His brother never said much because of the effects of using the Force to bind memories. Andros had his memories but to him they felt as if they belonged to a different person. he had long ago forgiven their parents for that decision but it still bothered him at times. Now Tavaryn had in his care a boy who seemed to know everything and a Jedi who didn't even know his mother existed. Saying nothing of this, he yanked up the Togorian and said, "Alriana, change of plans. We are heading to Geonosis and our friend will help us get in. Go with R4 to get the ship ready and I'll follow."

 

To Haruka, he said, "You are welcome to come if you wish."

 

"You bet I am. I got a score to settle," Haruka replied and trotted off with Alriana. Once putting some distance between them he told her, "Andros Starlighter was the firstborn of Lady Ashira and Jedi Kenobi. He was with Luke Skywalker during the rebellion. Perhaps I can lend a few of my history data pads so you could catch up. Some have holo images."

 

**********

 

Tonatius hadn't seen his cousin in a while and was a bit unsure as how to speak to her. He came up from behind and said, "Time has been good to you cousin."

[Tysyacha]

"I'm glad to hear that," Andorra replied. "As for the heat cell, do you have one on you? I would request to use a blaster, but I'm the most terrible shot since a rusty HK droid." She rolled her eyes and hoped that everyone would understand the allusion to a relic from the days of the Old Republic. HK assassin droids were expert marksmen. Rusty ones weren't.

[Alkonium]

Kalla couldn't help but smile when Tonatius spoke to Andorra in his own awkward way. If anything, he needed to avoid dwelling on what happened, and just be friendly to her. "I personally wouldn't, but you could try asking Matton or Jun-la. It's their ship, after all." Kalla suggested.

[Chevron 7 locke]

"You may be familiar with Andros Starlighter. He is the firstborn. Rumor has it that he has two siblings both hidden during the purge."

 

"Like I said the last few times, I've never heard of him. And I didn't have that much interaction with other Jedi during the purge."

 

 

Alriana, change of plans. We are heading to Geonosis and our friend will help us get in. Go with R4 to get the ship ready and I'll follow."

 

Alriana nodded once. "Understood. Come on R4." She said to the little droid as it began following her toward the ship. She stopped for a moment and then turned back to Tavaryn. "Would you care to explain why we're going to Geonosis?

[JediMaster12]

Tavaryn regarded Alriana for a moment before replying, "A clue to our 'guest' here. Geonosis holds a secret he knows, something about an infection."

 

At that moment, the Togorian rattled a laugh, "Yes the infection that will kill you all."

 

Tavaryn gave a hard nudge on the stump and said, "Enough with dramatics. You will take us there." He then nodded for Alriana to head back.

 

Haruka looked at Tavaryn for a moment and then followed. He was followed by Tavaryn who looked as if something winded him. It was going to be a long trip.

 

*********

 

Jun-la had left Matton to his own devices. He knew the ship inside and out and had an endearing obsession in piloting her. So she left the cockpit to go find her charges and see for herself how Andorra was. She entered on Kalla's last comment and said, "Ask me what?"

[Chevron 7 locke]

"The Silver Eagle just needs a minor refuel, but I need to know, what's your decision on the computer virus idea, then?"

 

"I'm sorry, but we're not going to be using it. Up until now the Imperial forces haven't used any computer based attacks and I don't want to give them any ideas. Right now, all they use are ship to ship combat and I'd like to keep it that way. However...if we do find outselves in a tight spot I will consider using it.

 

Belina thought to herself for a moment.

 

"It was a good idea though don't get me wrong."

[Alkonium]

"I was suggesting that Andorra ask you or Matton about a Heat Cell for her sword. I figured it would be the best way to minimise blood spatter from the infected." Kalla explained.

 

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

 

"Very well, keep in mind, we'll likely only get to use it once. After that, the New Empire would expect it, and tighten security." Iyav replied, heading for the hangar.

 

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

 

One of the medical droids approached Kol. "Master Skywalker, we have finished operating on Vector S'borr. We were unable to remove all of the implants, but we were able to remove the neural node, and repair his throat to some degree." The droid explained. Kol then approached the viewing area. "Can you hear me in there?"

[Tysyacha]

Andorra turned to Tonatius. "Could you install a heat cell into Chetyrnadtsat' for me?" she asked. "Please. It would do me a world of good against the swarm of hungry vivinecrotic creatures we might encounter--if not swarms," she said, emphasizing the plural form. "If there's one thing I know about epidemics or pandemics, it's that they infect a LOT of people all at once. I don't want that."

[Master_Archon]

'How strange,' Vector thought to himself, his head swiveling as he sat on a pristine, unadorned chair in the middle of an empty room, though the scent told him it had once been used for medical purposes, for now, though, it seemed to be his 'cell'.

 

But this wasn't what intrigued him, it was the fact that he felt his mind within the mental cage the 'Nex Venators' had forced him into, and yet, when he probed the edges of it, he felt no repulsion from the long standing defenses against his mental probes. Tentatively he kept his mind in the cage, his body, and subconscious instinctively fearing what would never come; he wasn't ready to accept his freedom quite yet, for memory, no, nightmares still kept him from ventering out from his small cage of comfort and stability.

 

From what he recalled however, he'd been struck down, bashed in the temple by Kalla, as he had been standing in front of her, poised for any actions she'd take, yet when he saw her move, his nightmares let up, and his inhibitions faded, just enough to suffer the pain of the neural-nodes as they activated, as he pushed against his brainwashed instinct to react; if not for this, Kalla would have received a surprise in her gut, a dark bronze lightsaber blade, recently built into the wrist of his Phrik gauntlet. He'd been holding it up to her stomach, but had resisted the urge to activate it, allowing her the time to strike him down, into unconsciousness.

 

"Can you hear me in there?" Came a voice, so sudden he thought it had been in his own mind, a trick of his Masters. But after he regained his composure he realized that it had come from outside, through a comm system, obviously someone was watching him.

 

He felt along his forehead, feeling where once the neural-nodes had been, yet not believing what he knew to be real: they were gone. He turned towards the wall that he felt the presence from behind it, responding in a voice that startled him, for it sounded quite like his old self, only somewhat cracked, and torn sounding, something he knew would be a reminder to him in the future for his follies.

 

"As well as anyone can hear sound, Jedi."

[Alkonium]

"Good. This might take a bit of getting used to, but we have repaired as much of the damage to you as we could. Now, I'm going to have to ask you a few questions. First, who sent you to attack Jedi Knight Kalla Kaltas?" Kol asked from behind the plate glass.

[Master_Archon]

"Good. This might take a bit of getting used to, but we have repaired as much of the damage to you as we could. Now, I'm going to have to ask you a few questions. First, who sent you to attack Jedi Knight Kalla Kaltas?"

 

Vector croaked with harsh laughter, but only tentatively, he found it funny that the Jedi didn't think he was Sith - or at least ask him if he were - which would have been quite obvious from the tattoos on his forehead, but he guessed the person asking was 'tolerant' enough not to make assumptions, or pass judgements.

 

 

"I was meant to kill far more than her. But if you wish to know, then it was the...." Vector paused, hesitating to speak the words he felt would bring him pain if the neural-nodes were still adorned on his head. "...'Nex Venators'. You won't know who they are, or at least if you do know of them, what little you do know are nothing but lies and fictitions that they've allowed you to believe.

"They're quite reclusive, if not powerful: Let's just say that at least three quarters of the reported lost, or MIA Jedi in your files for quite a few years now are Jedi who've been killed, or even captured, by the 'Nex Venators'. Impressive, if not hard to believe, I know, but you'd be surprised how easy it is for them."

 

Vector pondered for a moment, he needed to ensure that the Jedi wouldn't take action against him, he needed an out, so he decided that any more information the Jedi wanted on the 'Nex Venators' would not be 'free', so he promptly shut his lips and stared dully at the wall the Jedi was behind.

[Chevron 7 locke]

"Very well, keep in mind, we'll likely only get to use it once. After that, the New Empire would expect it, and tighten security."

 

Belina watched as he headed down to the hanger before turning to Garja. "I really have to hand it to him. He comes up with some great ideas. I never would have thought of using a computer virus."

 

Garja shrugged his shoulders. "To be fair I probably wouldn't have thought of it either. You and I mainly think best when we're engaged in ship to ship combat."

 

Belina's reponse was cut off by the sound of an intercom sounding. "Admiral. We just recieved a distress call from one of our ships at Geonosis. They reported that they were under attack by a large imperial fleet before the transmission was cut off."

 

"Set course for Geonosis and engage the hyperdrive as soon as possible." Belina said after a seconds as a plan began to form in her head. "Make sure all ships have their weapons armed before we drop out of hyperspace near Geonosis."

 

"Yes Admiral."

 

Belina turned to Garja and smiled. "Looks like we're going to be needed on the bridge. Lets go Garja."

 

Garja nodded and follwed Belina as the two made their way to the bridge.

[JediMaster12]

Jun-la smiled, "Very well. As a matter of fact there is a plasteel cylinder in the cargo hold that has nothing but upgrades for blades, lightsabers, blasters, you name it. If you can find one that is in acceptable condition you may use it. If you find any useful part and wish to use it, you are more than welcome to it. If you are unsure, ask."

 

Tonatius nodded and said, "I will help you cousin. Perhaps I can tell you the story of the battle it takes to make a sword." He left the dormitory and beckoned his cousin to follow him, leaving Jun-la with Kalla.

 

Jun-la looked at Kalla and asked, "How feel you?"

 

**********

 

Haruka was entertaining Alriana with stories of the purge while Tavaryn was piloting his ship. Their patient was sedated and restrained in the medbay. Not an ideal condition but one that would work in any case, until they meet up with the Hawk.

 

Tavaryn was deep in his thoughts, thinking about this infectious agent. It was virul obviously and spread through the blood. However there may be a risk that it can become airborne. He was so deep in his thoughts that he didn't even hear R4 beeping to say that he would take over.

 

Haruka was telling Alriana, "The purge was a terrible time for anyone remotely associated with the Jedi. Force Adepts were hidden on places where the Force could mask their presence like Dagobah where Master Yoda hid. Lady Ashira-Li and Obi-Wan Kenobi went to Tatooine. Then Lady Ashira disappears. Some said that she betrayed the Jedi. Me I personally think that she went to the source undercover to end it.

 

"Anyway that's my take one it. The Jedi fascinate me but I don't believe too much in their religion. Hookey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster or a well built vibroblade. No offense."

[Tysyacha]

Parts, parts and more parts. Swarms of parts. Cascades. Torrents! It was so hard for Andorra Evenstar to make head or tail of them that she almost gave up before she found the heat cell she wanted. She had not been trained in the upgrading of weapons; her upbringing had been more centered around the "softer arts" of entertaining guests, engaging in diplomacy, and catering to foreign dignitaries from across the galaxy. This was what would have been expected of her in her role as the future Governor of Avalon, but the Force had a different fate in mind for her. Andorra would have preferred it if it hadn't involved being possessed by a malevolent and virulent Sith Lord.

 

How to install it? This heat cell was, oddly, giving off a heat of its own. Was it defective? Broken? So old that it was beyond repair, and beyond use? It looked odd--like no other heat cell she'd seen. Still, Andorra was no expert.

 

"Cousin?" she asked. "Is it just my imagination, or is this heat cell unusual?"

[Alkonium]

"About the mission, nervous. On a personal level, I'm feeling pretty good. Tonatius and I are happy together, I'm happy to see Andorra doing so well, and to see how she and Doctor Pradhes feel about eachother, even if they don't see it themselves yet." Kalla explained. Then, remembering something she said to Tonatius when they first rescued Andorra, she approached Lenatha.

 

"Tell her how you feel, I'm not in your way." She told the Twi'lek. Doctor Pradhes was certainly good-looking, she'd give her that much.

 

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

 

"Once the Nex Venators find out what's been done for you, you're liable to become a target yourself. Were they involved in the attack on the Republic Star Destroyer Cygnus?" Kol then asked, starting to wonder if the two events were even remotely connected.

 

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

 

"We're ready down here. At the very least, we should be able to distract the New Imperial Fleet long enough to allow the Ebon Hawk to get to the surface." Komad sent to the bridge from his X-38.

 

"But you know us, we never do things half-ass. We'll send them running back to Balmorra." Iyav replied, the Silver Eagle refuelled, tuned up, and ready for battle.

[Chevron 7 locke]

"Anyway that's my take one it. The Jedi fascinate me but I don't believe too much in their religion. Hookey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster or a well built vibroblade. No offense."

 

"None taken. But I disagree about about our so called "Ancient weapons." Lightsabers are powerful enough to cut through nearly anything. And they have the added bonus that they can deflect blaster bolts."

 

 

 

Bridge of the Ackbar

 

Belina and Garja stood side by side as they studied design flaws in the Imperial starships that they would be fighting.

 

"I don't care what they say, all we have to do is focus on where the shields overlap. They should be easier to cut through." Belina said.

 

"And I don't care what you say. Imperial commanders always make sure to divert all spare power to where the shields overlap to make sure that never happens. I was with the Imperial fleet for quite a while Grand Admiral. I know these people."

 

Belina sighed. "Lets just agree to disagree. We'll give my idea a shot and if that doesn't work we'll go with your idea."

 

"Assuming we're still alive if your idea doesn't work." Garja muttered.

 

"What was that?!"

 

"Nothing."

 

Belina looked at her operations officer. "How much longer until we reach Geonosis?" She asked.

 

"We will arrive at Geonosis in one hour. All ships have raised their shields and all weapons have been powered up."

 

"Excellent." Belina smiled at Garja. "Don't worry about anything Garja. We'll be fine. Our ships are better equiped then the imperial ships and we're in better shape then they are."

 

Garja grunted and looked out the forward viewer as the Ackbar and the rest of the fleet continued onto Geonosis.

[JediMaster12]

Tonatius took the proffered heat cell and examined it. If anything it seemed and felt hotter than before when he noticed Andorra holding it. It wasn't a scorching heat but more of a pleasant warmth that was constant. He turned it around to examine it and found something that he thought Andorra should see. "Cousin look at this."

 

He pointed at a small design on the heat cell. Most heat cells were processed in factories but those that were made by hand, often the makers would place their mark upon it like his blade. His was made by one of the old masters of the craft and passed on through the generations. This design had a recognizable design that Tonatius had seen once before. When he was sure Andorra was looking he said, "It's our family design. One member of our family must have been a swordsmith and custom made this part. I think you should use it."

 

**********

 

Jun-la nodded in approval, "To have some fear is good. It helps us to acknowledge that we are not perfect beings. I hope you are patient with Tonatius. Avalonian expressions of love are not always as direct as people would like."

 

Jun-la then watched as Kalla told Dr. Pradhes what to do and gave a small smile. She had sensed the feelings the moment they came aboard and was wondering when they were going to stop doing the same dance and change the tune.

 

**********

 

"Maybe so," Haruka replied to Alriana, "An electric shield absorbs impact as well. Besides a lightsaber is a distinctive weapon. Anybody who knows what the general shape is automatically assumes that you are a Jedi and the trouble starts. A bad thing if you want to keep a low profile. Funny though I never notice Tavaryn carrying one until he tossed it at you earlier. I thought it was some special tool he designed."

[Tysyacha]

"I wish to use the part," replied Andorra, "but I don't know how to install it. I never was good at scientific and mechanical things such as upgrading weapons. Could you please do me that favor?" She lowered the face-visor on her helmet. "I wonder who in our family could have crafted it. Do you have any theories?"

[JediMaster12]

Tonatius took her blade and the part to the workbench. He gave a slight nod that she was to watch and learn. It was how Avalonian children learned their crafts. Hardly anything was told to them. They watched, listened and learned. He began taking the various parts apart with the skilled ease of practice. He replied to Andorra's question, never once taking his eyes off his work, "No idea who. Quite possibly an ancestor started and his line continued but it was an obscure branch. It has happened before. I can say that they are family because of the design. Family crests are distinctive."

[Tysyacha]

Andorra listened silently, watching with rapt attention. Her cousin's hands were like those of a musician or an artist, and not a mere mechanic's. Not only were they highly skilled with the manipulation of delicate, minuscule parts, but they were also deft and reflexive. Tonatius didn't even have to think about what he was doing, hardly, because he had done it so many times that the motions of installing the heat cell were like second nature to him. Public speaking and diplomacy were second nature to the Avalonian girl, but she guessed, correctly, that it would be useless to reason with any of the vivinecrotic creatures...

 

"So that's how it's done." She frowned a little. "It looks so simple, but that's only because you've been doing it for so long! Are you sure the cell will work?"

[Shana]

Lenatha was observing Andorra with a smile on her face as she was with Tonatious doing her much needed modifications on her sword. She then turned to focus on examining the medical equipment that had been brought for research. She turned only to see Kalla Kaltas walking towards her.

 

"Tell her how you feel, I'm not in your way.

 

The Twi'lek simply felt her face blush.

 

"Is it that obvious?", she asked in a low voice. "I just don't know, it seems kinda sudden doesn't it, I mean I have considered the implications of it but I..."

 

It felt as though she was rambling.

 

"What if she's not ready? I mean...", Lenatha looked over to Andorra and grinned. "She's come so far from what happened, I want to be there for her no matter what. But I'm afraid she won't want me..."

[Alkonium]

"I was afraid of that with Tonatius, and I was wrong. I just needed to be more patient with him than I was with Andorra. Even if she doesn't, it's better that she knows how you feel, and you know how she feels. But honestly, I don't see why she wouldn't want you. I'd certainly be interested if I were in her position." Kalla explained, glancing over at Andorra and Tonatius and smiling. She was pleased to see no resentment from Andorra for either of them.

 

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

 

"Xan, I have the information about who the Republic is sending. Anyone you recognise?" Darth Pestilus asked, passing Xan a datapad with a list of names on it. They had just received the intelligence reports on the expedition team the Republic was sending to Geonosis. "Kaltas and Iazoki, fascinating."

[Tysyacha]

Andorra, hearing the good doctor's voice, gave a cry of delight. "Lenatha!" She abruptly checked herself. "Err, Doctor Pradhes! I just had a custom-made heat cell installed on my blade! Look at how it radiates a pulse of fire now!" Indeed, it did just that. Then, bowing her head, the Avalonian blushed. "I sound like an immature little schoolgirl, don't I, Doctor?"