Tsuna was sitting on the floor in her meditation chamber, her legs crossed and the barely noticeable noise from the datacrons around her present. Since she had closed her eyes, she hadn't moved, spending hours in the darkness of the room, trying to figure out the answers of all the questions she had.
She was finally beginning to see a vision of the Force, grinning slightly to herself for the small, but present progress in her meditation. A circle was starting to form its shape, creating the outlines of a planet, when the door of the chamber slid open and the vision disappeared in a flash.
"For Marka Ragnos' sake..." She thought.
-Hello, Tsuna. - Shaan'dra stepped into the room, looking at the woman on the floor - I hope I'm not disturbing you?
Tsuna let out a heavy sigh, shaking her head and standing up.
-You are not. - she lied - What is it?
-I just wanted to talk about something that is bothering me for some time.
The Sith rolled her eyes unnoticeably and nodded.
-Alright. Let's come out of here first and take a seat.
With that, Tsuna left the chamber, passed through the small throne room and into a bigger one with two lounges in front of the window. She sat down and crossed her legs, looking at Shaan'dra, who did the same.
-I'm listening.
-Remember that woman I told you about? On Voss, she was talking with Maedius then and pointed at me and you know this part of the story. But at the last meeting at Chief's place she appeared again. When Maedius killed the Sith, she ended some partnership with him. She also mentioned the name Reyesha and he seemed to know it. But the fact that I heard her talking with Maedius on Voss and stopping after seeing me, not knowing anything about her, not even her name... All of this is worrying me a lot, because it might endanger the whole Order...
-And... what do you want me to do? - the Sith perked a brow.
She didn't know who this mysterious woman was , nor who was that Maedius, that Shaan'dra was on about, but she didn't seem to really care about that at the moment. The part with the killed Sith kind of got her interest for a second, but then it faded aswell. Perhaps she was going to find out what had happened at Chief Gulmaro's meeting, but now was not the time.
-So, I was wondering if you could talk with Darth Hrist about it. - Shaan'dra looked at Tsuna, waiting for an answer.
-I have a lot of work, Shaan, why don't you talk to her yourself? - the woman rubbed her temples and closed her eyes for a second.
Shaan'dra frowned slightly, looking down.
-Because they won't listen to me. I'm not into the Sith stuff and you have more influence. I believe it might be a potential threat to the Order. Also, you are a Darth now, so...
-So what? - Tsuna interruped the Mirialan, grinding her teeth behind the casing around her mouth - It doesn't mean I can do whatever I want. Darth Hrist is busy enough, but I'm certain she would hear your concerns if you talked to her. - her tone rose as she was close to losing her temper.
Shaan'dra sighed quietly, shrugging.
-I was just asking if you could help me.
Tsuna stood up and walked over to the window, looking at the water that was running down the glass.
-I don't have time for that, I have my own problems. - Tsuna clenched her hands into fists as the other woman also stood up and came next to her.
-I just... - Shaan'dra began only to be interrupted again.
-Look, Shaan, I'm trying to work out your dream pirate crew, I have to look after my sons, I will be going on a dangerous trip and there is a big chance of death or worse and I also have to keep up with Darth Umbrae's training. I can't run to Darth Hrist every time you pop up with something or someone bothering you. I'm not a mail droid! - Tsuna stared at her with her piercing red eyes.
-I told you I will come with you to Prakith. But what I'm talking about might be an internal threat, it would be like fighting something you can't see.
The Sith laughed out loud, her voice now becoming somehow aggresive.
-Tell me about fighting something you can't see. I can only imagine your face if you saw a Force spirit...
-It's about the Order and...
-Then go help the Order. It will grant you more trust from the leadership and it might even be of use for you and your crew.
With that, Tsuna walked back to her meditation chamber, nodding at the guards. Shaan'dra followed her, but they stood in her way.
-Darth Chadorix would like to be left alone for now.
-Seriously...? - Shaan'dra looked at the armored men - Get out of my way and let me go to my friend.
-I would advise you to step back. Darth Chadorix does not want to be disturbed - both of them took their blaster rifles from their backs and rose them in her direction.
-What, Tsuna, you will hide behind your little soldiers? - Shaan'dra shouted at the door.
-Leave me alone! - Tsuna's angered voice came back from the chamber.
-Fine then, I won't try to get in. I will sit in your fancy chair instead...
She went to the throne in the middle of the room and sat on it, resting her hands on her neck.
The varactyl, that was lying next to it stood up and hissed loudly at the woman, the feathers on it's head spreading out dangerously.
At first Shaan'dra just looked at it, but when the creature ignited it's claws, she got up and backed away.
-Geez, you are green, I'm olive, we should put up together...
In the meditation chamber Tsuna was already shaking with anger. Usually someone sitting on her throne would annoy her a bit, but now it truly pissed her off and she felt extremely territorial.
In the meantime Shaan'dra walked back to the door of the chamber, the guards once again stood in her way with their blasters in their hands.
-Come out of there already, your little soldiers don't scare me.
-Alright, that's enough, kid! - they aimed for her again, two red dots appearing on her chest.
Hearing the charges build in the rifles, Shaan'dra got that they were not joking, so she rolled behind the throne, just in time to avoid the shots, that passed by her and left two dark holes in the wall. She loaded her guns and was about to fire back when the door slid open and the men quickly put their weapons down. Tsuna angrily came out and pushed the Mirialan with the Force to the other side of the room and into the wall.
-If you can't deal with two little soldiers, then how are you going to lead a crew!? How are you going to fight your enemies, how are you going to go against the Republic!? - the Sith ignited her lightsaber and rose her hands, not able to hold her rage tamed.
Shaan'dra stood up and before she knew what happened the lighting struck her. She managed to fire back, but Tsuna easily blocked the shots with her lightsaber, sending another lightning in the Mirialan's direction. The shock electrocuted her and took over her body, making her shake and fall to one knee. Shaan'dra looked up with a painful grimace on her face.
-Fine! Kill me! If that's going to make it easier for you...
Tsuna growled loudly and threw her lightsaber in the other woman's feet. Something inside her made her do so, as if she did not need a weapon, but her bare hands and the Force. She then looked around feverishly like an animal trying to escape. The only opportunity she saw was the massive window in the meditation chamber. She charged through the throne room and into the meditation chamber, lightning emerging from her fingers, shattering the thick glass. The Sith then jumped through the hole and disappeared into the rain.
Shaan'dra stood up and looked at the guards who seemed to be as shocked as her. She ran to the window and looked around in the fog.
-Tsuna! - she called out a few times, but no response came back.
The Mirialan then ran out of the apartment and to her ship, immediately departing and setting course to Rishi. She had to think what to do now, but first she had to get off Dromund Kaas.
Tsuna ran to the spaceport and quickly checked in to get to her ship. She stormed in and ordered her crew to prepare it for flight. The Sith went in the cockpit, but her body felt weird, she could sense an animalistic presence pressing her mind somehow. She held her pounding head in her hands, not even able to see properly. Standing up, she lurched to the bedroom, passing by the navigator.
-Set course to Prakith. Now.
She then entered the small room and collapsed on the bed. Something felt wrong, she was losing the mental battle with whatever was trying to take over her body. Then the answer flashed in front of her eyes.
-No... - she moaned in pain and rolled off the bed.
She managed to sit up and cross her legs, doing her best to keep the presence away. Meditation was her only escape at the moment. She closed her eyes and sunk into depths of the Force, awaiting the ship to depart and make the hyperspace jump.
Shaan'dra frowned as she took the elevator to Tsuna's apartment and waited for the door to open. Not long after she got into her ship she changed her mind about leaving the planet and returned to the property of her friend. For her surprise she saw Kourama, her best friend since childhood, pacing around the foyer.
-Kourama? What are you doing here?
The redhead looked at her and shrugged.
-Eh, needed to talk with the little Sith, but she doesn't seem to be here? - she looked around and sighed.
Shaan'dra asked herself why would Kourama want to talk with Tsuna, but she shook her head slightly, leaving that matter for later.
-Yeah, we had a small... encounter. Let's see if she is back.
The Mirialan told the other pirate the story while they were searching the apartment. All the guards were in the communication hall, trying to find out what exactly happened and why there was no information about the ship of the Sith.
Shaan'dra finished the story just as they reached the meditation chamber. The floor was wet from the rain that was leaking through the hole in the window.
-Damn, she has a strong arm... - Kourama said as she ran her hand over the glass - It ain't only hell thick, but blasterproof as well.
-I guess. - Shaan'dra looked around and turned to leave - Come on, we have to go to the Valkyr if we don't want to be late for the meeting.
With that they took a shuttle to the ship, where the members of the Order were starting to gather. When the meeting was over and most of the people went back to their business, Darth Hrist looked at the three that were left.
-I didn't get a report of the assaults on Alderaan. Any idea where Darth Chadorix is? - she looked at Shaan'dra and Ansilos.
-I have not seen my former master for some time. - Ansilos said and looked at the Mirialan next to him, folding his arms in front of his chest.
Kourama was quiet all the time, but she also looked at her friend, still confused.
-Well... I wanted to talk with her, but for some reason she was very angry. - Shaan'dra looked up and continued - I asked if she could talk with you, Darth Hrist, about a mysterious woman that I saw a few times with Maedius, but she didn't seem to listen to me and lost her temper. It even finished with a duel where she defeated me and jumped out of the window.
-Did she perhaps show some signs of... animalistic behavior? - Darth Aerandir asked, remaining at his place next to Darth Hrist.
She nodded at him in agreement:
-After effect of the binding you suspect?
-Correct. - Darth Aerandir nodded back at her.
-Animalistic? She got unusually angry, that's for sure. - Shaan'dra frowned lightly - I remember she growled at me before jumping.
-There may be more behind that, You have spent more time with her than me, so if any of you has a lead or clue to follow? - Darth Hrist looked at Ansilos and Shaan'dra.
-Oh, one more thing... I remember now hearing her grind her teeth. I didn't pay much attention to it then.
-Sounds like Umbrae alright. - said the woman on the higher floor and exchanged nods with Darth Aerandir.
Shaan'dra thought for a moment before speaking again.
-She said that she wanted to go to Prakith with me and Ansilos. Maybe she is there...?
Darth Hrist nodded slowly and looked at the pirate.
-You better talk to Darth Umbrae about that. She is his Apprentice and he eventually has experience with what might be happening with her now. So I'd say talk to him. We will see what we will do.